A/N:
Here is the extra long Christmas present for you.
Honestly, I didn't plan for it, but Christmas came to Marco at the same time as it came to us.
I think it's a lucky coincidence đ
----------------
December arrived like a sledgehammer.
The temperature plummeted overnight. Marco woke on the first Monday of the month to find frost coating the inside of the dorm window, his breath visible in the frigid air. Outside, the training pitches were white with frost, the grass crunching underfoot.
5:30 AM. The alarm blared. Every instinct screamed to stay in bed, buried under blankets. Tim was a motionless lump across the room, hibernating.
He forced himself out of bed begrudgingly, layered upâthermal underwear, training pants, two shirts, jacket, gloves, beanie. Even then, the cold bit through everything.
The system activated as he laced his boots:
[DECEMBER PROTOCOL: Initiated
Environmental Challenge: Severe
- Temperature: -2°C (28°F)
- Frost coverage: 100%
- Daylight hours: 8 hours (7:30 AM - 3:30 PM)
- Training conditions: Significantly compromised
Historical Data: December shows 23% average decline in youth player performance
Factors:
- Cold reduces muscle elasticity (injury risk +40%)
- Limited daylight affects training volume
- Holiday distractions reduce focus
- Seasonal illness rates increase
Current Status: 66.4/100
December Target: 67.0/100 (+0.6 points)
#WARNING: December is typically a plateau or regression month.
You must maintain improvement to stay on track.
Revised Training Modifications:
- Extended warm-up: +10 minutes (injury prevention)
- Indoor alternatives when temperature <-5°C
- Increased recovery focus (immune system support)
- Flexibility work doubled (cold reduces range of motion)
Challenge Level: EXTREME ]
Extreme. Great.
The training pitch was deserted at this hour, as always. Marco's breath created clouds as he began his warm-upâjogging, dynamic stretching, gradually increasing intensity. The cold made everything harder. His muscles felt tight, resistant. His first touch on the ball was heavy, awkward.
Give it time. Body needs to warm up.
Today's focus: weak foot finishing. Sixty quality repetitions with his left foot. The system had identified this as a critical weaknessâ5.8/10 when he arrived, now 6.3/10, but still far below professional standard.
Need to get it to 7.5 minimum. That's functional level - the first step to become the unpredictable.
He set up at the edge of the eighteen-yard box, a pile of balls beside him. The goal looked impossibly far away in the pre-dawn darkness, illuminated only by the security lights.
First shot: Right foot, trying for low driven into the corner. The ball skidded on the frost, bouncing awkwardly before trickling wide.
[Shot #1: 4.2/10
#Issues:
- Foot contact point incorrect (toe, should be laces)
- Follow-through truncated (cold affecting flexibility)
- Surface conditions affecting ball behavior
#Adjust: Point toe down more, extend follow-through despite cold ]
Marco reset. Adjusted his approach. Second shot: Better contact, but still weak. The ball had no power, easily saveable.
[Shot #2: 5.1/10
Improvement detected but insufficient power generation
Plant foot position 4cm too far from ball ]
This was the grind. Not the exciting breakthroughs of October, not the visible improvement of November. This was Decemberâcold, dark, brutal repetition with minimal immediate feedback.
By shot twenty, his right foot was numb. By shot forty, his technique was regressing from fatigue. By shot sixty, he could barely feel his toes.
[Session Summary: 60 attempts
Average quality: 5.9/10
Best shot: 7.3/10 (Shot #34)
Worst shot: 4.1/10 (Shot #58 )
Weak Foot Finishing: 6.3 â 6.4 (+0.1)
#Analysis: Minimal improvement due to environmental conditions.
Cold weather reduces neural pathway development by approximately 30%.
Recommendation: Consider indoor alternatives for technical work. ]
Indoor. That means the gym. Less realistic but more efficient in these conditions.
Team training at 7:00 AM was a special kind of torture. Coach Werner had them doing fitness workâshuttle runs, sprints, agility drills. No ball. Just suffering in the cold.
"December separates the tough from the soft!" Werner shouted, his breath creating massive clouds. "Bundesliga doesn't stop for winter! Champions League doesn't care if you're cold! Move!"
