First-Team Debut?
That very day, I went out and bought myself a scooter. I had no intention of keeping it long-term. I just needed something decent to shuttle between school and the training ground, something I could sell off later, so I picked a model I could grab on the spot.
It was clearly secondhand — scuffed all over, the paint faded — but as long as it ran fine, that was enough. More than anything, the thought of ditching that miserable public-transit commute between school and the training ground made even this beat-up thing feel like a win.
Besides, in a few months I'd be riding something better. A proper motorcycle. Maybe even a car.
The next day I rolled up to school with the engine puttering, parked the scooter, and pulled off my helmet. Getting to school so much faster had me in a genuinely good mood — until a problem appeared.
"Hahaha! What the hell is that sorry-looking thing? A piece-of-junk scooter like that suits you perfectly."
The last faces I wanted to see had spotted me and were heading over.
Ah… damn it. I was having a nice morning. Why these guys…
I ignored them and started toward the school entrance.
"Hey! Where do you think you're going? You really think that scooter's gonna be in one piece if you just walk off?"
Shit.
It was that damn Juventus fan, Mateo. He looked my scooter up and down as he spoke.
I sighed and answered.
"Haa… sorry, but I don't have a full license yet, so this is the best I can do. It's used, so yeah, it doesn't look great — but if you want to stand there and stare at it, go ahead."
Mateo's expression faltered for a second. I didn't let the opening slip.
"And if I roll up in a Ferrari within a year, is that supposed to raise my level somehow? I don't think so."
I cut it clean and walked right past him. He wasn't worth any more of my time. But then another one came over.
Conti — the Torino FC fan.
He casually slung an arm around my shoulder like we were old friends. I frowned immediately.
"Hey, Teo. Don't mind him. Just ignore it."
The sheer naturalness of it left me speechless.
"…Why are you suddenly acting so buddy-buddy? I don't remember us being that close."
Conti just grinned.
"Gotta be friendly for a few days."
"Why?"
"We've got Juventus coming up."
That was when it clicked.
Wait — is the next match against Juventus?
"Ah… was it?"
Conti's face went dead serious.
"You lying about making the first team? Wait — no… there was definitely an article… what the hell?"
I winced inwardly.
"Ah… my bad. I should've known that. Training's been brutal and I've had a lot going on, so I haven't checked."
I paused, then added,
"Still, I doubt I'm starting against Juventus, so it probably doesn't matter much yet."
Conti nodded like that made sense — then suddenly dropped his voice.
"So the other players are in good shape, right?"
I tilted my head.
"No idea."
"Huh?"
"I know there's one long-term injury at center back. That's about it."
Conti blinked.
"…That's it? Everyone else is healthy?"
"Yeah. They've all been training hard, so I'd assume so."
For a moment Conti wore a deeply meaningful look. Then he clenched a fist and muttered under his breath,
"Nice. We've actually got a shot this time."
I stared at him, dumbfounded.
Wow…. This guy really is a Torino fan.
And at the same time, I realized I'd screwed up again.
Ah, I wasn't supposed to say any of that outside. Did I just go brain-dead for a second?
Nice one, me.
"Hey! What are you two doing?"
"Just asking a Torino FC player how he's gonna handle the Juventus match."
Conti answered Mateo with a lazy drawl.
"Hey, Mateo — you know why he can't stand you?"
"Because I'm a Juventus fan?"
"Nope. That guy's girl-crazy, and you're quietly popular with the girls at school. Most footballers go to the sports high schools, right? But you're here, so he doesn't get to see that kind of competition much. And now that you're in the first team and it's all over the papers and social media, there are definitely girls who are gonna start throwing themselves at you."
…?
I could only tilt my head at Conti's words.
I don't remember anything like that from school.
Or maybe I was so stressed out by these bastards that I never noticed?
Maybe Conti wasn't entirely wrong.
The schools Torino and Juventus youth players usually attended were Liceo Scientifico Sportivo — science-and-sports track high schools. Mine, on the other hand, was Liceo Classico Augusto Rinaldi, famous for humanities and philosophy — the kind of place that funneled kids into good universities. In that sense, I really was the odd one out…
"Anyway, keep your head down for the next few days. You know we lost 4–2 to Juventus at home last time, right? At the very least we need a draw at home."
