109. The Type to Keep His Word -6
“Haah...”
Lying on the grass, I look up at the dark sky.
The turf, pitted and sunken everywhere, feels more comfortable than any bed, and the deep blue sky feels cozier than any ceiling.
To the point where I want to fall asleep just like this.
After all, I’ve done everything I needed to do today.
Ah... no.
I didn’t brush my teeth.
As long as Dad is alive, going to bed without brushing my teeth is impossible.
Thanks to that, I force my upper body up with difficulty.
“...Wow.”
While peeling off the stockings clinging heavily to my legs and looking around, a sudden sense of betrayal pops out of my mouth.
Right after the match ended, everyone ran to me and tossed me into the air over and over.
Then at some point, they left me on the ground and are all enjoying their own joy.
Some are kneeling with their heads pressed to the ground in prayer; some are running to the bench, cheering; some are near the stands sharing the joy with the fans.
No matter how out of it everyone is, this is too much.
Leaving me on the ground and just going?
“Hoo.”
After forcing myself up, I place my hand on my waist and look off into the distance.
Half the stands are silent; half are running wild like a boiling pot.
I fix my gaze on the purple wave among them.
And frowning, I look carefully at that spot.
Carefully... Hmm. It’s amazing.
Even though I have pretty good eyes, finding them in that crowd in less than ten seconds...
Sorry to the fans, but in this moment, I can only see two people.
I walk toward those two.
“You punk!”
“Ready to receive the award!?”
“You’re the best, you bastard!”
In the midst of that, teammates and coaches running around frantically block my path.
Wait, just a moment.
I know you’re happy, but I have somewhere to go for a sec.
Flapping around like a paper doll in the rough grips of my seniors a few times, I finally became a free body and was able to reach near the stands.
“Ugh...”
Why is this so hard.
Dragging legs heavy like water-soaked cotton, I climb over the advertising hoardings.
And approach the stands.
...They’re crying.
Dad and Jiu, sitting in the front row of the stands, are both covered in tears and snot.
Well, Jiu I can understand, but why is Dad crying so bitterly like that?
It’s the first time I’ve seen a grown man cry like a baby.
If I’d had my phone, I would’ve taken a picture; it’s a shame that only I get to see that.
“Lee! Lee! Lee!”
“Take me! Lee!”
“I love you! I love you!”
As I get closer to the stands, the fans’ voices are heard clearly.
I bow my head appropriately in greeting and take off my uniform shirt.
I’m glad I usually wear my uniform a bit large.
If it were a tight-fitting uniform like the other seniors, I would’ve looked hilarious taking it off.
I took it off in a somewhat cool way.
And extending my arm out, I hand it to crying Jiu and Dad.
At least wipe your snot with this.
Their faces are a mess, what the hell...
“J... J... Hueeeeng!”
“My son... My son...!”
Oh my.
It’s like both of them have returned to when they were three years old; they can’t even speak properly.
Embarrassed someone might see, I quickly turn my body away.
And climbing back over the advertising hoardings onto the ground, I roughly wipe my face with both hands.
It was so hot that even my eyes were sweating.
*Clap clap clap
Lined up in a row, we send applause to the Inter players passing before us.
They were truly a strong opponent.
The final whistle sounded like salvation because Inter was that strong.
With respect and sincerity, we applaud them.
However, the Inter players only walk toward the podium with their heads bowed.
A few only shake hands with our captain Biraghi, who had played for Inter; everyone else has dejected faces.
Soccer is originally a sport with winners and losers, and the final in particular cannot help but be even crueler.
But anyway, seeing the Inter players who had become the losers, I didn’t feel very good.
It’s not that I’m pretending to be kind; I just thought about how sad I’d be if I were in their shoes, and I couldn’t feel good.
Well, it seems the other seniors all feel similarly.
While we’re sending applause with solemn expressions...
“...Hyu.”
“...?”
The opposing team coach, who had been exchanging greetings with Coach Vincenzo, comes in front of me, utters a strange exclamation, and looks at me.
Then he extends his hand, so I take it in a fluster, and he smiles as he passes me.
After that, this time Coach Vincenzo comes to me with a hearty laugh and says,
“He said they would have won if it weren’t for you. Hahaha!”
“...Ah.”
...Well. Is that really so.
Pursing my lips, I look at the opposing coach’s back.
...And they lost without scoring a single goal.
“Now, shall we head up too?”
“The champions are coming through! Make way!”
Anyway, after the runner-up medal ceremony ended, it was now our turn to ascend the podium.