Marco pushed through, but around him, players were struggling. Two had stayed home sick. Three more looked on the verge of illnessârunny noses, coughing between sets.
Can't get sick. Can't afford to lose training time.
After team training, most players rushed inside to the warmth. But Marco headed to the academy's small gymâa converted storage building with weights, a few machines, and most importantly, a small indoor area with artificial turf.
Fifteen meters by ten meters. Enough space for technical work.
He spent ninety minutes thereâleft foot finishing against the wall, first touch work with a rebounder, close control in tight spaces. It wasn't the same as a real pitch, but the system confirmed it was better than fighting the cold outside.
[Indoor Technical Session: Complete
#Weak Foot Work: 45 minutes
- Quality sustained (warm environment)
- Neural pathway development normal
- Weak Foot: 6.4 â 6.5 (+0.1)
#First Touch Work: 45 minutes
- 200 touches with alternating surfaces
- First Touch: 8.1 â 8.2 (+0.1)
#Overall improvement: More efficient than outdoor work in current conditions.
#Recommendation: Primary technical work moves indoors until temperature rises above 0°C. ]
So indoor technical work, outdoor tactical work. Adapt to survive.
The pattern established itself over the first week.
Mornings: indoor technical work.
Team training: outdoor, whatever Werner demanded.
Afternoons: if above freezing, outdoor tactical work. If below freezing, indoor alternativesâstamina work on treadmills, agility in the gym, video analysis.
It wasn't ideal. But it was working.
By Friday, December 9th:
[Week 1 (December): Complete
Overall Rating: 66.4 â 66.7 (+0.3)
Improvements:
- Weak Foot: 6.5 â 6.7 (+0.2)
- First Touch: 8.2 â 8.3 (+0.1)
- Stamina: 7.4 â 7.6 (+0.2)
- Core Strength: 4.8 â 5.1 (+0.3)
Status: On pace for December target (67.0)
December progress: 0.3/0.6 points (50% complete with 75% of month remaining)
Note: Ahead of schedule. Cold weather adaptation successful. ]
66.7. Halfway to the monthly target with three weeks left. Good.
But that weekend brought a new challenge.
Saturday morning, Marco woke up with a scratchy throat. Nothing seriousâjust a tickle. But by evening, it had developed into a full head cold. Congestion, coughing, fatigue beyond the normal training tiredness.
'You've got to be kidding me. Why now of all times?'
Sunday was mandatory rest day anyway. Marco spent it in bed, drinking water, sleeping as much as possible. The system monitored his condition:
[ILLNESS DETECTED: Common Cold (Viral)
Severity: Mild to Moderate
Expected Duration: 5-7 days
#Impact on Training:
- Days 1-2: Complete rest recommended
- Days 3-4: Light training only (50% intensity)
- Days 5-7: Gradual return to full training
#Projected Rating Impact:
- If proper rest taken: -0.1 to 0.0 points
- If training continues: -0.3 to -0.5 points + extended illness duration
#STRONG RECOMMENDATION: Rest Monday-Tuesday. ]
Short-term loss, long-term gain.
Two days of rest. Two days of no improvement. That's... acceptable? I guess?
Tim, who'd somehow avoided getting sick, brought Marco meals from the cafeteria. "Dude, half the team is sick. Winter cold going around. Just rest. You've been grinding non-stop since August. Your body probably needs this."
"Yeah, I was going to do that."
"Really?" Tim acted like he had heard something strange.
Marco was also taken aback by his behaviour.
Have I become that much of a training freek in his eyes?
Thinking back to what he had been doing these past months, he found it was true.
'The Mark of past life would never have done something similar. Completely focused on something for so long.'
As he contemplated these things with a runny nose, he couldn't help but be satisfied with himself.
First for a very long time, in both lives combined.
And unknown to him, his confidence was building, brick by brick, one at a time.
He was no longer the weak and anxious kid.
He was Marco Reus.
* * * * *
Monday and Tuesday, Marco stayed in bed. Read his school textbooks. Watched training through the window.
The cold had reduced to mild congestion. His energy was returning. The system cleared him for light training.
Wednesday's session was strangeâmoving at 60% intensity, holding back, feeling weak. But by Thursday, he was at 80%. By Friday, back to full capacity.
