SH Chapter 1 || Kick Off

The remaining additional time was just over a minute. Jerim checked the scoreboard and held his breath. In moments like these, it was important to be calm rather than rush out of desperation. Cool down your head while making quick and precise decisions – that’s what mattered most.

First, as the ball rolled to his feet, he dashed with a fierce speed and pulled the ball between the legs of the surrounding defenders. Feigning a dribble, he faked them out and let the ball slip through, causing them to stumble.

Thankfully, the ball rolled safely to his teammate he originally intended to pass to. With little time left before the end of the match, Sefton’s players began to sprint forward with all their might.

“Can’t you see or what? Don’t lose focus, chase him!”

Leaving behind Aaron, the striker of Tabarona, who was shouting at his teammates, Jerim also ran, pushing past the opposing team’s players.

The teammate who had just received a pass saw Jerim sprinting and immediately passed the ball back. Jerim crossed the halfway line and looked around. Should I run a bit more and make a direct shot, or pass? The dilemma didn’t last long.

Due to the defense focusing on him, only one defender and the goalkeeper stood between the goal and Lehmann, a frontline striker. He wouldn’t be offside, and Lehmann could certainly handle one defender, plus he was positioned much closer to the goal. His position was too good to hesitate.

“Run!”

Signaling to Lehmann, who was looking at him with anxious eyes wondering if the pass would come, he kicked with his right foot. He stood firmly against the opponents players who had caught up to him.

His body swayed in the rough physical battle. But the ball had already left his foot, so it didn’t matter. The ball, which traversed the field diagonally, dropped perfectly in front of Lehmann as if deliberately delivered. All Jerim could do now was pray.

Please.

This was the second time he’d reached the Champions League final in five years. A historic match for Sefton, his first since receiving the captain armband. Now, near the end of the additional time in the second half, they were losing 3-2 and needed a goal to force overtime. A goal to tie with Tabarona.

‘If we can just get to overtime, we have a chance.’

Tabarona’s team was older. Except for that damn Aaron, who had the stamina of a beast, having even scored a hat-trick¹ in the Champions League final, hadn’t tired, but the other players would clearly lose their stamina in overtime.

In fact, Aaron’s third goal came when he personally descended to the midfield, replacing a midfield that had become noticeably sluggish, and solo-dribbled from the halfway line. Whoever the fuck he is, he plays like a rabid dog, and he’s been good at football since immemorial times.

Lehmann, please. For just over 10 seconds, Jerim prayed to every God. If you let me win the Champions League this time, I’ll celebrate Buddha’s Birthday, Christmas, and Ramadan altogether. I’ll even fast during Ramadan. He bit his lip like an idiot while praying.

And then…

Thud!

A clear, heavy sound hit his ears. It wasn’t the sound of a ball hitting the net. He knew the ball had hit the goalpost without having the need to look back. A whistle signaling the end of the match sounded a few seconds later. Jerim stared blankly at the scoreboard.

[TBR 3 : SFT 2]

Slowly turning his gaze after seeing the unchanged scoreboard and the end of the match time, he saw the wine-colored wave of celebration, in stark contrast to the Sefton fans who were leaving one by one. Golden confetti and banners supporting Sefton were left on the empty seats. Excited Spanish was being shouted everywhere – in the stands and on the field.

Unlike the Tabarona players who had gathered in a circle, his teammates were scattered. Some sat down, burying their faces in their knees or hitting the grass in frustration. The young striker, responsible for the missed chance, broke down completely.

“Jerry, we have to get ready for the awards ceremony…”

William, the team’s center-back and vice captain, tapped Jerim’s shoulder. Only after hearing that lifeless voice did Jerim truly feel that he had lost in the Champions League final for the second time in his life. His knees buckled simultaneously.

With this, his dream of winning the Big Ear² in his twenties became distant again. The times he could play Champions League in his twenties was now down to just once more. That too, when calculated by international age.

Even if he reaches the final the next year, Jerim, born in early May, will be 29 years old. Having tasted defeat in the Champions League final after five years of progress, and setting aside the probability of reaching the final again next year…

Even if they somehow achieved two consecutive finals, there was still a problem: FC Tabarona practically wins the Big Ear every season because of Aaron. In seasons when Aaron was injured or underperforming, other clubs occasionally won, but Sefton had never benefited from that luck. Winning like that wouldn’t even feel satisfying.

But above all.

