Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: An Unusually Bright Day -1
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"Can you get home by yourself? Should I walk you?"
"What are you talking about? Go on, get inside."
"Tsk, you've grown up so much, my Ji-an. You even know how to go home alone now."
"What are you saying."
"Anyway, be careful. See you Sunday!"
"Yeah. I'm off."
It had turned into a dark evening before I knew it.
Kim Ji-woo watched Lee Ji-an's back as he turned away, waving his hand, and smiled brightly.
Ji-woo watched Ji-an for a long time, only turning around after he had completely disappeared from sight.
"He's really grown up so much."
A smile crept onto Ji-woo's lips.
Goodness.
Who would have thought the day would come when she'd be looking up at that little brat, Ji-an.
Now he even acts all grown up.
He used to be a kid she always wanted to take care of.
It's just...
Why does she keep finding herself thinking about him?
He used to be so quiet and timid.
She had a feeling that if she didn't look after him, he wouldn't even be able to eat properly on his own.
That's why they were always together.
It all started on the first day of elementary school, when she saw him all alone in a corner of the classroom and spoke to him first. After that, they always ate lunch together, and when the other mean kids picked on him, she'd fight them for him.
That's how it was from when they were seven until they were thirteen.
They were inseparable for six years; she practically raised him.
Wow, even if he were her real little brother, she wouldn't have taken care of him that much.
But then, today.
Meeting Ji-an again after three years felt like seeing a completely different person.
He was still shy, but...
'He's so much taller now, and his face...'
Ji-woo let out a small laugh.
Right.
He's become so much more of a man.
His height, his face, even his mannerisms.
He used to be a cute little brother she wanted to protect, but now...
Hmm...!
Anyway, his vibe was totally different.
But if she was supposed to hate that change, she didn't.
"He grew up well. He really did."
Ji-woo smiled with an unknown sense of pride and stretched, looking out at the streets of Florence.
The nearby streetlamps painted her face in a warm, reddish glow.
"...The streets are really beautiful."
Truthfully, the journey here had been tough.
There were so many things to worry about, and she'd been on a plane for almost twenty hours.
Her whole body ached with exhaustion.
But her mood was good.
For some reason, she felt that many wonderful memories would be made for her here.
Florence had given her a good feeling from the very first day.
···
After parting ways with Ji-woo.
The night air had cooled down considerably, feeling pleasant, so I hummed to myself as I walked home.
Then...
"..."
I glanced around for a moment to make sure no one was there.
Then, clenching my fist, I let out a small cheer.
"Yes...!"
I made it, I made it...!
I made the call-up list.
For now, the immediate crisis is averted...!
"Phewww..."
In an instant, all the tension drained from my body, and a long sigh escaped me involuntarily.
It was a true sigh of relief.
If I hadn't even made the matchday squad, everything would have been exposed, but for now, I've made it.
Thank goodness. Really.
Of course, I know this isn't the time to relax just yet.
I've only made the call-up list; whether I'll actually get to play is still unknown.
Strictly speaking, the probability of me not playing is much higher.
Still, it's a huge relief compared to not making the list at all.
Ji-an was already so excited, saying he was looking forward to watching the game.
It's much better to be on the bench than not to be at the stadium at all.
Even if I spend the whole game on the bench, I can always come up with an excuse.
Right.
For now, this is a real relief.
It is a relief, but...
"...What was I thinking, acting so tough again?"
I muttered to myself, kicking a loose stone on the pavement.
Making the list was a relief, but the tough act I put on without thinking is another problem.
I'm such an idiot.
I went and promised to score a goal.
I even threw out that ridiculous line about scoring not being difficult at all.
What was I thinking?
Truthfully, the words just slipped out before I could think.
I just didn't want to show a weak front.
...No.
It's not that I didn't want to show a weak front; it's that I was afraid that if I seemed unsure, it would expose my lie.
In any case.
Since things have come to this, maybe it would be better if I just stay on the bench.
If I go out there and fail to score, things will get awkward.
Ah, I don't know.
I'm starting to think that a lie is like a snowball, or maybe a boomerang.
When one lie leads to another, it eventually becomes too much to handle, and it always comes back to me.
Worried sick, I headed home.
"..."
But, how should I put it.
I feel a bit strange.
Usually, on days like this before a match, I would always be trembling with anxiety and nervousness.
The pressure of thinking, 'What if I fail?', would make my stomach ache the day before.
But now, it's a little different.
Of course, I'm still nervous, and I'm worried about what to do if I fail—or what if I don't even get to play.
But how to say it...
Instead of thinking, 'What if I fail?', the thought 'I want to do well' comes first.
I'm not exactly sure what the difference is, but that's how it feels.
Why is that?
Suddenly, Ji-woo's face appeared in my mind.
Meeting him again after three years... he still acted like he was my big sister.