[Week 2 (December): Complete
Overall Rating: 66.7 â 66.8 (+0.1)
#Note: Illness limited training volume by 42%
However, forced recovery resulted in:
- Improved immune markers: 72% â 89%
- Sleep deficit eliminated
- Stress hormones normalized
- Mental freshness restored
#Net result: Minimal rating loss, significant recovery benefits. ]
The rest was necessary and productive.
Only gained 0.1 point this week, but I'm healthier. That's... okay. I think.
The third week of December brought the regional tournament quarterfinal.
Dortmund U17 vs. Bayer Leverkusen U17.
Another chance to showcase improvement, another set of scouts in attendance.
But this match was different.
Leverkusen had clearly scouted Marco. They knew about the cut inside move, the through balls, the left-side dominance. Their tactical setup was specifically designed to neutralize himâdouble-teaming whenever he got the ball, pressing aggressively, cutting off passing lanes.
It was suffocating.
First fifteen minutes: Marco touched the ball eight times. Completed four passes. Created zero chances. Every time he received the ball, two defenders were on him immediately.
Marco felt suffocated.
His hard earned skills are not working, always running to dead end.
But he quickly forced himself to calm down. His brain working overtime, simulating solutions.
'Can't force what isn't there. What would those elite playmakers from my past life do?'
Move position, create from deeper, exploit space elsewhere.
They've taken away what I do best. So I need to do something else.
Twenty-third minute: Instead of staying wide left, Marco drifted into central midfield. Leon looked surprised but adjusted. The shape changedâMarco became a second playmaker, deeper, with more space.
From there, he could see the whole field. See how Leverkusen's aggressive press left gaps.
Twenty-eighth minute: Marco received the ball thirty yards from goal, central position. Leverkusen's defenders stepped up, expecting a safe backward pass.
Instead, Marco hit a forty-five-yard diagonal through ball over the top, finding Dennis's run on the right wing. Dennis was in behind, crossed, Phillipe scored.
1-0.
[Assist: 8.6/10 (High difficulty)
Tactical Adaptation: 9.0/10 (Changed position to exploit space)
Scouts noticed: Football intelligence and positional flexibility ]
Leverkusen adjusted, pushing a midfielder to track Marco's central movement. But that created space wide left.
Fifty-sixth minute: Marco found that space, received the ball, and immediately played a first-time through ball to Lars, the overlapping fullback. Lars crossed, Dennis scored.
2-0.
The match ended 3-1. Marco had two assists from positions he rarely played, creating from areas Leverkusen hadn't prepared for.
In the locker room, Leon approached with a grin.
"That was smart. They took away your usual game, so you just... played a different game."
"Yeah, had to adapt."
"Most players our age would have kept trying the same thing over and over. You adapted. That's smart."
Coach Hoffmann's post-match comments echoed the same theme: "Reus showed excellent tactical intelligence today. When his primary role was neutralized, he found another way to contribute. That's the mark of a player who thinks. That's the type of player every team wants. Keep it up."
[TOURNAMENT MATCH 2: SUCCESS
Performance Rating: 8.3/10 (Excellent)
Overall Rating: 66.8 â 67.2 (+0.4)
#Key Development: Positional Flexibility
- Demonstrated ability to play multiple roles
- Adapted to tactical restrictions
- Created from different areas
#Scouts Assessment: VERY POSITIVE
- Bayern Munich: Increased interest
- Schalke: Mild interest
- New: Werder Bremen scout identified
December Target: 67.0/100
Current: 67.2/100
TARGET EXCEEDED (2 weeks early)]
67.2. I hit December's target with two weeks left in the month.
That evening, as Marco completed his injury-prevention yoga routine, Tim asked the question that had been building: "So what happens when bigger clubs call? Bayern's clearly interested. Would you leave?"
Marco paused mid-stretch. He hadn't thought seriously about it. His entire focus had been on surviving at Dortmund, on reaching March, on securing his position.
But after March... what then?
The historical Marco Reus had stayed away from Dortmund until 2012, when he returned from Rot Weiss Ahlen for âŹ17 million. He'd become the symbol of loyalty, staying even when Barcelona and Real Madrid came calling.
