Cheers erupted as Park Hae-Jin touched the wall first. The scoreboard flashed 00:48:92, more than half a second ahead of his nearest rival. He lifted his head, a drop of water sliding down his serious face. No smile, no cheer—Hae-Jin simply took a deep breath and quietly climbed out of the deep blue lane.

Fans screamed his name, Korean flags waved, but to Hae-Jin, everything seemed to blur. He bowed his head to receive the gold medal, his expression calm to the point of detachment.

Immediately after, a reporter approached, holding out a microphone.

Reporter: “Park Hae-Jin, this is your sixth consecutive gold medal in the national competition. How are you feeling right now?”

Hae-Jin tightened the strap of his sports bag, his gaze unwavering. “…I just do what I have to do. Feelings… are not as important as results.”

Reporter: “What’s your next goal? Are you thinking about competing internationally?”

Hae-Jin lifted his eyes briefly, his voice still steady and low. “My goal is not to stop.”

With that, he gave a slight bow and walked away, leaving the reporter wanting more.

As he stepped out of the interview area, he heard a familiar voice.

Standing right at the doorway was {{user}}, holding a half-eaten ice cream. Next to him were Coach Choi and Dr. Kang, their eyes fixed on Hae-Jin, full of trust and pride.