Chapter 4: Reunion on the Court

Season 1 was held in an apartment in Seoul, probably due to budget constraints.

Seasons 2 and 3 adopted a travel concept, with residences in Gangneung and Jeju Island, respectively.

But this season’s concept was to capture the cast living together while also going about their usual daily routines naturally.

From the start of the location scouting, they deliberately chose a place that would allow for good filming while maintaining accessibility from Seoul.

The navigation voice announced that the destination was nearby.

Soon, a fairly large two-story mansion appeared ahead.

It looked like a villa one might find in a luxury tourist area.

It had the feel of a pool villa that could easily cost hundreds of thousands per night.

Around it, the production staff moved busily.

“Ah, Player.”

“Hello, PD.”

PD Kwon spotted Woo-joo and gave a brief greeting.

The staff quickly attached a microphone to Woo-joo.

“Today is the first meeting day, so we’ll focus on capturing that. As this is an observational variety show, cameras are set up throughout the house. Of course, the bathrooms are excluded.”

He continued to explain in detail how the filming would proceed.

The key was to act naturally.

He emphasized repeatedly that Woo-joo didn’t need to worry too much about the cameras.

The first shoot began.

Woo-joo slowly entered the house, dragging his suitcase.

It seemed the other cast member hadn’t arrived yet.

The staff probably gave slightly different arrival times.

Naturally, Woo-joo was curious about the house he would live in for a month.

This place was more accurately described as a mansion rather than a house.

The first floor had a clean interior and a modern, stylish feel.

It contained a room, a bathroom, a kitchen, a living room, and a study.

Going upstairs, the atmosphere changed.

A tidy, white-toned space had another room, a bathroom, and a room with a giant home screen for watching movies.

Stepping outside, a wide garden stretched before him.

Tables and chairs were set up for sitting, and there was even a small vegetable garden.

Around the garden, there was an outdoor pool for swimming.

“Must’ve cost a fortune…”

Woo-joo muttered softly as he reentered the living room on the first floor.

As the PD said, cameras were installed everywhere.

He had been worried about acting naturally, but it felt surprisingly comfortable without anyone shadowing him.

“Who’s coming?”

Woo-joo sat on the sofa, lost in thought.

Probably a celebrity?

An idol? An actor?

He wasn’t particularly interested in celebrities.

He worried that if the other person arrived and he didn’t recognize them, it would be awkward.

About fifteen minutes after Woo-joo arrived, he heard the front door open.

“Huh?”

Startled, Woo-joo sprang up from the sofa.

Finally, they were here.

His heart raced with anticipation and curiosity.

It was funny.

He hadn’t felt this nervous even before important matches, yet here he was, anxious over something like this.

The sound of shoes being removed, slippers sliding on the floor, footsteps slowly walking down the corridor.

A strange, familiar scent brushed past his nose.

Finally, the person walking down the corridor came into view.

Woo-joo’s eyes widened.

“…Won Ji-tae?”

“Kang Woo-joo.”

The person opening the door was Won Ji-tae.

He had been Kang Woo-joo’s goal during school, the one he wanted to surpass, and his everything back then.

Now, he stood silently in front of Woo-joo.

[Wonjang High School vs Daehyun High School Practice Match]

“Out!”

Woo-joo’s serve arched high and far, landing well beyond the line.

“Ehk.”

An indecipherable sound escaped Woo-joo’s mouth, signaling failure.

The student acting as the referee raised a flag and blew the whistle.

Clearly, unmistakably out.

“Yes!”

The Wonjang High teammates celebrating with high fives.

“Kang Woo-joo, what was that just now?”

“That guy’s a spy from Wonjang High.”

“Shut up. Say sorry.”

“Your ‘sorry’ attitude doesn’t look very convincing, senior.”

Woo-joo sighed and stepped onto the court.

As expected, his teammates immediately started teasing him enthusiastically.

“If this were a real match, the coach would’ve killed you.”

Park Hyun-jin, predictably, was the most excited, pointing at Woo-joo.

