My Girlfriend Wants Victory

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After finishing the goal celebration, I looked out onto the field. The South Korean national team was mercilessly pushing the German team back as if I didn’t even need to tell them about Kevin Polant’s weaknesses.

Well, even in the original timeline where I didn’t join the U-19 team, South Korea defeated Germany and claimed victory.

Moreover, given that I was now joining as South Korea’s best box-to-box midfielder, perhaps my worries were unfounded.

In any case, as Germany fell behind, they pushed their line up.

“Don’t push too hard, drop the line!”

We naturally laid back our line and targeted Germany’s widened backspace.

Well, honestly, even if we went strength against strength, I didn’t think we’d be a losing side. However, considering that physicality is essential in Korean soccer, the style we excel at is counterattacking.

Coach Han Gwangjong seemed to believe that there was no need to forsake the advantages we had.

Not a bad choice.

In the past, before I regressed, South Korea had utilized a physical counterattacking strategy combined with my passing ability, famously dubbed the “Korean Passmaster,” leading us to achieve a quarterfinal spot.

‘That future no longer exists.’

Bam.

Perhaps feeling frustrated, Germany’s midfielder hit a long-range shot that awkwardly flew into the goalkeeper’s arms.

“Counterattack—!!”

Labour, our starting goalkeeper, quickly rose and tossed the ball to me.

I trapped the incoming ball with my chest and sent a swift pass to Lee Hojong, who was rapidly penetrating forward.

The pass soared over the heads of the German players returning to their positions and landed right in front of Lee Hojong.

Lee Hojong, similar to when he scored the opening goal, dashed into the penalty box with desperate speed.

Calmly, he aimed and shot toward the corner of the goal, but—

“Oh! Damn! How did he save that?!”

Unfortunately, his shot was blocked by the German goalkeeper, who had anticipated the trajectory from beforehand.

The ball struck the German goalkeeper’s hand and crossed the goal line, declaring a corner kick for South Korea.

And then came South Korea’s corner kick.

I stayed outside the penalty box, preparing for Germany’s counterattack instead of taking the corner kick.

This was a strategic decision made by Coach Han Gwangjong, who had noted my defensive capabilities.

The corner kick was taken by Lee Hojong, who has the best kicking skills apart from me.

The ball touched a South Korean player’s head, but the renowned German goalkeeper successfully blocked it yet again.

Amid the ensuing chaos, a ball cleared by a German center-back deflected off Dongwon’s body and rolled toward me.

With a gentle touch, I collected the first touch and, in what would later be dubbed Son Heung-min’s Zone, lightly brushed off the German winger who had participated in the defense, then—

I executed a quick left-footed shot that curled beautifully.

Since it was a stationary shot, I needed considerable ankle strength to properly put power into it. But having always been told I had great ankle strength since childhood, that wasn’t an issue for me.

Anyway, the well-curled shot drew a beautiful arc, slipping past the goalkeeper’s hand and shaking the German net.

‘By the way, I heard the SBK is broadcasting this. I wonder if Gyeouri is watching my match right now.’

Having scored, I dashed to the corner flag to unleash my celebration but suddenly recalled the time I spent with winter during my childhood.

‘Please do this celebration when you grow up and score a goal!’

Instead of the howl celebration, I did a celebration directed toward Gyeouri.

It was a crossing of the ring finger, a celebration imbued with memories from when Gyeouri had spent the night thinking of a special celebration.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure if Gyeouri still remembered this celebration.

But I still hoped she’d remember it fondly.

***

[GOOOOOOOOOOOAL!! The wonder boy, Son Jinho, scores a multi-goal game!]

[Ah, a perfect curling shot aimed at the corner of the goal! A shot like that is un-blockable by the goalkeeper!]

Han Gyeouri gazed at the game being broadcasted on SBK with wide, surprised eyes.

‘Please do this celebration when you grow up and score a goal!’

‘What? That sounds childish.’

‘Hiying, I thought long and hard about it all night.’

