Tobi woke to birdsong and a headache.
The contract was still on the desk, its paper folded like a sacred pact. His signature was now part of it—a stroke of ink that tethered him to destiny. Sporting CP Pro Youth Contract. His name printed neatly at the top.
But no one told him that success could be so... heavy.
---
A Quiet Celebration
His mother and Leonor arrived at the academy later that morning, just after breakfast.
"Where is he?" Marta Oliveira asked, her voice proud, her eyes scanning the training ground.
Leonor spotted him first and dashed through the grass. "TOBI!!"
He caught her mid-run and spun her around, her giggles slicing through the morning air. For a brief moment, Tobi forgot everything—the pressure, the numbers, the eyes always watching.
"You did it," his mother said, eyes glistening. "We're proud of you."
Tobi's throat tightened. "It's just the beginning."
"No," she said firmly. "It's a second life. And this time, we do it right."
They sat together in the canteen, just the three of them, over orange juice and toasted bread. Leonor munched on a croissant like it was a luxury dessert, while Tobi stared at his new monthly salary breakdown.
> €3,200 per month.
€10,000 signing bonus.
10% to his mother as official agent.
Taxes, team fines, and agent cuts were already calculated in the system.
He'd barely seen this much money in his last life… not even at his "peak".
"Now we can move," Marta said, holding his hand. "Maybe even get Leonor her own bed."
Tobi tried to smile.
He wanted to be happy. But beneath it all was guilt—a shadow that still whispered from the bridge where he once ended it all.
---
System Activation
Later, when he was alone in the dorms, he opened his stats again.
> [FOOTBALL SYSTEM – PLAYER PROFILE]
Name: Tobi Oliveira
Age: 16
Position: CM / CAM
Status: Pro Contract Signed
STATS
Dribbling: 78
Passing: 82
Vision: 85
First Touch: 80 ↑
Stamina: 75 ↑
Strength: 69 ↑
Acceleration: 82 ↑
Sprint Speed: 77 ↑
Composure: 85 ↑
Decision Making: 88
Mental
Confidence: 75 ↑
Ambition: 93 ↑
Resilience: 90 ↑
Emotional Control: 69 ↑
Traits
Snap Vision
Calm Core
Derby Mindset
New Trait Detected:
— "Family Anchor"
Performance increases when playing for family-related motivation
Reputation: National (Portugal – U19 Tier)
Market Value Estimate: €160,000
Team Role Update: "Core Midfield Prospect"
Next Milestone: Sporting B-Team Call-up
Tobi sighed.
The numbers were rising.
But would it be enough?
---
Pressure Behind the Curtain
His phone buzzed again.
This time, it wasn't from his mother or sister.
It was from his former coach in Madeira, someone who'd once believed in him, until the failure in his past life shattered that bond.
> Coach Vasco:
"So you finally got the contract. Just remember—they love you now, but one bad season and they won't remember your name. Keep fighting."
Cold. Real. True.
Tobi didn't reply.
Instead, he went to the training pitch, long after the others had gone in. The sun was dipping below the hills, casting orange light across the empty field.
He worked.
Passing drills. Sprint drills. Long-range vision drills.
His feet bled. His legs trembled. But his heart?
His heart beat like a war drum.
---
Late-Night Talk
That night, back in his dorm, he had a video call with his mother.
"Leonor's asleep," Marta said. "She asked if you can take her to a game soon. Not yours—she wants to see Ronaldo."
Tobi laughed. "Tell her I'll buy the tickets."
"And you?" his mother asked, more gently now. "Are you okay?"
"I'm tired."
"Emotionally?"
Tobi paused. "Yeah."
She nodded. "I know this game. I know how cold it gets once the lights turn off. I'll keep the money safe, okay? You just play. Don't lose yourself."
He stared at her through the screen. His mother—now his agent, once just a working-class cleaner, now navigating agents, scouts, and contracts like a woman on fire.
"I love you, Mama," he said, voice cracking.
"I love you too, filho."
---
Ending the Day
Tobi lay in bed that night, body sore, heart raw.
A ping from the system lit up his vision.
> New Goal Available: "Be Selected for Portugal U17 National Squad"
– Bonus Reward: 2 Trait Points
– Market Value Potential: €300,000
Do You Accept This Goal?
Y/N
He didn't even hesitate.
Yes.
Then he closed his eyes and let sleep take him—not in despair like in his past life, but in hope.
---