Soccer Genius Wants to Get Noticed - Chapter 147



Only Krnovel

Episode 147 Secret Outing

Despite the good intentions of the club’s people, bad things remain bad.

‘Thanks for giving me a ride.’

‘No problem.’

Immediately after being discharged from the hospital, our family returned home with the help of our driver, Guwi Aziz.

I immediately called the University Hospital in Düsseldorf, but… … as expected, since it was Sunday, there was no one to answer.

The earliest possible appointment would be Monday, and even then it would take at least three days to accommodate the schedule of her attending physician, Sasha Pickrock.

So how could Mom just sit still?

Restless.

I was busy expressing my worries like, “Do you feel dizzy while sticking right next to your brother?” or “Do you feel anything strange?” or “Do you feel like your whites of your eyes are showing?” (Isn’t it normal for people to see their whites of their eyes?)

So I couldn’t stand it any longer and ran away to the terrace next door, but before I could have a proper conversation, I was summoned to the corner of the room again.

What I mean is, don’t take your eyes off your brother.

But the bad news doesn’t stop there. The next morning, I receive a personal notification from the head coach that I don’t have to show up for the official training.

[Baumgart gave direct instructions. Don’t come to the training ground today and rest.]

“No, I’m fine… … .”

[Even if it’s training, there’s nothing left but the recovery process after the game. Since something big happened, try to get some psychological stability. Or at least go get some counseling.]

What about counseling?

It seems like being robbed of my training schedule wasn’t enough for me to just sit in the corner of my room all Sunday afternoon.

Suddenly.

As I finish the call and open the classroom door, Lenny Mates, the political philosophy teacher, is standing in front of the blackboard.

I apologized for the urgent call and answered, but class was in full swing inside.

The topic is Thomas Hobbes’ social contract theory.

The method is, of course, discussion.

“The core of the argument is that the social system is formed based on the consent of each member, and I agree to some extent. You said that various social problems can be solved through rational contracts between members of society, right? Although our German and EU parliaments are noisy, I think they are ultimately moving in a better direction. Of course, many countries outside of Europe are unable to escape the low-growth, vicious cycle structure… … .”

As with all discussions, students fall into two camps.

Those who are emotional and those who are cool and rational.

Honestly, I don’t need to know the details. Whatever Thomas Hobbes said, my life doesn’t change whether I make a social contract or not.

“Hanul? What do you think?”

But since the presentation score slightly affects my life, I blurt out my own argument as soon as the teacher asks the question.

“But if you think that’s because the social contract theory isn’t working, isn’t it the same when you look at it the other way around?”

“… … In what way?”

“It seems that the members did not agree on a way to live well. Or the method of agreement was not right.”

“That’s too narrow-minded. There could be many other reasons.”

Since the one who was nitpicking was Katherina Pfeiffer (a close friend of my ex-girlfriend Claudia Dreher), I was naturally offended by her words.

It turned out well at a time when I was really annoyed.

“Yes, it could be. It’s because Europe is allowed, but many countries outside of Europe are not. But isn’t that excessive pride?”

“what?”

“Right, if you’re going to explain how we became such an advanced country through the social contract, then the same goes for war. It’s because the members of society decided to fight, right?”

“… … .”

“… … Hanul.”

“Of course, after that, I reflected and decided to move forward. Anyway, what is the difference? What is the difference between a country that has only recently been liberated from colonial rule and Germany? That you are German? Nationality? Nationality? In my opinion, if you can’t list in detail what factors created the difference, it’s all nonsense.”

The level of tension in his speech, which had become tense because he had brought up the war story, was eased by a wink to Morsi, who was sitting next to him.

Easier said than done?

But there is a living witness here who came all the way from Liberia to Germany.

So, there was no need to get scolded by the teacher.

* * *

“Doesn’t the back of your head tickle?”

“at all.”

“Piper is staring at you like she’s going to kill you?”

“Well, that doesn’t mean you can kill me.”

“That makes sense.”

“You saw me win the debate. Of course I have a point. I always do.”