‘Ah, fuck. Another second place…’

Jerim, who had slumped on the ground, wiped his sweaty forehead and sighed. Runner-up in the league, runner-up in the Champs. Two second places in one season. Second place in the Champions League final for the second time in his career. He would definitely be mocked for this. It was obvious.

What new mocking and satirical nicknames would they come up with this time? He was used to being called ‘Taeguk³ Warrior’ when doing well, and ‘Kimchi Warrior’ when not, but the ever-evolving nicknames were never welcome.

Of course, he knew most nicknames were affectionate. But all nicknames derived from ‘Jerry’ related to rats were detestable. No one would ever enjoy being mocked.

But what could he do? They had already lost. He had long been accustomed to becoming a laughingstock in his home country. At this age, earning this much money meant he had to endure this much. Most were just pathetic beings expressing their inferiority complex as criticism anyway.

“Ugh… Will! I’m fine, so take care of Lehmann. He might collapse.”

Thinking there was no point in lying here and it wasn’t respectful to the winning team, he was about to get up. Beyond his hazy, sweat-blurred vision, he saw a muscular leg. The tights were a different color than Sefton’s.

“Jerim… no way, are you crying?”

The voice was familiar. In all his years abroad, through three different clubs, he’d only met one other person who’d called him Jerim. The large hand that reached out to help him up also felt familiar. However, the tattoos covering his arms were not, as they hadn’t been there until ten years ago.

“I don’t need your hand, so fuck off, you son of a bitch.”

So Jerim rejected that hand and stood up with a perfectly composed face.

***

≪Ah, he missed! How strange not being able to score from that position. Our Ban Jerim did such an incredible pass!≫

≪What a pity. Once again this season, Tabarona wins the Big Ear. They’re solidifying their position as the world’s most prestigious club.≫

≪I hope Ban Jerim doesn’t get too discouraged. Sefton is always in the top 4 in the EPL, and their league performance this season was very good. They got second place, right? The opportunity to win is there next season.≫

≪Right. Ban Jerim is twenty-eight, twenty-nine in Korean age. He’s not young by football player standards, but he is still young. He definitely still has a chance, so… huh? Aaron Reyes is approaching him?≫

≪Come to think of it, they were teammates at Tabarona Youth, right? Maybe he’s happy to see his friend’s face after such a long time.≫

≪What a touching friendship. Reyes pushed his way through his celebrating teammates all to comfort Ban Jerim… Oh.≫

≪…He rejected him? He definitely rejected him, right? Oh, he’s quite angry.≫

≪…It probably because they’re really close! Like: Dude, why are you here? Go lift the Big Ear. Isn’t he just playing around? We’ll end the sports channel broadcast here!≫

 

Today’s Angry Mouse. How scaryyyy.

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(Photo)

He’s really an angry mouse.

⤷Lmaoo hahahaha aigoo, Jerry-ya~~~

⤷Don’t make a meme out of the screenshot, he’s already devastated from being the Champions League runner-up;;;

⤷ But still, he did reject his hand, right?lol

⤷His face fckkk lolol It was captured so funny, truly angry. Angry Mouse is the only way to describe it lmaooo

 

The commentators were so flustered they quickly cut the broadcast

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“Dude, why are you here? Go lift the Big Ear.”

He left us with the greatest line of all time fck hahahahaha

⤷He’s not wrong tho. Should’ve just gone and played Sse Sse Sse⁴ with his own teammates, why go comfort him? To pour oil on the fire?

⤷They were very close during their youth, so he probably did it because of that?

⤷But didn’t they unfollow each other after that legendary World Cup?LOL

⤷⤷That was already 10 years ago, they might have made up

⤷If they made up, they would have followed each other back again, right…?

⤷⤷There’s even a theory that Ban Jerim didn’t attend the Ballon d’Or because he couldn’t stand Aaron’s face, so they definitely didn’t make up lmao

 

Wow, he must really hate him lol

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I’ve never seen Jerry react like this before.

⤷For real. Even when he randomly ended up at rival players’ house parties, he never looked this thrown off hahaha

⤷I can’t tell what he said when rejecting the hand because he was covering his mouthㅠㅠ but it was probably a curse, right?

⤷If he really swore, doesn’t that mean he’s quite a nasty piece of work?? What’s with the cursing when someone’s trying to help you?

⤷Great, the know-it-alls are here lmao. If he said it in Spanish, y’all wouldn’t even be able to know what he said.

 

Jerim really needs an exorcism

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It’s the curse of eternal second place.

