The early morning light spilled through the narrow window of their tiny apartment in El Raval, dancing across the faded couch and scuffed-up floors. The air still carried a trace of last night's dinner—garlic and fried potatoes. Luca sat at the small kitchen table, already dressed in his La Masia training gear, staring at the notification on his phone:
"Called Up to Start – Valencia Friendly"
He couldn't stop smiling.
Across from him, his father, Rafael Herrera, nursed a cup of black coffee. He wore an old FC Barcelona hoodie, frayed at the cuffs, the same one he'd worn every time he watched a match with Luca since he was five.
"You were unreal yesterday," Rafael finally said, voice still hoarse from cheering. "Like... I've never seen anything like it, mijo."
Luca looked down, a little shy. "It's just the beginning."
His father leaned in. "No, no. It's more than that. You—you looked like you belonged out there. Like you were... born for it."
There was a silence. Not awkward. Just full.
Then Rafael spoke again, softer this time. "You're gonna make it, Luca. I know it. Your mother... she would've been proud."
Luca swallowed the lump in his throat, nodded, then stood and walked over to hug him. Tight. No words.
La Masia – Back to Work
By the time Luca stepped into the training complex, he was locked in. No more drifting. No more doubts. The system had lit the match, but now he was the fire.
The practice started with tactical drills, but midway through the session, Coach Ramon, one of the strength and conditioning coaches, pulled him aside.
"You're showing magic on the pitch," he said with a grin. "But now it's time to give that magic a stronger engine."
Luca blinked. "Stronger?"
"You've got the touch, the flair. But you're still lean. We need to add some power to that frame. If you want to compete with older players soon, you'll need it. We start today."
The Gym Session
The weight room felt different from the pitch—cooler, more mechanical. But Luca was ready. Coach Ramon guided him through every motion: proper squats, controlled deadlifts, core work.
"You're 1.74 now," Ramon said. "We'll aim to bulk you a little without affecting your agility. Just strength, stability, and explosiveness."
[SYSTEM BONUS DETECTED]Gym Environment → 10% Training Efficiency BoostNew Passive Perk: Muscle Memory (All strength gains are retained 25% longer)
Ramon handed him a paper at the end. "Your routine. Three times a week. Mornings before pitch training."
Luca scanned it: core, upper body, balance drills, explosive step drills, plyometrics.
"Follow this, eat what the nutritionist recommends, and rest. You're gonna look like a different player by the end of the summer."
Locker Room Talk
Later, as the players showered and changed, Luca was quiet. Focused.
Benji, one of the forwards, nudged him. "You got pulled for special treatment, huh?"
"Coach Ramon wants me stronger."
Benji grinned. "They don't do that for just anyone. They see something in you."
Luca smiled, but deep down, he already knew. The system had given him a spark, but the rest... the rest was all him now.
At Home That Night
Luca came home late, a bit sore, but satisfied. He laid the routine sheet on the table. His dad looked it over, eyes wide.
"Looks serious."
"It is," Luca said, stretching his arms. "But I want this. I'm ready."
Rafael got up and ruffled his son's golden-brown hair. "Then let's eat. Champions don't train on an empty stomach."
They laughed, but behind Rafael's eyes, there was something else—a pride so deep it hurt. His son was chasing a dream. And step by step, he was catching it.