The sun filtered in through the thin white curtains of the dormitory window. Tobi sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his phone screen. His body ached from yesterday's game, but his mind was sharper than ever.
He was waiting for a message that could change everything.
> System Prompt – New Path Unlocked
⚙️ Based on your recent match performance and scout reviews, you've earned a specialization choice:
Choose Your Midfielder Class:
1. Deep-Lying Playmaker (DLP):
Boosts long passing, vision, and tempo control
Synergizes with tactical leadership roles
2. Box-to-Box Midfielder (B2B):
Enhances stamina, tackling, and late runs into the box
Ideal for relentless pressing and versatility
3. Tactical Controller (TC):
Balanced stats with boosted positioning, interception, and short passing
Designed for orchestrating team shape
Tobi stared at the options. All three matched parts of him — his passing, his pressing, his mind. But only one fit the kind of player he wanted to be.
Someone who shaped games quietly. Controlled rhythm. Made others better.
He chose:
> ✅ Tactical Controller
> System Update:
Specialization path locked in:
Short Passing +3
Interception +2
Tactical Awareness +3
Vision +1
⚠ You must now complete a series of system quests tied to this path to evolve further.
New Quests Available:
"Control the Center" – Dominate midfield over 3 matches
"Break Their Lines" – Complete 5 line-breaking passes
"Shape the Squad" – Raise chemistry rating with teammates
---
Phone Call: The Offer
Just after breakfast, his phone rang. It was Coach Miguel.
"Tobi," he said, voice flat. "You've got five minutes to pack your things."
Tobi froze.
"Wait—does that mean…"
"You're staying. One-year youth contract. Probationary, but paid. You impressed the senior staff. Official documents are on the way. Your mother will need to co-sign."
The breath rushed out of him like a popped balloon. His knees gave out. He sat back on the bed.
"I... I'm staying."
---
Video Call with Family
Marta sobbed as soon as he said the words.
Leonor jumped on the couch like she was bouncing on a trampoline.
"A REAL FOOTBALLER! TOBI IS A REAL FOOTBALLER!"
Tobi couldn't stop smiling, but it was shaky. So much weight fell off his shoulders at once that he felt lightheaded.
Marta wiped her tears and switched to her business voice.
"I'll look through the contract myself. I want to make sure there's no funny clauses."
"You're… still going to be my agent?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Obviously. Who else will protect you from money-hungry clubs? I already googled football contract loopholes at 3 a.m. last night."
He laughed. "You didn't have to—"
"Yes, I did. You're mine before you're theirs."
> System Notification:
🎓 "Agent Buff – Mother's Eye" Activated
Sponsorship Negotiations: +10% trust
Contract Term Awareness: +2 legal clarity
Transfer Clause Detection: Enabled
---
The Contract
The official email came that evening.
> Club: Valencia CF U18
Contract Type: Youth Professional (Probationary)
Base Salary: €3,500/month
Performance Bonus: +€300 per goal contribution
Housing + Meals Provided
Termination Clause: Can be released after 6 months if performance is deemed insufficient
Injury Coverage: Partial
Agent Signature Required: Marta Almeida
Player Signature Required: Tobias Almeida
Marta sat at the table, reading the fine print with a pen in her mouth.
Leonor crawled under the table and popped out the other side with a football sticker album.
"Are you gonna be in this now, Tobi?"
"Maybe next year," he said, chuckling.
He looked at his mom. "Well?"
She nodded. "It's not perfect. But it's real. You work hard, they'll renew it. You get hurt, we fight.
He smiled.
She signed first.
Then he did.
---
System Notification
> 🎉 Contract Signed! 🎉
Welcome to Valencia CF U18
Reputation Unlocked: "Emerging Prospect"
Next Objectives:
Debut in competitive U18 match
Earn a starting spot by Matchday 5
Build chemistry with 3 teammates
Stat Penalty Lifted:
– Youth-to-Pro Transition: Adjusting…
⚠ Stat Reduction Modifier now halved.
Revised Stats:
Passing: 76
Vision: 80
Tactical Awareness: 78
Short Passing: 79
Interception: 70
Current Tier: Tactical Controller – Tier I
---
Later That Night
Alone in bed, Tobi opened a drawer.
Inside was a folded piece of paper—his suicide letter from his past life.
He hadn't looked at it since he arrived.
He unfolded it now. Read each word carefully. Painfully.
And then he reached for a lighter.
He watched it burn, inch by inch, until only ash was left in the metal tray by the window.
This time, he was writing a new story.
With a family behind him.
With scars that still hurt—but a future that glowed.