94 – End of the Season
094
Jo Yeosin cheerfully packed his belongings.
Just looking at the neatly stacked items in the large suitcase made him feel relieved.
“Oh? Why isn’t it closing?”
The bulging suitcase caused some trouble—
“Packed everything… Ah, what is all this? Why did you put such useless things? Take this out. And this too… Take everything out!”
“Oh, why! I need all of these!”
He suffered, standing firm even if he would get scolded by his mom—
“Ouch. Whose is this? What did you put in it to make it so heavy?”
“Watch your back, Jaeshin’s dad. You’re not in the best shape already.”
“What are you talking about! My back is perfectly fine! This is nothing— Ouch!?”
“Jaeshin’s dad!”
…Despite a bit of commotion, Jo Yeosin managed to pack his luggage safely.
“Hello!”
“Goddess, hello. How is it that you become more beautiful every time I see you?”
“Hehe.”
“Oh, you are indeed beautiful. Still a child, though. But Jitae’s mom, why did you dress up like this?”
“Even so, we are first class, first class. We have to dress up.”
“Oh, here he comes. Why is your expression like that?”
“Mmm. My back hurts a bit.”
“Oh, this person. At our age, we need to be careful with our backs.”
“It’s okay, it’s okay.”
The airport, where they arrived with the ajumma and ajusshi, was still bustling with people.
“Do you want juice? But why aren’t we in line?”
“We were invited from the club to the first class.”
“Wow! First class! That means we don’t have to wait in line?”
“That’s right. There’s also a lounge.”
“Wow! A lounge!”
The plane was even in first class!
Moreover, the lounge was amazing!
After completing the joyful airport tour, Joo Yeoshin truly felt the dignity of first class only after boarding the plane.
“Wow… I have so much to brag about to Star! From the spacious and luxurious seats to the delicious in-flight meals, it’s completely different from when I visited Germany last time!”
“Eggugoo…”
“I told you not to overdo it.”
“It’s okay. After a nap, I’ll feel better.”
While taking pictures absentmindedly with Eomma’s background chatter, Joo Yeoshin, who had been making a fuss for a while after tasting the in-flight meal, suddenly fell asleep.
“She was so excited to see Jitae that she didn’t sleep for days. Tsk tsk. Is it that good?”
Covering her daughter with a blanket, the wife chuckled at her husband who was sticking his tongue out while covering her.
“Are you jealous?”
“Jealous, what’s that!”
“Then let it be. It’s such a good time; how much do you think she misses us when she’s away?”
“That’s why raising a daughter is useless.”
“Then have one more.”
“…Ugh. My back hurts. I need some sleep.”
“Are you sleepy?”
“…Cool.”
From Noble mtl dot com
Joya, who had been sleeping as if dead, opened her eyes as the plane was just landing at Munich International Airport.
“Oh, what the heck! We’re already here!? I lost half of my photos!!”
While exhausted adults descended with pale faces after the long flight, Joya, who had recharged her energy declaring that we should get off after 12 hours, looked around with a livelier expression than anyone else.
As she scanned the familiar Munich International Airport, where she had been once before, people approached from all directions.
“Are you the family of Cho Jaeshin, Joo Jitae?”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Augustin Beltner, the director of Munich.”
“I am in charge of the finances of Munich—”
“Executive—”
Joya, who was discreetly hiding behind her mother, rolling her eyes only, at the approach of the seemingly easygoing grandfathers and uncles of the ajumma group,
“I know it very well! TSV 1860 Munich! TSV stands for Tuna sports… sports…”
“It looks like a delicious name. But what should we do? Our official name is Turn- und Sportverein München von 1860.”
“Ah. I see. German is a bit difficult.”
“Hehe.”
In the ensuing cheerful atmosphere, she found herself speaking up with a lively voice.
Of course, the Munich executives smiled happily.
Already, they had to win the hearts of Cho Jaeshin’s younger sister, who was also Joo Jitae’s childhood friend and girlfriend, so they couldn’t help but feel delighted as this cute little girl chattered away like a doll.
The Munich executives, who had created a warm atmosphere for quite some time, proceeded to the next step.
“We have prepared a special escort for the family who came all the way from Korea. Please enjoy your visit to Munich.”
Starting with the executives who personally came to the airport to welcome them,
“These friends will guide you to the accommodation.”
