The evening sun hung low over the Carrington training ground, casting long shadows across the pitch as the U18s wrapped up another grueling session.
The cold December air bit at Leo’s skin as he pulled off his training bib, exhaling a cloud of mist. His muscles ached from the endless drills, his mind still replaying the moments where his passes had connected—and the many where they hadn’t.
He lagged behind as the rest of the team filed into the dressing room, Harris barely acknowledging his presence. It was nothing new.
He wasn’t expecting praise, and at this point, he’d stopped hoping for it.
Leo swung his bag over his shoulder and trudged toward the training ground’s entrance, only to stop in his tracks.
Standing just outside the gates, wrapped in an oversized coat, was a girl—young, no more than thirteen, with dark hair tied in a loose ponytail. Her hands were tucked deep into her pockets, her breath coming out in soft white puffs. Her green eyes flickered with relief the moment she saw him.
"Leo."
Leo’s lips quirked into the smallest smile as he approached. "Mia? What are you doing here?"
His younger sister shifted on her feet, looking up at him with a mix of frustration and amusement. "Aunty’s working late again. She asked me to come get you so we can go home together."
Leo sighed, running a hand through his damp hair. It wasn’t unusual. Their aunt—Sofia—worked long hours at a corporate firm in the city.
The pay wasn’t great, but she pushed through for them, doing her best to keep a roof over their heads. She never made them feel like a burden, even though Leo knew how much she struggled.
"You could’ve waited at home," Leo said, nudging Mia lightly on the shoulder. "It’s freezing out here."
She rolled her eyes. "And let you walk back alone? Please. You’d probably take forever and stop to juggle a ball on the way."
Leo let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. Even in the worst of times, Mia always had a way of making him laugh. She was sharp, sometimes too sharp for her age, but Leo supposed that came with how they grew up.
The walk home was quiet, save for the occasional passing car and the crunch of their footsteps against the pavement.
Their flat was a good half-hour from the training ground—nothing luxurious, just a small two-bedroom apartment in a worn-down complex.
It wasn’t the kind of life most Manchester United academy players had. Some of his teammates came from footballing families, others from comfortable backgrounds with everything they needed to succeed.
Leo and Mia? They had nothing but each other and their aunt, and even that often felt like a fragile balance.
Mia kicked at a pebble, her breath still misting in the cold. "Did you do well today?"
Leo hesitated. He didn’t know how to answer that. He wanted to believe he was getting better. That all these extra hours on the training ground, all these moments of seeing spaces others couldn’t, were leading somewhere.
But when your own coach barely looked at you, when every mistake you made felt like proof you weren’t good enough, it was hard to be sure.
"I don’t know," he admitted finally. "Some of my passes went through, but... I don’t think Harris cares."
Mia frowned. "He’s an idiot."
Leo laughed under his breath. "Mia—"
"No, I mean it!" she huffed, stuffing her hands deeper into her coat pockets. "They don’t see what you see, do they? They just expect you to play like everyone else. But you’re different."
Leo looked down at her, slightly taken aback. There was no doubt in her voice—no hesitation.
"Thanks, Sis," he murmured, nudging her gently. "But I still need to be good enough to make it."
Mia shrugged. "Then be good enough. You always find a way."
Her faith in him was unshaken. Leo wished he could say the same for himself.
By the time they reached their building, the streetlights had flickered on, casting dim yellow glows against the cracked pavement.
Their flat was on the second floor, a small but tidy space that their aunt did her best to keep warm and welcoming. The moment they stepped inside, the smell of reheated pasta filled the air.
Their aunt, Sofia, was at the dining table, still in her work blouse, her dark hair tied back messily. She looked exhausted, her laptop open beside a stack of paperwork. But the second she saw them, a smile broke across her face.
"There you are," she said, standing up to ruffle Leo’s hair before pulling Mia into a quick hug. "Sorry, I couldn’t pick you up, Leo. The office was a mess today."
Leo shook his head. "It’s fine. Mia covered for you."
Sofia chuckled. "Of course she did. She’s my little boss."
Mia grinned proudly before darting off to the kitchen, probably searching for snacks.
Sofia’s expression softened as she turned back to Leo. "How was training?"
Leo hesitated for only a second before replying, "Better." It wasn’t a lie. It wasn’t the full truth either.
Sofia studied him for a moment, her sharp eyes reading between the lines. But instead of pressing, she simply smiled. "Good. You’re going to get there, Leo. Just keep pushing."
Leo nodded, though doubt still lingered in his chest. He wanted to believe her. He wanted to believe Mia. But belief alone wouldn’t get him to where he needed to be.
Still, as he sat down to eat, listening to Mia chatter about her day and Sofia making an effort to keep the conversation light, Leo allowed himself one small moment of peace.