Chapter 63
Chapter 63
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: First Christmas -3
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I was relieved.
Truly.
If I had known in advance that today was Christmas Eve, and that Eve was a day when you were supposed to do something...
I probably would have gotten beaten up by Ji-woo.
"How's this? Is it okay?"
"...It's okay."
"No, look more closely and give me a proper answer. Is it really okay?"
"I looked closely. I said it's fine."
"You looked closely? Where?"
"..."
I turned my head away from Ji-woo, who was giggling as she teased me, and let out a sigh.
Ji-woo and I had made plans to go out to the city center in the evening, and right now, I was helping her pick out what to wear then.
I don't get why she's agonizing over it so much when she could just wear anything.
Actually, Ji-woo had casually asked me last night.
"You're training tomorrow too, right?"
I didn't realize it then, but thinking about it now, that was a question I had to answer carefully.
"Tomorrow... I'm not going to train tomorrow."
"...You're not? Why?"
"It's a vacation after all. I need to have some days off."
"Hmm. Is that so?"
When I said I was resting tomorrow, I could see Ji-woo's expression brighten, even though she tried to hide it.
She had asked casually, as if it was nothing, but that wasn't the case at all.
"So... what are you going to do?"
"Well. I was thinking of maybe... going to the city center or something."
"With the大叔?"
"My dad? He said he's going golfing with the Coach and the other coach."
"Hmm. Is that so?"
My dad, the head coach, and the other coach. When she heard that these three men had plans, Ji-woo's voice became even brighter.
"What about that guy, Gino?"
"He said he's going back to Palermo this evening. He's going to meet his family."
"Ah, really? Hmm... So it looks like it'll just be the two of us going out then."
"Well... yeah."
"Alright, then. Let's do that then."
When she heard that Gino was leaving, her mouth twitched, and she dashed back into her room.
And now...
"I think I'll have to wear this."
"...If you were just going to pick whatever you wanted, why did you even ask?"
"Well, because I'm the one wearing it, so it's my choice. Now, get out. I'm going to change."
"..."
"What are you doing? I said get out?"
"Alright."
Ji-woo, who had laid out all the clothes she had, both the ones she owned and the ones she didn't, and put on a fashion show, seemed to be flying high.
I shook my head from side to side and closed the door behind me as I left.
Come to think of it, Ji-woo has a childish side to her too.
She's bad at hiding her expressions.
When she's in a good mood, you can see it in real-time, and when she's depressed, you can see that too.
It's like she has signs saying "OPEN" and "CLOSED" on her face, just like you see in restaurants. Or like she's walking around with "I'm in a good mood right now" or "I'm not in a good mood right now" written on her face.
Kids are exactly like that.
Every time I see Ji-woo like that these days, I get a strange feeling.
Whenever Ji-woo calls herself my sister, I've never reacted to it, but in my heart, I've felt that way to some extent.
It's not that she's like a friend, but more like a sister.
Well, it's not that she looks older or anything.
It's just that ever since we were young, Ji-woo has always been braver than me, better at studying, and better at talking.
She's always felt a bit more like an adult than me.
But these days, there are times when Ji-woo looks like a little kid like this.
I wonder why.
Is it because I've grown up that much?
Hmm.
I don't know.
*
The sky had darkened to just the right degree, and the scenery of lights illuminating the darkness in orange gave a rather cozy feeling.
When evening came, I went out to the small city center with Ji-woo, and the city was already bustling with a Christmas atmosphere.
"Buon Natale!"
The streets were filled with people with happy smiles, and they all greeted us with the same phrase.
Buon Natale.
It means "Happy Christmas," or "Merry Christmas."
"Buon Natale!"
Ji-woo happily exchanges greetings with the people passing by.
I wonder how she can be so completely opposite to me.
She greets people she's meeting for the first time as if they're old friends she's known for a long time, and when she's curious about something, she can't stand it and has to run over and take a look to be satisfied.
She's really just like a puppy.
Not in a bad way, I mean a cute puppy that's running around with its tail propeller spinning.
"Wow, what's this? It looks delicious!"
"Provalo! (Try it!)"
"Huh? Are you giving it to me?"
"Yeah. They said to try it."
"Thank you! Thanks! Grazie!"
"Hahaha!"
The villagers seemed to find Ji-woo cute too, and when she'd go over to look at something, they'd always give her a bite of something to eat.
