Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Birthday Gift - 1
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“Hey, isn't this a huge problem?”
“···What is?”
“Because of you, people are going crazy. They’re even fighting in the comments.”
“Fighting because of me? Who···”
“Here, look at this.”
Jiu made a big fuss and turned her laptop to show me the screen.
What is she talking about?
Who would be fighting because of me···
“···They’re really fighting.”
See, I told you these people are serious.
“Why are they fighting···”
“I don't know. They're comparing you to other players and going at it. It's like some kind of Hundred Percent Debate.”
···I let out a sigh.
I don't really care if fans fight, especially on the internet, but··· the topic being me changes things a bit.
These people are seriously fighting because of me.
Just reading it made my head spin and I let out a sigh.
It was exactly as Jiu said; a Hundred Percent Debate was unfolding.
I figured this was all because of that interview yesterday.
No, more precisely, it was because of the journalist who twisted it strangely.
Wow, seriously···
How can they take a comment I made, hoping to meet and learn from even better players, and twist it into wondering if there's anyone better than me?
Journalists are the people in the world who best take advantage of the fact that words can mean different things depending on how you say them.
I thought I had a decent handle on people who hold microphones by now, but I guess I was wrong.
Thanks to that, I've become like that Rick Romero guy, going around shouting that I'm the best!
······I hate it.
“By the way, are England and Spain really better at soccer?”
Jiu, who had taken the laptop back, asked.
I shrugged my shoulders and answered.
“They're bigger, I think.”
“Bigger, in what sense?”
“Well··· First, they have more money. And more great players.”
“Is the difference that huge?”
“Not *that* huge. Well, maybe a little···?”
To be honest, I don't know that well either.
It's just an indirect feeling from watching British teams on TV broadcasts, or seeing Juventus get crushed by Spanish teams.
I've never met them in person, so it's hard to say for sure what the gap is.
So I'm curious.
How good are the teams in other leagues, and the players famous for being geniuses there?
And where do I fit in among them?
“I can't really imagine it.”
“···What?”
“That there are people better than you? I can't picture it.”
Hmm··· It seems I've really been playing soccer with desperate passion until now.
Seeing Jiu say something like that.
It's just that, that's probably because Jiu doesn't know much about soccer.
Jiu wouldn't have gone out of her way to watch overseas matches, and the only games she's seen are mine.
Since she's never seen the plays of true geniuses, she can say things like that.
But it's nonsense to say that I'm the best at soccer in this world.
That can't possibly be true.
If that were true, I would have to receive the Ballon d'Or.
But does that make sense?
No, it doesn't.
It's something even hard to imagine. That.
“···”
But··· even knowing it's impossible···
When I look at Jiu, I can't help but wish that impossible thing were true.
Right, isn't it?
She trusts me so much, it's only natural that I don't want to betray that trust.
I want to make that absurd fantasy a reality.
Jiu always makes me feel that greedy.
“Well··· I'll know when I face them.”
“Ooh. You confident?”
As I said, shrugging my shoulders, Jiu asked with a smile.
“Confident···”
I'm not confident.
To be honest, I'm scared.
I'm scared that I'll look too ordinary standing among true geniuses, and that Jiu will see that and know the truth.
But on the other hand··· even knowing that risk, I want to try.
If there's a difference between the old me and the current me, it's probably this.
When there's something challenging to do.
I still feel fear, but··· instead of running away or ignoring it, I feel like I want to overcome it.
The magical things that have happened over the past few months must have made me this way.
Maybe I've picked up a bad habit.
Maybe God took pity on me and blessed me with a brief spell of good fortune, and I've become fearless, intoxicated by that luck.
But, I don't know.
Challenging my fears and overcoming them, and turning the damp fantasies I only held inside into reality, felt good.
Getting rid of my fears one by one.
And becoming a little more self-assured.
That felt really good.
“···I'm confident. Who do you think I am?”
“Right, right. Look at how your big sis raised you.”
I chuckled at Jiu's words.
I am a person who lacks courage.
So when I challenge something, if I don't have a reason to, I can't bring myself to try easily.
So I have to create a reason, and the best way is to make a bold, absurd bluff like this and cut off any escape route.
I've blurted it out like this, so now I have no choice but to work my ass off to make my words a reality.
Of course, out of sight.
It's a bit cooler to look like a born genius than to be seen struggling desperately.
“Hey, speaking of which.”
“Hm?”
I was nodding to myself when Jiu spoke.
“First, I'll be looking forward to next week.”
“Next week? For what?”
“Wow, don't tell me you forgot? Do you want to die?”
I tilted my head at the sudden question, and Jiu held up a fist.
I pretended to be scared by her cat-like, soft-as-a-pillow fist.
“I know, I know.”
“Tch, if you had forgotten, I was going to jog your memory.”
