Ichiro didn't spend much more time at the training facilities after encountering Ryan. Mostly because he didn't really have many friends there, and therefore not that many to bid farewell. But also because he couldn't stand being there any longer than he had to. It felt a little stifling if he was honest.
Unlocking the door to his apartment, Ichiro was met with a familiar sight. The apartment was relatively small, and only had the most necessary of furniture. There was a small kitchen, a tiny bathroom, his bed and his desk- all accompanied by the carpet of clothes scattered across the floor.
"Haaaa"
Taking deep breath, Ichiro started cleaning. He didn't put on music like he usually did, he just- cleaned in silence, feeling the weight of his unknown future.
He figured he would be getting a phone call soon anyway- one he wasn't all that keen on answering.
And sure enough, just as the thought had exited his mind, it came crashing back in again as he heard his phone ring.
"Rrrrrr, rrrrr"
Ichiro picked up his phone and looked at the bright, shining screen announcing the arrival of the dreaded phone call to its master.
Answering the phone, a voice quickly sounded out from the oh so loyal servant in the form of an electronic device, carried around by all men and women in the world.
"Ichiro?" the voice said.
Ichiro let the callers word hang in the air for a few seconds, before answering:
"… Hey dad"
Ichiro´s dad let out a small laugh, before following it with a deep sigh.
"I saw the match you know. That goal… that goal was something else. Your mother screamed so loud the neighbors thought someone died."
Ichiro laughed softly, feeling some of the weight on his shoulders disappearing: "Yeah. Thanks."
"…" An awkward silence filled Ichiro´s small apartment. He was sure that his father knew, he was his agent after all.
"… So, I got a call today from Aston Villa, and they told me that they wouldn't be renewing your contract- is that right son?
Ichiro sighed, his shoulders heavy once again.
After a short moment, he said:
"Yeah"
Silence filled the line again.
"I see" his father said, breaking the silence.
"I'm sorry dad. I promise, I'll make it up to you, somehow."
His father's voice turned soft:
"Son, you don't need to. I'm sure that you will find a club- a good club- who will see your talent."
"Thanks"
"And I'm not saying this because you are my son. But, you know- that goal was something special. Something, that other clubs are sure to have seen. I think- no, I know that you can do it."
Ichiro felt tears gathering in the corner of his eyes.
"Thanks, dad"
After having spent an hour talking with his dad, Ichiro felt a bit more confident. He didn't exactly know what to do- or even where to go, but he was sure he would figure something out. He did after all have something no one else had.
As that thought flickered through his mind, Ichiro remembered. The reason for his confidence when he´d faced Ryan earlier that day.
The system.
He drew a slow, deep breath before whispering quietly:
"System"
A soft chime sounded in his head, and a glowing blue screen burst into view before him. Even though he´d been expecting it, the sudden appearance still made him flinch a little.
The video-game-like screen that was glowing in front of him, was in and of itself a mystery to Ichiro. He had gotten it after his goal in the final, however he had been too shocked - as well as a little bit drunk on the high of his game-winning goal – to actually check out what this system was.
Of course, Ichiro had some idea of what it was and what it did. Ichiro was after all a teenager and was no stranger to webnovels and other types of fiction, where systems could be found. However that was fiction, or at least it was supposed to be. Because as Ichiro read through the text on the glowing screen, he realized that what he had once thought of as fiction had become reality.
**
FOOTBALL SYSTEM
NAME: Ichiro Lo Presti
AGE: 16
-TEAM-: None
-STATUS-: Free Agent
VALUE: None
-OVERALL-: 55
-POTENTIAL-: 76
HEIGHT: 178cm/5´10
POSITION: Left Wing, Striker
-ATTRIBUTE POINTS-: 5
-SYSTEM POINTS-: 0
SYSTEM ASSESSMENT: An average academy player with potential to become an average Championship (England second division) player.
**
Ichiro stared blankly at the screen, feeling as if all life had been drained away from him. He simply could not understand… HOW HE COULD BE SO FUCKING SHIT.
"W- what the fuck is this? An average championship player?" Ichiro yelled out, not really directed at the system, but rather to the world. Life was just so unfair.
He had been working day and night to get better, to become the best he could be, and then it turned out that the best he could become was some second division player. That was just not fair.
However before Ichiro could complain more, another screen popped up in front of him, silencing the train of swearwords about to exit his mouth and grabbing his attention.
PLAYER MENU
-ATTRIBUTES-
-TASKS- (new)
-SHOP-
-CAREER STATS-
-SEASON STATS-
Seeing this new menu, Ichiro´s anger calmed down a little. He figured that if this system worked anything like the games he had played, his rating must have been based of his stats.
He stared at the screen for a few seconds, before deciding to first check one the other sections of the player menu.
"Hmm… the first will beee… THIS ONE!"
SHOP
-SKILLS- (locked)
-POTENTIAL UPGRADE-
This is it, this is exactly what I need, Ichiro thought as he saw the majestically glowing text on the system screen. He had found it – a way to fix his potential. A way to become what he wanted.
A way to become the best in the world, or maybe even the greatest of all time.