Back on the Grounds

The Monday morning air bit at Luca's skin as he stepped onto the U15 training grounds, the familiar crunch of grass under his sneakers sending a jolt through him.

September 2nd. Six months since the fall, and here he was—knee healed, stats sharper, the *Football Prodigy System* humming in his mind. His upgraded panel glowed faintly, a golden edge framing his *64 Overall*. Not a star yet, but a hell of a lot more than the *59* he'd started with.

At home, the routine had solidified. Every morning, he'd stumble downstairs at dawn, lacing up for his 5km jog. Emily would be in the kitchen, flipping eggs or stirring oatmeal, her voice cutting through the quiet.

"You're up early again, huh? Don't overdo it, Luca—breakfast's ready when you're back."

He'd grin, gulping down a glass of water. "Gotta stay ahead, Mom." Then he'd bang on Sophia's door—*"Rise and shine, slacker!"*—her groggy curses following him out.

Today, she'd muttered, "You're too loud for a cripple," but there was a smirk in her tone. Gianpiero, sipping coffee, had just nodded. "Keep that fire, kid."

Now, the U15 squad milled around the pitch, cones scattered, Coach Rossi barking warm-up orders. Luca spotted Matteo first—taller, broader, his curls bouncing as he jogged over. "Cappetta! You're back!" He clapped Luca's shoulder, grinning. "Knew you'd make it."

"Yeah," Luca said, voice steady. "Told you I would."

Matteo's stats flashed via *Identify*: *73 Overall*, unchanged but still towering over Luca's *64*. The gap stung, but he swallowed it.

Others weren't so warm. A cluster of teammates—striker Paolo, defender Nico, and a few reserves—eyed him as he joined the stretches. Paolo smirked, loud enough to carry.

"Shouldn't have bothered coming back, Cappetta. Bench is your spot now—knee's probably still glass."

Nico nodded, stretching his hamstrings. "Yeah, man. Six months out? You're rusty. Coach won't risk it."

A few others murmured agreement, their glances sharp with doubt. Luca's jaw tightened, but he didn't snap back. Words wouldn't prove anything—actions would. "We'll see," he said, low and firm, a promise to himself more than them.

Coach Rossi blew his whistle, gathering the squad. His hawkish eyes lingered on Luca, narrowing slightly. "Cappetta. Cleared, huh? Let's see if you've still got it." No warmth, just expectation. Luca nodded, pulse quickening.

Training kicked off with laps—light for Luca, but he pushed the pace, legs burning with that new *66 Speed*. The system chimed.

**[Task: First Day Back]** 

- Objective: Complete today's training session with full effort. 

- Reward: 100 points, +1 Stamina. 

Drills followed: passing triangles, one-touch play. Luca's passing held steady, crisp enough to keep up, though Matteo's shone brighter. Then came sprints—short bursts where Luca's agility gleamed.

He darted past Nico, who grunted in surprise, and left Paolo trailing once, the striker's smirk faltering. Rossi's clipboard twitched, a scribble marking something.

Scrimmage was the real test. Luca slotted in on the wing, Matteo feeding him from midfield. First touch smooth, the ball glued to his foot. A quick cut and he slipped past a defender. The pass to Matteo was sharp, but Paolo intercepted, sneering, "Lucky move." Luca didn't flinch. Next play, he sprinted, *Iron Will* keeping his focus razor-edged and fired a shot wide, but with power that made Rossi's head tilt.

By the end, sweat soaked his kit, and his knee held—no pain, just strength. The whistle blew, and the squad dispersed, Paolo muttering, "Still bench material," as he passed.

Matteo jogged over, clapping Luca's back. "Ignore them. You're sharper than before—Coach saw it."

Luca nodded, catching Rossi's gaze. The coach didn't smile, but his eyes lingered, assessing. "Not bad, Cappetta. Small change, but it's there. Keep it up." Faint praise, but it lit a spark.

At home, the panel updated.

**[Task Completed: First Day Back]** 

- Points Earned: 100 

- Stamina: 64 → 65 

- Total Points: 150 → 250 

**[Player Stats]** 

Physical Attributes: 65 

 - Speed: 66 

 - Stamina: 65 

 - Strength: 52 

 - Agility: 77 

Technical Skills: 62

 - Dribbling: 68 

 - Passing: 58 

 - Shooting: 56 

 - Ball Control: 66 

Mental Attributes: 65 

 - Determination: 79 

 - Focus: 57 

 - Teamwork: 54 

 - Vision: 60 

-Overall Rating: 64 

- Potential: 85 

Dinner was lively. Emily slid a plate of chicken and rice his way. "How'd it go? You're glowing." Luca shrugged, grinning. "Rough start, but I held my own."

Sophia yawned, "Didn't get benched yet? Shocking." Gianpiero chuckled. "First days are about showing up. Rest is up to you."

Luca shoveled food, mind racing. The doubters, the drills, Rossi's glance—it all fueled him. Tomorrow's 5km jog loomed, a habit now. He'd wake Sophia with a louder bang, eat his mom's eggs, and run harder.

The system promised bigger tasks, and he'd chase every point. His training arc was just beginning -epic, grueling, his.

"Actions, not words," he muttered, forking another bite. The panel pulsed, ready for more.