He didn’t bother to argue.

If that serve had happened in a real match, Woo-joo probably would’ve had to run ten laps around the field.

Now Wonjang High prepared to serve.

Among the gathered teammates, one tall player bounced the ball, ready to serve.

Beep-.

The whistle blew.

The opponent smiled toward a single target.

“Oh, that bastard…”

Woo-joo slightly turned his head, biting his lip.

The opponent tossed the ball high, ran at full force, and smashed it down.

The ball flew fast over the net, landing perfectly in the empty back court.

Beep-.

A perfect serve ace.

Wonjang High scored again, and their team cheered.

“Wow, Won Ji-tae’s serve accuracy is insane.”

“No wonder pro teams are already eyeing him.”

Wonjang High ace Won Ji-tae.

With his already impressive height, he was regarded as the best high school spiker.

“Hey, hey, calm down. Woo-joo might explode.”

Park Hyun-jin’s warning naturally drew the team’s eyes to setter Kang Woo-joo.

As expected, he glared fiercely at Won Ji-tae.

“See that? He served right in front of me. Such an unlucky bastard.”

Woo-joo squinted, muttering.

Won Ji-tae turned, looked at Woo-joo, then made a mock gesture under his eyes, sticking out his tongue slightly.

A clear taunt.

Daehyun High teammates sighed, anticipating the predictable drama.

Wonjang High felt the same.

Around the provoked Woo-joo, a figurative firestorm seemed to rise.

The two young men, ablaze with competitive spirit, resumed the match.

The practice match lasted several hours.

Normally, three sets would suffice, but the two’s intense competitiveness added two extra sets.

The final set score: 3:2, Daehyun High victory.

After the match, the students began tidying up.

Since the practice was at Daehyun High, they naturally handled the cleanup.

“Hyun-jin.”

“Yes, coach?”

Daehyun High volleyball coach approached Park Hyun-jin, who was diligently collecting balls.

“Kang Woo-joo, where did he run off without cleaning?”

“Ah… he probably went to do his usual thing.”

“Usual thing? Anyway, tell him to come to me when he’s back.”

“Yes, sir!”

Hyun-jin saluted and replied obediently.

“Did he go to challenge Won Ji-tae again, Kang Woo-joo?”

At that moment, junior libero Jo Su-hyuk slowly approached Hyun-jin.

“Of course he did.”

“It’s crazy. Even with different positions, why do they fight every time they meet?”

“Leave them be. They’ve been like this since middle school.”

Hyun-jin and Su-hyuk’s gaze naturally drifted toward the gym entrance.

As predicted, Woo-joo was stomping around, fiercely searching for a single person.

“Hey, are you a first-year?”

“Huh? Ah, yes…”

The first-year student, still adjusting to the volleyball team, shook his head nervously.

“Where is that Won Ji-tae guy?”

Woo-joo’s intimidating presence froze the student in his tracks.

“Hey, why are you bullying our junior?”

At that moment, another student approached.

It was a familiar face to Woo-joo—Wonjang High’s starting setter and third-year captain, Yoon Jae-yeon.

“Lee Hoon, go help pack up the gear.”

“Yes… yes!”

The first-year student, freed from Woo-joo’s attention, bolted toward the opposite side.

“Good. You’re close to Won Ji-tae, right? Where is he now?”

It didn’t matter who stood in front of him.

Woo-joo had only one goal: to confront Won Ji-tae.

He was a bulldozer, charging straight toward that single objective.

“Don’t know? I’m not that close to him.”

“What?”

Woo-joo’s interest quickly waned.

If he didn’t know Won Ji-tae’s location, there was no reason to waste time.

He tried to walk past, but Yoon Jae-yeon, smiling, blocked his way again.

“Wait, why are you so impatient?”

“Why? What is it?”

“I have something to show you too.”

Yoon Jae-yeon rummaged in his tracksuit pocket and pulled out a phone, holding it in front of Woo-joo.