Sung-won sat at the breakfast table like he was in a dream. The table was just as he remembered it—slightly scratched from years of use, with a tiny crack in the corner where his younger cousin had once slammed a toy truck. The smell of doenjang-jjigae wafted through the air, rich and earthy. His mother hummed a song he hadn't heard in over a decade.
It felt like time had been rewound, pixel by pixel, moment by moment, down to the smallest detail.
"You're quiet this morning," his father said, glancing over his newspaper. "Nervous about school?"
Sung-won blinked. "Huh? Oh… yeah. School."
It hit him—he really was sixteen again. That meant high school classes, homework, teachers, and uniforms. But it also meant something else.
He had time.
Time to avoid his mistakes.
Time to train.
Time to dream again.
After breakfast, his mother fussed over his uniform. "Your tie's crooked," she said, gently fixing it like she used to. Her hands were warm. She smelled like lavender and fabric softener.
He could barely speak, afraid his voice would crack.
"Mom," he finally said, "can I go to the driving range after school today?"
She smiled. "You haven't been in a while. Want me to make you a snack to take with you?"
He nodded, eyes misty. "Yeah… that'd be nice."
At school, everything felt surreal.
His classmates were younger versions of people he now barely remembered. Friends who had drifted. Rivals who had grown distant. Teachers who would eventually retire. He walked through the hallways like a ghost in his own life.
But something had changed.
This time, he had knowledge—of people, events, outcomes. He remembered which teachers to avoid, which friends would stab him in the back, and which tournaments would shape the future.
More importantly, he had the System.
A glowing blue window floated at the edge of his vision whenever he focused on it:
[Super Golf System - Beginner Mode Activated]
Status:
Strength: 5
Swing Accuracy: 6
Mental Focus: 4
Stamina: 5
Skills:
Ball Trace Vision (Lv. 1) – See the predicted flight path of your ball for 2 seconds. Cooldown: 10 minutes.
Missions:
Complete your first practice swing today.
Bonus: Avoid injury to unlock "Perfect Swing Foundation" passive.
During math class, Sung-won nearly jumped out of his seat when a new message popped up:
[Hidden Challenge Available]
"Don't doze off in math class!"Reward: +1 Mental FocusPenalty: Teacher's Wrath (and maybe detention)
He quickly straightened up.
The System was watching. Always.
He wasn't sure if it was some AI, a dream, or divine intervention—but if it could really help him return to golf... he'd take it.
After school, Sung-won jogged to the local driving range, his old one. The place was nearly empty. Rows of green mats stretched under a cloudy sky. A few middle-aged men were already hitting balls. The sound of clubs cracking against golf balls echoed in rhythm.
His heart pounded. He stood at his old stall—#17, his lucky number.
The moment he picked up a 7-iron, the System buzzed to life.
[System Alert]
Equipment detected: 7-Iron (Standard Steel)Form Analysis: 63% CorrectSuggestion: Square your hips, loosen your grip, and adjust stance by 3 degrees.First Swing Objective: Maintain posture, avoid muscle strain.
He took a breath. The metal of the club felt cold and familiar in his hands. He could still remember the pain of his old injury. The tear in his shoulder. The slow, heartbreaking rehab.
Not this time.
He positioned himself. Deep breath in. Focus.
He swung.
The club cut through the air with a clean whff—the ball cracked and soared high into the sky.
Time slowed.
A glowing arc traced the flight path of the ball, courtesy of the Ball Trace Vision skill. It soared straight, then curved slightly right before landing nearly 150 yards downrange with a soft bounce.
[DING!]
Mission Complete: First SwingReward: +1 Strength, +1 Swing AccuracyPassive Skill Unlocked: Perfect Swing Foundation (Lv. 1)Description: Your body automatically adjusts to minimize stress on key muscle groups. Reduces injury chance by 30%.
Sung-won stared at the ball's landing spot, heart racing. No pain. No tightness. The form felt… natural.
He tightened his grip on the club. A smile crept across his face.
He swung again.
Another clean hit. Then another. And another.
[Stamina -2][Ball Trace Vision: Cooldown activated][Micro-adjustments applied. Swing Accuracy improving...]
He wasn't just swinging anymore—he was training. Every swing was data. Every motion was recorded and analyzed. The System wasn't just helping him play better—it was turning him into something more.
Not just a high school golfer.
A future champion.
As the sun began to dip behind the clouds, Sung-won finally stopped. His arms were tired, but he was grinning ear to ear. The spark that had died inside him so long ago had returned.
He packed up his gear and looked up at the sky.
"Thanks for the second chance," he whispered.
This time, he wouldn't let it slip through his fingers.