Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Seeing the Bare Face - 3
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I was moved to the hospital closest to the stadium, where a thorough examination was possible, and was immediately put through the tests.
From the moment I was transported to the hospital, during the examination itself, and while waiting for the results, I felt as if my blood was running cold...
Fortunately, the news from the doctor in charge of my treatment was hopeful.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
It appears to be simple accumulated fatigue. There are no major issues.
It wasn't a serious injury, just simple accumulated fatigue.
At those words, I let out a deep sigh of relief, and the trainer did the same.
The funny thing was, even the doctor wiped the sweat from his forehead and let out a sigh.
"You have no idea how scared I was watching the broadcast. I thought my liver was going to drop out of me."
In fact, I could tell the doctor was a Fiorentina fan from the various photos hanging all around the room.
They were pictures of players who had been here before me, arm-in-arm with the doctor.
"Anyway, it's a relief. We conducted every test in our capability, and we found no signs of muscle tears or sprains. It seems your muscles were just startled from moving too aggressively in a state of accumulated fatigue."
If the doctor is smiling and saying that, then it must not be a big problem after all.
...I feel a bit foolish now.
It feels like I faked an illness for nothing.
No, but it really did hurt a lot at the time.
However, the doctor soon changed his expression and spoke seriously.
"But you mustn't misunderstand this. Even if there are no major issues right now, if you continue to accumulate fatigue like this, it could develop into a sprain or a tear. You just happened to stop right before that stage."
So, it wasn't a fake illness after all.
"In a way, it's a good thing you felt something wrong and stopped. If you had kept running while enduring it, you would have been out for the rest of the season. Given your current condition, you absolutely need rest."
"I agree."
The doctor and the trainer, the two men, nodded in unison.
...
I just quietly watched them from the side.
It's a relief that it's not an injury, but still, the trainer had warned me so many times.
I feel sorry for making the situation worse out of my own greed, and I also feel sorry for the seniors and the coach who had to play the rest of the match after I left.
Of course, the fans, my dad, and Jiu, who were probably worried sick, are no different.
Hmm.
Thinking about it this way, I get the sense that my body isn't just my own.
Because there are so many people who would be more heartbroken than I would if I got hurt.
In many ways, I make a vow to absolutely avoid getting hurt at all costs.
While I was reflecting on this, the doctor asked in a deliberately bright voice.
"Do you happen to remember how tall you were about six months ago?"
At that question, I rummaged through my memory for a moment before answering.
"Uh... I think I was about 177 cm six months ago."
I was wondering why he was suddenly asking about my height, but after hearing my answer, the doctor made a slightly surprised expression and spoke.
"Then you've grown 3 cm in six months. The test here says you're 180.5 cm."
"...Huh. Really?"
I'm over 180?
When I asked if it was true, the doctor nodded, and I unconsciously smiled before checking the trainer's expression and forcing my lips down.
I can't believe myself.
I come to the hospital because of an injury, and I'm smiling about growing taller.
Perhaps finding the sight ridiculous, the doctor gave a small laugh and said.
"Anyway, since you're still growing, while it's true your recovery ability is superior to others', don't take rest lightly. Your body's balance isn't fully set yet, so you're also prone to injury. Well, I suppose you've heard this more than once or twice already."
At those words, the trainer nodded vigorously, and I also nodded.
Regardless, I was happy to hear that I had grown taller.
I just wish I could grow to be as tall as Vlahovic.
Then I could be a player who can compete in aerial duels when the team needs it.
"You must use this until your next check-up. Don't think, 'It seems fine,' or 'It's a bother,' and just walk around without it. Understand that every time you do, your return date will be pushed back by a week."
"Yes..."
Anyway, after all the tests were over, the doctor handed me a crutch that looked like a stick.
Having to use crutches made me feel like a real patient, but the warning that my return date could be delayed made me decide I had to use them no matter what.
"Let's meet again in a week."
