The dramatic, late winner against Frankfurt was more than just a goal; it was a turning point. It was the moment Mateo stopped being a passenger in the storm of his own fame and began to learn how to navigate it.
The catharsis of that goal, the act of channeling a week of emotional turmoil into a single, decisive action, had unlocked a new level of understanding within him.
That evening, sitting in the quiet of his dorm room, the cheers of the Yellow Wall still echoing in his memory, he had a long, overdue conversation with Lukas.
His roommate had been watching him with growing concern over the past few weeks, seeing the strain behind the spectacular goals. Lukas, for all his theatrics, was deeply loyal and perceptive.
"Are you okay?" Lukas asked, his usual boisterous energy subdued. "I mean, really okay? This is all... a lot."
