The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 46

Time flowed peacefully, and it became May.

Son Jinhyuk wasn’t just running and doing strength training.

Recovery training was also essential. Since his muscles were shocked, he needed to relax them sufficiently. He drank orange juice and ate bananas, then walked around the track at a steady pace, massaging his whole body to prevent muscle stiffness.

“Hoo-, I’m stiff-!”

He could feel his body growing bigger day by day. His T-shirts were getting smaller, and his pants were getting shorter.

During the spring physical exam, his height was measured at 175cm. They said it was taller than the average adult height. The only friend taller than Jinhyuk was Lee Seunghoon. Shin Woosung was more of a wide build.

‘Am I a 21st-century body type?’

It must be thanks to eating well, sleeping well, and exercising every day. He was suddenly filled with gratitude for his parents.

They said there was a track and field meet in June, and Byungtaek Yeom, Seulchan Jo, and two other guys he’d never seen before were running around the track. Those two were said to be athletes who graduated from other rural elementary schools.

‘I didn’t see them during the county preliminaries last year.’

They must be training only in the mornings and evenings to avoid missing classes. Since there wasn’t an official sports club yet, they had no excuse to skip class.

He was sitting on a bench, massaging his legs while watching his friends, when someone approached him.

“You done with your workout?”

It was physical education teacher Lee Byungse. He was in charge of the track and field team, but he wasn’t a professional coach.

His nickname was probably ‘Shibangsa’ or something. With his thick body hair and dark skin, he looked like an animal. [Shibangsa is a derogatory term for someone who is unrefined or uncouth.]

Son Jinhyuk hated this teacher, because in his previous life, he had witnessed him harassing a female teacher in the classroom. Jinhyuk, who had stayed late to study, had seen the scene and had vaguely remembered disrupting Lee Byungse by breaking the classroom window.

‘The feeling of breaking that glass was exhilarating, very much so.’

It was Jinhyuk’s first act of rebellion.

Lee Byungse had been on a rampage for over a week, trying to catch the guy who broke the window. But because of Jinhyuk’s poker face, he never caught him.

“You’re a track and field team member, so you should participate in the track and field meet, right?”

He was calling him a track and field team member as he pleased. Well, if you think about it, it wasn’t wrong.

The track and field team wasn’t a registered team, so any student from the school could participate in the competition under the school’s name.

Lee Byungse had a nasty and dirty temper, and he looked like he was into drinking and women. He missed Mr. Kim Youngtae. If he could get rid of Lee Byungse, maybe Mr. Kim Youngtae could come back? Would he not be able to come because of the difference between elementary and middle school?

“Can’t I just participate in my third year?”

“Why? You have talent and good records, you need to keep at it so you don’t lose your edge. If you let your talent rot, you can’t use it.”

Lee Byungse frowned as he looked at Jinhyuk.

Jinhyuk felt the need for further explanation. There was a line that worked well these days.

Jinhyuk was as polite as possible. He felt that Lee Byungse’s attitude was very different from before.

“I have a younger sibling at home.”

As he said that and stared at him, Lee Byungse hesitated and stepped back.

“Ah, is that so? Alright.”

As expected, Yujin was the best. Even that nasty Lee Byungse was backing down. Jinhyuk just wanted to go home and hug his sister.

Even though he had gotten his way, Jinhyuk didn’t stop his staring contest with Lee Byungse. It was a rebellious feeling from his old memories.

‘I won’t lose.’

Lee Byungse subtly turned his gaze away. It wasn’t like he was desperate for athletes anyway. The first and second years were just going out for experience, and the best records always came from the third years. But it was strange. According to Yeom Byungtaek, this guy’s family was quite well-off. Now it seemed like they weren’t doing so well.

‘Or did they hit rock bottom in a year?’

These days, there were many families in town who were ruined because of bad guarantees. It must be hard to have to take care of a younger sibling.

