As the conversation shifted to lighter topics, Komi rested her head against Mirandaâs shoulder, exhaling in contentment.
Miranda responded with a casual arm around her waist, her fingers lightly tracing small circles against the fabric of Komiâs dress.
Izan shook his head. "You two are acting like Iâm not even here."
Izan shook his head. "You two are acting like Iâm not even here."
Komi smiled but didnât move. "Youâll survive."
Miranda chuckled. "Youâd better get used to it."
Eventually, the conversation returned to football.
Miranda outlined the offers that had been coming inâendorsement deals, a potential long-term brand partnership, and of course, growing interest from other clubs.
"I know your focus is on Valencia," Miranda said. "And thatâs exactly where it should be. But that doesnât mean we ignore whatâs happening around us."
Izan nodded. He had been through enough media noise to know how these things worked. "So, what do we do?"
"For now? Nothing. Play the final. Win it. The rest will follow." Miranda said as she brought Komiâs wine glass to her mouth.
Simple enough.
As the night wound down, Miranda eventually stood to leave. Komi walked her to the door, and Izan noticed the way they lingered for a moment, exchanging quiet words he didnât quite catch.
As the door closed behind Miranda, Komi turned back toward the living room, catching Izanâs knowing look.
"What?" she asked.
Izan smirked. "Nothing."
Komi gave him a playful shove on the shoulder before heading toward the kitchen. "Get some sleep. Youâll need it."
"I think you should too" Izan shot back and ran before Komi could recover from the situation.
Getting to his room, Izan fell onto the bed, sinking into the sheets. Acteraying there for a while, he stretched as he stood up, exhaustion finally winning over.
As he made his way to his bathroom, he couldnât help but feel a little more at ease.
....
The days leading up to the Copa del Rey final were nothing short of relentless at Paterna.
Training had shifted into an entirely different gearâno more casual drills, no more lighthearted banter.
Every session was a battle, with every player pushing themselves to the limit.
The air was thick with tension, but also with hunger. They knew what was at stake.
On the training pitch, Baraja stood with his arms crossed, watching as his players ran through tactical exercises.
The defensive unit worked tirelessly on shape and transitions, ensuring they could withstand Bilbaoâs aggressive pressing.
Meanwhile, Izan led the attacking drills, orchestrating plays with a sharpness that left his teammates both impressed and exhausted.
During one of the scrimmages, Izan picked up the ball near the byline, quickly glancing up to assess his options.
With a burst of acceleration, he drove past two defenders before slipping a perfectly timed pass through to Hugo Duro, who finished with a crisp strike into the bottom corner.
Baraja nodded approvingly. "Thatâs the kind of movement we need in the final. Quick, decisive, and clinical."
Pietro jogged past Izan, shaking his head. "Man, youâre making us look bad."
Izan smiled before speaking, "Try keeping up."
"Yeah. Easy for you to say" Pietro said before chasing after the ball again.
Despite the exhaustion, the squadâs morale remained high.
They could feel the weight of the final looming over them, but there was no fearâonly determination.
At the end of training, Baraja gathered the team in a circle.
"Listen up," he said, voice firm. "Weâre one game. Just one game away from something special.
One game away from bringing this club back to where it belongs. Lets Play like warriors.
Play with heart. And most of allâenjoy it. These moments donât come often."
A collective nod went around the squad. They knew.
Outside the training ground, the footballing world was buzzing. Every Spanish sports channel, every online debate, and every radio discussion was centered around one thingâthe Copa del Rey final.
Journalists dissected every angle of the upcoming clash, comparing the strengths and weaknesses of both teams.
Statistical breakdowns flooded the airwaves:
Valenciaâs top scorer: Izan (26 goals this season in all competitions. 21 in Laliga)
Athletic Bilbaoâs top scorer: Iñaki Williams (16 goals this season in LaLiga)
Valenciaâs key playmaker: Izan (18 assists in all competitions)
Athletic Bilbaoâs most creative player: Oihan Sancet (7 assists, 9 goals)
Head-to-head record in the last five meetings: 2 wins each, 1 draw
"Valenciaâs resurgence this season has been nothing short of remarkable," one analyst said on national television.
