As they drove to the tournament on the next day, his parents chatted with him about everything but the game, trying to keep the atmosphere light. They brought up the usual reminders—stay calm, do your best, and remember to enjoy yourself. Linus appreciated it, even if he only responded with small nods and brief answers. His mind was already on the field, imagining the game, and preparing himself mentally.
They arrived earlier than the day before, and as he made his way to the team's meetup spot, he noticed that only a few of his teammates had arrived. Oliver and Filip weren't there yet, which wasn't surprising. Linus spotted Elias standing near the dugout, fiddling with his glove. He walked over, greeted him, and they exchanged some casual talk to pass the time.
After a few moments, Elias's eyes lit up with a glint of excitement. "Oh, by the way, I need to tell you what happened in the game last night," he said, leaning in slightly.
