Chapter 7 : Birthday twins

Nico set up another ball, stepping back with the same calm confidence. The players watched closely, their curiosity turning into anticipation.

He took his stance. Four steps back.

Another run-up. Another strike.

Once again, the ball rose like a normal free kick before violently swerving left, then right, zigzagging unpredictably before smashing into the top left corner.

The reaction was immediate.

"No way!" Busquets muttered, eyes wide. "That shouldn't be possible!"

Nico wasn't done. He grabbed another ball. Another shot. Another goal.

He went again. And again.

Ten more free kicks.

Ten more times the ball danced through the air like it was being controlled by an unseen force.

Ten more times it rocketed into the top corners—left, right, left, right.

He didn't miss once.

The players stood there, jaws practically on the ground.

Neymar turned to Messi. "You seeing this, bro?"

Messi, usually unshaken by anything, just nodded slowly. "Yeah. I'm seeing it."

Even Ter Stegen, one of the best goalkeepers in the world, looked frustrated yet impressed. He shook his head, walking forward with a small smirk.

"Alright, kid," he said, exhaling. "That's ridiculous. What even is that shot?"

Nico just smiled. "I told you. It's called the 'Invisible Hand.'"

Xavi, who had been watching silently, finally spoke. "This... this isn't just a special free kick. This is a weapon."

Neymar walked up to Nico, still staring at the ball like it had just betrayed the laws of physics.

"Okay, bro, I gotta ask—how the hell does the ball move like that?"

The other players gathered around, equally curious. Even Messi and Iniesta looked interested, waiting for Nico's explanation.

Nico smirked, placing his foot on the ball. "It's all about how you strike it."

He pointed at the contact point. "Most free kicks rely on curl, dip, or knuckle movement. But the 'Invisible Hand' is different. I hit the ball slightly off-center with the inside of my foot, but the key is the follow-through. Instead of going straight, I adjust my foot angle at the last moment, creating an inconsistent spin."

Ter Stegen crossed his arms, still frowning. "But even with that, the ball shouldn't move that much in the air."

Nico grinned. "That's where aerodynamics come in. When the ball has just enough spin to stay stable, but not enough to fully rotate, it becomes unpredictable. The air pressure around it keeps shifting, making it swerve left and right mid-flight. That's why you thought you had it covered—only for the ball to change direction at the last second."

Busquets let out a low whistle. "So, you're basically making the ball glitch reality?"

Nico laughed. "Something like that."

Neymar shook his head, chuckling. "Man, I've seen knuckleballs. I've seen curve shots. But this? This is some next-level sorcery."

Iniesta, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke. "You developed this yourself?"

Nico nodded. "Yeah. I've been working on it for years."

The players exchanged glances, impressed. Before anyone could say more, Messi clapped his hands, bringing everyone back to focus.

Messi walked up to Nico, shaking his head in disbelief. "You know, the ball swerving left and right like that is crazy enough. But what surprises me even more…" He paused, looking at the goalpost before turning back to Nico. "Every single shot went into either the top left or the top right corner—perfectly. Not even a slight miscalculation. How is that even possible?"

The other players nodded in agreement.

Ter Stegen, still stretching his arms after repeatedly diving in vain, muttered, "I don't think I've ever seen that level of accuracy before. No one goes ten for ten like that. Not even the best free-kick takers in the world."

Neymar nudged Nico. "Alright, spill. How many free kicks have you actually taken in your life?"

Nico rubbed the back of his head, thinking for a moment. Then, he answered casually, "It has to be more than 100,000."

Silence.

Piqué blinked. "A hundred… thousand?"

Xavi, who had just been watching from the sidelines, whistled low. "That's not talent anymore. That's obsession."

Nico just shrugged. "If you want to be the best, you have to put in the work. Free kicks have been part of my daily routine since I was a kid. Hundreds of them. Every. Single. Day."

Messi looked at him for a long moment before nodding with approval. "Now that… that makes sense."

Neymar clapped Nico on the back, laughing. "Man, you're insane. But I love it."

Iniesta grinned. "I think we're looking at La Masia's deadliest weapon."

The team was starting to see it—this wasn't just a talented kid.

Nico wasn't just gifted.

He was built for greatness.

__________

A month had passed since that first training session with the first team. Nico had settled into the routine, training with some of the best players in the world every day. Though he hadn't gotten the chance to play in a match yet, he wasn't upset or impatient. He had already prepared himself for a loan move next season, and Luis Enrique had been clear with him—he wouldn't be getting minutes this year. That was fine. He was only 13, and he knew his time would come.

The date was now July 3rd, 2014, just a day before his 14th birthday—and Aitana's. As always, he was on the training ground at La Masia, practicing his free kicks. But he wasn't alone. Aitana was with him, just like she had been for the past year.

At 7:00 PM, they finally wrapped up their session, both exhausted from the intense practice. Lying on the turf, staring up at the sky painted in hues of orange and purple, they let the evening breeze cool their sweat-soaked skin. The usual comfortable silence settled between them, broken only by their slow, steady breaths.

After a few moments, Nico turned his head slightly to look at her.

"Hey, tomorrow's our birthday."

Aitana smiled, her gaze still fixed on the sky. "Yeah, I know. How could I forget?"

There was a short pause before Nico spoke again. "Do you… wanna go out tomorrow? It's a rest day for both of us anyway."

She turned her head toward him, blinking in surprise. "Like… go out? Just the two of us?"

He nodded, trying to keep his tone casual. "Yeah. We could go to the aquarium, maybe just walk around, grab something to eat. Only if you want to."

For a second, she just stared at him before a small smile curled her lips. "Sure, that sounds nice."

