Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Protect the Maknae - 1
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I've realized something recently.
Looking back now, I realize I was having some absurd thoughts.
Actually, after the match, I had planned to meet up with Dad and Ji-woo and head home together.
I thought we'd talk about today's game on the way, stop by a restaurant for dinner, and then walk home while enjoying the night streets.
But the moment I reached the stadium exit, I realized that was a ridiculous plan.
"Waaaaah-!"
"There he is!"
I was utterly flabbergasted.
The moment I stepped out of the exit, a massive crowd of people started screaming at me.
Of course, if they were just screaming, I would have thought it was for my seniors, not me...
"Lee! Lee! Lee! Lee! Lee!"
No, they're cheering and even calling my name. How could I not know?
Even I had to realize that this cheering was directed at me.
"You have to take responsibility, right?"
"Wh-what do I have to do...?"
When I asked, pale as a ghost, Senior Biragi shrugged his shoulders.
"Luckily, there are two ways to handle this."
"Two ways...?"
"Yeah. One is to tell the fans, 'I'm tired as hell, so get lost,' and then get on the bus. The other is to show your gratitude by signing autographs and taking pictures with them."
"..."
I listened seriously to the captain's words, fell into thought for a moment, and then let out a sigh.
Wait, how are those two options? One of them is basically becoming a piece of trash.
"Well, the choice is yours."
Man, this is driving me crazy...
I mean, of course, it's a thankful thing.
Who am I to get such a welcome, even knowing my name? I'm truly grateful.
I'm just a rookie making my debut today. I'm not even a full first-team member yet.
But that's exactly why I feel so awkward.
Are you telling me to do... 'fan service' right now?
Me? The fact that I even have fans is funny enough, and now you want me to act like some star and do fan service?
And in front of my senior players?
I'm so embarrassed I could hide in a mouse hole.
"Huuu..."
But I had no other choice.
I can't become a human piece of trash just because I'm embarrassed.
I had no choice but to steel myself and take a step forward.
To be honest, it was even more nerve-wracking than when I stepped onto the pitch as a substitute.
"Uwoooooah!"
"An autograph! Just one autograph!"
"I've been your fan for five years! Please, just one photo!"
"Start next week! If you play, I'll follow you to any away game!"
The moment I came out of the exit, low-pitched cheers erupted from all directions. If I hadn't understood Italian, I probably would have just apologized first.
The fans were so aggressive in pushing their jerseys toward me.
"Th-thank you."
I signed them one by one, my hands trembling.
Every now and then, there were fans trying to climb over the waist-high barricade, but thankfully, the team staff protected me.
Even Senior Biragi, who said he'd ditch me, didn't actually abandon me. Standing beside me like my bodyguard, he even helped sort out the traffic.
"Everyone! He's only sixteen! He has to go to bed soon! Let's call it a day here! I'll sign for those who didn't get one!"
"I don't want your autograph!"
"Huh? Who said that just now?"
Well, the process wasn't exactly smooth...
Anyway, just when I thought I might get a wrist injury from all the signing, Senior Biragi dragged me away, allowing me to escape the fan service hell.
To be honest, I could have held on, but I just pretended to be helpless and let the senior take me.
"Hey, you bastard! I haven't gotten one yet!"
"Get it next week, next week!"
"Who do you think you are, dragging the kid away like that?!"
"I'm the captain of this team, you bastard!"
Thanks to that, Senior Biragi ended up getting cursed out by the fans, but seeing him not back down made me admire him.
This is what it takes to be a captain here.
I probably couldn't be a captain even after ten years...
"Ugh..."
By the time I got on the team bus, thanks to the fans, I was completely drained. How can I be more exhausted now than right after the match?
Today was full of things I couldn't have imagined.
"Wow, this is great. Thanks to our youngest, we get to go home late. This is just great."
"*Snoring*... *snoring*... Huh, what? The youngest is here? I must have dozed off waiting."
"A youngest who makes his seniors wait. Now that's a proper youngest."
The seniors each had a word to say as I got on the bus.
Ah...
"S-sorry..."
I bowed my head and apologized, not knowing what to do, and suddenly the bus was filled with laughter.
"Hey, you bastards. You should know who you're pranking. You're gonna make him cry."
Senior Biragi, who got on after me, said, and the seniors who were giggling burst out laughing, holding their stomachs.
"It's a joke, a joke!"
"Hey, thanks to you, I'm leaving work without getting cursed at for the first time in a while. Of course it's a joke, you punk."
"Our new youngest has some great impact. This is gonna be fun from now on."
...Damn. I was really scared.
