Kiss the Ground

“What’s this? Are you wearing makeup too, Yuan?”“You seem too conscious of the camera. Besides, it’s mostly guys who watch the interviews anyway.”Yoon Chahyun sat in front of the mirror, his face in the hands of the makeup artist. His colleagues, dressed neatly in black suits, took advantage of Chahyun’s inability to respond and teased him mercilessly. They used to just wear gym clothes, so wearing suits did give them a certain charm, but it was a waste to flaunt that model-like body for nothing; it was truly a pity.“I won’t have time for gossip… it’s your turn next.”Chahyun’s makeup was finished with the application of something red and waxy to his lips. As soon as he stood up, Alois was dragged over like a calf and sat in front of the mirror. Naturally, the target of mockery shifted to Alois. Always maintaining an air of arrogance and dullness, he seemed uncomfortable with the unfamiliar sensation of the brush touching his face. But there was no choice. Even if he was an athlete, he couldn’t appear in front of countless cameras with a sunburnt face as it was.The atmosphere at the club before the upcoming interview was bustling. Staff and coaches ran around the building preparing for something, and the seminar room had transformed into a press room with workers carrying desks and chairs. In the corridor, journalists, who were only half the size of their camera and bag, walked in line.This interview was an opportunity for Winchester FC to reveal their future plans, aspirations, and outlook to the public.As it was an official event of the club, all the players of Winchester, including the staff and coaches, were wearing black suits with the club logo embroidered on one side of their chest. Thanks to this, even Blue, who was usually mistaken for a churros seller in the park because he always wore jumpers, looked like a European dignitary today.Chahyun adjusted his tie while looking at his reflection in the lobby’s metal pillar. The questions thrown at Yoon Chahyun today were likely to be, as expected, mostly related to his current condition. The reason why his performance suddenly dropped since the Umberti game… Probably questions that any fan would be curious about by now.But being able to anticipate means being able to respond. At least, it guaranteed that he wouldn’t be kicking the desk in the middle of the interview. Jude walked over from the corridor and stood next to Chahyun.“Are you nervous, Yuan?”“Not really, it’s not my first interview anyway.”“Yeah, the days of freezing up like before are over. Do you remember when you did your first interview after joining? You were shaking so much, you spilled water everywhere and caused a commotion.”“I remember when you suddenly took off your suit to wipe that. You were nervous too, just like me.”Jude, who received a counter-attack, shut his mouth awkwardly. There was no point in teasing each other when they were classmates. When Chahyun let out a sniff, Jude changed the topic.“Who’s going with you for the coach’s interview this time?”“Cahill Love.”“Oh, really? I thought it would be you for sure. Lately, everyone’s all about Cahill, Cahill.”“In such situations, the captain should go. He’s in good condition these days, and he’s a promising candidate for the next starting lineup.”At Chahyun’s words, Jude shrugged his shoulders. Before the group interview with the players, there was a precedent for an interview with the coach, and it was a rule that one player accompanied it. The condition for being able to sit in that position with the coach was one: to be the most prominent player in the current club. In that regard, Cahill, the forward of Winchester, who was the captain and had returned after overcoming a long-term injury, was more than qualified to stand next to Blue.“What about Misha?”“What?”At the sudden mention of a person, Chahyun turned to Jude in surprise. He met Jude’s gaze with his chubby face.“How about Misha? He’s always in the spotlight during interviews. It won’t be any different today.”“Why are you asking me that?”“You guys have been getting along lately, right? Whether you’re fighting or whatever, you’re always sticking together and disappearing somewhere. At that level, you should know each other’s circumstances, right?”“….”Did it look that way? Chahyun turned his head to Jude in surprise, and at that moment, someone tapped on his shoulder from behind. It was the perfect timing, as they say. The one standing behind him was Coach Blue.“Yuan! Is the interview preparation done? I asked for a lot of effort in makeup. I hope everyone looks great for this interview.”“Ah, I see. No wonder the artist wouldn’t let go. Right now, Alois should be in their clutches.”“Alois? He probably won’t like it.”“Not at all. He’s cooperative.”Blue grabbed his big belly and chuckled. Despite wearing a well-fitted suit, the neighborly warmth, like that of the man next door, hadn’t disappeared. Behind Blue stood Cahill, who could be considered the main character of today’s interview. Cahill, tapping the paper cup in his hand, greeted Chahyun and Jude.