The Interface

The hospital room was steeped in silence, broken only by the faint hum of the air conditioner and the occasional drip from the IV. Luca Cappetta lay motionless, his eyes fixed on the ceiling, replaying the strange voice that had jolted him awake the night before: 

System Activated: Football Prodigy Protocol. At fourteen, he'd dismissed it as a fever dream—painkillers messing with his head after the injury. But the words stuck, gnawing at him, and curiosity won out.

"Alright," he muttered, voice barely a whisper, "if you're real, prove it."

A translucent blue panel shimmered into view, floating in front of him like a hologram. Luca flinched, his bandaged knee twinging as he shifted and he let out a growl. The glowing text scrolled across the screen, sharp and undeniable.

***************

[Football Prodigy System: Host Interface]

>Host: Luca Cappetta (Winger)

>Age: 14

>Status: Injured (Torn ACL - Recovery Time: 6-9 months)

>Objective: Rise to the Top

>System Features Unlocked :

-Stats

-Tasks

-Recovery Boost

"Whoa…" Luca reached out, his fingers brushing through the panel. It didn't fade. Instead, it expanded, revealing a grid of numbers and labels—like a FIFA player card, but for him. His stats.

[Player Stats]

>Physical Attributes : 59  

Speed: 63 (Promising, but hampered by injury)

Stamina: 60 (Drained from overtraining)

Strength: 47 (Small frame, lacks power)

Agility: 68 (Quick reflexes, currently limited)

>Technical Skills : 58  

Dribbling: 62 (Natural flair, unpolished)

Passing: 55 (Basic, needs work)

Shooting: 53 (Potential there, but wild)

Ball Control: 63 (His best asset)

>Mental Attributes : 60 

Determination: 76 (A fierce will to succeed)

Focus: 54 (Scattered under pressure)

Teamwork: 52 (Lone wolf tendencies)

Vision: 59 (Instinctive, not yet sharp)

>Overall Rating: 59

>Potential: 85

Luca's stomach sank at the 59. He'd overheard teammates joking about their imaginary FIFA ratings, and none of them ever dipped below 70. But 85 potential? That was a lifeline—a whisper that he could climb higher than anyone expected. Even if he was starting from the bottom.

The panel shifted, revealing more.

[System Features]

-Stats Tracking: Monitor and improve your attributes in real time.

-Tasks: Complete challenges to earn points and unlock rewards.

-Recovery Boost: Accelerate healing through guided exercises and mental focus (Current Bonus: +10% recovery speed).

***[First Task: Begin Recovery]***

Objective: Follow the doctor's initial post-surgery instructions for 48 hours.

Reward: 50 points, +2 Stamina.

"Points?" Luca frowned. "What're those for?"

A new tab flickered: Store. It was locked, with a note: Unlocks at 100 points. He huffed. This system wasn't a cheat code—it was a grind. But he'd never shied away from hard work.

A knock interrupted his thoughts, and the panel vanished. His mother, Emily, stepped in, her blonde hair still damp from the morning drizzle. "You're up," she said, her American accent softening her Italian. "Surgery's at 8 a.m. How's the pain?"

"Tolerable," Luca mumbled, avoiding her eyes. "Just… thinking."

"About the team?" She pulled a chair close, her voice gentle but probing.

"Yeah," he said, keeping the glowing interface to himself. "How I'm gonna miss it."

"You'll get back out there," she insisted. "You've got your dad's fight in you."

He forced a nod. She stayed a while, chatting about school and Sophia's latest triumphs, before leaving him to rest. The second the door shut, the panel reappeared.

***[Task Update: Mental Focus Exercise Available]***

Objective: Visualize your return to the pitch for 10 minutes.Reward: 20 points, +1 Focus.

Luca snorted. "That's all?" It felt too simple, but he closed his eyes anyway. He pictured the San Siro—rain-soaked grass, the crowd's roar, the ball at his feet as he darted past defenders. His knee was whole again, his movements sharp. He saw Coach Rossi's rare nod of approval, heard his teammates cheer instead of scoff. The fire in his gut flared.

A soft chime sounded in his head ten minutes later.

[Task Completed]

Points Earned: 20

Focus: 55 → 56

Total Points: 20/100

Luca grinned faintly. "Alright, system. Keep it coming."

Morning brought the surgery. When Luca woke, groggy and sore, his leg was strapped in a bulkier brace. The panel flickered back, updated.

[Recovery Boost Activated]

Current Recovery Speed: +10%

Estimated Time: 6-9 months → 5.5-8 months

It wasn't a miracle, but it was progress. Luca tightened his grip on the blanket. He'd fallen on that muddy pitch chasing his dream, but this system—whatever it was—might just be his way up. From a measly 59 to something unstoppable.

"Game on," he whispered, and the panel pulsed in silent agreement.