The drive back to Manchester was quieter than usual.
Even Mia, who usually had a dozen things to chatter about, dozed off somewhere past the halfway point.
Sofia focused on the road, her thoughts tucked behind furrowed brows, while Leo sat in the passenger seat, eyes drifting across the grey sky.
Everything had changed—but it hadn’t sunk in yet.
They pulled into their apartment complex just before dusk.
Inside, the familiar scent of home wrapped around them, soft and grounding.
Mia kicked off her shoes and darted to her room, already calling dibs on the last two yogurts in the fridge.
Sofia headed to the kitchen, opening the windows to let in the early evening breeze.
Leo, meanwhile, didn’t waste time.
He headed straight to his room, scanning the space with fresh eyes. It felt smaller now—like something temporary.
He reached for the duffel bag at the back of his closet and laid it open on the bed. His boots were the first thing in. The ones Mia decorated and the ones the club gave him.
Then the training stuff, and then his toiletry bag.
The day after tomorrow, he’d be gone.
He moved with a quiet rhythm, methodical and calm.
But beneath the surface, his thoughts spun.
It wasn’t just packing clothes—it was the first step toward a life that was no longer hypothetical.
No more "if I make it."
Now it was, "You’re in."
As he folded a hoodie, he paused, running his fingers over the fabric.
Wigan. The U21s. A contract. It still didn’t feel real—but it would, soon.
In the doorway, Sofia leaned silently against the frame, watching him.
"Are you in that much of a hurry?" she said softly.
"It’s happening," he said as he tossed the hoodie into the bag.
She stepped forward, helped fold one of his jackets, and gave a small smile.
"Well, just don’t forget to pack the toothpaste this time."
He laughed. "No promises."
After a while, Leo walked down the hall and gently knocked on Mia’s door.
There was no response.
He turned the knob slowly and pushed it open.
The room was dimly lit, the curtains pulled halfway.
Mia sat on her bed, knees pulled to her chest, face half-buried in her sleeves.
She didn’t look at him.
Leo stepped inside quietly and sat on the edge of her bed, not too close.
"Mia..." he started, his voice soft. "You mad at me?"
She didn’t answer. A long sniffle echoed in the silence.
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Look, I know it’s sudden. And I’m gonna miss you too, alright? I really will."
He leaned forward a little, trying to meet her gaze.
"But it’s not like I’m going to the other side of the world. Wigan’s like... what, twenty, thirty minutes from here?"
Mia’s head snapped up, her eyes still watery, but her eyebrows furrowed.
"Yeah... it’s like thirty minutes. Tops."
Her face twisted, confused, before realisation hit her.
Leo burst out laughing, falling back onto her bed dramatically.
"You didn’t think I was emigrating, did you?" Leo said with a half-hearted smile, but the silence made him think otherwise.
"Wait, did you reall-" he tried to say, but Mia hurled the pillow at his face.
She started giggling too, her sadness fading fast as the ridiculousness settled in.
Leo reached over and lightly flicked her forehead.
"You made it sound dramatic!"
He sat back up and smiled at her.
"I’ll be back all the time. And you better video call me every time you steal my snacks."
She rolled her eyes but grinned.
"Fine. But if you get famous, I’m moving in with you."
Leo laughed again and pulled her into a hug, ruffling her hair. "Deal."
Leo wanted to make the most of his final day at home.
With his duffel bag mostly packed and neatly resting by the door, he slipped on his hoodie and called out, "Mia! Come on, we’re heading out."
Mia, still cautious after their earlier emotional moment, peeked from her room.
"One last hangout before I become a full-time Wigan athlete. Ice Cream. Arcade. Whatever you want."
Her eyes lit up in an instant, and minutes later, the two were off, riding the tram toward the city.
They spent the afternoon indulging in the kind of fun that felt simple and nostalgic — claw machines, silly dance battles, an outrageous amount of cotton candy, and Mia beating Leo at a racing game twice, much to her delight and his feigned humiliation.
As the sun dipped low over Manchester, Leo looked at his sister laughing with a mouthful of chocolate ice cream and realized just how much she meant to him.
He didn’t say it aloud, but it sat there quietly between them, warm and certain.
Carrington Training Ground – Manchester United Academy
The sun glared down on the pristine fields of Carrington, where the academy squads were hard at work.
Balls zipped across the turf, coaches bellowed instructions, and young talents chased after dreams.
Inside the academy office building, Jonathan Reeves, Head of Academy Development, stood beside his window, watching the drills.
His assistant, Liam, stepped into the room with a file in hand.
"Scouting reports from the U14s through U18s, sir," Liam said, placing the thick folder on the desk.
Reeves nodded and turned, flipping it open idly.
A few sheets in, a photo slipped out and fell to the floor. He bent down, picking it up.
The name flickered something in Jonathan’s memory.
"He’s not with us anymore, is he?" he asked, examining the picture.
Liam shook his head. "No, sir. Wigan signed him. The one-month trial turned into a contract."
Jonathan raised an eyebrow, eyes narrowing just slightly. "Wigan? They really did, huh."
A long pause stretched out as Jonathan sat down, fingers tapping rhythmically on the desk.
"Didn’t really think they would go through with it, but Wigan’s in League One. They wouldn’t waste money unless they really believed in a kid."
He leaned back, eyes on the ceiling for a moment.
"We all thought Leo was underwhelming. Technically gifted, but no bite. Did we miss something... or did Dawson see something we didn’t?"
"Should I pull up more footage?"
Jonathan’s gaze sharpened. "No, not yet. But I want updates. All of them. I want to know how he trains, how he plays, what they’re doing with him. Everything. If he sparks, we’ll know soon enough."
Liam gave a small nod. "Understood."
Jonathan turned the photo of Leo face down and slid it back into the file.
"Let’s see if the kid’s really worth the contract they’ve handed him," he said, looking at the classified contract Wigan had handed Leo.
A/N: The second Chapter I promised. Have fun. I actually thought the rewrite would take a while but we are already at Chapter 30. I’m guessing we’ll be able to get to back in track within middle of next week