That morning, Utrecht looked the same as always—cold, foggy, quiet.
But for me, everything felt different.
Today was decision day.
The day when all the hard work, all the training, all the bruises, falls, struggles, and stubborn determination… would be judged.
Was I good enough for Jong Utrecht?
Or was I just an overconfident Indonesian teenager?
I took a deep breath in front of the academy building.
My hands were shaking—not because of the cold, but because of uncertainty.
Ivar and Justin were waiting at the entrance, like two overly enthusiastic little bodyguards.
"Bro! BRO! YOU'RE TOTALLY GONNA PASS!"
Justin was already yelling before I even stepped out of the car.
Ivar nodded confidently. "Seriously, Richard. You were insane yesterday. I watched from far away! Even that bald coach was nodding like crazy."
I smiled a little.
Their voices always calmed me down.
"Still… an announcement is an announcement," I said.
We walked inside.
The academy hallway felt quieter than usual.
Even the sound of our footsteps echoed loudly.
In front of the meeting room, Coach De Vries was already waiting.
His face was blank—giving absolutely nothing away.
"Come in," he said shortly.
My heart dropped to my stomach.
---
Jong Utrecht Meeting Room
Four people were inside:
Mark Veldman, head scout
Coach Remko, technical coach
Coach Linden, physical coach
One representative from academy management
All of them stared at me.
Mark held a thick folder in his hand.
I sat down.
My breath caught in my throat.
Mark opened the meeting with his usual flat tone.
"Richard Ardiansyah. Your integration test results for Jong Utrecht have been fully evaluated."
I swallowed hard.
Coach Remko added, "Your technique and decision-making… they're at the level of a 19-year-old. Clean. Simple. Efficient."
Linden glanced at his physical report.
"Your physique still needs work, but your agility covers a lot of gaps."
Management added, "Mentally, and under pressure… you surprised us."
Silence.
Mark flipped to the last page.
His expression didn't change.
"So… this is our decision."
I closed my eyes for half a second, then looked straight at him.
And at that moment—
Mark smiled.
A small smile.
The first I'd ever seen from him.
"Richard Ardiansyah… based on your performance, we have decided that—"
He slowly closed the folder.
"You are ACCEPTED. Starting today… you are officially a Jong Utrecht player."
I froze.
Completely froze.
Linden clapped first.
Then Remko.
Then the rest.
All of them stood up.
Even De Vries—the cold coach who almost never shows emotion—finally spoke:
"I'm proud of you, kid."
My chest felt hot.
My eyes nearly watered.
I stood and bowed deeply.
"Thank you… thank you so much… I won't let the club down."
Mark patted my shoulder.
"This is only the beginning. Welcome to professional football."
---
Jersey, Number, and Professional Academy Contract
After the announcement, a staff member brought a black bag.
Inside was—
A red Jong Utrecht jersey.
Number: 28.
My name printed on the back: ARDIANSYAH.
My hands trembled as I touched it.
"This… is for me?"
Mark nodded.
"It's yours now."
I exhaled slowly.
Memories flashed through my mind—everything from Lamongan to this very room.
Dirt fields.
Cheap balls that tore easily.
Shoes with holes.
The scorching heat.
The constant rain.
People saying I was wasting time.
People looking down on me.
All of it…
led to this moment.
---
Outside the Room — Two Kids Go Crazy
The moment I stepped out, Ivar and Justin rushed at me.
"HOW WAS IT?! HOW WAS IT?! TELL US!!!"
Justin practically shook my shirt off.
I smiled softly.
"It's official."
They froze.
Five seconds…
Ten seconds…
Then both screamed:
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!"
Ivar jumped around.
Justin lifted my arm like I'd just won a championship.
"RICHARD IS A JONG UTRECHT PLAYER!!"
"I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! I TOLD YOU!"
I laughed and pulled them into a hug.
Deep down… I was grateful they were here to witness this.
---
[SYSTEM ACTIVE]
While the chaos continued, a system notification popped up.
> [Quest Complete] Path to Jong Utrecht
Rewards:
– Skill Tier C: Eagle Field Vision
– +10 Passing
– +12 Dribbling
– +8 Acceleration
– New Title: Young Prodigy – Netherlands Track
My chest tightened.
This new skill…
it wasn't a small upgrade.
> [New Mode Unlocked]
Professional Progression
I gripped the jersey bag tighter.
---
Leaving the Building — A New Chapter Begins
As I stepped outside, the Utrecht sun finally broke through the fog.
I stood at the stairs, staring at the training field where the Jong Utrecht players were practicing.
The place I'd be starting tomorrow.
The place where my childhood dream—a dream born from a small boy in Lamongan kicking a plastic ball—would slowly turn into a career.
I took a deep breath.
"This is just the beginning," I whispered.
Then I smiled.
"I will reach the first team.
No matter what it takes."
Today wasn't the end of the journey.
Today was
the birth of a professional footballer.