But that was after being released and having to prove himself all over again. This timeline is different. I never got released. I'm not damaged goods. I'm a prospect.
"I don't know," Marco answered honestly. "I guess... I'll figure it out, later."
But the question lingered.
The final two weeks of December were a strange mix of maintenance and breakthroughs. With the monthly target already met, Marco could have eased off, maintained his rating, coasted into the holiday break.
Instead, he doubled down on his weakest areas.
Heading work: Two hours every other day, jumping, timing, directional control. The rating climbed from 6.1 to 6.8.
Weak foot: Daily right-foot finishing sessions, gradually increasing difficulty. 6.7 to 7.1âfinally crossing into "functional" territory.
Stamina: Long runs in the cold, interval training, building the aerobic base. 7.6 to 8.0ânow he could press for ninety minutes without significant drop-off.
Week 3 (December): 67.2 â 67.6 (+0.4)
Week 4 (December): 67.6 â 68.0 (+0.4)
MONTH 2 COMPLETE: December 2004
Starting Rating: 66.4/100
Ending Rating: 68.0/100
Improvement: +1.6 points
December Target: 67.0 â (Exceeded by 1.0 point)
March Target: 68-70/100
#Current Status: 68.0/100
- MINIMUM threshold achieved (3 months early!)
- Recommended threshold: 70.0/100 (2.0 points remaining)
Time to March Evaluation: 10 weeks
#Analysis: Exceptional progress despite environmental challenges.
- Cold weather adaptation: Successful
- Illness recovery: Managed efficiently
- Tactical flexibility: Demonstrated
- Weak area improvement: Significant
Status: ON TRACK (exceeding expectations)
WARNING: Do not become complacent.
68.0 is minimum threshold. 70.0 is safety margin.]
10 weeks remain. 2 points needed for comfort zone.
* * * * * * * *
December 23rd, 2004
The academy officially closed for the two-week Christmas break. Players scatteredâsome to family homes across Germany, others to international destinations, a few staying in Dortmund because travel was impractical.
Marco packed his small duffel bag: clothes, training gear, schoolbooks he'd been neglecting.
For the first time in months, Reus was heading home.
As he was leaving his dorm room, his phone rang. The cheap Nokia he barely used, since most communication happened in person at the academy.
"Marco?" His mother's voice, warm and concerned. "You're coming home for Christmas, yes?"
Marco froze for a second. In all the chaos of training, evaluations, and improvement targets, he'd completely neglected his family.
Not forgotten themâthe inherited memories included loving parents, a modest home, Sunday dinnersâbut Mark's consciousness had been so uncomfortable in meeting them with all the imposter syndrome on going.
"I am on my way, Mama. I just packed every thing."
A long silence. Then, quietly: "Marco, you haven't been home since October. Two months. Your father and I barely hear from you except quick phone calls where you sound exhausted. I thought you were going to stay there and train forever, even in Christmas."
Marco could feel a terrible head ache brewing, because she was clearly angry.
Some guilt washed over him. She's right. I've been so obsessed with training that I haven't even thought about them.
"Haha... No worries, I am really coming home this time." He said carefully.
"Good. Your father will pick you up in an hour."
The drive from the academy to the Reus family home took twenty minutes through Dortmund's industrial outskirts.
Manfred Reus drove a practical Volkswagen Golf, slightly dented, well-maintained but showing its age. He was a solid man in his mid-forties, with work-worn hands and the quiet demeanor of someone who'd spent thirty years in a factory.
"Your mother's been worried," he said after the initial greetings, eyes on the road. "You never miss this many Sundays."
"I know, Papa. I've just been... focused on the assessments."
"So I hear. The coaches say you're doing well. Very well. Moving up to train with the older boys."
"Yes."
"That's good." A pause. "But son, you're fifteen. You need balance. Football, school, family. Not just football."
Marco nodded, though internally he disagreed. I don't want that kind of balance.
But he didn't say that. Couldn't explain that to his father.
They pulled up to a modest two-story house in a working-class neighborhoodâidentical houses lining both sides of the street, small front gardens, practical cars parked in driveways. The Reus family home.