Lee Byungse, who had turned away, tilted his head.

‘But what’s with that kid’s scary eyes?’

Lee Byungse wondered if he had been momentarily possessed, and he turned back to look at Jinhyuk again, and was startled. Jinhyuk was just standing still.

Fool.

Still, Lee Byungse was pleased. He was happy that he had confirmed him as a track and field team member.

It was better than losing him to the wrestling team.

Jinhyuk had secured another ordinary day like this.

‘I’ll only participate in my third year.’

If he went to the competition, he would have to be away from his family. That was Jinhyuk’s only concern. He enjoyed spending time with his friends, but he felt empty if he didn’t see his family for even a day.

‘Living an ordinary life doesn’t mean letting my talent rot or hiding away.’

He didn’t want to live fiercely. He had experienced the emptiness that lurked at the end of that fierceness. Even though having a family now made that emptiness less, everything had a priority. For Jinhyuk, his family was the top priority.

Anyway.

He would only participate when his skills were at their peak and set records. Either way, there was no dedicated track at home or at school. So, he didn’t feel any regret about training. He could run in the quiet countryside or on the beach. The practice field that his dad had built behind the house when he made the wrestling ring was the same as the international standard for the long jump.

‘He even got fine sand and poured it in.’

At one point, cats had invaded it, but after the cats, who were trying to use it as a public toilet, were caught by General and punished, it had been maintained as a clean area.

Indeed, home and family were the best.

Jinhyuk, who was immersed in such a pleasant feeling, turned his shoulders and waved to his track and field friends.

“Byungtaek, Seulchan, wanna run 100 meters?”

“Sure.”

He could gain competitive experience like this.

Yeom Byungtaek and Jo Seulchan had also grown taller and their limbs had gotten longer during the winter break. But it was nothing compared to Jinhyuk. Especially their main strength.

“Ugh, the gap between me and Jinhyuk has gotten even bigger.”

“Hey, Jinhyuk, how did you get so much faster?”

“I commute by bike.”

The round trip was 20 kilometers.

Every day.

Actually, I also run 20 laps around the track before you guys even come to school.

Jinhyuk, who had caught his breath, shouted enthusiastically.

“Let’s correct our posture!”

“Ugh!”

Yeom Byungtaek and Jo Seulchan ran away faster than when they were competing with Jinhyuk.

It was because they had experienced the pain of being tortured after accepting Jinhyuk’s offer to correct their posture.

‘I think their records would improve just by correcting their posture.’

Jinhyuk clicked his tongue in disappointment as he watched Yeom Byungtaek’s pigeon-toed gait and Jo Seulchan’s splayed knees.

***

After the midterm exams, the sports festival was waiting. Elementary schools had a big sports day in the fall, divided into two teams, but middle schools held a class-based sports festival in the spring. It was unfamiliar. It wasn’t the first time, but you could ask if there was a reason for that……

In the past, he hadn’t participated in any events other than team events during the sports festival.

‘I was too weak, so they didn’t even let me participate.’

A bitter smile crossed his lips.

Anyway, it was an event that lacked tension, both now and then. In the past, it was because he didn’t participate, and now it was because all the events were easy.

Jinhyuk participated in soccer, wrestling team matches, and the relay race.

He couldn’t be excluded because of his good physique, and he couldn’t ignore the way his chick-like friends looked at him with shining eyes.

‘I’m the class president, so I have to set an example.’

Lee Seunghoon participated in the individual wrestling match and won. He was a member of the wrestling team, so he would be criticized if he didn’t win.

But there was a player who was criticized.

“Oh oh oh!”

“Look look look!”

Thud-.

“What is that!”

“Hey! Disband the wrestling team!”

In the team match, Son Jinhyuk slammed a wrestler from another class into the sand. He was a player who was taller than Jinhyuk and weighed nearly 100kg.

‘Compared to Tae Yang hyung, this guy is weak and like tofu.’

