Chapter 501

I wandered around the party room, reminiscing as there was a variety of food prepared.

Honestly, what else was there to enjoy in such a boring time without electronic devices in my previous life, aside from the joy of eating?

Since I would be chased around for my whole life anyway, I often sought small comforts by searching for local delicacies.

That was how it was back then.

I returned to my seat and sat down, barely placing my bottom on the chair, feeling frustrated.

“Haah… Delicious food, grand orchestras, beautiful art interiors, it’s all great.”

“Hmm, what could be missing?”

“Can’t you tell, Love unni? This place feels totally like a youth club.”

Instead of champagne, there was cola, and instead of vodka, there was Fanta.

I pondered whether thinking that an event’s prestige decreases without alcohol was too medieval of a mindset.

“We’re teenagers! Still, this cherry juice is sweet and tasty.”

“Uhh…”

I laid my arm on the table and rested.

A girl pulled over a chair and naturally joined us.

“Hey, Name No! You haven’t forgotten me, right?”

“Oh, Cecilia. Long time no see. You look good.”

Her tanned skin was very healthy, likely from sunbathing at the beach or something.

“Name! You’re quite popular today. I noticed everyone was just glancing around, so I ran over first, haha.”

Listening to her, I casually scanned the party room.

I was familiar with the overly fixed gazes.

While sharing updates with her, we started discussing the inter-country exchange tournament.

“Name, can you believe those Yankis are so self-centered? It’s frustrating training together. Hey, will you lend an ear to my sad story?”

Cecilia, who was also participating as an American, was already sharing gossip about her teammates.

“I’ll pass.”

“Why not?!”

“Your friends are coming up behind you.”

“Huh? Kyaah!”

Two well-built young men walked over and grabbed Cecilia’s arms, lifting her up.

It was hard to believe both were 16 years old, given their physique.

“Nice to meet you, Name. I’m Nathan Chen, the U.S. representative. It’s an honor to meet a hero of humankind.”

Nathan Chen resembled an actor from the movie Top Gun 3.

Hearing his buttery voice referring to himself as a hero sent chills down my spine.

“I’m Levi Huning Jr.! We were both in Group I, right my friends? I support your challenge, but don’t get too scared, haha!”

A Black boy with reggae hair extended his hand for a handshake.

He was gripping my hand so tightly I thought my knuckles would sprain from the strength.

I could see why Cecilia complained about the hardships of training camp.

Both of them didn’t look entirely sane, with a subtle madness in their gazes.

“Hey, you guys think height alone is enough? You’d be one-hit wonders if you faced my super hyper ultra cybernetic explosion, you snot-nosed brats!”

“Don’t make too much noise in the party room.”

“Did you see that guy’s thin arms, Chen? I thought he’d burst from how tight his grip was!”

“Let me down! I like Name more than sweaty you guys!”

Cecilia snapped her teeth together like a chihuahua barking at Great Danes.

As the American friends made their way out, people began to gather.

Finally, I noticed some friends who looked suitably sixteen.

Shyly, friends who hadn’t quite shed their immature traits approached to shake my hand.

“I’m Bruno Miguel—”

“Aren’t you the Angolan national representative?”

“Uh, yes, that’s right.”

“You have a lot of calluses on your hands. I hope you achieve good results because you’ve trained hard. Let’s do our best together.”

While I praised those showing signs of hard work, of course, the geniuses were nice too.

Miguel’s sister mentioned she was a fan of my broadcasts, so I gave him a personalized autograph.

As I continued signing, a silence fell over the loud party room.

The crowd parted like the Red Sea.

A boy and girl in snowy white uniforms walked straight through.

Love Kim turned her head away and crossed her arms, trying to avoid looking.

“I knew it was you. Still popular as ever?”

The previous year’s champion, Kamikita Emika, said with a faint smile.

“Kids really grow up fast…”

In just one year, she had shed all her baby fat and returned as a proper lady.

Her demeanor was calm, overflowing with grace.

Meanwhile, the long-haired wolf-cut boy beside Emika was gazing off into the distance aimlessly.

He was fiddling with his pockets, and it seemed to irritate Love.

She glanced at him and, somewhat reluctantly, said.

“Why do you have curtains for bangs? Are you even able to fight like that?”

“…? Hmph.”

“What’s with that sneer? What does it mean?”

Hiroki Naita scoffed and didn’t respond.

Love Kim was quite a fiery girl.

She slammed her fist on the table and glared at the boy as if she could kill him.

“Could you at least respond? I’m asking politely here.”

“Grr, pfft.”

“?”

“Leave me alone, you annoying girl.”

Hiroki took it a step further, boldly spitting into her glass.

I questioned my own eyes and ears.

‘What the hell is this? Is it a hilarious prank? Or a script?’

I thought I was the only one feeling this way, but the other participants looked equally bewildered.

Then I realized.

Ah, this person is “real.”

What a weirdo has come here.

“Hiroki, really! Have you already forgotten the stern warning from our lord?”

A girl in the same uniform as Hiroki came rushing in through the corridor, panting heavily.

It seemed she was from the same Naita school.

I decided to disregard it for now.

Sure, you guys can fight or not, whatever.

I’m going to have a catch-up talk with our lovely Emika.

“Did you have any trouble preparing for this year’s tournament? Your teammate looks… in bad shape.”

“Trouble? Hmm, I don’t think so. My teammates are all nice and easy to deal with.”

“What?”

I thought I heard some nonsense being murmured behind my back.

