Infinite

Chapter Nine

Over the next couple days before the first match of the season, Na-ri and the team trained and bonded. Jihun and Na-ri became even closer, between their early morning runs and late-night training together, and if they had a hard time sleeping Jihun would teach her how to play some of his favorite video games.

The day before the match the entire team got their official team photos taken. Na-ri decided to get her official photo taken without her mask and to use her real name rather than a handle. She discussed this with Jisu and her manager- deciding not to hide behind the mask anymore. Her mother and manager were worried that sponsors and potential jobs would not want to hire her for campaigns if she officially announced herself a professional CTF player. Her response to that was that she would not want to work with them anyway if they took issue with it.

As she finished talking with her mother about it and convincing her it would be fine there was a knock at the door.

"Come in," Na-ri called out. Jihun walked in and smiled at her.

"Everything okay?" he asked her. Na-ri nodded

"Yes, took some convincing but they agreed with me." She said motioning he should sit down, "Did you need something?" Jihun looked at his hand nervously before looking back at her.

"Did you want to go for some coffee?" he asked her nervously, "Before we do some last-minute training for tomorrow?"

"Oh," she said, "Sure that sounds great. I'll meet you downstairs in a few minutes." Looking relieved he nodded and agreed. Once he left, Na-ri jumped up and rushed to her closet feeling slightly nervous about this more than normal. It felt like he had asked her on a date, and that thought made her heart flutter. She kept her hair down and decided to go with something relatively casual and wear a white cropped hoodie with a drawstring hem, black utility pants, doc marten boots, and a white baseball hat. Before she left her room, she quickly adjusted her hair.

She walked down to the front door after passing the rest of the team playing table tennis. Jihun was looking at his phone somewhat nervously before looking up to see Na-ri approach.

"You- ugh look great," he said as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Thank you," she said, "Shall we?" she asked motioning towards the door. Jihun nodded and opened the door for her motioning for her to go out first.

"Nervous about tomorrow?" he asked as they walked to the nearest café.

"A little bit," she admitted, "Not for the competition part though." Jihun looked at her a little surprised. "More because I will compete without hiding my face."

"Ahh," he said understanding "Oh we are here." He said as they arrived, "Did you want to pick a place for us, and I can get us our drinks?" he asked her.

"Sure," she said as they walked in. Looking around she saw a nice booth near the back that was available. As she walked over to the booth, she looked to Jihun who was looking at her and she motioned to the booth she was walking to. Jihun nodded and gave her a thumbs up before turning to the barista to place their order. After a couple minutes Jihun walked over and sat down with their drinks and slid Na-ri's drink over to her.

"Thank you," Na-ri said and sipped her coffee, "Oh, this is perfect."

"Glad you like it," Jihun said, "Thanks for coming with me." Na-ri smiled and sipped more of her coffee.

"You nervous about tomorrow?" she asked him in reference to his earlier question to her.

"Nah," he said confidently, "More excited than anything- I really love this." Na-ri smiled and nodded in understanding.