Chapter 58
Chapter 58
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: The Deposit Has Been Made
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I'm not exactly a broad-minded person.
If anything, I'm quite timid.
Maybe that's why.
As I stepped out for the second half, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.
I wished the kids from the Juventus U17 team could watch this game.
Because they'd be so jealous if they saw me now.
Those kids were still in the youth academy, while I—the one they used to torment—was playing against the first-team players they revered like gods.
Would they have ever imagined I'd end up like this?
Probably not.
...I didn't know either.
"Huuu-"
Anyway, thinking about that put me in a good mood.
The corners of my mouth kept rising on their own.
Call me a punk if you want.
I won't deny it.
I am a punk.
So what?
What's it to you?
Thwack-!
I one-touched the ball coming my way and moved.
The opponent still seemed eager to press me, but I wasn't going to make it easy for them.
I kept exchanging one-twos with my nearby teammates, almost teasing them as I held onto the ball.
Normally, my lungs would be burning by now.
Especially since I'd exerted so much energy in the first half, I might've already been signaling to be subbed out.
But right now, my body felt light.
Like I'd been reborn, as fresh as the new uniform I'd changed into for the second half.
So I couldn't help but smile a few times as I passed the ball.
The opponent probably didn't like that.
Wham-!
I caught the ball and turned, but stars were swirling before my eyes.
For a second, I thought I'd slammed into a wall, but when I looked up from the ground, I saw a chest.
...A human chest.
And it was rock hard.
I could be that tough too if I...
"You little shit!"
"Hey! Know your limits!"
As I was lost in my useless thoughts, sharp shouts erupted from around me.
My seniors were yelling and swarming around me.
"Wanna die, you prick?"
Wait, this is weird.
How did Milenković, the center-back, get to my side first?
The captain was right when he said this guy plays soccer just to fight.
"Are you okay? Stay here for a moment."
Someone put a hand under my arm to help me up.
It was Sapona.
In fact, not just my seniors but the opposing players were swarming in too, making the situation around me look really ugly.
I was wondering if I should join the fight, but Sapona pulled me out, so I managed to escape the chaos.
Hmm.
Still, I should probably do something.
"Let go. I have to...!"
"Ah, ah, stay right here. What if you get hurt? Leave the messy business to your seniors."
I tried to shake off Sapona's hand, but he hugged me even tighter.
Phew.
Thank goodness.
I was worried he might let me go, thinking it was the manly thing to do.
Wait... but...
"...Aren't you going, Senpai?"
"...Huh?"
"Are you, by any chance..."
"Ah, no. Do you really think I'm staying here because I'm scared? Ha! Someone has to stay behind to protect you!"
...Why do I get the feeling he's just bluffing?
What was it someone said again?
Well, anyway, I had to save his face, so I just said thanks.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Seeing the situation was getting out of hand, the referee blew his whistle repeatedly like a traffic cop and squeezed between the players.
But it didn't look like things would calm down easily.
Our fired-up seniors were lunging as if they were going to kill someone, and the opposing team, having nothing to gain by delaying, was pushing them back.
But in the next moment, the situation reversed.
The very players who had been trying to break up the fight suddenly started charging at the referee.
Because the referee was pulling out a yellow card, then a red card, one after another.
"Wow, time flies, huh?"
"...Indeed."
I watched the spectacle with Sapona, enjoying the show.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Don't fall back! Stay up!"
I nodded at my seniors' shouts and stopped moving.
After the red card, the opposing team, now in a desperate situation, was gambling on an all-or-nothing strategy.
They'd pulled their entire line up and were attacking more aggressively, to the point where they'd left only the bare minimum of players in the back.
I thought about dropping back to help with the defense, but I decided to trust my seniors and hold my position.
Defending a single point is important, but what's even better is extending the lead by another point.
And that was my role.
As I was thinking that and trying to hold my ground, I saw it.
Thwack-!
The opponent's cross was cut off by the captain's foot.
He then passed the ball to Bonaventura.
The moment I confirmed that—
"..."
"..."
My eyes met Vlahović's as we both turned at the same time.
It was just for an instant, but I felt like I could see his thoughts in his eyes.
Did he read my mind too?
Tatatat-!
Vlahović and I both took off in our respective directions at the same time.
Vlahović went left, I went right, based on the goal.
The opposing defense running alongside us numbered only two.
Whooshhh-!
I heard the sound of a long pass being launched and turned my head slightly to check behind me.
It was coming my way.
A low, fast pass was flying into the space that had opened up in front of me.
Tatatat-!
I put power into my legs and ran.
The grass was still damp, so if I got too impatient, I was likely to slip.
Shwoooong-
Bonaventura's pass was curving to the right anyway, so if I just ran enough, the ball would come to me.
Tatatat-
Thwack-!
I caught the ball as it landed in the right half-space.
I settled the ball and cut diagonally toward the opponent's goal.
Only one defender stood in my way.
The situation was the same for Vlahović on the other side.
So then...
it was better to take the defender on one-on-one rather than trying a pass here.
Tock, tock-
The defender, who had already positioned himself while I was controlling the ball, took a few hesitant steps back.
Matching his hesitant rhythm, I tapped the ball forward with the outside of my left foot.
