Embracing the Journey

The next day, Cleiton followed his usual routine. Early in the morning, he completed his system mission: walking, running, and doing his push-ups and sit-ups. Afterward, he went to school, worked in the afternoon, and at the end of the day, reported for training at Vitória's youth team. He trained intensely as always, focused on honing his skills. After training, as he prepared to leave, he heard someone calling him. Turning around, he saw his two friends, Nathan and Cássio, smiling and waving him over.

"Cleiton, why don't you come to the field with us tonight?" Nathan suggested with a grin. "Feels like forever since you last showed up!"

"Seriously, man, everyone keeps asking about you," Cássio added. "Daniel, Carlos… they're always asking when you'll be back."

Cleiton hesitated. Since he'd received the system, he'd dedicated himself almost entirely to training, daily missions, and personal goals. The thought of breaking his routine was tempting, but he didn't want to stray from his plans.

"Ah, I don't know… I have to be up early for training again tomorrow," he replied, a bit reluctant.

"Come on, Cleiton. Tomorrow's a holiday—no school, no work," Nathan insisted. "It'll be quick, just a few games. It'll be good for you to break the routine a bit."

Cleiton thought for a moment longer. Maybe it would do him good to relax, catch up, and see his friends. After all, it had been a while since he'd done anything not directly related to training or the system. With a sigh, he finally gave in.

"All right, all right… let's go!" he replied, smiling at last.

Soon after, the three of them arrived at the neighborhood field. Calling it a field was a stretch; it was just a large dirt lot with two goals, bare of nets. But for the kids in that area, this field was as good as Barcelona's Camp Nou.

There, Cleiton reconnected with Daniel, Carlos, and a few other friends. After so many days focused on training and missions, seeing familiar faces and hearing their jokes was almost comforting. They spent a while chatting, swapping stories, and updating each other on their lives. Gradually, Cleiton felt himself relaxing, letting go of all the pressure he'd been putting on himself, at least for that night.

When they finally started playing, Cleiton entered the game with the same enthusiasm as always, but this time without worrying about goals or results. He was just playing for the joy of it, kicking the ball around with his friends. They played several matches, laughed, celebrated goals, and, in moments, he even forgot the demanding routine that awaited him the next day.

After the games, they all went to a nearby diner. They shared a Coke, ordered some pastries, and kept talking. They laughed over old stories and poked fun at one another. Cleiton realized it had been a long time since he'd felt so relaxed.

By the time he finally said goodbye to his friends and headed home, he felt a lightness he hadn't felt in a while. Lying in bed, he reflected on how good it had been to step out of his routine. Since he'd received the system, he'd been so focused on improvement that he'd almost forgotten how important these moments were. He realized that, even with serious goals, it was essential to take a breather, socialize, and enjoy life now and then.

"I should do this more often…" he murmured to himself with a gentle smile.

He closed his eyes, and for the first time in a long time, he slept without dreams, simply content with a well-spent evening.

The following morning, the holiday offered Cleiton a rare chance to relax. There was no rush to complete his system mission, and school would wait until the next day. He completed his daily workout at a slower pace, savoring each exercise.

After wrapping up the mission, Cleiton joined his father, José, in the living room. They spent time watching a classic Bahia football derby: Vitória against Bahia. The long-standing rivalry between the state's top teams was a family tradition they enjoyed keeping up.

But the easygoing atmosphere was interrupted when José's phone suddenly rang. On the other end was Coach Cerqueira, his tone serious, asking both father and son to come to Vitória's headquarters as soon as possible. Cerqueira didn't explain much, only emphasizing the importance of the meeting.

Within minutes, they were on their way to the club, filled with curiosity and a touch of nervous excitement. Upon arrival, a receptionist led them to an auditorium where other youth players from Vitória's academy were gathered with their families. Cleiton quickly spotted Nathan and Cássio, his friends and teammates, in the audience, and he went over to sit with them.

As soon as everyone had arrived, three people stepped onto the stage: Coach Cerqueira, Fausto, the newly elected club president, and an unfamiliar middle-aged man.

The first to speak was President Fausto. He quickly explained that a new management system was being implemented at the club. Today's gathering was to introduce the new head of youth football development, Edson Fernando, who would now oversee the youth team, aiming to improve academy facilities and organize friendly matches and tournaments for the youth squad.

"Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Edson Fernando, and from today, I'll be in charge of the youth team," he began. "After talks with President Fausto, we recognized the importance of youth development. As you all know, Vitória is not a wealthy club; quite the opposite. The last few presidents left considerable debt, which makes signing players for the main team more challenging. To address this, we plan to develop our young players to meet the first team's needs."

The room buzzed with excitement and anticipation. For Cleiton, Nathan, and Cássio, this was a valuable step toward their dream of becoming professional players.

The new director paused and continued, "The first change I'm making to the youth program is to offer youth contracts with a small monthly allowance. While the amount won't be large due to the club's financial limitations, it'll be fair and help supplement your families' incomes. But, of course, it comes with expectations. We'll increase training hours and demand full commitment. This isn't a charity, and we have the right to terminate any contract if we feel someone is slacking off."

Coach Cerqueira stepped forward and began distributing contracts to each player and their families. He explained that training would take place from Monday to Friday, 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., with friendlies and tournaments usually scheduled for weekends.

