🚌 TRAVEL DAY – BRIGHTON
The Manchester United team bus cruised down the coast, salty wind whipping outside. The skies were heavy with clouds, and the sea stretched gray and endless to the horizon.
Mateo stared out the window, earbuds in, locked in his pre-match focus.
Coach Amorim moved down the aisle, handing out tactical sheets.
"Right wing," he told Mateo. "Same freedom. Find your rhythm."
Mateo gave a small nod.He already felt the rhythm in his bones.
🧠 SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
⚠️ Environmental Disruption DetectedWindy conditions + crowd pressure → Focus Debuff (minor)
🟢 Buff Applied: Composure Under Pressure – Lv. 1
📌 Side Objective:Deliver rating of 8.0+ in adverse weather→ Reward: Awareness +1, Stamina Recovery Boost (Wet Conditions)
🏟️ BRIGHTON STADIUM – PRE-MATCH
As players warmed up, Mateo was stretching near the sideline when a United staffer jogged over, holding something wrapped in tissue paper.
"Your girlfriend left this with us. Said not to open it until now."
Mateo raised an eyebrow.
He unwrapped it — a small knitted baby sock and a folded card inside.
In neat handwriting:
"For good luck — from both of us.
K & ?"
His breath caught.
There was no name yet. No gender.Just the smallest, softest symbol of what was coming.
He smiled to himself and folded the note carefully into his jacket.
⚽ MATCH SUMMARY
Brighton played fast and rough, crowding the midfield and pressing high.
Mateo adjusted quickly.
In the 36th minute, he burst down the right, cut inside, and delivered a perfect assist to Rashford.
GOAL – United 1-0
The second half brought pressure from Brighton, who scored from a set piece in the 55th minute.
Mateo stayed composed.
In the 79th, he drew a foul outside the box.Bruno took the free kick — top corner finish.
Final Score: Manchester United 2 - 1 Brighton
🧠 SYSTEM UPDATE
✅ Match Won
🎯 Objective Completed: Focus in Windy Conditions→ Awareness +1→ New Passive: Stamina Recovery – Wet Conditions (Lv. 1)
Player Rating: 8.2
🧬 Emotional Boost Triggered: Family Anchor→ Motivation Bonus Applied (Next Match)
🏨 HOTEL – NIGHT
Mateo sat by the window, tea in hand, the baby sock resting on the table beside him.
"You've already made me play better," he whispered with a small smile.
The wind howled outside the hotel.
Inside, all was quiet.
But something had shifted — a new kind of strength growing inside him.