Racket Boys (Racketsonyeondan / 라켓소년단)

HAENAM, 10 YEARS AGO

Tae-seon!

It's your first training as a national athlete.

Good luck, and don't be nervous.

2011 NATIONAL ATHLETE TRAINING CENTER

EPISODE 13

Hello, sir.

Quit smoking, will you?

Go on.

Hello. I'm Kang Tae-seon.

What's with that voice? We're not the Youth Team, you know!

It's nice to meet you!

Don't talk nonsense.

Gyeong-min, go play a match with him.

-Just to warm up, all right? -Yes, sir.

Jeez, I'm late.

What? It's over already?

My gosh.

BADMINTON NATIONAL ATHLETE TRAINING

What? 21 to 14?

Yes! It's vacation soon!

"Yes"? Don't you know that vacation is just hell for us?

We're going to train all day long.

Did the program for the girls' division come out?

That doesn't matter, you know.

As long as we have her, we're going to the finals. You?

If we go to the semi-finals, we're playing against Busan.

For the finals, it's Seoul, where Park Chan plays.

How were the matches in Bangkok?

Chan won second place,

and Hae-kang was disqualified after a fight with his opponent.

He should be grateful that I didn't beat him up.

I heard yours got canceled because of rain.

Was it that bad?

The gym just drifted away in the rain.

When's the rematch?

It won't overlap with the NJSF, right?

No way. I'm sure we'll get the date soon.

There's someone coming today…

Hey, Jae-seok!

Come in.

The World Championships and the NJSF are on the same day?

The date for the NJSF was fixed

and we didn't choose the date for the Championships.

But the Championship match starts early, and the NJSF finals are in the evening.

What about Se-yoon?

You want her to play in the Championships and play again after a five-hour flight?

What if she misses the plane?

You know how Se-yoon is. Don't worry.

Jeez! Forget it.

I'm telling her to drop out at the semi-finals.

Coach Ra! Hey!

Yeong-ja!

You should pay for riding a new car.

Nothing is free in this world, you know.

Hey, Park Chan. Why are we doing this?

I don't know.

Because she's scary?

Jeez! When will we do all this?

Forget it. I'm not doing it.

Who's going to be the best player in Korea now?

The all-time best player, or a newly rising king?

All the badminton fans in Korea would be watching.

The best player is great at everything,

so he'd be great at digging potatoes, too.

All right! Let's go!

He's so childish. Park Chan, would you fall for…

They're mine!

-Genius! -Genius!

It's so hot.

-First place! -First place!

-I arrived first! -No, you didn't!

Yong-tae, who's first?

All right, the result of the watermelon race…

is a tie!

The next match is bringing drinks.

Okay? Get ready…

Set. Go!

-Hey! -Wait!

-That's enough. -That's enough.

Did you bring a knife?

You're killing me.

Whoever splits it gets to have a wish.

Next, Hae-kang.

Let's go.

-What? -Okay, this time for real.

One more time. Go.

-Take him away. -Let's go.

Take him away.

All right. Last competitor, Park Chan!

Let's go.

No! It didn't split!

It's a draw!

Mr. Hong said he'd give us melons.

I'm sure no one wants to go.

Just one person.

Whoever gets bit has to go without complaining.

-Go first, Se-yoon. -Me?

-Yes! -Yes!

-You're killing me! -You're killing me!

My wish!

Can I use it now?

Who do you want to send instead of her?

That's your wish, right?

No. My wish is…

to go with Se-yoon.

What? That's your wish?

Yes.

Let's go, Se-yoon.

Okay.

-Hey! -Park Chan!

He's so bold.

#JUST ONE #WELCOME TO THE COUNTRYSIDE

#SWEET PARK CHAN #ONE SHOT ONE KILL

This is a secret,

but someone high up is coming from Seoul to scout players.

-Scout? -Scout?

Hey, don't think about butting in.

Especially you, Yong-tae. There's no room for a little kid like you.

Gosh. Guys, I'm going to the bathroom. I have a stomachache.

What? Hae-kang! Are you running away?

-The bathroom? -The bathroom?

What's your goal, Se-yoon?

My goal?

I'm going to be a National Athlete, too.

You're so awesome.

What? Aren't you surprised?

I'm just a middle schooler right now.

Why would I be surprised?

You have the skills. I'm sure you can achieve that goal.

What's your goal, Chan?

My goal is to become a National Athlete with you, Se-yoon.

I want to compete in matches wearing the Korean flag with you.

Hey. Stop joking around.

I mean it.

But I'm worried

that I'll make you uncomfortable before the NJSF.

So I'm trying to be careful,

but it's difficult.

Because…

I have a rival now.

He's a strong opponent.

Yoon Hae-kang! What are you doing over there?

I just came out to get some air.

Se-yoon, I'll head back first.

What?

Hey. Let's go.

Wait, Se-yoon.

What is it?

I'm a huge coward.

You know I can't even go to the bathroom by myself late at night.

But…

I've been waiting for you here.

I was worried that you were alone with Park Chan.

Hey. Hae-kang.

And…

even if it takes you a long time,

I won't be bored at all while I wait.

Even during a match with a huge audience,

I can find you in one second.

I mean it.

Remember?

I told you I'll tell you a secret when I win at the NJSF.

That secret is…

I'm going to confess my feelings to you.

I just couldn't hold back today.

Gather around.

You all know who he is, right?

He's the head coach at Seoul Joongang Physical Education High School.

This is a secret, but he'll be the National Team coach next year.

Greet him.

-Hello, sir! -Hello, sir!

He's here to see you guys, so be on your best behavior.

-Yes, sir! -Yes, sir!

You must be busy preparing for the NJSF.

Go on with your training.

Can I talk to you, Hae-kang?

What?

I came here to ask you to join my team in Seoul.

What? But there are only four spots for first years.

Right. You must also know that competition is fierce

-since we pick from the whole nation. -Then why me?

I'm thinking of making a dream team with you and Park Chan.

And you will be National Athletes later on.

I guess Airhead will be going to Seoul soon.

Don't you feel upset?

I would go to Seoul if I were him, too.

I just don't have the chance.

Right. It would be easier to become a National Athlete, too.

Come on. You guys are skilled, too.

No way. There's no point saying that among us.

We should support him if he leaves.

What else can we do?

HAENAM SEO MIDDLE SCHOOL JEONNAM

Se-yoon.

Don't worry about the World Championship overlapping with the NJSF.

It won't be a problem even if you don't participate in the NJSF.

Coach, I really want to compete in the NJSF.

I asked my mom to come see me play

for the first time.