The locker room buzzed with quiet energy, cleats tapping against the tiled floor, jerseys being pulled over heads, and the familiar scent of grass and liniment thick in the air. It was the morning of the friendly match against Eastmere High, a team known more for their brutal tackling than tactical finesse. For most, it was just a pre-season formality. For Leon, it was everything.
He sat at the edge of the bench, staring down at his boots. His heart beat a little too loud. His fingers trembled a little too much.
Today was his first real match.
"Relax," mumbled Theo, the lanky midfielder who'd taken a liking to Leon during training. "You've been solid all week. Coach sees it."
Leon managed a nod, but his eyes shifted across the room.
Kael was slouched in the far corner, scrolling through his phone, earbuds in, face as unreadable as stone. The star of the team. And the guy whose position Leon was temporarily taking.
At least, for now.
Coach Davor stepped in with a clipboard under his arm. "Alright, listen up."
All chatter ceased.
"Leon starts at right wing. Kael, you're subbing in second half."
There was a flicker in Kael's expression, a tiny crease in the forehead, the faintest tightening of the jaw, but it passed as quickly as it came. He nodded without looking up from his phone.
Leon felt the air thicken around him.
Match Begins – First Half
The whistle blew, and Leon's world narrowed to green turf, white lines, and pounding adrenaline.
He took his position wide on the right. His vision pulsed, and the PlaySight interface faded into view like ink spreading in water:
Leon Vale – Level 2
EXP: 7 / 200
PlaySight Skill Active: Minimap – Basic
A small semi-transparent map appeared in the top-left corner of his vision, showing teammates and nearby opponents within a 20-meter radius. It wasn't much, but to Leon, it felt like magic.
Minute 5: The ball came his way. He controlled it, looked at the minimap, and spotted Theo cutting inside. Leon sent a grounded through-pass just ahead of him.
It was slightly off, Theo had to stretch, but it got through.
+3 EXP: Minimap-Aided Play
Minute 12: Eastmere's left-back charged toward him. Leon checked the minimap again, no backup in sight.
He pivoted, shielded the ball, and played it back safely to the full-back.
Nothing flashy, but clean. Smart.
+2 EXP: Safe Tactical Recovery
EXP: 12 / 200
The game rolled on, and slowly, Leon settled into rhythm. He wasn't making headlines, but he was functioning. Executing.
And most importantly, he wasn't making mistakes.
From the sideline, Coach Davor watched him closely, arms folded. Leon's passes weren't adventurous, but his positioning was better than expected. He used his minimap wisely, retreating when needed, finding space to stretch the defense.
He wasn't a genius. But he was learning.
By the 30th minute, Leon had two shot assists, not conversions, but close.
+4 EXP: Vision-Based Setup x2
EXP: 20 / 200
The rest of the half saw him breaking a few tackles, misplacing a cross, and making one crucial interception that stopped an Eastmere break.
He jogged off at halftime, chest heaving, drenched in sweat—but standing tall.
Kael stood up as he approached, stretching, eyeing Leon coldly. "Cute. But don't get used to it."
Leon didn't answer.
Second Half – Same Team, Different Energy
To Leon's surprise, Coach kept him in. "Stay out there. I'm testing chemistry."
Kael stepped in too, not as a replacement, but on the opposite wing.
Now they were playing together.
Leon's nerves buzzed again.
Kael didn't speak a word to him on the pitch. But he made sure Leon felt him.
When Leon pushed up too far, Kael pulled back and intentionally broke off passing lanes. When Leon passed centrally, Kael would wave his arms in frustration—though no real error had occurred. The tension was obvious.
Minute 60: Leon spotted a gap and charged inward. He passed diagonally to the striker, then cut wide, expecting a return ball.
Kael intercepted the pass midway and tried a flashy turn.
Lost it.
Eastmere countered.
Leon tracked back hard and poked the ball out just before it reached their striker.
+5 EXP: Emergency Defensive Coverage
EXP: 25 / 200
Coach Davor frowned from the touchline. "Play simple!" he barked—not at Leon, but clearly at Kael.
Kael didn't react. But Leon caught a glimpse of the twitch in his jaw.
Final Moments
By the 75th minute, Leon's legs were heavy, but his mind sharper than ever. He'd grown into the game. His passes were shorter now, his decisions more precise.
Kael, meanwhile, grew more aggressive—hogging the ball, skipping obvious passes.
Minute 82: Leon checked his minimap—midfielder Theo darted into a half-space. Leon lobbed a perfectly weighted ball into his path.
Shot.
Saved.
Corner.
+6 EXP: Key Pass Under Pressure
EXP: 31 / 200
From the corner, Kael rose highest and headed the ball wide.
No celebration. No acknowledgment.
Post Match
After the final whistle blew (0–0 draw), Leon slumped to the grass, lungs burning. But inside him, something new had formed:
A strange peace.
He had lasted the full match. He hadn't faltered. He hadn't stood out, but he hadn't crumbled either.
Back in his room, as moonlight filtered through the window, the PlaySight log appeared:
Player Log – Leon Vale
Level 2: Street Player
EXP: 31 / 200
Skill Active: Minimap (Basic)
• Shows positional awareness of teammates and nearby opponents within 20m
Progress Toward Skill Upgrade – Tactical Awareness (Intermediate): 2/3 key plays completed
Upcoming Unlock Path (Skill Tree):
– Agile Step (dodge-based skill): Locked
– Momentum Burst (short speed boost): Locked
– Predictive Pathing (advanced minimap algorithm): Locked
Current Stats (Out of 100):
• Dribbling: 47
• Passing: 53
• Shooting: 42
• Speed: 46 (+1)
• Stamina: 44 (+2)
• Vision: 12 (+1)
• Mental: 41 (+1)
Team Standing: Noticed
Coach's Observation: Positive
Kael's Rivalry: Active – Internal Threat Identified
Kael passed him in the hallway after team cooldown.
"You played the whole game," Kael muttered.
Leon looked at him, unsure whether to take it as a compliment or warning.
Kael didn't wait for a reply.
He simply said, "Next time, don't expect me to make you look good."
And walked away.
Leon smiled faintly.
He didn't need Kael to make him look good.
He had PlaySight.
And more importantly—he had time.