EBCGM 06

Chapter 6

If You Can’t Avoid It, Enjoy It – (6)

In the unit where I served in the military, every Wednesday afternoon,

we were given time to exercise under the name of combat sports.

Unless there was some kind of training going on…… or someone was too busy to participate in combat sports,

everyone had to take part.

“Except for essential personnel, combat sports will begin as of now!”

In the Korean military, the most popular sport was definitely soccer.

After that came foot volleyball and table tennis.

“Staff Sergeant, Supply Sergeant. Can we go and do combat sports too-?”

“Do you have anything urgent to do this afternoon?”

“Nothing particularly urgent. I took care of most things in advance this morning-.”

“Then go. If something happens, I’ll call you.”

“Yes, understood! Charge!”

“……I always say this, but don’t get hurt. Because that will make things difficult for me.”

First Sergeant Ha Dae-ho, the logistics officer.

Staff Sergeant Do Gi-chan, the supply officer.

After getting permission from them, we went upstairs to the barracks to change clothes.

……Actually, there was also a logistics officer with the rank of captain in the logistics department.

But unless it was absolutely necessary, he didn’t interfere with us much.

Whatever he was so busy with, he often left the logistics department whenever he had the chance.

“You’re supposed to be such an ace.”

“Private First Class Han Tae-pyeong, no, sir.”

“Don’t deny it. I’ve heard everything. Well…… I’m getting discharged in a few days anyway, so I don’t really care.”

A day earlier.

There was a senior soldier who had just returned from his final vacation.

He was a member of the logistics department who had served even longer than Sergeant Cha.

“I’m told you’re the same age as the supply officer.”

“As far as I know, yes.”

“Everything’s good, but why did you come to the military so late? If it were me, I’d have finished my military service before going to study in America.”

One of the things I had heard through Sergeant Cha.

As he said, the senior soldier in the logistics department, who would soon be discharged…… was apparently once one of the most notorious villains in the unit.

They said that whenever he lost his temper, even seniors who had served longer than him had a hard time stopping him.

But after becoming a senior soldier close to discharge, his personality had completely changed.

“Come to think of it, you’re completely free now.”

“……?”

“There are only two sergeants in the logistics department right now. And I’m leaving soon, too.”

The senior soldier listening to him only nodded several times.

“You’re close to discharge, so you’re not planning on doing anything anyway.”

“You know the answer already.”

“Then relax and watch TV.”

“Just close the door properly when you leave. I want to get some sleep.”

“Okay.”

Sergeant Cha said it was possible because the senior soldier was only a short time away from becoming a civilian.

He led me out of the battalion building and spoke.

“Back in the old days, this would have been unimaginable.”

“What would-?”

“The way he just spoke informally to that guy.”

“Ah.”

“There was a saying that if a person suddenly changes, they’re going to die. Seriously, I couldn’t believe he was the same person I saw when I first came to this unit.”

“Was he really that bad?”

“Don’t even get me started. Uh—ugh. I barely suffered anything just because I was his junior in the logistics department. But the guys in his company would practically piss themselves whenever he made everyone assemble.”

So, once again, I learned that you shouldn’t judge everything by someone’s appearance.

Judging by his looks, he had fair skin and…… looked rather gentle and harmless.

“He, me, and you. That’s all three of us. Logistics department clerks. Well, he’ll be leaving soon, so soon it’ll just be the two of us. But don’t worry too much. A new junior will probably come in soon.”

“Is that really true?”

“There were originally three of us. Since one is getting discharged.”

“But if that’s the case-.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Before I came here, were you handling all the work by yourself?”

“Well…… you could say that, basically? He kept using the vacation days he’d saved up after becoming a senior soldier.”

“You’re amazing.”

“Amazing, my ass. At first, I wondered if it was even possible. But somehow, it all worked out. We also have the officer and supply officer looking after us.”

So that’s why he had been called an ace.

“Anyway, enough about that. What do you want to play?”

“If we’re talking about sports-.”

“Didn’t you say you’re not good with sports that use your feet?”

“I haven’t played much. But if I have to-.”

“Who says you have to do anything?”

“……I’m sorry?”

“I’ve got your back right next to you. Let’s see.”

Sergeant Cha had told me before.

The senior soldier who was now close to discharge had been his own senior.

He said that after watching him from the beginning, he had made up his mind countless times that he would never become the same kind of senior.

Was that why he treated me so well?

“Have you played basketball? When you were in America?”

“Ah, yes. I’ve liked basketball since I was much younger.”

“Really?”

At my answer, Sergeant Cha took me to a basketball court with old hoops.

Or rather…… something that could barely be called a court.

“Hey, is there room?”

“Charge! There’s room. What’s this? Sergeant Cha, what brings you here to play basketball?”

“Just got tired of soccer and foot volleyball. We play them too much.”

Basketball was apparently one of the least popular sports during combat sports time.

That didn’t mean there was absolutely no one playing it.

And, on top of that, the person I disliked more than anyone, Cheon Gyeong-tae, was also playing in the game.

“I’ll warm up over there, so put our new guy in.”

“Ah, that new guy…… Wow, but he really is tall.”

“Are you going to make him stand there awkwardly staring at us?”

“Hey, recruit. Come here.”

Whether I was in Korea or America,

I had been playing basketball steadily since I was young.

American football and wrestling were sports I mainly enjoyed while I was in America.