But strangely, it didn't feel the same as before.
"..."
Suddenly, I found myself thinking that even if I don't score, I still want to play in the match.
···
Flash—!
I opened my eyes to a dim, blue dawn.
I reached for the phone by my pillow to check the time.
6 AM on Sunday.
Nine hours until the match starts.
I sat up in bed.
Then, I stared blankly into the dark, blue void.
"..."
I stayed like that for about ten minutes.
My sleep was already gone the moment I woke up, so I wasn't trying to fall back asleep.
I was just quietly feeling the unique, static silence of the early morning.
Truthfully, I used to hate this feeling.
This strange feeling right before the sun rises.
I'd felt this way since I was very young.
I knew that once this darkness lifts, the sun will rise, and the same day as yesterday would inevitably repeat.
I hated the feeling of a new day beginning.
Especially on match days, I hated it even more.
I just wished the darkness would linger a little longer.
I hated the moment when I had to leave my room.
But... today feels a little different.
I'm still incredibly nervous, and I don't exactly feel confident I can do well.
Today might even be the day my lie is exposed... yet I find myself wishing the day would just start already.
"Let's get washed up."
I could have stayed in bed a bit longer, but I quickly washed up and came out.
I put on my socks and clothes, then went out to the living room.
In the kitchen next to the living room, there was a simple breakfast my dad had prepared.
Thankfully, it's sandwiches.
A sandwich with cheese, which people here eat a lot, is hard to mess up no matter who makes it, so it's in Dad's top 3 dishes.
I took some orange juice from the fridge, poured it into a glass, and sat at the table to eat with the sandwich.
Dad is always busy on weekends.
He works in tourism, so he has to go in early, especially on weekend mornings.
I knew that, but I never knew he left this early since I used to sleep in late on weekends.
Maybe if I start making more money later, Dad will be able to sleep in a bit more.
I ate two of the four sandwiches and packed the rest in a lunchbox to put in my bag.
I checked the time; it was still quite early, but... I might as well head out a little early.
It would be nice to walk there at a leisurely pace.
Truthfully, it's because I'm too nervous to just sit still.
"Okay, got everything."
Since it had been a while since my last match, I checked several times to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything, then put on my backpack and shoes.
Opening the door, the cool morning air greeted me.
Maybe because I woke up while it was still dark...
For some reason, the sun seemed especially bright today.
*
When I tried to recall the last time I played in a match, it was surprisingly last year.
And it's already August of this year.
It really has been a long time.
That's to be expected... since coming to Fiorentina, I haven't played a single match.
"...Phew."
Because of that, sitting in the locker room right before the match started, my heart was pounding excessively.
Truthfully, it wasn't just because it had been a long time. Even back when I played frequently, I was quite the nervous type.
Nervous? To be precise, it was more like anxiety.
I was always in and out of the bathroom on match days.
It became a routine.
It was because my nerves made my stomach feel uneasy.
It was because the thought of 'I have to succeed' was so huge.
I was filled with the thought that I couldn't show a disappointing performance.
People were strict with me.
When I think back to when that started, it was from the moment I was told I had talent.
From then on, everyone looked at me with strict standards.
I always had to meet those strict standards, which is why matches were always a burden.
It's the same now.
The reason my heart is pounding is partly because it's been a while, but it's more because the pressure to succeed is so immense.
Ji-woo: I'm here!
Ji-woo: You have to keep your promise, right?
Ji-woo: If you score, you have to come find me first!
After checking the message, I let out a small laugh and sighed.
Now that I think about it, not only has it been a while since I played a match, but it's been even longer since someone came to cheer for me.
I'm not counting scouts or people like that.
I mean people who genuinely want me to do well.
Having someone here to see me makes a huge difference.
It feels like the pressure increases a hundredfold.
I used to hate this feeling so much.
Ji-woo: Your big sis is watching!
But now, how should I put it...
The pressure is still there, but the desire to do well is even stronger.
Right.
I just want to do well.
...Though I have to actually get on the field before I can do anything.
"Alright, let's head out."
"Let's go, let's go."
At the coach's signal, the kids in their uniforms stood up and left the locker room.
I put my phone in my locker, took a deep breath, and followed them out.
I trailed behind the kids walking in a line.
After passing through the hallway and turning a few corners, a tunnel with a canopy appeared.
Passing through that tunnel...
"Let's go, let's go!"
"Let's win!"
"Forza!"
With the shouts of the not-yet-fully-matured boys, the space opened up, and the intense sunlight and the green pitch greeted us.
The boys who were starting ran out onto the pitch, and I watched their backs as I headed for the bench.
Thinking that Ji-woo was watching from somewhere in the stands, I made a point of puffing out my chest and walking with a relaxed air.
More than anything, today...
I found myself hoping for a chance to step onto that green pitch myself.
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