If we had lost the Bologna match, or if my play hadn't been satisfactory, I probably would have returned the card to Dad.
What money? I don't deserve that money—I would have thought only about doing well starting from next week's match.
But... honestly, I did my part.
This isn't me patting myself on the back.
My friends, Coach, Manager and everyone said so.
That I did well.
That I really did well, so I should rest up.
So... wouldn't it be okay if I did what I'd been wanting to do, just for today?
Hmm.
But what should I do?
Now that I think about it, nothing particular comes to mind...
"You must be hungry, right? Wait just a moment. Let's see."
While I was lost in thought like that, Dad came out after changing his clothes and headed to the kitchen.
He started rummaging through the refrigerator, apparently planning to prepare a meal.
Ah.
Watching that, something I wanted to do suddenly came to mind.
"Um, Dad."
"Yeah?"
"Can we eat out?"
"Hm? Eat out?"
"Yes. Let's go out and eat something delicious."
Dad had always been the one preparing my meals, so just for today, I wanted to treat him to a meal.
I knew it without having to experience it myself. How much of a hassle it is to prepare every single meal.
Dad doesn't have to struggle because of me anymore...
"I see... you wanted to eat something tasty..."
...Huh?
Dad closed the refrigerator door with a thud and made a dejected expression.
N-no. Wait.
I think there's been some misunderstanding.
It's not that I want to eat out because Dad's cooking tastes bad...!
"Oh? Really? Haha. Our son really has grown up."
When I hurriedly explained, Dad finally smiled. Phew.
Anyway, we decided to invite Ji-woo and have a meal together, and started getting ready.
*
"Wow, the atmosphere here is nice... Right?"
"It really is. The place from earlier was too crowded and chaotic."
"I agree. I like places like this much better."
"Good, good."
Dad and Ji-woo looked around the restaurant with somewhat exaggerated gestures.
They seemed to be trying to comfort me... Ugh. I appreciate the thought, but it doesn't really help.
What I mean is... I had been super confident when we left home.
I said I'd buy everything expensive, suggested we go to the most famous place around, and strode out with confidence.
After searching online, we arrived at the restaurant, and what do you know. We got turned away at the door. They said we needed a reservation.
Turns out it was such a famous restaurant that you had to reserve at least a day in advance to get a table.
So I was embarrassed there for the first time.
We settled for the restaurant next door, but it was the same story there.
Left with no choice, we wandered around and ended up at this restaurant.
This place also seems to be an established restaurant in its own way... Sigh. They say people who've tasted meat know how to eat it well, and I guess people who've spent money know how to spend it well too.
I just wanted to look cool! Go somewhere fancy and be like, boom! Order all the expensive stuff without even looking at the prices! And then swipe the card like, boom! That's what I wanted to do...
Tsk.
"What looks good... This seems nice too... Oh, this looks good too..."
Ji-woo murmured while looking at the menu.
Ji-woo is the type who takes a while to choose because she can eat anything.
"Hmm... It's more expensive than I thought..."
Dad was also hesitating to order.
Whenever we ate out since coming to Italy, Dad would always look at the prices first.
He'd feed me expensive meat, saying I'm an athlete after all, while he would just have fried rice or risotto.
I can't stand this anymore.
I'll vent my frustrations here at least.
"I'll just order for us."
"Hm?"
"You?"
"I'm going to order everything I want today."
I called the server and ordered all the dishes that Ji-woo and Dad had been eyeing. Plus all the most expensive items on the menu.
"Aren't you ordering way too much?"
"She's right. I think one of each would be enough..."
"The person paying gets to decide."
Dad and Ji-woo tried to stop me, but today I was going to be firm.
Tch. Don't try to stop me.
I'm going to be cool for just one day too.
"It's coming out."
"Wow... Amazing!"
I was getting worked up for no reason by myself when the dishes we ordered started coming out one by one.
Steaks for each of us, pasta, pizza, and even a huge lobster.
The table was completely full.
...I did order a lot. If there's leftovers, we'll just pack them up.
"Wow, this is insane..."
"It does look good."
Seeing Ji-woo pull out her phone to take pictures as soon as the food arrived, and Dad licking his lips despite having said we ordered too much—my mood started to improve a little.
