130. Repayment -3
“What’s with you all of a sudden? So out of nowhere.”
I feel a bit awkward at Jiu’s reaction as she asks back, looking dumbfounded.
Even I think it was a rather out-of-the-blue question.
But though it was so abrupt and somehow embarrassing, the reason I still asked… was simply because I was that curious.
I refuse to break eye contact until she gives me an answer.
At that, Jiu, seeming to wonder why I was acting like this, expressed her bewilderment with several baffled “ha, ha”s.
Then she rolled her eyes to the side and said,
“No, well, it’s because we’re friends, so I cheer for you. Do you really need a reason to cheer for a friend?”
“…Ah, right. Because we’re friends.”
At the answer “Because we’re friends…” I find myself nodding.
Well, I suppose so.
Because we’re friends, childhood friends at that, of course she’d cheer for me.
Would you need any other reason for that?
It was such an accurate and clear answer, yet… I don’t know why I strangely don’t feel satisfied inside.
I want to hear a more concrete answer.
So I ask a more fundamental question.
“Then why are you friends with me?”
And then I realize belatedly.
That from the listener’s perspective, the more fundamental a question is, the more random it sounds.
Today of all days, Jiu looks at me with an expression that says, “Why is this guy acting like this?”
“Are you… sick somewhere?”
“…No.”
“Then what, are you in a bad mood because you didn’t win today?”
“I feel fine. It’s a shame, though.”
“But why are you acting like this all of a sudden? You keep saying random things.”
I know.
But I have absolutely no ulterior motive.
I’m purely, suddenly curious, that’s all.
During today’s match, I cheered for the captain, and coming to understand that feeling, I could infer why the fans cheer for me.
But I still don’t really know why Jiu cheers for me… I was just curious.
Come to think of it, whether it’s the captain or the other seniors.
Or the manager, the coach, and even the fans.
If you exclude Dad, even if you combined all the rest, it wouldn’t amount to as much support as I’ve received from Jiu.
Actually, that’s true.
Thinking about it… from the day we first met until now.
The one who’s been my greatest strength is definitely Jiu.
Starting with small things, like being the first to talk to me when I was sitting alone in the corner of the classroom.
Eating with me, taking me here and there on weekends so I could at least breathe.
And… though unintentionally, she made me, who had fallen into lethargy, work hard again.
After coming to Italy, she cooked for me almost every day, and even though she didn’t particularly like soccer, she came to the stadium to cheer for me.
…I vaguely knew, but counting it all up, it’s really a lot.
Anyway… what matters is.
I’ve received so much help… but what repayment have I shown for it?
So what have I done for Jiu?
Even after thinking hard, nothing springs to mind—embarrassingly enough.
I’ve only ever received.
Well, since I started earning money, I occasionally bought her a few gifts.
Providing kitchen and food ingredients.
At best, that’s all.
So, I’m newly curious.
She’s not some Giving Tree; why does Jiu only give me help?
It’s not like I’ve repaid her well for it.
That’s why I asked, but since I’m not exactly eloquent, I think my question came out too blunt.
“True. Why did I become friends with you?”
Jiu shrugs and says.
“I don’t know, me neither. We just somehow ended up being friends. Why, do you not want to be friends with me?”
“…That’s not it. I was just suddenly curious.”
“You’re so random sometimes. Are you maybe an F too?”
“……A forward?”
I answer with a frown at Jiu’s question, and she looks at me as if I’m ridiculous.
“What are you talking about? I mean MBTI! You’re 100% F. I don’t even need to see it to know.”
“What’s that.”
“You don’t know MBTI?”
No, I mean what is it.
When I answer that I don’t know, Jiu looks at me as if I’m some primitive human.
Is it, like, a soccer team name?
“Wow, you’re not even a grandpa. This won’t do. Come here. Let’s take the test.”
“…What test? I hate taking tests.”
“Ah, come on! It’s not a weird thing.”
“…”
I hate being tested in anything.
But Jiu lightly ignored my opinion, brought her laptop, and suddenly I had to sit in front of the laptop and start answering strange questions.
…Thanks to the conversation suddenly jumping topics like that, I couldn’t hear the answer to my question.
*
“…But is that thing even accurate?”
“Why? The descriptions sounded exactly like you. No?”
“Well… a few of them…”
“Not a few. It was completely all about you, what are you talking about.”
The night had grown dark.
I Jian and Gim Jiu were heading home together.
Their topic of conversation was still MBTI.
