The return to Lisbon was quiet.
The rain that followed them from Italy still lingered in the sky, but inside Tobi's chest, something else stirred: a sense of growing weight.
He had done well.
But now, eyes were watching.
And contracts were circling like sharks.
---
A Familiar Hug
As Tobi exited the terminal, a familiar voice called out.
"Meeeeeu menino!"
Marta, his mother, pulled him into a tight embrace.
Leonor followed right after, launching into his arms with her usual chaos.
"You played amazing!" she squealed. "Even when you fell in the mud. You looked like a warrior!"
Tobi laughed, tousling her hair. "Warriors make mistakes too."
Marta squeezed his hand. "But they get back up. Every single time."
---
Marta, the Agent
Later that evening, they sat at the small kitchen table. Plates of arroz de pato sat mostly untouched.
Marta had a laptop open, a stack of documents beside her. Her glasses slid down her nose.
"You've got three emails from clubs already," she said, scrolling.
"Clubs?"
"Lille. Valencia. And..." She paused. "RB Salzburg. Their youth academy wants to trial you this summer."
Tobi blinked. "Already?"
"You made the match report in A Bola. National scouts flagged you. João may have scored twice, but your vision and balance—coaches notice those things."
She looked up at him.
"I need to know how far you're willing to go."
Tobi looked down at his stats. He summoned the System.
---
System Scan
> [STAT DISPLAY – Professional Tier Pre-Assessment]
Dribbling: 72
Passing: 76 (+1)
Vision: 80 (+2)
First Touch: 75 (+2)
Stamina: 70
Strength: 66
Mental: 74
Professional Readiness Score: 63/100
— Caution: International trials may trigger stat debuffs due to new level scaling.
Advice: "You are not yet pro-ready. But close."
---
He didn't flinch.
"I want it," he said. "Even if it means more losses. More pressure. More pain."
Marta nodded, lips trembling a little. "Then I'll handle it. But you'll need an agent."
"You," he said without hesitation.
She blinked.
"You're smart. You've managed our home since dad left. You already care more than any of them ever will."
She looked down, wiping her eyes subtly.
"You'll have to listen to me. Even when it hurts."
"I always do," he said, quietly.
She smirked. "That's a lie. But I'll take it."
---
The First Real Offer
A week later, an agent flew in from Spain. Sleek suit. Rolex. Too much cologne.
Marta set the rules immediately: No phone calls without her. No private meetings. No pressure tactics.
They met at a coffee shop near the training ground.
"I've seen plenty of midfielders," the agent said in his accented Portuguese. "But what you have... is rhythm. Calm. That's rare. Valencia wants to monitor you. Potential trial in three months."
"Trial?" Tobi asked. "Not contract?"
"You're still youth-tier," he said with a smile. "And don't forget, Sporting will want compensation. But you perform again like that? Doors will fly open."
Marta folded her arms. "How long do we have to respond?"
"Three weeks."
---
Doubts and Dreams
That night, Tobi stared at the ceiling in his tiny room.
He could still hear Leonor humming in the next room. Still smell the lemon cleaner his mom used.
Could he leave this behind? Even temporarily?
> [SYSTEM POP-UP]
"New Mission Unlocked: 'Crossroads'"
— Objective: Decide between staying with Sporting's youth academy or attending foreign trials.
— Reward: Trait upgrade + future contract route
Time Remaining: 20 Days
---
Training, Pressure, and Small Cracks
Back at Sporting, whispers followed him.
"Did you hear? Tobi's getting scouted by Spain."
"He's not even our best midfielder."
"Just a social media boy."
Tobi ignored it. Or tried to.
Coach Salgado pulled him aside after practice.
"You've got talent. But don't get distracted. I've seen more boys burn out chasing contracts than succeed."
"I'm not chasing," Tobi said. "I'm building."
"Then build here," Salgado said firmly. "Finish the season with us. You owe it to your teammates."
He walked away, leaving Tobi stuck in limbo.
---
Mom's Guidance
Marta found him sitting on the apartment balcony that night.
"I miss Dad sometimes," he whispered. "Even though I don't remember him well."
She sat beside him. "He'd be proud. You're becoming a man. A better one than he was."
Tobi nodded slowly.
"I don't know what to choose."
"You don't have to yet," she said. "Train. Live. Give the system real data to work with."
He smiled.
"You're quoting my system now?"
She smirked. "I'm your agent. I have to speak your language."
Leonor popped her head out. "Mom! Tobi's system should say he's 100 in cuteness!"
They all laughed.
For a moment, the pressure eased.
---
Final Note: The Offer Looms
> System Update: Contract Decision Timeline — 14 Days Left
New Objective:
— "Play 2 standout matches in the next 3 fixtures"
— Bonus: Unlock 'Foreign Pro Trial Buff'
Caution: Poor performances will reduce international interest.
--