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3. I Hate Rubber Shoes -1
Florence in June is pretty hot.
When the sun's down it's fairly cool, but during the day the temperature easily shoots past 30 degrees.
When the sun is at its hottest, heat shimmers ripple over the training ground grass.
That's how early summer comes to Florence. ...Truthfully, it's only my second summer here, but anyway, that's Florence for you.
“Hoo, hoo.”
Wiping the beads of sweat from my forehead, I exhale. Feeling my pulse gradually quicken, I steadily move my legs—which are starting to feel heavy—and push down on the pedals.
I was riding a cycle at the training ground.
During the season, you usually ride the cycle for warm-ups or recovery training, so normally you pedal at a moderate pace.
But these past few days, I've been riding at an intensity where it feels like my heart might burst and my legs are burning up.
It's to build more stamina and develop more explosive power for quick bursts.
Last season, I felt I could keep up with the older players in most areas, but I struggled with endurance and long-distance sprints.
Getting pushed off the ball when contesting against stocky defenders, or getting caught soon after a quick start on counterattacks even though my initial burst was fast.
Or as the game wore on into the latter half, I'd have to cut back on defensive help, and there were quite a few times when I simply needed to be subbed out.
I didn't show it much, but I felt sorry to my teammates every time that happened, so I set improving my physical fitness as my main goal for the summer.
“Hoo, hoo.”
However, after discussing it with the manager and coaches, I decided not to rush it.
Train intensively, but don't get greedy trying to leap ahead in a short period.
Of course, letting go of that greed wasn't easy.
Looking back... last season, what I accomplished was unbelievable even to me.
To be honest, I also feel the pressure and helplessness of having to show even more next season.
More than anything, the fact that the team would be playing on a stage called the Champions League made me a bit impatient.
The moment I would have to face the geniuses shining across the sea, which I'd only thought about vaguely, had truly arrived ...The desire not to be a frog in a well keeps pushing at my back.
Besides, I only have one body but a mountain of things to do, so I suspect this summer will be one where I have to fight and overcome impatience.
“Hoo...!”
After finishing the set distance, I lift my legs from the pedals and breathe deeply.
I want to keep going, but I have to follow the program strictly, so I stop here and get off the saddle.
The urge to suddenly lie flat on my back surges, but I calm my heaving chest and walk slowly. If you come to a sudden halt after explosive movement, recovery slows, so I have to keep moving to recover.
As I'm catching my breath like that, I hear groans like someone dying from beside me.
“Hurk... hurk...”
“Uuaaaah...!”
“A little... more... push...!”
“Shut up and pedal!”
I wasn't the only one sweating bullets.
It was the off-season training ground, yet somehow it seemed even noisier than during the season.
Most of the players had given up their vacations and come in early to get their bodies ready.
I'd heard that normally they don't start building their bodies this early.
They say it's because everyone is preparing for the Champions League, and also trying to get their condition up early for a tournament during the season.
That tournament being held this winter, they mean.
“Pedal! We gotta go to the World Cup!”
“We gotta go! We gotta go!”
Sitting side by side, Milenkovic and Nastasic were pedaling with thighs that looked ready to burst, and I could even sense a hint of madness in their eyes.
The two had always gone hand in hand to the Serbian national team during A-match windows, and now they were working harder than anyone to go together to the World Cup too.
They'd been called up every time there was a match until now, so they could've taken it easy, but for some reason both were pedaling like madmen, as if anxious about something.
Just by looking at their eyes, I could tell how much the World Cup meant.
And you could see it too with Captain Biraghi, who reacts sensitively whenever the World Cup is mentioned.
“You bastards, who among you thinks you're safe already? Quit getting distracted. Focus on your club, your club. You'd better remember what comes first.”
“We gotta go! We gotta go to the World Cup!”
“Argh, if only both of you were a bit smaller, I'd beat the hell out of you.”
Mmm.
In that regard, I'm a step removed.
The national team ... honestly, I don't really know.
It feels like a word too distant from me.
