Saturday. Tryout day.
The court buzzed with more energy than I'd ever seen. Kids warming up, juggling, stretching, comparing shoes. Some were serious. Some were bluffing. A few were clearly just here to see if they could make it.
Maria set up her camera. Ana marked the cones for drills. Zay—ever the hype man—passed out water and good vibes.
And me?
I was supposed to decide who got to wear the phoenix.
System Prompt: Tryout Commenced
Objectives:
– Recruit 3 Players
– Evaluate: Skill, Team Fit, Coachability
– Hidden Trait Bonus Available: "Untapped Potential"
Time Limit: 3 Hours
Coach Erwin called everyone to order. "Listen up. This isn't a talent show. It's a test of fit. We don't need heroes—we need teammates. Got it?"
The drills began.
Hour 1 – The Obvious Ones
Right away, two stood out.
Ravi – A transfer from Cebu. Small frame, sharp touch, high football IQ. Played as a defensive mid, always shouting angles and covering passing lanes. The kind of player who made others better just by being there.
Ana gave a thumbs-up without hesitation.
Trait Identified: Spatial Awareness (Passive Boost – Positioning +5%)
Isko – Track-and-field crossover. Could run all day, fast as a rumor, and fearless in challenges. Played anywhere you told him to.
Zay muttered, "Dude's got no brakes. I love it."
Trait Identified: Endurance Freak (Stamina Cap +20%)
Both passed without question.
Hour 2 – The Maybes
Then came the gray zone.
Leo – All flair, no tracking back. Tried a rainbow flick during the keep-away drill and lost the ball.
Juno – Smart but too slow. Couldn't keep up with transition speed.
And Bryce.
The former critic. The loudmouth. The one who once said we were "just trying to cosplay La Liga."
But today? He played with edge.
Solid defender. Read passes early. Cleared danger without panic. Didn't talk trash. Just nodded when Ana called out adjustments.
Maria leaned in. "Still hate him?"
I didn't answer.
Coach did. "He's grown. Or faked it well."
System Prompt: Potential Redemption Arc Detected
Bryce – Role: Center Back
Compatibility: ???
Risk Factor: High
Chemistry Penalty if Forced
Hour 3 – Scrimmage Match
We divided the tryout players into mixed teams and ran a short match.
Ravi and Isko gelled instantly. Covered ground like veterans.
Leo got dispossessed twice. Juno fouled out.
Bryce? He locked down Zay. No jokes. No ego. Just football.
After the final whistle, Coach pulled me aside.
"You've got your picks?"
I nodded. "Two are obvious."
"Third?"
I hesitated.
Then I looked across the court—at Ana, who still didn't trust Bryce. At Maria, who didn't trust Ana's silence. At the rest of the squad, watching me.
"I'll take the risk."
Team Roster Update:
✅ Ravi – Defensive Midfielder
✅ Isko – Utility (Wing/Fullback)
✅ Bryce – Goal Keeper/ Center Back
⚠ Team Chemistry Status: Slight Tension Detected
Club Capacity Reached – 10 Players Registered
Next Objective: Enter League Qualifiers
Bonus Objective Unlocked: Establish Team Identity (Formations, Code of Play)
That evening, the core squad gathered under the mango tree.
"I made the call," I said. "And yeah, some of you might not agree."
Bryce stood in the back, arms crossed but quiet.
"This isn't about favorites. Or friends. This is about the team. We're ten now. That's not ten individuals. That's one unit.You ride for each other. Or you ride the bench."
Zay clapped. Isko and Ravi nodded. Ana didn't speak.
Maria looked through the camera lens.
"Say that again," she said.
I raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"That part. About riding for each other."
I did.
She clicked record.
And smiled.
Later, Ana found me alone.
"You sure about Bryce?"
"No," I admitted. "But I'm sure about second chances."
She held my gaze. "Then make sure he earns it."
"I will."
System Notification: Leadership XP Gained
Trait Progress: Captaincy – Level 2 Unlocked
New Ability: Squad Pulse – Detect Player Morale in Real Time
Unlock: Tactical Briefing Mode (Pre-Match Planning Upgrade)
The team was formed.
The match was coming.
The league didn't know it yet, but the fire had found its wings.
We weren't just playing now.
We were competing.