I Was a Loner, But When I Opened My Eyes, I Was Popular? -1
When I opened my eyes, a familiar plaza came into view.
Hmm... this is right in front of my house.
Ah, so I've arrived.
“Thank you for your hard work. Thank you for your hard work.”
After grabbing my bag and slinging it on, I got off the bus while exchanging greetings. From behind me, echoes of “That was awesome” and “Good work” rang out like a chorus.
“Vroom—”
The bus departed for its next destination.
I stopped for a moment and looked around the plaza.
This plaza that I see every single day on my commute.
Bathed in the evening glow, the plaza took on a reddish hue that looked no different today than yesterday.
As always, people were sitting leisurely outside, enjoying the breeze and drinking coffee, and from far away, the sound of a church bell could be heard.
Wow.
To think this sight would feel so heartwarming. I'd only gone on a day trip for an away match, yet it really feels like I've come home.
I should hurry back and get some rest.
“Hmm, hmm, hmm.”
My sweat had dried, leaving my whole body sticky, and my legs were heavy, yet a hum naturally escaped my lips.
I tasted it again today. That feeling after finishing a stamina training session that felt like death. That happy sensation when you accomplish something you thought you absolutely couldn't do.
In today's match, I played seventy minutes, recording two goals and one assist.
It felt a bit awkward to evaluate myself, but it wasn't a bad performance. For me, that's doing pretty well.
Thanks to training my stamina hard, I ran ten minutes more than last week's match and recorded one more attacking point. Especially since both goals I scored were things I'd practiced with Coach Luca, I felt even prouder.
Dribble breakthroughs and mid-range shots, that is.
When I scored like that, Coach was incredibly pleased, and when I went to share a hug with him, it was more gratifying than anything.
But... it wasn't a match I could be wholly satisfied with, either.
Right. I played well.
But the problem was that it was all concentrated in the first half, and even then, the early-to-mid part of it. Both the goals and the assist were recorded before the thirtieth minute of the first half.
To be honest, I was a bit overexcited.
Maybe I was too confident because Coach told me to have confidence. Since the goals went in exactly as I wanted, I unwittingly went a bit over pace.
Thanks to that, after the thirty-minute mark, I was a bit deflated.
My breathing wouldn't stabilize, so I ran around slowly and spent the rest of my time focused on passing, but when I did that, it felt like the match came to a halt.
It was only natural. The director had entrusted me with the lead, and when my tempo dropped, the other kids' tempo inevitably dropped too.
I realized I still have a long way to go.
I should have felt more responsibility and played more calmly. It was only because the opponent was Empoli; if it had been a stronger team of a different level, we might have given up the lead.
Because of me alone.
I should consider today's victory to have been partly thanks to good luck.
“Whew.”
Still... regarding what I accomplished through my own play, I don't want to think it was luck.
The plays where I got past defenders with dribble breakthroughs, recorded an assist, and scored goals with mid-range shots.
I want to believe that these weren't simple luck, but things achieved through my own ability.
Of course, I know.
Those plays that came out in today's match were only possible because I demonstrated something beyond my current abilities for a moment.
I know that, but... I still did that.
It wasn't someone else who did it for me.
And drawing out that ability I didn't have was something I did too. Coach said so. He said there's no such thing as luck on the field.
I just... decided to believe that.
Regardless of the truth, believing that simply put my mind at ease. Now I didn't feel anxious like before.
Click—
Home, which I'd reached before I knew it.
I took out my key, opened the door, and went inside.
Seeing the lights off, it seems Dad hasn't gotten home from work yet.
...I was hoping he'd be home by now.
Well, he'll be here soon anyway.
I should give Jiu a call or something.
Click!
I turned on lights here and there and flung off my clothes.
I'm hungry too, but I'll wash up first.
I grabbed clothes to change into and headed for the bathroom.
While doing so, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.
I wish Jiu and Dad could've watched today's match.
“...?”
Surprised at myself for having such a thought.
To think I'd want someone to watch me play.
I used to hate that so much it felt like death.
People really do change.
Well, anyway... if I earn a lot of money later, I'll tell Dad to retire and follow me around to my matches.
...Hmm.