“It’s been a while, Yuan, and Jude.”“Yeah, Cahill. You’re going to the interview with Blue today? Congratulations on your comeback.”“That’s right.”“How do you manage to get attention right after your comeback? You’re still doing well. Impressive.”When Jude made a sarcastic comment, Chahyun elbowed him secretly, and at the same time, Cahill’s eyebrows twitched. Jude, generally a straightforward person, had an aversion to Cahill, who was much more highly evaluated than he deserved, thanks to the so-called club’s internal favoritism. The reason was that, although he was a skilled player, he was receiving much more attention than he deserved. The rumors were that, while Chahyun was leading the club to the Champions League tournament, Cahill, who had only been on the bench, quickly took over the starting position as soon as he recovered from an injury.However, there was no need to pick a fight on an important day. Chahyun tried to restrain Jude’s mouth before things got unnecessarily complicated. But at that moment, something covered his eyes in front of him.“Oh no…”What had completely stained Chahyun’s suit chest was the coffee Cahill was holding. Someone with a large bag blocked their narrow path, and in the end, it turned out that Cahill had knocked over the paper cup he was holding. Cahill approached Chahyun, looking embarrassed.“Are you okay? It’s an old coffee, but…”“Oh, it’s fine… It’s not hot.”Although the coffee that Cahill poured on Chahyun was a considerable amount, it wasn’t too noticeable because of the black suit. Blue, who was surprised, assessed Chahyun’s situation.“You better go and change quickly, Yuan. There’s still time until the player interview, so go and freshen up.”“Ah, there’s probably no need to change. I’ll tidy up a bit in the restroom and come back.”Very slick. While Jude sarcastically muttered to Cahill, Chahyun quickly left the scene.Once in the restroom, Chahyun stood in front of the sink, looking down at his clothes. The suit, fitted for his debut, fit well and was a beautiful outfit. It wasn’t like he had been waiting for the day to wear it like a child, but it felt strange that the club suit he brought out for the first time was now damp and dirty.To remove the stains, did he have to take off the clothes first? Chahyun put his hand on the button to unbutton it without much thought. When he casually looked in the mirror, he unexpectedly discovered someone reflected behind him.“Misha.”Leaning against the wall in front of the restroom corridor with his tall stature, Misha was familiar to Chahyun, yet currently the most awkward person present. Misha had his arms crossed, staring at his phone in one hand, completely unaware of Chahyun standing not far away.With his characteristic absent-minded gaze fixed on the screen, he was dressed like everyone else in a black suit. The dark fabric draped over his sturdy, broad shoulders and long limbs exuded an elegant yet somewhat precarious atmosphere. Although made of the same design and fabric as everyone else, the suit worn by Misha Asplund seemed slightly more valuable once it was draped over his body.Despite appearing as if he would be better off modeling under the scorching sun rather than kicking a ball, his silhouette was heavy and stubborn. Even a lean forward, who had no match in dribbling, could be held back mercilessly.Chahyun stared silently into the mirror without taking off his clothes. From afar, he could see the brown hair draped over Misha’s furrowed brow. It made Misha look like a prince from a fairy tale with a very tragic ending.But Chahyun now understood the strangely persistent determination within him. It was due to this that he quickly hid behind the wall when Misha’s hair, which seemed to shake as if he was about to raise his head to look in this direction, was noticed.Chahyun leaned against the wall, holding his breath quietly. Did Misha finally lift his head? Did he notice that I’m here? Chahyun’s heart rang an inexplicable alarm in his ears. As if sensing Chahyun’s tension, the footsteps of someone walking down the hallway were heard. One step, then another. If the owner of those footsteps was Misha, what excuse should he use to explain his current escape?“Come further inside. You’ll be reflected in the mirror if you stay there.”Someone whispered, grabbing Chahyun’s elbow and pulling him backward. It was in that moment. If he hadn’t had his mouth covered, Chahyun would have screamed for sure. Startled, Chahyun stumbled backward, and the man’s hand held his shoulders steady. Chahyun slowly turned around with wide-open eyes.The person who slowly lowered the arm that held Chahyun’s shoulder was a man with neater hair than Chahyun’s, wearing glasses. The man raised his index finger to his lips. Shh. Like in a spy movie. Even though there was no need for such a signal, he was already in a situation where he couldn’t smile.Chahyun looked into the man’s eyes, still unable to remove the hand covering his mouth. Behind the glasses, blue irises quietly flickered. As an eternity passed, and realizing that no one was coming behind the wall where they were, the man lowered his finger.