The Monday after felt like the air itself had changed. Not lighter—just charged. Like a thunderstorm that hadn't hit yet.
Everyone knew.
The video, even in its edited form, had hit campus like a dropped match in dry grass. Maria's cuts were tight, sharp—slow-mo on the footwork, jump cuts between the crowd reactions and our defensive press, the final goal framed like a movie climax. She didn't just show a game. She told a story.
And suddenly, we were no longer just students. We were representatives of something stirring.
System Update: Momentum Achieved
Daily Reputation Gain: +0.2% (School)
Influencer Watchlist: 1 Target Engaged
Club Formation Readiness: 37%
Coach Erwin called a meeting in the janitor's storage room—our unofficial HQ until we had something more than borrowed cones and rusted bibs.
"Word is, admin's not happy," he started. "Technically, that wasn't a sanctioned match. But unofficial or not, you stirred something. Now they want it contained—or legitimized."
He slapped a Manila folder on the table. Inside: club charter paperwork.
"Here's your next challenge," he said. "You want to keep this fire alive? Make it official. Get signatures. A faculty sponsor. Prove there's interest. Then fight for a slot in the school's athletics program."
New Quest: "Blueprint to Belong"
Objective: Form a Recognized Football Club
Requirements:
– 1 Faculty Sponsor
– 20+ Student Signatures
– 1 Club Constitution
– Proposal Presentation to Admin Board
Time Limit: 14 Days
Ana raised an eyebrow. "They're giving us two weeks?"
Coach shrugged. "Or they think you'll flame out in one."
We got to work.
Maria handled media. She made a short sizzle reel—clips from the match, testimonials from students, even some quick montages of pickup drills at recess.
"Your story needs legs," she said, fingers dancing on the keyboard. "So we give it shoes."
I handled recruitment. Classrooms. Lunch tables. Group chats. I pitched with the same intensity I used on the pitch. "Not just a club—a movement. A real place to belong."
Some laughed. Some nodded. Some signed.
Progress Update: 14/20 Signatures Acquired
Faculty Sponsor: Not Yet Secured
But not everyone was happy.
A group of varsity basketball players cornered me near the guidance office. Their captain—Bryce, lean and sharp-eyed—crossed his arms.
"You really think you're gonna steal the spotlight just 'cause of one viral video?" he said.
"We're not stealing anything," I replied. "We're building what wasn't there."
He scoffed. "Don't get ahead of yourself, Messi."
I smiled. "I'm not. I'm just passing it forward."
New Rival Detected: Bryce – Threat Level: Moderate (Leadership, Influence)
Trait Gained: Composure Under Scrutiny (Passive – Resist Peer Pressure)
The days blurred—signatures collected, drafts revised, red ink from Coach on our club constitution.
Ana took charge of the presentation slides. "Admin responds to clarity and strategy," she said. "This needs to look like a long-term investment, not a student whim."
We stayed late every night in the library's side room. The triangle still hovered—me, Ana, Maria—but now it wasn't romantic. It was tactical. Balanced. Just like a midfield.
Day 13.
We had it all—signatures, a clean constitution, a sponsor in Ms. Reyes (from PE, surprisingly hyped after watching the footage), and a polished pitch deck.
We stood outside the admin boardroom. I could hear the muffled voices of principals and department heads inside.
Maria bumped my shoulder. "Ready?"
Ana adjusted her glasses. "Let's make them believe."
The door opened.
Quest Update: Final Stage – Pitch to the Board
Reward: Club Recognition, +5% School Rep, Unlock: Official Match Fixtures
Failure Penalty: Momentum Reset, Admin Sanctions Possible
I stepped inside.
Not as a player.
But as a founder.
And I wasn't planning to leave empty-handed.