Actually, I'd heard that my agent had been contacted as soon as the season ended.
Just like he'd mentioned once before, he said the football associations of both countries had reached out ...
But this time, he said there wasn't much time to think. Because the contact from the Korean Football Association was an inquiry regarding a national team call-up, he said.
This wasn't something I could accept or refuse at my own discretion.
But ... honestly, I still don't really know.
I'm a bit scared too, to be honest.
The thought of playing as my country's representative feels so awkward and burdensome at the same time.
More than anything ... well.
There was some confusion too.
If you ask what was confusing, it's a bit hard to explain ... but anyway, there's that.
“Hoo.”
My breathing has steadied before I know it, and I get back onto the cycle saddle.
I adjust the settings on the machine and start pedaling again.
I don't know.
I just want to exercise without thinking about anything.
But there are too many things I need to resolve for that.
...“See you tomorrow. Get inside.”
“See you tomorrow. Thank you for the ride.”
“Yo.”
The captain, who'd coolly said goodbye through the half-open window, disappeared with a rumbling exhaust sound.
Home and the training ground aren't that far, but after physical training, it feels like a marathon course.
I shamelessly took the captain's car to near my house.
Come to think of it, I should really get a driver's license. No time. No time.
Trudge, trudge.
I drag my exhausted body toward home.
“Heyo! Twice in one day! And it's not even my birthday, how can I be so happy!”
I pause briefly at the welcome voice calling out amid all this.
I look up to see the fruit shop owner waving happily.
...Hmm.
I hadn't really planned on stopping by.
But the owner was smiling so brightly that my feet unconsciously turned that way.
“Need anything else? How about strawberries, strawberries. Don't misunderstand them as low-quality just because they're left at this hour. I set them aside just in case!”
“Ah, yes. Strawberries, please ...”
“Great, great! Wait just a sec!”
I nod at the kind smile I can't bear to refuse, and the owner starts putting strawberries into a paper bag with dance-like movements.
At that sight, I end up letting out a light laugh despite the unplanned purchase.
Well, there's someone at home who can devour any amount of strawberries, so I don't have to worry about wasting them.
“Here. Hold it tight from underneath. You don't want it tearing on the way.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Good, good. Oh my, you look exhausted though. You okay?”
“I did physical training. I'm fine.”
“You're working so hard at a young age. It's not my place to interfere, but wouldn't it be okay to take it a bit easier?”
...Still, this seems like a bit too much.
The owner hands over a bag so heavy I have to hold it with both hands, speaking with a worried tone.
When I say I'm fine, he puts a hand on my shoulder and walks me out to the door.
“Want me to carry it to your house for you if it's heavy?”
“Ah, no. I'm fine.”
“Well, you're at an age where you could chew through rebar. Right? Haha. See you tomorrow!”
“Yes, then ...”
After nearly dropping a few strawberries while bowing like a fool, I clutch the heavy bag and head home again.
Before I know it, it's around sunset, but the sky is still blue.
The days are getting longer by the day.
Maybe that's why I see so many people enjoying the sunlight late into the evening in the square in front of my house.
“Oho! Welcome back?”
“Good work today too.”
“You look tired. Get some good rest at home.”
As I cross the square to head home, greetings pour in from everywhere.
But since they're faces I see every day, it feels more endearing than bothersome.
As you can tell from their greetings and tone, they don't see me as the soccer player I Jian, but more like a young neighborhood kid they often see.
“Hmm, hmm.”
Receiving the adults' send-off like that and entering a quiet alley, I become a little surprised.
Because I had been humming without realizing it.
Why did my mood suddenly improve?
I feel like my mood has been swinging too often these days. I shouldn't let my emotions fluctuate like this.
“Wup.”
I arrive home before I know it, set the bag of strawberries down for a moment, and take out my keys from my bag.
I insert the key into the door and am about to turn it, but pause for a moment.
Soon I turn my head and look back the way I came.
...It's nothing new, but today the scenery feels especially endearing.
