SPW 73

On May 21st, the X0–X1 season concluded.

Even after Sarang, who missed three matches due to suspension, returned, the Rhinos failed to bounce back and finished the season in 6th place in the league. They had been eliminated from the Champions League early on in the group stage, and a mixture of criticism, mocking concern, and genuine worry for the Rhinos, who failed to qualify for next year’s Champions League, swept through the northern part of Canton City.

Sarang, who was already a homebody, went out even less after the season ended. It was an environment where he didn’t need to go out, as all the necessary places and equipment were prepared in the mansion. Also, it took twice as long just to go to and from the grocery store because the people he encountered before even crossing a block were an even mix of Coneus and Bunnies (Pink Bunny FC, a fierce rival club of Rhinos FC).

The Coneus would say things like, “Do well,” “This season was really disappointing,” “But we still believe in the Lovely King,” “You are the king of fantastic moments,” and “Don’t be discouraged.” Meanwhile, some of the Bunnies would mock him, saying things like, “Thanks for being our team’s lucky icon this season,” or “When did you transfer to Pink Bunny behind our backs?” and “Here comes the king of fantastic moments, the Lovely King,” while pretending to bow in reverence.

Because half the people were like that, and the other half were people who greeted him warmly and shyly, asking for autographs and photos, Sarang’s outings always ended up later than planned. Especially this season. The one person they never mentioned was Florian. To them, Florian was not the spouse of soccer player Kim Sarang, but the heir to a duchy.

Sarang got off the treadmill and wiped his sweat as he left the gym. He was on vacation until the preseason, but Sarang had no particular place he wanted to go. He didn’t like his daily routine getting disrupted just because it was a vacation, and he preferred to focus quietly on training at home and get plenty of rest.

After a three-hour massage and a shower, Sarang plopped down on the sofa with a refreshed face. It was 3 p.m. After the season ended, his time with Florian had actually decreased. Florian, who had practically stayed in Canton City during the season to fulfill his spousal duties, boarded a flight to New York as soon as the season was over.

‘Sarang’s heat is coming up soon, right? I will be back before then.’

‘Rian, if… you ever need my help, please tell me right away. I’ll come running anytime, anywhere.’

‘The end of the season is a good thing. I won’t feel burdened calling Sarang out anytime, anywhere.’

He was probably talking about the possibility of calling him out during a match. A maximum of 120 minutes, and if you include travel time, a maximum of 160 minutes. Florian would likely endure the 160 minutes instead of calling Sarang out during a match.

But Florian’s aide was different. As soon as Bailey noticed Florian’s unusual symptoms, he would either request a leave of absence from the club or use every possible method to get Sarang off the field. Bailey’s actions weren’t wrong. Sarang had married Florian for that very reason. To be of help in healing Florian, who couldn’t remember anything except for one season a year.

‘Isn’t soccer life itself to Sarang?’

‘Does that… become a problem?’

‘Four matches in two weeks. The league schedule is quite tight.’

‘…….’

‘How do you feel about missing four matches in two weeks to take care of my heat?’

‘I was relieved. That I could be of help to Rian.’

‘You know that’s not what I’m asking, Sarang.’

‘…….’

‘To Sarang, soccer is the time you’ve built up until now, and the time you’ll continue to build in the future. The first thing you see when you open your eyes is a soccer ball, there’s almost nothing in your house that isn’t related to soccer, and you love the daily routine of starting your day with club fans greeting you warmly when you step outside. You must have worked hard and whipped yourself harshly to obtain that daily life.’

‘Rian, you’re right. When I was struggling, when I was sad, and when I was happy, I could fully find and maintain myself by kicking a ball. It’s still the same now.’

‘Do you not regret marrying me?’

‘Rian.’

‘Yes, Sarang.’

‘I really like soccer. It’s fun, and if I could, I’d want to play as a soccer player my whole life. On the other hand, I also know that soccer isn’t everything in my life. The people who believe in and support me when I’m nothing, the people who trust and support me in any situation, the person who will stay by my side to the end even if I make the worst mistake.’