“You were good today, Torreira!”
“Clean sheet, clean sheet! Our center-backs are the best!”
“Romero, you punk! It’s better here than Lazio, right? Don’t go back, just settle in!”
Each time someone heads to the podium, we high-five and exchange words of congratulations.
And when my turn came and I headed for the podium...
“Ah, ah!”
To me, not just congratulations, but hands came flying at me.
No, why are you hitting me...!
“You crazy bastard! I’ve got nothing else to say to you!”
“You were scary during the match! Your expression completely changed!”
“Our youngest! Looks like you’re getting us old-timers a championship before we retire!”
Ouch, I’m gonna die.
Receiving the seniors’ intense congratulations, I stepped onto the podium completely out of it.
I couldn’t even tell if the sparkling things before my eyes were stars or medals.
“Come here! Come here!”
“Here! You stand in the middle!”
Anyway... after hanging the medal around my neck, I head toward the seniors who had already gotten on the podium.
The seniors grabbed my shoulders and guided me to the center, and then...
“Woooooah-”
“Oooooooh-”
The captain came toward us holding the trophy.
The captain, looking even happier because the opponent was Inter, brought the trophy down to below his knees, and everyone shouted while waving their hands down low.
I couldn’t bring myself to shout along, so I just followed along with gestures.
Then... the moment the captain powerfully lifted the trophy above his head.
“Yeeeeeeeah-!!!”
“Whooooo!”
Boom-boom-boom-!
Together with the ear-splitting sound of fireworks, we all raised our hands to the sky and let out a roar.
“Campióne~! Campióne~!”
“We’re the champions! Champions!”
“Waaaaah!”
Everyone jumps up and down in place, looking at the fans cheering toward us.
And confetti flutters in the sky.
Though I’ve only lived sixteen years so far.
I was certain that this moment would be one I could never forget until the day I die.
It was... quite beautiful.
*After the trophy ceremony ended, I separately hung the tournament MVP medal around my neck as well.
With that, all the tournaments concluded, but...
Ahi ahi ahi-!
Magica Viola-!!
È triste il mio cuore lontano
Da te-!
Magica Viola alè-!!
The party showed no signs of ending.
The fans still held their positions, singing chants and seeming to have no intention of leaving...
“My love! Why are you crying.”
“You’ve worked hard, my love...!”
The families of my teammates were climbing over the fences and embracing the seniors, sharing the joy.
...Hm.
While I was trying to stand awkwardly alone among them, I was somehow reminded of my elementary school graduation.
From afar, I see the captain dragging someone this way.
It was Jiu and Dad.
Seeing that, I’m reminded of that graduation again.
Time has passed, and the place has changed greatly, but... in the end, it’s those two again.
“Jian!”
“I Jian!”
Jiu and Dad open their arms wide and run toward me.
...I’m not big on hugs.
I haven’t showered yet, so I smell like sweat...
“Urk!”
“Good job! Good job!”
“Oh my, you worked hard! Where! Are you hurt anywhere?”
“...Well, I think I’m about to get... hurt. Can’t breathe...”
Since Dad and Jiu hugged me at the same time, my breath was completely cut off.
No, wait.
But that’s not the problem right now.
“...Hey.”
I look down at Jiu, buried in my arms, with a disgruntled expression.
Then Jiu, sniffling, looks up at me.
“...Can you back off a little?”
“...Ah!”
As if finally coming to her senses, Jiu starts and pulls away from my arms in surprise.
No, what are you doing hugging just anyone like that...
“Ahem.”
“Ahem...!”
In the end, I become Dad’s alone, and Jiu and I look away from each other and cough dryly.
...Why is my heart suddenly beating faster than when I scored a goal.
This is absurd.
And why did it have to be now.
I probably reek of sweat... Damn.
“Jian! I’ll take a picture!”
While I’m pursing my lips for no reason, the captain brings the trophy and speaks.
The captain places the trophy down between us, takes the phone from Jiu saying he’ll take the picture.
...As expected, only the captain looks after the youngest.
“Hey, can I touch this?”
While standing awkwardly with the trophy between us, Jiu asks with sparkling eyes.
Why even ask something like that.
“Of course not.”
“No? Hmph. That’s mean.”
“Only members of the winning team can touch the trophy. If it’s not allowed, it’s not allowed.”
“Aw. Okay.”
One might say I could just let her touch it, but that’s because this isn’t my personal trophy, it’s the team’s trophy.
It’s not something I can arbitrarily permit, so it can’t be helped.
“...”