‘…I’ll do it if you become my bride someday!’

As Son Jinho’s celebration replayed on the broadcast screen, a smile spread across Han Gyeouri’s face.

She realized she wasn’t mistaken. Son Jinho hadn’t forgotten the promise made long ago in their childhood.

[Son Jinho, who dashed to the corner flag, displayed his unique celebration… Oh, but he didn’t do it.]

The voices of the commentators expressing disappointment that the howl celebration wasn’t displayed reached Han Gyeouri’s ears, lost in memory.

And quickly, comments began to flood in on the broadcast site’s corner.

└ Ah damn, why isn’t he doing the howl?

└ For real, show me the howl, you bastard.

└ Aren’t those two above the ones who were cursing about the howl? LOL.

└ No kidding, it feels so empty now that he’s not doing it, huh? LOL.

└ This is for real a shrimp snack kind of celebration; even if I don’t eat it usually, once the bag is opened, my hand just reaches in? LOL.

Seeing the negative comments about the cherished celebration, Han Gyeouri left a comment in support of Son Jinho’s celebration.

└ I think that celebration is nice too. Doesn’t it have some meaning behind it?

Of course, opposing comments quickly emerged.

└ Meaning, what the heck? Then does the howl have meaning behind it?

└ This clueless shrimp snack bastard LOL, bet he doesn’t even know the meaning of the howl.

└ What is it?

└ Listen closely. I’ll explain it just once.

└ Spinning your right hand in the air means this world. Lowering your arms from above means dragging the world down, and showing the jersey number means I will take charge of this pulled world.

So, the howl means ‘I’m going to ascend to the heavens.’ You got it?

└ Oh, LOL, didn’t know there was such a profound meaning? LOL.

Han Gyeouri, who was feeling quite pleased with Son Jinho’s celebration, let out a light snicker and waved it off.

‘It’s all meaningful!’

With a victorious smile upon her face, Han Gyeouri opened a new window, repeatedly replaying Son Jinho’s celebration.

Before she knew it, the match had ended.

***

[The match has concluded! The South Korea U-19 national team takes a valuable victory against Germany at the friendly competition held in UAE!]

└ Are you all going to watch the next game on the broadcast too?

└ I have to watch for the howl, damn it LOL.

└ Howoowww─!!

└ Damn, LOL, the howl rings in my ears.

└ Howoowww─!!

└ What’s this howl villain?

└ Howoowww─!!

└ I hope they broadcast the next game too. Even if not on the TV channel, I hope they at least do it online.

└ They should. They’ve already sent the broadcast team to UAE, so no way they’d pull out.

└ Still, you never know, so everyone promote it properly, damn it.

└ Wait, I’ll post a promotional message in the community LOL.

└ …? Where did the howl villain go? Suddenly vanished.

└ Oh LOL, who’s messing around saying we need to prepare for the coming great howl era in the soccer gallery? LOL.

└ The poster, howl villain, damn, I wondered where he went, and turns out he’s off to write a promo in the community, that crazy bastard LOL.

└ Howoowwwww─!! Successful aggro attack.

With her last comment, Han Gyeouri immediately entered the soccer gallery and clicked on the post.

“Phew─! What is this?

She burst into laughter at the sight of Son Jinho awakening in Super Saiyan form alongside the howl.

***

After the match against Germany concluded, the subsequent games against Egypt and UAE were nothing special.

The South Korea U-19 national team capped off the friendly tournament with victories of 3:1 against Egypt and 3:0 against UAE.

I started both matches, recording 2 goals and 2 assists, and made a solid impression on Coach Han Gwangjong of the U-19 national team.

“Please, Jinho. I can’t be expected to turn into a striker instead; I’m a midfielder!”

It seemed the coach was probably envious of my goal-scoring prowess, having netted 4 goals across the 3 matches.

Well, at this point, it was well-known that the chronic issue of the South Korean national team was their finishing ability. So it might make sense.

Honestly, even looking at it objectively, my finishing capabilities were on par with that of a world-class striker. Plus, I had a good physical condition, making me capable in duels.

