"...Mmm."
My eyelids are heavy. I keep holding back a yawn that keeps trying to escape, over and over, until even the bridge of my nose starts to tingle.
...So tedious.
The awards ceremony started several hours ago already, but for all those hours, I've done nothing but sit in my seat and clap.
These clothes are uncomfortable enough as it is, but sitting here nonstop makes it feel like I can't breathe, and my butt hurts so much I could die.
"..."
Out of sheer boredom, I turn my head on a whim, and it looks like Dad is fighting off drowsiness just like me.
He's definitely facing forward, but his eyes are unfocused, like they could shut at any moment.
"..."
As for Jiu on the other side... well, she's been sitting quietly this whole time.
When we first arrived, she was so nervous she was rambling incoherently, but now she seems a bit more relaxed.
She probably can't even understand what's being said up front, yet there she is, nodding along and even clapping.
...The sight of that is pretty annoying.
Because it looked nothing like her usual clapping.
Normally, she makes cymbal noises with her hands.
But given the occasion, she's clapping elegantly with just her fingertips—a sight that really gets on my nerves.
"...What?"
"...Nothing."
"What, why. Spit it out."
"...Just, it's funny seeing you try to act elegant when it doesn't suit you."
"What was that? You wanna die?"
Feeling my gaze, Jiu had turned around, and when I said that, she jabbed my side while speaking like a ventriloquist.
...Ah, that hurts.
Her fingers stab between my ribs with practiced ease. Not a single guy had survived these fingers back in the day.
That same old touch hurt, but seeing Jiu return to her familiar self made me snicker.
Kim Jiu, all dejected?
It doesn't suit you one bit. And I mean, it suits you even less than a girly Kim Jiu would.
The Jiu I know is the one who mercilessly jabs my side like she's doing now.
And well, the reason she'd been so downcast was so utterly incomprehensible that it was even more annoying to see.
That it was because there were so many pretty ladies here.
...No matter how I look around, I don't see anyone who could possibly crush Jiu's spirits.
Who on earth did she see to end up like that?
"S-stop poking. I think that one reached my lungs."
"I'll let it slide just this once."
She kept jabbing so much that I hurriedly flicked her hand away.
Her hands are trying to kill me, but her smiling mouth is even scarier.
Why is there no in-between with this girl?
The same girl who'd been so dejected until just moments ago is now completely thrilled.
I guess what the clothing store employee said this afternoon was really true.
That saying that unconditionally telling someone they're pretty is the wisdom of life.
Had I known it would be this effective, I wouldn't have done it.
I said something because I hated seeing her look so dejected when it didn't suit her, and now my side is done for.
"......Once again, a round of applause for Ciro Immobile, selected as the Season Best Forward!"
*Clap, clap, clap-*
Anyway, while we were secretly fooling around like that, employing facial expressions and ventriloquism.
On stage, the awards ceremony was still in full swing.
Mmm.
The awards, which started with the Season Best Goalkeeper, seem to have already wrapped up with the forwards.
...Wait, hold on.
The Best Forward award is already over?
"Hey, but when are you getting yours? Feels like it's almost over."
Jiu leans toward me and asks quietly... Good question.
Well, it's not like I have an award waiting for me, nor is it something I'm entitled to.
Still, when I got the invitation, they'd asked me so insistently to come that I'd honestly had a small hope—a tiny expectation that maybe they'd give me at least a minor award.
But... if the awards have already gone up to Best Forward, there's no slot left for me...?
Naturally, my name hadn't been called for Best Midfielder either, and the recipient of the Best Young Player award I'd secretly been most hopeful for wasn't me either.
...I suddenly recall last night's events.
Jiu had nagged me so much to prepare an acceptance speech that I wrote down whatever came to mind, memorized it, and even got it checked.
If I went through all that only to end up empty-handed... what greater humiliation could there be?
Ah, seriously.
If it was going to be like this, why invite me and ask me to come?
I just ended up being the only fool who got my hopes up over nothing.
"Now, only the final award remains, correct?"
As my face burns with embarrassment in real time, the MC on stage, oblivious to my feelings, announces that this is already the last award.
The awards ceremony, which had only felt tedious, suddenly turned into a thriller.
If my name isn't called here either, I won't be able to hold my head up in front of Jiu...
"This award is given to the player who showed the most outstanding performance this season in Serie A, regardless of position. What award is it?"
"The 2021-22 Serie A Player of the Year award."
...But the name that leaps from the MC's mouth is far too grand an award for me to dare hope for.
Player of the Year.
Isn't that the award they give to the single player who did the best in our league this year?
"What award is it?"
I scratch my head and answer Jiu's question.
"Player of the Year."
"Wow, then it's the grand prize. The grand prize. Get ready to go up!"
"..."
Jiu, utterly clueless, makes a fuss telling me to get ready.
No, I mean, it's an award for the single best player among everyone playing in Serie A.
Well, honestly, it's true that I achieved records this season that even I find hard to believe, and we did win the Coppa Italia.
There are the AC Milan players who won the Serie A title fair and square, and besides them, there are so many skilled players.
Jiu probably doesn't know how amazing it is that only one person among all those players can receive this award.
That's why she's busy saying I should get ready to go up.
...See?
I didn't say a word, but now it's become a situation where it'll be awkward if I don't win.
