Tobi Oliveira's ankle was finally healing. The swelling had gone down, and the physiotherapists at Valencia had cleared him for light training. But he still wasn't match-fit. While the rest of the first team prepared for the upcoming La Liga match, Tobi was confined to running drills and ball work.
The hardest part wasn't the physical pain.
It was the absence. The silence of the pitch without his boots cutting through the grass. The rhythm of the game beating without him.
His system interface blinked every morning, quietly updating stats that didn't change much anymore:
> SYSTEM STATUS – TEMPORARY LIMITATIONS Acceleration: 75 (-4) Agility: 78 (-3) Stamina: 70 (-5) Match Readiness: 42%
Tobi stared at the numbers in frustration. He wanted to rip off the bandages and sprint onto the field.
But that would be reckless. And he wasn't the reckless boy from before. Not anymore.
---
A Different Game
Instead, Tobi took to the classroom.
Not school this time—football school.
He studied Valencia's previous matches. Tactical breakdowns. Player movements. Opponent formations. He met with Coach Baraja and sat in on staff meetings.
"Midfield isn't just about passing," Baraja told him, pointing at clips of legendary players. "It's about orchestration. Timing. Awareness. And leading—even when you're injured."
Those words stuck with him.
So Tobi made it his mission to become indispensable off the pitch too.
---
Leonor's Big Day
While Tobi healed, Leonor had her first official friendly match with Valencia's Women Youth Team.
Amália paced nervously on the sidelines. Tobi stood beside her on crutches, watching Leonor jog onto the field with wide eyes and a nervous smile.
The game started clumsily. Leonor fumbled two passes. But Tobi didn't shout. He waited. Observed.
Then it came—the ball cut through midfield, defenders surged forward. Leonor darted between them, latched onto a through ball, and slotted it calmly into the net.
1–0.
She turned to the stands, beaming. Her eyes found Tobi. He clapped slowly, proudly.
Amália wiped her eyes with a tissue.
"She's like you," she whispered.
"No," Tobi said, grinning. "She's better."
> [SYSTEM – FAMILY TIES EVENT COMPLETE] Motivation +10 Emotional Recovery Boost Applied
---
School Pressure
With his injury time increasing his classroom attendance, Tobi's teachers pushed him harder. Midterms approached, and so did stress.
Late-night study. Training at dawn. And tutoring Leonor in math.
His grades, once average, started to climb. Not spectacular, but steady.
> [SYSTEM NOTICE – NEW ATTRIBUTE GAINED] Trait: "Disciplined Learner" Bonus: +5% to all long-term skill growth when balancing education and athletics.
One morning, a guidance counselor called him in.
"I heard you turned down several interviews this week," she said. "And skipped an endorsement shoot."
Tobi nodded. "I had class. And physio."
The counselor smiled. "Most footballers your age would chase the money. You're choosing growth. That's rare."
He left the office thoughtful.
---
Back on the Grass
Three weeks after his injury, Tobi finally returned to the team training session.
The air felt different.
Teammates clapped him back onto the pitch.
Warm-up. Light sprints. Ball work. Passing drills.
Then, in a small-sided game, he slipped a perfect through ball to the striker.
Baraja clapped from the sideline.
> [SYSTEM NOTICE – PERFORMANCE INCREASE DETECTED] Acceleration: 78 Agility: 82 Vision: 89 Passing: 90 Match Readiness: 72%
His stats were coming back. Slowly. Steadily.
But something else returned too.
Joy.
---
High Stakes
Valencia's next match was against Sevilla, and the midfield was thin with injuries. Tobi wasn't expected to start—but he did.
Nerves clawed at his stomach as he stepped into the stadium tunnel. Lights glared. Cameras flashed.
He glanced down.
> [MATCH DAY – STATUS CHECK] Overall: 81 Confidence Level: 87%
He felt ready.
But football was cruel.
Sevilla scored early. Tobi's first touch was clumsy. He was closed down fast.
Second half, he adjusted. Moved deeper. Became the pivot.
In the 78th minute, he intercepted a loose ball, twisted around one marker, and fed an incisive pass to the winger.
Goal.
1–1.
That was the final score.
Baraja gave him a nod post-match. "Good return."
Tobi didn't smile. He wanted more.
---
Offers
The next week, two more brand offers came in: Puma and New Balance.
Amália fielded the calls.
"We need to focus on your long-term brand," she said. "Not just money. Legacy."
Tobi agreed. They held off finalizing anything.
For now.
---
Closing Reflections
That night, Tobi stood in his room, lights dimmed, watching match highlights. His own play. His passes. His near misses.
He pulled up the System.
> OLIVEIRA, TOBI Position: Central Attacking Midfielder
Dribbling: 83 Vision: 89 Short Passing: 90 Long Passing: 85 Shooting: 78 Acceleration: 78 Agility: 82 Composure: 86 Work Rate: 91 Tactical Awareness: 87 Stamina: 78 Strength: 67
Overall: 84
> Traits:
Iron Will
Disciplined Learner
Playmaker's Insight
He closed the interface.
In the hallway, he heard Leonor humming.
He smiled.
Even in the shadow of injury, under the weight of pressure, between school and the spotlight—he still had light.
And he was ready to chase it.
---