Chapter 13
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 13
Chapter Title The Battle for Number 7
Argh! Fuck, you scared the shit out of me.
I bolted upright at the scream that pierced through my sleep.
An unfamiliar ceiling stared back at me.
No, waita bunk bed.
We didnt have bunk beds at home or in the dorms.
Oh right, not home.
This was the lodging assigned to our U15 team.
A fourperson room.
In my previous life, Id never once stayed in a place like this.
The senior national team had arrived first for their friendly match, so we got stuck with the crappiest rooms.
No special training the day before, body felt fine, couldnt sleep at first but finally dozed offonly to be woken not by an alarm, but by a scream.
Ugh.
Might as well get up early and shower since I was awake.
As I thought that, my roommate for this national team stayBae Sanghyun, asleep on the bottom bunk oppositegrimaced and grumbled.
Damn, noisy as hell first thing in the morning.
Tell me about it.
I sat up and looked up at the top bunk.
Lee Sungho was up there.
No, the guy who was so calm he got called a stone Buddhascreaming first thing in the morning? What the hell?
I turned my gaze to the top bunk above Bae Sanghyuns.
Whats the big deal? First time seein someone rip a fart?
The owner of that thick Jeolla dialect was none other than Parquet Naiel.
He looked Black no matter who you asked, but he was Korean through and through.
His parents, refugees from some civil war in Africa, had him here in Korea.
Still, hearing a rich Jeolla twang from a Black guy? Takes some getting used to.
You startled me. Who farts first thing in the morning?
It happens! What, Black guy fartin weird to ya? Black folks cant fart now?
Thats not what I meant.
Parquet scowled at Lee Sunghos calm response.
Hey, what kinda reaction is that? Normally you freak out, make a fuss or somethin. Shit your pants.
Hey, shut it all of you. Not even wakeup time and youre yelling your asses off. Ugh, tired.
Bae Sanghyun rubbed his dry face, grumbling, and Parquet and Lee Sungho chimed in unison, Sorry.
Didnt we crash around 9 p.m. last night?
It was 9 a.m. nowtwelve hours of sleep, and hes still sleepy?
What a beast of a guy.
Damn it! Wide awake now!
Bae Sanghyun kicked off his covers and headed to the bathroom.
Man, that bros got charisma overflowin every time he opens his mouth. Must be from chuggin that German water, huh?
Charisma my ass.
I shook off my own covers, got up, and pulled back the curtains.
Weather was ridiculously nice.
Might be hot as hell if we run.
Man, nice and cool today, aint it?
I glanced back at Parquets words without thinking.
Cool you say?
This is cool. You been to Jeolla? Ours gets filthy hot.
Yeah, sure.
You aint thinkin Black guy dont feel the heat or some shit, right?
Ha, this punk.
I wiped the smile from my lips and said coldly.
Keep framing me for racism with your jokes, and youll get fucked up for real.
With kids this age, establishing dominance early is key.
Parquet wasnt a bad guy, but even as an adult, he was the type to prank endlessly if you let him.
Get played by the jokes here, and hed never stop.
Ah, alright, sorry.
Not the type to escalate if you got serious, either.
Yeah. Apology accepted.
Parquet shrugged at my words and followed Bae Sanghyun into the bathroom.
Then Lee Sungho quietly climbed down from the top bunk.
That was a joke, right?
Yeah.
Phew, thought I was about to get labeled a racist.
You get scared over that?
For a soccer player, character issues are huge. Gotta manage your image to keep your career spotless.
Already worrying about image and career at this age.
Lee Sungho had always been thorough like that.
Yeah, manage it well, your image.
I left Lee Sungho behind and rummaged through my bag for toothpaste and brush when he spoke up.
Taeyang.
What?
You got a favorite number?
Jersey number?
Hmm not really?
I wasnt hung up on numbers. Or rather, I hadnt had the luxury.
Before making it big, I was constantly paranoid about getting cut from the team. By the time I grabbed a starting spot, I was just grateful to the coach and team for the chance, so I ran with whatever.
Later years, I wore 8 for both national team and club.
Eh, no real attachment.
They gave me decent numbers out of respect, thats all.
Oh?
But Lee Sungho lit up.
Why?
So I can take 7?
7?
Not 9?
Wasnt 9 his attachment number? He was a striker, too.
Nah, 7.
His eyes burned as he declared 7.
Why?
Cause Son Heungmin wears 7.
Ah, thats what he meant.
Even after all these years, Son Heungmin was Koreas greatest player, everyones idol.
In that era, this kids style was more Lewandowski than Son.
But favorite players and playstyles dont always match.
I see.
I let it go.
Pros obsess over numbers too.
Oh, wait.
Coach Lee Junghoo was the type to make even numbers a competition.
Sure enough, right after morning assembly, Coach Lee Junghoo said.
You guys got favorite numbers?
Kim Hyojun shot his hand up first.
9!
Yeah, 9s good. Makes sense for our striker Hyojun.
Hehe.
Starting with Kim Hyojun, the kids one by one called out their favorites.