Jiu said with a hint of disappointment, but still smiled brightly.
Next week is Jiu's birthday.
I couldn't possibly forget that.
Ever since we first met, she's drilled her birthday into my head every year.
“What do you mean, jog my memory?”
“You don't remember that? I think it was in fourth grade. You forgot my birthday and begged for my forgiveness.”
“When did I ever beg for forgiveness?”
“Wow, look at this guy. Pretending he doesn't remember.”
I really don't remember.
I remember everything.
I forgot Jiu's birthday back then and just let it slide, and Jiu got super pissed.
She was sitting next to me and wouldn't talk to me, and she drew a line on the desk, saying she'd pinch me if I crossed it.
She wouldn't even eat with me.
But I didn't beg for forgiveness.
I just said I was sorry···
Jiu always gave me a present on my birthday.
I had my first-ever birthday party because of Jiu.
“So, what do you want?”
“A present? Hmm, hmm···”
When I asked casually, Jiu put a finger to her lips and thought, her face full of expectation.
If it were the old me, I would have been anxious seeing that, but not now.
Whatever Jiu wants, I can buy it for her.
Hahaha.
Look at me, I'm a guy who earns 4,000 euros a week.
“Just say it. It's fine.”
“Hmm, hmm···”
···Even so, Jiu's long deliberation made me a little anxious.
What could she be wanting so badly to think this hard about it?
I started to get a little worried, but the answer she gave was unexpected.
“Then, you know. In the match next week, after you score a goal.”
“···Hm?”
“Do a celebration for me.”
“···A celebration?”
Jiu grinned and nodded her head vigorously.
“But it has to be something only I can understand. You can't just do a regular celebration.”
“What does that mean?”
“So it has to have meaning. A meaning only you and I can know!”
···I'd rather she just ask me to buy her something.
This is too hard.
“But is that a present···?”
“Yeah. You used to do celebrations for me before, but you haven't lately. I've been disappointed.”
“···What kind of celebration should I do?”
“That's for you to figure out! Do I have to teach you that too?”
“···Alright. For now.”
“Okay. I'm looking forward to it? Let's see what our Jee-an's sensibility is like.”
“···”
Hmm.
My head suddenly started to get complicated.
On Sunday, we traveled to the city of 'Salerno' for an away game.
Our opponent was a team with a hard-to-remember name, US Salernitana 1919.
Salernitana was currently in 17th place in the league, so everyone seemed relaxed.
On the way there, we joked and laughed with each other, and discussed what to eat after the game.
But I couldn't help but be serious the whole time.
Because I still hadn't decided what celebration to do for Jiu's birthday present.
But there was a bigger problem than that.
And that was··· I wasn't a starter.
“You're the youngest. Just trust your big brothers. We'll let you rest easy today.”
“Let's show them we're the seniors today. Let's make sure the youngest doesn't have to come out!”
“Okay!”
No··· I need to play today···
My seniors, oblivious to my feelings, just shouted words of encouragement.
I couldn't exactly tell the coach that I needed to play, so··· I just had to watch the game while biting my nails.
I need to play··· I need to run today···
As I watched the game with an anxious heart, a welcome event occurred around the 10th minute of the second half.
“You sons of bitches···!”
The coach kicked the water bottle next to him.
We had allowed an equalizing goal.
The opponent was showing a better defensive capability than expected. Romero had scored in the first half, but we couldn't easily create a second goal afterward.
In that situation, we were hit with an unexpected blow from a header following a corner kick.
We had expected to win easily, but we allowed a tie, so it was natural for the coach to be angry.
And I, being a terrible person, was feeling hopeful while watching that coach.
Is my chance··· coming?
“···”
“···”
With that hope, I glanced at the coach, and for a moment, the coach looked at me with a very troubled expression.
So I subtly rolled my shoulders and shook my legs, trying to appeal that I was feeling restless.
And a short while later.
A coach approached me and spoke in a very apologetic tone.
“Jee-an, it looks like you'll have to warm up.”
It was a welcome sound.
“Ah, yes!”
I jumped up from my seat, took off my vest, and started warming up while running along the touchline.
If someone saw me, they would have thought I was super excited.
Well, actually, I was.
“Sub! Sub!”
After warming up for about 15 minutes, around the 25th minute of the second half, I stood on the touchline.
This made me suddenly remember the past.
When Jiu first came to Italy, and when she came to watch my game.
I had gone in as a substitute back then too.
And after scoring, I remembered doing a celebration for Jiu.
Back then, the feeling of wanting to score a goal so badly was refreshed in my mind.
“···Sorry.”
“No. You worked hard.”
I shook hands with Saponara, who was hanging his head low, and ran onto the field.
As I did, I thought to myself.
···So, what celebration should I do?