When I opened my eyes, I saw a familiar plaza.
Hmm... this is in front of my house.
Ah, we've arrived.
"Good work. Good work, everyone."
After slinging my bag over my shoulder, I said my goodbyes and got off the bus. Behind me, I could hear echoes of "That was awesome" and "Good job."
"Phoo-"
The bus departed toward its next destination.
I stood there for a moment, looking around the plaza.
This plaza that I see every day on my way to training.
Bathed in the evening sunset, the plaza glowed red, looking just the same as always.
As expected, people were sitting leisurely, enjoying the air and drinking coffee, while the sound of church bells drifted from far away.
Wow.
I can't believe this scene feels so warm and familiar. I only went on an away trip for a day, yet it really feels like I've come home.
I should hurry back and get some rest.
"Hmm hmm hmm."
My sweat had dried and left my whole body feeling sticky, and my legs were heavy, but I couldn't help humming a tune.
I tasted it again today. That feeling after finishing an absolutely brutal physical training session. That happy feeling when you accomplish something you thought was impossible.
In today's match, I played 70 minutes and recorded two goals and one assist.
It might be a bit much to evaluate myself, but it wasn't a bad performance. For me, that counts as doing well.
Thanks to my hard work in physical training, I played 10 more minutes than last week's match and recorded one more goal contribution. What made it especially satisfying was that both goals I scored came from things I had trained with Coach Luca.
The dribbling breakthrough and the long-range shot, that is.
When I scored those goals, The Coach was so happy, and when I went over to hug him, I felt such immense pride.
But... that said, it wasn't a match I could be entirely satisfied with either.
Right. The performance was good.
But the problem was that it was all concentrated in the first half, and only in the early to mid portion at that. Both my goals and my assist were recorded before the 30-minute mark.
If I'm being honest, I got a bit too excited.
Did I take The Coach's advice to be confident too much to heart? When the goals went in just as I wanted, I started overpacing without realizing it.
As a result, after the 30-minute mark, I was dragging a bit.
My breathing just wouldn't come back, so I jogged around slowly and focused on passing to kill time, but when I did that, it felt like the whole match ground to a halt.
It was only natural. Manager had entrusted me with leading the team, but when my tempo dropped, the other kids' tempo inevitably dropped too.
I still have a long way to go, I thought.
I should have felt more responsibility and played with a cooler head. It's a good thing the opponent was Empoli—if it had been a stronger team at a different level, we might have given up the lead.
Because of me alone.
I need to think of today's victory as partly due to luck.
"Whew."
Still... I won't chalk up what I achieved with my own play to luck.
Beating defenders with dribbling breakthroughs, recording an assist, and scoring goals with long-range shots.
I'm saying I'll believe these were things I accomplished through my own ability, not mere fortune.
Of course, I know.
I know that those plays in today's match were only possible because, in those moments, I displayed abilities beyond what I actually possess.
I know that... but I'm still the one who did it.
Nobody else did it for me.
The one who drew out that ability I didn't have was also me. That's what Coach told me. That there's no such thing as luck on the field.
I just... decided to believe that.
Whatever the truth may be, believing that just made me feel more at ease. I no longer felt the anxious feeling I used to have.
-Clank-
Before I knew it, I had arrived home.
I took my keys out of my bag, unlocked the door, and went inside.
Seeing the lights off, it looks like Dad hasn't come home from work yet.
...I was hoping he'd be home.
Well, whatever. He'll be here soon anyway.
I guess I'll just call Ji-woo.
-Tak-!
I turned on lights here and there and stripped off my clothes.
I'm hungry, but let me wash up first.
I grab a change of clothes and head to the bathroom.
And then, a thought suddenly occurred to me.
I wished Dad and Ji-woo could have watched today's match.
"...?"
The thought surprised me.
To think I'd wish someone would watch me play.
I used to hate that more than anything.
I guess people really do change.
Well, anyway... when I make a lot of money later, I'll tell Dad to retire and just follow me around to my matches.
...Hmm.
Is this being a good son, or a bad son?
*
"Here, your order is ready! Special bacon cream risotto!"
Ji-woo, wearing an apron, set down a steaming dish on the table.
