Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The Uncles Are Obsessed with Me - 2
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After finishing training, on the way home.
The Coach drove me home himself, and he had a lot to say in the car as well.
"Eating is more important than you think. For athletes."
He especially emphasized the diet.
He said there's a proverb in Italy.
That what you eat defines who you are.
He told me to eat well, since eating is that important.
When I asked how I should eat, the Coach even taught me directly how the first-team players structure their diets.
Basically, you need to get a balanced intake of nutrients, but for protein, white fish is better than meat whenever possible, and steaming is better than frying or grilling, and so on.
He taught me in great detail.
He said that players who really take care of their bodies don't even use salt on their food, but since I'm still young, he said I don't need to go that far.
He told me not to be too restrained, but to eat three clean meals a day and eat what I want in between.
Anyway, he said that what you eat can change your condition and even prevent injuries.
So as soon as I got home, I tried to prepare my own diet.
I bought what looked like pre-cleaned white fish from the supermarket in front of my house and tried to grill it roughly...
Ugh.
It was a taste no human should have to endure.
If it had no taste at all, I could have just chewed and swallowed it, but a strange, foul smell kept rising from it.
I must have inherited my dad's lack of talent in cooking.
So, I had no choice but to ask Ji-woo for help. I asked if she knew how to cook fish,
Ji-woo: White fish? Like a fish steak? Ji-woo: You want me to teach you how to make it? Ji-woo: Wait a sec. Ji-woo: It'd be faster for me to just make it for you than to teach you.
Thankfully, Ji-woo came running over right away.
Then, after seeing my "creation," Ji-woo let out a sigh, clicked her tongue, and whipped something up in no time, then handed me a decent-looking fish steak.
"How is it?" "Hmm... It's way better than what I just made." "Right? Edible, isn't it?" "More than edible, it's delicious." "Hehehe."
At my review, Ji-woo laughed with an arrogant expression. Seeing her like this, Ji-woo has a simple side to her too.
To make Ji-woo feel good, all I have to do is tell her the food she made is delicious. Then she's happy no matter what.
...But this is really delicious, though.
It's the exact same fish I used, so how is it so different?
It's amazing. So this is what they call talent.
When I gave her a thumbs-up, Ji-woo, who had swept her hair back with her hand, said:
"But, he told you to gain weight, right?" "Yeah. More precisely, he told me to increase my weight." "To how much?" "For now, around 68, 69 kilos." "What are you now?" "66."
The Coach said he wanted me to try and gain just 3 kilos before winter comes.
He said it's true I need to supplement my physique more, but it's not good to force myself to gain fat or anything.
If I change my body too quickly, my balance can easily break down, and the risk of injury actually increases.
So instead of forcing it, I decided to just eat properly to gain weight naturally...
For that, I should learn a few simple recipes from Ji-woo.
What I made earlier was practically a punishment...
"But why the sudden weight gain? Did he say you're too skinny?" "Yeah." "Hmm. Is that so? The other kids don't seem to have that much of a difference from you." "The kids are different. But now, it's not just the kids I'll be playing against."
Ji-woo tilted her head at my words.
I shrugged and said:
"Now, I'll be playing against the unni's too." "Unni's?" "The first team. The Coach said I'm not on the same level as the kids my age anymore. Didn't I tell you? I'd be up there in a year. But, well, it didn't even take a month." "Ooh. You're really crazy, Lee Ji-an. Then, I'll be busy from now on too, huh?" "...Why?" "You have to gain weight, right? Then I have to make you delicious food. How are you going to gain weight eating stuff like that?"
Hmm.
That would definitely be difficult.
"Still, you don't have to go through the trouble of..." "That's enough. When I offer to make it, you just say 'Thank you, unni'. Here, say it." "...What?" "'Thank you for feeding me, unni.' If you don't, I won't make it." "..."
Ji-woo crossed her arms, smiled, and looked down at me, as if telling me to get on with it.
Man, I have my own pride too.
Does she think I'd say something like that?
"Thank you for feeding me, unni." "Not 'kiwi' (feed). 'Grow'." "...Thank you for growing me." "Unni." "Unni..."
Ughhh.
If I had just a little more talent for cooking, I wouldn't have to suffer this humiliation.