Watching them, it suddenly reminded me why I had wanted to earn a lot of money.
I was... always someone who caused worry to those around me.
Because I was a child with many shortcomings.
Because of that, I caused a lot of worry and received a lot of help.
I wanted to repay those who worried about me in the same way.
So that they could live without having to worry anymore.
"Um... Could Dad maybe have just one beer?"
At Dad's cautious question, I burst out laughing.
"Of course you can."
From now on, there's nothing that can't be done.
Just as these precious people worked hard for me, now it's my turn to work hard for them.
*
"That was delicious."
"Ugh, I'm so full..."
We ended up at this restaurant due to various circumstances, but the meal was satisfying.
How should I put it, like a hidden gem kind of feeling?
I guess a simple place like this suits me better than some fancy restaurant after all.
We were all leaning back in our chairs with full stomachs when it happened.
"Your dessert is here."
Dessert arrived. It was the tiramisu Ji-woo said she wanted. As the server placed the bowls in front of us, he suddenly spoke to me.
"I know this is very forward of me, but would you perhaps be willing to give me an autograph after you've finished your meal?"
"...Excuse me? M-me?"
I looked at the server in surprise.
He was an elderly gentleman in a flawless suit with neatly combed white hair.
He was the most polite server I'd encountered since coming to Italy, but setting that aside... how did he recognize me?
"Oh, um. If you'd like, I can do it now... But do you know who I am?"
"Yes. I do."
"How...?"
The server answered with a gentle smile.
"I've been a longtime fan of Fiorentina. I go to matches occasionally too. I watched yesterday's match as well."
"Ah... Thank you."
Wow, even if he's a fan, he even watched our match.
When I asked where he wanted the autograph, the server said to wait a moment and went away.
When he returned a short while later, he was holding a uniform covered with what looked like scribbles.
It was quite an old uniform... Ah, looking more closely, those aren't scribbles but autographs.
The server spread out the uniform to show me and said brightly with a beaming smile.
"This is my treasure. I've had it since the 80s. If you look here, there's Giancarlo Antognoni's autograph, and this one is Gabriel Batistuta, Roberto Baggio is here too, and also..."
Like a child showing off his toys, he proudly introduced the autographs on the uniform.
I couldn't recognize the names, but seeing Dad occasionally go "Wow-" I figured they must be famous players.
"It's a lifelong hobby. This is also my most cherished collection. Let's see... If you could sign here, I would be grateful."
"Oh, yes. But... I'm not sure if it's okay for me to sign something this precious..."
My hand started trembling for no reason.
My autograph on something so precious—this uniform that holds the gentleman's entire life.
But the server smiled brightly.
"If you sign it, it will become even more precious."
"Ah... I'll, I'll give it a try."
Ah, I'm nervous.
I took the marker pen he gave me and practiced a few times in the air for no reason, then focused all my concentration to carefully write my name letter by letter.
Phew.
Thankfully, I didn't make any mistakes.
The server smiled brightly once more.
"Thank you. Did I start bragging about Antognoni's autograph earlier?"
"Um... I think so."
"Someday, I might brag about this new autograph I received today first, wouldn't you say? Thank you for taking the time."
The server gave a bow and went away, and I sat there in a daze for a moment before letting out a sigh.
I still don't understand.
My autograph on something that precious...
"What did he say?"
Ji-woo, who had been resting her chin on both hands, asked, so I told her exactly what the server had said.
Ji-woo's eyes sparkled.
"Wow... That's kind of romantic."
Romantic. I suppose so.
Anyway.
Ji-woo and Dad looked at me with proud expressions. Those gazes made me feel both puffed up and somehow sheepish, so I just took a bite of tiramisu for no reason. Ugh, it's sweet.
"..."
Hmm...
As I ate the dessert, I felt a bit strange.
This feeling, it seems kind of similar to what I felt when I came back from the Empoli away match.
I'm not sure.
"Oh my, this is really sweet."
"That's what makes it delicious, isn't it?"
I looked at Dad and Ji-woo and smiled.
*
"Haaa... Spending money is tiring too..."
I collapsed onto the bed.
Ugh. Maybe because I did something I don't usually do, I'm exhausted. Spending money isn't easy either.
