1 Week later
Suddenly, Kai's mother's voice interrupted the quiet exchange, her concern evident as she stood off to the side, watching him closely.
"Kai..." she said softly, her tone filled with worry.
"I know how badly you want to become a professional soc- I mean football player, but you need to take care of yourself, too."
Her eyes searched his face, full of motherly concern.
"Don't push yourself too hard, okay? You're not Superman."
Kai paused, uncertainty flickering in his eyes.
He wanted to reassure her, but the words caught in his throat.
Finally, he offered her a tired smile, trying to reassure her.
"I'll be careful, Mom." The words were technically the truth, since he had guessed that the system wouldn't want to harm the user, especially when it had nothing to gain from him.
But he knew she wouldn't understand if he told her about the strange floating screen.
It would only make him seem crazy.
His mother sighed softly, her expression softening, though the worry lingered in her gaze.
She stepped closer, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Just remember, I'm here for you, alright?"
Kai nodded, feeling the weight of her love, even if he couldn't tell her the whole truth.
His younger sister, Hana, tugged at his hand, her bright eyes full of hope.
"Big brother, don't work too hard! I want to play with you!" she said with a laugh, her innocence shining through.
Kai chuckled and bent down to ruffle her hair. "I promise, Hana. We'll play soon. Just let me rest for a bit, okay?"
Hana's face lit up with a wide grin, clearly satisfied with his answer.
His mother gave him one last concerned glance before her lips curled into a soft smile.
"Alright, now go wash up. Dinner's ready. Then get some rest." she urged, her voice gentle but firm.
Kai nodded, grateful for her care. He smiled back at her, though the exhaustion weighed heavily on him.
Still, knowing that his family cared for him was a comfort, even if he couldn't share the full burden of what was happening.
"Alright." he replied.
With a final glance at his mother and Hana, Kai made his way to the bathroom, the sound of their quiet chattering slowly drowning under the water.
The cold water helped to wash away some of the physical fatigue.
Dinner was simple—rice, stir-fried vegetables, and grilled chicken.
His mom had a way of stretching what little they had, turning it into something filling.
But Kai didn't mind, having grown accustomed to instant noodles being his daily go-to meal in his previous life.
Hana's laughter filled the room as she chattered away between bites.
His mom asked about his day, and Kai's answers were earnest, savoring this peaceful moment.
He found himself grateful for the comfort of these small moments, these tiny slivers of normal life that kept him grounded.
It was the only thing that made everything else feel like it might still be within reach.
After dinner, Kai moved to help clear the table, but his mom shooed him away with a playful flick of her hand.
"Go rest." she insisted, her tone half-joking.
Kai gave a tired chuckle, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
He nodded, his shoulders sagging with the weight of the day's exhaustion, and retreated to his room.
His room was small—barely big enough for his bed and a makeshift desk piled high with old textbooks and worn notebooks filled with scribbled football plays and strategies.
The posters of his favorite football players, faded and peeling at the edges, clung to the walls like ghosts of his childhood dreams.
Kai sat on the edge of the bed, leaning back and staring at the ceiling.
The soft glow of the streetlamp outside filtered through the thin curtains, casting faint, shifting shadows across the room.
It felt almost peaceful in its stillness, but beneath the surface, there was a quiet restlessness that gnawed at him, a reminder of the goals he was chasing.
For a moment, he closed his eyes, letting the quiet of the room wash over him.
He needed rest. But the quiet hum of the world outside his door reminded him of everything still left to do.
Tomorrow would be another day of training.
Another day of fighting for a future that seemed so far out of reach.
And yet, as exhaustion pulled at his limbs, Kai couldn't help but feel the faintest glimmer of excitement at the thought.
He was closer than ever before.
------⚽------
The next days passed in a similar way.
Kai's mornings were filled with training.
He would wake up early and, after a quick breakfast with his mom and Hana, grab his ball and head for the nearby park.
His movements were stiff at first, but as the hours wore on, the sweat on his brow started to feel like a badge of honor.
Each shot, each juggle, each push-up—his mind slowly adapted to his new body, his muscles remembering what they needed to do.
The first few days were tough. His body was sore, especially in the beginning.
Every sprint felt like a challenge, every touch of the ball a little clumsy.
But there was something undeniably satisfying about it all—the repetition, the drive, the grind.
The system's mission was simple but efficient, it pushed him to give his best.
And with every passing day of training, Kai could feel a gradual improvement.
The soreness lessened. The fatigue didn't hit as hard. The drills became a little easier, and his focus sharpened.
He could sense himself becoming a little faster, a little more in control.
He wasn't yet great, but he was getting there.
At night, after training, Kai would take a break and play with Hana.
Her energy was boundless, her laughter the perfect antidote to the strain of training.
Sometimes they'd just kick the ball back and forth, while other times, Kai would chase her around the house, trying—and failing—to catch her.
It was a simple joy, but it always reminded him of what he was working for.
Hana was his rock, his reminder that all this hard work, all these hours of sweat, meant something.
After that, he'd rest, lying on his back, staring up at the ceiling.
He was training, he was improving, and soon—he would earn his reward.
As the week went by, Kai's excitement grew.
Each day, the training became easier.
His body was adapting, his muscles growing accustomed to the repetitive motions.
The aches and pains were fading, and with them, his lingering frustration was fading too.
His focus was sharper. His footwork was smoother. And the ball? It felt lighter with every touch.
The mission became a constant in his day, something he could always rely on. It wasn't glamorous, it wasn't fancy, but the sense of progress was tangible.
Ding!
Finally, at the end of the week, Kai had completed his daily missions. He stood alone in the middle of the field, his body tired but satisfied, and the system pinged.
--------------------
[Congratulations, you have completed your Quest!]
[Quest "Breakthrough" Complete.]
[Calculating Rewards...]
Rewards:
- A-Grade Potential Enhancing Elixir
- Bronze-tier Lottery Ticket
- 10 Supreme Points
--------------------
A small notification appeared in his mind, and Kai felt a rush of excitement wash over him.
He stretched, feeling the exhaustion in his limbs, but also the pride in how far he'd come in just a week.
There was still so much left to do, so much more he needed to achieve, but now it was clear: this was only the beginning.
Kai couldn't wait to see where this path would lead.
As he analyzed the rewards for his quest, he slowly reached out his hand to...