The Chick Class Hunter is Being Filial

"Ball rolling means rolling the ball, that’s the rule! Team 3! Eliminated!"
“Eh?!”
“What?!”

Pop!
Startled, Veilach lost control of his strength and burst the ball.
Fssssss—

In front of the deflated ball, two kids and a chubby bird stared blankly at the announcer.
“Oh dear, my little cuties. Too bad, but you’re out.”
Thanks to Guru’s team, the Red Team scored another free point.

“Waaaaaah—!”
“We won!”
The Red Team’s Giraffe Class kids stopped rolling their ball and ran to hug each other.
Guru was pushed out to the outer line by the teachers’ gentle guidance, trembling her fists in frustration.

Then she gave Veilach a pouty side-eye.
Veilach, sitting on the ground, {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} was unable to accept reality.
“We lost? Why? What the heck is a chojangdojang?”

[Blue 10 : 17 Red]
Starting with ball rolling, the Red Team's score began climbing rapidly.
Games were happening all over, and cheers and shouts filled the whole playground.

Guru’s Blue Team was falling far behind.
If this keeps up, Gwuu gonna wose da tabwet PC……!
What awe da Blue Team fwiends even doin’? Cold sweat trickled down her back.

Shoouwd Gwuu use da secwet winny move?
“No time fow dis. Bayi, wet’s go tuu da next game.”
Guru pointed to the “Pinata Smashing.”

***
A mandatory event for kindergarteners—Pinata Smashing!
It was a game where you smash a “pinata,” a gourd-like thing made in the shape of animals or stars.

Inside the gourd were candies or toys, and all the participant had to do was whack it with a stick until it broke.
Fitting for the kindergarten-only category, the field was packed with little kids.
“Gwuuuuu!”
“Gwuu, hewwo!”

Guru waved back at the kids who gathered around her and told those asking about Veilach that he was her cousin.
Meanwhile, her team’s opponent was announced. Numbers 8 and 9 from the Red Team’s Squirrel Class!
Squirrel Cwass… dey sent out monsteews……!

Each class had a max of ten students, and numbers were assigned by height.
Which meant that Guru, number 1, and the Squirrel Class’s numbers 8 and 9 were in totally different leagues in terms of growth.
In a game like Pinata Smashing, where striking strength mattered, such a huge size gap was obviously going to decide the winner.

“……”
Veilach rested a hand on Guru’s shoulder, sensing her slumping mood.
“Master, it was my strength that—”

“Nu-uh dis time.”
Shake shake.
She’d tried to cheat in the ball rolling and failed.

Gwuu… wasn’t faiw.
Sports were supposed to be fair, but she’d just been happy when Veilach helped her lift the ball.
Guru now stood proudly in front of the horse-shaped pinata, gripping the bat together with Veilach.

No cheatin’ dis time.
—Which is why Guru hid a fork in her sleeve.
“Hiyap!”

Guru pretended to smack the horse with her bat, and stabbed the pinata with the fork hidden in her sleeve.
Pop!
Flutter!
From the burst pinata came a rain of candies and shiny paper.

“Waaaaah— Candy!”
“Gwuu’s da best!”
“Amazing!”

The kids swarmed in to grab candy, showering Guru with praise.
“Blue Team wins!”
“How… how did number 1…?!”

As the devastated kids from the losing team watched, Guru handed Blue Team their first win—and realized something.
As long as it looked fair, that was good enough.
***

Meanwhile, Serhi, who had been secretly following Guru and filming her with a phone, blew a bubble with his gum.
“Guru’s cheating.”
Gidan, holding a camcorder, grinned.

“That’s the Hyeonak way.”
No wonder they had a reputation. Serhi snorted a laugh, then suddenly asked,
“Aren’t you playing in the games?”

“You?”
“……”
“……”

The two clamped their mouths shut and went back to filming Guru.
They’d each been ordered to film Guru—Gidan by Jurim, and Serhi by Jin Siwon.
Because Guru had strictly told everyone not to come today, the mission had been handed off to their respective school-oppa.

Besides them, someone else—presumably sent by Doan Group—was also following and filming Guru.
Well, not to mention all the paparazzi and strangers who recognized her; they weren’t exactly a threat, so no one was stopping them.
But the way Gidan and Serhi were acting was becoming a liability for Blue Team—since the school had split the teams based on student ability.

With the two strongest members filming instead of participating, it was no wonder the Blue Team score wasn’t keeping up with the Red Team.
[Blue 119 : 130 Red]
Guru, still sneakily carrying her fork, was tearing across the schoolyard with Veilach, sweeping up victories—

[Blue 129 : 147 Red]
Stiww not enough…?
The score kept widening.

Guru sat in the shade, pouting as she took a short break.
Her tiny shoulders drooped.
Zombie Huntew…….

Guru picked up her phone.
On Jurim
Keep your watch on and call if anything happens. Got it?
On Suhyeong
Guru, Grandpa has lots of time today, so later, if you want…

Shin Nayeon
You told me not to come, so I’m a little sadㅠ Still cheering for you…
Iromi
My baby, fighting! Let’s definitely meet next time!
Amid the flood of encouraging texts, the Hyeonak underage group chat popped up.

Guru, remembering yesterday’s chat, typed a message with a heavy heart.
▶ Hyeonak Minorz Group Chat
Yesterday

Which team awe you in?
Serhi
Blue
Gidan
Blue lol

Gwuu's in Blue Team too!
Gidan
Oh di ˃ ᴗ ˂
GwuuGwuu same team as Oppaw!

Wet’s do our best togethew!
Gidan
(Fighting emoji)
Serhi
(Flag emoji)

Today
Bwue team suckz.
Wite?

(Pouty squirrel emoji)
Serhi
For real.
Gidan
lmaoooo

I guess Blue Team's kinda trash today (´;ω;｀)
How about Oppaws?
Awre you winning?

Gwuu twyin’ weawwy hawd.
But Blue Team keepz woosing (cry)
***

“……”
“……”
Serhi and Gidan.

Blue ribbons tied around their wrists and forearms fluttered in the breeze.
They glanced over the messages again, and Serhi chewed his gum, grumbling,
“Why you slacking and making the kid cry?”

Gidan shot back like it was absurd.
“Just me?”
“Well… you trying alone would’ve been enough.”

“Wow, you’re actually blaming me?”
“Yeah, it’s facts.”
Shaking his head, Gidan stretched out his limbs.

“Bald junior, stop scheming and get moving.”
“Who you calling junior?”
The two immediately headed toward the playing field.

***
“Waaaaaaaaaaaaah—!”
A loud roar echoed from afar.

Guru flinched and turned around, startled.
Is dat da high schooow side?
At the same time, Blue Team’s score suddenly started skyrocketing.

[Blue 140 : 147 Red]
OppawOppaw!!
Did ya see Bwue Team’s scoowe????

Serhi
Yeah.
Gidan
Looks like Blue Team's finally trying!
Swowpoke Bwue Team ᕙ( ︡’︡益’︠)ง

Yeah (cry)
Gidan
Was our baby weawwy upset?
It’s aww okay now!

(Squirrel emoji holding a fist up)
Bwue Team iz twying now!
Gidan
lmaoooooooooooo

Serhi
Good for her.
Gidan
lmaoooooooooooooooooo awww so cute