The front door opened before they even got out of the car. Margit Reus, early forties, apron over her clothes, flour on her handsâclearly in the middle of Christmas baking.
"Marco!" She pulled him into a fierce hug the moment he was through the door. "Let me look at you."
She stepped back, hands on his shoulders, studying his face with a mother's critical eye. And Marco saw her expression shiftâfrom relief to concern.
"You've lost weight," she said flatly. "And these circles under your eyes. Marco, are you sleeping?"
"Mama, I'm just training hard."
"Too hard." She guided him into the small kitchen, where the smell of PlĂ€tzchenâtraditional German Christmas cookiesâfilled the air.
"Sit. Eat. You look half-starved."
I'm actually in the best physical condition of either of my lives, Marco thought but didn't say. He sat at the familiar kitchen tableâwood scarred from decades of use, mismatched chairs, a space that radiated home and warmth and normalcy.
His mother set a plate in front of him: fresh cookies, still warm. And despite having just eaten lunch at the academy, Marco found himself hungry. Not physicallyâbut emotionally. This simple act of being fed by his mother, of being cared for, hit harder than expected.
"Thank you, Mama."
She sat across from him, studying him with that same concerned expression. "Tell me the truth, Marco. Are they pushing you too hard at the academy? Because if they areâ"
"No, Mama. I'm pushing myself."
"Why?" Her question was simple but cut deep. "You're fifteen years old. Yes, football is important. But there's time. You don't have toâ"
"No, I have to." The words came out sharper than intended. Marco softened his tone. "I mean... There's an evaluation in March. If I don't perform well enough, they might... let me go."
Margit's face paled. "Let you go? They'd release you?"
"It's possible. That's why I'm training so hard. To make sure that doesn't happen."
His mother reached across the table, taking his hands in hers. They were warm, flour-dusted, strong from years of work. "Marco, listen to me. If football doesn't work out, that's okay. You're smart. You can go to university. Get a good job. Have a normal lifeâ"
"I don't want a normal life." Marco's voice was firm. "I want this. I want to play football. Professionally. At the highest level. And I can do it, Mama. I know I can. But only if I work hard enough."
Margit looked at him for a long moment. Then nodded slowly. "You've changed, you know. Since August. You're more... focused. Serious. Sometimes I look at you and you seem older than fifteen."
Because I am, Marco thought.
"I just want this more than anything," he said instead. "That's all."
His father had entered the kitchen during the exchange, leaning against the doorframe. "Son, your mother and I support your dream. You know that. But we also need you to understand: You're our child. Not just a footballer. We love you whether you make it or not."
"I know, Papa."
"Do you?" Manfred stepped forward. "Because from where I'm standing, you're so afraid of failing that you're forgetting to live. When was the last time you did something just for fun? Saw friends? Relaxed?"
Marco didn't have an answer.
His mother squeezed his hands. "Two weeks. You're home for two weeks. I want you to rest. Eat proper meals. Sleep in past 5:30 in the morning. Can you do that for me?"
The system flickered a notification:
[#Analysis: Parents are concerned about overtraining and mental health
Their observations are accurate:
- Sleep deficit: Present
- Social isolation: Significant
- Work-life balance: Non-existent
#Recommendation: Accept two-week rest period
Benefits:
- Physical recovery (immune system, muscle repair)
- Mental reset (reduced burnout risk)
- Family relationship maintenance (important for long-term stability)
Projected rating impact: 0.0 to +0.2 (recovery benefits)
Accept parental guidance. Rest is productive.]
Seeing the notification, Marco couldn't help but lament, ' I guess not every one can become Christiano Ronaldo.'
"Okay, Mama. Two weeks. I'll rest."
She smiled, though worry still creased her eyes. "Good. Now eat these cookies. And then I want you to nap. You look exhausted."
The first three days of the break were torture for Marco. His body wanted to train. His mind screamed that he was wasting time, losing progress, falling behind. But his parents watched him like hawks.
And so he rested.
Days five through seven, Marco slept until 8 AMâan unthinkable luxury. His mother cooked proper meals: Schnitzel, Kartoffelpuffer, Rotkohl, all the heavy, warming foods of a German winter.
He gained back the weight he'd lost, his face filling out, color returning.
