Soccer System: All the Skills, One Player!

As they made their way to the boys' apartment building, Kate couldn't help but let her thoughts wander.

She and Lucy had been friends for two years, and at the institute they had become almost like sisters.

Lucy was spontaneous, outgoing, and always open about her feelings. There was no forgetting the moment Lucy said she liked Lucas.

"There's something different about him." Lucy had said dreamily.

Kate had always been more reserved, preferring to analyze people before opening up. Now here she was, accepting an invitation to Lucas Tanaka's apartment, the same boy her best friend was in love with.

Kate justified to herself that it was just an attempt to avoid the two of them spending Christmas alone, but the situation still seemed VERY unusual. She knew she would have to tell Lucy eventually. But that wasn't something to deal with now.

When they arrived at Lucas's apartment, he unlocked the door and opened it with a simple gesture.

"Come in, make yourself at home," he said, stepping aside so that Kate could pass.

She entered hesitantly, expecting to find a mess typical of what movie clichés always showed about men's dormitories: scattered clothes, dirty dishes, and maybe even a strange smell of forgotten socks.

However, to her surprise, the place was incredibly organized. The small kitchen was spotless, and the room beyond the pantry had a bookcase, a bed, a light gray sofa with a blanket folded carefully over the backrest and an artificial plant decorating one corner. The floor was clean and showed no signs of disorganization.

Kate looked around with a surprised expression, and Lucas noticed.

"What's wrong?" he asked, frowning slightly.

"I... honestly expected something different," Kate replied, smiling shyly. "I guess I've watched too many cliché movies where boys' bedrooms are portrayed as a total mess. But your place is... impressively tidy."

Lucas laughed. "Well, maybe I'm an exception. I like to keep everything organized. It helps clear the mind, especially when I'm focused on something like soccer."

"Well, now I'm relieved. I thought I'd be entering a war zone, but this is very welcoming."

Lucas walked into the small kitchen and left the snacks and drinks they'd bought from the vending machines on the worktop.

"I hope you're hungry. It's nothing fancy a Christmas dinner deserves, and I didn't buy any presents either, but we should be able to manage."

Kate put a hand to her mouth and laughed. "It works perfectly for me."

While Lucas prepared everything, Kate walked over to the bookshelf. There were a few books on mentality, but surprisingly, there were the complete series of Harry Potter books in the middle of it all.

For a British girl like Kate, it was normal for anyone to have read Harry Potter, but she remembered perfectly well that Lucas Tanaka was Japanese.

"Have you read Harry Potter?" she asked, taking the volume 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' off the shelf.

Lucas looked over his shoulder as he put away the snacks. When he saw Kate holding the book, a smile formed on his lips.

"Yes, I've read it. Who hasn't? Harry Potter was one of the first books that really immersed me in a story. And, to be honest, it was also the one that built up a large part of the image I had of the British when I was younger."

Kate laughed. "I imagine the image involved a lot of tea and double-decker buses."

"Pretty much," Lucas replied, laughing with her. "But honestly, it was fascinating to imagine the wizarding world. I loved the contrast between the Muggle world and the wizarding world. Ah, I'm speaking here as a fan, but I don't even know if you like it or asked out of politeness."

Kate clasped the book against her chest. "No, I asked because I'm a huge fan. I grew up with these books. I used to like to imagine I was at Hogwarts when I was playing in my dad's big house." Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire

"If you were at Hogwarts, I'm sure you'd be a Ravenclaw."

Kate raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Ravenclaw? Why?"

He shook his head. "There's no way you're Slytherin or Hufflepuff. Gryffindor has its share of bravery and impulsiveness, but you... you seem to be the more analytical type. Ravenclaw is known for its intelligence and curiosity, and from what I can see, you have plenty of that."

"Wow," Kate said, smiling, "that was very specific."

"Oh, and one more thing," Lucas continued, with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You'd also be one of those students who monitor the corridors. You know, the kind who keep an eye on others to see if they're breaking the rules and then catch them in the act."

Kate laughed out loud this time, because she knew he had mentioned it precisely because she was on the Disciplinary Committee.

Kate put the book back. "What about you? I bet you'd be a Gryffindor."

Lucas scratched the back of his head thoughtfully. "Maybe. I've always been impulsive, especially for soccer. But who knows? Maybe I've got a bit of Hufflepuff in me too. I value loyalty."

The conversation flowed naturally, and they sat on the sofa with their snacks, still discussing the characters and their favorite moments from the books.

"Okay. Favorite moment from the books?"

"Easy. Harry's first Quidditch match. That moment when he picks up the pommel is incredible. I kept imagining I was flying with him." Lucas gave a nostalgic smile.

"Oh, of course a footballer would say that. Mine is the Battle of Hogwarts," Kate replied, her eyes sparkling. "It was so exciting and epic. I always get goosebumps just thinking about it."

Lucas nodded. "It really was a fitting end to the series, although I didn't like it very much at the time because..."

As Lucas spoke, Kate paid attention to every word. For her, at that moment, it became easy to understand why Lucy liked him. Lucas had an aura of reliability and kindness that was rarely found in other men.

"Anyway, I think I've said enough. What kind of movie would you like to see? Christmas or something different? Harry Potter?" he asked.

Kate paused, thinking. "The Harry Potter movies are awful. Let's watch a comedy. Nothing too cliché, but nothing heavy, either. Maybe a romantic comedy?"