Soccer Genius Wants to Get Noticed - Chapter 191



Only Krnovel

Episode 191: The Perpetrator and the Victim

Youth matches by age group often attracted spectators ranging from as few as 50 to as many as 150.

When you move up to the U-21 level, the number goes from 200 to as many as 500. When you go up one level to the B team, the Rhein-Energie-Sportpark (Cologne’s sub-stadium) is often full.

Uncle Kemal was someone I occasionally ran into at the training ground since I joined the youth team.

‘Is it confirmed that it will go up to 19 years old or younger?’

‘If you just do well in the next game, you’ll be the top scorer. Even Reki, who’s in second place, won’t be able to catch up to your goals.’

‘Oh, I can’t come next week. I have work to do. My brother will come instead, so don’t be disappointed.’

Since Cologne is a large city in western Germany and has a lot of immigrants, it wasn’t easy to remember, but at some point, it became engraved in my mind as I greeted people on my way to and from work.

There must have been bribes (various snacks) put in paper bags there as well, and it would be common sense to give them the latest information.

‘Team B got promoted? That’s crazy!’

‘… …Is it that great?’

‘Is that great? You’re the youngest ever!’

‘Sorry, I actually knew that. Of course it’s great.’

‘Hahahaha!’

So we stayed together, not too close or too far apart.

Until I got promoted to the first team.

Two years ago, right after he was promoted to the first team, I saw him a little bit. But after I got a driver, I didn’t see him unless I made up my mind.

So, meeting each other by chance in the middle of the night in early October could be described as a truly wondrous coincidence.

“I know you’re serious about exercising, but isn’t it too late to be out walking around?”

“… … It’s late, isn’t it?”

“It’s almost 12 o’clock. It’s dangerous to be walking around in a place that’s not even downtown and full of rice paddies.”

“Because of the wild animals?”

“No, because of people. People are always the scariest. You have to keep that in mind.”

Suddenly.

He speaks with weight, but extends one hand and opens the back seat door.

“get on.”

“… … .”

“Quickly.”

“Then excuse me.”

As I pull off the dark road and step into the car, the face of the man sitting in the driver’s seat is reflected in the rearview mirror.

A face that looks exactly like Uncle Kemal, but with a slightly younger look.

Anyone who looks at them says they look like younger siblings.

“… … Inshallah (Inshallah: exclamation).”

“… … ?”

“I can’t believe I met you, that’s why I’m acting like this. Don’t take it seriously. This is my brother. You can call me Mehmet.”

“huh.”

Moments after Mehmet utters what appears to be a Turkish word, the vehicle begins to drive up the road.

And the two men sitting in front of me… …didn’t ask anything.

Why was I wandering the roadside in the middle of the night, where was I supposed to go, where was I supposed to be dropped off? I didn’t care about the reason, the process, or the destination.

I really appreciated that.

“The next game is away to Porto, right?”

“huh.”

“We absolutely have to win.”

Afterwords can also be of unexpected help.

Now that I think about it, I have to leave for the airport tomorrow for the Portugal expedition. I ran away from home, which was not really a runaway, so I thought I could just go to the training center and go to work.

It’s a travel bag… … If you need anything, you can buy it locally.

However, in the front row, conversations about the Champions League continue.

“This time, score half as many goals as you did last game. I think two goals will be enough.”

“No, that’s not it. It’s Porto. You should at least get a hat trick.”

“This kid, he scored four goals in the last game and now he wants a hat trick? Isn’t that shameless?”

“But be realistic. Our team concedes quite a few goals.”

“That’s true! Whibus is great at aerial duels, but he’s not very good at ground duels. You know what the fans call him? He’s an eagle owl. In the evening matches, he dominates the air with his amazing skills, but in the daytime matches as well, especially when there’s a foot battle, he seems to be jumping around on the ground.”

For a moment, I thought that the nickname “eagle owl” was pretty cool. But when I heard the reason, I thought it was too much.

But… … it’s true that it’s also fun to listen to.

It’s my first time hearing such vivid reactions from fans.

“Isn’t that all? Luca Killian is talented, but he makes a lot of mistakes when it’s crucial. It was the same when he was sent off last time. He ruined the whole game. That’s why he’s called the one-legged goat.”

“Wasn’t it the goat on the single-log bridge?”

“That or that.”

“My brother is a really bad person.”

“And I’m your older brother. If I had an older brother, I wouldn’t have said something like that so carelessly.”

“… … .”

“Anyway, he’s still young, so we’ll have to wait and see how he develops. Julian Chabot is doing a good job as a backup, so they’ll compete with each other and develop. But the defensive style… … needs improvement. He needs to be more active. He keeps stepping back, so.”

Then suddenly, the vehicle’s speed gradually decreases and soon stops completely.

Outside the city.

A four-story building was visible outside the car window.

“Shall we go in?”

“……huh.”

“By the way, there is no elevator, so you have to take the stairs.”

“are you okay.”

It didn’t matter if it was the 5th floor or the 8th floor. The important thing was that I had a place to stay for the night, and that the landlord was someone I knew and could trust.

And after a while.

“#@… … @$@??”

When I went up to the 4th floor and opened the front door on one side of the hallway and went in, a woman who seemed to be his wife greeted me and then expressed her embarrassment.

One after another, they converse in a language I cannot understand.

And then… …a bright smile.

“He is sweet.”

“It’s a Turkish welcome greeting. It means come quickly.”

“Yeah, tell him I said thanks.”

“He asks if I’m hungry.”