That apron—I bought it for her as a back-to-school gift when she asked for it, and she's already gotten all sorts of stuff on it.
Well, that's what aprons are for, I suppose.
I chuckled and scooped up some risotto with my spoon.
"How is it?"
"It's good."
"Good? That's it?"
"...It's delicious."
"Right?"
Of course it was delicious. My palate had been trained by Dad's cooking.
After Dad came home from work, we had invited Ji-woo over and were having dinner together.
Originally, Dad said he would cook, but Ji-woo, who had tasted Dad's cooking last time, hurriedly volunteered to do it herself.
Actually, Dad surprisingly takes some pride in his cooking... He looked a bit sulky, but this was something I couldn't take his side on.
So I just told him to stay put.
"Well, the taste is decent."
Dad tasted Ji-woo's risotto and nodded with a "well, it's not bad" kind of nuance.
...What? What's with that reaction?
At first, he said everything Ji-woo made was absolutely delicious no matter what.
Don't tell me he's feeling competitive. I haven't been eating Dad's cooking much lately, after all.
"Is it okay? This is actually my first time making risotto. If it's this good on my first try, I'll definitely do better next time, right?"
Ji-woo crossed her arms and spoke with a smirk.
...Why are you being like that too?
"Well, risotto isn't really that difficult a dish to make."
"Is that so? But the way I learned it, dishes like that actually have big differences in taste depending on who makes them."
"Right. That's why Ji-an doesn't order risotto much at restaurants, but he eats the shrimp risotto I make just fine."
"Wow, really? But Ji-an likes bacon better than shrimp, doesn't he?"
Ji-woo and Dad had a brief staring contest, then both turned to look at me at the same time.
"Shrimp, right?"
"Bacon, right?"
...What are you two doing, seriously.
I let out a sigh and answered.
"I don't care about either, I like sandwiches better."
"Sand... sandwiches?"
"Hahaha! Actually, sandwiches are my specialty!"
At my answer, Ji-woo furrowed her brow while Dad burst out laughing.
...Somehow I feel like I accidentally declared Dad the winner. How did that happen?
Let's just eat.
"Hmph. That's a lie, isn't it?"
Ji-woo sat down, grumbling something, and asked.
"What is?"
"You said you scored two goals today and all that. You're lying because I didn't see it, aren't you?"
"Why would I lie about that."
"Ah, I don't know. It's just a lie."
...What's with her?
Is she actually sulking because I didn't take her side?
If you don't believe me, look it up online... I was about to say, but I swallowed the words.
If she looked it up, she'd find all my old records too.
That absolutely cannot happen.
"Doesn't seem to be a lie."
At Dad's words, I looked up at him.
"I got a call. From the team."
"...A call? Why?"
"They said you did really well today. And not just that—you've been working very hard lately, they had nothing but praise for you."
"...Really?"
Why would they even call about something like that.
I tried to hide the pride welling up inside me by poking at the risotto with my spoon, pretending not to care, when Dad continued.
"They want to set up a meeting."
"What kind of meeting?"
"Contract talk, what else. They want to sign you to a professional contract."
"Pro... fessional?"
I was so startled I put down my spoon.
A professional contract? For real?
Dad nodded.
"I've contacted that agent from before. We'll have to set a date soon. Congratulations, son."
"Ah..."
There's no way Dad would lie about something like this. So it's real.
A real professional contract... I'm really going to become a professional player. It feels like just yesterday I was envying Bruno, and now I'm...!
"See? I told you it wasn't a lie."
In my improved mood, I shrugged at Ji-woo for no reason.
Then Ji-woo replied.
"Tch. I know, me too. I saw it online."
...Huh?
*
"Hey, you know what."
"Hm?"
"You said earlier you saw it online."
"Yeah."
"Where... did you see it?"
At my question, Ji-woo tilted her head.
"I just saw it on the internet? I typed in Fiorentina U17, Empoli U17. Like that, and the results came up."
"...Ah. That's what you saw?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Nothing."
Phewwwww.
And here I thought she'd looked up more details. That scared me. Once my startled heart calmed down, I could finally feel the cool night air settling around me.
