Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: I Must Be a Genius
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I've realized something recently.
The U17 team I belong to is a team that could aptly be described as completely varied in every way.
This is because the team includes kids ranging from 14 to 17 years old.
As you know, boys at this age grow day by day.
So, while the youngest members are practically elementary schoolers, the older ones look like they could be mistaken for adults.
This U17 team is where baby hairs and beards coexist.
Thanks to that, the skill gap is also completely varied.
It's one team, but it's hard to even call it a single team.
Therefore, training is largely divided into two groups.
The starting lineup group and the bench group.
"Faster, even faster! Watch your breathing!"
I belong to the bench group.
In fact, when I first came to this team, I used to train with the starting lineup.
However, I couldn't keep up with the starting lineup training well, and at some point, I became a permanent member of the bench group.
It goes without saying that most kids training in the bench group don't get to play in weekend matches.
The match roster, including starters and substitutes, totals twenty people, and the starting lineup members are set to fit that.
So, if I want to play in a match, I first need to get out of this bench group.
To do that, I need to stand out in training starting from today.
But even if I get lucky and somehow get called up to the starting lineup, it's not the end.
There are ranks even within the starting lineup.
Out of the twenty, 11 are the real starters.
The other 9 are the bench, and out of those, usually only four or five get a chance to be substituted in.
The rest are basically just filling up the headcount.
In short, it means I have a long way to go.
My current position in this steep hierarchy is rock bottom.
The fact that I have to climb these steps within two weeks makes my head spin.
If Ji-woo knew this, what would she think?
She came with expectations, hearing things like soccer genius and whatnot, only to find out I'm not even good enough for the bench?
Ugh, I don't even want to imagine it.
Huff.
Well, they say even a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Let's focus on the present for now.
I just have to do the training in front of me step by step.
"Next!"
While I was steeling myself, my turn came.
After a deep breath, I step forward.
In front of a line drawn horizontally, three people, including me, line up.
A few steps ahead, cones are lined up in a row.
It's a basic training exercise where you dribble the ball and run, then zigzag through the cones with your dribble.
The goal of this training is to pass through the cones as quickly as possible without touching them.
"Ready..."
Crouching into a stance to prepare to burst out...
"Beep-!"
Tatatat-!
I burst out at the whistle.
When I arrive in front of the first cone,
I push the ball with the outside of my foot, then use that same foot to bring the ball inside and pass the cone.
Then, I switch feet and repeat the exact same process.
Passing quickly is important, but what's more important is precision.
The more rushed you are, the more the ball will bounce far away, and you'll end up touching a cone or straying far from the path.
It's actually faster in the end to dribble with the mindset of doing it accurately.
So, as calmly as possible...
Tuk, tuk-!
Holding my breath, I pass the last cone and use it as a turnaround point.
In my peripheral vision, I see the faces of the kids next to me.
This means I'm the fastest up to this point.
Tuk, tuk-!
I continue dribbling towards the starting line.
Accurately, as precisely as possible...
After cleanly passing the last cone,
I sprint at full speed to the starting line.
Huff!
I was the first to arrive.
It's only out of three kids, but... I didn't touch a single cone and passed cleanly, so this isn't bad at all.
"Okay. Next!"
Well, it's not like...
It doesn't really mean much anyway.
What matters is that I've confirmed a sliver of possibility.
The possibility that even a guy like me, if I try hard, can at least not fall behind.
When I was in Korea.
The reason I occasionally got told I was good was because I worked harder than others.
Back then, I had to work hard.
So I really did work hard.
But after coming here, I couldn't find a reason to work hard.
But now, even if it's an unwanted reason, a reason has finally appeared.
Who knows what might happen.
If I keep working hard, I might be able to exert abilities beyond what I currently have.
"Beep-!"
I'll give it a shot.
Anything's better than getting totally humiliated in front of Ji-woo.
Following the dribbling training, there were passing training, shooting training, and physical conditioning.
As such, the bench group's training program is strictly focused on basics.
They don't do separate tactical training.
After all, these are kids who don't play in matches yet.
Thanks to that, the bench group's training has the characteristics of being boring, tough, and unenjoyable.
Because of that, I always approached training with the mindset of doing just enough, hitting the middle ground.
My goal was just to avoid standing out to the coaches, to just blend in appropriately.
Of course, today was different.
I worked as hard as I could.
I pretended to be motivated even when I wasn't, and during the shuttle runs I hate the most, I even showed I could last until the very end.
It's been so long since I gritted my teeth and trained like this.
Since coming to Italy, I haven't worked this hard, so it's been almost three years.
"Okay. Good work, everyone."
Maybe it was thanks to that.
As training was ending,
I felt the coach looking at me intently.
