The streets of Igualada buzzed with excitement the morning after CF Igualada's victory against UE Sant Andreu. The team's dramatic comeback had become the talk of the town, with local newspapers highlighting Daniel Carter's performance. Even in school, students who rarely cared about football suddenly recognized him.
"Hey, Carter! That last-minute volley was insane!" a classmate called out as Daniel walked into the hallways of Academia Igualada.
Daniel gave a casual nod, but his mind was elsewhere. He had an entirely different challenge today—his coffee meet-up with Sofia.
Miguel nudged him as they headed to their first class. "You've been smiling to yourself all morning. Got a date or something?"
Luis overheard and smirked. "Oh, I see what's going on."
Daniel rolled his eyes. "It's just coffee."
"Right," Miguel teased. "Just like how Barcelona 'just' lost to Real Madrid in the last El Clásico."
Luis laughed. "You better not mess this up."
Daniel shook his head, pretending to ignore them as they walked into class.
Later that evening, Daniel arrived at a small café in the center of Igualada. It was cozy, with warm lighting and a soft buzz of conversation. He spotted Sofia sitting by the window, already sipping on her drink.
"Didn't think you'd actually come," she teased as he sat down.
"I don't back out of challenges," Daniel replied with a grin.
Sofia smirked. "Good to know."
They talked about football at first—how Sofia's promotion had changed the level of play, how Igualada's under-19 team had been improving, and how the league season was shaping up. But then the conversation drifted to other things.
Sofia spoke about how she missed playing more regularly with her old teammates, even though she loved the new challenge. She also admitted that balancing school and football wasn't easy.
Daniel listened intently. He had never really thought about how much Sofia was handling. She wasn't just a talented player—she was working just as hard, if not harder, to prove herself at every level.
"Sometimes, it feels like no matter how well you play, there's always someone waiting to take your spot," Sofia admitted.
Daniel nodded. "I get that. Every match feels like an audition."
Sofia looked at him thoughtfully. "You know, you're different from what I expected."
Daniel raised an eyebrow. "How so?"
"I don't know. You have this... serious, almost mysterious vibe. But you're also easy to talk to."
Daniel chuckled. "Mysterious? Never heard that one before."
She smirked. "It's a compliment."
For the first time in a while, Daniel felt completely at ease. No football pressure, no mysteries looming over him—just a normal conversation.
As they finished their drinks, Sofia leaned back in her chair. "So, what's next for you?"
Daniel thought for a moment. "Win more matches. Keep improving. And… maybe have more coffee like this."
Sofia smiled. "We'll see."
Training and Reality Check
The next day, Daniel was back on the pitch. Coach Morales wasn't taking it easy on them, pushing the team hard as they prepared for their next league match.
"Carter! Luis! Miguel! You three are leading this team now. I expect more from you," the coach barked.
They nodded, knowing there was no room for complacency.
During a practice match, Daniel found himself against Miguel in a one-on-one situation. He feinted left, then burst right, sending a powerful shot toward the goal.
The keeper barely reacted. The ball slammed into the back of the net.
Miguel whistled. "Damn, bro. That was Haaland-level finishing."
Daniel grinned. His idol, Erling Haaland, was known for his lethal finishing. If he could even get close to that level, he knew he was on the right path.
As training wrapped up, Coach Morales gathered the team.
"You've done well, but we have a tough schedule ahead. Some of you might get chances to train with the senior team if you keep performing."
That statement sent a ripple of excitement through the squad. Training with the senior team meant a potential pathway to professional football.
Daniel clenched his fists. He wanted that chance. But he knew he had to keep proving himself—on and off the pitch.