Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Regrets~ I'm Having Them~ -2
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"Cute, right?"
"Oh, how adorable. You're six now?"
"Yup. She'll be going to school soon. It feels like just yesterday she was a baby."
"Time really flies."
"Seriously. You see the kids grow up and you realize you can't afford to rest."
As I stretched to prepare for training, I overheard the conversation between the seniors.
Just like any other day, it was about their kids.
They talked so much about their kids that I, who had never met them, knew their ages.
The seniors only ever talked about two things: soccer and their kids.
Truly... simple people.
These soccer players.
Soccer, and family.
Those are the only two things most of them are interested in.
Well... I'm not much different.
"In a few years, he might be able to play with our youngest. Wow."
"Well, if he has the talent, maybe. My son is eight now. Come to think of it, our youngest is really young. The age gap between me and him is bigger than the gap between him and my son."
"If I had my kid a little earlier, I could've had one as young as our youngest."
"If my son grows up to be even half as good as our youngest, I'd have no regrets."
The seniors, who had been looking at me, chuckled.
Thinking about it, it's strange how they all got married so young.
Back in elementary school, when we had parent observation days, the parents who came in always looked like... well, parents.
But I find it hard to believe that these guys are someone's dad. They're just like neighborhood older brothers.
I got curious and asked.
"By the way, uh..."
"Yeah?"
"Why do soccer players get married so early?"
"Why we get married early? Well, that's..."
Bonaventura answered my question.
"It's a safety measure to keep us from messing around."
"...What do you mean?"
"Once you get married, you develop a sense of responsibility. You're not a free man anymore. So you're always careful. I was considered a problem child when I was young, but I repented fully after getting married."
Hmm. I see.
"Also, you're forced to work hard. Imagine your wife and kids waiting for you at home. You can't help but work hard."
"Plus, being a soccer player isn't a job you can do for life. When you think about the future, you have no choice but to work harder."
Well... listening to that, it does make sense.
So, there must be advantages, which is why most players marry early.
But honestly, I'm a bit negative about it.
Marriage, that is.
Of course, it's partly because I'm not at an age to even think about it, but... that's just how I see it.
I don't think marriage is something you absolutely have to do.
To be honest, it's because of my dad's influence.
Of course, I'm grateful that my dad got married, which allowed me to be born as his son...
But when I honestly think about whether my dad was happy because of his marriage... I don't know.
If he hadn't gotten married, wouldn't he have lived a more comfortable and fun life?
Suddenly, something my dad said to me in the past comes to mind.
"When you grow up and meet someone you think is 'the one,' just hold back for a while. If you still think they're the one after that, it's fine to get married. But if there's no one like that, you don't have to get married."
At the same time, he said that marriage isn't necessary, but having a child is a must.
...I still don't understand that.
How can you have a child without getting married?
It's like saying, "Don't shoot, just score a goal."
"Hey, youngest. What are you gonna do right after you become an adult? Get married?"
Bonaventura asked.
I asked back instead of answering.
"...Are you happy?"
"...Huh?"
"...? Why are you so flustered..."
"Ah, no. Of course I'm happy, my friend."
...He says he's happy, but I don't know why his smile is so awkward.
*
"I'm Chiellini."
"I'm more like De Ligt."
"We are the invincible center-back duo."
"Try to get past us if you can."
Before tactical training began.
Milenkovic and Nastasic, our team's center-back duo, linked arms like twins and spoke to me.
It felt like I was a nephew playing along with uncles who were trying to play the bad guy.
"..."
I stared silently at the seniors. Feeling embarrassed, they scratched their heads and headed to their defensive positions. Seeing their backs, I let out a small laugh.
Anyway.
"Okay, everyone ready. Beep-!"
Official training for the Juventus match began.
The team in purple home uniforms and the team in white away uniforms.
The training was divided into two teams...
But I was the only one wearing a fluorescent vest over my uniform.
The manager told me to play the role of the attacker for the purple team when they attacked, and for the white team when they attacked, regardless of team affiliation.
In other words, today's training meant 'I had to train twice as much alone.'
Thump, thump-
As soon as the whistle blew, I walked slowly, focusing on reading the situation around me.
That feeling from the last match, which had come to me out of the blue.
I was using all my nerves to awaken that feeling again.
I had been in peak condition during that match.
It was the match after I had sat out the entire previous game.
Plus, various factors had overlapped, and the fact that I was slightly out of my mind also played a big part.
I had experienced what they call an awakened state.
I felt amazing.
Like I could do anything.
That was the first time I had played with such confidence.
So, until the Juventus match, I planned to focus on maintaining that feeling during training.
From that perspective, this current training seemed like it would be a great help.
"..."
I moved my feet slowly but constantly moved my head to grasp the players' positions and movements.
I had to watch this side and that side.
Because I was playing a role for both teams.
It might sound like I'd have to use twice as much brainpower as usual, but that wasn't the case.
After all, in a real match, I have to read both my team and the opponent's team anyway.
"..."
As I continued to raise my focus, a map began to form in my mind.
But simply drawing the map is meaningless.
You have to know how to read and interpret that map.
The ball is currently with the purple team.
Meaning, right now I need to analyze the white team's defensive shape and come up with a way to break it down.
"..."
The back four's spacing is wide.
They must be preparing for the flanks since the purple team's wingers are the starters.
So, for me... the right move for now is to attack the half-space.
Tat-tat-tack-!
I move into the right half-space to check the opponent's reaction. The fullback and center-back narrow the gap between them. It seems they're conscious of me.
