Chapter 21 : Walk Around Manchester

July 12, 2015

A month had passed since Nico's first training session with Manchester City. Over the past few weeks, he had been working relentlessly to adapt to the Premier League's fast-paced, physically demanding style of play. With the help of his teammates and Pep Guardiola's guidance, he had grown more accustomed to the tactical demands, pressing intensity, and physical duels that defined English football.

Now, he was sitting on the couch in Guardiola's villa, playing with Valentina. The seven-year-old was giggling as she tried to steal the ball from him. Nico, with his quick feet, kept rolling it away at the last moment, making her more determined.

"Stop teasing her," Maria said with a smirk, watching from the other side of the room.

"I'm helping her develop her pressing instincts," Nico joked. "She's got potential."

Valentina puffed her cheeks. "I'll get it this time!"

With all her might, she lunged at the ball again. This time, Nico let her take it, and she celebrated as if she had just won the Champions League.

Christina walked in at that moment, shaking her head with a smile. "Dinner will be ready soon," she said before glancing at Valentina. "And don't let Nico fool you too much, alright?"

Valentina grinned. "I won, Mama!"

Marius, sitting nearby, laughed. "Yeah, because he let you win."

Valentina stuck her tongue out at her older brother, making everyone laugh. Nico leaned back on the couch, smiling. It had only been a month, but he already felt at home.

Nico smiled as Valentina climbed onto the couch beside him, still holding the ball tightly as if she had just won a great battle.

"So, what do I win?" she asked, grinning up at him.

"Hmm, let's see…" Nico pretended to think for a moment before tapping his chin. "How about I teach you a secret trick?"

Valentina's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Really?! What kind of trick?"

Nico leaned in as if he was about to share the most top-secret football move in the world. "It's called the Cruyff Turn," he whispered. "My grandfather made it famous."

She gasped. "Can I do it too?"

"Of course!" Nico chuckled. "You just need to practice a lot. Here, I'll show you."

He grabbed a smaller ball and placed it in front of them. Slowly, he demonstrated the movement, explaining each step in a way Valentina could understand. She watched carefully, her small legs trying to mimic the move.

Marius, who was watching from the other side of the room, smirked. "You're creating a monster, Nico."

Nico laughed. "Better start preparing yourself, Marius. In a few years, she might nutmeg you."

Valentina giggled proudly. "Yes! I'll be better than Marius!"

Maria, who had been casually scrolling through her phone, looked up with an amused expression. "You two are really bonding, huh?"

Nico shrugged. "She's got talent. Who knows? Maybe she'll be the next great footballer in the family."

Valentina beamed, hugging the ball tightly. "Then you have to train me every day!"

"Deal," Nico said, ruffling her hair.

Christina called from the kitchen, "Dinner's ready!"

Valentina jumped off the couch and ran toward the dining room, still carrying the ball. Nico stretched his arms and stood up, following behind with a warm smile. Life in Manchester was turning out to be better than he expected.

_____________

As they sat around the dinner table, laughter and conversation filled the room. Valentina, as usual, had claimed her favorite spot—right on Nico's lap. She giggled as he carefully fed her, occasionally making faces to make her laugh. She adored Nico because he always made time for her, playing games and teaching her little tricks. 

Guardiola, watching the interaction fondly, took a sip of his wine before asking, "So, Nico, tomorrow's a rest day. Any plans?" 

Nico, cutting a small piece of chicken for Valentina, nodded. "I was thinking of just walking around Manchester. I haven't really explored much since I got here." 

Maria's eyes lit up. "I can take you around! You're new here, so it makes sense for someone who actually knows the city to show you around." 

Nico turned to Christina for confirmation. "Is that alright?" 

Christina smiled warmly. "Of course! That's a great idea. Maria knows all the best spots." 

Marius smirked. "Just don't let her drag you into any boring shopping trips." 

Maria rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. Like I'd waste my time on that." Then she turned back to Nico. "We'll start in the morning, so be ready." 

Nico chuckled. "Got it." 

Valentina, who had been quietly listening, suddenly pouted. "Can I come too?" 

Maria laughed. "Not this time, princess. Maybe next time." 