When I made a look of injustice at them saying it was a joke, the seniors' laughter grew even louder.
"Cute. Wanna sit next to me?"
"Hey, you crazy bastard! Stop it! Hey, kiddo. Ignore him and go sit in the back."
Senior Biragi shooed the seniors away and pushed me to the back seat, allowing me to escape their uncomfortable gazes.
...This isn't easy for a number of reasons.
"Huuu..."
I sat in the back seat and finally got some time alone, and I happened to look out the window.
The fans, lined up along the barricade, were still waving at the bus.
It still doesn't feel real that so many fans now know who I am, but it really does feel like something to be thankful for.
Who am I to...
"..."
I quietly took my phone out of my pocket.
And I took a picture, trying to capture as many of the fans outside as possible.
I should brag about this to Ji-woo.
*
"So what. Who cares."
"No, it's just..."
"Ah, you want me to praise you? Our Ji-an, you wanted to brag? Fine, I'll do it for you. Ahem. Wow! Our Ji-an is amazing! As expected, a soccer genius! The best, the best!"
"..."
Ji-woo sticks her thumb right in front of my nose.
...My face is burning.
I casually showed her the picture I took on the bus and now I can't even get my money's worth.
Let's just eat.
"Hey, but I was a bit disappointed."
"...With what?"
"Earlier, after you scored. How could you not find me? I was in a great seat."
"I... I did try to find you. But there were too many people."
Ji-woo crosses her arms and scoffs.
"Hmph. Then what about the celebration? Who was that for?"
"The celebration? That was, of course..."
Hmm.
"It was for Dad."
"Wow, wow..."
At my answer, Dad, who was eating quietly beside us, laughs. "Hoho. That's right."
Ji-woo pouts her lips and tries to pinch my side, so I quickly add,
"O-of course, it was for you too."
"Damn. You've really grown up, and when I say you've grown up, you get all cocky? Huh?"
"If you're jealous, you should have grown while I was growing."
"...Ha."
Seeing Ji-woo speechless and flustered made me laugh. Suddenly, the words the seniors said came to mind.
The part about having great impact.
Ji-woo has a pretty good impact too.
I was wondering why the seniors kept teasing me, but seeing Ji-woo, I understood a bit.
If the impact is this good, even I would want to keep teasing her.
Of course, it's not like I'm cute like Ji-woo... or feel that way.
Anyway, as I was eating with a grin on my face, Dad asked me.
"Did you know about it?"
"About what?"
"That you were going to play today."
"Hmm..."
I shrugged.
"No. To be honest, I didn't know. But..."
"But?"
"I was prepared for it. I did want to play."
At my words, Dad looked slightly surprised.
"You wanted to play?"
"Yes. If I didn't play... you and Ji-woo would have made the trip for nothing. So, well, I did want to play."
"Hmm..."
Dad looked at me, nodded, and then said after a moment.
"Weren't you nervous or scared?"
I let out a small, hollow laugh at that question.
I mean, of course...
"...Well."
I was about to say I was scared to death, but I shut my mouth for a moment. Come to think of it, Ji-woo is listening.
I can't say I was shaking like a coward.
"I was a little nervous, but more than being scared, I was excited."
"Excited?"
"Because I wanted to show you. Me running..."
To be honest, it wasn't just a little nervous; I was so nervous I couldn't think of anything.
But it's not entirely a lie.
There was a bit of excitement, that's for sure.
And the fact that I wanted to play was also true. I thought that the whole time I was on the bench.
Of course, at the same time, I also had thoughts of not wanting to go, but I guess the desire to play was a little bigger.
Because I wanted to show them.
Me running.
"How cool."
Dad, who was looking at me, gave a sly smile and showed me a thumbs-up.
Then he said to Ji-woo, who was eating.
"Right?"
"...Huh?"
"Isn't Ji-an cool?"
"..."
Ji-woo, with her cheeks puffed out from food, looks at me. Then she opens her sleepy eyes and looks at me.
This kid sends messages with her face too.
It's exactly 'ㅡ_ㅡ'.
"I don't know? Not sure?"
"Huh? But earlier you were screaming about how cool he was."
"Pfft!"
"What, what's wrong?"
At Dad's words, Ji-woo suddenly covered her mouth.
What, what is it? Why is she suddenly about to spit out her food.
"*Cough, cough.*"
Her face turned red as she coughed, and Ji-woo said, looking incredulous.
"When did I ever?!"
"Huh? At the stadium. When Ji-an came on as a sub, and when he got the ball, and when he passed..."
"Th-that's enough! Stop!"
