That night, Mateo slept like a stone.
His body, heavy with exhaustion, sank deep into the mattress, and for the first time in what felt like forever, his dreams were peaceful.No hospital rooms, no painful goodbyes — only the sound of a ball bouncing gently on sunlit fields, and the faint echo of laughter carried on the breeze.
When morning came, the golden light of Buenos Aires spilled through the windows, casting a warm glow across his room.
Mateo yawned, stretching lazily before dragging himself out of bed.The events of yesterday — the mission, the system, the choice — felt almost unreal, like something from a different world.But deep down, he knew it was real.A new chapter had begun.
The smell of fresh bread and coffee lured him to the kitchen, where his mother was setting two plates at the small table.She smiled softly when she saw him, though her eyes still carried the weight of grief.
"Good morning, corazón," she said gently, brushing a lock of his messy hair aside."Come, sit."
Mateo did as he was told, digging into the warm toast gratefully.It wasn't until they were both halfway through breakfast that Helena set her cup down and cleared her throat.
"Mateo," she began carefully, "I got a call this morning."
He looked up, sensing the seriousness in her voice.
"From Germany," she continued. "Your grandparents... they want us to come to Munich. To live there. They say we shouldn't be alone. That family is important, now more than ever."
She paused, searching his face for any reaction.
"I... I don't know what to do," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. "I don't want to force you to leave everything you know. Your school, your friends, your football team..."
Then, gently, she asked the question that hit Mateo like a hammer:
"What do you want to do, mi amor?"
Mateo froze.
The fork in his hand hovered halfway to his mouth.His mind raced, chaotic with a thousand thoughts — leaving Buenos Aires, starting over, new schools, new friends, a new life.Fear, excitement, sadness, hope — all crashing together inside him like waves in a storm.
How could he decide something so big?
[System Message:][Suggestion: Strongly recommend relocation to Germany.][Rationale: Superior youth sports infrastructure, access to elite football academies, higher quality of life, greater long-term career opportunities.][Notable Examples: FC Bayern Munich Youth Academy, Borussia Dortmund Youth System, among others.]
Mateo blinked, stunned by the sudden intervention.The system's words appeared before his eyes in crisp clarity.
[Additional Note:][Host's development between ages 12-15 is critical. Exposure to top-tier facilities and training programs will significantly enhance progression.]
He swallowed hard, the weight of the decision settling in his chest.
He thought about his father's wish — to live his life without fear.He thought about the dream burning inside him, about the future that waited beyond the horizon.
He looked at his mother, who waited patiently, giving him the space to choose.
Mateo set down his fork and met her gaze, his voice small but firm.
"I want to go," he said. "I want us to go to Germany."
Helena blinked, surprised — but then she smiled, a bittersweet, proud smile, and reached across the table to squeeze his hand.
"Then we'll go," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "We'll build a new life. Together."
Mateo nodded, feeling a strange lightness rise inside him.
A new country.A new beginning.And a new path toward the dream he refused to let go.