Alex walked back towards the U18 building. It felt... smaller. The paint on the door was peeling a little. He could hear the loud, bad music from outside.

He was holding his bag tightly. In it, wrapped carefully in a plastic bag, was the jersey from Antoine. It felt like a secret. A magical, sweaty secret.

He pushed the door open and walked into the locker room.

"HE IS HERE!"

Sam launched himself at Alex. It was like being hit by a very happy, very sweaty dog.

"DUDE! ALEX! WE HEARD! THE U21 CAPTAIN TOLD OUR CAPTAIN! DID YOU REALLY NUTMEG BEN? DID YOU REALLY MAKE BASTIAN FALL OVER? IS ANTOINE AS COOL AS HE LOOKS? DID HE SPEAK TO YOU? DID YOU GET A SHIRT?"

Alex laughed, trying to push his friend away. The entire room was staring at him. The music had stopped.

"Yes, I nutmegged Ben," Alex said, and the room went "Oooooh."

"No, I did not make Bastian fall over," Alex continued, "I just... stopped the ball. He sort of... stumbled."

"He stumbled though!" a voice called out from the back.

"He stumbled," Alex admitted, a grin spreading across his face. "And... yes. Antoine spoke to me."

"NO WAY!" Sam was practically vibrating. "What did he say? Did you ask him about his free kicks? Did you get his phone number?"

"He said I think too much," Alex said. "And... he gave me this."

Slowly, like he was handling a piece of glass, Alex pulled the shirt from his bag.

The room went completely silent.

It was the official first team jersey. With the number ten. And the name ANTOINE on the back. It was covered in mud. It was beautiful.

"Whoa," Sam whispered. He reached out one finger and just... touched the fabric. "You... you are a legend. A total, complete legend."

Alex felt his face get a little red. He carefully put the shirt back in his bag. "It is just a shirt, guys. We have training."

He looked over to the far corner.

Mark was at his locker. He was already in his kit. He was taping his wrists. Very. Tightly.

He had not looked up. He had not said a single word.

Alexs good feeling faded a little. He walked over to his own locker, which was next to Marks.

"Hi Mark," Alex said.

Mark finished pulling the tape. He ripped it with his teeth. He stood up.

He looked at Alex. His eyes were not angry. They were on fire.

"So," Mark said, his voice low and flat. "You played with the big boys. You gave them one good pass."

"It was a good pass," Alex said quietly.

"Yeah. One," Mark said. "Can you do it again? This Saturday? Against Millwall? Or was that your one lucky day? Was that your one big show?"

He did not wait for an answer. He just pushed past Alex and walked out to the pitch.

Alex watched him go. That was not just jealousy. That was a challenge.

Coach Steve was waiting for them by the door to the pitch. He was smiling. A real, proud smile.

"Welcome back, superstar," Coach Steve said, giving Alex a hard clap on the shoulder that almost knocked him over.

"It was just one game, coach," Alex said, rubbing his shoulder.

"It was a good game. Coach Wilkins was very happy." Coach Steve his smile faded just a little. "He said your defending was awful."

"He did mention that," Alex agreed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"And that you are slow. And you jump like a stunned duck."

"Yes, coach. He was very clear."

"Good," Coach Steve boomed, his voice back to its normal, loud self. "So you know what we are working on. I do not care about the jersey from Antoine. You are an Arsenal U18 player. And today, we are going to run. A lot. Get out there."

Training started with a small game. Eight players versus eight players.

Alex felt amazing. His mind was still on that U21 speed. He was buzzing.

The ball came to him. He saw Sam making a run. He did not even think. He hit a hard, one touch pass with his left foot.

THWACK.

The pass was a rocket. It was perfect.

Sam was not ready for it. The ball hit him hard in the chest and bounced away to a defender.

"Ow!" Sam yelped, rubbing his ribs. "Alex! Give me a warning next time!"

"Sorry!" Alex called. He had not realized. He was moving too fast.

A minute later, Alex got the ball. He saw a defender coming. He did his new move, the one that fooled Bastian. He stopped the ball, let the player run past him.

It worked. The U18 player flew past, looking confused.

Alex had space. He looked up.

But... no one was running.

Mark was being marked. The other players were just... waiting. The U21 players would have seen the space. They would have moved. They would have known.

Alex stood there. He was an analyst with all the answers, but no one was asking the right question.

He was alone.

He felt a sharp spike of frustration. Why are they so slow? Why do they not see it?

He lost the ball.

He stopped. His old analyst brain kicked in. They are not slow. You are just seeing the game differently now. You are not a solo player. You cannot do this alone. You have to make them better.

He remembered what Antoine said. Do not let these coaches make you boring.

He remembered what Coach Wilkins said. You are a pivot. You make the team tick.

Okay. A new plan.

He got the ball again. He did not pass it immediately. He held it for just a split second. "Sam!" he yelled. "Back shoulder! Now!"

Sam was confused, but he looked over his shoulder. The space was there.

Alex played a simple, smart pass into that space. Sam ran onto it.

It worked.

Alex got the ball again. He looked at his winger. "Drop deep! Drag him with you!"

The winger did it. The defender followed. A huge space opened up.

Alex did not pass there. He passed the ball to Mark, who was now one on one.

Alex was not just playing. He was coaching. He was the on field analyst. His vision was not just for him. It was for the whole team.

He was making them all play faster.

Training finished. It was the best session they had ever had. Alex was not the only one playing well. Everyone was. He was making them see the game his way.

"You are... bossy now," Sam panted, lying on the grass. "Very bossy. But it works. I like bossy Alex."

Alex laughed. He was tired, but he was happy.

He looked up. The pitch was almost empty. The other players were heading for the showers.

Except for one person.

Mark was standing by the bag of balls. He was waiting.

Alexs heart did a little leap. He was not sure if Mark would be there.

He walked over.

Mark did not look at him. He just threw a ball at Alex.

"Your pass to the U21 striker," Mark said. It was not a question. "The left foot one. It was good. Fast. Clean."

"Thanks," Alex said, surprised Mark would say that.

"But your first touch was slow. And that U21 defender, Ben. He is big, but he is clumsy. I am faster than him. I would have scored two."

Alex just grinned. There it was. The jealousy. The fire. The challenge.

"Okay, superstar," Alex said. "Let us see."

"We are not doing your stupid passes today," Mark said. He pointed at the goal. "We are working on my finishing. You will pass. I will score. You will do it until your left foot is perfect. And then..."

Mark scowled. "Then we work on your heading. Coach was right. You are a stunned duck."

Alex just laughed. He was happy. This was his new normal. He was not just a wonderkid. He was part of a partnership.

"Fine," Alex said, picking up a ball. "But try to keep up, Mark. I am playing at U21 speed now."

"Just kick the ball, brain boy," Mark shot back. But Alex saw it. For the first time, Mark was smiling.

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