After dinner, I was walking Ji-woo home. The city's nightscape looked especially beautiful today. Was it always this pretty here?
"You that happy?"
"Hm?"
"No, it's just that I think this is the first time I've seen you look this happy."
"Me?"
"Yeah. Getting a professional contract is that important, huh."
Was it that obvious?
I nodded.
"It's important. Really important."
"What changes once you sign the contract?"
"Well, I don't actually know the details myself. But basically, it means I can debut as a professional. And I'll make more money."
"How much more?"
"Who knows."
I shrugged.
It depends on how the team sees me.
If they see me favorably, it'll go up a lot, and if they think I'm just okay, it'll go up moderately...
I am kind of curious though.
Honestly speaking, I don't expect much.
I have a conscience, after all. Considering how I've been stealing my weekly wage all this time, I should just be grateful they're willing to sign me at all.
So... I'm not expecting it to jump tenfold like Bruno's did. Just something reasonable, you know...
"Anyway, congratulations."
"Ah, yeah. Thanks."
I scratched my head at Ji-woo's words.
Now that I think about it, this isn't the time to be thinking about money.
I really need to thank Ji-woo.
Whatever the reason may be. The fact that I'm playing soccer passionately again is thanks to Ji-woo.
If Ji-woo hadn't come to Italy, would I be working this hard right now?
Probably not. If not for Ji-woo... I'd still be lost, unable to get my act together.
"Really, thank you."
"Hm?"
"Just. Thank you."
"What's up, Lee Ji-an? Why are you being like this?"
Ji-woo looked at me strangely, then walked on ahead. Regardless, thank you.
"Hey, walk with me."
"Hurry up."
...Hmm. But something has felt off for a while now.
She's unusually low-energy for her.
Did something tiring happen today?
Or maybe...
"I'm going in. Bye."
Before I knew it, we had arrived in front of Ji-woo's house.
Unlike usual, she was trying to go in after a half-hearted goodbye. I said to her:
"Uh, today's risotto was really delicious. Honestly, what you make is way better than what Dad makes. See you."
I said that and turned around.
Then, as I started walking home, Ji-woo's voice came from behind me.
"Tch, I'll let it slide just this once. Get home safe!"
Now that was the lively voice of the Ji-woo I knew. Wait, she was actually sulking for real...?
"Whew."
I sighed and headed home.
Well, at least I caught on at the end.
Sorry, Dad.
But the truth is the truth.
No, but why was Dad getting competitive about something like that in the first place?
Ji-woo too.
Seriously.
"This is exhausting..."
I shook my head and headed home.
ㆍㆍㆍ
"Please trust me with this one as well. I'll ruthlessly shake down their coffers, without mercy."
"Oh my, there's no need to go that far..."
"No! Negotiation is! If you don't turn the other side into a sucker, you become the sucker! That is negotiation! This is the Law of Sucker Conservation!"
"Ah, yes..."
The booming voice made my shoulders shrink even though I was just standing next to Dad.
This person, with the kind of looks that even the mafia wouldn't mess with and the voice of a general, is the agent who helped with my contract.
Three years ago with that team in Torino, and now with my current team.
"Anyway, leave it to a professional like me!"
"Yes, yes. Thank you in advance."
To be honest, based on looks alone, he seems like... the type who wouldn't be doing anything legal. But surprisingly, I know he's actually very upstanding and capable.
When I landed that study abroad opportunity three years ago, the production team of that program introduced him, saying he was an industry-leading expert.
And he did handle the previous two contracts without any issues.
Anyway, I guess I just trust him with this one too.
"Let's go in!"
"Yes."
Following the agent's broad back, I entered the meeting room. Inside, team officials were waiting.
"Nice to meet you. Please, have a seat."
After exchanging brief greetings and some small talk,
We got straight to the point.
"Here's the proposal. Please take a look."
An official slid across what looked like two or three pages of paper.
"Hmm, our position differs slightly from..."
The moment the agent received the papers, he began muttering like a machine as he read through them.
He barely seemed to have read a few lines.
So this is what a ruthless negotiation master looks like.
Just as I was starting to feel awkward for no reason.
"...Huh?"
The agent's eyes went wide.