But seeing Jiu make a thoroughly sulky expression, I let out a sigh.
Is she planning to take the picture with that expression?
Can’t be helped.
Shaking my head, I take off the medal hanging around my neck.
This is mine, so... I can do what I want with it, right.
“Wear this at least.”
“...Really?”
“What, is it fake?”
“...Hehe.”
When I hand over the medal, Jiu’s face brightens as if she was never sulking.
Seeing that simple side of her, I can’t help but crack a smile.
“Okay, I’ll take the picture!”
Anyway, since you have to smile for photos.
The three of us stand side by side with the trophy in the middle, looking at the camera.
I stand in the center, Dad on the left, Jiu on the right.
I’m still a bit awkward with photos, so I give a thumbs-up while looking at the phone, when the captain clicks his tongue and says,
“What the. Why so awkward. Try being a bit more affectionate. Put your arms around each other or something.”
Arm around shoulders?
At the captain’s words, I place my left hand on Dad’s shoulder.
“The other side too, punk.”
...Hmm.
I lightly place the other one too.
“Smile! One, two, three!”
And with an awkward smile lifting the corners of my mouth, click.
I keep thinking of the graduation ceremony.
Back then, the three of us took a picture like this too.
Back then I was the smallest of the three, but now I’m the biggest.
Heh.
“I think we’re done, so can you move your hands?”
“Oh, sure.”
Anyway, after taking the picture like that, I hand the trophy back to the captain. The captain takes it and goes to another teammate to take a picture.
Watching that captain, I make up my mind that if I grow older later and become a team captain, I want to be that kind of captain.
“Hey! Hey! Try to take it!”
At the cheeky voice, I turn my head to see Jiu standing with her foot on a ball she’d picked up from somewhere.
Her posture, stepping on the ball with one foot and flicking her fingers, is utterly ridiculous.
“I said try to take it? It won’t be easy.”
I could probably take it in one second if I wanted to... but there’s nothing to gain from that.
In times like this, I should just play along.
“Oof! Ugh!”
While pretending to defend half-heartedly, Jiu acts crazy and makes a fuss on her own.
What’s she doing.
I didn’t do anything, yet she can’t keep her feet still as if the ball is hot.
I burst out laughing at the sight, and somehow Jiu seems to gain confidence instead...
“Here I come! Try to stop me!”
She even dribbles the ball toward me.
Well, well.
Her dribbling form is like a newborn calf.
Lower your stance more, and keep your head up.
And why are her arms so unnatural? She’s not a robot.
I just stood watching her pass by me because it was so funny, and Jiu says in an excited voice,
“I got past him! I got past him!”
Well, sure... as long as you’re happy.
I smirk and shake my head, when this time Jiu passes the ball to me.
Then she takes a stance like someone trying to be a goalkeeper for the first time.
“Try to get past me!”
“...”
“Hsss, I feel like I can block it. Why can’t I?”
...This is absurd.
Cute, so cute.
“What are you doing! Come on!”
It was so ridiculous and pathetic I was just standing there, but since she told me to come, I dribble the ball toward her half-heartedly.
Having become a pro player, I obviously can’t go all out.
I go roughly past and deliberately tap the ball, passing it to Jiu.
Then Jiu throws her hands up in the air and snorts.
“I took it! I took it! What’s up, I Jian? It’s no big deal!”
...So annoying.
But it seems my acting was pretty convincing.
Seeing her so genuinely happy.
She really thinks she took it from me right now.
“Should I just start soccer? I feel like I’d be pretty good even if I started now?”
Sure, sure.
Delusion is free, so I decide not to bother teaching her the truth.
It might make her act a bit cocky, but whatever...
“...Hm?”
In the middle of smirking, I turn my head at a suddenly felt gaze... what the.
At some point, the seniors gathered on one side are all looking at us.
What are they all...
Why are they looking with such warm, pleased smiles.
Huh?
Some even nod vigorously and give a thumbs-up.
“...”
My mouth suddenly pops open.
My face feels like it’s getting hot too.
“Hey, try to stop me again!”
In the midst of that, Jiu, who can only see the ball, approaches me again with her newborn calf dribble.
Feeling the seniors’ gazes, I casually stick out my leg and lightly steal the ball.
And...
“...Huh?”
With all my heart.
Step over, flip-flap, la croqueta, rainbow flick, etc. — I unleashed everything, getting past Jiu over and over, and finally made her fall on her bottom.
Jiu looked up at me with blank eyes as if she hadn’t seen what passed by at all, and I looked down at her with the eyes of a pro.