Is this filial piety, or unfilial conduct?
*
“Here you go, your order is ready! Special bacon cream risotto!”
Jiu, wearing an apron, placed a steaming bowl on the table.
That apron—I bought it for her because she asked for it as a back-to-school gift, but she'd already gotten something all over it.
Well, I guess. That's what aprons are for, after all.
I cracked a smile and scooped up some risotto with a spoon.
“How is it?”
“It's okay.”
“Okay? That's all?”
“...It's delicious.”
“Right?”
It couldn't not be delicious. My tongue had been trained on Dad's cooking.
After Dad got off work, we invited Jiu over and were having dinner together.
Dad had originally said he'd cook, but Jiu, having tasted Dad's cooking before, urgently volunteered to do it herself.
Actually, Dad was surprisingly proud of his own cooking... He looked a bit sulky, but this was something even I couldn't take his side on.
So I told him to just sit still.
“Well, it tastes decent.”
After tasting Jiu's risotto, Dad nodded with a “Well, it's not bad” air.
...What? What's with that reaction?
At first, he'd said anything Jiu made was unconditionally delicious.
Could he be feeling competitive? I haven't been eating Dad's cooking much lately.
“Is it okay? Actually, it's my first time making risotto. If it's this good on my first try, I could do even better later, right?”
Jiu crossed her arms and smirked.
...Why are you like that?
“Well, risotto isn't actually that difficult a dish.”
“Really? But from what I learned, the taste of that kind of dish varies greatly depending on who makes it.”
“Right. That's why Jian doesn't really eat risotto at restaurants, but he eats the shrimp risotto I make.”
“Wow, really? But doesn't Jian like bacon more than shrimp?”
Jiu and Dad had a very brief staring contest, then looked at me simultaneously.
“Shrimp, right?”
“It's bacon, right?”
...What are you two doing, seriously.
I let out a sigh and answered.
“I don't care, I like sandwiches more.”
“Sa... sandwiches?”
“Hahaha! Actually, my specialty is sandwiches!”
At my answer, Jiu furrowed her brow, and Dad burst into hearty laughter.
...Somehow I feel like I've unintentionally declared Dad's victory. Does it work that way?
Let's just eat.
“Hmph. You're lying, right?”
Jiu muttered something as she sat down and asked.
“About what?”
“You said you scored two goals today. You're lying because I didn't see it, right?”
“Why would I lie about that?”
“Ah, I don't know. It's just a lie.”
...What's with her?
Could she be sulking because I didn't take her side?
I was about to say, “If you don't believe me, look it up on the internet...” but swallowed those words.
Because if she looked it up, all the old records would come out too.
That would be absolutely unacceptable.
“So it wasn't a lie.”
At Dad's words, I raised my head and looked at him.
“I got a call. From the team.”
“...A call? Why?”
“They said you played incredibly well today. Not only that, they were singing praises about how hard you've been working lately.”
“...Really?”
To think they'd call over something like that.
Trying to hide my pride for no reason, I stirred the risotto with my spoon as if uninterested, and Dad continued.
“They want to set a meeting date.”
“What kind of meeting?”
“To talk about a contract, what else. They said they want to offer you a pro contract.”
“P... pro?”
Startled, I put down my spoon.
A pro contract? Really?
Dad nodded.
“I contacted that agent from back then. We should set a date soon. Congratulations, son.”
“Ah...”
Dad wouldn't lie about something like this. So it's real.
A real pro contract... I'm really becoming a pro player. It feels like just yesterday I was jealous of Bruno, and now I too...!
“See? I told you it wasn't a lie.”
In a good mood, I shrugged my shoulders unnecessarily at Jiu and said.
Then Jiu answered.
“Tch. I know, I saw it on the internet.”
......Huh?
*
“But hey.”
“Yeah?”
“You said you saw it on the internet earlier.”
“Yeah.”
“Where... did you see it?”
At my question, Jiu tilted her head.
“I just saw it on the internet? I searched Fiorentina U17, Empoli U17, and the results came up.”
“...Ah. That's what you meant?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Nothing.”
Whooo.
I was surprised because I thought she'd looked into it in detail. As my startled heart calmed down, the night air finally felt peaceful.