⤷Exorcism~ Exorcism~

⤷It’s because there’s a ‘Jae⁵‘ in his name, he should change it

⤷Is the above comment illiterate? Where’s the ‘Jae’ in Ban Jerim?

⤷It’s not Ban Jaerim but Ban Jerim, these uncultured swines aren’t even capable of reading wikis.

 

Should I say it’s a relief that they got eliminated early from the other cup competitions;;

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If they had even done a kong level⁶ it’d be… horrifying

⤷Eternal Second Mouse

⤷⤷Dude, that was really mean

⤷What the frick is Eternal Second Mouse lmaoooo Are you crazy??

It’s sad…

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Uhm… The pass was really good tho ㅠㅠ It’s not like it’s easy to make such a pass right after getting rid of three defenders focusing on you.

⤷Lehmann Fritz, no matter how young he is, his ability to score a goal is… meh,,,~

⤷We should consider that this is Lehmann’s first season in the league, his base stats are actually pretty good

⤷⤷Agreed… He’ll improve after his adaptation period ends. Honestly, getting second place in his first season means Lehmann did well

⤷Our Jerry was tearing it up from his very first season at 18 when he transferred tho ㅠㅠ

⤷⤷That’s because Jerry is special lol Geniuses like Jerry and Aaron are exceptions

⤷During the adaptation period… shouldn’t he at least score the tap-ins? Even I could’ve scored that lololol

 

If Sefton wants to win Champions League next season

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They need to bring in an experienced veteran striker this summer. Keep Fritz as a substitute to gain experience

⤷ x2. He needs to have experience first… Scoring in critical situations isn’t just about skill, it’s a mental thing

⤷Just Jerry hitting it…ㅜㅜ why didn’t he score from mid-range;;;

⤷⤷If he had kept holding the ball, the shooting angle wouldn’t have opened up. Jerry made a good judgment here

 

Honestly, with this team and depth⁷, they did incredibly well

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Jerry rlly hard-carried the team

⤷It’s not really a problem of the team, the midfield and defense are actually good. The attack is the issue.

⤷Is there a team that’s good in attack, midfield, and defense? Having two out of three is already good

⤷⤷Yeah, but at least they shouldn’t be total garbage lol Jerry serves killer passes but Sefton’s strikers just spit them out

 

Fact: If they were truly garbage, they couldn’t have reached the Champions League final

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You damn nationalistic⁸ fanboys, stop overhyping Ban Jerim so much.

And solo fans of other players, please just disappear. This constant fan war is so goddamn annoying.

⤷PLEASEEE!!!! I’m sick of seeing this too.

⤷I feel the same ㅠㅠ Aren’t there are many Sefton team fans here??? Shit, we’re already furious about the second position

 

Aaron Reyes vs Lehmann Fritz

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Isn’t it an undeniable fact that Reyes is on another level?

⤷Why don’t you compare things that are comparable;;

⤷Fritz is acknowledged as a promising talent, but Reyes? He’s incomparable lol

⤷Hey, Aaron has 3 Ballon d’Or at 27, and he’s the same age as Jerry, who has none ㅜㅜ

⤷Jerry has the issue of the nationality. If Jerry had naturalized to Spain during his youth, he’d probably be playing well at Tabarona and would’ve won Ballon d’Or by now.

⤷⤷But then wouldn’t that make him a traitor to his country? He already has so many negative nicknames as it is…

⤷⤷If I won the World Cup + Ballon d’Or.. .I’d happily take being called a traitor lmao

 

If Aaron joins Sefton, it would be a dream team

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Isn’t his contract renewal with Tabarona not progressing? Just come to Sefton

⤷Mm, not happening~ FC Tabarona = Aaron Reyes

⤷Where do these guys think they’re stealing the main pillar from someone else’s house? Pfft

⤷He’s a golden youth⁹ from Tabarona’s academy and the national team captain, why would he leave?

⤷Would the ace of a club that wins Champions League like it’s breakfast even want to come here? The delay for his contract renewal is probably just to negotiate a higher salary.

⤷Were these comments from a month ago? LOL It actually happened.

 

Aaron is joining Sefton officially!!!!!!!

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(News link)

⤷wtf

⤷Seriously??? He’s a free agent;;; He’s gonna get so much hate omg

⤷Is this a dream?

⤷So suddenly? Did a small voice in his heart whisper Sefton?

⤷Wow, this actually happened

⤷What?? What is this???? What is happening?????