Valentina crossed her arms. "Hmph. Fine. But you have to bring me something!" 

Nico smiled and ruffled her hair. "Deal." 

The family continued chatting over dinner, with Nico feeling more at home with every passing day.

_______

After dinner, Nico and Valentina sat on the couch, watching highlights of Manchester City's past games. Valentina, despite her young age, listened intently as Nico explained different tactics in a simple way she could understand. He pointed at the screen, showing her how players positioned themselves, how spaces were created, and how passes could break defensive lines. She nodded along, fascinated, even if some of it went over her head.

Meanwhile, in the dining area, Maria helped her mother clean up. As they carried the dishes into the kitchen, Christina suddenly turned to her daughter with a knowing smile.

"So, Maria," she started casually, rinsing a plate, "do you like Nico?"

Maria, caught completely off guard, nearly dropped the dish she was holding. Her face turned red as she looked at her mother in shock. "M-Mamá! Why are you asking that all of a sudden?"

Christina chuckled at her reaction, clearly enjoying her daughter's flustered state. "I just noticed the way you look at him, and how eager you were to show him around tomorrow."

Maria opened her mouth to protest, but then she paused, thinking. After a few seconds, she sighed and nodded. "He's… really kind to everyone. He's smart, always works so hard, and—" she hesitated for a second before continuing softly, "he looks so handsome… especially his eyes."

Christina smiled warmly, drying her hands with a towel. "That's true. His eyes are really special."

Maria quickly turned away, trying to focus on stacking the plates. "But it's not like that, Mamá! I just admire him, that's all."

Christina smirked knowingly but didn't push further. "Alright, alright. Just make sure you enjoy tomorrow, hmm?"

Maria nodded, still flustered, while Christina simply smiled to herself, amused by her daughter's reaction.

________

The next morning, as always, Nico woke up early and went through his rigorous morning routine. He started with yoga, followed by an hour of jogging, then hit the gym for strength training before finishing with his usual free-kick practice. By the time he was done, the rest of the household had just started to wake up. 

At 8:30, he stepped into the shower, letting the warm water relax his muscles. Today was a rest day—no training, no strict schedules—so he decided to dress differently than usual. After drying off, he chose a sleek white T-shirt and layered it with a black leather jacket. He paired it with fitted denim pants, adding a subtle touch of style. Around his neck, he wore a silver chain with a small Barcelona logo as the pendant—a reminder of his past and where he had come from. For accessories, he wore a black watch with dark green straps, a simple yet elegant detail. 

Once he was satisfied with his look, he combed his silky black hair neatly, letting it fall naturally. His emerald green eyes, framed perfectly by his sharp features, stood out even more. He gave himself one last glance in the mirror before heading downstairs. 

As he walked into the living room, Marius and Valentina were already there. The moment they saw him, they froze. 

Marius blinked. "Whoa." 

Valentina's eyes widened in amazement. "Nico… you look like a prince!" she gasped, her tiny hands covering her mouth. 

Nico laughed at their exaggerated reactions. "Come on, I don't look that different," he said, sitting on the couch. 

Marius shook his head. "You do. You've only worn joggers and T-shirts since you got here. I forgot you could dress like this." 

Nico just smirked and shrugged, picking up Valentina and placing her on his lap. As they sat there, he continued chatting with her, keeping her entertained while waiting for Maria to arrive.

_________

A few minutes later, Maria walked into the living room, adjusting the strap of her black purse. 

She was wearing a white T-shirt layered with a black leather jacket, just like Nico. Her denim pants fit perfectly, highlighting her tall and athletic figure. Her dark brown hair was tied up in a neat bun, making her features stand out more. 

The moment she entered, she paused, eyes slightly widening as she looked at Nico. Then, her lips curled into a small smile. 

"We match," she said with a chuckle. 

Nico glanced at her outfit, then at his own, before laughing. "I guess we do." 

Marius looked between them and smirked. "Did you guys plan this or something?" 

Maria rolled her eyes. "Obviously not." 

Valentina, still sitting on Nico's lap, clapped her hands excitedly. "You look like a cool couple!" she said with a big grin. 