But basketball was different.

“Private First Class Han Tae-pyeong.”

“Since you’re the tallest on our team, play center.”

“Center, sir? Yes, understood.”

“What? Not confident?”

“No, sir.”

Of course not.

Basketball was the same…… especially when I was living in America.

To keep up with the Westerners, I would spend hours dribbling by myself or practicing my shots.

Unlike American football or wrestling, basketball could be practiced and trained alone as much as I wanted.

“Okay, let’s start again!”

More than anything, I was pleased that I wasn’t on the same team as Cheon Gyeong-tae.

It was called a basketball court, but…… it was basically a space with two old hoops on a concrete floor where we had to play.

I took a breath and quickly figured out who was on my team…… and who was on the opposing team.

“Hey, get closer! He’s shooting!”

“Whew!”

“What are you doing? Huh! You’re spacing out like crazy! Do you want to die?”

“Sorry, sir.”

“Everyone, focus! Don’t forget we’re playing for PX snacks!”

PX snacks?

Were we literally playing for PX snacks?

Honestly, I wasn’t particularly interested in the food sold at the PX.

But there was one mindset I had always lived by.

If I was going to do something, I wanted to do it properly.

Thump, thump, thump—

If I had my way, I wanted to break through all five of them by myself…… and slam the ball straight into the hoop.

But—

“Hey, pass!”

Whoosh—

I was still a new recruit who had only recently arrived at this unit.

For now, I decided to pass the ball around and first figure out the atmosphere.

But that didn’t last long.

One of the seniors on my team tried to get past an opponent with a dribble, but had the ball stolen.

“Block them, block them!”

Two members of the opposing team were quickly running toward our hoop, passing the ball between them in a 2-on-1 play.

Cheon Gyeong-tae was one of them.

“Fuck, somehow stop them……!”

They say the person who farted gets angry.

The senior who had lost the ball while dribbling poorly cursed as he raised his voice.

But I paid no attention to him.

I focused only on the movements of the two opponents.

“Cheon!”

Thump—

One of the opposing seniors charging forward bounced the ball off the floor and passed it to Cheon Gyeong-tae.

……And just as Cheon Gyeong-tae caught the ball and jumped into the air to attempt a layup—

Whoosh—

I stretched one arm high into the sky and jumped into the air.

Bang!

“……W-what was that just now?”

I smacked the ball hard downward the moment it left Cheon Gyeong-tae’s hand, performing a block.

“No, it’s not just that he’s tall. Why are his arms so long, too? How high can he even jump?!”

“More importantly, Sergeant Cheon! Are you okay?!”

In front of all the juniors and seniors watching…… Cheon Gyeong-tae had been completely schooled by me.

It only took a few seconds for his face to twist with anger.

Maybe he had lost his balance while I was blocking him.

He had fallen and was sitting on the ground even though he hadn’t collided with my body.

When Cheon Gyeong-tae glared at me……

“This guy’s fucking crazy!”

“A recruit dares to block a senior? Are you out of your mind?”

While the people on my team were silently celebrating,

the opposing players approached me and raised their voices for no reason.

I’d only blocked him because they told me to defend.

While I was surrounded by several seniors and getting an earful—

“Hey, what’s the difference between seniors and juniors when you’re playing sports?”

“Sergeant Cha. Even so!”

“He didn’t commit a foul or anything. It was a perfectly legitimate block. Cheon Gyeong-tae. Don’t make the atmosphere awkward for no reason. Get up. Look at this atmosphere because of just one person.”

Sergeant Cha, who had been watching, finally spoke up.

“Ha, fuck…….”

“Fuck? Are you going to start swearing now, too?”

“……Hey, everyone, get back into position.”

At Sergeant Cha’s words, the opposing players reluctantly moved away from me.

And soon, the game continued.

One of the seniors on my team stole the ball and passed it to me.

As he ran as hard as he could toward the opposing team’s hoop—

“……What is he doing this time?!”

I bounced the basketball a few times and looked around.

When I realized that no one was blocking me, I deliberately threw the ball toward the opposing backboard.

Thud!

The ball hit the backboard and flew back toward me.

Whoosh—

Just like when I had blocked Cheon Gyeong-tae, I ran forward and jumped high into the air.

I caught the ball as it bounced back exactly where I had aimed.

And then……

Boom!

I slammed the ball into the hoop with both hands using all my strength.

The opposing players belatedly tried to move their bodies to stop me.

But it was useless.

“Did that bastard just…… dunk?”

“What the hell did I just see? Holy shit!”

I deliberately made sure everyone saw it.

After throwing down a refreshing dunk,

I acted as if nothing had happened.

Keeping a completely expressionless face, I ran back toward our hoop to defend.

And then—

“Ha—hahaha! Serves you bastards right! Nice! Nice shot!”

Sergeant Cha, who had been watching me the whole time, even clapped and cheered.

On the other hand, Cheon Gyeong-tae was clearly furious, clenching his teeth tightly.

“You fucking idiots! Wake up! Huh? What the hell were you doing without blocking that bastard?!”

“……Honestly, how were we supposed to block that just now……?”

“Shut up and get back! Get back, I said!”

The seniors still couldn’t easily close their mouths after seeing the dunk I had thrown down.

I watched Cheon Gyeong-tae approaching while bouncing the ball and cursing.

Go ahead.

Try shooting again.

This time, I’ll block you even more miserably.