It was morning.
Ran was sleeping deeply in his room.
The exhaustion from the previous night was still visible on his face.
Suddenly, the door opened.
Ami walked in holding a cup of hot tea.
“Ran…
wake up.”
No response.
“Ran!”
Still no response.
Ami shook his shoulder.
Ran slowly opened one eye and looked at her.
“Is the world ending…?”
“No.”
“Then let me sleep…”
Without saying anything, Ami placed the cup of tea in his hand.
The aroma of the hot tea reached his nose, and his eyes immediately opened.
“Oh wow…
such great service today?”
“It’s not service.
I need something.”
Ran instantly became alert.
“I don’t like that sentence at all.”
Ami laughed.
“Today is the school’s PTM and Sports Meet.”
“So?”
“There’s a girl named Seo-yun.
She doesn’t have parents.
She only lives with her grandmother, and her grandmother can’t come today.
So you’ll have to be her guardian.”
Ran took a sip of tea.
“So today I’m becoming a parent?”
“Yes.”
“That’s a pretty fast promotion.”
Ami grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.
“Just make sure you arrive on time.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Ami smiled and left the room.
A while later…
Ran put on a navy-blue suit, adjusted his glasses, and arrived at the school.
He needed to find Class 9-A.
The moment he entered the classroom, the entire room fell silent.
The students who had been making noise immediately sat down in their seats.
Ran looked around.
Then he smiled to himself.
“Oh…
they think I’m the new teacher.”
Naturally, he decided to play along.
“Hello, students.”
The whole class stood up at once.
“Good morning, Sir!”
It was difficult for Ran to hold back his laughter.
“From today onward, I’ll be teaching you English.
Everyone, take out your books.”
The entire classroom started taking out their books.
At that moment, a boy sitting in the back raised his hand.
“Sir…
The whole class burst into laughter.
Ran maintained a serious expression.
“Your observation skills are impressive.”
Then he suddenly smiled.
“Surprise!
I’m not the new teacher.”
The entire class shouted together—
“Whaaaat?!”
Afterward, he called Seo-yun over and discussed a few important things with her.
Before leaving, he said—
“And try causing a little less trouble.
The real English teacher is on the way.”
“Sir, at least teach us one class!”
“Nope.
Today is my day off.”
And with a laugh, he walked out of the classroom.
The school’s football ground was almost empty.
Ran sat in the stands, quietly looking across the field.
A gentle smile appeared on his face.
Memories of his childhood slowly returned.
The days when he would spend hours playing football…
The days when even after losing, he was always ready for another match.
For him, sports were never just about winning.
They were freedom.
Fun.
Friendship.
“These days, kids are so busy studying that the playgrounds are becoming empty…”
he said softly.
Just then, his phone rang.
It was Ami.
“Mr.
Guardian, the PTM has already started.”
“Yes, ma’am.
I’m coming.”
The PTM Hall was crowded.
Many parents had arrived.
Suddenly, Ran noticed a few familiar faces.
The next moment—
“Hey, you idiot, Ran!!!”
A man ran over and hugged him.
Ran looked surprised.
“You?!”
“It’s been ten years!”
Within seconds, several more people gathered around him.
“Remember all the things we used to do in school?”
“And you were the most notorious one!”
“Hey, this is the same guy who—”
“Stop!
Don’t open old files!”
Everyone burst into laughter.
The noise became so loud that both the Principal and Vice Principal came over.
“Did you all come for the PTM or for a reunion?”
Everyone immediately went silent.
The Principal took a deep breath.
“You can continue your reunion outside the school.”
Even Ran laughed.
“We’ll meet after the PTM, guys.”
A teacher was sitting inside Seo-yun’s classroom.
She welcomed Ran with a smile.
Seo-yun sat beside him.
The teacher showed him her report card.
“She’s doing very well academically.”
“That’s good.”
“But she hardly talks.”
Ran glanced at Seo-yun.
“That much I can see myself.”
The teacher laughed.
“What exactly is your relationship with her?”
For a moment, Ran became quiet.
Then he answered—
“I’m not her real brother…
but I’m like an older brother to her.”
Seo-yun silently looked at him.
“She’s been through a lot in life.
But she never gave up.”
Respect appeared in the teacher’s eyes.
“She truly is a strong child.”
For the first time, Seo-yun showed a faint smile.
The PTM was almost over when the teacher said—
“By the way, today is also Sports Day.”
The moment Ran heard those words, his eyes lit up.
“Sports Day?”
“Yes.”
“You mean races, football, relay races, games…
that kind of Sports Day?”
The teacher laughed.
“Yes, exactly that.”
Ran looked as excited as a child who had just received his favorite gift.
Seo-yun couldn’t help wondering—
“How can someone get this excited just by hearing the word sports?”
As they stepped out of the classroom, Ami appeared.
“Did everything go well?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s good.”
Then Ami smiled mischievously.
“By the way, Ran…
you’re participating in the sports events too.”
Ran froze.
“What?”
“I already registered your name.”
“What did you do?!”
Ami handed him a bag.
“Don’t worry.
I even brought an extra sports uniform for you.”
Ran stared at her for a few seconds.
Then, slowly, a smile appeared on his face.
“So…
today’s going to be fun.”
A mischievous smile appeared on Ami’s face as well.
And for the first time, Seo-yun realized something…
Whenever Ran talked about sports, he became just like a child.
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