Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Being Honest is Easier - 1
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I've realized something recently. Humans are creatures of adaptation.
"Hey- Do your best today too!"
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
It's the path to the training ground after finishing the morning class.
I exchange greetings with a familiar middle-aged man who greets me warmly and move on.
The man who greets me looks familiar, and I, receiving the greeting, am quite skilled at it too.
It's as if we're a pair who exchange greetings every morning.
...
Truthfully, he's a stranger.
I don't know who he is. I'm seeing his face for the first time, and of course, I don't know his name. I just receive the greeting since he greets me first.
Still, I've gotten a little used to these kinds of things.
I've gotten somewhat used to these awkward situations where I don't know the person, but they know me.
To be honest, I didn't think I'd get used to it.
I thought I couldn't get used to it. It was that difficult at first.
Of course, it's good that they give me a word of encouragement, but it felt strange that the person giving me that greeting was someone I didn't know at all.
How should I put it.
If I were to put it negatively, it feels like I'm being watched.
To be honest, it was a bit scary too.
I once told Ji-woo about this story without thinking. When was that. About a month ago, I think.
On the way home after eating at my house and dropping Ji-woo off at their place, we were talking about this and that, and I probably said it then.
That it's really annoying that strangers recognize me.
Actually, 'annoying' wasn't quite right; 'scary' was the more accurate expression, but I couldn't say it was scary in front of Ji-woo, so I just said it was annoying.
Well, anyway.
Back then, Ji-woo said this.
It's something to be grateful for, so accept it gratefully.
You'll get used to it anyway, so it's fine.
But even after you get used to it, don't take it for granted, and continue to be grateful.
To be honest, even now, the feeling of being burdened is bigger than the feeling of gratitude. The feeling I get from the cheers directed at me. Of course, I mean the cheers from strangers.
But as Ji-woo said, I am getting used to it.
I thought I could never get used to it.
So, if I get even more used to it from now on, will the feeling of gratitude come first?
I don't know if that day will come or not, but I should keep Ji-woo's words in mind.
Ji-woo doesn't always say the right things, but at least he's the type to keep the promises he makes... There's something to learn there.
Ji-woo: Do your best at training today too. Ji-woo: Listen well to the coach and the coach. Ji-woo: Especially listen well to the senior players. Ji-woo: Huh? Ji-woo: You got it, right??
It's like this even now.
It's a training session I go to every day, but he sends me a message telling me to do my best as if it's something new.
I would have done my best anyway even if he didn't say anything, but I'm getting used to this kind of encouragement too, so I won't forget to be thankful.
Me: Got it.
Me: I'll do my best.
Me: See you in the evening.
My head itches. I washed it before coming out, but it's weird.
I scratch my head as I walk towards the training ground.
*
"Hey, hey. Run harder, harder!"
"I can see your feet. I can see your feet."
"If you're just going to coast for a week, you should train harder~"
The training ground is especially lively today.
The players who rested during the Verona match are playing a light mini-game, and the players in recovery training are watching them and giving commentary.
"Tsk, tsk, you're slow, slow~ That's why you can't make the World Cup squad."
"Oh, come on, you're so loud!"
Thanks to those seniors, I pedal on the stationary bike, trying to hold in my laughter.
Then, a thought suddenly occurs to me.
This atmosphere seems quite enjoyable.
Truthfully... last week, and the week before, I felt a bit empty.
That was the week when several players were absent because of the national team.
Back then, it felt a little desolate... but now that everyone is gathered like this, it feels like it's full.
It's a strange thing.
When I first joined the first team, everything felt terrifying.
Especially the seniors with full tattoos, just looking at them made me feel solemn.
But now, they all just feel familiar. I'm realizing once again how terrifying familiarity can be.
"Hey, by the way, where did Dusan go?"
"Dusan? He's probably lifting weights inside."
While I was lost in thought, the conversation of the seniors next to me reached my ears.
Now that I think about it, I don't see Vlahovic senior anywhere.
Hmm.
Now that I think about it, Vlahovic senior has felt a bit different lately. Not just today, but before too, there were many times when he was nowhere to be seen.
During breaks, he didn't even talk much with the other seniors.
I did hear something.
The story that Vlahovic senior might be leaving the team. I heard it from the owner of the fruit store when I was buying bananas, but anyway.
Well, I don't know if it's true or not yet.
It's just that there's a rumor going around.
No one, not just Vlahovic senior, but the other seniors too, has ever brought this up.
He might leave, or he might not.
But, if I think about Vlahovic senior leaving the team... it feels strange.
I don't know why, but for sure, it's not a good feeling.
I suddenly remember the time I first came to the first team and had my first training session. After that training ended, Vlahovic senior said this to me.
"I like you, kid."
To be honest, I was so out of it back then I didn't even know what was what.
I don't even remember how I played at all.
But, even in that situation, that one line is strongly imprinted in my memory, so it seems I really liked hearing it.
Well... how could I not.
Everything was shaking, and I was frozen, not knowing if I did well or not, when I heard those words.
My heart pounded at that one kind word Vlahovic senior offered so readily.
On top of that, my first impression of him was a bit scary, so that might have made his image change completely.
Anyway, after that, the senior took good care of me. Not just during training, but during matches too.
It felt like he was accommodating me a lot. Who am I to deserve it.
So maybe that's why the match against Verona was a bit of a burden for me.
It seems I was relying on Vlahovic senior quite a bit without even realizing it.
Well, anyway...
Vlahovic senior got along well with me like that, and he had no problems getting along with the other teammates either.
We played soccer quite happily.
At least on the surface, there seemed to be no problems whatsoever.
And yet, they say that senior might leave the team. That's why I feel a bit strange.