Colin naturally came to mind, but Sarang didn’t show his sad feelings.

‘My joy comes from things like that. It’s okay if my skills don’t improve, if I lose a match I could have easily won, and if problems outside of soccer keep following me. What I’m most afraid of is disappointing and saddening them. When I’m so tired and pained that I don’t want to see a soccer ball, or even the smallest thing related to soccer, a single small word of encouragement from the people who believe in, support, and wait for me has brought me this far. It helped me not to lose the joy I feel while playing soccer. It’s okay if those people turn their backs on me one by one because of my mistakes, or because of some misunderstanding. A single person who stays by my side and believes in me to the end is enough to be my driving force.’

‘That one person must have been Colin for Sarang.’

Sarang smiled faintly, happy that Florian understood his heart.

‘Rian, then I’ll try. I’ll prove it really hard. That I’m a player they can be okay with liking. That they can enjoy themselves watching my soccer, and I’ll use their enjoyment as nourishment to grow my own joy. I don’t want to live my whole life alone, just rolling a soccer ball around.’

Sarang, who hesitated for a moment, added a question.

‘Rian, you feel sorry for me, don’t you?’

A smile appeared in Florian’s lake-like eyes, as if he was thinking about something.

‘Yes, Sarang. It was hard to see you being attacked by the media, becoming an irresponsible player because of my heat. Though I’m sure it wasn’t as hard as it was for Sarang, who experienced it directly.’

‘But that was my choice. Rian doesn’t have to be sorry.’

‘What if I’m sorry anyway, Sarang?’

‘Then please say you’re sorry. You just have to hold me tight and say you’re sorry.’

Florian, who was sitting side-by-side on the sofa and gazing at Sarang, smiled and stretched out both his hands.

‘Alright, Sarang.’

‘…….’

‘I’m sorry. Very much so.’

In the warm embrace, Sarang smiled brightly without Florian knowing.

“What’s the date today?”

“It is May 21st. It is the same in Canton City, Boss.”

“When was Sarang’s last heat?”

“It was October 23rd of last year.”

“It came right after my heat ended. Is October 23rd of last year Sarang’s original heat date?”

“No, Boss. According to the records, it was moved up by a month.”

“That was likely my influence. Was there a precedent for that?”

“Research on the heats and imprinting of manifested individuals is still ongoing. There may be cases if we look. I will investigate and report back.”

Florian, who was sitting in a chair and thinking deeply about something, tapped the desk with his fingertips. Tap, tap.

Florian, who had slept like a log for four days after finishing a heat he didn’t even remember, was only able to think of Sarang after he had come to his senses a little. Even when he was moving to the mansion where Sarang lived alone, he had not expected that Sarang would also be in heat.

Even though he had spent his heats only with suppressants after becoming an adult, Sarang’s cycle was precisely regular. He asked Bailey for confirmation, but it was a fact Florian knew as well.

“Then his heat could be on the 23rd of this month, or the 23rd of next month.”

“Yes, Boss. If we calculate based on the cycle that was moved up last October, it’s this month, and if we calculate based on his original cycle, it’s next month.”

“That varies for each manifested individual, so we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Florian, who had muttered in a low voice, signed the last document and stood up.

“Let’s depart.”

Florian had cleared both this month’s and next month’s heat dates for Sarang just in case. He had visited New York briefly for business discussions. Although his schedule had been shared, Bailey, who had not been informed of the exact reason, hid his inner displeasure.

He had taken out precious time twice because of Sarang’s heat. Of course, Florian was simply being faithful to the contract, but Bailey was not fond of getting entangled with Kim Sarang. Nevertheless, Bailey, the loyal secretary, led the way and guided Florian.

“Another flight? It feels like I’m on these more than I’m on the field.”

The only response to Miller’s complaint from behind was the small echo from the wide, continuous plaster wall.