“I hope I didn’t do anything unnecessary, Player Yoon Chahyun.”The man spoke softly with a well-modulated voice. It was a gentle voice tinged with intellect. However, faced with an unexpectedly urgent situation and being addressed by a stranger, Chahyun was not as composed as the man’s voice.“Do you know me?”At Chahyun’s question, which came out unexpectedly and with a hint of fear, the man smiled momentarily, but soon answered as if the question was as natural as water flowing.“Yes, of course. I can assure you there’s hardly anyone in this building who doesn’t know Player Yoon Chahyun right now.”“W-What just happened…”“You hid to avoid Misha Asplund, didn’t you? Or am I mistaken?”Chahyun, like a fish brought to the surface, stammered like a muttering stream. The man, after delivering the short question, smiled and observed Chahyun’s face. There was no sign of probing questions or hints in his demeanor, no indication that he sought Chahyun’s response.What is this person doing? Chahyun rolled his eyes, carefully observing the man’s behavior. The casual attire and the gaze behind the horn-rimmed glasses emitted an intellectual yet refreshing atmosphere. His behavior, effortlessly delving into someone’s personal affairs while avoiding discomfort, was straightforward and natural.However, how did this person know about Yoon Chahyun avoiding Misha Asplund? Chahyun could have pressed the man about his identity, but instead, he took a moment to exhale slowly and adjusted his clothes. Hoping not to show any confusion, he spoke with a calm and composed voice.“Why do you think I’m avoiding Asplund?”However, the man continued without any apparent discomposure.“Well, you hid when Player Yoon Chahyun noticed Player Asplund. So, I thought there might be some awkward relationship. Was I wrong? Observing people and situations is my job, so I had my own speculations… but.”“In front of your eyes?”“Yes. I was here. Before Yoon Chahyun.”The man pointed with his finger to the area above. Where his finger pointed, there was a sign indicating the current location.「Restroom」Chahyun’s strength instantly drained away. Right, that makes sense. Unless he had superpowers, there was no way a person he just met would know about his relationship with Misha. The mental fatigue from the past few days, involuntarily thrust upon him, had lowered his threshold for tension. In a disheartened mood, Chahyun lowered his head and let out a small sigh.But that brief relief shattered into pieces with the man’s next words.“And… If the relationship between Misha Asplund and Yoon Chahyun players is uncomfortable, I thought it might be partly my fault.”What kind of nonsense is this? Chahyun, completely forgetting to hide his confusion, stared at the man’s face.“What do you mean?”Facing Chahyun’s bewildered expression, the man smiled. Observing Chahyun’s face as if observing something very interesting, the man, after a few seconds, seemed to remember something and took something out of his pocket.“Before I share my thoughts, I think I should introduce myself. I am this kind of person.”Chahyun, who received the rectangular piece of paper held out in front of him in a vague manner, slowly scanned the contents written inside. There were only a few lines of English written on it.「London Times Sports Reporter, Ilya Park」A very strange déjà vu flashed through Chahyun’s mind.“…London Times?”“Yes. The main photo of Asplund and Yoon Chahyun players that made headlines after the Umberthide FC victory last time? I took that photo.”“….”Ah… this person.Only then did Chahyun notice the large duffel bag behind him. Numerous words he wanted to say circulated in Chahyun’s mind. However, most of them were coarse curses, so instead of spewing them out, Chahyun chose to wave his own hair. It was clear that the person before him was the one who had caused the confusion, starting with Misha. When he finally paid attention, he saw the reporter’s duffel bag placed behind him.And then, a large camera bag was visible behind him. Many words Chahyun wanted to say swirled in his head. However, most of them were coarse curses, so instead of uttering them, Chahyun chose to wave his hair. The person who caused this chaos, starting with Misha, was right in front of him. With his lips parted, the trembling voice flowed out.“… Do you know how much trouble I went through because of that photo?”“I assumed you might. But that photo looked like the epitome of camaraderie between Asplund and Yoon. All the other angle shots, what should I say, turned out more romantic than I expected.”Ilya smiled nonchalantly. Unable to spit out coarse language in the face of his smiling visage, Chahyun chose to brush aside his own hair. Looking at Chahyun, who remained silent with a disappointed expression, Ilya rested his chin on his hand and grinned.