His parents had invited extended family for Christmas Eveâaunts, uncles, cousins Marco barely remembered from his inherited memories.
The house filled with noise, warmth, laughter. Normal life. Normal family.
At dinner, his uncle asked about football. Marco gave brief answers, not wanting to be the center of attention. But his younger cousin, maybe twelve years old, looked at him with stars in his eyes.
"You're really going to be a professional footballer?"
"Maybe. If I work hard enough."
"That's so cool. Can you teach me some tricks?"
And somehow, Marco found himself in the small back garden after dinner, showing his cousin how to do a simple step-over, how to shield the ball, how to strike properly. The boy was terribleâuncoordinated, enthusiastic, utterly without talent.
But he was having fun.
When did I forget that football could be fun? Marco wondered. When did it become only work, only pressure, only survival?
His mother watched from the kitchen window, and when Marco came back inside, cold and tired from an hour of casual play, she hugged him tight.
"That's my Marco," she whispered. "The boy who loves football. Not just the one who's afraid of failing at it."
By the second week, Marco had settled into the rhythm of rest. Mornings with family. Afternoons reading or watching football on television with his father. Evenings helping his mother bake or simply sitting together in comfortable silence.
The system tracked his recovery:
[Rest Period: Days 1-10
#Physical Recovery:
- Sleep: Normalized (8.5 hours average)
- Muscle repair: Complete
- Immune system: 98% optimal
- Body weight: +2.3kg (healthy muscle and tissue restoration)
- Inflammation markers: Reduced to baseline
#Mental Recovery:
- Stress hormones: Normalized
- Burnout risk: Reduced from 31% to 8%
- Focus capacity: Restored
- Decision-making speed: Improved
#Overall Rating: 68.0 â 68.2 (+0.2)
#Note: Rest produced improvement through recovery.
Confirmed: Quality rest is productive training.
Return to training projection: Significantly improved capacity
Expected performance boost: +10-15% for first 2 weeks back ]
I actually improved by resting. My parents were right.
New Year's Eve, the family gathered againâsmaller group this time, just immediate family and one set of neighbors. At midnight, as fireworks exploded over Dortmund, Marco stood in the back garden with his parents.
His mother had tears in her eyes. "I'm so glad you came home. I was so worried about you."
"I'm sorry, Mama. I didn't mean to worry you."
"I know, Liebchen. I know you're chasing your dream. But please, remember: You're still my son. Still our Marco. The football is wonderful, but youâthe person you areâthat's what we love. Not the player. The person."
Something in Marco's chest tightened. The old Mark had never had this. His parents their careers as the main priority. He'd been alone for so long. And now, inhabiting Marco Reus's body, he had a family again. People who loved him unconditionally.
I can't take this for granted. Can't let Mark's loneliness bleed into Marco's life.
"I love you too, Mama. Both of you. And I promiseâI'll come home more. Sunday dinners at least. Even with training."
His father clapped his shoulder. "That's all we ask. Balance, son. Balance."
January 3rd, 2005
The academy reopened. Marco said goodbye to his parentsâlonger hugs than usual, his mother making him promise again to visit on Sundays, his father slipping him some extra money "for emergencies."
On the drive back to the academy, Marco reflected on the two weeks. He'd resisted rest, fought against it, seen it as failure. But his body had needed it. His mind had needed it. And his familyâhis real family, not just inherited memoriesâhad needed him.
The system displayed a final holiday summary:
[TWO-WEEK BREAK: Assessment
Physical Status: Optimal (best condition since arrival)
Mental Status: Refreshed and focused
Family Relationships: Strengthened
Overall Rating: 68.2/100
Return to Training: Cleared for full intensity
Expected Performance: Enhanced (recovery benefits)
Mental state optimal.
Final Push: 8 weeks remaining. ]
I am ready.
For the first time in months, Marco felt like he could actually enjoy the journey, not just survive it.
Thank you, Mama and Papa, he thought. For reminding me who I am beyond the football.
In his hostel room Marco smiled, unpacked his bag, and prepared for tomorrow's early morning session.
The marathon's final miles awaited.
But now he knew he wouldn't run them alone.
His family would be watching. Supporting. Believing.
And that, he realized, might be the most important strength of all.