Leo's eyes fluttered open to the soft glow of morning light seeping through the thin curtains.
He blinked away the haze of sleep, his body feeling heavier than usual, weighed down by the decision he had made the night before.
For a moment, he just lay there, staring at the ceiling. Today felt different.
Not just another day of training, of blending into the background. Today, he had a path forward.
The sound of clinking dishes and the faint aroma of coffee drifted from the kitchen.
Sofia was already up, probably getting ready for work. Mia, on the other hand, was most likely still curled up under her blankets, unwilling to face the morning.
Pushing himself up, Leo ran a hand through his hair and swung his legs over the side of the bed.
The room was still dim, but the reality of the day had already settled in his chest. He had made his choice—now he just had to see it through.
He stood, stretching out the stiffness from the night's sleep before heading to the bathroom to freshen up.
As he splashed cold water on his face, he stared at his reflection.
This was the last day he would wake up as just another academy player with no direction.
Today, everything could change.
...
Leo arrived at the training ground earlier than usual.
The winter air was sharp against his skin, his breath visible in the morning cold.
He zipped up his jacket and walked toward the pitch, where a few of his teammates were already stretching, chatting lazily about last night's Champions League matches.
He didn't join in.
Today, he wasn't here to make friends. He wasn't here to just go through the motions.
He was just there to see if something would change or this would be one of his last training session with Manchester United, whether anyone realized it or not.
As soon as warm-ups were done and the drills began, Leo threw himself into the session with an intensity he had never shown before.
Every pass, every movement—it all had a purpose. He wasn't just trying to fit in anymore. He was trying to stand out.
And, for once, it worked.
His passing was sharper, the weight behind them more measured.
His eyes picked out pockets of space that others didn't see, and this time, he acted on them.
He played quick one-twos, threaded through balls that cut through defenders—balls that, if his teammates had been sharper, could have led to chances but it still wasn't enough. He had to do more.
Even the players who usually ignored him started to notice.
A few murmurs passed between them after one particularly well-placed ball split the midfield, though the receiving player fumbled the touch and lost possession.
"Damn, where did that come from?" one of the boys muttered under his breath.
Another shrugged. "Doesn't matter if no one can control it."
Leo didn't respond. He just kept playing, pushing himself harder, making sure every pass counted.
But Harris?
Harris didn't care.
The coach barely acknowledged him, barely looked his way.
If he noticed anything different about Leo today, he gave no indication.
To him, Leo was still the same unremarkable player he had been before.
It didn't matter.
By the time the session ended, Leo knew the truth—he wasn't wanted there and he was ready to move on.
...…
Training had wrapped up, and Leo was gathering his things by the bench, his breathing still steadying from the session.
The cold air bit at his skin, but his mind was already elsewhere. His decision was final. He didn't need to think it through or too much—this was his last day here.
He slung his bag over his shoulder, ready to walk away, when movement caught his eye.
A staff member, one of the older assistants, had approached Harris.
They exchanged a few words, and then the staff member subtly pointed in Leo's direction.
Leo's grip on his bag tightened. "Already huh" he uttered since he knew what was coming.
Harris turned, that ever-present smirk curling at his lips.
There was no warmth in his expression—just that same condescension he always carried when looking at Leo, like he was something beneath him, something not worth his time.
"Calderon," Harris called, his voice carrying across the training ground. "Come with him."
Leo exhaled slowly before nodding. He wasn't going to ask why—he already knew.
The murmurs among his teammates started almost immediately.
"What's that about?" one of them asked.
Another snickered. "Bet he's getting released."
A few others laughed, shaking their heads. No one really cared; it was just another moment of entertainment to them.
Leo didn't react. He simply followed the staff member inside, leaving the cold behind.