Chapter 16
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 16
Chapter Title The Eldest Son Yearns for Soccer
The match against Daejang High went into the final 10 minutes of the second half, and after I and the startingcaliber kids were subbed out en masse, they desperately held on to secure a 43 victory.
Beating Daejang High, known as the strongest academy team, with a U15 national team made up entirely of 14yearolds except for one 15yearold was such an encouraging feat that a small article about our win even popped up on internet news sites.
Riding that momentum, we crushed two more high schools and eked out a narrow win against the South Korean womens Amatch national team, achieving a perfect record in our practice games.
Coach Lee Junghoo was extremely pleased.
The Football Association seemed just as thrilled, with news articles and newspaper pieces covering our exploits.
Of course, that didnt mean our individual faces were getting recognized, but the kids acted like they were superstars just from that.
They got scolded by Coach Lee Junghoo for it, but hey, the vibe was great anyway.
Wed gained this confidence that we could take on any East Asian country.
That said, there were no guarantees wed actually do well once we got there.
Official matches are different from practice games, and domestic games are different from internationals.
Above all, the inaugural East Asia Youth Exchange was being hosted in Japan.
You cant ignore the homefield advantage, no matter how you slice it.
Even if it was just a kids tournament.
No, unlike our country where interest was relatively low, Japan pretended otherwise but was pretty fanatical about it, so plenty of people might show up to give them a big home buff.
Why the hype?
Because the kids representing them this time were the Platinum Generation, hailed as Japans greatest generation ever.
And they had good reason eight players from Europe alone on the team?
Among them, three were said to surpass even Kubo Takefusa, once called Japans top talent.
Japan had a habit of hyping things up as onceinamillennium or onceintenthousandyears events, but even so, at least two of those names rang a bell for me.
They made a fuss, but they did unearth some gems.
Anyway, thats a story for later.
Right now, from a youth perspective, they were shining brightly and ahead of the pack.
We had to beat them.
Honestly, back in the old days, maybe not, but now? I wasnt confident.
Confident Id lose, that is.
Of course, Id need my teammates help.
Soccer isnt a solo sport.
In a short while, our flight will be landing at Fukuoka Airport. Thank you for flying with DeWay Airlines.
Lost in thought, I heard the flight attendants announcement.
The short flight was coming to an end.
That said, even for a short hop and even for a youth national team, wasnt flying budget airline a bit much?
Had the Football Association always been this stingy with money?
Back in my prime, they hadnt been.
Just then, the plane touched down, the fuselage shaking briefly.
Ah, not the time for this.
I hurriedly swapped in my Japanese SIM chip, turned on data, and immediately my phone exploded with KakaoTalk notifications.
Gaeul Bro, you landed?
Mom Son, hows the air in Japan?
Dad Son, you cant lose to Japan.
Mom Honey I Yeoreum grandma phone sand
Mom Sorry son, Yeoreum sneaked onto moms phone?
Me Yeoreum knows KakaoTalk too? Impressive lololol
Dad Taeyang, take care. Dadll take Mom and the siblings to watch the KoreaJapan match
Messages from the family.
A warm smile crept onto my face.
Theyd said they probably couldnt make it, but somehow Dad got the day off.
No way we could lose the KoreaJapan match now.
This is... Japan, huh.
I was steeling my resolve when Choi Jiwoos voice came from beside me.
Kuhk... kuh...
Followed by that weird laugh.
Honestly, werent Japanese media the ones who created this chuunibyou stuff in the first place?
Thinking about it pissed me off.
We had to win, no question.
Reinforcing my determination over and over, we exited Fukuoka Airport, boarded the bus waiting for us, and arrived at a nearby hotel.
The tournament venue was so close to the airportpractically next doorthat theyd booked the hotel in the area.
It was a standard business hotel, triple rooms.
I was rooming with Lee Sungho and Gong Sehwan.
Ah... no Hakata or Tenjin, huh.
Gong Sehwan grumbled as he unpacked.
Why there?
Gotta buy figures.
You... going with Choi Jiwoo, by any chance?
Huh? Howd you know?
So it wasnt just plain chuunibyou after all.
Didnt know Gong Sehwan was into figures, though.
Didnt they say were free to head back after the tournament? Go then.
Mom and Dad are busy, cant come.
That sucks.
Hey, mind if I tag along with your family?
No way in hell.
Technically, this would be our familys first overseas trip all together. Absolutely not.
Ah, why?
Nope. No dice.
Dude... a million won? Still no?
Nope, nope. Hundred million, maybe Id think about it.
Wow, cheapskate.
Youre the shameless one trying to crash a family trip.
Ignoring Sehwans whining, I glanced at Lee Sungho, who was reviewing the file the coach had handed out.
Model student, as expected.
Whats it say?
Hm? Oh, the bracket.
Reaaally? So our first opponents China?
Yeah.
China, huh.
China hadnt changed much from past or present.
Still sending players to Europe for big money was an exaggeration, but not far offtheyd strut in with bold claims, crash out in disgrace, and slink back.
Their style hadnt evolved either.
Theyd splash cash on worldclass coaches, but all they ever heard were curses aimed at Chinese soccer.
And the most important part...
Gotta watch for injuries.
They played dirty fouls beyond rough.
Kicking legs was basic they straightup tried to injure people.
Youth level? No way?
Thats underestimating China.
China is China.
Yep.
