Chapter 28 - 26 — The Name He Remembered

Chapter 28: Chapter 26 — The Name He Remembered

Rafael had almost reached the school gate on Tuesday afternoon when Lucas called after him.

"Morales."

Rafael turned and saw him approaching with two of the classmates who had attended Metz’s final league match.

"We’re getting food," Lucas said. "You’re coming this time."

Rafael almost gave the answer he usually did, but training was not until Wednesday. He took out his phone and checked the academy calendar to make certain nothing had been added.

The afternoon remained clear.

"All right."

Lucas nodded as though he had expected that answer and continued toward the gate.

Rafael followed them.

They stopped at a small sandwich shop several streets from the school. Lucas chose almost immediately and stepped aside while the others read through the menu.

Rafael looked over the prices before ordering a plain ham baguette and water.

They found a table near the window, and Rafael placed his phone facedown beside his tray while Lucas continued a story he had started on the walk there.

Two students had almost started fighting during lunch before a teacher separated them. Lucas claimed one of them had been pushed into a table, but the classmate sitting opposite him had seen the argument from closer.

"Nobody touched the table."

"I heard they did."

"You said you saw it."

"I saw most of it."

"You were outside."

Lucas took another bite of his sandwich. "I could hear through the window."

"That still isn’t seeing."

Rafael smiled as somebody changed the subject.

They talked about people from school, plans for the weekend and what they intended to do once the term ended. One of the boys would spend part of the break helping at his uncle’s business, while Lucas was still trying to convince his parents to let him travel with several friends.

"What about you?" one of them asked Rafael.

"I haven’t planned anything."

Lucas looked across the table. "You’ll train."

"Probably."

"That wasn’t difficult."

Rafael drank some water.

One of the others mentioned a gathering someone from school was planning once their examinations finished. Lucas already knew about it but had apparently ignored most of the message.

"You coming?" he asked Rafael.

"When is it?"

They told him.

Rafael thought for a moment without reaching for the phone beside him.

"If I’m free."

Lucas gave him a look. "That means no."

"It means if I’m free."

"You said that last time."

"And I’m here now."

Lucas considered that before nodding. "Fair."

They moved on to music, someone’s new haircut and a teacher they were convinced had already stopped caring about the final weeks of term.

Football only returned to the table later.

One of the boys looked across at Rafael. "Sunday’s the semifinal, right?"

"Yeah."

"And if you win, you’re in the national final?"

Rafael nodded.

Lucas lowered his drink. "So you’re one match away."

"One difficult match."

"Still one."

The classmate opposite Rafael looked at him. "Metz still haven’t offered you a professional contract?"

"No."

"Even after all this?"

"I’m playing well for the U19s," Rafael said. "That doesn’t make me a professional."

The boy nodded. "Fair."

Lucas looked between them. "Would they wait until the season ends?"

"Maybe."

Rafael did not know what Metz intended, and guessing would not make the answer arrive any faster.

Lucas accepted that and finished the last of his food.

"Same place as last time on Sunday?"

"Near the academy entrance?"

"Yeah."

Rafael gave them the kick-off time.

"We’ll be there."

One of the others looked at him. "And if you reach the final?"

"Let us get there first."

"That’s not a no."

"If we make it, I’ll tell you where it is."

"Good enough."

When they eventually stood to leave, Rafael checked the time and realised they had been inside for almost an hour.

His phone was still facedown beside the empty tray.

He picked it up, slipped it into his pocket without opening anything and followed the others outside.

His mother mentioned the semifinal while they were eating that evening.

"I swapped my shift," she said. "I can come on Sunday."

Rafael looked up from his plate.

"Good."

She smiled and continued eating.

Later, after finishing his schoolwork, Rafael sat at his desk and opened the System.

[UNCLAIMED REWARDS: 1]

[VIEW REWARD]

He selected the prompt.

[MISSION REWARD]

[Mission: Reach the Semifinal]

[Reward: Free Attribute Point ×1]

[CLAIM REWARD]

Rafael claimed it.

[Reward Claimed.]

[Unassigned Free Attribute Points: 2]

[ALLOCATE NOW]

[SAVE FOR LATER]

There was no reason to spend them before he understood what PSG would ask of him.

Rafael selected the second option.

[REWARD SAVED]

[CLOSE]

The panel disappeared.

On Wednesday, the U19 squad remained at the academy after their afternoon session.

They sat in the analysis room wearing their training clothes while footage of PSG filled the screen at the front.

The coach began with one sequence from the Lens quarterfinal.

A Lens player closed the ball immediately while the teammates behind him removed the nearest passing options and pushed forward.

"You dealt with this on Sunday," the coach said. "Lens wanted the next decision before you were ready to make it."

PSG appeared on the screen.

Their centre-back held possession near his own penalty area until an opposing forward approached. He passed inside, waited for another midfielder to step out and received the return before PSG played through the space that movement had opened.

"Paris won’t rush the game for you. They’re comfortable keeping the ball until somebody leaves his position."

PSG circulated possession across the defensive line again, drawing a second opponent forward before accelerating through midfield and releasing their left-back beyond the winger.

The opposing right-back was suddenly facing two players.

The coach stopped the footage.