On the first day of his senior year, Sehun was called into his councilor’s office. He wasn’t one to skip such a thing so he showed up, although he decided he wasn’t going to look happy about.

“Mr. Oh, this is your fourth year here and we are very proud of your aptitude for academics but unfortunately, the lack of your physical curricular activities are beginning to worry us.” Ms. Choi, the councilor, her furrowing in a way that told Sehun she meant business.

“Worry you?” Sehun repeated, misunderstanding why this was indeed such a pressing problem.

“Unless you become an active member of a sports team, you won’t be able to graduate.” The councilor stated.

“You’re kidding, right? So you’re basically going to force me to join a sports team?” Sehun objected, more harshly than he had anticipated.

“Technically speaking.” Ms. Choi answered, her gaze intense on him.

Sehun sat for a moment, completely dumbfounded. There was an awkward silence before he asked, “You want me to leave now, don’t you?”

Ms. Choi nodded curtly and ordered, “You are dismissed, Mr. Oh.”

Sehun collected his bag, shaking his head incredulously as he walked out into the bustling hallway. He knew nothing about sports and frankly, he would do anything to avoid them. Was chess a sport? Probably not…

He shook off the idea and continued down the hallway when he spotted a poster that read:

FOOTBALL TRYOUTS.  3PM. ANYONE WELCOME TO TRY OUT.

Sehun sighed, figuring that this was some type of sign from whatever was up above so he decided to head to the tryouts after school.

Later…

“Alright, boys. I have the most patience in the world and also the least. I will be leading this team to victory, I can promise you that. If you’re not interested in anything but winning, you have permission to leave now.” A young guy wearing a whistle around his neck barked at the students that gathered around the football field.

“This isn’t soccer, boys. This is war.” The guy shouted and as Sehun tentatively neared the field, he recognized him as Kim Minseok, or Xiumin as he insisted people call him, a recently graduated student who was a leading goal scorer in his time at the school.

Why the hell do I even know that?, Sehun asked himself as he shifted uncomfortably behind the crowd of other students.

“Luhan, do you think that by being late you’re going to set a good example as our new captain?” Xiumin scolded to someone running up behind Sehun. He turned around and saw Luhan come to a halt beside him.

“Sorry, coach!” Luhan called to Xiumin, but rolled his eyes once Xiumin turned his attention to someone goofing off at the front of the crowd.

“He can get a bit emotional. Prepare yourself for that.” Luhan whispered in an advisory tone to Sehun.

Sehun was shocked that Luhan was even talking to him but he was in even more surprised when Luhan winked at him. Sehun felt his cheeks go red but after the initial exchange, Luhan’s eyes stayed glued on Xiumin.

“Alright, enough talk. Time to run the weak ones off. Line up!” Xiumin ordered and the students all trickled into a line.

Sehun was surprised to see that Luhan had stuck beside him. As the rest of the guys prepared, Sehun couldn’t help but watch Luhan stretch. Sehun tried to fake his own sort of warm up but he soon gave up, deciding he looked too much like a fool anyway.

“On your mark…” Xiumin screamed, his face turning red with intensity.

The line of boys stilled as they took their starting positions. Sehun simply copied Luhan.

“Get set…”

“Good luck!” Luhan shared with Sehun, with a smile on his face.

“Go!” Xiumin screamed and everyone took off, besides Sehun.

“Thanks…” Sehun muttered, caught up in the moment of recognition he had just gotten.

When he saw that he was the only one on the line, he chastised himself for getting so trapped in a moment of thought and he hit the ground running.