The locker room buzzed with noise—cleats clacking against tiles, the sharp scent of muscle rub, the low thud of balls being bounced against the floor. Vihaan sat quietly at the edge of the bench, tying his laces, fingers moving methodically. The polished studs gleamed under the flickering fluorescent light.
His heart beat steady, not racing. Not like before.
Something had changed.
"Alright, boys! Practice match today," Trainer Müller barked, striding into the room with his clipboard. "I want to see effort. I want to see discipline. And I want to see who actually gives a damn out there."
A murmur went through the squad. Practice matches were more than just routine—they were tests. One bad day and your minutes next week disappeared. For Vihaan, every touch mattered.
As the team jogged onto the pitch, the turf bounced lightly beneath Vihaan's boots. The air was crisp, the sky a bright cobalt dome above. He took a deep breath—grass, sweat, rubber, anticipation.
Coach split the squad. Vihaan was on the second team, the 'underdogs'. Leon was on the first. Of course.
The whistle blew.
The ball snapped into motion.
The early minutes were chaos. Players barked orders, passes flew, tackles came sharp and sudden. Vihaan didn't rush. He watched.
When the ball finally rolled to him near the wing, instinct took over. One touch to control. Another to push it forward. He could feel the difference—the cleaner connection, the quicker reflex.
He darted past his marker, cut inside, and flicked a pass through two defenders. Clean. Crisp.
"Nice ball!" someone shouted behind him.
But they didn't score. The shot went wide. No celebration, no noise. Just the sound of the ball thudding against the advertisement board.
Still, the coach had seen that. Vihaan could tell. Müller's eyes had flicked up for a second longer than usual.
That was enough. For now.
Midway through the first half, Vihaan found himself face-to-face with Leon.
1v1.
A practice match, sure—but this was more. This was about respect. About proving he belonged.
Leon grinned. "Let's see what your system magic really did."
Vihaan didn't speak.
The ball zipped to him. One feint left. Leon didn't bite.
Second feint—then a real push to the right.
Leon stayed with him.
They raced shoulder to shoulder down the sideline, cleats grinding into turf. Vihaan managed half a yard of space, enough to whip in a low cross.
It was cleared.
But again, the pass had been dangerous. Close.
Leon jogged past him, nodding slightly. "Not bad," he muttered, just loud enough for Vihaan to hear.
By the second half, the score was 2-0.
Vihaan's team was losing. Deservedly.
They weren't as sharp. They weren't as fast. And even though Vihaan was playing better than he ever had, he wasn't a miracle. Not yet.
And that was okay.
In the 58th minute, Vihaan got his chance. The ball broke loose just outside the box. He pounced.
One touch to settle. Defender closing in. A flick with his toe, dragging it wide.
Then the shot.
It wasn't perfect—but it was powerful.
The keeper dived.
The ball crashed against the post.
Groans.
Cheers.
Mixed reactions.
But Trainer Müller stood up from his seat.
Vihaan jogged back, chest heaving. He didn't look at the coach.
He didn't have to.
After the final whistle, as players shuffled off the field, Müller called out. "Singh."
Vihaan paused, heart suddenly jumping. "Yes, coach?"
Müller nodded slowly. "You've improved."
"Thank you, sir."
"Don't thank me yet. One good day isn't enough. Football's not about moments. It's about consistency."
Vihaan nodded.
"I want to see this again next week. Show me this isn't a fluke."
"I will."
Müller turned away.
Leon appeared beside him a moment later, sweat dripping down his brow.
"You're not there yet," he said.
Vihaan gave a half-smile. "I know."
"But you're coming."
And that—coming from Leon—meant more than any system notification.
That night, Vihaan lay in bed, limbs aching, mind buzzing.
He hadn't won.
He hadn't scored.
But he had played. Truly played.
The system blinked softly into view.
[Task Complete: PROVE YOUR WORTH]Reward Unlocked: +3 Overall Rating+3 to a Random Stat: [Dribbling +3] System Points: +100
[New Overall Rating: 45 → 48]
Pace- 61(+3)
Stamina- 56(+3)
Strength- 46(+3)
Jumping- 47(+3)
Dribbling- 57(+6)
Passing- 51(+3)
Shooting- 46(+3)
Defending- 39(+3)
Vision- 46(+3)
Composure- 47(+3)
Awareness- 45(+3)
Work Rate- 58(+3)
He smiled faintly. He was now better than most of the players in the team.
Tomorrow, he'd check the shop.
Tomorrow, he'd train harder.
But tonight, Vihaan allowed himself a simple truth:
He belonged.