After morning classes are over.

Jonas Drur’s soft warning is met with a light response.

Actually, I had no conscience to speak of. Catherine Piper had been going around telling me what a bad kid I was.

To put it simply, he’s not even a man, he cheated on me with another girl, he’s so conservative and boring, etc.

Even if everything else is the same, does it make sense for a cheater to be conservative?

“Now we have to go to the restaurant.”

“… … .”

Then, suddenly, Jonas Drur’s words of notification and request for permission brought me to my senses.

I don’t want to go home like this.

Even if we try to sneak into the training ground, head coach Andre Pollock won’t just sit back and watch.

If you’re unlucky, you won’t be able to start in the weekend game… … That’s ridiculous. Who else would you send out besides me?

It’s not that Ondrej Duda’s recovery speed was unexpectedly slow, so the probability of him being granted a freeroll in the next match was quite high.

But since Baumgart’s reaction was unpredictable, I made a subtle suggestion without making it seem like I was asking for something.

“Want to play with me this afternoon?”

“With you? Where? What are you doing?”

“Go out and think about it. I’ll pay for it, so you decide what to do. What do you think?”

“Oh, no. I have to take the classes. I can’t miss the required classes.”

“… … .”

“Seriously. If political philosophy was an afternoon class, I would have skipped it right away.”

If you do this, you’ll get kicked out.

But there is still a choice.

“Then let’s do that. Lisa, what about you?”

“Uh… … I’ll check the schedule. Just a sec.”

Lisa Weiss also passes.

The posture is not right.

“Don’t you know?”

“Me, me? Joe, fine. Let’s go out and see.”

“Great choice. What do you want to do-”

“no.”

On the third attempt, he tries to hand over the passing necklace, but Sophie Hertz intervenes and blocks his escape attempt.

I guess he can’t tolerate skipping class, because he’s afraid that someone might say he’s not a normal person.

“Don’t you know, you have German class in the afternoon. You can’t miss it, it’s a required subject.”

“The next class is PE so I can skip it-”

“Where in the world is there a class that you can get lost in? You have to take them all.”

What should I do with this meddler?

“Hertz, why do you always pick on me? You could really debut as a Bundesliga defender. You’re the best at tackling.”

“Because that’s the right thing to do.”

“Haa… … Then what about me? Is it okay if I wander the streets alone to overcome boredom? Or maybe you can go out with me. No, I should ask you politely. Sophie Hertz, will you go out with me?”

“……okay.”

“……what?”

what.

What is it?

Why are you answering that you understand?

As I stared blankly at the other person at the unexpected answer, I saw Sophie Hertz’s cheeks turn bright red.

I honestly don’t know what he’s thinking.

* * *

Unauthorized outings are easily accomplished.

I didn’t know, but the combination of a current model student and a current soccer player was close to invincible, so they didn’t receive any touches at the school gate.

Additionally, the presence of a driver also played a big role.

If you leave by car, aren’t you essentially an adult?

However, thanks to Guwi Aziz not adding any comments from the driver’s seat, we arrived comfortably in the city center.

Within a short while, we walked from Cologne Cathedral to the banks of the Rhine River… … without exchanging a single word.

Early May.

The weather was cool and the wind blew down the river, making it perfect for a leisurely walk.

“… … .”

“… … .”

And really, we don’t exchange a single word.

Even while ordering takeout from a restaurant near the river because I had to eat lunch, even while plopping down on the grass in the park next to the small river and unwrapping the food.

If I order something and they go as I order, they will follow me wherever I go.

There is a limit to how much you can tolerate silence. I start talking while rummaging through paper plates of fish and chips, potato pancakes, and salad.

“Why did you really come out?”

“……just.”

“just?”

“Yeah, I also get frustrated sometimes. And I don’t have a required subject in the afternoon.”

One thing is certain.

He was such a proper and upright person that he couldn’t lie. He couldn’t make eye contact, and he just kept rummaging through the salad, and he even snickered when he heard the sound.