After dinner, I was walking Jiu home. The city streets at night looked beautiful today for some reason. Was it always this pretty here?
“Are you that happy?”
“Huh?”
“No, I think it's the first time I've seen you look this happy.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. So signing a pro contract is that important?”
Was it that obvious?
I nodded.
“It's important. Very.”
“What changes if you sign?”
“Well, I don't actually know the details. First, that I can debut as a pro. And that I'll earn more money.”
“How much more?”
“Who knows.”
I shrugged.
It depends on how the team views me.
If they think highly of me, it'll go up a lot; if they think I'm mediocre, it'll go up moderately...
I'm kind of curious.
Honestly, I'm not hoping for much.
I have a conscience too. Considering how I've been a wage thief all this time, the fact they're offering me a contract at all is something to be grateful for.
So... I don't even expect my pay to jump tenfold like Bruno's. Just moderately, well...
“Anyway, congratulations.”
“Ah, yeah. Thanks.”
I scratched my head at Jiu's words.
Come to think of it, now isn't the time to be thinking about money.
I really should be grateful to Jiu.
Well, whatever the reason. It's thanks to Jiu that I started playing soccer hard again.
If Jiu hadn't come to Italy, would I be working this hard right now?
No. If it weren't for Jiu... I'd still be out of it.
“Really, thank you.”
“Huh?”
“Just. Thank you.”
“What, Yi Jian? What's with you?”
Jiu looked at me as if I was strange, then walked ahead. Whatever, thanks.
“Hey, let's go together.”
“Hurry up.”
...Hmm. But something about the mood has been off since earlier?
She seems a bit low-energy, unlike her.
Did something tiring happen today?
Or could it be...
“I'm going in. See you.”
We'd arrived in front of Jiu's house before I knew it.
Jiu was about to go in after giving a rough greeting, unlike her usual self. I said to her.
“Hey, the risotto today was really delicious. As expected, what you make is way tastier than what Dad makes. I'm off.”
Having said that, I turned around.
And as I was heading home, I heard Jiu's voice from behind.
“Tch, I'll let it slide just this once. Get home safe!”
It was the lively voice of the Jiu I knew. I'd been hoping it wasn't true, but she really had been sulking...?
“Whew.”
I let out a sigh and headed home.
Anyway, thank goodness. At least I noticed at the end.
Sorry, Dad.
But the truth is the truth.
No, but why is Dad feeling competitive about something like that in the first place?
Same with Jiu.
Goodness me.
“This is hard...”
I shook my head and headed home.
...
“Please trust me with this matter once again. I will strip the coffers dry without an ounce of mercy.”
“Oh my, there's no need to go that far...”
“No! That is what negotiation is! If you don't make the other party the sucker, you become the sucker—that is negotiation! That is the Law of Sucker Preservation!”
“Ah, yes...”
At that booming voice, my shoulders hunched involuntarily as I stood beside Dad.
This was the agent who had helped me with my contract, a man with an appearance that even your average mafia wouldn't want to cross and a voice like a general.
Three years ago with that team in Torino, as well as when signing with our current team.
“Anyway, please leave it to a professional like me!”
“Yes, yes. We're counting on you.”
Actually, based on appearance alone, he looks like... someone who wouldn't do anything legal. But I know he's surprisingly upright and competent.
The production crew of the program through which I earned my study-abroad ticket three years ago introduced him to me, saying he was an industry-leading expert.
He had indeed handled my last two contracts without any issues.
Anyway, I guess I can trust him this time too.
“Now, let's go in!”
“Yes.”
Admiring the agent's broad back, I entered the meeting room. Inside, team officials were waiting.
“Nice to meet you. Please have a seat.”
After brief greetings and some small talk.
We got straight to the main point.
“Here is the proposal. Please review it.”
An official smoothly handed over what looked to be two or three sheets of paper.
“Hmm, this differs a bit from our side's view...”
The moment he received the papers, the agent began muttering like a machine as he read through them.
It didn't look like he'd even read a few lines.
As expected... is that the merciless negotiating genius?
It was at that moment that I felt unnecessarily awkward.
“...Huh?”
The agent's eyes went wide.
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