Of course... I know it too. That's how the world of professionals works.
Professionals don't choose a team just for the sake of their relationships with teammates or the joy of playing soccer together. I know there are more important values.
That could be money, or it could be the size of the team.
There are all sorts of complicated adult circumstances tangled up in it.
As I'm not an adult, I don't know about those things yet.
I just find playing soccer here quite enjoyable and my mind is at ease... so if Vlahovic senior leaves the team, I won't be able to understand him deeply.
Hmm.
I just... don't know.
Maybe I too, in the future...
"Yeeeeee-!"
A boisterous sound from the training ground cuts my wandering thoughts short.
I look up and see Bonaventura, who was in the middle of a mini-game, cheering after scoring a goal.
He ran around cheering as if he'd scored in an actual match, then jumped up high and shouted as he landed.
"Ji──woo────!!"
"...Kek, kek!"
And I choked on my spit.
*
"Um... Senior?"
"Huh? What is it?"
"That, earlier... you did some kind of celebration earlier, didn't you?"
"Celebration? Ah, that?"
After training ended.
I approached Bonaventura senior and asked him casually, and he grinned.
The senior crouched down again and, without a word, recreated the celebration from earlier.
"Ji──woo────!!"
"..."
"This, you see?"
No, I mean...
I didn't mishear.
What is this?
I furrow my brow and look at the senior, and he just keeps grinning as he speaks.
"What? You don't know Ronaldo's celebration?"
"That... I do know it..."
"Right. So I was imitating it."
"That, it seems a bit different from the one I know."
No, I know the celebration itself.
I saw the kids doing that celebration all the time when I was at Juventus.
But... the pronunciation seems a bit different. Was that my illusion?
While Bonaventura senior was just grinning, Captain Biraghi came over and slapped the back of his head.
"Hey, you punk. Why are you teasing the kid again?"
"How am I teasing him?"
"Why are you shouting out someone else's girlfriend's name?"
"What girlfriend. We're not dating, are we? Right, rookie?"
I was so flustered I couldn't answer.
Instead, I asked back.
"That... how did you know the name..."
"Ah, I met her yesterday. In the stands."
"You met her...?"
"Yeah. I was watching the match, and the Korean friend sitting next to me was cheering for you like crazy. Every time you got the ball, she'd stand up and shout. I figured it out just by looking. So we talked a bit."
At Bonaventura senior's words, my heart sank for a moment.
The captain might not know, but this senior is a bit too much.
"What... did you talk about?"
"Huh? Just, you know, we talked about you a bit. How long you've known each other, how you came to Italy, what kind of relationship you have. Something like that?"
"...Why would you talk about that?"
"Well, it's just fascinating, isn't it?"
Ha, really.
This is ridiculous. Why are you talking about me when I'm not there...
And besides.
Why are you asking what kind of relationship we are.
"...So, what did she say?"
...But I'm curious.
What Ji-woo would have said.
When I asked, Bonaventura senior shrugged his shoulders and answered.
"She said you're just childhood friends. She said you're not dating."
"...That's right. I told you that."
"I just thought you were being shy about it. But it really wasn't the case. So I asked if I should introduce her to a nice girl from our youth team."
"...What did you say?"
What the hell is this?
I glared at Bonaventura senior with my eyes wide open, and he raised both hands as if to tell me to calm down.
"Whoa, whoa. Why are you getting so mad. You just said you're not dating."
"No, I mean..."
"Well, the reason is obvious, right? You like her, don't you? If not, why would you be so mad."
...I let out a sigh for a moment.
The breath I exhaled was as hot as if I were in the middle of a match.
He's right.
I did get angry for a moment, but why did I get angry?
There's no reason to.
As I sat there with a sulky expression, the captain next to me spoke.
"She was cheering for you like crazy. She was calling your name even before you came out, jumping up and down every time you got the ball. She got angry when you got fouled. She was as happy as if she'd scored herself when you scored. That's something to be thankful for, isn't it?"
"...Who said I wasn't thankful."
"If you're thankful, you should repay her a little."
"I did a lot. I bought her meals, I bought her gifts..."
When I mumbled, Bonaventura senior clicked his tongue.
"Oh, you kid. Do you really think she's cheering that much just because you're really friends? A gift is something you give the other person what they want. What do you think that is?"
"...What is it. That."
"You're asking because you don't know?"
I'm asking because I don't know, of course...
"Rookie."
"Yes."
The captain speaks.
"A person's heart isn't visible to the eye. So if you don't express it, you can't know. Misunderstandings don't just happen for no reason."
"..."
"Sometimes, the best thing is to show your heart honestly, just as it is. If you don't, there will definitely be a moment you'll regret later."
"..."
"Be honest with your own feelings. Then, the one who will feel at ease is you. Honesty is a feeling you hold for your own sake."
When I didn't answer, Bonaventura senior tapped his own chest as if frustrated.
"You kid who only knows how to play soccer. And you call yourself an Italian man."
"...I'm Korean."
"Oh, really? Then from today on, be an Italian man."
...What is he talking about.
When I pouted my lips, the two of them laughed amongst themselves as if something was funny.
"Is it funny?"
"It's funny. What's more fun than the love stories of 16-year-olds."
"...I'm going."
I shook my head from side to side and turned around.
Now that I think about it, Coach Luca and Director Toni were like that, and Director Vincenzo was too.
I wonder what's so interesting about other people's stories.
"Rookie! Do your best!"
"There's a saying in Italy. He who only waits will starve to death!"
"You know what the guys here are like, right? Don't regret it later, do it right now!"
Ah, geez.
Just leave me alone.
"..."
I headed home with my lips pouted out.
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