The room was quiet again.
Dr. Falk had left.The words still echoed in Mateo's mind:
"Six months. Minimum."
The phrase spun slowly in his head, like a ball that refused to stop rolling.
He looked down at his casted leg.He flexed his toes—barely.The pain wasn't sharp anymore.
But the absence…the immobility…
That was worse.
The Silence That Follows
Klara sat beside him, still holding his hand.
His mother was now pacing slowly near the window, speaking in hushed tones with the head nurse.
Mateo stared at the ceiling for what felt like an hour—until he finally broke the silence.
"Why does it feel worse now… than before the final?"
Klara turned, eyes soft. "Because now, it's real."
He nodded slightly.
"I knew I was pushing my body too far…but I thought I could handle it."
"You did," she said quietly."You won."
Inside the System
As if summoned by his emotions, the familiar interface shimmered softly above him.
[Congratulations, Host. You have fulfilled all tournament objectives.]
Titles Earned:– Golden Maestro– Clutch King– The Broken Crown
Passive Skill Evolved:– Emotional Anchor → Iron Will
New Perk Gained:– "Legacy Echo: Your performance will echo through world football. Long-term reputation increased dramatically."
But Mateo's eyes moved to the bottom of the list—
⚠ Status: Rehabilitation Protocol PendingEstimated Recovery Time: 183 days
He closed the interface.
Not because he was ungrateful.
But because it felt like staring at a medalwhen all he wanted to dowas run again.
Visitors
There was a knock.
The door opened—and in came Lukas, Ritter, and Jonas.
"About time, sleeping beauty," Jonas joked with a grin.
Lukas walked in quietly, his arms crossed.
"Your pass was better than my finish."
Mateo smirked faintly. "I know."
They all laughed.
And then, they were quiet.
"Coach sends his love," Ritter added. "They're letting us visit in groups."
"And the world?" Mateo asked.
Jonas pulled out his phone and flipped the screen.
There it was:
MATEO GONZÁLEZ – THE MAN WHO GAVE EVERYTHINGTrending worldwide.
Fan art.Tributes.Video edits of his plays.Children celebrating in jerseys with his name.
He scrolled past hundreds of messages:
"This is our Messi-Ronaldo in one body.""The new legend is here.""Mateo's pass in the 113th was God's work."
Mateo stared.
He couldn't speak.
One Message
Later that night, as the room dimmed and the others had left,Klara leaned over and handed him her phone.
"There's one message you haven't seen yet."
He took it.
A video message.
The name made him freeze.
Vincent Kompany.
Kompany's face filled the screen.
"Mateo… I know this isn't how you imagined the final chapter of your tournament ending.
But let me tell you something.
What you did…wasn't just winning a final.
You inspired a generation.
You became the heartbeat of a team, of a nation.
Rest. Heal.
Bayern is waiting.The world is waiting."
Mateo's eyes welled.
He laid back on the pillow,Klara beside him, her hand in his—
And whispered:
"I'll come back stronger."