The academy didn't wake up the same way anymore.
It buzzed.
Not loudly—but constantly.
Like something unseen had started moving beneath the surface.
Lamii felt it the moment he stepped in.
Players weren't just talking.
They were whispering.
And whispers in football were always more dangerous than noise.
The Rumor
"…I'm telling you, the scout didn't ask about them."
"…no way…"
"…then who?"
Lamii walked past a group of players, his expression calm, but his ears sharp.
He caught one name.
Just one.
And that was enough.
Enzo.
His steps slowed slightly.
Behind him, someone said it more clearly:
"They said Enzo plays like a professional already."
Silence followed.
Then disbelief.
Then tension.
Lamii kept walking.
But something inside him tightened.
Training started, but it didn't take long for the truth to surface.
Coach Salva gathered them at midfield.
His eyes scanned every player.
Measuring.
Judging.
Deciding.
"You all heard the rumors," he said calmly.
No one spoke.
No one needed to.
Salva continued:
"They're true."
A shift in the air.
Subtle—but real.
"A scout approached me yesterday."
A pause.
"He asked about one player."
Lamii already knew.
But hearing it still mattered.
Salva didn't rush it.
"He asked about Enzo."
Eyes moved instantly.
Toward him.
Enzo stood quietly among them.
No smile.
No pride.
No reaction at all.
Like it didn't matter.
Like it was expected.
Papii clicked his tongue.
"Of course."
Not angry.
But not impressed either.
Lamii stayed still.
Watching.
Studying.
Why him?
The question came naturally.
Not from jealousy.
From curiosity.
From pressure.
From truth.
The Statement
Coach Salva stepped forward.
"This changes nothing."
His voice cut through the tension.
"If anything…"
He paused.
"It changes everything."
Players leaned in.
Even slightly.
Because they felt it too.
This wasn't just about one scout anymore.
This was about the future.
Salva continued:
"By the end of this year…"
A long pause.
"…some of you will leave this academy."
The words hit harder than any tackle.
"Some of you will sign with bigger clubs."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
"And some of you…"
His gaze sharpened.
"…won't."
No one moved.
No one breathed.
Because now—
It wasn't a dream anymore.
It was a deadline.
Salva turned toward the field.
"This is your timeline."
He pointed to the pitch.
"Every training."
"Every match."
"Every decision."
"Leads to that moment."
Then he looked directly at three players.
Lamii.
Papii.
Enzo.
Not by accident.
By design.
"Right now…"
He said slowly.
"These are the players closest to that future."
The tension snapped into focus.
Three paths.
One destination.
Papii Speaks
Papii stepped forward slightly.
A grin on his face.
But his eyes—
Serious.
"Good."
A few players looked at him.
He shrugged.
"Means I know who I have to beat."
He glanced at Enzo.
Then at Lamii.
"Less guessing."
More pressure.
More fire.
Lamii's Silence
Lamii didn't speak.
Didn't react.
But inside—
Everything was moving.
Fast.
End of the year.
A line had been drawn.
And suddenly—
Every moment mattered more.
Enzo
Enzo finally moved.
Just slightly.
Enough to step forward.
Enough to speak.
His voice was calm.
Low.
Controlled.
"I'm not here to be watched."
The players listened.
"I'm here to be chosen."
Silence.
No arrogance.
No ego.
Just certainty.
Lamii's eyes narrowed slightly.
He believes that.
Coach Salva clapped once.
"Enough talking."
He pointed toward the field.
"Today, you play for position."
That changed everything.
No fixed roles.
No guaranteed spots.
No safety.
"You want to be in the starting team…"
His voice sharpened.
"Take it."
The Match Begins
The ball rolled.
And the game exploded instantly.
Faster than before.
Sharper.
More aggressive.
No one held back.
Because now—
Every touch was an argument.
Every play was a statement.
Lamii vs Enzo
It didn't take long.
The ball came to Lamii.
He turned—
And Enzo was there.
Again.
Perfect timing.
Perfect positioning.
Lamii tried to pass—
Blocked.
Tried to shift—
Closed.
Enzo didn't rush.
Didn't overcommit.
He simply… existed in the right space.
Every time.
Lamii exhaled.
He's reading everything.
Papii vs Raúl
On the other side—
Papii charged forward.
Aggressive.
Direct.
He got past one defender.
Then—
Raúl stepped in.
Clean.
Ball gone.
Again.
Papii growled.
"This guy again…"
The game broke quickly.
Players forced plays.
Ignored structure.
Tried to shine.
Because time was running.
Because the year had already started counting down.
The Struggle
Lamii received the ball again.
This time—
He tried something different.
Faster pass.
Quicker movement.
But Enzo adjusted.
Intercepted.
Clean.
No mistake.
Lamii stopped.
For a moment.
Just one.
This isn't enough.
Realization
Vision wasn't enough.
Knowing wasn't enough.
Seeing the game wasn't enough.
If he couldn't execute faster—
If he couldn't adapt—
He would fall behind.
The Adjustment
Next play—
Lamii didn't wait.
He didn't hold.
He played instantly.
One touch.
Pass.
Move.
Receive again.
This time—
Enzo was slightly late.
Just slightly.
But that was enough.
The play continued.
Lamii pushed forward.
Papii made a run.
Lamii passed.
Perfect.
Papii shot—
Goal.
They didn't celebrate.
They looked at each other.
Not smiling.
Not joking.
Just understanding.
The End
The whistle blew.
Training ended.
But no one felt finished.
Because now—
They knew.
This wasn't just training anymore.
This was selection.
Players left slowly.
Quietly.
Thinking.
Lamii stayed behind for a moment.
Looking at the pitch.
Then—
Coach Salva's voice came from behind.
"If you want to be number 10…"
Lamii turned.
Salva's eyes locked on his.
"You have to dominate players like him."
A pause.
Then—
"Right now…"
His voice dropped slightly.
"You don't."
Silence.
Lamii didn't argue.
Didn't react.
He just nodded.
Because he understood.
As Lamii walked off the field, one truth burned in his mind:
This wasn't about talent anymore.
This wasn't about dreams anymore.
This was about survival.
And by the end of the year—
Only one of them would rise.
Lamii.
Papii.
Or Enzo.
And the others…
Would be left behind