Maria coughed, a faint pink tint appearing on her cheeks. Nico just shook his head with a smile. "Alright, let's go before Marius and Valentina start saying more weird things." 

Maria nodded, quickly regaining her composure. "Yeah, let's get going." 

As they headed toward the door, Christina and Pep happened to pass by. Christina took one look at them and smirked knowingly, while Pep raised an eyebrow. 

"Nice outfits," Pep remarked, amusement clear in his voice. 

Christina just nudged Maria lightly. "Have fun," she said, her tone teasing. 

Maria sighed but didn't say anything. She simply grabbed Nico's wrist and pulled him toward the door. 

"Come on, let's go before they start teasing even more." 

Nico chuckled as he followed her out the door.

As they stepped out of the house, a cool breeze greeted them. The sky was overcast but bright, and the temperature was just perfect—not too cold, not too warm.

"Let's walk," Maria suggested. "The weather's nice today."

Nico nodded. "Sounds good."

They strolled through the streets of Manchester, the city alive with people going about their day. Nico took in the sights, noticing the mix of historic and modern architecture, the bustling cafes, and the occasional street performers entertaining passersby.

Their first stop was the Manchester Art Gallery. Maria led the way inside, and Nico followed, taking in the elegant building. The scent of aged wood and fresh paint filled the air, and the soft hum of visitors speaking in hushed tones echoed through the space.

As they walked through the exhibits, Maria spoke. "I used to come here a lot when I was younger. My mom loves art, so she'd bring me and Marius."

Nico glanced at a painting—a stunning landscape with a dramatic sky. "It's nice," he said. "I've never really had the time to visit art galleries much, but I can see why people love it."

Maria tilted her head. "You're not into art?"

"I appreciate it, but I don't know much about it," Nico admitted. "Football took up most of my life, and in my free time, I was usually watching matches or training."

Maria smirked. "Figures. You're a football addict."

Nico chuckled. "Guilty as charged."

They moved to another section where portraits of historical figures were displayed. Maria pointed at one. "That guy looks serious."

Nico studied it. "Probably thinking about his next move in life."

Maria laughed. "Or maybe he's just mad someone stole his food."

Nico shook his head, smiling. "You have a way of making art more entertaining."

They continued walking, talking about different paintings, their meanings, and sometimes just making jokes about the expressions on the portraits.

After about an hour, Maria checked the time. "Alright, next stop. There's a café nearby that has the best pastries."

"Lead the way," Nico said, following her out of the gallery and back into the cool Manchester streets.

Maria smiled knowingly as she placed her order. "One chocolate puff for me," she told the cashier before turning to Nico. "And for you… well, I already know."

The cashier looked at Nico expectantly, waiting for confirmation.

Nico smirked. "Go ahead, then. Let's see if you really do."

Maria turned back to the cashier with confidence. "One black coffee, no sugar."

The cashier nodded, punching in the order, and Nico chuckled. "Impressive. How'd you know?"

Maria crossed her arms. "You don't eat sweets. Marius told me you haven't had any since you were eight. And you seem like the type to drink coffee—plain, no nonsense, just like how you approach football."

Nico nodded. "Fair enough. You pay attention."

"Of course. I always observe interesting people," Maria said with a teasing smile.

They took their order and found a table by the window. Nico sipped his coffee, while Maria took a bite of her chocolate puff, savoring the taste.

"You sure you don't want a bite?" she asked, holding up the pastry temptingly.

Nico shook his head. "Tempting, but no. My nutritionist would kill me if he found out."

Maria rolled her eyes. "You act like one bite would ruin your entire training."

"It's about discipline," Nico said simply. "Once you break a rule, it's easier to do it again."

Maria studied him for a moment before shrugging. "Well, I guess that's why you're at the top."

They sat there, watching the people outside, chatting about random things—football, Manchester, their families. The conversation flowed naturally, and for once, Nico felt like he was just a normal teenager enjoying a day out.

_________

As they strolled around Manchester Cathedral, the cool breeze brushing against them, Maria started opening up about herself. 

"You know, everyone always assumes I'll do something related to football because of my dad," she said, looking up at the intricate architecture of the cathedral. "But I don't think I want that." 