She was happy—no, more than happy. She had secretly hoped he'd ask her to do something for their birthday, but she didn't want to be the one to bring it up.

And Nico? He felt a strange sense of relief, mixed with a quiet excitement. He had been thinking about asking her for a while now, and the fact that she agreed so easily made him feel… good.

The two of them lay there for a few more moments before Aitana finally spoke, her voice softer than usual.

"I'm looking forward to it."

Nico, staring up at the sky, let a small smirk tug at his lips.

"Me too."

___________

The next day, July 4th, 2014, Nico went through his usual morning routine—yoga, jogging, gym—but there was something different about today. It wasn't just any day. It was his 14th birthday. And more importantly, he was going out with Aitana.

After finishing his workout, he washed up and went to his wardrobe, standing there for a moment. Normally, he didn't care much about what he wore outside of training—Nike tracksuits, hoodies, comfortable sneakers—but today, he felt like trying something different.

He picked out a black turtleneck, paired it with a denim jacket and topped it off with a brown leather jacket for a sharp, layered look. On his wrist, he fastened a black watch with dark green straps, a subtle touch that somehow made the outfit feel complete.

When he finally looked at himself in the mirror, he froze.

For a second, he didn't even recognize himself. He had never dressed like this before, and even he had to admit—he looked good.

His jet-black hair, still slightly damp from the shower, fell neatly over his forehead. The black turtleneck accentuated his sharp jawline, while the leather jacket gave him a refined but effortlessly cool look. His emerald green eyes seemed even more striking against the dark tones of his outfit.

"…Damn." He muttered under his breath.

He shook his head, grabbing his wallet and phone before heading downstairs. But as he reached the last step, he hesitated.

He needed to avoid Danny at all costs.

His grandmother would never let him hear the end of it if she saw him dressed like this. She'd tease him to death, saying something about how he was "finally dressing up for a girl."

He took a deep breath, moving quickly toward the door.

Almost there. Just a few more steps.

But just as he reached for the handle—

"Oh? And where do you think you're going, all dressed up like that?"

Nico stiffened.

Busted.

Nico opened his mouth to say something—anything—but for the first time in his life, he was completely lost for words.

Danny folded her arms, a knowing smirk on her face as she looked him up and down. "Mhm. I see. So, when are you going to introduce your girlfriend to me?"

Nico let out a short laugh, scratching the back of his head. "She's just a friend, Grandma."

Danny raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. "Yeah, sure. Just a friend. And I suppose you just woke up today and decided to dress like a movie star for no reason?"

He rolled his eyes, chuckling. "Believe whatever you want."

She took a step closer, clearly ready to unleash a storm of teasing.

But before she could get another word in, Nico grabbed his keys, swung the door open, and slipped out with a quick, "Bye, Grandma!"

"Run all you want, but I'll be waiting when you get back!" she called after him, laughing.

As the door closed behind him, he let out a breath of relief.

He had survived.

__________

Nico walked through the quiet streets, the morning sun casting a golden glow over everything. The air was crisp, the city still waking up, but his mind was focused on one thing—her.

Reaching her home, he knocked lightly, and within seconds, the door swung open.

And there she was.

Aitana stood in the doorway wearing a black crop top, denim jeans, and a brown leather jacket. Her hair was tied into a ponytail, a few loose strands framing her face. She looked effortlessly stunning, like she had just stepped out of a movie scene.

For a moment, Nico simply stared.

She raised an eyebrow. "What?"

He shook his head, a small smile forming on his lips. "You look beautiful."

Aitana blinked, her cheeks turning the faintest shade of pink. She tried to act nonchalant, rolling her eyes. "Took you long enough to say it."

Nico chuckled. "I was too busy trying to remember how to breathe."

She huffed, crossing her arms, but the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her. "Alright, Prince Charming, are we going or not?"

Nico smirked. "Let's go."

________

As they strolled through the bustling streets, Nico casually glanced down at her feet—and immediately did a double take.

Heels?

He raised an eyebrow. "You're wearing heels?"

Aitana looked up at him, unfazed. "Yeah, so?"

Nico shook his head with a small chuckle. "You do realize we're going to be walking the whole day, right?"

She waved him off. "It's fine. I'm used to it."

He gave her a skeptical look. "You sure? I don't want to have to carry you halfway through the city when your feet give up on you."

Aitana scoffed. "As if. I can handle a little walking."

Nico smirked, crossing his arms. "Alright, just don't say I didn't warn you when you're limping by the end of the day."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the small grin on her lips. "If that happens, you can just carry me then."

Nico laughed. "Oh? So that was your plan all along?"

She nudged him playfully. "Shut up and keep walking."

________

As they arrived at the aquarium, the scent of saltwater filled the air, and the distant sounds of children laughing and water bubbling created a peaceful atmosphere.

Nico walked up to the counter and purchased their tickets, handing one to Aitana. "Here you go, Miss High Heels. Still feeling confident about all the walking?"

She rolled her eyes, taking the ticket from him. "Yes, I am, thank you very much."

He smirked but said nothing more as they stepped inside.

The moment they entered, the world around them changed. The soft blue glow of massive water tanks surrounded them, illuminating their faces in a dreamlike shimmer. Schools of fish swam gracefully behind thick glass, their colors dancing in the light.

Aitana's eyes widened with awe. "Wow… it's beautiful."

Nico, standing beside her, glanced at her instead of the fish. "Yeah… it really is."

She turned to him, catching his gaze. "You're not even looking at the fish."

He smirked. "I know."

She felt her face heat up but quickly turned back to the aquarium, pretending not to notice. "Come on, let's go see the sharks."

Nico chuckled and followed her lead. "Lead the way, birthday girl."

______________