He said it was fine for now but that we needed to monitor the progress, so we made an appointment. I got up with the crutch and bowed to the doctor.
Then, as I was about to leave the room, I hesitated for a moment and spoke to the doctor.
"Um... could I possibly get a photo...?"
I asked, thinking it might be possible because of the players' photos hanging all over the room, and the doctor burst out laughing.
"After you get better. Do you think you can take a picture smiling in your current state? These photos were all taken after they made a full recovery."
"Ah..."
"I'll ask for an autograph then."
I felt foolish and gave a stupid smile before leaving the room with the trainer.
"Whew. Thank goodness. I'm so relieved. I really thought I was going to have a heart attack back there. It felt like all my body hair was standing on end."
"...I'm sorry."
"No. It's my fault. I should have been more firm with the coach. I thought it would be fine just until today. My ability was lacking."
We walked down the hallway, laughing awkwardly.
I was crying in the tunnel at the stadium earlier, but the fact that I can laugh now is a relief in itself, I suppose.
...Come to think of it, it's a little embarrassing.
I'm supposed to be a professional player, and at my age, I was just bawling my eyes out.
"...Please forget about what happened earlier."
I quietly asked the trainer, and he looked confused for a moment before understanding and laughing heartily.
As we walked down the hallway together...
I spotted familiar faces far down the corridor.
Uh... It's Coach Vincenzo and... Coach Tony.
Their appearance is a bit strange.
What's going on is, they were standing facing each other, with Coach Vincenzo's head hanging low, and Coach Tony standing in front of him, angrily shouting something.
What is this?
Could it be that Coach Tony is scolding Coach Vincenzo?
As I walked slowly closer, their conversation began to reach my ears.
"...Seriously, I can't believe it. A coach who can't even gauge his player's physical condition, huh?"
"..."
"If he'd collided with something and collapsed, I'd get it. But he just sat himself down while running? A 16-year-old kid?"
"..."
"I told you not to give him too much of a burden, when did I ever say to neglect him? Huh? What would you have done if it was a serious injury!"
...He's really getting scolded.
*
"They said it's not a serious injury? Huh? Really?"
"I'm telling you, it's not. They said it was just a little accumulated fatigue."
"They said you're really okay? Really?"
"Really. They said I'm really okay."
Jiu kept repeating the same questions even though I told her I was fine several times, making me let out a hollow laugh.
At that, Jiu started hitting my shoulder hard.
"Ow, ow. Why are you hitting me?"
"You think this is funny? You idiot! Do you have any idea how worried we were? Huh? Do you know how worried we were?"
"...I'm sorry. But they really said I'm okay."
"Ha, seriously! Seriously!"
"...Can you please stop hitting me? I might actually get hurt at this rate."
"You're such an idiot. Idiot, idiot, idiot..."
After hitting me with punches that didn't hurt at all for a long time, Jiu finally sank onto the sofa, as if her mind was finally at ease.
I don't know what she was trying to do, but her hair was damp with sweat and she looked a mess.
Well... it goes without saying, but when I got home, the atmosphere was terrifying.
Dad was holding his head in his hands, and Jiu was burying her face in the sofa.
And when I appeared on crutches, the two of them looked like they were about to pass out.
Seeing them like that, I felt even more relieved that it wasn't a serious injury, and I realized I had to be more careful in the future.
It ended thankfully this time, but if it had been a real serious injury... wouldn't Dad and Jiu have been endlessly heartbroken?
Just thinking about that made my heart sink even more.
I felt it earlier too, but my body was no longer just my own.
"Hey, by the way."
"...What is it, you idiot."
I sat next to Jiu and cautiously spoke to her. She glanced at me and answered bluntly.
I don't know why, but I found it funny, but I held back my laughter and said.
"What you said earlier... were you serious?"
"...What I said earlier? What did I say?"
I stared into Jiu's eyes as she answered like she couldn't remember.
Hmm. From her expression, it doesn't seem like she's pretending not to know; it looks like she genuinely can't remember.
I shook my head.