…And I'm the one deciding that?
"Well, I'll try. Not sure if I'll even play."
"Alright, get going."
With that, Conti shoved me toward the school entrance and immediately started bickering with Mateo.
…Unbelievable.
I walked into the building in a thoroughly mixed state of mind.
The moment I stepped inside, I stopped short. The atmosphere felt off from the start.
A girl passing through the hallway spotted me first and waved brightly.
"Hi, Teo."
Caught off guard, I managed a halfhearted wave back.
What was that?
My head spun. Conti's words from a moment ago floated back up — now that people knew I was in the first team, some of them would start making the first move.
In that sense, this was normal enough… but nothing like this existed in my memories. Even after I'd made the first team as a striker, it had never been like this.
Still flustered, I headed for my classroom — and voices kept calling out from every corner of the hallway.
"Teo! So you're really training with the first team now?"
A guy asked with open curiosity, and I gave a light nod.
Right after, more girls passed by, smiling as they greeted me.
"Hi, Teo!"
"Hey~!"
I gave another small wave and kept walking. Even as they said hello, they glanced back at me one more time before moving on.
Nobody was striking up long conversations, but something had clearly shifted. They weren't looking at me like an ordinary student anymore. They were looking at a player training with Torino's first team.
I scratched the back of my head and muttered to myself.
Ah…. Yeah, this is gonna take some getting used to.
In that slightly charged atmosphere, I entered the classroom and class began. I was half-listening the way I always did when the teacher suddenly called my name.
"Teo."
She smiled as she spoke.
"First of all, congratulations on joining Torino's first-team training. Truly."
A smattering of applause rose around the room. But the teacher kept going.
"That said, football isn't everything. Do you know a player named Rodri?"
I nodded quietly.
"There are players like Rodri who manage university studies alongside their football careers. This is a prestigious school, and we don't expect student-athletes to simply abandon their academics."
The classroom went still as her calm voice continued.
"A person can't get by on athletic ability alone. You need the power to think and the will to learn if you want to become someone truly outstanding. So I hope you'll keep university in mind going forward, and continue balancing football with your studies."
She paused, then looked at me with a gentle smile.
"Of course, I know it won't be easy. That's why the school plans to accommodate you as much as possible. So even when it's hard — will you stick with it and not let go?"
"Yes, ma'am. I understand. My parents want that too, so I'll keep working at it."
"Good, good."
The teacher nodded, satisfied.
By the time I was starting to get used to the new attention and stares at school, match day arrived.
Standing once again at Torino FC's home ground after so long, I felt something strange stir in my chest. Not long ago I'd been bouncing between other clubs on the way down. And now I was back.
Yeah… this is it.
A sea of purple. Looking at the players and fans in Torino FC's signature violet kits—
But I still wasn't in the starting eleven. Today's job was to watch from the bench.
The opponent was our rival, Juventus. Against a side that stacked with talent, the Torino players threw their bodies into every challenge, fighting tooth and nail.
You need to be at that level to win a league title…
I absorbed every tactical detail and movement, figuring the day would end on the bench.
But football never goes the way you expect.
Late in the first half, Torino's center back Koffi Djidji went down after a collision and was eventually subbed off injured. He'd been covering for long-term casualty Perr Schuurs at right center back, and now he was replaced by another center back, Saba Sazonov.
So now I'm the only center back left on the bench?
If that's the case…
"Teo! Start warming up with us. You never know."
The order came straight from the assistant coach. Pulling on a bib, I began loosening up along the sideline in case another center back went down.
Thankfully the first half finished without further incident — but not long after the second half kicked off, left center back Ricardo Rodríguez went down clutching his head after an aerial duel.
The bench erupted. Medical staff sprinted onto the pitch. And then a bad signal came back from them.
"Teo!"
Manager Ivan Jurić's voice boomed across the sideline.
"Get ready to go on — now!"
Thump. Thump. Thump!
My heart slammed against my ribs. I ripped off the bib and hurried toward the substitution zone.