No one hesitated to sign the contracts, their eyes bright with excitement.

When the event ended, Cleiton, Nathan, and Cássio left the auditorium feeling a new sense of responsibility. Even though it was just a youth contract with a modest allowance, they knew they'd taken an important step. To celebrate, the three friends went out together, savoring the moment and marking their progress on the journey toward becoming professional players.

Returning home after the meeting at the club and celebrating with friends, Cleiton felt a renewed energy coursing through him. Eager to harness this motivation, he decided to log into the Virtual Training Center once again. He only worried that he'd wasted his free trial by using the feature earlier in the week.

With slight hesitation, he accessed the Training Center, but soon was surprised to find that the free training option was still available. A system notification explained: the free trial allowed up to 30 games, and he'd only played seven, leaving 24 sessions to explore. This meant his training access remained active.

With time still on his side, Cleiton decided to dive into another seven virtual games, taking in every second of the experience. After finishing, a natural exhaustion settled over him. But with a satisfied smile, he prepared to sleep and ready himself for the new challenges coming next week.

That night, as he drifted off, he dreamed of the future: a stadium packed with fans, the roar of the crowd, the spotlight on him. Now, more than ever, Cleiton felt ready to turn his dream into reality.

---

The next morning, Cleiton woke up at five, already adapted to his intense routine. He completed his system's daily mission, feeling how each exercise was strengthening him for the challenges ahead. After a quick shower, he headed to school, staying focused on what needed to be done. By noon, he went straight home and prepared a simple lunch. His father was still at work, so it was up to Cleiton to manage his meal—something he did naturally, well accustomed to the responsibility.

By just before two in the afternoon, Cleiton was already at Vitória's youth field, ready for training. With the new schedule changes, the training sessions had become more intense, now running from two to six. Cleiton knew these adjustments were not only to hone his skills but to prepare him mentally for his future in football. He faced each session with determination, knowing it was one more step toward his dream of becoming a professional player.

In the following weeks, Cleiton made the most of every system resource available. He quickly used up his free matches in the Virtual Training Center and, with a bit of frustration, looked for other options. Exploring the system, he discovered he could purchase a pack of seven extra matches for just five points. Knowing how much these virtual training sessions boosted his on-field performance, he decided it was worth the investment.

Two weeks later, during one of the youth training sessions, Coach Cerqueira gathered all the players for a special announcement. The Vitória youth team would be participating in a charity tournament in the state's interior the following Sunday. He explained that the event aimed to raise food donations for an underserved community, giving the players an opportunity to experience real competition. Hearing this, Cleiton felt a surge of excitement. It would be his first chance to officially represent Vitória, even if it was a friendly match.

The tournament format would be straightforward: four teams competing in just two matches—a semifinal and a final—to determine the winner. The team would travel by bus, a two-hour journey to the event. Despite the short preparation time, Cleiton was determined to give his all and make an impression on the coach.

Once Coach Cerqueira finished his announcement, he spoke again in a more serious tone.

"This charity tournament serves more than one purpose. Sure, our goal is to help the community and raise food donations, but for me and Vitória, it's a valuable chance to evaluate your performance. I want to see who here is truly ready to play as a starter in the Under-17 Baiano Championship, which begins next month."

He paused, letting his words sink in. The Under-17 Baiano Championship was the golden opportunity everyone had been waiting for: a knockout tournament with sixteen teams, where the top four would qualify for the Under-17 Northeast Cup. Cleiton's heart raced as he imagined playing in such a high-stakes competition, with the best youth teams from across the state, and potentially the Northeast.

"This is the moment to stand out," Cerqueira continued, looking each young player in the eye with intensity. "In the Baiano Championship, only the best will have the chance to shine and represent Vitória. So, in this charity tournament, I want to see every pass, every tackle, and every goal made with full effort. Now is the time for you to show me what you've got."

The coach's words were powerful enough to inspire every player. Cleiton felt the weight of responsibility, but at the same time, an unbreakable determination ignited within him. He knew that, to achieve his dream, he needed to stand out not only in training but in real matches too.

Before closing the meeting, Cerqueira made one final announcement.

"From now on, our training will focus on one main goal: teamwork. I want you to work as a unit, understand each other's movements, and strengthen your passing. We'll test different formations and find the best strategies for playing as a team. You need to learn to read the game and support the team. Everything you do up to the charity tournament will be closely watched. I'll be evaluating each of you to decide on the starters."

Cleiton felt the pressure building, but with it came a renewed excitement. He knew that to impress the coach and secure his spot in the starting lineup, he'd have to demonstrate tactical intelligence and commitment to the team.

The days that followed were a mix of nervousness and intense preparation. Cleiton and his teammates gave their all in training, following Cerqueira's instructions closely. They learned to cover for each other, move in sync, and support both in attack and defense. During breaks, Cleiton used his points to invest in Virtual Training Center matches, fine-tuning his individual skills and perfecting the timing of each action.

When the day of the charity tournament finally arrived, Cleiton could hardly contain his excitement. All the Vitória players gathered early at the club headquarters and boarded the bus to the tournament venue. On the way, Coach Cerqueira spoke individually to some players, offering guidance and encouraging them to stay focused.