"Never mind."
"What's with you? Why'd you stop talking mid-sentence? What did I say earlier?"
"...You don't remember?"
"Yeah. I was out of my mind with worry."
"I don't remember either. That's why I asked."
"What's with you? That's ridiculous. Anyway, you've got the leisure to talk nonsense, so you must be doing okay. Sheesh, really."
Jiu snorted, and I gave her a meaningless smile.
The moment she opened the door and came in earlier, she had jumped to her feet and run to me, saying first:
"Hey!! Are you trying to die? Why are you getting hurt?! Lee Jee-an! Are you okay? No, you have to be okay! If you get hurt, my heart gets hurt too! You idiot!"
"If you get hurt, my heart gets hurt too..."
...
I turned my head away from Jiu to hide my flaring nostrils.
I'm definitely sorry for causing her to worry, but I don't know why I keep feeling like laughing since earlier.
Well, whatever... I have to make sure I never hurt Jiu's heart from now on.
Never.
*
"I'm glad to hear you're okay. I was really startled earlier too..."
"...I'm sorry."
"What's there to be sorry about? Well, anyway, get plenty of rest. Don't worry about anything else."
"Yes..."
I have no face to show my dad.
Because I know that he was the one whose heart sank the most when I collapsed.
My dad is someone who worries about me day and night.
"...Dad."
"Yeah?"
"I think I shouldn't be greedy."
"...Greedy?"
I said this while lying in bed, and my dad, sitting at the foot of the bed, looked at me.
I spoke while looking at the ceiling.
"With the desire to do well... I think my body tried to catch up to that ambition too late and overdid it."
"...That's right."
I'm not a very affectionate son to my dad.
I've always been a man of few words, but even more so at home. Ever since I was young.
So, instead of me initiating conversation with my dad, I would just answer his words.
I've hardly ever shared my serious worries or inner thoughts.
But now, for some reason, I felt the need to reassure my dad.
The words flowed out of my mouth sincerely.
"I won't do that from now on."
"Yeah. There's no need for that."
"About today's match. It was clearly a bad game. But the spectators clapped for me. It wouldn't have been strange if they had cursed at me."
"Yeah."
"Thanks to that, my mind became very at ease. I realized that I don't have to show a perfect image every single moment... it's okay to fail sometimes. I've gained a little bit of faith that our fans will like me even if I'm not good."
"Of course they will. Absolutely."
When I was leaving the stadium.
The reason tears streamed down my face wasn't just out of frustration or guilt, but also because of gratitude.
It wasn't a good game.
It was a bad game, but the fans weren't disappointed.
Rather, they sent their support and were only worried about me.
It's okay to be bad.
Thanks to the fans expressing that fact through their support, ironically, even though my body was hurt, I felt as if my heart was being healed.
And so, the desire to do even better grew stronger.
But it felt different from before, when it felt like I was being chased by something.
Instead of wanting to do well because I didn't want to disappoint the fans, I felt the desire to do well to bring joy to the fans.
This was the same feeling I had when Jiu came to me.
And now, I was feeling it with the fans too.
"It's a bit strange to say this after getting hurt, but I think it was a good experience for me."
"..."
"Well, I can only say that because it wasn't a serious injury."
I said that and rolled my eyes to look at my dad. He was wearing a gentle smile.
Then, my dad nodded, got up from the bed, and stood up.
"Right. If you've gained something from this, then I can be at ease. Get plenty of rest."
Dad turned off the light in the room, opened the door to leave, then stopped for a moment with the door open and said.
"But you mustn't get hurt from now on. Jiu was sobbing her eyes out after you left. So don't let this happen again. Sleep well."
Soon, the door closed.
...
I was alone in the dark room and smiled.
How strange.
Normally, at times like this, I should feel a bit empty.
But today, the dark room feels strangely warm.
...Come to think of it, Jiu was sobbing?
I can't believe it.
Jiu and I even cry at the same time of day.
At this point, there must be something between us.