Although the Group Stage has begun, it doesn’t mean that the focus of our team’s schedule has shifted to the Red Cup.
Sure, the Red Cup is a huge event worth noticing, and there’s a lot to learn as a pro, but first and foremost, we have our own lives to think about.
That’s probably why this ridiculous incident happened.
*
After the Play-In Stage ended and the draw was completed, that day was certainly just another ordinary day.
At least, until Seo Yeon-woo saw it.
“What is this?”
At first, she hardly paid it any mind. It was something that had somehow become a familiar part of her daily landscape, so even though she saw it, no one really cared about it.
Just some ordinary medicine.
Or maybe, a supplement.
That’s what Seo Yeon-woo saw, and she thought that same thing every time she passed by it.
“What are you doing?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
“Let’s go. We need to practice.”
“Okay.”
So initially, Seo Yeon-woo didn’t even know what it was; she simply dismissed it as part of her everyday scenery.
There was nothing strange about it.
It was just something that had always been there.
Just like that.
A few days passed.
While watching the usual scenery, Seo Yeon-woo suddenly noticed that the medicine she had previously seen was running low.
Of course, you take medicine.
So it wasn’t particularly odd for someone to have taken it, but still, the change in the daily scenery caught Seo Yeon-woo’s interest.
“What kind of medicine is it?”
Or, is it a supplement?
Curious, she took a peek at the medicine, but regrettably, there was only the inner packaging left, and the outer packaging was missing, so she couldn’t determine what it was.
“Well, looks like someone took it.”
She didn’t know what kind of medicine it was or who had taken it, but Seo Yeon-woo soon lost interest.
And then,
Life continued as usual.
It was an ordinary day.
“No, I said bot, go bot!”
“Kim Jae-min, you’re so loud.”
“Oh, I’m sorry… wait, why are you going top again? Why on earth are you going top!!”
“…I said you’re being loud.”
“Ah, sorry.”
Except for the fact that the usually cheerful Yujin seemed out of sorts today.
“Sis, are you feeling okay?”
“…It’s nothing.”
Though she said that, anyone could tell she wasn’t in good condition.
“Go inside and rest. We don’t have any practice today.”
“I can handle it myself.”
With a voice that sounded like a growling beast, Seo Yeon-woo couldn’t help but feel intimidated.
“Ah… Okay. I’m sorry.”
Since Yujin was usually gentle with her, Seo Yeon-woo felt all the more flustered.
Feeling down, she approached Kim Jae-min and asked quietly.
“Hey, is something up with sis?”
“Who knows? No idea.”
Just checking in case, she asked Kim Jae-min, but of course, he had no clue.
‘Maybe she’s just in a bad mood today?’
Perhaps it was due to what happened earlier?
The mysterious medicine she had seen kept coming to mind.
Even knowing there’s no connection between that medicine and Yujin’s sudden change in mood, for some reason—
‘What is going on?’
Feeling a strange sense of attachment, Seo Yeon-woo peeked at the medicine again.
And she discovered an empty box sitting next to it.
By its size and its appearance, it looked like it was the case that the medicine had come in.
Seo Yeon-woo realized that this item was different from the typical supplements after seeing its packaging.
[Marsharon Tablet] [General Medicine]
Seo Yeon-woo instinctively turned on her smartphone to search for what it was.
And then she saw it.
──────────
Marsharon Tablet.
Oral contraceptive.
──────────
If she didn’t know what kind of medicine that was after seeing that, she’d be a complete fool.
After reading that, Seo Yeon-woo felt her mind go momentarily blank.
What?
Why is this even here?
It’s a strange thing to say, but this place is a sacred practice room for a professional gaming team.
So clearly, it’s not the kind of item that should be found here.
Most importantly, who exactly is taking this?
‘Could it be…?’
Thinking it over, she suddenly realized there was indeed someone.
Someone who might be taking that.
Specifically, only one person.
Of course, there’s the aunt who works in the dining area, but she hardly ever comes into the practice room.
In other words, there was only one person physically present in the OLZ dormitory who could possibly be taking that.
‘Could it be… Yujin?’
Seo Yeon-woo felt as if her head had been hit with a hammer.
Oral contraceptive.
Of course, she wasn’t naive enough to not know what that was for.
“What the… why…?”
