Chapter 5
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 5
Chapter Title No Fists Needed
What should I do with this punk?
Should I just deck him?
That thought crossed my mind, but then I rememberedI wasnt that parentless orphan kid from the past anymore.
Back then, in a situation like this, I never backed down. My fist would fly first.
Yeah, I had nothing to lose back then.
Growing up watching that in the orphanage, I thought it was just how things were.
Looking back, I got lucky.
If you could call it thatmy legs worked out just fine.
If luck hadnt been on my side, I wouldve had to quit playing pro ball ages ago. But I never thought twice. I just beat them down like the orphanage brothers taught me, until they begged for mercy and promised no backlash.
This kid? Hes the type whod snitch even harder if I laid a hand on him. Instill fear that hell get killed if he resists, and hell swallow his pride instead of telling anyone.
So I figured that was the way to go.
I realized it was wrong only after meeting good adults and starting to learn about the world.
Now that I know using force is a mistake, I never resort to fists to solve problems.
I just pulled out my phone and stared blankly at him. The senior guy scowled and spat,
Damn elementary school brats. All you freshmen assemble at the dorm tonight, got it?
Huh, even calling a roll?
Kids young, but he sure craves a beating.
But I held back.
Theres a right time to unleash it.
When Coach Jo Bongsu, the other coaches, and all the players are gathered.
Now.
Damn elementary school brats. All you freshmen assemble at the dorm tonight, got it?
Whats that about?
The second I see the coach, I pretend to fiddle with my phone and play back the recording of what the senior said.
Some hyung told all us firstyears to assemble?
Coach Jo Bongsus face twists up like a demon from hell as he glares at the seniors.
Which bastard was it?
That hyung over there!
I point at the guy whod been grilling me, and his face drains of color.
Pack your bags and get out. Now.
Whoa, Coach Jo Bongsu doesnt mess around.
CCoach!
He starts blubbering, but the coach is stonecold.
Out!!
Caught between a rock and a hard place, the guy stumbles off the field with a roar like a tigers echoing behind him.
Coach Jo Bongsu snorts, then turns to the other players.
I let you have personal time on one condition no bullshit like this. You broke it. So from now on, total lockdown. Understood?
Yes, sir!!
See? No need for fists. Problem solved easy.
If I let it drop here quietly, fine. But blow it up like this, and that punks soccer days are over for good.
What better revenge is there?
Sure, some might worry about getting labeled a tattletale and facing payback or isolation. Thats kid stuff for real 14yearolds.
Me? Ive lived once before. Backlash doesnt scare mein fact, Ive already got my peers isolating me on my own.
Seniors glaring like they want to kill me? Fine by me.
Flip the script once like this, and they wont touch me, scared of ending up like that booted senior.
Tch. Been noise from day one of orientation, but listen up, newbies. We dont tolerate this crap. If it happens again, report it straight to me or the coaches. Ill handle it.
Yes, sir!
His tigerscarierthanarealone face softens back to kindly uncle mode.
He chuckles heartily, lightens the mood, and rallies the team.
From my experience with tons of coaches, hes solid.
Knows when to be tough and when to pat backs and join in.
Light warmup, then well do seconds and thirds versus firstyears to wrap up. Captain!
Yes, sir!
Lead em in warmups!
Got it!
The captains short but built like a tank.
No memory of him, so probably never cracked the national team.
Weirdno familiar faces among the upperclassmen.
In Seoul, theres gotta be elite kids whove been in big youth setups since little league.
Thats when it hit.
Hey, youre something else.
Someone talks to me.
Its the guy running alongside.
What about?
Coming up with that. Id be too scared to try it.
Scared of what?
Guess not? Still, ballsy. What if they retaliate?
Hes not even on the soccer team anymore. Ill just beat his ass.
I grin as I say it, and he lets out an impressed Ooh.
Waitthis face rings a bell up close.
Nice to meet you. Im Gong Sehwan.
Gong Sehwan.
Right, youre the Seoul guy.
Forgot about this friend.
Impossible to forget, really.
Gong Sehwan was my positional rival on the national teamand my soulmate partner.
Both midfielders. Depending on the coach, wed both start, or just one of us.
He was the defensive, highworkrate type. Me? I orchestrated from deep, threading passes. Total opposites.