Nico glanced at her, intrigued. "Then what do you want to do?" 

Maria smiled softly. "I want to be a journalist—sports journalism, maybe, but I also love storytelling in general. I like understanding people, seeing the world from different perspectives. I want to travel, write about different cultures, maybe even politics." 

Nico nodded. "That suits you. You observe people well. You caught on to my coffee order, after all." 

She laughed. "That was easy. But yeah, I don't want to be stuck in one place. I want to experience things. Learn. Challenge myself." 

He looked at her with admiration. "That's a good dream. And with your personality, I think you'll be great at it." 

Maria playfully nudged his shoulder. "Thanks, Cruyff. What about you? I mean, besides football. Do you ever think about anything else?" 

Nico smirked. "Football is my life, but… I used to be interested in tech. AI, specifically." 

Maria raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?" 

He nodded. "Yeah. I like efficiency, solving problems. Football is just another way of doing that, but if I wasn't playing, I'd probably be working on AI projects." 

Maria looked at him thoughtfully. "So you're not just a football genius, but also a tech geek?" 

Nico chuckled. "You could say that." 

They continued walking, the conversation flowing effortlessly between them. It was nice, Nico thought, to just talk about things beyond football.

___________

As they walked back toward the house, the sky darkened, and a light drizzle quickly turned into a steady downpour. Maria let out a small gasp as raindrops splattered onto her jacket. 

"Great," she muttered, pulling her jacket tighter around her. 

Nico glanced around and spotted a large tree by the sidewalk. "Come on," he said, gently grabbing her wrist and leading her under its thick branches. 

They stood close together, the leaves shielding them from most of the rain, though a few stray droplets still found their way through. Maria sighed, shaking her head. "I should've checked the weather before we left." 

Nico chuckled. "It's England. Rain is a given." 

Maria laughed. "True." 

For a moment, they stood in comfortable silence, watching the rain pour down. The sound of raindrops hitting the pavement was oddly calming. 

Maria turned to him. "Do you like the rain?" 

Nico thought for a second before nodding. "Yeah. It's peaceful." 

Maria smiled. "Same. There's something about it that just... slows everything down, you know?" 

He nodded again, watching the water droplets slide down the leaves. "Yeah. Like the world takes a pause." 

Maria tilted her head slightly, looking at him. "You always sound so thoughtful when you talk. Were you always like this?" 

Nico smirked. "Maybe." 

Maria shook her head playfully. "Mysterious as ever, Cruyff." 

The rain began to lighten up, turning into a soft drizzle. Maria held out her hand, letting the raindrops hit her palm before looking back at Nico. 

"Ready to run?" she asked. 

He grinned. "Race you." 

Before she could respond, he took off, sprinting through the wet streets. 

"Hey! No fair!" Maria shouted, laughing as she chased after him.

___________________

As the rain finally came to a stop, they stepped out from under the tree and resumed their walk home. The air was crisp, and the streets shimmered under the soft glow of the streetlights reflecting off the wet pavement. 

Maria rubbed her arms and let out a small shiver. "It got colder after the rain," she muttered. 

Without a word, Nico unzipped his black leather jacket and draped it over her shoulders. 

Maria blinked in surprise, looking up at him. "You don't have to—" 

"It's fine," he said simply. "You're cold." 

She hesitated for a moment before pulling the jacket tighter around herself, the warmth from his body still lingering on the fabric. It smelled like his cologne—subtle yet distinct. She bit her lip, hiding a small smile. 

"Thanks," she murmured. 

Nico just nodded, shoving his hands into the pockets of his denim pants as they continued walking. 

The rest of the walk was quiet, but it wasn't an awkward silence—it was comfortable. The kind where words weren't needed. 

When they finally reached the house, Maria slipped off the jacket and handed it back to him.

"Here," she said softly.

Nico took it, but before he could say anything, she smirked. "You know, this whole gentleman thing suits you, Nico."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "It's not a 'thing.' I'm just being me."

Maria raised an eyebrow playfully. "Mm-hmm, sure."

He rolled his eyes, amused, and walked inside. Maria followed, still feeling the lingering warmth of his jacket on her skin.