The mont Portugal called, the world changed.
Tobi Oliveira sat in the dressing room at the stalla, still buzzing from the Real Madrid ga. His fingers drumd lightly on the wooden bench, and in his lap sat the letter—neatly folded, slling of paper and pressure.
PORTUGAL FOOTBALL FEDERATION Call-up: Senior National Team (Preliminary Camp) Date: June 2 – June 14 Location: Lisbon, Training Ground Complexo da Cidade do Futebol
He read it again. And again.
---
Dissonance
The entire city seed to be celebrating him. His face lit up street ads, Instagram reels, Spanish and Portuguese dia headlines:
"Oliveira the Conductor!" "From Rebirth to National Hero?" "Valencia’s Young King Heads to Lisbon!"
But inside, he felt split. Tension humd under every cheer.
Was he ready?
He hadn’t even finished school. He still couldn’t fold his laundry right. He burned toast. What was he doing leading a national midfield?
At ho, Clara was already planning logistics—tickets, visas, interviews.
Leonor was sketching a Portuguese jersey with "Tobi #10" in red crayon.
"You’ll look so cool on TV," she grinned.
Tobi smiled back but felt a hollow in his chest.
> [SYSTEM PROMPT] National Challenge Activated Options: – Accept National Call-Up: Experience 15 / Fatigue 8 / Prestige 10 – Decline and Focus on Club: Resilience 6 / Morale 4
He chose ACCEPT.
> [SYSTEM NOTICE] National Rank Unlocked – Level 1: Cadete Country: Portugal Position: CAM / DLP Hybrid Traits Active: "Calm Under Fire," "Midfield Visionary"
---
Farewells and Expectations
Coach Moreno sat across from him before he left.
"You’re about to et n who’ve played World Cups, Tobi. Listen. Learn. But don’t disappear. We sent them a maestro. Not a mouse."
Tobi nodded.
Moreno continued, "You don’t have to prove anything. Just be honest in your football."
He arrived in Lisbon two days later. The facilities glead like glass temples. Ronaldo’s mural greeted him. So did headlines:
"Oliveira: Successor to Bruno?"
Training began.
And so did the struggle.
---
Lisbon – Training Camp
He was the youngest.
The seniors were faster, harder, louder. Everything was crisper. Every touch mattered.
The coach barely noticed him on day one. On day two, he got five minutes in a scrimmage. Lost the ball twice.
Day three: silence.
He trained longer after the session ended. Practiced passing drills alone. Studied film until 1 a.m.
A senior midfielder, Bernardo Silva, finally sat with him.
"You play clean," he said. "But you play scared."
"I’m trying not to ss up."
"Then you already have."
Bernardo tossed him a ball. "Tomorrow, try sothing stupid. Sothing risky. That’s when they notice you."
> [SYSTEM EFFECT] Veteran Guidance: Tactical Confidence 3
---
The Turnaround
Day four: he played risky.
A backheel nutg in traffic. A switch pass without looking. A shot from 30 yards.
The coach raised an eyebrow. "Again, Oliveira."
By the end of week one, he was part of the second scrimmage team. By week two, he was starting.
And then ca the friendly.
Portugal vs Switzerland. A non-competitive ga. But to Tobi, it felt like the World Cup.
He started. The anthem played. He looked up and saw Clara and Leonor in the crowd, waving a Portuguese flag.
The whistle blew.
And he danced.
He created two chances in the first 20 minutes. Nutgged a defender. Took a shot—off the post. Set up the winning goal.
Final score: 2–1.
Tobi Oliveira: Man of the Match.
---
The Price of Glory
He returned to the locker room dazed with joy. But also utterly drained.
> [SYSTEM NOTICE] Physical Fatigue: HIGH Muscle Wear: 65% Suggestion: Mandatory Rest – 3 Days
Back in Valencia, the dia cheered him. But club doctors warned him.
"You’ve played too much football," they said. "You’ll break."
Coach Moreno limited his minutes. Clara canceled a sponsorship shoot.
Tobi protested.
"I’m finally in form."
"You’re not a machine," Clara said. "You’re my son."
They argued. Then they cried. Then they hugged.
---
Leonor’s Mont
Leonor had her own match. A youth final. Tobi sat in the stands with a cara.
She scored the winning goal. Pointed at him.
"For you!" she shouted.
He wiped his eyes.
She wasn’t his shadow anymore. She was her own light.
---
Closing Reflections
Back in his room, Tobi looked at the Portuguese jersey hanging by his bed.
He opened the system.
> [SYSTEM REPORT] Career Milestones: – First-Team Starter: Achieved – Tactical Shift: Mastered – National Team Debut: Achieved – Family Bond: Strengthened – Sponsorships: Delayed
> Current Stats: Vision: 95 Passing: 93 Tactical IQ: 92 Resilience: 88 Fatigue: 70
> Status: Rising Star
He smiled.
He had a long way to go.
But he was no longer afraid of the path.
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