Morning sunlight filtered through the thin curtains as Tobi Oliveira stirred from a restless sleep. His body ached, not from one single match, but from the culmination of weeks filled with sprints, tackles, studying, and traveling. He rolled over and glanced at his phone.
04:52 AM
> [SYSTEM UPDATE – Daily Optimization Routine Active] Physical Recovery: 78% Mental Fatigue: 61% Confidence Points: +4 (Yesterday's Training Bonus)
He groaned, then slowly sat up. His Valencia first-team responsibilities were only getting more intense. At 17, he was already under a microscope. Being one of the youngest starting midfielders in La Liga came with both glory and unrelenting pressure.
But there was school, too. Classes, projects, and exams. He had promised his mother, Amália, that he would finish high school despite making it pro.
So every morning began before the sun rose.
---
Training Ground Tension
At the training ground, the Valencia squad was already gathered for morning stretches. The warm-up had changed in tone over the past few weeks. With Valencia pushing for a top-six finish, the competition was fierce.
Coach Baraja walked past the players with his usual firm demeanor, stopping briefly to clap a hand on Tobi's shoulder.
"We need you sharp today, Oliveira. Control the rhythm."
Tobi nodded. "I'm ready."
> [SYSTEM BOOST: Training Focus Mode – ON] Agility: +2 Passing Vision: +4 Tactical Awareness: +3 (Temporary Bonus)
As drills began, Tobi took every run, touch, and pass seriously. He didn't want to just blend in—he wanted to dominate. Even if his System stats had been adjusted downward after his youth team graduation, his mentality hadn't changed.
Throughout the session, he executed two assists in the scrimmage, made a critical interception, and completed 94% of his passes.
Baraja clapped loudly. "That's how you earn your place!"
---
Classroom and Chaos
By noon, he was back in his school uniform, walking into class at the international academy in Valencia. Some classmates gave him respectful nods, while others whispered and chuckled behind his back.
He wasn't new to it. Being a professional footballer made him both admired and resented. And teachers? They were divided. Some bent over backward to accommodate his schedule; others demanded more from him, to prove he wasn't coasting.
Tobi found his seat and opened his notebook.
"Mr. Oliveira," said Ms. García, his Literature teacher. "Since you missed yesterday's lesson, would you like to present your essay now?"
He stood, swallowed his nerves, and began.
---
Sister's Support
That evening, the Oliveira apartment was buzzing with energy. Leonor had returned from her own training session with Valencia's youth women's team, practically bouncing.
"Tobi! Coach says I might travel with the U-14s to Barcelona for the invitational cup!"
He gave her a playful noogie. "You're becoming a real star, Leonor. Just remember who taught you those stepovers."
She stuck out her tongue. "You? Please. I taught myself."
Their mother, Amália, watched with a warm smile from the kitchen. She had transitioned fully into being Tobi's agent, balancing media requests, endorsements, and contract reviews.
"Tobi," she called out. "We need to go over the image rights clause Valencia added."
He walked over, grabbed a water bottle, and nodded. "I trust you, mãe."
"Still, you should know the business side. It's your life. Your career."
He looked at her and Leonor, feeling the rare calm of a complete family. Something he hadn't appreciated enough before.
> [SYSTEM ALERT – Emotional Anchor Detected: FAMILY] Mental Recovery Boost: +6%
---
Match Prep
Later that night, Tobi reviewed footage of their upcoming opponents—Villarreal. The midfield was known to be rough, physical, and aggressive.
> [SYSTEM TACTICAL ANALYSIS UNLOCKED] Villarreal Defensive Line: High Pressure Key Weakness: Slow Right-Back Transition Recommended Action: Third-man runs from deep
Tobi studied for over an hour, mentally preparing for how he would position himself as a CAM, how he'd drop between lines, when to release the ball.
The system showed his current stats:
> PLAYER STATS Name: Tobi Oliveira Position: CAM (Central Attacking Midfielder) Age: 17 Club: Valencia CF (First Team)
Dribbling: 81
Vision: 85
Short Passing: 87
Long Passing: 79
Shooting: 76
Stamina: 72
Strength: 65
Tactical Awareness: 80
Composure: 83
> Overall: 81 (Pro Level)
He closed the interface.
---
Late Night Reflection
Lying in bed, Tobi stared at the ceiling. Every day was a grind. But this time, the grind had meaning. He had been given a second chance at life, at football, at family.
And he wasn't going to waste a second of it.
> [SYSTEM: END OF DAY REPORT] XP Earned: +72 Confidence Points: +5 Tactical Insight Unlocked
Tomorrow, the world would watch. But tonight, Tobi just needed to sleep.