“So, is my guess correct that my photo contributed a bit to the discord between Yoon and Asplund?”“…No, it’s just speculation.”“Is that so? You seem to be avoiding it so clearly in my eyes. Maybe it’s a professional habit.”“…”As if his mouth were sealed shut, Chahyun found it difficult to speak. When Chahyun hesitated, Ilya shrugged his shoulders.“Well, even if it’s hard to talk about, I understand. It’s probably a personal matter. I didn’t mean to, but I ended up seeing it anyway. Let’s just say I didn’t see what happened just now, so don’t worry.”“Should I trust the words of someone who put such a photo on the headline?”“Private matters are separate. I’m a person who upholds journalistic ethics even as a sports reporter, you know.”With a deliberately just expression, Ilya extended his chest, showing that he was not a bad person. As someone who worked with words and language, dealing with people seemed effortless for him, and being a journalist suited him perfectly.Strictly speaking, he might have been better suited to a different field than sports, but if capturing such crazy photos was a skill, then it was a skill. Whether Ilya knew Chahyun’s thoughts or not, he spoke with concern, touching his glasses.“More importantly, the player interview is about to start soon, and it seems like you’ve thrown away your clothes. That’s a big problem.”“How did you know that?”“It was damp when I held it earlier. It seemed quite dirty.”“Ah… I guess it shows. I need to at least wipe it off roughly.”“If that’s the case, wait a moment.”Ilya stopped Chahyun, who was about to take out a handkerchief stuck in his suit to wipe the stains. Instead, he pulled out a white handkerchief folded in his bag and handed it to Chahyun without hesitation.“The pocket square attached to the club suit is for decoration, so it shouldn’t get stained. I don’t think I’ll spill coffee today, and if it’s okay with you, you can borrow mine.”“Is it really okay?”“Of course. Besides, the pocket square needs to be clean for the suit photo to come out nicely. It’s good for me too.”Ilya said it cheerfully. Grateful for his kind favor that eased the burden, Chahyun accepted his handkerchief without hesitation. The corners of the simple yet elegant cloth were adorned with silver initials.「I.P」“Then I’ll go to the press room first. It was an honor to have a private conversation with you, Yoon Chahyun.”“Likewise… Thank you for the handkerchief.”“You’re welcome. If we’re lucky, we might meet again later.”“I’d like that.”With a courteous bow to Chahyun, Ilya left the bathroom. Checking that his black hair was in order, Chahyun stood in front of the sink again. He glanced at the mirror absentmindedly, but there were no familiar faces reflected in the corridor behind him anymore.“Yuan, why are you just coming now after saying you were only going to tidy up your clothes? Did you go to get new ones or something?”“Um… I had something to take care of, so I was late. Haven’t I missed my turn yet?”“You’re next! Come here quickly.”Jude hurriedly scolded the belated Chahyun. Though he hadn’t noticed the suit was black, the coffee poured by Cahill was quite plentiful. Trying to erase the stains that kept reappearing even after wiping, Yoon Chahyun ended up spending more time in the bathroom than he had anticipated. As a result, when Chahyun entered the preparation room next to the press room, the coach interview was already over, and the player interview was underway.The player interview format consisted of groups of three to four people entering the press room to facilitate more detailed questions and answers. The criteria were generally based on positions or players who had a good rapport in the same game. There were groups composed of center-backs and goalkeepers, midfielders and strikers, or players who scored and assisted in the same game.Before he knew it, most of the player interviews were over, and the players left in the preparation room included only a few midfielders, including Jude. It was natural for Jude and Chahyun to have an interview together, having scored an equalizing goal with a nice combination play in the Umbertide game, but it was unclear who would take the remaining seat.A staff member urgently gestured toward Chahyun and Jude in front of the door leading to the press room. It was their turn. As Chahyun straightened his outfit for the last time, he spoke.“Jude, can you check the interview list?”“Oh, right. Let me see… Just a moment.”Jude searched here and there for the documents. Chahyun urged him in the pressing situation.“What’s taking so long? The interview is about to start. We need to know who we’re sitting with before going in to coordinate our answers.”“Where did I put it? I was holding it until just now…”“No, just tell me the names first…”Looking back after Jude’s words, Misha was standing there. Chahyun almost stumbled backward.