Despite saying he wasn’t interested and hated this sort of thing, since Gim Jiu told him to, I Jian had answered the questionnaire diligently. His MBTI was INFP.
Well, looking at the rough explanation, it seemed somewhat accurate.
Things like having an introverted personality, or hating conflict.
There were especially some things that gave him chills.
For example, that he likes being alone, yet when actually alone, feels lonely.
That he’s soft-hearted and gets hurt easily, sensitive to others’ emotions, and enjoys making other people happy.
And… that he has difficulty accepting criticism.
It was obviously about him, so I Jian felt a sting.
Gim Jiu also nodded repeatedly, making a fuss saying this was him.
He had pretended it wasn’t quite him, but he thought he could see why it was popular.
“Didn’t I tell you? I said you seemed like an INFP. This is science.”
“Science, my foot.”
“I got the feeling whenever you said random things all the time. Look at today too. Someone who asks a friend they’ve had for almost 10 years ‘Why are you friends with me?’ has to be an INFP.”
“…Why does it have to be like that. I just asked because I was really curious.”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying! Only a weirdo who’s curious about that kind of thing is an INFP!”
Goodness.
I Jian shakes his head at Gim Jiu’s words. While it was somewhat fascinating, trying to define a person with just four letters…
He didn’t like it.
However, until just before arriving home, Gim Jiu chattered about the wonders of MBTI, and I Jian had to listen silently, shaking his head or clicking his tongue.
It was when they arrived in front of the house.
“Go in. See you tomorrow.”
“…”
Gim Jiu waved her hand in greeting, but I Jian didn’t turn to leave and stood blankly staring at Gim Jiu.
At this, Gim Jiu frowned and tilted her head.
“Aren’t you going in?”
“…You have to answer me before I go.”
“What answer?”
“Why you’re so nice to me. You still haven’t answered.”
“…Were you serious? Were you really curious about that?”
“…Yeah.”
When I Jian nodded, Gim Jiu burst into a hollow laugh as if dumbfounded.
Why is this guy really like this today?
“Didn’t I tell you? It’s because we’re friends. Do you need a different answer?”
“…A bit more specifically.”
“Specific?”
“Like… if you want something from me.”
“Something… I want?”
As I Jian nodded, wrinkles formed on Gim Jiu’s forehead.
I Jian flinched at that expression.
“Did you think I was being nice because I wanted something from you?”
“Ah, no. That’s not it.”
“What do you take me for—”
“Wait. Wait.”
Sensing that Gim Jiu’s true nature from childhood was about to burst out, I Jian urgently reached out his hand to stop her.
And before another misunderstanding occurred, he urgently continued his explanation.
So… what he had felt during today’s match.
How he ended up cheering for the captain because he wanted to see him smile, and how having that feeling made him understand why fans cheer for players.
And so, he had wondered why Jiu cheers for him.
He had become curious about what reason, what side of him she wanted to see, that she cheers for him.
“…That’s why I was curious.”
I Jian explained everything and let out a breath as if winded.
Then Gim Jiu also let out a sigh.
“INFP.”
“…?”
“So annoying. INFP.”
At the incomprehensible answer, I Jian scratched his head, and Gim Jiu sighed again and spoke.
“Then let me ask you too. Why do you always walk me home?”
“…It’s dangerous. To go alone.”
“Is that all? Then why don’t you walk other people home? Do you walk every passerby home?”
“No, it’s because you’re my friend…”
“See. You’re just the same.”
I Jian’s hair stood on end.
It was because he had scratched it again.
“Yeah. I’m just the same. There was this kid who was so quiet I thought cobwebs would form in his mouth, so I struck up a conversation. He always looked depressed, so I wanted him to smile more and took him around places. That’s all there is to it.”
“…Then now. What do you want me to be like?”
“Now?”
Tsk.
Gim Jiu clicked her tongue once and continued.
“Just, well, that you work hard at the soccer you love. That you win games and feel good. Wouldn’t that be nice? Why? Do you think I’m being nice to you because I expect you to open me a restaurant or something?”
“…No.”
“Sigh. We’re done now, right? Hurry up and go in. You look dead tired.”
“Okay.”
Was he really that curious about this?
Watching I Jian’s back as he finally turns to leave after hearing the answer, Gim Jiu clicked her tongue repeatedly.
And turning around herself, she muttered.
“…Geez, why did I have to be an ENFJ?”
She didn’t say it aloud, but Gim Jiu’s MBTI was ENFJ.