It was like they were giving her a dog treat.
Thanks to that, I got to eat some too by her side, and it felt like I could fill my stomach without spending any money just by following her around.
"How can everything be so delicious? This is amazing. Right?"
"Yeah."
"And everyone's so nice too. Is it because it's Christmas? It's really nice..."
"...Yeah. It is nice."
Anyway, it was nice.
The street was cozy yet lively, everything was delicious, the people were kind, and everyone looked happy.
Being surrounded by people radiating such bright energy, I don't know how to put it.
It felt like all my worries were disappearing, at least for now.
"Wow, that's a huge tree! Let's go take a picture!"
"Uh, okay."
Truthfully, Christmas had always been a day with no special meaning for me. Just another day out of the 365 days of the year.
I had no interest in it at all. I only realized it was Christmas after hearing it from the Coach.
I even used to hate Christmas when I was little.
Until elementary school, I had to go to church, and I really hated it back then.
I had to greet strangers all day long and even eat with them.
I just didn't match with that bustling, lively atmosphere.
"I'll stand over there, so take a good picture! Make my legs long and my face small. You know what I mean?"
"I don't know."
"Ah, really! I taught you last time. Just align my toes with the bottom of the screen."
"I got it."
But today, I don't know.
It's still crowded with people, and they're all radiating lively energy.
It's not just not bad.
No, on the contrary, it was enjoyable.
This moment was quite enjoyable.
"Did it come out well?"
"Well... it came out just as you are."
"Look. Hmm... You're right? It came out just like the real thing?"
I showed her the picture we took in front of the large Christmas tree, and the corner of Ji-woo's mouth went up.
Actually, I looked much taller in the picture than I really am, but sometimes these useless white lies work well.
I'm learning the wisdom of life these days.
"What's that over there? There's a huge crowd of people."
"You're right."
"Let's go check it out!"
A beagle's stamina is uncontrollable.
Before I could even check the picture we took, Ji-woo grabbed my arm and dragged me along again.
I thought I'd been training my stamina pretty hard... but why does Ji-woo's stamina seem better?
Is this what they call talent?
Anyway.
When we got dragged over there, there was a small arched gate. I didn't know what it was for, but people were lining up to pass through it.
"Let's do it too!"
"What is that..."
"Isn't it something like that? You know, if you pass through there, your wish comes true, or something like that."
I don't like lining up for things, but I got dragged by Ji-woo's hand and had no choice but to line up.
Seeing everyone passing through and looking happy, it seemed like it had some meaning.
After waiting like that, it was our turn.
"Please make everything go well!"
"..."
Ji-woo, who didn't even know what it was, made a wish anyway, and I passed through the gate without saying a word.
Instead, I made a wish in my heart.
That this happiness won't break from now on.
"Oh, there's something written here. What does it say?"
I passed through the gate, and there was a small sign standing there. It looked like some kind of guide, so I read it...
...Huh?
"What? What does it mean?"
I couldn't answer Ji-woo's question even after interpreting it. I thought it was really something like a wish comes true, or you get healthy, just like Ji-woo said.
But that wasn't it.
"What, is it a hard word? Wait a minute."
"Ah, no. That's not it-"
When I didn't answer, Ji-woo took out her phone. Before I could even stop her, she turned on an app that automatically translates photos and translated the sign.
"...The Gate of Love that Connects Eternal Love?"
"..."
"..."
"...Let's go."
"Uh, okay..."
Cough.
We felt awkward for no reason and quickly moved on.
Well... anyway.
It was probably the first time. Today.
A Christmas that would remain a good memory.
···
The two-week vacation was over.
We spent a pretty hot winter on the island of Sicily, returned to Florence, and everyday life began again.
The training ground we returned to hadn't changed at all.
It had been two weeks, but the senior players were the same as ever.
Everyone's faces were bright, as if they had rested well, and they trained in a more lively atmosphere than before.
But it wasn't that nothing had changed.
Actually, something very important had changed.
A face that should have been there was not to be seen.
I couldn't see Vlahovic on the training ground.
"You saw on the way, right? That scary stuff."
"...Yes."
"And he just had to go there..."
During the vacation, I wasn't holding my phone at all, so I didn't know... but according to the news I heard late, it was said that Vlahovic had left the team.
He had transferred.
To Juventus.
Maybe because of that, the way to the training ground was lined with graffiti with fierce messages.
