A soft breeze drifted through the olive trees lining the outer walls of the Valencia training complex. It was the kind of morning where everything felt suspended in time—the hum of cicadas in the distance, the gentle rustle of leaves, and the thud of a football against the ground.
Tobi Oliveira laced his boots tighter than usual. His legs were sore but alive. Every muscle bore the echoes of the Sevilla match—his comeback match. And even though he hadn't won, even though it wasn't a dazzling return, it was real.
> [SYSTEM STATUS UPDATE] Match Fitness: 84% Confidence Bonus Active Fan Approval: +3%
Coach Baraja had given him a nod that meant more than words: trust.
But trust came with weight.
---
Trial by Fire
Their next fixture was an away match against Atlético Madrid—a top-four side, brutal in the press and disciplined in defense. Tobi wasn't guaranteed a start.
"It depends on how training goes," Coach said. "We'll see how your body holds."
So Tobi pushed himself. Harder than before.
He ran extra laps. Stayed behind after practice to analyze defensive lines and positioning. He went head-to-head with veterans like Gaya in possession drills and studied each mistake he made on film.
Even the system started responding:
> [BONUS ATTRIBUTE GAINED – OBSESSIVE ANALYSIS] +5 Tactical Awareness New Trait Unlocked: "Pattern Breaker" Description: Able to instinctively disrupt defensive shapes after studying opponent movements.
His body ached at night. His mind never rested.
And still, he went to school during the day.
He sat through history exams with ice packs hidden under his jeans and explained algebra to Leonor before bedtime. He ignored the whispers in class from those who recognized him but didn't know how to talk to him anymore.
"You're like... famous," a classmate said once.
"No," Tobi replied, flipping his textbook. "I'm late for bio."
---
Sisters and Storms
Leonor had officially been added to the starting eleven of Valencia's U14 Women's Youth team. Her confidence was blooming like wildflowers after spring rain.
She danced around the living room one night after scoring two goals in a friendly. Amália laughed so hard she spilled popcorn.
"You're becoming the real star," Tobi teased.
Leonor stuck her tongue out. "They even said I might play against Barcelona Youth next month!"
"You're going to destroy them."
But in the back of his mind, Tobi remembered how fame could crush the young. How pressure could break them. He promised himself that no matter how high he climbed, he'd always protect her from that weight.
Always.
---
The Call
The day before the Atlético match, Tobi got a text.
COACH: Starting. You've earned it.
He didn't respond. Not immediately. He sat with it. Let the weight of it press down on his chest. Then he stood and walked onto the balcony.
The city lights of Valencia twinkled like scattered stars. He held his phone up and whispered, "I won't mess this up."
> [MATCH READY STATUS – CONFIRMED] Match Difficulty: HIGH Mental Fatigue: Low
---
Clash in Madrid
Wanda Metropolitano was a fortress.
The crowd was ruthless, deafening. Chants ricocheted through the air. Tobi stood in the tunnel, breathing slowly, his heartbeat matching the pounding drums outside.
"You good?" asked Diakhaby beside him.
Tobi nodded. "Better than good."
Whistle.
Kickoff.
Atlético pressed high, swarming like hornets. Tobi was targeted. Two, sometimes three players collapsed on him every time he touched the ball.
First half: a blur of bruises, blocks, and half-passes.
Coach shouted instructions. "Drop deeper! Move the ball faster!"
Tobi adjusted. He began to rotate out wide, drawing defenders. He used Gaya as a relay, flicking passes behind the press.
Then, in the 53rd minute, the breakthrough came. Tobi received a bullet pass from the keeper, turned on a dime, and split two midfielders with a razor-sharp ball to the winger.
Counter.
Shot.
Goal.
Valencia 1 – Atlético 0.
Tobi didn't celebrate. He sprinted back to position, breathing fire.
The rest of the match was war. Bodies flew. Fouls mounted. Atlético equalized in the 78th. Tobi nearly collapsed from a cramp.
Full-time: 1–1.
A point won, not two lost.
In the locker room, Coach pulled him aside. "You're not just back. You're evolving."
Tobi sat alone later, replaying every touch in his head.
> [SYSTEM UPDATE – FULL MATCH REVIEW COMPLETE] Dribbling: 84 Vision: 90 Stamina: 81 Decision-Making: 88 Trait Progress: Playmaker's Insight (Lv. 2 Unlocked)
---
Media Frenzy
The next day, headlines poured in:
"Tobi Oliveira – The Young General of Valencia"
"Portugal's Next Great Midfield Brain?"
Interviews were requested. Amália declined most of them. "You need quiet. Not noise."
Still, sponsors upped their offers. Puma doubled their initial bid. Adidas joined the chase.
Tobi sat with his mother at the kitchen table. They went over each proposal together.
"It's a lot of money," Amália said. "But we can't sell you too soon."
He agreed. But he couldn't stop thinking about what that money could mean—better training, tutors for Leonor, helping his cousins back in Porto.
Still, he waited.
> [System Notification – Decision Deferred] Long-Term Brand Strategy: +8%
---
Endings and Beginnings
As March gave way to April, Tobi entered a new phase.
No longer a fringe player. No longer just the comeback kid.
He was part of the fabric now.
The pressure grew. Every match brought expectation. Every mistake could be viral.
But as he stood on the training ground one late afternoon, watching the sun sink over the trees, he remembered something old.
The silence before the ball hits your foot.
The stillness before the storm.
And that was home.
> [SYSTEM STATS – CURRENT OVERVIEW]
Name: Tobi Oliveira Age: 17 Position: Central Attacking Midfielder
Vision: 90 Passing: 91 Shooting: 80 Dribbling: 84 Stamina: 81 Acceleration: 78 Strength: 69 Tactical Awareness: 92 Composure: 88 Match Impact Score: 85
Traits:
Iron Will
Disciplined Learner
Playmaker's Insight (Lv. 2)
Pattern Breaker
And this was just the beginning.
--