The wrestler tried a hip throw, but Jinhyuk’s legs were like steel, hooking his opponent’s leg and holding firm. He skillfully broke his opponent’s balance by grabbing the belt and shaking it left and right, and he had the strength for all of it.

Jinhyuk overwhelmed the wrestler. He slightly bent one knee to show an opening, then countered the incoming opponent with a tiger-like waist. It was a masterpiece.

“He got caught the same way the second time.”

“Is that a judo technique?”

“It looks similar.”

“He’s a real monster.”

The wrestler was scolded by Sung Buhyun, the wrestling coach who was running the match. But the wrestling coach, who had noticed Jinhyuk’s rope-climbing skills, was just teasing him with a smile.

“Are you okay?”

Jinhyuk felt sorry, but the world of competition was cold. He couldn’t just lose on purpose. He conveyed his apology by brushing the sand out of the opponent’s hair.

The wrestler, who wanted to defend himself by mentioning how Jinhyuk had thrown the high school captain and knocked out a third-year student, kept his mouth shut.

Middle school soccer.

It was fantastic. The shots flew over the goal and into the basketball court, and the passes aimed at the stands. Jinhyuk’s eyes, who was watching the sweeper in front of the goalkeeper, gradually became hazy.

Of course, there were some good players, but they all looked similar to Jinhyuk.

‘I’d be better than that even if I was wearing boots.’

The goalkeeper closed his eyes tightly even when the shots flew over the goal, and Lee Byungse, who was refereeing, was hit in the groin by a ball kicked by Yeom Byungtaek and rolled around. The kids cheered at the justice-realizing shot.

‘What… is this Shaolin soccer?’ [Shaolin soccer is a reference to a comedic movie known for its over-the-top soccer action.]

Jinhyuk had liked soccer in his previous life, so he had played in social soccer leagues and was good at soccer in the military. He liked running, so he had come to like soccer.

“Hey! He’s tripping him!”

“Haissee-! He’s so damn fast!”

He had volunteered to be a defender, thinking he would just help out, but his blood pressure rose at the attackers’ bad shots, so he dribbled the ball and sprinted. Jo Seulchan and Yeom Byungtaek from the opposing team couldn’t keep up. He even got past the goalkeeper and scored two goals. He didn’t shoot from far away because he was afraid someone would get hit and hurt.

Beep-!

Yaaaay-!

With a loud whistle, the horse-riding battle began.

The rider’s feet must not touch the ground. The left and right wings help, but if the horse in the middle holds on tight so that the rider doesn’t fall, they win. Jinhyuk willingly became the horse.

Chae Gyuho, who was riding on Jinhyuk’s back, looked like he was about to cry.

“Class president, I feel like I’m going to throw up. My balls hurt too.”

“Let’s hold on a little longer, my friend.”

Chae Gyuho, who was playing the role of the rider, was tired and exhausted and wanted to give up, but Son Jinhyuk held his thighs tightly and wouldn’t let go. Jinhyuk ran around, avoiding the opponents. It was because Chae Gyuho’s combat power was weak.

‘I’m amazing at running away.’

Jinhyuk recalled the threat of the pork cutlet that winter and burned with fighting spirit.

In the end, the opposing team’s horse lost its footing and collapsed, ending the game.

Whether it was a picnic or a sports festival, the most enjoyable time was lunchtime.

His life, which used to be spent hiding in the shade and reading books, had transformed into a life where he hung out with friends and ate lunch together. It was an exciting and heart-fluttering time.

It was when they were resting after lunch.

“Wow-! What is that?”

Several trucks he had never seen before entered the school playground. The trucks had huge hot dog pictures on the cargo wing.

The vice principal grabbed the microphone at the assembly stand.

[This is a snack truck prepared for our students. We have prepared enough for everyone, so please be orderly-.]

Waaaaaah-!

[Hey! Hey! Order! You guys-!]