I didn't know how far he planned to retreat, but a little more and we'd be inside the box.
It was time for both of us to make a decision, so...
I moved first.
Tock-!
I stepped into the defender's rhythm with a syncopated move.
I shifted my weight to the right while pushing the ball to the left.
Tat-!
The defender staggered and hurriedly chased after me.
But I was one step ahead.
Thwack-!
I cut the ball diagonally to the right again.
With that move, the defender, whose reaction was already late, twisted his body to change direction again.
But in that process—
Splaaash-!
His foot slipped, and his legs split wide open.
Fortunately, he didn't fall, but it wasn't hard to get past him as he was on all fours with his back to me.
I brushed past his back, which had "Bonucci" written on it, and successfully broke through.
Tat-!
Having successfully entered the box, I put all my weight on my right foot.
Booooom-!
As expected, I extended my foot and struck the ball hard.
The shot crossed the box diagonally, heading for the far post.
Zwaaaaah-
The speed of the shot as it skimmed over the water-logged grass was startling, even to me.
So it was only natural that the keeper's outstretched hand was far too late.
Wham-!!
My second goal rattled the net.
I glanced back and saw the Juventus players slumping to the ground.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
As the second half wore on, the opponent's legs grew heavier.
They were already losing, and on top of that, they were down a man.
They had to run not just one, but two extra miles.
The additional goal that burst out in that situation seemed to sap the last of their remaining strength.
"Yeeeeeeeah-!"
In the end, we scored another goal before the 80th minute.
Vlahović slotted in a through pass I'd threaded from the center with his left foot, driving the final nail in the coffin.
I felt a little disappointed when I saw some of the crowd leaving as soon as that goal went in.
Stay and watch a little longer.
"Great job!"
"How much better are you planning to get?"
"Stop being so good, kid! You're starting to freak me out!"
Just after the 80th minute, I was substituted and left the field.
Considering the opponent and the score, I just accepted my seniors' fawning over me.
Right now, it felt like anything I did would be accepted.
Beep, beep, beeeep-!
And so, when the 90th minute passed and the final whistle blew...
We all cheered and poured out onto the field.
I don't remember what happened after that too well.
When I came to my senses, I was already in the locker room, surrounded by naked men dancing around like savages.
...I was thinking of having a video call with Ji-woo after the game.
I guess I'll have to give up on that.
I can't corrupt Ji-woo's eyes.
"...Hm?"
I frowned at the sight of the savages and lowered my head, only then realizing I was holding a white uniform in my hand.
Why do I have a Juventus uniform?
...Ah, I remember.
After the game, I was sharing the joy with my seniors on the field when someone came up and asked to swap jerseys.
Number 10.
The name on it was Dybala.
Hmm.
Now that I think about it, I remember him being incredibly handsome.
I took my phone out of my locker.
As expected, messages from Ji-woo were already piled up.
Jeez, the flattery...
I chuckled and sent a reply.
As soon as I sent the message, a reply came right back.
Hmm...
I scratched my head and sent a reply.
...This time, a reply didn't come right away.
I waited for a long time, but there was no response.
Finally, after 5 minutes, a reply came.
As I checked that message...
Uh, what's this?
My cheeks are rising.
This is weird, seriously...
"..."
I pressed my cheeks down with my hand and turned on the internet.
Then I searched for a shopping mall in Turin.
I thought maybe I should buy a gift to take home.
No, it's just...
We beat Juventus.
So I'm in a good mood.
So I can buy a gift to take home...
···
"Th-this way, please. This way."
"Open it. Hurry!"
Maurizio's face turned pale as he walked down the corridor out of the stands.
The fans who were leaving the stadium ahead of him were smashing everything in the corridor as they went.
If he got caught here, he might actually die.
He opened the door to the staff-only access route like he was making an emergency escape and finally let out a sigh.
"Son of a bitch..."
A curse slipped out.
What the hell is this?
A 0-3 loss at home?
And losing by conceding two goals to that little brat?
Does that make any sense?
"Che cazzo..."
I had told them to make sure he wasn't even seen.
And now he's the only one I can see.
That little brat, and only him.
The entire game, too!
"...Looks like I've really screwed the pooch."
A look of deep worry crossed Maurizio's face.
He couldn't think of a solution, no matter how hard he tried.
Just from the atmosphere at the scene, the fans' opinion would be at an all-time low because of today's game.
They'd say things like, "You let a prospect like that go for free, but you sink 80 million euros into an older striker?"
They might start throwing stones, calling them a bunch of idiots.
That's not just a figure of speech.
The fans here would really throw stones.
"..."
Maurizio, walking down the corridor, hurriedly pulled out his phone from his pocket.
He made a call.
Soon as the other person picked up, Maurizio blurted out.
"The money!"
...Yes?
"The funds we allocated for the winter recruitment!"
Ah, yes. Go ahead.
"We need to change its direction."
Direction...?
"We need to change the target. Shift it a little to the side."
Ah, understood. I'll schedule a meeting for tomorrow.
Maurizio nodded and hung up.
Whatever he did, the situation was already shot.
But there was one, and only one, way left to go from being "a bunch of fucking idiots" to just "a bunch of idiots."
It might mean having to kneel before a 16-year-old player...
But there was no other choice.