After finishing our meal at the restaurant, we went to the biggest shopping mall in the city. I bought a new pair of football boots and a few sets of athletic wear.
Dad said he didn't want anything. Said he didn't need clothes, didn't need new shoes either.
But as we walked around, at some point Dad suddenly disappeared. So Ji-woo and I hurriedly went looking for him, and where we found Dad was a golf equipment store.
He was wandering around there as if entranced by something, and Ji-woo and I couldn't help but laugh quietly.
He looked less like a dad and more like a little boy who couldn't tear himself away from the toy section.
Men, indeed.
Anyway, I bought Dad some golf balls and a few golf clubs.
Originally, I was going to buy the best full set including the bag, but whoa. It was a lot more expensive than I thought.
So when I tried to get something cheaper, Dad said in that case it's better to just buy one good one, so that's what we did.
Well, we can collect them one by one like that.
"...Haha."
At first he said he didn't need to buy anything.
But once I actually bought them for him, he kept examining them this way and that, muttering about how the weight is this or that, how the material is such and such.
Just like I used to do when Dad bought me toys as a kid.
It felt good.
"I'm really fine."
"If you go home empty-handed, what does that make me?"
I bought Ji-woo clothes and sneakers.
She also said she was fine at first... but when it came time to actually pick things out, she took the longest. I don't know how many times she went back and forth to the fitting room just to pick one piece of clothing.
Even when I told her to just buy everything since that was the case, she wouldn't listen. Dad sneakily abandoned just me and escaped. Thanks to that, I was the only one who got worn out helping Ji-woo pick clothes.
Well, still...
"..."
Looking at Ji-woo's changed profile picture made me chuckle.
She had set the clothes and sneakers she bought today as her profile picture.
"...Cute."
It was a fulfilling day.
ㆍㆍㆍ
"So, what do you think?"
"Hmm. It is a delicate matter."
"Asking him directly seems a bit off too..."
"That does feel a bit off."
At the Fiorentina training ground bathed in autumn sunlight.
Manager Tony and Coach Luca were deep in thought, having a discussion about something.
Given that the topic of discussion didn't seem to be a light matter, both wore serious expressions.
The issue was whether or not to put Lee Ji-an in this weekend's match.
The reason this was even a question was because this week's opponent was none other than Juventus.
"Ha, this isn't an easy issue."
"Honestly, if you think about it simply, we could just put him in."
"But it hasn't been that long since everything happened."
Truthfully, thinking about it simply, it wasn't a difficult dilemma. There was no reason not to field the current Lee Ji-an. He was growing visibly with every match he played.
All the more so if the opponent was a powerhouse like Juventus, and especially considering Fiorentina's current position in the league.
Last season, Fiorentina finished 13th in Serie A. Generally speaking, that meant they faced more strong teams than weak ones in the league.
Currently, the U17 team was in the upper tier of their group, but ultimately thinking about the future, experience against strong teams like Juventus would be invaluable.
Thinking that way, there was no reason not to give Ji-an that precious opportunity.
However...
The problem was that Juventus held special significance for Lee Ji-an.
Ji-an was the one who couldn't adapt at Juventus and even experienced an unpleasant incident there.
On top of that, it was just last year. The issue was that he would be facing familiar faces in the match.
Lee Ji-an had changed a lot over the past few weeks and had shown growth mentally.
But trauma is absolutely not something that can be easily fixed in a short time.
So it wasn't strange that Manager Tony and Coach Luca were agonizing over this again and again.
"Hmm..."
"In the end, I think his own will is going to be what matters..."
"We should probably just observe for now, right? See how much enthusiasm he shows in training."
"I think that would be best. Simply not putting him in is also an option, but if the kid can find the courage, it could be an opportunity for him to grow tremendously in one go."
Of course, Lee Ji-an was still young, and he had plenty of time.
He was only 16 years old.
Even without this opportunity, there would be plenty of chances for him to grow and gain experience.
However, Manager Tony already believed that in terms of skill, Lee Ji-an would not be lacking even if he moved up to the first team right now.
Not in a year or two, but right now, immediately.
But for that to happen, the uncertainty on the mental side had to be completely resolved first.
That being the case.
"Courage..."
Manager Tony wanted to see Lee Ji-an face Juventus.
Because there was no surer cure than crushing them with his own hands.