“Joshua Kim and Anna Park, who will guide the families of the players during their stay in Munich. If you have any inconveniences or requests, please feel free to let us know.”
“I’m Anna Park. I’ll guide you in a limousine. It will take about 35-37 km and approximately 40 minutes to travel from the airport to the hotel. Can I tell you about Munich during that time?”
From expensive accommodation and a Korean-speaking guide to a limousine and even the upcoming schedule.
‘Wow, she’s pretty. The limousine is amazing!’
The plan to win the hearts of the two players was progressing step by step.
“The stadium next to us is the Allianz Arena, the home stadium of Bayern Munich, who took away our victory in defeat.”
“Wow, it’s beautiful.”
“Well, it is pretty, but it lacks substance. After all, we lost Maestro Chale to them.”
“But.”
“Yes, do you have a question?”
“Does losing mean it originally belonged to them?”
“… It seems so. The Rocafort de Charles Hotel you see in front of you. It’s a 5-star hotel located in the city center of Munich, suitable for a city tour.”
Although he didn’t answer the trivial question, Juyeosin quickly loosened up in the splendid scenery of the hotel.
“Tomorrow, we will visit the tourist attractions of Munich—”
As if she had become a princess after days of extravagant treatment, Juyeosin’s mood reached its peak with the announcement:
“Today is the day of the home game. We will welcome you to Grünwalder Stadion, the home stadium of TSV 1860 Munich. It’s about 4 km straight, a 25-30 minute walk.”
Just after entering Grünwalder Stadion, the home stadium of TSV 1860 Munich.
At first, it was true that she was disappointed by the small and shabby stadium compared to the magnificent Allianz Arena.
But the disappointment didn’t last long.
[In the last game of the great season, our heroes’ families have come to the stadium to welcome the home game!! Please welcome the families of our great heroes with applause!!]
At the announcement of the field hostess, Juyeosin couldn’t help but admire the sight of people in the stadium rising together, sending applause and cheers.
“Wow… amazing.”
However, what excited Juyeosin the most was—
[Finally! The treasure that Munich is proud of! The lions who came all the way from distant Asia, Korea! The families of players Joo Jitae and Cho Jaesin!!]
At the moment when the large screen in the stadium illuminated the faces of the families, a tremendous roar echoed.
People packed into the stadium rolled their feet, clapped, and sent cheers in unison.
In the ecstatic welcome literally shaking the ground,
[Hahaha! Joo Jaesin’s little sister and Joo Jitae’s cute girlfriend are amazed! It seems our cheers are not enough! Is everyone ready!! Joo!!]
“Jitae!!”
[Cho!!]
“Jaesin!!”
Juyeosin’s hair stood on end.
‘This is soccer… amazing….’
She knew that Joo Jitae and Cho Jaesin were performing exceptionally well and were popular.
But knowing it in her mind and facing that enthusiasm directly were completely different. For the first time in her life, Juyeosin, who received enthusiastic cheers from thousands, tens of thousands of people, muttered unknowingly.
“Mom…”
“Oh, I knew our sons were doing well, but to cheer like this, just…”
“Mom…”
“Uh, what? Why?”
The beaming face of Goddess Jo, enlarged on the scoreboard, burst into laughter, echoing throughout the stadium.
“I… want to play soccer.”
“…?”
And so it was.
Goddess Jo was a soccer maniac.
* * *
The game began as a celebration of Munich and ended as a festival.
In the first half, the main cast of Meister Schalke, the starting eleven, took the field, scoring two goals amid the fervent cheers of the audience. In the second half, they substituted players one by one, trying to let as many players as possible participate.
Of course, not everyone could play.
It was certain they would win. Vilhelm wanted to give every player a chance to play, but the substitution cards were limited.
However, after the game, the arena announcer, starting with the players who couldn’t play, called out the names of those who had made it into the first team squad this season, drawing applause from the audience. At least those who had made it into the first team squad this season could receive a standing ovation.
But would not playing in the game relieve their hearts? Well, even if it did, you have to improve your skills. No matter how considerate you are, in the end, professionalism speaks through skills.
Joo Ji-tae, who led the team this season as the ace, ended the season thinking about such things while receiving the biggest cheers when he appeared last.
It was the end of a season without regrets, despite the strange state of the family, especially Goddess Jo.
And while Joo Ji-tae and Cho Jae-sin were enjoying their time with family in Germany, the soccer world was bustling.
Preparations for the new season… the transfer market was approaching.