"But Bilbao has the experience. This is going to be a battle of energy versus resilience."
Fans online engaged in heated discussions, debating everything from starting lineups to predicted scores.
Some believed Valenciaâs attacking prowess, led by Izan and the others, would be too much for Bilbaoâs defense.
Others argued that Bilbaoâs ability to grind out results in high-pressure games gave them the edge.
Meanwhile, betting sites saw a surge in activity as people placed their wagers.
....
In a small café in Valencia, Mateo sat with a few friends, his phone in hand as he scrolled through betting odds.
His eyes lit up as he saw the numbersâValencia to win in regular time was going for decent odds.
He leaned forward, tapping on his stake. "All in on Valencia," he said with a grin.
His friend Rafa raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that? Bilbao is tough."
Mateo shrugged. "Izan, Duro, and the boys are in form. This is their moment. Plus, they won me a lot against Barcelonaso I should be ready to stake at least this much"
The group laughed, some agreeing while others remained skeptical. Regardless of their opinions, the excitement was undeniable.
"Just imagine," Mateo continued, "if they pull it off. The cityâs going to erupt."
.....
On Valenciaâs official social media accounts, the buildup to the final was in full force.
Fans flooded the clubâs Twitter and Instagram pages with messages of encouragement, desperation, and anticipation.
@ValenciaCFFan94: Please, bring the cup home. Weâve waited long enough.
@IzanMagic: Izan, this is your time. Show them why youâre the best!
@VCFHeart: Whatever it takes. Just win. JUST WIN.
The clubâs official account finally responded with a simple but powerful message:
"We hear you. We see you. And weâll do whatever it takes."
The post went viral almost instantly, spreading across fan forums and news outlets.
The connection between the club and its supporters had never felt stronger.
As the city of Valencia settled into the evening before the final, the atmosphere was electric.
Restaurants and bars were filled with fans discussing the game, their voices tinged with a mix of excitement and nerves.
Inside the team hotel, the Valencia squad had finished their final preparations.
The coaching staff had gone over the game plan one last time, reminding the players of their roles and responsibilities.
In his hotel room, Izan lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. His phone buzzed with messages from friends, family, and teammates, but he kept his replies short. He needed to stay locked in.
A knock on his door pulled him from his thoughts. It was Gaya.
"You good?" Gaya asked, stepping inside.
Izan nodded. "Yeah. Just thinking."
Gaya smirked. "About how many goals youâre going to score?"
Izan chuckled. "Something like that."
They stood in silence for a moment before Gaya clapped him on the shoulder. "Get some rest. Tomorrow, we make history."
As Pietro left, Izan took a deep breath. The time for talk was over. Tomorrow, it was all or nothing.
Meanwhile, in the northern city of Bilbao, their team was going through its final training session.
Unlike Valenciaâs high-intensity, attack-focused drills, Bilbaoâs preparation was methodical and calculated.
Their emphasis was on defensive structure and counter-attacksâreadying themselves for the inevitable waves of pressure Valencia would bring.
Coach Ernesto Valverde drilled into his players the importance of discipline. "They will come at us with speed, but we control the pace. Our time will come."
As they finished training, the message in the Bilbao camp was clear: they were ready for war.
The final hours before the Copa del Rey showdown were eerily calm. In Valencia, fans went about their routines, but the anticipation was unbearable.
At home, Komi and Hori sat watching the pre-matchday analysis that night.
"You nervous for him?" Komi asked with a small smile.
Hori shrugged. "Maybe a little. But heâll be fine."
Komi leaned back. "Heâs worked hard for this."
As the cameras zoomed in on Valenciaâs training footage, a reporter spoke over the highlights.
"Izan, just 16 years old, has already made a name for himself as one of Spainâs most exciting young talents and solidified his stance as an object of interest to most teams.
But tomorrow, arguably, the biggest test of his career awaits."
Hori smirked. "No pressure, right?"
Komi exhaled, looking at her phone where messages from family and friends filled her notifications. The entire city was behind Izan.
No matter what happened tomorrow, it was already clearâthis final was going to be unforgettable.
A/n: first of the day. Have fun reading and Iâll see you with the second in the afternoon. Byeeee