Months passed, and Alex's life was a mix of triumph on the field and growing romance off it. His relationship with Sophia had flourished. They'd grown close, and despite the intense demands of soccer and school, they found time for each other. She was his rock, always encouraging him, and their bond made him better—not just as a player but as a person.
One evening, as the two of them were walking hand in hand after a celebratory dinner following another decisive victory for FC Grünwald, Alex turned to Sophia.
"I think it's time," he said with a grin.
"Time for what?" she asked, giving him a playful nudge.
"For you to meet my family. They've been dying to meet the girl who stole their son's heart."
Sophia blushed, something that rarely happened to her. "Are you sure? I mean, what if they don't like me?"
Alex chuckled, pulling her closer. "Trust me, they will. Emma will probably love you more than I do, and my parents—well, they'll just be happy to see me happy."
The dinner was a success. Alex's family welcomed Sophia with open arms. His mother, Helena, complimented her on her politeness and charm, while his father engaged her in a deep conversation about soccer and the biomechanics of athletic performance. Emma, of course, was smitten with her immediately, asking Sophia all kinds of questions about her favorite players and if she could one day play as well as her brother.
Sophia laughed and promised to teach Emma some moves the next time she visited.
By the end of the night, when it was time for Sophia to leave, Helena pulled Alex aside and whispered, "You've got a good one there. Don't mess it up."
"I won't, Mom," Alex said with a wink.
In return, Sophia introduced Alex to her parents. They lived in a beautiful house not too far from FC Grünwald's facilities. Her father, Markus, was a businessman, and her mother, Anja, was a teacher. The dinner was warm and welcoming. Alex was nervous at first, but it didn't take long for his natural charm to win them over. Markus appreciated Alex's determination and work ethic, and Anja couldn't stop talking about how well-mannered he was.
After dinner, when they were alone, Sophia turned to him and smiled. "Told you they'd like you."
Alex grinned, pulling her close. "Yeah, but it doesn't matter what they think. I'm just glad I have you."
The final game of the season loomed large. FC Grünwald was on the verge of something historic—a chance to rise to the '3. Liga'. The atmosphere was electric, and the stakes couldn't be higher. For Alex, this wasn't just a game. It was an opportunity to cement his legacy. At 18, he had already surpassed expectations, but he craved more. He wanted dominance. He wanted to crush the competition.
His opponent today: VfR Garching, a team known for their tough defense and disciplined play. They were the last hurdle standing in FC Grünwald's way. But Alex wasn't interested in just winning—he wanted to humiliate them.
The whistle blew, and from the very first second, Alex felt something different. His body was as sharp as ever, but his mind—his mind felt like it was operating on another level. Over the past few weeks, he'd been reading about soccer tactics and strategies, but one particular concept stood out to him: the ability to see the entire field, to predict movements, to understand where every player would be and control the game like a puppet master.
Alex had seen it in a manga he'd read, where the protagonist could perceive the flow of the match in real-time. This heightened awareness allowed the character to act almost like a predator, calculating moves ahead of everyone else. Alex had studied it, absorbed it, and now—he was going to try it.
As the game progressed, Alex's vision began to shift. It was as if the game slowed down around him. He could see the gaps in the defense before they formed, anticipate the passes before they were made, and move into spaces that hadn't even opened up yet.
It was almost eerie.
His first goal came quickly—a smooth one-two with his teammate Tobias, before Alex broke free of the last defender, darted into the box, and calmly slotted the ball past the keeper. 1-0.
VfR Garching barely knew what hit them.
Minutes later, Alex was awarded a free kick from 25 yards out. He stepped up, eyes focused on the ball, feeling the pressure but channeling it into precision. He hit the ball with that same deadly curve, a shot so powerful and well-placed that it arced over the wall, dipped at the last moment, and slammed into the top corner of the net. 2-0.
The crowd roared.
But it was his third goal that left everyone stunned. Sophia, playing in midfield, launched a perfect pass into the box—not directly towards the goal, but to a spot just away from it. The defenders rushed, anticipating a simple clearance, but Alex was already a step ahead. He had seen this opening long before it happened.
With a grin, he jumped, his body twisting in the air as he performed a bicycle kick. The ball soared through the legs of two defenders, bounced off the grass, and rocketed into the top left corner.
The stadium erupted. 3-0.
VfR Garching was shattered. They couldn't keep up with Alex, who was playing like he was possessed. But beneath that dominance, Alex felt something strange—a drain on his stamina. This new state of hyper-awareness, this ability to control the game, was taxing him in ways he hadn't anticipated. His body wasn't used to this level of mental exertion, and by the time the final whistle blew, he knew he had to train harder, to maintain this ability for a full match.
The game ended 4-0, with Alex scoring three goals and assisting the last. FC Grünwald had done it—they were moving up to the '3. Liga'. Alex felt on top of the world.
That evening, as the team celebrated their victory, Alex pulled Sophia aside, his heart racing. "Sophia," he said, his voice softer than usual. "There's something I've been meaning to ask you."
Sophia raised an eyebrow, teasingly. "Is this another one of your soccer moves, Fischer?"
Alex laughed, shaking his head. "No, it's... well, I wanted to ask if you'd like to go on a real date. You know, just us."
Sophia smiled, her sapphire blue eyes gleaming. "I thought you'd never ask."
A few days later, Alex returned to the pitch, his mind still buzzing with ideas. His new awareness had pushed him to the edge, but now he had another challenge: mastering it without draining himself. And with each day of training, he got closer to that goal.
Alex had carved his name into the hearts of his opponents, and now, as he sat in the locker room, thinking of the future, he knew this was only the beginning. But with Sophia by his side and his family supporting him, the future looked brighter than ever.