But this inevitably widens the gap between the center-backs.
If the left winger were to cut inside towards that space, they could exploit the gap.
But I didn't feel that movement, and I was about to point to the center with my hand.
Whoosh-!
The ball flows to me.
At the sight of the ball, I felt my body freeze slightly.
It was a warning from my brain.
Doing three things at once is impossible.
Grasping the players' positions, demanding a movement from a teammate, and preparing to receive the ball simultaneously... even I can see that's too much.
I'm not at that level yet.
I make a quick judgment.
What comes first?
Of course, receiving the ball accurately comes first.
Whoosh-!
I lower my eyes and accurately receive the ball first.
Then, as I turn, I check the movement ahead, but... I don't see any clear path.
All the lanes for my teammates to cut into are already blocked.
If I was going to do it, I should have done it before the ball came, but I'm too late.
The difference between a good timing and a bad timing is just a split second.
Tat-tat-tack-!
I have no choice but to dribble the ball forward myself.
I soon face the massive figure of Milenkovic.
Seeing his face, my heart wavers for a moment, so I mentally draw black stripes over his white uniform.
Poke, poke-!
I put aside flashy dribbles to maintain speed and get past the fake Juventus defender with a simple change of direction.
Then, entering the box, I finish the first attack with a light shot.
Boooom-!
Smack-!
"Ha, I'm glad he's on our team," Milenkovic grumbled.
Leaving that behind, I head back to the half-line without a break.
Now it's an attack from the other side.
"Phew-"
As I exhale, I feel my breath getting hot instantly.
To be honest, it's tough.
But training is supposed to be tough.
The harder you work in training, the easier it is in the match.
So, instead of complaining, I try to raise my focus again.
Moreover... I didn't just feel like it was hard; I also felt it was fun.
It was a difficult problem, so solving it was enjoyable.
···
"..."
Vlahovic, in his Juventus training gear, quietly looks out the window.
The team bus carrying the Juventus players was entering Artemio Franchi, Fiorentina's home ground, and the bus was now surrounded by Fiorentina fans.
"──!!"
"──!!"
The angry Fiorentina fans were shouting something at the bus. I can't hear them, but it's not hard to guess what they're saying.
They're probably cursing with all their might.
Many of them were even gesturing with their fingers, concerned their voices weren't being heard.
They're so thoughtful.
If it weren't for the massive police presence, the bus might have been flipped over right here.
Swoosh-!
Vlahovic pulled the curtain on the window, blocking the view. His face was expressionless, but his heart couldn't be at peace.
He's a person before he's a pro.
It's impossible to feel comfortable watching fans who were cheering for him just a short while ago suddenly turn and curse him.
It stings badly.
But it doesn't hurt.
He doesn't regret it when he sees those fans.
If he was going to feel sorry or regret it, he wouldn't have chosen to transfer in the first place.
Vlahovic had no regrets about transferring to Juventus.
Of course he didn't.
Within Serie A, Juventus's prestige and popularity are unmatched by any other team.
Even teams like Milan are like that, so Fiorentina is even more so.
He escaped a small pond and finally came out to the open sea; there was no way he could regret it.
He was a whale that belonged in the sea.
"Let's go."
Soon, the bus, which had barely entered the stadium, stopped, and the players got off one by one.
Vlahovic, with a clutch bag under his arm, also got off the bus and breathed in the familiar air.
He then headed straight to the locker room to finish his preparations, went out to the field to warm up, and came back to put on his uniform and tie his cleats one more time.
After finishing all of that with an expression cold enough to be called blank, Vlahovic left the locker room with the other Juventus players.
Leaving the locker room, passing through the hallway, and entering the tunnel where they waited to enter the field, familiar faces came into his view.
Players who were his teammates just a few months ago.
Comrades he had been closer to than family just a few months ago.
"..."
"..."
However, no one made eye contact or greeted him.
It was natural.
Today's match was a derby. There are no foolish players who happily mingle with the opposing players before a derby match.
Vlahovic was grateful for that.
The attitude of his former teammates helped him maintain his composure.
He didn't think about anything else.
He didn't regret it.
He was simply doing his best as a Juventus player to crush the opposition mercilessly today as well.
With that thought, Vlahovic was standing there, still maintaining his expressionless face.
"..."
Someone stands quietly beside him.
As Vlahovic turns his gaze slightly, the figure of Lee Jee-an comes into his eyes.
Lee Jee-an stands in the Fiorentina players' line with a rather calm expression.
"..."
At that moment, a small ripple forms in Vlahovic's cold heart. Soon, that ripple becomes a wave and spreads through his heart.
He doesn't regret anything else.
Only that guy remains in his heart.
It was strange.
He had been fine until now, but seeing Lee Jee-an's face made him feel uncomfortable.
Why on earth is that?
"..."
Vlahovic shakes his head as if to shake off the emotion.
Probably, Vlahovic wouldn't admit it.
Even if someone told him what that feeling he's feeling right now is.
But one thing was clear.
The emotion Vlahovic was feeling was fear.
The fear that he might regret his transfer today because of Lee Jee-an.
It was an instinctive feeling, as Vlahovic had watched Lee Jee-an up close and received the most help from him.
That face was only innocent and cute...
But when standing on the opposing team's side like this.
Lee Jee-an was a player who instilled fear.
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⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[A hidden quest has been triggered.]
Quest Title: Regretful Transfer - 2
Reward: Stats increase, Special Skill