I rejected the school bully’s confession because of soccer.

The Mediterranean Cup that they were participating in this time.

Kang Tan’s team was in CAT D, which meant the under-12 tournament.

But it would be a big mistake to think the tournament was easy just by looking at that title.

Here, not only the strong teams from Spain but also renowned youth teams from all over the world gathered.

There were many teams that had already proven their skills on the European stage a few years ago.

It also included next-generation aces sent from soccer powerhouses like Brazil or Argentina.

Kang Tan gripped his bag strap tightly.

There was something adult-like about this tournament that made it seem more than just a simple youth competition.

‘There’s nothing to be burdened about. Enjoying is all that matters. That’s how this tournament runs.’

The moment when the coach explained the tournament flashed through his mind.

But he knew this tournament wasn’t simply a place for children to kick a ball and have fun.

It was a stage for each club to discover and verify future stars.

In fact, some players on the team would advance to higher categories based on their performance here.

They would even get the chance to transfer to bigger teams if they caught the eyes of scouts.

‘Except for that CAT D name, this is practically a World Cup.’

The emotion he felt wasn’t an exaggeration.

Now at 8 years old in Korean age, it was more than just facing top-notch 12-year-olds.

It was obvious that they too would do their best with their futures at stake.

A pressure he had never felt before weighed heavily on Kang Tan’s heart.
On the bus heading to the hotel carrying such a Kang Tan.
He was with Lucas beside him.

Lucas was silently listening to music while looking out the window.

An expression mixed with excitement and tension.

How about the other teammates?

‘They’re dozing off.’

Kang Tan smirked.

‘Right, doing well doesn’t always come from being nervous, so don’t doze off and sleep well from now.’

Thinking like that, he tried to soothe his tension, but one side of his chest was still pounding.

The bus headed to the hotel like that.

As they got closer to the hotel, tired children were dozing off with their necks bent.

Kang Tan occasionally looked at his reflection in the window.

‘There’s nothing to be scared of. The message that appeared to me at first said so. That life could be boring.’

It will be a boring, easy game like now.

Even as he tried to persuade himself, a strange burden was gathering deep inside.

As soon as they arrived at the hotel.

“Get your room keys! No one gets a room alone!”

The children rushed at the coach’s shout.

Kang Tan was assigned to the same room as Lucas.

“I’m in the same room as an obsessive like you? Don’t tell me I have to train in the room without rest too?”

Lucas smiled brightly.

“Cramming the day before an exam isn’t bad.”
“That’s something only geniuses like you do.”

After checking in, they unpacked in their respective rooms.

The next morning.

As soon as Kang Tan went down to the restaurant, he squinted momentarily at the bright sunlight pouring over the table.

The restaurant was already noisy.

Teammates lining up to receive the buffet-style breakfast.

Guys staggering with two drinks each.

And Lucas spreading toast in his own rhythm.

“Kang! I saved a seat here!”

Lucas waved his hand and called Kang Tan.

Kang Tan nodded and put some bread, fruit, and scrambled eggs on his plate.

‘It’s not good to overeat before a game.’

Just as he was about to sit down, a small commotion at the next table caught his attention.

“Hey, we’re the kings here.”

The voice was slightly deep, and the accent was strongly Portuguese.

His gaze naturally turned in that direction.

The opponent was a boy with chocolate-like skin and sharp eyes.

‘Benfica youth team uniform.’

They exchanged words like jokes, but there was a unique confidence permeating somewhere.

They seemed to take for granted that their team was a favorite to win this tournament.

“Hey, what are you looking at?”

One of the Benfica boys glared at Kang Tan and said.

Even though it was Portuguese, the vocabulary and grammar were similar enough for mutual understanding.

Kang Tan turned his head, not avoiding their gaze, and said with a light smile.

“Just thought you looked cool.”

At that moment, another child interjected.

“Don’t be like that, he looks like a kid who came along with his older brothers because there’s no one to take care of him at home.”
“But he’s wearing a uniform? What a show-off.”

Kang Tan shrugged and sat down.

‘Hwang Min-chul and Diota are everywhere you go.’

By the way, Benfica.

This team was considered the strongest in their group.

Just last year, they had reached the finals of the Mediterranean Cup.

There were even rumors that some of them were already active beyond their age group.

