Chapter 201: Two and a Half Years -2
“Honestly, I was a bit surprised myself, yes!”
“Is that so...”
“Yes! The amount is much higher than I expected!”
Booming.
A voice that sounded like he had swallowed a train smokestack echoed through the living room.
A voice loud enough to make passersby outside stop and take a peek.
The agent, seated on the living room sofa, spoke with his hands clasped together.
“Haha, well, this is really something!”
On the way back from a meeting with the club.
I had accompanied the agent to speak with the club officials about the contract.
A contract renewal, that is.
Finally... the time had come to wrestle with a headache-inducing dilemma.
“Well, this really gets to you! Though you could say it’s only natural, from Fiorentina’s perspective, putting that kind of money on the table is practically an all-in!”
At the agent’s piercing voice that drilled into my ears, I instinctively straightened my upper body backward.
His voice was already loud, but today it was even louder.
He must have been quite surprised.
I was the same in that regard.
When I heard the renewal terms the club had offered... my eyes had widened considerably.
It reminded me of when I had signed my pro contract.
I had been startled by the weekly wage the club offered back then too, but this time I was several times more shocked.
That was how much the club had expressed their great regard for me.
“It is something to be grateful for! After all, the fact that they went that far means they know your value and are willing to treat you with the utmost respect!”
“...That’s true.”
I nodded at the agent’s words.
It was naturally something to be thankful for.
The world of professionals... whether you liked it or not, was a world where decisions were ultimately made with money.
Even sincerity of heart was often expressed by how many zeros were on the contract.
The new contract the club had shown me was filled to the brim with that sincerity, so of course it was something to be grateful for.
However, if there was a problem... it was that the sincerity was so great.
Rather than gratitude, worry had come first.
“...So, the fact that even you were surprised.”
“Yes!”
“I suppose that means the team overextended themselves a bit...?”
At my question, the agent stroked his chin and nodded.
“Well, yes! I picked up a few things here and there, so I can roughly estimate. To that extent, they must have overextended themselves considerably.”
“...I see.”
I too had a rough idea of our team’s situation.
Of course, I didn’t know exactly how much was in the vault or how much they earned in a year.
But I knew they weren’t exactly swimming in money.
If they were well-off, the teammates wouldn’t have had to haul logs, nor would anyone have collapsed from cumulative fatigue.
They would have hired more coaches for the expanded youth team and built new training grounds long ago.
In that situation... for them to express their feelings for me by overextending themselves, there was certainly gratitude, but worry and burden were what I felt first.
How should I put it.
It felt like receiving an expensive gift bought with a little kid’s nose-wiped pocket money.
“Th-then.”
“Yes!”
“Where is that money coming from?”
“Eh, well, as for the money...”
The agent shrugged.
“First of all, from last season onward, the club’s revenue must have increased significantly! They qualified for the Champions League, and won the title this season. And the money earned from selling Vlahović wasn’t reinvested, right? They must have spent it here and there, but probably not all of it. However!”
“Yes.”
“Looking at the amount offered this time, it feels like they’re pulling some funds forward, to say the least!”
Pulling forward...?
As I tilted my head in confusion, the agent continued his explanation.
“It means they’re reducing expenditures in other areas to invest here! They’ve judged that you’re worth it!”
It was a grateful thing to hear, but expenditures in other areas... was a rather sensitive topic.
“Other expenditures... for example...”
“Well, there could be various things! Do you know about the plan to build a new first-team training ground?”
That... I had heard about it from my seniors.
It was from quite a while ago.
If I recalled correctly, they had said construction would begin around last summer.
But I hadn’t heard that construction had actually started even now.
I nodded, and the agent continued.
“Well, they could delay that a bit. Or, they could trim players from the squad!”
“Trim...”
“Yes! Sell players who can be sold, and renegotiate contracts with some to reduce their salaries.”
“...Ah.”
I nodded slowly.
But actually, I felt like shaking my head.
...For things to turn out that way because of me alone.
How could I gratefully accept their gesture like this.
It’s like they’re taking out loans to buy me a gift; how could I accept that gift?
If my teammates had to leave the team because of me... I couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable.
“Well, I’m not a club official so I don’t know the exact details! Perhaps they’ve calculated that the expected returns from you would make it absolutely not a loss!”
“...Yes.”
“But what is certain is that it’s an investment close to an all-in! From the perspective of a team like Fiorentina!”
Was it because of the agent’s voice?
Or because he emphasized it so much?
The word “all-in” felt so burdensome.
“For now, think it over carefully! The transfer window hasn’t officially opened yet!”
Perhaps he had glimpsed the worry on my face.
The agent spoke in a deliberately cheerful manner.
“But there’s one thing I would advise!”
“Yes.”
But soon, the agent’s voice turned serious.
“I would venture to recommend that you do not drag out conversations with your current team for too long. After all, it is your team. We have decorum, do we not?”
“Yes...”
“Think carefully, but there is no need to overthink it. That’s what I’m saying. From the team’s perspective, they need to finalize things with you to proceed with next season’s plans.”
I listened seriously and nodded seriously in turn.
He meant to think carefully but not be indecisive.
If I kept dragging my feet, the team would be put in a difficult position.
I didn’t want to put the team in a difficult position either.
Of course... I still didn’t know what to do.
