Soccer Genius Wants to Get Noticed - Chapter 196



Only Krnovel

Episode 196 The Way Forward, The Way You Must Take (2)

Thursday, October 13th, afternoon, Hildegard Gymnasium, Bingen.

“ha.”

I sighed after finishing all my afternoon classes.

Just yesterday, I had just finished the 4th Champions League match at home, so I had a break from training that day. So I listened to the full class to fill up my time.

To some, that sight was offensive. In one corner of the classroom, the sound of Ralph Pfaff’s packs laughing could be heard.

‘How many hours did you have to listen to that?’

‘You’re acting like a brat. What is a superstar like me doing here?’

‘Maybe it’s because you don’t understand the class?’

‘That makes sense too.’

Normally I wouldn’t have just left it alone, but it’s okay.

Claudia and Maximilian Weaver, Eric Koehler and Katharina Pfeiffer – what does it matter to me whether my old friends who have turned into traitors laugh or not?

“chocolate?”

“Okay. It doesn’t have alcohol in it, right?”

“We also have chocolates with rum… … Do you need them?”

“No, not at all.”

This side gradually gained strength, and Jonas Dr received a chocolate with a rose pattern on it and put it in his mouth.

Groan, groan.

Emilio, a second-generation Filipino immigrant, Mitchell Cole, whose parents were African refugees, Nedov Holt, whose name sounds fake but whose skin color is not white, and Felix Asen and Angers Fabre, who were born in Germany but were marginalized in the classroom.

Because if you include the existing members, the number of members has grown to over fifteen.

What’s more, even though they were in different classrooms, they liked to come across each other during recess and be together.

“Have you seen Kriminelle Wissenschaft (Criminal Science)?”

“Oh, what you told me last time?”

“Yeah. It’s a drama produced by ZDF and it’s so immersive.”

“Uh… … I like variety shows more.”

“What about entertainment?”

“Eurovision Contest.”

“That was in May!”

“It’s still fun to listen to… Have you heard of Slavic pop? It’s Eastern European music, and it has its own charm.”

“… … .”

Although the feeling of being a loner didn’t go away, for me, it was good enough – I just had to smile appropriately and pretend to agree.

“Oh, you won yesterday, right? I saw you.”

“I won, then.”

“Not really… … You don’t look satisfied. Isn’t Porto a good team? I heard they faced that team a week ago. That’s why the commentators said it wouldn’t be easy.”

Then suddenly, Lisa Weiss’s polite questioning turns sharp at the end.

What he said was true.

The third match away to Porto ended in a 1-2 win.

The result of inviting Porto to their home for the 4th match was… … a narrow 3-2 victory.

but-

“Yeah. But I lost half the league game because of that.”

“Oh, you came in as a substitute in the second half? Well, it’s understandable that you’d be upset since you fell to second place. I was also very disappointed.”

A polite answer to a polite question.

The exact reason is added by Otaku-Jonas Dr. himself.

“Hey, is that really why?”

“then?”

“It’s obvious. We got a penalty kick in the 4th game but couldn’t score.”

“also?!”

“… … .”

“No, I, I mean… … .”

“Okay. I’m fine.”

It’s nothing.

Shit, shit, fucking shit.

How could you make a mistake twice instead of once? And I was also annoyed at the guy who insisted on mentioning it.

“You won anyway! You’re the best player of the match!”

“Hmm, maybe that’s why he’s even more irritated. Just look at his expression.”

“… … .”

Should I kill him?

This guy looks like he could really kill you.

Jonas Drury, who doesn’t know whether he knows I’m seriously considering it or not, keeps bringing up topics that hurt my feelings.

“But honestly, it’s cool. The kids all talk about it.”

“Right? It can’t be helped-”

“Running away from home. That’s crazy. That’s crazy. That’s totally cool.”

“… … .”

“Even the knight said, ‘Stay or go, the young goat must make a decision.’”

“… … .”

“There is no Hamlet in Cologne… … Kekeke!”

When I couldn’t stand it any longer and started to strangle her by the nape of her neck just like Mark Ut had taught me, Sophie Hertz came over with a disgusted expression and pulled the two of us apart.

“Jonas, Hanul. You two again?”

“I have a lot to say, you know.”

“… … .”

“… … The problem is the use of violence. I fully understand that.”

It’s just a routine pat on the back.

Since the other person was in charge of teaching his friends about things they didn’t know or giving them academic advice (even during break time), I also chose to yield.

It’s not a desirable picture to see a captain and a vice captain fighting.

Instead, I just had to tell funny stories to the kids who admired me.

“What are you doing this afternoon?”

“Me? I decided to go to the library with Sophie.”

“okay?”

“Do you want to come with me? Is that a bit much? Do you have to go to the training ground?”

“No, that’s not it… …I made an appointment to meet with my agent.”

“… … ?”

Look at those bright eyes.

It’s a topic that I hesitate to ask outright, but it’s too interesting to ignore.

“Jonas, that kid is not wrong. He is busy talking to the clubs that have offered him money these days.”

“Can I ask who you are talking to?”

“Sorry. I can’t tell you the details.”

“Ah… … I see.”