Lee Sungho said that, lay back, and closed his eyes gently.
...Whatre you doing?
Jet lag adjustment.
...Youve really been working hard on training.
Why the sudden praise? Anyway, no more talking. You rest up too. Gotta adjust to the time difference.
Good lord...
The entire East Asia Youth Exchange was being held at Dos Stadium in Fukuoka Prefecture.
The tournament kicked off with Japan vs. Taiwan.
Even on a weekday for a youth match, around 8,000 people packed into the 24,000capacity Dos Stadiumway more than expected.
Homenation boost aside, it drew Japans diehard fans who dove deep into the sport, plus folks there to see the hyped Platinum Generation.
Final score 90.
Japan crushed Taiwan in overwhelming fashion.
The second match that afternoon North Korea vs. Hong Kong.
The Asian dark horse, goblin team North Korea, beat Hong Kong 40.
Then, the next morning.
Korea vs. China was up.
Wow, big crowd?
Warming up on the field, Coach Lee Junghoo glanced at the stands and whistled.
More people than anticipated.
You can tell which countrys fans are loudest just by the voices.
Those booming yells were definitely Chinese.
No clue if they came from afar or lived locally, but Chinese fans were waving their flags, chanting Ziyou.
No, but why so many?
Heard China has some genius kid? Probably here for him.
What, like a second Li Wei?
Li Wei was Chinas star striker from five years back.
The guy bragged hed surpass Messi and Ronaldo in Europe, transferred to the Premier League, then got sent off in his debut for kicking a guys jaw instead of the ball, and vanished without a traceChinas genius.
Whys everyone hyping geniuses and platinum generations?
Coach Lee Junghoo turned to Yoon Taeyang.
Get smashed by a real genius, then see how embarrassed they are.
In his eyes, they were all fakes.
Yoon Taeyang, casually bouncing the ball with a bored lookthat was the real deal.
Nobody knew it yet, though.
Alright, everyone in!
He gathered the players and headed to the locker room to prep.
And so the match began.
Korea in their away white kits, China in home red.
The Chinese kids in red stared down the Korean reps with smug faces.
What the hells with those smug looks?
Chinas a weird country.
Theyd barely beaten Korea ever, yet they looked down on us like crazy.
Not everyone, sure, but public opinion bizarrely treated Korea as a pushover, a tier below.
What gives them that confidence?
Ever seen China back up their hype? Blind arrogance.
Beat em down, theyll snap out of it.
If beatings fixed it, theyd have wised up 50 years ago.
Bae Sanghyun clapped to quiet the rowdy kids.
Alright, alright, you cafeteria brats, to your spots.
Hey, Im not cafeteria trash!
Yeah, Sanghyuns cafeteria too, right?
Shut itmy schools got no cafeteria, you punks.
Bae Sanghyun subdued his climbing younger teammates and looked ahead.
Yoon Taeyang and Lee Sungho, rolling their ankles at the front.
Then the whistle blew.
Lee Sungho, with the ball, passed to Yoon Taeyang, who turned it back, and the game was on.
Coach Lee Junghoo liked a solid defense, luring opponents in, pressing to steal, and counteringbut he wasnt married to one tactic.
He adapted like a chameleon to the foe.
Against China, who loved fouls, he pushed the line high and hounded them with quick passes.
No good letting one player hold the ball long against foulhappy China.
The players followed his orders faithfully.
But theres always that one kid who doesnt, or cant.
Hey, Taeyang! Pass!
Who knew itd be Yoon Taeyang.
Coach Lee Junghoo yelled in shock.
Yoon Taeyang tapped the ball, accelerated, found space, and drove forward.
No, hey! Taeyang!
As the coach shouted again, Taeyang unleashed La Croqueta to nutmeg one defender.
Hey......
True to its other name, Phantom Dribble, he ghosted past like magic. By the time Coach Lee Junghoo called out in a deflated voice, Taeyang hit another La Croqueta to shake another Chinese player.
Hey! To the side!!
Now the coach yelled in alarm.
A Chinese sliding tackle was coming in from the flank.
While Lee Junghoo freaked over a potential injury, Taeyang chipped the ball with his instep, hopped over the tackle, and landed.
Phew......
A sigh of reliefand another Chinese player blocked his path.
Taeyang, back to the dropping ball, filled the defenders vision midair.
Then he backheeled it up, sailing past.
A fantastical Rainbow Flick.
......
As Coach Lee Junghoos jaw dropped, Yoon Taeyang trapped the falling ball, Free Flapped past the last centerback, and faced the keeper.
At this point, you could relax.
Hadnt he scored eight alone in practice games? Pure finishing.
Left or right foot, he sniped it into the net like a marksman.
But Taeyang didnt stop.
He charged the keeper full tilt.
What the?
Is he nuts?
Coach Lee Junghoo shot up from the bench, puzzled, stepping near the line to yell
Taeyang spun past the keeper.
A Marseille Turn straight out of Zidane prowling the streets of Marseille.
He bypassed even the keeper, rolled the ball into the empty net with a tap.
Whoa......
Insane.
Coaches and Lee Junghoo gasped in unison.
Booooooo!
The Chinese fans filling the stands unleashed jeers.
Yoon Taeyang, eyeing them, strolled casually back to midfield with hands behind his back, taunting broadly.
His areawide provocation lit Dos Stadium ablaze with Chinese fury.