They were such harsh words that they were hard to even say out loud. "We'll kill you," "We'll save you," "We won't leave you alone..."
Commonly, the word "traitor" was always attached to the end.
"If we can't perform well at a time like this, the atmosphere will get even worse, so we have to do well from now on, right."
It goes without saying, but it was said that the fans were very angry. Of course, at Vlahovic, but also at the club for not being able to keep him.
Especially because he went to Juventus, public sentiment was said to be even worse.
To be honest... I felt a bit bad about it too.
I know the professional world is a cold place, but... we had won against Juventus together and celebrated so joyfully just a few weeks ago.
He just had to go to the very team we had beaten, and it felt a bit like a betrayal.
But... everyone has their own circumstances.
You shouldn't talk carelessly about other people's business, and worrying about other people's business isn't my hobby in the first place.
I'm already tired enough just focusing on what I need to do.
But...
"Um, you know. For this season."
"Yeah?"
"I hope we finish higher than Juventus."
"Higher than Juventus?"
"Yes. I just... I hope so."
I just had that thought.
When summer comes, no matter what rank we are,
I just had the thought that I hope we are higher than Juventus.
I had that thought.
"Hey, maknae. Can I ask you a favor?"
"...What is it?"
"If you win this week's game, and if you happen to do an interview..."
"Yes."
"Could you say exactly what you just said?"
"...In the interview? Why?"
I tilted my head, and the captain showed his white teeth as he spoke.
"If you say that, I think we can turn the fierce public sentiment around in one go."
Hmm... Is that so.
I shrugged my shoulders and nodded.
Saying that wouldn't be a difficult thing to do.
Winning the game and doing the interview are the difficult parts.
···
Our first league match after the break was against a team called Empoli FC.
It wasn't an unfamiliar team. It's a team we had met once before, although it was in the U17.
At the time, I probably had 2 goals and 1 assist. Actually, I don't really know my stats, and I don't really try to remember them.
The reason I remember that match is because after that game, I succeeded in signing a professional contract.
So, in conclusion, I have good memories of the team Empoli.
However, despite that, I couldn't help but feel tense when I stepped onto the field.
It was because the atmosphere in the stadium was far from calm.
"This is no joke."
"If we lose today, we're screwed, guys."
As the seniors said, the atmosphere was such that it felt like a real disaster would strike if we lost.
The air felt acrid from the red flares being lit everywhere, and banners with fierce messages were hung all over the stands.
They were all content criticizing our team.
Like we're businessmen who only care about money, or that this team doesn't think about the future...
Those were the kinds of messages that were barely presentable, and the rest were too much to even say out loud.
Seeing that, I couldn't help but feel more tense than usual.
Thinking about it, I hadn't done anything wrong.
"Peeeeep-!"
Anyway, the game started like that.
I played the role of the center forward and the false nine, just like in the cup match before, and played the game with those memories in mind.
Thanks to the experience I had once, it wasn't as difficult to play the game as it was then.
I focused on the plays I had to make, as if I was used to it.
First of all, my condition was pretty good.
I could definitely feel the results of my training.
Even to me, my body felt quite light, and it felt like my speed had increased a bit too.
Of course, it was probably just a feeling.
Running on the sand beach all throughout the vacation and then running on the smooth grass, it was only natural that I would feel that way.
Anyway, the important thing was that, thanks to that, I had unknowingly gained quite a bit of confidence.
I played more aggressively than usual.
And that had a good effect.
Waaaaaaaaah-!
Around the 20th minute of the first half, our opening goal exploded, and I recorded an assist.
It was Saponara who finished the through pass I gave from the front of the arc.
Furthermore, around the 15th minute of the second half, I scored a goal myself. I exchanged passes with Caijoh on the right wing to create space, and the shot I took from the right side of the box tore the net.
It was a moment that made me feel rewarded for running on the sand beach all throughout the vacation.
"Well, hello! Congratulations on the victory!"
After the match ended with a 2-0 victory.
I ended up standing in front of the camera with a reporter holding a microphone.
I was thinking that I was getting used to playing in matches, but interviews were something I could never get used to, and as I was answering the reporter's questions...
The reporter asked me this question.
"Vlahovic, who had great chemistry with you, has transferred to Juventus. Do you have any feelings or words you'd like to say about that?"
The moment I received that question, the captain's words came to mind. So, I answered while looking at the fierce banners hanging all over the stands.