“Oh, it’s okay.”

“Would you like a cup of tea? Actually, I was just bringing this guy here… … .”

As Uncle Kemal takes off the paper bag he was carrying at his side, a smooth glass bottle appears inside.

“Wine?”

“Similar. Either way, it’s a bit much to treat you. It’s not a legal issue, but I have to go to the game. It’s a bit much to encourage drinking during the season, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. I think a cup of tea would be enough.”

If it’s wine, then it’s wine. What’s similar?

However, questions about contradictory expressions are pushed aside by the gaze of others.

Inside the small house, girls who had sensed the commotion were peeking their heads out through the door frame.

They were little kids, no more than ten years old at most, and they didn’t seem to know who I was, but they seemed curious.

Bubble bubble, sizzle!

Just as the kettle in the kitchen starts boiling, I am guided by the landlord to a room. The bed is for one person, right against the wall, and there is only a desk on the other side, giving it a neat and tidy feel.

There is something on the floor that is either a carpet or a rug, showing off its cultural uniqueness, but once you enter the room, you don’t have time to appreciate it.

“This is my little brother’s room. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s comfortable.”

“… …Can I write it?”

“Of course.”

In the process of receiving help from my Turkish brother, I remembered things I had forgotten, and at the same time, I felt mentally and physically exhausted.

What happens to me now?

Looking back, I think I overreacted because I was upset.

How do I get back home?

Should I go in there cold and cold with an iron plate on my face?

“Here. It’s Ada?ayı. In Germany, they call it sage. Drinking it before bed will help you sleep well.”

“thank you.”

As I accept the teacup, all sorts of imaginations and options swirl around in my head, but ultimately, only one question remains.

“… … You don’t have any questions?”

“hmm?”

“Why did I come here, how did I end up like this? I really appreciate you letting me stay here, but I’m a little curious that you don’t even ask me what’s going on. It’s like you know everything about my situation.”

Hororok.

As I bring my lips to the mug with the question, the scent of tea leaves immediately wafts out. It has a rich, refreshing taste. It’s like mint, but it’s different.

The other person’s answer was also similar.

“… … It’s not because you’re my favorite soccer player or because you’ve been the center of attention lately that I’m doing you a favor. This is just an innocent invitation. If a fifteen-year-old boy were lost on the side of the road in the middle of the night, no, even if he were a stranger or an adult, I would gladly help him. So don’t bother looking for a reason and just get some sleep. ‘Uyumak, ya?amın ilacıdır.’ Sleep is the cure for life. It’s a Korean proverb, but it looks like you need it right now.”

“… … .”

Life is so strange.

Even though I feel like I’m somehow getting by, I sometimes feel like I’m falling into the abyss in just a few hours.

And then, out of the blue, I often receive unexpected tea tastes and unexpected help.

So, the distance I had to answer was also set.

“… … How do you say good night?”

“Yi geceler (?yi geceler: good night).”

“… … This is Geseller.”

“Size de ?yi geceler. Have a good night, too.”

The bed was comfortable.

At least for today.

* * *

The next afternoon, at the club training ground.

“… … Hanul.”

“Ja.”

“How did this happen?”

“… … .”

The team has been called up for the away game, so they need to take the club bus to Frankfurt International Airport, but before that, they need to endure the wrath of their captain, Bear.

“They even contacted the police. What on earth were they thinking… ?”

“… … .”

Yeah, that’s right.

One thing I didn’t think about last night was how other people might feel about the situation.

A minor boy ran away from home around 11pm after an argument with his parents, and the neighborhood grandmothers did not sit by and watch (what a jerk!) and reported him to the police.

After the police came and talked to my mom and dad, I finally came to an understanding, but when they told me to call them right away, I did, and the cell phone on the desk in the small room on the first floor made a loud noise.

Although there was no CCTV, there were grandmothers and grandfathers looking out the windows, and after investigating, the police found out that I was heading towards a roadside full of rice fields.

So… … there was chaos.

Firstly, he contacted the headmaster, Bridget Kohl, and the team manager, Steffen Baumgart, secondarily all his friends and teammates, including Sophie Hertz, and finally his next-door neighbor, Uncle Gunther.

“Hanul?”

“… … .”

hmm.

Hmm.

Eeeeeeeeeee.

Even if I had two mouths, I would have nothing to say.

I should have borrowed the home phone and made a phone call.

I guess I should be thankful that Mr. Kemal wasn’t treated as a criminal. The worst was avoided thanks to the CCTV footage of me entering the building on my own free will.

Right now, I’m the problem.

“Didn’t I clearly tell you not to cause trouble? Did it sound like a joke to you?”

“… … No. That’s not true.”

“Then, what? You chose to get into an accident instead of not causing one? Huh? What the hell, Hanul! Doing something like this! Do you even realize how reckless you are? Come up with some excuse!!”

The bear leader was very angry.

That makes sense.

But using the word ‘damn’ in the middle of a sentence makes me feel like I’ll be eaten alive if I make a half-assed excuse.

At this, I just shut my mouth and lower my head.

Since I did something wrong, I am asking that they only take me on away trips, even if I don’t have to go to the game.

Hehehehe.

Meanwhile, Mark Utt, who had already boarded the bus, was smiling through the window. He could barely hear the sound, but judging from the shape of his lips… … .

‘He’s the one who got into an accident. My goodness, how can he be so creative? I told you he’s our ace.’

It seems like a hundred percent intentional action.

“… … .”

It’s like a fucking meerkat.

My arms were trembling with resentment.