“Instead, I guess I can just say it indirectly.”

In the middle of the classroom.

Class is over and everyone should be going home, but everyone’s ears perk up at the story that follows.

“Both teams come from across the ocean. One wants to take charge of the front line, and the salary seems reasonable. The manager also seems to want me a lot. The only downside is the presence of strong competition and the inability to advance to the big stage.”

“Yeah, yeah. And?”

“The other side… … is a mess. They offered a huge amount of money, but the grades and the locker room conditions don’t look that great. My agent said I should think about it more seriously.”

The former is Arsenal, the latter is Chelsea.

Especially in the latter case, the squad was not reinforced in the summer transfer market, and manager Thomas Tuchel was recently fired. His successor, Manager Potter?, took over and I heard that the team is currently in 5th place in the league.

I was concerned about Alex Pasek’s comments that the previous manager had been fired in a bad way and that it felt like a rebuilding system was just beginning to take shape.

In other words, to summarize simply, the advantage is a high salary, and the disadvantage is a confusing team situation.

They said they would at least give them money, but the problem is that the amount Arsenal has quietly offered is so low that it is hard to compare it to Cologne, so it is not really felt.

Is that all?

“Then, are there any places that don’t cross the ocean?”

“Munich, no way?”

“hey.”

“… … Sorry. I didn’t realize it.”

“Not there. It’s much further south than that.”

I heard he received offers from Barcelona and Inter Milan, no, even Inter.

“What’s it like there?”

“Uh, first of all, one thing… … trash.”

“trash?”

“Waste. Not recyclable. Landfill only.”

“… … What did you suggest to make that happen?”

“I didn’t make an offer.”

“… … ?”

That’s right.

Barcelona is a club with a high reputation but is short on money due to the aftermath of financial collapse. Although they made an offer, the club’s circumstances were so difficult that they did not give a definite answer.

When asked about La Liga’s salary cap (limit on transfer fees and wages) and the restriction on the number of non-EU players (up to three), they responded with meaningless promises that they would step aside in the future.

I know that they are currently in the same group as Bayern Munich and Inter in the Champions League, and they are having a tough time, but the conditions are not even clear, so I am not attracted to them at all.

“Anyway, we’re going to see the remaining team next week, right?”

“aha.”

“I think you’re being a little serious.”

I heard that Inter is rushing in with a pretty detailed proposal and a proactive stance. We’ll have to meet to find out.

I’ll stop telling the story and get up from my seat.

Knock knock.

The eyes of those around them showed regret or disappointment, but following Sophie Hertz was the priority.

Tap tap tap.

There is no hesitation in the steps taken toward the library.

Wasn’t my story very interesting?

It must have been fun enough, as Lisa Weiss reluctantly followed along, but the model girl just walked along in silence, her long hair flowing down to her shoulders.

In this case… … it would be natural for me to quickly move my feet and walk alongside you.

“… … .”

“… … .”

The silence doesn’t last long.

“……why?”

“Huh? What?”

“… … Are you going to the library too?”

The answer to the question pops out right away.

“No way.”

“then-”

“I just followed you.”

“me?”

“Yeah. You. I’ve been catching your eye lately.”

Since I don’t have much time left in Cologne, it’s true that I do notice the people around me. Among them, the one that particularly catches my eye is Sophie Hertz.

okay.

What good would it do if you hid it?

I don’t know exactly when, but I developed a crush on this girl.

Because he is a person with a completely different personality and lifestyle from me.

Because her brain is as pretty as her appearance.

That’s probably why it’s like that.

“In the eye… … stepped on?”

“… … It’s a Korean expression. It means that you care.”

“… … .”

The moment the other person looks bewildered at the expression he is hearing for the first time, he immediately rushes in and bites him.

“Do you want to go out for dinner with me?”

“meal?”

“Tomorrow or the day after, on a day without a game.”

“… …Can I take the other kids too?”

“No, let’s eat alone this time. How about next Monday?”

“… … .”

“Don’t think of anything strange. I gave you advice before, didn’t I? Let’s consider it the price you paid.”

“If you say you’re going to pay for it, that doesn’t mean it was your original intention.”

I wonder if anyone would say that I’m a very smart girl.

He keeps trying to sound smart.

“Does that matter?”

“… … Did you have a good conversation with your family?”

“what?”

Then suddenly, a strange answer comes back.

“You told me back then that you wouldn’t be able to convince your family. Did you manage to convince them?”

“… … Halfway?”

“… … .”

“I wasn’t completely convinced, but I heard from my agent after the ‘noisy night’ that he wouldn’t oppose my transfer. He would respect my wishes. So, that’s halfway done. No?”

“Yeah. I’m definitely leaving.”

“I guess so.”

“Then I don’t like it.”

“… … .”

This is unexpected.

“If you go out alone, it’s obvious to anyone that you want to be more than just friends. But you and I… … we’re going down different paths. There’s a lot I want to do, and I don’t think I can be by your side. At least not right now. So I’ll decline to eat out with just us.”

“… … .”

Am I being criticized?

Is that so?

“Let’s eat together with the club members later. Okay?”

“… … Or something like that.”

That’s it.

That’s what it was.