At school, the recognition had created a different but equally meaningful dynamic. His classmates at the Heinrich-Böll-Gymnasium had quickly moved past the initial excitement of having a professional footballer in their midst, treating him with the casual respect that teenagers reserved for peers who had achieved something noteworthy but remained fundamentally relatable.
The teachers, who had been briefed on maintaining a normal academic environment, ensured that his celebrity status never interfered with the educational process.
In his German literature class, Frau Weber had assigned a discussion of Goethe's concept of self-improvement through struggle, and Mateo had found himself contributing thoughtfully to the conversation through Sarah's translation.