“Can’t you see how genuine I am?”

“Right. But skipping filtering is quite a problem.”

Having won the national exchange tournament, she returned within a year, transformed into a sage.

Well, if that’s how Emika is, then that’s how it is.

Let’s not get too meticulous and tiring about it.

It felt as if cake pieces were flying around my head, but…

I decided not to worry too much about it.

Since Emika was serving tea so calmly, responding would feel like losing in a mini-game for some reason.

Whoosh—

Suddenly, a piece of strawberry and whipped cream cake launched from above like a three-stage rocket.

‘Oh, I can’t ignore that.’

Just as I was seriously contemplating which side of the flying cake to catch, I spotted the one coated in syrup.

I tilted my head to the left and popped the delicious-looking strawberry into my mouth.

“Yum. Hmmm, sweet. Jackpot.”

* * *

[National Exchange Tournament Committee, “Verbal Warning to Kim Love and Naita Hiroki”]

[IEC President Martin Terrier, “Such an incident must never happen again”]

[Reports indicate that cakes were flying in the party room during the national exchange tournament? Inside sources shocked.]

The national exchange tournament, meant to be a haven for camaraderie and harmony, was reported to have loud bickering, swearing, and flying cakes.

Naturally, this involved both Korea and Japan, happily.

Martin Terrier decided not to release the footage for the athletes’ protection.

In such a scenario, comments of raw hatred aimed at the athletes came pouring in.

[Love Kim should stop showing off since she lacks ability.]

[Getting pissed off after losing an evaluation match, haha.]

[Why does Korea seem to face incidents every time they participate?]

[Love Kim’s skills have long been exposed. She’s probably starting to feel nervous herself.]

However, when it came to revelations of a different kind of villain, the public opinion took a sharp turn.

[Reconstruction of the Flying Cake Incident.gufficial]

Kim Love initiated the argument first concerning Hiroki’s hair.

Hiroki remains unresponsive (although some say he mocked her).

Kim Love then slammed the table out of anger.

Hiroki spat into Love’s glass ← ????? A million question marks appeared here.

After exchanging insults, Kim Love accidentally slammed the fork down.

A cream puff flew toward Hiroki’s face.

Hiroki, furious, threw an almond.

Kim Love, angry, hurled a croissant.

And it repeated endlessly…

Are you guys just playing? Hahaha.

[Comments]

– It’s obvious Kim Love scratched first but Hiroki reacted impulsively.

– It’s a bit ambiguous to interpret that as scratching too haha.

– V-tubers in Japan are now in public apology mode ON haha.

– I believed in our Love.

– Hiroki is famous even in Japan. Heard he’s a bit insane.

└ Wasn’t he the heir of the Naita school?

└ No, there’s a vibe that he’s already withdrawn and that Naita Mei will be decided in the same session.

[Isn’t it possible for spirited kids to get into accidents while playing with each other?]

Did you punch someone just because you didn’t like their eyes?

Did you demean someone just for being a white boy, calling them cheese monkey, or called a black boy a cotton slave?

Or did you go as far as following them to their lodgings to set off fireworks at dawn?

[Comments]

– Oh my!

– Mr. Kim Gun… Is that you again…

– Did Kim Gun really do that?

└ You don’t seem to get it.

└ Kim Gun taught those who subtly made racial slurs a lesson.

– Is this the romantic 1940s…?

– Compared to this, it looks like kids are just playing around hahaha.

Miraculously resurrected from the pit, Love Kim.

In contrast, the reputation of the Japanese government and Naita school plummeted endlessly.

People wonder.

Who in the world picked such a person as a national representative, asking just how insane they are.

[Brief Explanation of Why Hiroki Naita was Selected as National Representative]

Japan selects three national representatives based on a points system.

Winning in prestigious martial arts competitions grants you more points.

However, last year at the Emperor’s Cup, Hiroki defeated Emika, who had conditioning issues, and won.

The public votes on whether he is qualified to represent the country since his personality issues haven’t been resolved.

So what was the result?

(Naita Hiroki National Representative Voting Results.jpg)

Yeah, he was elected with 75.8%, which is ridiculous!

With his skills and looks, it would be more weird if he didn’t make it hahaha.

(No Name Name Diss Track.jpg)

Name Name… You wouldn’t forgive this, right?

(No Name Speed Racer Gif.gif)

Go ask! Castrate him! Rrrrraawool!

(No Name Holding a Taegukgi Gif.gif)

Never underestimate Korea again!

[Comments]

– GIF selection, damn it hahaha.

– If No Name files a lawsuit, just accept it as “it is what it is.”

– A twisted handsome boy has demand…

– But if he won against Katsuhata and Love Kim in the tournament, then his skills must be real.

└ Can’t disregard him at all.

└ Japan has been excited that they will send two members to the top 8, including him, for months.

– I hope No Name thoroughly stomps him to bits. It’s not because of inferiority complex at all.

* * *

International stars gathered in Paris, France, successfully wrapping up the opening ceremony.

And on the much-anticipated next day.

Sunday, July 13, 3 PM local time, 10 PM Korean time.

Two matches—64 teams will be played at Stade de France, capacity 120,000, and Stade de Pompidou, capacity 100,000.

[A Group: Alexandre Rochefort (France) vs. Osman Ben Jafar (Tunisia) – Stade de France]

[I Group: Naita Hiroki (Japan) vs. No Name (South Korea) – Stade de Pompidou]

As No Name’s appearance was announced from the first game, nationwide chicken restaurants went into a frenzy.