Coming back in the car the captain gave me a ride in, stopping by the fruit shop of the mister who was once Florence's most handsome man, exchanging greetings with the people who always enjoy their leisure as if they were part of the square, and then entering this alley.
These endearing sights are what confuse me.
My home is here, my neighborhood is this place ... yet do I have to go back there again?
Click.
—I opened the door to our home, cozy beyond compare.
“Yo. What are you plotting.”
“...?”
“What are you trying to do, fattening me up? Gonna eat me?”
“...What are you talking about.”
“I mean, what am I supposed to do when you buy this many strawberries! Now I have no choice but to eat them all.”
“You don't have to eat them.”
“How can I not eat them when they're right here. You say such absurd things so naturally.”
...Who's the one saying absurd things.
I look at Jiu, whose words and body are moving separately, and let out a sigh.
She says that while her hands are already reaching for the strawberries.
She really eats well.
Come to think of it, Jiu seems to have a body type that doesn't gain weight despite how much she eats.
How can she be so thin when she likes sweet things that much?
“...What are you looking at.”
“Watching the magic trick of disappearing strawberries.”
“Shut up. If you have nothing to do, watch TV.”
Since I was staring at Jiu munching on the strawberries, she grumbles awkwardly, perhaps feeling a bit embarrassed.
I burst into a light laugh at that, and Jiu pouts with her cheeks puffed up full.
“I get that you can't look away because I'm so pretty, but it's not polite to stare at someone like that.”
“Okay, so eat up.”
“I'm eating them because they're here, because they're here. And well, pretty people all like strawberries.”
Man.
Her narcissism has gotten worse since the awards ceremony; I regret telling her she was pretty for nothing back then.
...I know she's pretty, but she needs to stop.
She does it at the end of every sentence, so it's hard to endure.
“Yo.”
“...Huh?”
“But do you have something on your mind?”
“Something on my mind?”
“It's written all over your face. Full. Of. Wor. Ries.”
“...”
While I was blankly looking at Jiu, I flinch at her words.
...Was it showing?
“No.”
“What do you mean no. Have I known you for a day or two? Tell me. This noona will listen.”
“...”
“You don't have anyone else to talk to besides your noona, right? Hurry up.”
Mm.
It's not like telling Jiu will solve the problem.
But prompted by Jiu's prodding, my mouth opens.
“...Korea. For a long time. Me.”
“They want me on the national team.”
“Ooh, really? So? That's what's bothering you? Why?”
Hm ... I wonder.
It's funny that this is even a worry.
Why is this a worry?
Searching for a reason in response to Jiu's question, I blurt out a reason that makes no sense even to me.
“...Because I want to be here rather than Korea.”
Yeah.
Simply put, that's the reason.
Rather than going to Korea, I want to stay here.
Jiu tilts her head at my answer.
“Really? Then just don't go.”
“...But it's not something I can decide easily.”
“Hm, really? Why? Is there no way not to go?”
Because Jiu asks so innocently, I worry about how to explain this, then answer as simply as possible.
“To avoid going, I might have to become Italian.”
Maybe because it was said with a heavy heart.
A voice as sunken as I was surprised to hear myself comes out of my mouth.
But Jiu was still just tilting her head with an innocent face.
“Really? Is that possible? If you want to become Italian, you can?”
“...I heard it is.”
“Wow, amazing! That's sick! Yo, wait. Then if you become Italian, you don't have to go to the army either?”
Mm.
That's not what's important here.
“...I guess not.”
Though it's not the important part, when I nod, Jiu suddenly breaks into a wide smile and says,
“Yo! Then don't go!”
“...Huh?”
“I said don't go! Don't go to the army! Just stay here! Okay? Okay?”
“...All of a sudden?”
“My cousin noona whined so much because of the army. Ugh, don't you go.”
...What is she on about now.
I ask back in a dumbfounded voice.
“Your cousin noona was a soldier?”
At those words, Jiu makes an even more dumbfounded expression and looks at me.
...Why?