"Here we are," Oswin announced as he slowed to a stop.
Winston looked back at the route they had taken. Only then did he realize they had run all the way uphill while carrying on a conversation. He glanced at Oswin, who was also slightly out of breath.
His stamina isn't bad either.
"Yo, Frankie! Long time no see." Oswin waved at a man behind the counter. "Didn't know you were back. How's college?"
Frankie smiled. "Oh, hey, bro. I've been back for about a week. You know how it is—college assignments never stop."
While the two caught up, Winston took a moment to catch his breath. He discreetly opened the Core System and checked his physical attributes. A smile spread across his face. The morning drills had boosted his physical stats more than he expected.
At this rate... I might actually become the coach's first choice.
The loud sounds of arcade machines, children cheering, and buttons being mashed snapped him back to reality. Looking up, he saw Oswin still chatting with the arcade manager.
Only then did Winston notice how much the weather had changed. He hadn't been paying attention to the passing seasons lately. The front door opened again, letting in a chilly breeze.
"Winston, this way," Oswin called, handing his gym bag to the manager.
He pointed toward Winston. "This is my teammate, Winston." Then he looked at Winston. "And this is Frankie. His family owns the arcade."
"It's nice to meet you," Winston said.
"Likewise."
Winston handed Frankie his own gym bag before following Oswin. The moment they stepped inside, Oswin stopped in the middle of the arcade, closed his eyes, spread his arms slightly, and tilted his chin upward as though he were a superhero soaking in the atmosphere.
Winston raised an eyebrow. He considered asking what Oswin was doing, but quickly thought better of it. Ever since they'd met, Oswin had always pulled bizarre stunts like this. By now, Winston was used to it. The arcade buzzed with energy.
Teenagers frantically hammered buttons while shouting at fighting game cabinets. Children crowded around racing games, and groups of friends cheered each other on from behind the machines.
The warm, stale air downstairs made Winston's breathing feel heavier. It had been years since he'd played video games. After deciding to pursue football seriously, he'd given them up almost entirely, spending nearly all his free time training instead.
"Don't worry," Oswin said with a grin. "We're not staying down here."
He pointed upstairs. "The pool tables are on the second floor."
The upper level surprised Winston. It was far more spacious, quieter, and noticeably cooler thanks to the air conditioning. The fresh air immediately soothed his lungs after their run across town. He shivered slightly as the cool breeze brushed against his sweat-soaked shirt.
Looking around, he felt relieved that he still remembered how to play pool. Unfortunately, every table was occupied. Groups of people were in the middle of games, while others sat nearby, waiting patiently for a table to become available.
"The club we're playing in a few days won their match today. They're now level with us on points in the league table, so our next match is crucial if we want to move into second place."
"I heard all the commotion at the training ground. The last time I checked, the score was level. I'm surprised both teams were going neck and neck. Some people even stopped training just to watch the match."
"Yeah, I watched it. They completely controlled the second half. The other team looked like amateurs." Oswin paused for a moment before continuing. "I just got a message from my friends. They're on their way here."
Winston took a sip of his cold drink and turned his attention to the large television mounted on the wall. A derby match was being broadcast, featuring the senior team he had played for only a few months earlier. This time, the squad wasn't plagued by injuries, and their chemistry on the pitch was much better. Winston couldn't help but daydream about playing in the top league again.
When he glanced around, he noticed everyone had stopped playing. Their attention had shifted entirely to the big screen.
"Looks like we made it just in time. I thought we were going to miss the match. Thank God it's only the first half," said a tall, pale-skinned, skinny youth about Winston's age. A small bandage was stuck to one of his cheeks.
The youth slapped Oswin on the back, making him choke and spill his drink.
Still focused on the television, Winston quickly turned his head. The two youths were fist-bumping while laughing as Oswin coughed.
"C'mon, bro, you made me spill my drink."
"Don't worry, I'll buy you another one. Anyway, how's the match? I heard this one's intense. Westminster only needs a point to move into second place."
"Yeah, but the Giant Hawks are giving them a hard time. And Cerceda aren't backing down either. They won yesterday, so they're now four points clear."
"That's because they suffered too many injuries earlier in the season. Otherwise, they would've qualified for the championship." The youth with a badge on his cheek said,
Winston continued watching the match without turning around. He had a feeling Oswin was looking at him. Clenching his fist, he thought about how much more he needed to improve. As he took another sip of his drink, he discreetly flicked his index finger. The Core system appeared before him, and he immediately opened the Physical Attributes section.
[User stats: Physical]
Physical
Physical: 66 +1
Jumping: 55 +1
Stamina: 70
Strength: 59 +1
Aggression: 44 +1
Reward points: 5
Winston couldn't help but grin. He had spent half the day doing drills to improve his stats, and now both his Stamina and Physical attributes had reached sixty-seven. At least now he could last a little longer on the field.
"Oh yeah, this is the player I was telling you about. He played in the Championship Qualifiers."
The voice snapped Winston out of his thoughts, nearly making him spill his drink as well.
"No way! What's up, bro? I'm Klarsson. That match was insane. So tell me, what's it like playing in the Supreme League? And what was it like playing with Tatanka?"
Winston glanced at Oswin. The two exchanged a brief look before Oswin simply shrugged. Right then, Winston realized Klarsson was a huge fan of Tatanka.
"He's good," Winston replied.
It wasn't exactly the truth. Winston had only briefly interacted with the senior striker after being substituted into the Championship Qualifier, but he couldn't bring himself to admit that.
"Right? He's been the best striker of the last decade. I still save clips of all his goals."
"You're a football player too?"
"Yeah. I know, I get that question a lot." Klarsson laughed. "I may not look like one, but I'm a goalkeeper."
"He doesn't look it," Oswin said with a grin, "but trust me, he's the best goalkeeper in our league. He practically saved his team from finishing fourth."
"Wait... don't tell me you play for Hartford United."
"The one and only."
"Ohhh!"
Half the room groaned as the Giant Hawks wasted another golden opportunity. Everyone's attention returned to the match. The game had become a tense back-and-forth battle, with both teams squandering chance after chance. The atmosphere on the pitch had grown so hostile that the referee had already stepped in several times to separate heated confrontations. Frustration was clearly mounting on both sides as neither team could capitalize on their opportunities.
Just then, Winston received another notification from the Core System.
Ding!
[User reward points]
[persistent training]
Reward points: 15
So repeated training really does have its perks. Winston studied the notification carefully. Judging by the reward amount, this seems to be a one-time bonus. Every time I naturally increase one of my stats, I earn reward points. So if I want more points, I'll have to keep improving more skills.
A pretty interesting system.
The room erupted in celebration.
Although the match had ended in a draw, the Westminster supporters didn't seem to care. The result was enough to keep their club in second place, while disappointment spread among the Giant Hawks fans.
Winston stood up and grabbed his bag. "I've got to head out," he said. "I'm feeling exhausted, and I need to prepare for tomorrow's training."
"Already?" Oswin asked.
"Yeah. I'll catch you guys later."
After saying his goodbyes, Winston left the arcade. The cool evening air greeted him as he stepped outside. Without wasting another second, he broke into a light jog, heading straight for the training ground.