In fact, Gim Jiu didn’t really trust MBTI.
When she was in Korea, school friends would mention whether someone was an I or E, T or F at every turn, and not knowing it would make conversation impossible, so she only knew about it at that level.
But just now, after seeing I Jian’s MBTI, her thoughts changed. Toward firmly believing in it.
Well, part of it was because INFP came out exactly as she had expected… but more precisely.
According to MBTI compatibility, the type that matches best with ENFJ is INFP.
And not just a good match—they say it’s a destined bond. The two of them.
Therefore, MBTI had to be science.
“Sigh, sigh.”
Anyway, why of all things is it the rare ENFJ that supposedly matches so well with that tiresome style?
Clicking her tongue several times, Gim Jiu opened the front door, went inside, and was taking off her shoes when she suddenly recalled the conversations from today… and opened her eyes wide as if realizing something.
“…Wait a minute.”
Jian, who had so abruptly asked why she was so nice to him.
His expression that had seemed slightly sullen at the simple answer “because we’re friends.”
And how unlike his usual self, he had kept asking until the end, as if there was an answer he was expecting.
After a chain of thought, having reached some conclusion, Gim Jiu’s eyes grew even larger.
“Could it be… that he was trying to make a move today…?”
Come to think of it, the atmosphere today had somehow felt subtle.
“…”
Gim Jiu pouted and scratched her head.
She always told Jian he was clueless, so clueless.
Was it actually the same for her?
“Damn. I don’t know. Do I have to do that too?”
Gim Jiu sighed and shook her head.
…
How massive is the ripple effect of the UEFA Champions League?
If you think about the influence of a single tournament within the sport of soccer, many would place the Champions League right after the World Cup.
Anyway, since the Champions League is that level of competition.
It was enough to make people who normally had no interest in Serie A matches watch the game between Paris Saint-Germain and Fiorentina.
─[Group H] Fiorentina 2 : 2 PSG… Messi and Mbappé 1 goal each. Jian Ri 2 goals
└PSG is hopeless for the Champions League title this year too
└So what if their attack is strong. Their midfield has no answer.
└I think their quality is worse than Fiorentina’s midfield even.
└But isn’t it true that Fiorentina did better than expected?
└Even if the midfield is one thing, they weren’t pushed back in attack either. Ri was the one, right? The top scorer from last season.
└I’d only heard of him, but it was my first time seeing him in real life. Ri is really talented. I thought he was better than Messi.
└Messi is 35…
└Ri is 17 too
└Two goals against Paris. And he completely destroyed Hakimi too. Is there anyone who can still say his performance in Serie A is meaningless?
└Right here? There are just exceptions.
└I told you last year. Juventus isn’t Serie A’s true representative. The real one is Fiorentina. Watch how far we go this season, everyone.
─Fiorentina’s ‘LEE’ who faced Paris’s ‘MNM’ trio alone… A 17-year-old’s shocking Champions League debut
└This guy is the real deal. Might be a once-in-a-generation talent.
└We need to bring this guy to Barcelona quickly. He’s a player who can replace Messi and Griezmann.
└If he has dreams, he’ll come to Madrid.
└Bayern’s door isn’t open to just anyone, but it’s possible for him.
└Why would he go from a lower league to another lower league. He needs to come to a big league. We’ll make sure he never walks alone.
└Looking at his face, I think a red uniform would suit him well. For example, Arsenal or…
└He’s exactly the kind of player Guardiola would like. And the only team that can afford his price tag is probably City, right?
Naturally for Fiorentina fans, and Serie A fans.
Additionally, overseas fans also watched the match between Fiorentina and PSG.
Likewise, I Jian’s performance, standing alone against Paris’s MNM—Messi, Neymar, and Mbappé.
Well, though it’s not as if Paris is in good form befitting those players’ reputations.
Anyway, it’s a big club, and it’s true that they are a team challenging for the Champions League title.
Scoring two goals against such a team and putting on a one-man army-level performance, I Jian’s name spread widely enough to be found in sports news across Europe.
And having become known even to general fans, it was only natural that the front offices of overseas teams also paid more attention to I Jian.
No, it wouldn’t be to the extent of simply paying more attention.
Scouts from nearly every team would have moved I Jian’s name to the ‘Qualified’ level on their recruitment lists.
In particular, some managers had even begun making inquiries to find out his agent’s phone number.
And among those few… were included the managers of teams aiming for the treble this season.
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