As I lowered my head and spoke, I could hear Ji-woo's laughter.
I don't get treated like this outside, you know. Why can't I win against Ji-woo?
Hmm, no.
If I can get food with a single word, haven't I actually won?
Right, right.
"Bring out all the ingredients you have. I'll make it so you can eat it as a packed lunch." "Hehe. Okay." "...What's with that weird laugh?" "Huh? Ah, nothing."
Watching Ji-woo's mood skyrocket just because I called her 'unni' once, I could only laugh.
She's surprisingly simple, isn't she? Seriously.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Haaah..."
I let out a long breath as I trudged towards the locker room.
I was completely drained.
I trained with the first team again today, and as expected, it was tough.
They're no joke, no joke at all.
"Hup."
I took my bag from my temporary locker, grabbed my phone and lunch box, and headed outside.
Then I found a shady spot and opened the lunch box. It was the lunch Ji-woo had made.
Fish steak, white rice, three broccoli florets.
She even added color with tomatoes.
Even though it was for me to eat, she packed it prettily for no reason. She said cooking is all about presentation or something.
Anyway.
Just as I was about to eat Ji-woo's lunch,
"Oh, good. Good."
A loud voice from behind startled me, and when I turned my head, it was Coach Vincenzo.
The Coach smiled and sat next to me, then looked inside my lunch box and said:
"Wow, that's a nice lunch box. Your father's handiwork?" "Ah, this? Um, a friend packed it for me." "A friend?" "Yes. I have a friend who's majoring in cooking..." "Ah, your girlfriend, then." "...Who told you that?" "Huh? I heard it from Toni."
I sighed.
"...She's not my girlfriend, just a friend." "Ah, I see. My apologies. But your friend packed your lunch box so prettily. A friend." "...Yes." "Eat, eat. Make yourself comfortable."
He told me to eat comfortably, but honestly, I couldn't eat comfortably.
The first-team Coach is sitting right next to me, how can I eat comfortably...
Still, I picked up my fork and started eating the lunch.
"...So, in the end, soccer is..."
Even while I was eating, the Coach was telling me all sorts of things, so I nodded along as I ate.
When I first saw him, I couldn't have imagined it, but Coach Vincenzo was more talkative than I thought.
Today during training, he stuck right next to me and coached me the whole time.
It was a little burdensome, but most of it was like "Good job, good job!", so I just gratefully accepted it.
Since I'm the only youth player, he seems to be paying extra attention. The fact that he's here again, giving me good advice...
I'm really grateful... I am grateful...
"Eat heartily, heartily. Want some water?" "I-I'm fine."
Hmm...
Hey, Lee Ji-an! No bad thoughts! How dare you think that about the Coach...!
Anyway.
While I was stuffing my face with rice, listening to all that great advice,
Wooong-
I felt a vibration in my pocket, took out my phone, and it was a call from Coach Toni.
I asked for Coach Vincenzo's permission and answered the call.
-Hey, yeah. Ji-an. Training done for the day?
Maybe because we'd grown close, hearing Coach Toni's voice at the first-team training ground made me really happy.
He asked if training was going okay, if anyone was giving me a hard time, if anyone was bothering me to be sure and tell him, etc.
He asked so many things, unlike his usual self, so I told him I was fine, and there was no one bothering me...
While I was on the phone...
"...?"
Coach Vincenzo tapped my shoulder, so I turned my head, and the Coach mouthed, "Who is it?"
I mouthed back that it was Coach Toni, and Coach Vincenzo frowned and held out his hand.
"Give it here." "...Huh?" "Give me the phone." "Ah, yes."
Do the coaches have something to talk about?
When I handed it over, Coach Vincenzo immediately raised his voice.
"Why are you bothering the kid on the phone? Ji-an is eating right now, so hang up."
Then, the voice from the other side of the phone also got louder.
-And what are you doing next to him, Coach? He can't even eat in peace.
Then, they continued the call, both raising their voices as if they were about to fight.
...What on earth are they doing right now?
"Here."
After having a heartwarming conversation for a long time, Coach Vincenzo handed the phone back to me, and when I took it, I heard Coach Toni's breathless voice.