Order was exchanged for candy.

Jinhyuk also sold his sense of order among his friends. He thought he wouldn’t be seen if he was mixed in with hundreds of people.

He was tall, so everyone could see him.

‘Was there something like this before?’

There wasn’t, so it was strange. Who cares. It was fun to create chaos with his friends, ignoring the rules.

Heh heh- A smile naturally appeared on his face.

When the afternoon schedule started, another truck appeared.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaah-!

The middle school students’ cheers grew even louder as the wing body opened. It was so loud that it echoed all the way to the town, it was more like an explosion.

Even the high school classrooms that were in session opened their windows and looked at the playground. Teachers and students were of one mind.

[Bbamppara- Bbamppappa-.]

It was cheerleaders.

It was no wonder that there was a commotion when the older sisters they had only seen on TV during the basketball festival appeared on the school playground.

“Aigoo- Sister! I’m dying-!”

“They’re Seoul girls-!”

“Sister! Please call my name once-! Call me Yeom Byung-ah!”

“We’re all done for today-!”

Jinhyuk helped Chae Gyuho see better by giving him a piggyback ride. It was because he felt sorry for the short guy who was standing on tiptoes and hopping around in the back.

He stood on tiptoes with Chae Gyuho on his shoulders. That way, he could see better.

[Doomchit-Doomchit-.]

Jinhyuk’s mouth fell open. His shoulders naturally started to move to the beat. Chae Gyuho was complaining of pain like during the horse-riding battle, but Jinhyuk’s senses were elsewhere.

‘Good, good. Oh, you’re doing well. That’s right, that’s right.’

It was like another sensibility was blossoming.

Basketball. It was the last of the ball games.

The friend who was playing center was shorter than Jinhyuk and complained of an ankle injury. Jinhyuk had no choice but to be put in. He grabbed all the rebounds. Every time they collided with Jinhyuk, the opposing team’s players fell. He would grab the rebound, throw it to a friend near the half-court line, and run towards the opposing team’s basket, and the ball would come back. Then he would do a layup shot.

“Did his hand just touch the rim?”

“I think so.”

The opposing team’s players, who were supposed to be defending, hadn’t even crossed the half-court line yet.

10-kilometer marathon.

It was free to participate. But they said they would give extra points if you placed in the top ranks. There was a marathon runner named Lee Eunsoo at Tae Yang Middle School, who was said to have been a representative of Chungnam during his elementary school days.

“Huh? Wasn’t Jinhyuk a sprinter?”

Jinhyuk came in earlier than that player.

Lee Eunsoo was scolded by Lee Byungse.

Thanks to Jinhyuk’s performance, Class 1 won the championship.

That’s how they finished the ordinary sports festival.

***

“Ah, was Jinhyuk the one in the track and field meet banner last year?”

“I thought he won at Tae Yang National Elementary School.”

“It’s the same thing, you idiot. Mr. Kim Youngtae went there as the coach.”

Jo Seulchan got excited and talked whenever Jinhyuk’s story came up.

“Our Joker captain swept everything. Those country bumpkins couldn’t run at all.”

“Is Jinhyuk’s nickname Joker? Why Joker?”

“That’s…”

Jo Seulchan quickly shut his mouth. It was a natural reaction when he made eye contact with Jinhyuk, who was staring at him with an emotionless gaze from afar.

“They call the last runner in the relay race the Joker. Hey, class is about to start. Let’s go, let’s go.”

Jo Seulchan pushed his friend’s back.

Jinhyuk tilted his head as he watched Jo Seulchan quickly disappear into the classroom.

‘I think he saw me, but it’s strange? I was going to say hi because I was happy to see him.’

With Jinhyuk’s physique, the incidents that happened at the beginning of the semester, and the appearance of a new student who swept the sports festival, there was no student who didn’t know Son Jinhyuk, and Jinhyuk’s school life seemed to be flowing without conflict.