They lay in silence for a while, the weight of the day settling over them. The dorm was quiet, the other young players in their own rooms, all of them processing their own journeys. But Mateo and Lukas had something special – a bond forged through years of friendship, countless hours of training, and a shared journey from the academy to the first team.
"Mateo?" Lukas signed after a while.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you. For everything. For being my mentor, my brother, my friend."
Mateo felt a lump form in his throat. "Always, Lukas. Always."
---
Later that night, Mateo stood on the small balcony outside their dorm room, looking out at the city. In the distance, the Westfalenstadion stood illuminated against the night sky, a beacon of dreams and possibilities. He thought about the season ahead, about the challenges they would face, about the journey they had embarked upon.