“…”“…”A silence settled in with no one daring to speak first. Seeing the startled Chahyun, Jude, standing behind Misha, awkwardly smiled as if apologizing for not speaking earlier. Then, he pointed at Misha, wordlessly conveying to Chahyun, ‘It’s him.’Ah, Misha Asplund. Come to think of it, you were also involved in that game-tying goal…With a bright light, the door to the press room, filled with cameras, swung open. The headache-inducing feeling was undoubtedly not just due to the lighting.***The interview seats arranged in the front of the press room were splendid. For the players being interviewed, there were three black leather chairs placed at the table, and the club flag with Winchester FC’s emblem and this season’s Champions League trophy decorated grandly behind them.Next to the journalists were cameras and broadcasting equipment as tall as a person.Chahyun stepped forward and walked up to the interview seats. Although standing in front of the camera had become quite familiar, it was a lie to say that he didn’t care at all about the elaborate set with plenty of soccer balls, proving that it was the club’s official annual event. Seating himself on the plush chair that could make one’s waist sink, Chahyun looked around. There were easily more than two hundred pairs of eyes watching.Following him, Jude jumped onto the platform like a flying squirrel, taking a seat between Misha and Yoon Chahyun. Though he may not have been aware of the situation between the two, his naturally curious personality unintentionally brought a subtle relief to Chahyun. Yoon Chahyun’s tension was not limited to the pressure just before the interview.Not able to avoid it and eventually hiding it, the fate placed Misha right next to Chahyun’s approximately two-meter side. It was a staggering sight. If there’s a saying that everything that can go wrong will go wrong is called “Murphy’s Law,” then encountering someone no matter how much you avoid them is perhaps named “Misha’s Law.”Feeling a mysterious tension, Chahyun turned his head, and behind the unfamiliar yet strangely familiar glasses came into view. Ilya, whom he met in the bathroom a while ago, was now blending in among numerous reporters. He greeted Chahyun with a light nod behind the glasses. Like others, he unfolded his laptop on the table and hung a blue press card around his neck. Seeing him like that made it sink in that he was indeed a journalist.《We will now begin the Q&A session. Journalists with questions, please raise your hands.》The surroundings became noisy at the staff member’s announcement. The group consisting of Misha Asplund, Jude Ingram, and Yoon Chahyun seemed to draw exceptional attention, given their contribution to Winchester’s advancement to the Round of 16. All the journalists seated raised their hands simultaneously. The poor staff member, reluctantly taking on the role of a lottery drawer, had to sweat profusely to pick the first fortunate person.“Ah, it’s an honor to be able to ask the first question. As a Winchester FC fan, I can’t help but ask about the recent game… I’d like to start by asking Jude Ingram a question.”As Jude’s name was called, he adjusted the position of the microphone attached to the table. His expression was quite serious.“It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the comeback goal started with Jude Ingram’s kick. If you have any thoughts on it?”“First of all, thank you for your attention. I know everyone is probably more interested in the players on either side of me. I might be like a garnish on a steak.”The journalist who asked the question chuckled awkwardly at Jude’s witty remark. It seemed like they were indeed a fan of Jude, finding him more valuable than ginseng.“When I sent the cross, I… I was confident that Yoon Chahyun could receive it. It wasn’t a planned connection, but I trusted him. Yoon Chahyun and I always had good chemistry, and I knew how fast his feet were. Everyone knows that. I thought he might be near the halfway line, but when I turned around, he was already inside the penalty area. He’s incredibly fast, even during meal times, I have no idea when he got in line at the cafeteria…”“Please edit out unnecessary details.”Chahyun, leaning forward, drew a line across his throat with his finger. The journalists, who had been tense as if they wouldn’t miss a word from the players, burst into laughter all at once. “Are you going to use me for icebreaking?” Despite his playful comment, Jude didn’t even make eye contact with the cunning fellow.“That was an answer that felt the camaraderie with Yoon Chahyun. How about getting Yoon Chahyun’s thoughts?”Chahyun cleared his throat a few times before speaking.“Because we prepared a lot, the result was something we expected. I’m most satisfied that the fans have more time to enjoy this season with Winchester’s victory. Looking back on the last game is important, but preparing for upcoming matches is equally crucial. From now on, reaching the Round of 16 is practically the beginning.”“Thank you for the great answer.”“Um, I have one more question for Yoon Chahyun.”A young journalist sitting in the back right suddenly raised his hand. His gaze was sharp. Chahyun nodded, and the staff pointed to him.