Vs Barcelona (1)

Jerry tied the laces on his soccer boots and took a deep breath before looking around the locker room. A small smile crept onto his face as he observed his teammates, their faces marked with nerves. But unlike them, Jerry wasn't feeling nervous—he was excited. This was the first time he would be playing against opponents who were not only on his level but possibly even better. The challenge thrilled him.

Jester, the team captain, sat in a corner of the locker room with his earbuds plugged in, music playing from his phone. On any other day, he would have been the one calming the team, offering words of encouragement and boosting their confidence. But today was different. He needed to center himself first before he could help the others. His hands tapped lightly on his knees in rhythm with the beat of his music as he tried to steady his breathing.