Chapter 20 — The Selections
The sports ground had turned into pure chaos.
Students were running between tables, teachers shouting instructions, whistles blowing, clipboards flipping, and arguments breaking out everywhere.
Some students were excited.
Some were terrified.
Some were already trying to fake injuries.
Care had already moved away from the registration desk after giving her name.
She stood quietly near the running track, watching the chaos without expression.
A few minutes later, the group slowly approached the registration tables too.
Joong looked at the running field like it was a battlefield.
"Nope."
Ben laughed.
"You don't even know the events yet."
"I don't need to. I reject all physical activity."
Nova pushed him forward.
"Too late."
The sports teacher sitting at the desk looked up.
"Next."
One by one, the group stepped forward.
---
Cole
"Name."
"Cole."
The teacher scanned the sheet.
Then his eyebrows lifted slightly.
"Oh."
Another one with records.
"Basketball captain in school."
"District level swimming."
Students nearby murmured.
Cole leaned slightly against the desk.
"So?"
The teacher looked up.
"You clearly have experience."
Cole shrugged.
"I like sports."
He glanced briefly toward the running track where Care stood far away.
Then turned back.
"Basketball."
The teacher wrote it down.
"And swimming."
Cole added casually.
"And maybe relay."
The teacher nodded.
"Three events."
Cole walked away like it was nothing.
Joong whispered,
"Show-off."
Cole smirked.
"Jealous?"
---
Ben
Ben stepped forward next.
The teacher scanned the sheet.
"Ben."
He frowned slightly.
"Cricket team?"
Ben nodded.
"Yeah."
The teacher nodded approvingly.
"Cricket trials will be held."
Ben replied,
"Sign me up."
The teacher wrote it down.
"Any other event?"
Ben thought for a second.
"Shot put."
Joong burst out laughing.
"You throwing things now?"
Ben glared.
"Say that again."
Teacher wrote both events.
"Cricket and shot put."
Ben stepped away.
---
Daisy
Daisy stepped forward nervously.
"Name?"
"Daisy."
The teacher scanned the sheet.
Then paused.
"Recent medical note."
Daisy nodded quietly.
"I had pneumonia a few months ago."
The teacher looked at her carefully.
"So heavy sports are not recommended."
Daisy quickly asked,
"Can I skip sports then?"
The teacher shook his head.
"No."
She sighed.
"It's compulsory."
"But you can participate in lighter events."
He thought for a moment.
"Short-distance running maybe."
Daisy nodded slowly.
"Okay… 100 meters."
The teacher wrote it down.
Daisy was about to step away when another teacher walked over holding another sheet.
"We still need one student for the 500 meters race."
The first teacher looked at the list.
"No volunteers?"
The second teacher shook his head.
Daisy hesitated.
"500 meters?"
Both teachers looked at her.
"You can try if you feel comfortable."
Daisy took a deep breath.
"…Fine."
The teacher smiled.
"Good spirit."
He added her name.
"100 meters and 500 meters."
As she walked away, Joong whispered dramatically,
"She just signed her own funeral."
Daisy kicked his shoe.
"Shut up."
---
Nova
Nova stepped forward next.
The teacher checked the sheet.
"No previous records?"
Nova smiled.
"I don't do sports."
"Then you must choose one."
She rolled her eyes.
"Fine."
She looked around the ground.
Then pointed.
"Badminton."
The teacher nodded.
"Good choice."
She thought again.
"Add table tennis too."
The teacher wrote both down.
"Badminton and table tennis."
Nova walked away casually.
Joong muttered,
"Of course she chose indoor sports."
Nova winked.
"Smart people conserve energy."
---
Kevin
Kevin approached the desk adjusting his glasses.
"Name?"
"Kevin."
The teacher scanned the sheet.
"Hmm."
"No sports history."
Kevin nodded honestly.
"I prefer books."
The teacher sighed.
"Still need one event."
Kevin looked around the ground nervously.
Then pointed to a quieter area.
"Chess competition."
The teacher laughed slightly.
"Fine."
"Chess."
Kevin relaxed.
Then the teacher added,
"You still need one physical activity."
Kevin froze.
"…What?"
The teacher pointed toward table tennis.
"Try that."
Kevin sighed.
"Okay."
"Table tennis."
Two events written down.
Kevin walked away shaking his head.
---
Joong
Joong walked up dramatically.
"Name?"
"Joong."
Teacher scanned the sheet.
"Martial arts?"
Joong grinned proudly.
"Yes."
"Taekwondo black belt."
Students nearby murmured.
The teacher nodded.
"Then martial arts demonstration."
Joong saluted jokingly.
"Yes sir."
"Anything else?"
Joong looked around.
Then spotted volleyball.
"Volleyball."
Teacher wrote it down.
"Martial arts and volleyball."
Joong walked away proudly.
"Finally something fun."
---
Alex
Alex stepped forward quietly.
The teacher checked his records.
"Archery?"
Alex nodded.
"School champion."
Teacher smiled.
"Excellent."
"Archery trials then."
Alex simply nodded.
Teacher asked,
"Another event?"
Alex thought for a moment.
"Long jump."
Teacher wrote both.
"Archery and long jump."
Alex stepped away calmly.
---
Ash
Ash walked up next.
The teacher scanned the sheet.
Then nodded approvingly.
"Gymnastics background."
Ash smiled slightly.
"Yes."
Teacher wrote it down.
"Gymnastics."
"Anything else?"
Ash looked toward the basketball court.
Then toward the running track.
Finally he said,
"Basketball."
The teacher wrote both events.
Ash walked back toward the group.
---
Lyra
Lyra stepped forward nervously.
Teacher checked her sheet.
"Dance competitions."
Lyra nodded.
"Yes."
Teacher smiled.
"Then rhythmic gymnastics."
Lyra brightened slightly.
"Okay."
Teacher wrote it down.
"Another event?"
Lyra looked around uncertainly.
Then pointed toward badminton.
"Badminton."
Teacher wrote it down.
"Rhythmic gymnastics and badminton."
Lyra walked back to the group.
---
Care
Finally—
Care returned to the desk.
The teacher looked at her records again.
"Still choosing events?"
She nodded.
Students nearby were already whispering.
"That's the athlete girl."
"What will she pick?"
Care spoke calmly.
"Volleyball."
The teacher wrote it down.
"And?"
"Tug of war."
Students nearby looked surprised.
"That's team strength."
The teacher raised his eyebrows slightly.
"You sure?"
Care nodded.
"Yes."
The teacher added it.
"One more?"
Care looked toward the field.
Then said,
"Kabaddi."
The teacher paused.
"That's intense."
Care replied calmly,
"I know."
The teacher slowly wrote the third event.
"Volleyball, tug of war, and kabaddi."
When she stepped away, several students stared at her.
Three physically demanding team sports.
Joong blinked.
"…Did she just pick the hardest ones?"
Ben nodded slowly.
"Yep."
Nova muttered,
"With asthma."
Daisy whispered,
"That girl is insane."
Cole watched her quietly from a distance.
Care walked back toward the track alone.
No celebration.
No reaction.
Just quiet determination.
And for the first time—
The group realized something very clearly.
Care wasn't trying to prove anything to them.
She was fighting something far bigger than them.
And she had been doing it long before they ever met her.