It might just be my imagination, but... it was a look of surprise, like 'why is he doing that'?
Well, it could be my delusion.
But anyway, getting a look from him is better than nothing.
A coach who didn't even know I existed.
"Well, see you tomorrow."
Huff.
As soon as we were dismissed, I trudged towards the club house.
It feels like I'm going to die after giving it my all for the first time in a while.
I have to do this tomorrow and the day after too.
Can I do it?
I don't know.
If I can't, I'll have to anyway.
If I don't want to be exposed as not a soccer genius.
"Coach."
"Yeah?"
"Good news!"
"What is it?"
After training ended.
Luca Coach, who is in charge of the U17 team's bench group, spoke excitedly.
"That, you know Lee Ji-an?"
"Yeah. What about him?"
"He was acting a bit strange today?"
"How so?"
"Well, he worked hard. Not just hard, but like he was gritting his teeth."
"...Lee Ji-an?"
"Yes. I wonder what happened. Or is he finally starting to show improvement?"
Toni Lucco, the U17 team's coach, stroked his chin and nodded at Luca Coach's words about the noteworthy player from Korea, Lee Ji-an, who was not just diligent but training with fire in his eyes.
"Hmm."
Whatever it was, it was worth getting excited about.
Lee Ji-an training diligently? That's big news.
Indeed, this 16-year-old Asian kid was the most noteworthy player all the coaches were concerned about.
In fact, even before joining the team, it was Lee Ji-an who had all the coaches on edge.
The background is as follows.
They learned of the player named Lee Ji-an three years ago, through a program run by a Korean YouTuber.
At the time, it was a program with the purpose of having officials from several Serie A clubs test young Korean prospects.
The standout in that program was Lee Ji-an.
So much so that all the Serie A teams that participated picked him as their number one choice.
In the latter half of the program, the Serie A clubs were practically clamoring for him.
In the end, the one who took Lee Ji-an was Juventus.
Fiorentina had also put in a bid, but well.
The opponent was Juventus, so they had no choice but to give up.
Earlier this year, they heard the news that Lee Ji-an and Juventus had mutually agreed to terminate their contract.
According to a reliable source, the reason was as follows.
Lee Ji-an was having a hard time adapting to life in Italy.
Linguistically, culturally.
He couldn't adapt to his sudden life abroad and was isolated.
There were even rumors that he got into fights with his teammates.
Frankly, this was somewhat predictable.
Based on their evaluation at the time.
His soccer talent was beyond doubt, but there were some unstable elements in his personality.
How to put it.
Humans are such complex creatures that you can't define Lee Ji-an's personality in one word.
But one thing was certain: he wasn't the type to enjoy fierce competition.
Lee Ji-an was an incredibly shy kid off the field.
He hated being the center of attention and was very introverted. I even heard he has a pathological hatred of receiving pressure and burden.
This is what I heard from the soccer coach who guided Lee Ji-an at the time.
He said that once, before a tournament final, he called Ji-an in to motivate him, saying things like, 'You have to do it, we can't win unless you play well, can you do it?'
But, hearing that, Lee Ji-an vomited on the spot.
It was almost to the point of having a seizure.
As for the exact reason, it's unclear.
But the coach had a guess.
It had to do with Lee Ji-an's mother.
Lee Ji-an's mother was a passionate guardian who came to every match.
The problem was that after every match, she would always call Ji-an and scold him.
Even in matches he played extremely well in, she would scold him, saying that's not enough, he has to do better to become the best player.
She even did it in front of all the other kids.
When I asked if the coach just watched that, he said something like...
He said he couldn't do anything because in Korea, if you mess with parents, it's a big deal.
Well, that's beside the point.
Anyway... it was questionable whether a kid like that could adapt well to life abroad.
His style was one with significantly low self-esteem and confidence compared to his talent.
He was a case that required very careful management, but since Juventus was overflowing with prospects, perhaps they were a bit negligent in that regard.
The story has gone on a bit of a tangent.
Anyway, Fiorentina approached and brought in Lee Ji-an as soon as they got the news.
And they even held a meeting on how to care for him and set a policy.
Actually, it wasn't anything special.
It was just to wait.
Instead of giving him excessive attention, they decided to watch from the sidelines.
So that he could open his heart first.
"Is he starting to open his heart?"
"If that's the case, there's nothing better."
"I hope so. Luca."
"Yes."
"Don't act any differently. Just do as you always do."
"I know. I'll just watch. Like always, nonchalantly."
Coach Toni nodded.
Unfortunately, Lee Ji-an wasted almost two years.
He couldn't even properly play in matches at Juventus.
But 16 years old is still young.
His talent is beyond question... if he opens his heart again and focuses on soccer.
Fiorentina's future could change because of him.