Oldtimers called us the reincarnation of Pirlo and Gattuso or whatever.
Im Yoon Taeyang.
Weird name.
Yours is Knotty.
Hey, its what my parents gave me!
Same here?
Argh You beat me to it, Taeyang.
His goofy grin makes me smile too, happy to see him.
Quiet and run!
The captain yells from beside the line, eyeing us.
His glare at me stings pretty good.
Yeah, that punk ran wild because the team leader turned a blind eyeor was in on it.
No wonder I rub him wrong.
Captain doesnt like us much.
Cant blame him.
If hes the ringleader, itd be weirder if he did.
We jog lightly to warm up, then circle for stretches.
Alright, looks like everyones set. From secondyears Seunghwan, Jeongsu, and Heeseong join the firstyears.
Yes, sir!
Only eight firstyears. Gotta pull from seconds to even it out.
This is testing the gap between first and upperclassmen, so those three are probably bench guys.
Positions as assigned.
Coach scribbles names on the whiteboard.
Hes already memorized the newbies namessquads coming together smooth.
You striker?
Gong Sehwan asks me.
Yeah.
Im midfield. Ill thread you passes. Score.
He brags like its his job.
This guy couldnt hit a pass to save his life yet.
Just run hard. Ill handle the goals.
Chilly weather, but my bodys warmed up nice, sweat just right.
Young bodyno stamina worries. Feeling fresh.
Time to shine.
To snag a starting spot as a firstyear, gotta show something undeniable.
Youth teams are simple.
How many goals you score.
Thats it.
No coach benches a goal machine, no matter how much they hate the kid.
Especially in resultsdriven Korean soccer.
Line up at the halfway line!
At the coachs call, I stand with my teammates just before midfield.
Seniors stares burn.
I smile back at them.
Damn, that kids got guts.
Coach Jo Bongsu watches Yoon Taeyang and lets out an admiring grunt.
Uh Wont he stir up trouble?
At the coachs worried question, Jo Bongsu narrows his eyes.
Trouble? Reporting senior bullying is trouble?
NNo, not that
If youre saying overlook violence and hazing for team harmony, pack your bags like that kid.
Sorry, sir.
After chewing out the coach, Jo Bongsu turns back to the field.
Theres Taeyang, grinning despite the death glares from the seniors.
Yeah, a soccer player needs that kind of spine.
Scared strikers dont score.
The fearless bulldogs bag more goals.
Plus, putting up with senior violence is toxic, and fighting back gains nothing. But he smartly snitched to flip itclever kid.
Wonder how hell do in a match?
Can he repeat that performance from before against the big boys?
Anticipation building, the coach blows the whistle. Game on.
Upperclassmen kick off.
They shift the ball back and build patiently, like taught.
Block em!
Over there!
The secondyear seniors bark orders on the firstyear side, but they cant handle the buildup.
Definitely green. Haha.
The coach chuckles fondly at the firstyears as one kid slices through and intercepts a pass.
Thats him!
Gong Sehwan. Good player.
Gong Sehwan wasnt from Dream of Seoulhe impressed in a regular club, got scouted.
Led his team to national elementary runnerup.
Worth the pickup.
Satisfied, then Sehwan lofts a long ball forward.
Oh
The coach, impressed by his defending, winces at the pass.
Clear strengths and weaknesses.
Steals well from deep, but forwarding it? Long passes are trash.
Teachable, of course.
But right now, it could be a fatal error.
Sure enough, an upperclassman charges the wobbly ball.
That instant.
Whoa!
With the coachs gasp, a player beats the senior to it.
Taeyang.
Jo Bongsu leans in, watching as he chests it down perfectly to his feet.
Taeyang receives with his back to the charging senior whod stolen it otherwise, then spins the ball forward and shakes him off easy.
Now the real test.
Last time, Taeyang blew past everyone in a demo.
But this was different.
Facing him battlehardened upperclassmen, leagues ahead of a kid his age.
Plus, dropping from striker to second line left four defenders wide open in front.
Sopass or force the dribble?
If he learned right, impressive. If not, fun teaching moment.
Jo Bongsu watches eagerly as Taeyang takes off.
Kids clueless.
He chuckles at Taeyangs naive charge.
Woooah!
Taeyang blasts past one defender inches away with a highspeed free flap.
Taeyang starts shining on the field.