“The transfer window officially opens on the 14th. Until then, please take the time to think it over. You can schedule another meeting, or receive other offers and think some more!”
As always, choices were not easy.
Especially since this issue was not mine alone.
My choice could affect many people.
“...I’ll think about it.”
But I had no intention of acting indecisively.
I had learned from experience that the more I did so, the more miserable I became.
...
“Ha, time really flies. It feels like just yesterday I had my first class, and now I’m already graduating.”
“Tell me about it.”
“I feel weird. At this rate, I’ll be an adult in the blink of an eye. Wow, that’ll be amazing. I’ll be able to drink and buy cigarettes.”
After tossing and turning with various thoughts, I woke up late—a morning when I had slept in for the first time in what felt like forever.
By the time it was almost lunch, the house was unbearably lively with Jiu’s useless chatter.
“...Drinking and smoking?”
“Yeah! Once you’re an adult, you can do it all. Hehe. My birthday comes first, so I’m totally going to tease you. You can’t have this, little kid, I’ll say.”
She was talking about this when she still had a whole year left.
Hmm... well, I guess.
Seeing as it had already been nearly two years since Jiu came to Italy, a year would probably pass in no time.
By the way, alcohol and cigarettes? What nonsense.
“...Don’t even think about doing that.”
“Huh? What?”
“I said don’t think about doing bad things like that.”
Lying horizontally on the sofa.
Without even getting up, I spoke, and suddenly Jiu’s face appeared before me.
With Jiu looking down at me, her long hair dangled messily before my eyes.
“Why?”
“...Why what? Hey.”
“Why shouldn’t I?”
...By now, I could tell from a single word.
Whether she genuinely didn’t know or was just revving up to tease me.
I sighed and answered.
“You’re asking the obvious. They’re bad for your health.”
“But they’re not illegal.”
“...No, they’re not illegal.”
“So doesn’t that mean I can do them?”
“You can... do them.”
“But?”
“It’s better not to, that’s what I’m saying.”
“Oh, really?”
Jiu grinned.
At that, I showed my exhaustion, covering my face with both hands in a dry wash.
Then I heard a snickering sound.
“Are you policing me right now?”
“...What are you talking about.”
“I’m right. You’re not my dad. Why are you policing me? It’s my freedom.”
...Geez.
She had a talent for being annoying and picking at people.
Perhaps she had greater talent for that than for cooking.
Then do whatever you want.
...That’s what I wanted to say, but the words wouldn’t come out.
“...Still, don’t do it.”
“Don’t do it?”
“Don’t.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s bad for you.”
Stop making me repeat myself.
As I let out a deep sigh, I heard giggling.
“Okay, okay. I won’t do it. I wasn’t planning to in the first place, you idiot. You know how much I hate the smell of cigarettes.”
...I knew it.
Sigh.
“But I’m going to take exactly one sip of alcohol. I’ve been so curious about what it tastes like. You know how much the older girls teased me about it? Treating me like a baby.”
I removed my hands from my face to see Jiu sitting on the opposite sofa, putting on her socks.
Suddenly, I could imagine it.
If she was like that sober, what state would Jiu be in if she drank?
I didn’t know for sure, but the people sitting with her probably wouldn’t be able to handle it.
At that, words suddenly popped out of my mouth.
“...Then wait until June 20th.”
“Huh? June 20th? Your birthday?”
“Yeah. Wait. I don’t think I’d be able to stand you teasing me.”
A drunk Jiu deciding to tease me?
It would definitely be hell.
“Well, maybe.”
Click-clack.
Jiu nodded, clicking her feet as she put on her socks.
It was suspicious that she answered so obediently for some reason, but well, I was glad she understood.
“Anyway, enough of that. I can’t be late later. What time did I tell you to come?”
“...2 o’clock.”
“Right. You need to come watch. Take some pictures if you can.”
“Okay.”
“I’m counting on you. Ah, and. It’s an important occasion, so wear something neat.”
She was talking about the completion ceremony.
Jiu’s completion ceremony was scheduled for a few hours later.
That’s why Jiu was all dressed up today.
“...It’s your completion ceremony, not mine.”
“Ah, still! Don’t you know TPO? TPO! You should dress appropriately for the time and place.”
“...I don’t know.”
“I don’t know either. I’m telling you. If you show up in a tracksuit again, you’re dead, seriously.”
...What’s wrong with a tracksuit?
It’s comfortable and nice.
“Anyway, I’m off. See you later.”
“...Yeah.”
Why was the nagging so lengthy from the morning?
Seeing Jiu get up and head toward the front door, I almost stretched without thinking, but held back for a moment.
And a moment later, after the sound of the front door closing.
I slowly got up from the sofa and headed to the bathroom.
“...”
I had already washed up earlier, and I had plenty of time left.
But today, I felt like I should get ready a bit early.
I took out my phone and opened YouTube to search.
“Men’s... hair... styling...”
No, I mean... it’s not my completion ceremony.
But showing up looking like I just rolled out of bed would be disrespectful to those attending.
I should at least look presentable.
“...Start with drying your hair?”
I had already washed my hair earlier.
Well, you have to try to know.
“What a hassle.”
Grumbling, I picked up the showerhead again.
But it couldn’t be helped.
If it were my own completion ceremony, I might not have bothered, but since it was Jiu’s.