-Ji-an. Don't forget to come to our training ground tomorrow. We have to prepare for the weekend match. "Ah, yes. I understand." -Good. If Coach Vincenzo bothers you again, tell me right away. Got it? "Ah... Yes..."
I answered while glancing around nervously, then hung up the phone.
Then Coach Vincenzo immediately asked:
"Why is he calling you on the phone to bother you? Isn't he?" "Huh? Ah, yes..." "Tsk. Tsk."
...Man.
I really don't know why both of them are acting like this...
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After training with the first team on Tuesday and Wednesday, I trained with the U17 team again on Thursday.
I don't know why, but Coach Toni welcomed me with open arms. It was almost like a puppy that had run away from home was back...
Anyway.
After training amidst a热烈 welcome, we headed to the city of Parma on the weekend.
We were playing an away match against the team Parma Calcio.
"Alright, let's go! Forza-!" "Viola-!!"
They said Parma was no pushover.
They're running 4th in our group, and they've won their last 3 matches, so they're on a roll.
Especially since their defense is solid and they don't concede many goals, I thought my role would be important.
But strangely, when I stepped onto the field, I didn't feel any tension at all.
The tension that I should have felt... I didn't feel it. It was an important match with my role being crucial, and the opponent was no pushover...
It's hard to explain.
It's a really arrogant thought, but to be honest, all the kids seemed like pushovers.
To my eyes.
I thought about why, and I think it's because I've trained with the first team.
Well, it was only for two days, of course.
But still, I learned a lot during those two days.
I felt a lot of things.
After training against first-team seniors who are active in Serie A, trying to face the kids playing in the U17...
Honestly, I didn't think it would be difficult at all.
This isn't me being arrogant, but maybe it was just natural.
When you think about it, I'm the only one who got ahead. I'm getting private tutoring that others would kill for. And if I still didn't find those kids easy, that would be the strange thing.
So I went into the match with confidence and a sense of responsibility.
The responsibility that I can't fail after enjoying such a privilege, and the confidence that those kids are nothing compared to the first-team seniors.
Maybe because of that, the match went easily and well.
After seeing the first-team seniors' defense, the opponent's defense had so many gaps.
It was to the point where I wondered if the U17 level was this disorganized.
The defenders trying to stop me one-on-one didn't feel threatening at all.
Even when it wasn't one-on-one, but one-on-two, it was the same.
"Nice-!!" "Good!"
I scored a whopping 3 goals in the first half.
It was the first time since coming to Italy.
I had recorded a hat-trick.
Seriously, even I found it amazing how easy soccer felt.
"Ji-an, good work. Let's call it a day for you here." "Ah, yes. I understand."
So the first half ended.
The Coach substituted me, and I sat on the bench for the second half.
While watching the game,
"Ji-an. Come here for a moment."
The Coach called me over.
He had me sit next to him and asked how I felt about today's match, and I hesitated for a moment before answering honestly as I felt.
It felt much easier than usual.
"Hmm..."
At my answer, the Coach seemed to think for a moment, then spoke again.
"Then, how about trying to play with the first team next week?" "Next week...?" "Yeah. Coach Vincenzo said he wants to include you in the squad for the league match against Genoa." "Ah..."
So suddenly?
It was a bit sudden, so I couldn't answer quickly.
Then the Coach said:
"Honestly, I had some reservations even after recommending you for the first team. I didn't expect Coach Vincenzo to want to use you this quickly. I thought we'd have time until winter." "..." "So it's a funny situation where I recommended you and now I'm trying to hold you back. Because if the situation changes too suddenly, you might get flustered. But, after seeing you today, it looks like you've learned a lot while training with the first team." "Ah, yes. I learned a lot." "Then, it's all for the best. If you're okay with it, I have no reason to hold Coach Vincenzo back. What do you think?"
At the Coach's question, I suddenly recalled the feeling I had while playing today's match.
Also, what Coach Toni had told me before, and Ji-woo, who had even packed a lunch box for me.
Hmm...
After a moment of thought, I nodded and answered.
"I'll try."
My conclusion was that there was no need to be afraid.
"Alright. Got it."
The Coach nodded and patted my shoulder.
But...
Why does he look so wistful?