Seo Yeon-woo felt her hands and feet trembling without her realizing it.
Betrayal?
No, that’s not it.
She couldn’t quite determine what this feeling was.
All she knew was that her heart was racing.
“What are you doing?”
“Ahh!”
Hearing Kim Jae-min’s voice, Seo Yeon-woo let out an involuntary shriek.
It was so hilarious that Kim Jae-min doubled over with laughter, mesmerized by the sight.
“What’s going on? Hahaha…”
“…It’s nothing.”
After laughing for quite a while, Kim Jae-min’s gaze fell on the medicine in Seo Yeon-woo’s hand.
“Hey, what’s that…?”
“Huh? What? What are you talking about?”
Finally realizing her mistake, Seo Yeon-woo reflexively hid the oral contraceptive behind her back.
“Why are you hiding it?”
“…Hiding what?”
“Behind you. Your hand. Hiding.”
“……”
Seo Yeon-woo felt despair.
Of all people, to get caught by this immature brat…
“Alright, show your hands.”
“No way!”
“No refusing that.”
Kim Jae-min grinned as he approached.
It was a clear sign that he wouldn’t hesitate to use force if necessary.
“It’s nothing, really!”
“Then what is this ‘nothing’?”
“Really nothing!”
Of course, this half-hearted denial wouldn’t fool OLZ’s official jaem-min, Kim Jae-min.
“Show me when I’m asking nicely.”
“…No!”
“Then I guess we have no choice.”
With a light stretch, Kim Jae-min lunged at Seo Yeon-woo.
Having collided with him multiple times before, she desperately resisted his onslaught.
“Ah, gank, stop tickling!”
“Hand it over. Not going to give it up?”
At that moment.
Bang!
With a sound like the door was being smashed, Yujin, who had just entered the practice room, regarded Kim Jae-min and Seo Yeon-woo with a look of disdain.
“…Why are you two fighting again?”
“That’s not it….”
“Sis! He’s hiding something! Doesn’t that seem suspicious?!”
“Shut up, you jerk.”
“…Huh?”
Kim Jae-min blinked at the curse he heard from Yujin.
“Cut it out. Yeon-woo doesn’t like it.”
“Ah… okay.”
The atmosphere felt heavy.
Even Kim Jae-min had enough sense to recognize that something was off, and he obediently stepped back.
“Stop fighting and get along.”
“Eh! I was just kidding. Just a joke…”
Kim Jae-min said with a somewhat sheepish laugh, but for some reason, Yujin’s gaze remained icy.
“……”
Then, turning her back without any further ado, she stepped out to practice.
Why was that?
Seo Yeon-woo thought Yujin’s retreating figure looked strangely unfamiliar and cold.
*
After the commotion, Seo Yeon-woo let out a deep sigh while staring at the medicine clenched tightly in her hand.
‘…In the end, I brought it here.’
Since it was clear that if she had just left it behind, Kim Jae-min would have spotted it in no time, Seo Yeon-woo was left with no choice but to bring it to her room.
And now, she faced the reality in front of her once more.
──────────
Marsharon Tablet.
Oral contraceptive.
──────────
She had no idea how this ended up in the OLZ dormitory, especially tucked away in the corner of the practice room.
But for some reason, Seo Yeon-woo couldn’t hide the rising sadness.
Because she knew the truth.
Who was the person who might need to take this?
And what it was used for.
“Why…?”
Seo Yeon-woo didn’t know what to do.
Should she confront Yujin and ask why it was here?
Or should she demand to know what the heck was going on?
Or maybe she should scold her for not being aware of her responsibilities as a professional gamer?
No, that’s not it.
None of that was what Seo Yeon-woo wanted.
‘…For now, let’s investigate.’
Seo Yeon-woo wasn’t completely clueless about the purpose of this medicine.
But results come from causes.
So she resolved to find out what on earth had caused Yujin to need something like this.
Yet, there was a puzzling point.
‘But… has she ever gone out of the dorm?’
As far as Seo Yeon-woo knew, it was hardly ever.
That means there’s only one possible answer.
‘Could it be… one of the team members?’
Setting aside how absurd that was, Seo Yeon-woo was determined to investigate the cause behind it.
The suspects were about three people.
That is, all of the remaining OLZ team members except for Seo Yeon-woo herself.