The coach, whod been listening quietly, said.
Got it. But surprisingly, lots of overlaps, huh?
Ah.
Kids who picked the same number glanced at each other.
Some, like Kim Hyojun, glared outright.
Right? But I dont just hand prime numbers to the famous hotshots. Me. Im fair.
Fair my ass.
So heres the deal.
He pulled out a jersey.
National team kit, but differentno Taegukgi, no KFA logo. No number or name.
This is what youll wear for practice matches. And the numbers are detachable. Theyll change every practice game.
He demonstrated, slapping a 10 on the back.
And the last number you get stuck with? Thats your official one.
Like a game, but plenty to fire up kids just out of elementary.
Alright, lets hand out hope numbers for the first practice match. Number 1?
Me!
Dibs!
They were fired up.
Dont know your levels yet, so rockpaperscissors this time. 1s firstgo.
Rock paper scissors!!
Argh.
Yes!
They loved it, even though skill would steal it back eventually.
In the heated mood, numbers were called, hopefuls RPSd.
Now, 7?
The air grew heavy instantly.
7.
Globally an ace number, in KoreaPark Jisung and Son Heungmin made it the national teams top ace badge.
Kids this age couldnt resist.
Just look at Lee Sungho.
I want 7.
Sure enough, he raised his hand first.
Even with his fame, others didnt back downplenty thought, Im better than him.
Me!!
Ryu Junseo, Kim Hyojuns soulmate up top.
Heh, 7s mine.
Choi Jiwoo.
Man, gotta challenge for 7.
Parquet Naiel.
Uh me too.
Gong Sehwan why the hell are you raising yours?
What an incomprehensible punk.
This generation loves 7 too, huh.
Coach Lee Junghoo grinned, and the kids burned with will.
All top middle school stars, future pro standouts.
Now it pissed me off a bit.
In my past life, 7 and I had no fate, so whatever.
But now? What do I have to bow to these kids?
Zero.
No, Im better, right?
These lesser punks talking ace?
Me.
I raised my hand too.
Alright, thats it. 7s got fierce competition. Rockpaperscissors.
Lee Sungho shot me a betrayed look, like Id tricked him.
I grinned.
Looked fun with all the rivals.
Ah.
As Lee Sungho sighed, Gong Sehwan ambushed.
No backing outrockpaperscissors!!
Hands flew out on instinct.
Winner decided in one round.
7 goes to Yoon Taeyang for now!
Me.
Never been RPS lucky, but this lifes got good fortune.
Nabbed 7 in one go.
Ah.
Leaving Lee Sunghos disappointed sigh, I stepped up, grabbed the temp national kit, and came back to Gong Sehwan asking.
Damn, close. Sell me that 7?
Trying to buy everything with money. Must suck being broke.
Name your price.
Ten thousand won?
Fuck off.
Hundred thousand, maybe wed talk. Ten thousand to tempt me? Cocky bastard.
Alright, temp numbers settime for a practice match?
Bae Sanghyun raised his hand.
Whos the opponent? Us against us?
Nah, boring. Plus, Pajus got one, two senior teams here today, right?
No way this crazy coach wants Ateam matchups.
But theyre all busy? No one to play.
Joking, right.
So I checked aroundfound a solid team nearby. Know Daejang High?
For real?
Daejang High ruled academy soccer, separate from K League youth middlehigh schools.
No, emperors.
Youth powerhouse that smashed K League Junior champs in nationals.
And were facing them.
Sure enough, everyone but the cockiest looked tense.
What, scared? I scraped together the best middle schoolers, and you cant beat one high school?
He knew kidscoachs touch with them was pro.
Subtly scratched the pride of these nationalcallup hotshots.
No! We can win!
Kim Hyojun led, others joined yelling victory, and Coach Lee said.
Yeah, win it. But losings fine. First time playing together. Give it your all, no pressure. Wins great, loss nothing to regret. First time, right?
Yes!!
Then lets talk starters?
Daejang aside, this mattered.
More strikers than expected me, Lee Sungho, Kim Hyojun, Ryu Junseo, and situational Parquet Naielfive.
Coach pulled 433.
Or 343?
Fullbacks were multiplayers covering whole flanks, not pure.
Koreas obsession with versatilitya flaw and strengthstrength here maybe?
Central three Choi Jiwoo, Gong Sehwan, Parquet Naiel.
Up top Ryu Junseo, Lee Sungho, me.
Overlapping Kim Hyojun bumped by Lee Sungho.
No, by me too?
Kim Hyojun bit his lip, frustrated.
Anyway, I was starting.
Heading out of the meeting room for tactics briefing and training, Lee Sungho grabbed me.
7.
What?
You said you didnt care?
His eyes burned hot.
Betrayed by my backstab?
I told him.
No matter how I think, Im the best ace on this team.
.
All the ballplayers chasing national ace numbers, and the real ace just watches? Hilarious.
Really are you the ace?
I grinned at his challenge.
Steal it if you can.
Yeah.
Lee Sungho ignited.