Ji-woo almost stood up from her seat, reaching out to cover Dad's mouth.
Her face got even redder, turning almost the color of tomato spaghetti.
"Hahaha! Alright, alright."
"Pfft..."
Dad laughed at the sight, and so did I.
I told you. The impact.
"Damm it..."
As I watched Ji-woo pick up her fork again, pretending to be sulking, I thought this moment was quite enjoyable.
The fact that I wanted to play, that I wanted to show a cool image.
And that I trained hard for all that, it all felt like it was for a moment like this.
···
"Hey! Who's this! Our team's pride! The prodigy who appeared like a comet! The hero of a debut match and a debut goal! It's Ji-an!"
"Co, Coach..."
"Haha!"
It's Monday today.
I let out a deep sigh because of Coach Luca, who made a big fuss the moment he saw me.
Why is he making a scene in the neighborhood, it's embarrassing.
"Welcome. Your luggage is over there. You just need to take it."
"Yes... Thank you..."
This morning, I got a call from the coach to come to the U17 training ground. He said he'd packed the stuff from my locker and told me to come get it.
When I asked what he meant, he answered like that.
From today, I am officially a first-team player.
So, he was saying I wouldn't be going back and forth between the first team and the U17 team, but would be staying with the first team from now on.
"Well, it's fine to say goodbye to your friends before you go, right?"
"Ah, yes."
Well... I've already played my debut match, so it wasn't sudden, but it still felt a bit abrupt.
Me, a full first-team player.
To be honest, if you think about it, the fact that I played my debut match was just a bit of luck.
I somehow made the substitute list, and somehow the opponent was the weak Genoa team, and somehow a situation where we were comfortably leading 2-0 was created, so I somehow ended up playing my debut match.
I was just a bit lucky, and now I'm becoming a full first-team player, so it feels a bit burdensome.
I also feel like I have to work even harder from now on.
"Oh, Ji-an."
"I saw yesterday's game!"
"Wow, it was really amazing!"
As I headed to the training ground with the coach, the kids who were warming up spotted me and waved.
"Keep doing what you're doing even when you're there!"
"Yeah, thanks."
"I knew you'd do well. I'll be following you soon, right?"
"Yeah. See you soon."
I shook hands with the kids one by one and greeted them. Suddenly, the day Gino went to the U19 team came to mind. Back then, Gino seemed so amazing, and now I'm in that position.
Well, it still doesn't feel real.
As I was awkwardly greeting the kids...
"Ji-an."
"Ah, Bruno."
Bruno extended his hand to me with a serious expression. As I took his hand, Bruno said.
"You're a real genius. You know that, right?"
"Yeah...? No, I'm not. What am I..."
"Hey. A sixteen-year-old making it to the first team, if that's not a genius, what is? Being too modest is an insult to us? If you're not a genius, what does that make us? Right?"
"..."
Bruno said it with such a serious expression that I shut my mouth for a moment.
I almost reflexively denied it again, but the comment that being too modest could be an insult made me slightly shocked.
Bruno smiled and said.
"Show them when you get there too. Your talent. You're the face of our U17 team now, aren't you? Show a good impression to the seniors and the director and coaches. That way, we can benefit from it too, right?"
"Ah... Yeah. I get it."
"What did you say?"
"...The face of the U17 team."
"Good."
Bruno nodded vigorously, and I nodded too.
"Alright, let's go. I'll take you."
After saying goodbye to the kids, I left the training ground I had grown fond of with Coach Luca.
With luggage in my hand, I couldn't help but feel like it was really the last time.
Also... the words Bruno gave me on the way to the first-team training ground kept echoing in my head.
I suddenly thought that being too modest and lacking confidence might be an unpleasant sight for someone.
It was a thought I'd never had before... I was grateful to Bruno for teaching me.
Right.
From now on, I won't show any signs of weakness, at least on the outside.
From now on, the image of the U17 kids could be determined by how I act.
So, I should be responsible about it.
I'll be confident.
With that thought, I straightened my shoulders and arrived at the first-team training ground.
"Ooh, the youngest is here."
"Our cute kiddo is here. Come here and sit. I'll help you stretch."
"Youngest. Don't ever go near that bastard."
"Hey, you bastards. Are you gonna start messing around the moment he arrives? The kid's frozen."
"That's why he's cute. So what."
The moment I faced the seniors again, with their bulky builds, beards, and tattoos, I couldn't help but apologize to my friends in my heart.
Sorry, guys...
The face of the U17 team you're thinking of... here, it's just a toy that's fun to tease...
"Hey! Youngest! Come here next to me!"
"Hahahaha!"
Sorry...