Kang Tan was enveloped in some uncomfortable emotions but soon shifted his gaze to his plate.

‘Well, we’ll see when we play.’

Lucas talked a lot throughout breakfast.

The characteristics of the opposing team, the tournament videos he saw last year.

He chattered endlessly even about Benfica’s star players.

While listening to those words, Kang Tan kept recalling his own play inwardly.

The conversation he had with the coach a year ago was still vivid in his mind.

‘What you did well is well done. But if you keep trying to solve it alone, that trust might crumble. The spotlight is poured on you, but will the kids who played together take it happily? Or will a strange distance form?’

Although it might not be an exact memory as time passed, the nuance was clearly the same.

‘How should I play this game?’

Kang Tan had a lot on his mind.

He hadn’t felt like he had hit his limits yet.

Ah, of course, there was one thing.

‘Physical.’

Even that, if he hadn’t been so stubborn, he might not have realized it easily.

Since he had never felt the limits of his physical abilities in his previous life, he had never seriously considered it.

On the bus heading to the stadium.

The coach was giving a brief strategy briefing at the front.

The children mostly had excited expressions.

“Hey, Kang.”

Lucas nudged him from the side and said.

“Benfica? Don’t be too nervous. Something always happened when you played.”

Kang Tan nodded at those words.

‘Since when did I get this nervous.’

He had momentarily forgotten that he had appeared in to look down on such pressure.

Let’s not lose the initial mindset.

‘The me in this life will play on the world stage.’

It felt like his complicated feelings were being sorted out.

With a more relaxed mind, Kang Tan took in the scenery flowing past the window.

The blue sky in the warm morning sunlight, and the exotic landscape spread out below.

‘I almost missed this small happiness while being melancholic alone. We’re doing all this to be happy.’

The bus arrived at the stadium entrance.

The exterior was simple, but the interior facilities visible as they passed through the entrance were top-notch.

A small stadium where the group stage games were held.

Nevertheless, the lighting arranged around and the condition of the stadium grass were quite good.

The children grabbed their bags and headed to the stadium as they got off the bus.

Kang Tan looked around slowly.

He could see youth teams from other countries arriving.

Brazil, Portugal, England.

Players wearing team uniforms from each country.

‘They look so fresh and young.’

Their physiques and actions exuded an unfamiliar confidence.

He couldn’t be immersed in nervousness when everyone else had come with confidence.

“Kang, what are you doing? Come quickly!”

Lucas shouted.

Kang Tan nodded and took a step forward.

The team was guided to the locker room.

The children who had been wearing their uniforms since morning chatted amiably.

They didn’t seem too worried as it was the group stage.

A little later, as they were warming up in a corner of the stadium after leaving the locker room.

Cheers and shouts could be heard, perhaps as games were starting in other stadiums too.

Kang Tan made eye contact with his teammates while stretching.

Unlike their relaxed appearance in the locker room, everyone had very tense faces.

At that moment, the coach sitting on the bench called everyone together.

“Alright, everyone focus.”

The coach said while rolling a ball with his hand.

“Benfica is absolutely not an easy team. They might be superior in individual skills, stamina, and organization.”

The children gulped.

“But we have something too. You all remember how hard you’ve worked over the past few weeks, right?”

The children nodded.

The coach continued, looking at Kang Tan for a moment.

“And today, it’s time for us to believe in Kang Tan. Kang, you need to be the core of this team.”

Kang Tan was appointed captain for this game.

The players who were in Alevin A last year naturally had no complaints.

Even the newly joined members seemed to accept it, given the seniors’ acknowledgment and the rumors they had heard.

“But, don’t forget what’s important. Soccer isn’t played alone. Remember teamplay. Trust each other and find empty spaces. That’s our best weapon.”

Kang Tan responded playfully, full of mischief.

“Sure!”

He wanted to ease the tension of the children and didn’t want to show that he was tense himself.

“Good! Since Kang seems relaxed, everyone follow and trust him. Don’t be frozen.”

The coach patted Kang Tan’s shoulder gently with a kind smile.

“I didn’t say the opponent is a strong team to make you scared and shrink. It’s to tell you not to be careless, there’s no need to lose confidence. Understood!”
“Yes!”

The children answered boldly.

And a little later.

The game began.