Tobi Oliveira walked through the bustling halls of the Mestalla Stadium, cleats clacking against concrete, his training bag slung over his shoulder. His thoughts raced faster than his footsteps. Tomorrow's match against Villarreal wasn't just any La Liga game—it was his chance to prove he could dictate a game against a top-tier midfield.
He had reviewed tape, analyzed tactics, but deep down, a sliver of anxiety gnawed at his confidence. For all his preparation, he knew football was still unpredictable.
[SYSTEM DIAGNOSTICS – PRE-MATCH STRESS DETECTED]
Mental State: Slightly Agitated
Suggestion: Meditation Routine – Activate?
"Activate," he muttered quietly.
A soft chime echoed in his earpiece, and calming music began to play. He breathed deep, slowing his pace. The sound of cleats, the faint cheers from the youth match outside, the smell of grass and sweat—it was all familiar, yet every time felt like the first.
He passed the player's lounge. A few of the veterans were gathered around a table, cards in hand, laughing. He nodded at them. They respected him, but he still felt like a boy among men. He was still seventeen.
Inside the locker room, he found a quiet corner, sat down, and closed his eyes. He had learned to anchor himself before games. It wasn't just the System anymore. It was routine. Discipline.
He pulled out a small photo from his bag. It was old and worn: a younger Tobi with his mother and Leonor, smiling at a youth tournament in Lisbon. That memory kept him grounded.
"Vamos," he whispered to himself.
Game Day
By the next evening, Mestalla's 50,000 seats were packed. Orange and black flags fluttered. Chants echoed in unison. The crowd's roar vibrated through Tobi's chest as the teams lined up.
Valencia vs. Villarreal. A fierce rivalry.
Tobi stood in the midfield circle, locking eyes with his opposite number—Álex Baena. Experienced. Dangerous.
[SYSTEM MATCH MODE – ACTIVE]
Target Midfield Control: 70% Minimum
Key Objectives:
2 Key Passes
1 Assist or Goal Involvement
Interceptions: 3+
The whistle blew.
And the war began.
The Battle Within
From the first whistle, Villarreal pressed aggressively. Tobi barely received a pass before two players surrounded him.
In the 12th minute, he lost the ball near the halfway line. Within seconds, it turned into a Villarreal counter and a goal.
0–1.
The crowd groaned.
Baraja barked from the touchline, "Focus! Get back into it, Oliveira!"
Tobi gritted his teeth, checked his System panel subtly.
Confidence Points Lost: -3
Composure: -2 (Temporary)
He had to recover.
Minutes later, he dropped deeper to escape the press. He began to play simple, short passes—drawing Villarreal's press before switching long diagonals. One landed perfectly at the feet of Valencia's winger.
The build-up ended in a goal.
1–1.
The stadium roared.
Key Pass Registered
Tactical Awareness: +2
Confidence: +5
But Tobi didn't celebrate wildly. He tapped his chest, pointed upward, and jogged back to midfield. His game had just begun.
He played like a conductor for the rest of the half, controlling rhythm. He wasn't flashy. He was efficient.
But the second half opened with another Villarreal goal. 1–2.
Tobi pushed harder. Tracked back. Intercepted passes. Fought for loose balls.
In the 79th minute, he found Valencia's striker with a reverse through ball that split the lines.
Goal.
2–2.
Off the Pitch
After the final whistle, he sat in the locker room, towel over his head, frustrated.
His performance had been solid. One assist, three interceptions, and an 83% pass completion. But they didn't win.
"Don't be too hard on yourself," said Valencia captain José Gayà, walking past. "You kept us alive today. Keep growing."
Later at home, his mother, Amália, reviewed a new contract clause sent by a brand wanting to partner with Tobi.
"This one's for a supplement company," she said. "But it's pushing your image too hard. I can reject it."
He thought for a moment, eyes distant.
"Let's keep the focus on football," he said.
Leonor burst into the room. "They picked me! I'm starting for the U-14 cup!"
Tobi grinned and picked her up.
"You're going to score a hat-trick, right?"
She nodded proudly. "Two goals and one assist. Like you!"
[SYSTEM ANCHOR BOOST – FAMILY INTERACTION]
Emotional Stability: +7%
Stress Recovery: +12%
School, Fame, and Growing Pains
Balancing football and school was brutal.
Tobi had classes twice a week, private tutors for the rest. He studied late, often falling asleep on textbooks. Math problems blurred with tactical formations. Literature essays competed with match footage reviews.
Classmates admired him but kept their distance. Fame had drawn a line.
Except for one.
Marta, a quiet girl who always brought extra lunch for him when she noticed he forgot. They didn't talk much, but one afternoon, she offered him her notes for a test he had missed.
"You're not invincible, you know," she had said. "Even superheroes study."
He laughed, and for the first time in weeks, felt normal.
That night, he logged into the System.
[SYSTEM UPDATE – ACADEMIC PROGRESS TRACKER ONLINE]
Schoolwork Completion Rate: 74%
Suggestion: Prioritize Sleep
He sighed.
"I'm doing my best."
Reflection and Resolve
Late into the night, Tobi reviewed his match.
Every missed pass. Every smart run. Every lapse.
POST-MATCH ANALYTICS
Minutes Played: 90
Passes Completed: 64/77
Assists: 1
Interceptions: 4
Dribbles Completed: 3/5
Match Rating: 7.8/10
He updated his System stats:
CURRENT PLAYER STATS
Name: Tobi Oliveira
Position: CAM
Club: Valencia CF (Senior Team)
Age: 17
Dribbling: 82
Vision: 86
Short Passing: 88
Long Passing: 81
Shooting: 76
Stamina: 74
Strength: 66
Tactical Awareness: 83
Composure: 85
Work Rate: 89
Overall: 82
He saw the small upward arrows next to Vision, Passing, and Work Rate. It wasn't glory. But it was growth.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
You have leveled up.
New Passive Unlocked: "Anchor Point – Emotional Recovery Enhanced When Interacting with Loved Ones."
He smiled faintly. Then fell asleep with the screen still glowing beside him.
Tomorrow, he'd wake up and do it all again.