Whether the MC knows how I feel or not, he just keeps reciting how prestigious this award is.
"The Player of the Year award is chosen through votes by field experts—the press, each team's manager, and even the captains—so its authority is immense. Last year, the forward who led Inter to the league title, Romelu Lukaku, claimed this honor, did he not?"
"That's correct. As you mentioned, only world-class players like Romelu Lukaku, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gianluigi Buffon, and Andrea Pirlo have enjoyed that glory."
Jiu, too, is no help.
The longer the MC went on, she'd asked me to translate, but the more I explained, the more her eyes sparkled.
...Please stop making that expectant face.
Regardless, the countdown presses on.
"According to sources, this year's voting was more overwhelming than ever."
"Overwhelming?"
"Doesn't that mean one player received a unanimous vote? To that extent, this player's performance stood out."
"Who could it possibly be? How exciting!"
"Then, let us announce it right now."
Given how things have turned out, it'd be a lie if I said I wasn't expectant.
Though we didn't win the league, we won the Coppa Italia. Though I didn't play the entire season, I did become the top scorer.
More than anything, if my name isn't called here, I'll just become a fool who got my hopes up for nothing.
"The 2021-22 Serie A Best Player is..."
So, if only out of pity for me, who did nothing but clap for hours until now...
"ACF Fiorentina's forward, Jian Lee!"
My name...
...Huh?
...Wait.
Me?
"Waaah! Son! Congratulations!"
"Yaaaah! Congrats!"
While I can't believe my ears at my name being called out of nowhere, Dad and Jiu on either side erupt into cheers and applause.
...I guess I didn't mishear.
So it's not that I was the only one who heard my name; they really did call for me.
"...Ah."
I stand up in a daze.
Then, measured applause erupts from behind me. It seems my name really was called.
"Go up! What are you doing!"
"...Ah, uh."
Even after getting up, I stand there blankly until Jiu's hand pushes my back, finally sending me toward the stage.
I shuffle up and stand before the MC, who smiles and hands me the trophy.
...Is this really something I can accept?
Me... the player who performed the best in Serie A this season? Does it even make sense to say there's no one in this country who plays soccer better than me?
The moment I take this, won't everyone suddenly reveal it's a hidden camera and make me the laughingstock?
"Congratulations."
"...Thank you."
But the MC simply kept holding the trophy out to me, and I cautiously took it.
And I briefly gauged the atmosphere around me.
...I don't think it's a hidden camera.
No one is bursting into laughter.
"Now. Please give us your acceptance speech."
"...Ah, yes."
Standing there blankly while holding the trophy, the MC points to the microphone set up in front.
I stood before it holding this absurd trophy.
Then, the blinding lights right in front of me turned my mind completely blank.
...Wait.
I'm in trouble.
"We'd like to hear your acceptance speech!"
"Uh..."
I might be standing in front of the microphone, but my mouth won't move.
I'd clearly memorized an acceptance speech yesterday, worn down by Jiu's nagging.
Is my memory really this bad?
My mind goes blank and nothing comes to mind.
"First, uh... thank you. Honestly, I'm not sure I deserve this award... but since you've given it to me, I'll say thank you."
I spit out some formalities to buy time.
And hoping something might come to mind, I quickly look toward Jiu and Dad.
Yesterday... I mean, what did I say in front of them yesterday...?
...Mmm.
No matter how hard I stare at their faces, I can't remember a thing.
Naturally, it's because their faces are completely different from yesterday's.
Jiu is clasping her hands in front of her mouth with sparkling eyes, while Dad is keeping his lips tightly pressed together, his Adam's apple bobbing.
...Those crybabies.
How can I calmly recall the acceptance speech I memorized when they're making faces like that?
"And, uh..."
In desperation, I rack my brain for something impressive to say.
But nothing comes to mind, so I soon give up.
...Forget it.
Sophisticated words don't suit me anyway. I've blanked out on the speech I'd memorized.
I should just voice this strange feeling welling up inside me as I look at Dad and Jiu, who are watching me with faces about to burst into tears.
It's so hot inside that I can't bear it unless I let it out.
"My Italian is still not good enough, so even if there's a way to say more than just thank you, I don't know it. If there were such words, there are people here I want to say them to. I'm probably the only one who knows. The person who should be standing here right now wasn't originally me... but thank you for making it possible for me to stand here."
As I blurted out whatever came to mind, I began to vaguely recall the speech I'd memorized yesterday.
I can't remember exactly, but it was probably more of my usual bluster.
That's right.
The whole 'I'm a genius' nonsense.
But standing here now, I didn't want to put on such airs.
I felt like I no longer needed to act so cocky.
Even without forcing any bravado... it felt like it would be enough.
"...Thank you."
Instead of bluster, I bow my head deeply.
Then, thunderous applause erupted.
It was definitely a moment full of things I hate.
Wearing uncomfortable clothes, standing in front of people, standing while receiving everyone's attention.
But this moment isn't so bad.
I suppose it was thanks to Dad and Jiu, watching me with proud eyes from over there.
What on earth am I to those two, that they're rejoicing more than I am?
...I get the feeling that maybe it wasn't because my Italian was too poor to find words beyond thank you.
There are many people here, but the reason I can stand here is probably known only to me.
I was grateful to Jiu and Dad for making me able to be proud of myself.