From the coach’s perspective, he likely wanted desperately to switch me into a striker formation.

But unfortunately, I couldn’t play as a striker. Whenever I stood there, I tensed up, unable to shoot where I intended. What am I supposed to do about that?

“A striker is a position that speaks through goals. Standing there gives me a lot of pressure!”

I made a helpless expression as I explained this to Coach Han Gwangjong.

“No, I mean. Think of it like I’m a midfielder. If the midfielders can’t make the passes, that’s their fault, right?”

I shook my head at Coach Han Gwangjong’s statement. If it were that easy, would I have played as a midfielder? Midfield is one of the most demanding positions in modern football, alongside fullback!

Regrettably, that’s how human minds work. You think you can control it as you please, but how many can actually manage their will?

“It’s a pity but nothing can be done. Ah, and we’re flying back tomorrow. Don’t forget to pack your things properly.”

It seemed Coach Han Gwangjong understood that fact too, letting out a deep sigh before dismissing us.

The next day, the South Korea U-19 national team returned to Korea, victorious from the friendly tournament.

“Hey─! Son Jinho!”

I beamed with joy upon seeing Gyeouri waiting at the airport, waving her arms enthusiastically.

***

I heard the news that the U-19 national team had won the friendly tournament even made it to the 9 o’clock news.

Those who watched that news were chattering about the birth of an unprecedented golden generation.

Well, technically, that isn’t entirely incorrect.

Currently, among the U-19 national team, there were quite a few players who would later shine in the senior national team.

Regardless of the attacker Cha Dong-won or the left back Ki Se-hyung, even if he was just the third goalkeeper for now, Jo Hyun-soo, who’d one day earn the nickname “Shining Hyun-soo,” and I, who take pride in playing a big role in leading South Korea to the World Cup quarterfinals, I too am a part of this golden generation.

Anyway, Gyeouri, whom I hadn’t seen in a while, was pretty excited.

“Our commentators and the caster uncles praised Jinho a lot?! And there’s been tons of posts in the community!”

“…Gyeouri, you’re into that stuff?”

I’d recently heard my mother-in-law complaining that Gyeouri doesn’t put down her smartphone all day. Seems my mother-in-law was right.

I texted my mother-in-law about Gyeouri wandering into weird sites with her phone.

“Han Gyeouri. Smartphone confiscated for a month!”

As my mother-in-law visited our home, she imposed punishment upon Gyeouri.

“…”

After losing her smartphone, Gyeouri stared at her palm with a glazed expression for a while.

Seeing her look so dejected, just staring at her hand without saying a word, I sighed and handed her the smartphone.

It felt like giving medicine after giving disease.

But Gyeouri wouldn’t know that, so it shouldn’t matter.

“Look, isn’t this totally fun? How do people come up with such fresh ideas?”

Anyway, only after I handed the smartphone to her did Gyeouri’s complexion return to normal, and she delightedly began showing me the posts she’d found.

While I worried about Gyeouri, who seemed borderline smartphone-addicted, I sighed at her overly joyful expression and read through the community posts she recommended without reluctance.

And I realized something.

The community was more entertaining than I thought.

Because.

[Title: U-19 UAE Friendly Tournament Great Howl Special .gif]

[Title: Honestly, does it make sense for Howo to be playing in the same league as high school students?]

[Title: When Howo goes to K League, would you go watch or not?]

[Title: Howo. I brought a Major Buh version here.]

[Title: This world is divided before and after Howo was born.]

[Title: Howo met Zlatan and said, Howo─!]

[Title: A new gallery opened for Howo. Please, little howl brothers, just go away.]

└ Damn LOL, the gallery owner says he was born in ’95, do we really call him hyung?

└ If he’s rich and good at soccer, he’s older, you idiot.

└ Gallery owner. Is he rich?

└ Yeah, he goes to Geumsun High.

└ My brother has everything, damn LOL.

Somehow, I had become the gallery owner in the community.