Leon woke up the next morning, the number £190,000 still swimming in his mind. He blinked, rubbing sleep from his eyes, half-expecting it to be a dream.
But the notification on his phone, the text from Coach Emery, it was all real. He had enough to buy his mom a new house. A real house.
He practically leaped out of bed and rushed downstairs, finding his mom already in the kitchen, making breakfast.
"Mom! Mom, you won't believe it!" he blurted out, almost tripping over his own feet in his excitement. He pulled out his phone, opening his banking app, and showed her the screen.
"Look! The club, they gave me a bonus! A big one! We can buy a new house!"
His mom stared at the screen, her eyes wide, then slowly, they filled with tears.
Her 'Current' rating, always radiating love, now shone with pure, overwhelming joy. "Leon! One hundred and ninety thousand pounds?! Oh, my darling boy! This is... this is incredible! Are you serious? A new house?"
She pulled him into a fierce hug, holding him so tightly he could barely breathe. "My wonderful son! You've worked so hard for this! All your dreams are coming true!"
Leon hugged her back, feeling a surge of profound satisfaction. "It's for you, Mom. For us. No more worries about the roof, or anything.
A proper home, with a big garden." He imagined a sprawling green space, perfect for kicking a ball around with future teammates.
His mom laughed, a joyous, tearful sound. "Oh, Leon! My heart is bursting! Yes! Let's find us a new house!"
The next day, Leon had a rare day off from training. He and his mom embarked on a house-hunting adventure. It felt surreal. Instead of scanning defenders' movements or predicting passes, Leon was looking at floor plans and garden sizes.
His 'sight', usually focused on football, somehow adapted, subconsciously noting the 'Potential' of a spacious kitchen or the 'Current' state of a worn-out bathroom.
They looked at several houses.
Some were too small, some too far from the academy, some just didn't feel right. Leon's mom was surprisingly picky. Leon, used to quick decisions on the pitch, found himself patiently weighing pros and cons.
It was a beautiful, detached house in a quiet, leafy suburb not too far from the academy. It had a lovely, classic brick exterior, with bright, spacious rooms inside.
The kitchen was modern and gleaming. But the real selling point for Leon was the garden. It was large, green, and wonderfully private, perfect for a bit of informal kicking about. He could already picture himself and Byon, maybe even Alex, practicing touches out there.
"It's perfect, Leon," his mom said, her voice soft with emotion, as they stood in the garden. "It feels like home. And it has a wonderful garden, just like you always wanted."
The price tag made Leon gulp slightly: £140,000. It was a significant chunk of his bonus, but looking at his mom's happy face, it was worth every single penny. It was an investment in their future, in their comfort.
"It's expensive," Leon said, a hint of worry in his voice. "But it's... it's beautiful, Mom. Let's do it."
His mom beamed. "It is! And we can afford it, my dear! We've worked so hard!"
The process of buying the house was a new experience for Leon, filled with paperwork and legal jargon, but his mom handled most of it.
Leon felt a deep sense of security and pride knowing he could provide this for her.
A few days later, settled into their new, comfortable home, Leon was relaxing in the living room. His mom was humming happily in the kitchen.
The scent of freshly baked cookies filled the air. Leon switched on the TV, flipping to a sports channel.
"In FA Cup action today, Manchester City faced Brighton, and it was another dominant performance from Pep Guardiola's side, securing a 2-0 victory. And once again, Byon was on the scoresheet!"
Leon leaned forward, a proud smile spreading across his face. Byon!
The replay showed it: Byon (Current: 85) received the ball on the edge of the box, cut inside with a sharp feint and unleashed a powerful, low shot that zipped past the goalkeeper.
"Another one for Byon! He's in incredible form for Manchester City! That's his tenth goal for City already this season across all competitions! What a start to his professional career!"
Leon cheered, pumping his fist. "YES, BYON!" He quickly texted his friend: "Another goal, eh? You're going to make me look bad! Congrats, mate!"
Byon's reply was almost instant:
"Told you I'm coming for your market value, Leo! £48 million and rising! Get ready to be humble!"
Leon chuckled. Their playful rivalry continued, fueling them both. It was amazing to see Byon thriving, truly realizing his incredible 'Potential'. It reinforced Leon's belief in his 'Help System' and his new quest.
He then checked the Premier League table on the TV.
Aston Villa was still in 6th place after their win against Tottenham.
Their goal difference was good, keeping them ahead of Chelsea.
Manchester City - 53 points
Liverpool - 49 points
Tottenham - 45 points
Manchester United - 43 points
Aston Villa - 42 points
Newcastle United - 30 points
City had gained more points, pulling slightly ahead of Arsenal.
But Villa was holding onto 6th. It was going to be a fierce fight for those European spots.
Leon felt a renewed sense of determination. His 'Help System' quest to keep Villa in 6th place was paramount.
He had to lead the team, inspire them, push them to new heights.
He thought about the new house, the comfort it brought his mom, the secure feeling in his own chest.
This was what he was playing for. Every pass, every tackle, every goal, was part of that larger picture.
He was Leon Fischer, the kid with the 'sight', the 'Help System', and now, a beautiful new home.