It was different to see such a fierce appearance after always seeing such a strict appearance.

Still, what needs to be pointed out needs to be pointed out.

“You heard.”

“Huh? What?”

“… … .”

“… … .”

“… … .”

“… … Haa, that’s right. I heard. But that’s not why I came out. It’s true that I was nervous, but if I had an important class, I wouldn’t have come out. Really.”

“Is that so?”

“… … Are you telling me it’s true?”

When I felt like I was being pushed back a little, he lowered his voice, so I leaned my upper body forward and brought my face closer to him.

“… … .”

Look, I can’t say anything.

“… …Are you angry?”

“no.”

Just after I lowered my head, Sophie Hertz, who had been observing me, cautiously asked a question.

There’s no way I’d be angry.

“My brother collapsed. My grandfather is a club bus driver, so he must have heard about it. He came out of pity. It was your judgment and decision. What could I be angry about? I’m satisfied that I have someone to talk to.”

“I don’t feel sorry for you.”

“Then let’s do something considerate.”

“… … .”

Ding ding.

Just then, my phone vibrates in my pocket, and when I take it out, I see a text from my mom. She says she managed to get an appointment with my attending physician, Sasha Piclak, that day.

So, he naturally lies and says he has arrived at the training ground, then calls Guwi Aziz and asks for a favor.

Please take me to the hospital.

Since Sophie Hertz didn’t ask any questions even though she was listening, I just had to ask a few questions to satisfy her curiosity.

“My brother is going to the hospital.”

“That’s good. It’ll get better soon.”

“It’s not a disease that gets better. It’s a disease that needs to be managed.”

“……huh.”

Well, it doesn’t seem as bad as I thought.

Sitting on the grass, looking out at the river, feeling the river breeze, and at the same time, talking about my brother with my mouth open – that kind of thing.

Of course, since most of the comments were about my brother’s temper rather than the severity of his illness, it wasn’t long before harsh criticism began to pour in.

“Shit to your family. You speak too aggressively. Judging from your actions, it doesn’t seem like you have that kind of heart… … .”

“That’s why I put it gently.”

“gently?”

“It was originally diarrhea.”

“… … .”

It’s not something to talk about over a meal, but Sophie Hertz doesn’t back down easily, so we continue our discussion in more depth.

What I mean is, why do you use so much foul language?

The Korean word for ‘poop’ is Scheiße in German.

‘Fuck’ is a word.

‘Shut up’ means Halt die Klappe.

‘X-son’ is Hundesohn.

These are words I learned early on, even though I don’t use them often.

“That’s because you don’t know. You have to learn it naturally when you play soccer. I’m telling you, people curse at you from all sides. It’s lessened since I got to the pro stage, but it’s worse on the streets.”

“But you don’t have to be so harsh. As the saying goes, the pen is mightier than the sword, and generosity triumphs over rudeness.”

“… … Then what do you want me to do?”

I was tempted to have a full-blown argument, but Mark Ut’s words suddenly crossed my mind, so I decided to take a step back.

Goodwill is responded to with goodwill.

“If you really have something to say, why don’t you write it down in a refined way?”

“How? Give me a concrete example. Then I can understand.”

“I think you can change ‘jjongna’ to ‘amazing’, ‘completely’, ‘amazing’, etc., and ‘crazy’ to ‘how could this be’. Shut up, you little shit… … handsome?”

“……dandy?”

“Or a flower, a friend like a flower.”

“… … .”

“… … .”

iced coffee.

It’s too tempting to just let it go without saying anything.

“So if you soften ‘You’re a fucking crazy kid’ it becomes ‘Oh my god, you’re such a sweetheart’?”

“Oh, right?”

“The sentence is beautiful.”

“… … .”

“Am I doing well?”

“what?”

“I just said it in a more refined way, ‘That’s bullshit’ to ‘That’s a beautiful sentence.’”

“… … Don’t be sarcastic.”

Sophie Hertz also had a secretly funny side.

To be exact, the taste of teasing.