By the end of the session, Lukas was exhausted but still standing. Klopp gathered the team for a final word. "Good session. Intensity was good. For the new players – welcome to the real Dortmund. This is what we do every day. If you want to stay, you match this level. If you can't, you go back. Simple as that."

---

That evening, back in their dorm room, Mateo and Lukas collapsed onto their beds, utterly spent. The dorm was part of the club's youth development program, designed to house and protect their young assets. Mateo, still only seventeen, was required to stay there until he turned eighteen, and Lukas, his dormmate, had been his constant companion since they first met.

The room was small but comfortable – two beds, two desks, a shared bathroom, and posters of football legends on the walls. It was their sanctuary, their space to decompress after the relentless demands of professional football.

Lukas stared at the ceiling, his chest still heaving. "That was the hardest training session of my life."

Mateo signed from his bed, "And it's only going to get harder."

"Thanks for the encouragement," Lukas said with a weak laugh.

"But you can handle it. I've seen you grow so much, Lukas. Your passing, your vision – you're not the same player you were a year ago. All those extra sessions we did, they paid off."

Lukas turned his head to look at Mateo. "You really think I can make it? At this level?"

"I know you can. Klopp doesn't promote players unless he believes in them. And I believe in you too."

Lukas smiled, a genuine, heartfelt smile. "We're really doing this, aren't we? Both of us. First team. Playing for Borussia Dortmund."

"We are. And we're going to do it together."

They lay in silence for a moment, the weight of the day settling over them. Then Lukas spoke again, his voice softer. "I'm scared, Mateo. What if I'm not good enough? What if I let everyone down?"

Mateo sat up, looking at his friend with fierce determination. "Then you work harder. You learn. You adapt. That's what we do. That's what Dortmund is about. We don't give up. We fight. And we do it together."

Lukas nodded, feeling a renewed sense of resolve. "Together."

"Together," Mateo signed, and they both knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them side by side, as brothers, as teammates, as dormmates who had become family. The promotion was just the beginning. The real journey was about to start.

---

The next morning, Mateo woke before dawn, as he often did. The dorm was quiet, the only sound the soft breathing of Lukas in the bed across from him. He lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling, thinking about the day ahead. Another intense training session, more tactical work, more preparation for the season opener.

But today felt different. Today, Lukas would be training alongside him as an equal, as a first-team player. It was a surreal feeling, one that filled Mateo with both pride and a strange sense of responsibility. He had been Lukas's mentor in many ways, pushing him, training with him, helping him develop his game. Now, Lukas would have to stand on his own, prove himself to Klopp and the veterans, earn his place in the squad.

Mateo quietly got out of bed, careful not to wake Lukas, and went to the small shared bathroom. He splashed cold water on his face, staring at his reflection in the mirror. He looked older than he felt – the weight of the past season, the injury, the title win, the summer in Barcelona and Italy, the pre-season in China. It had all left its mark.

He thought about Don Carlos, about Sister Maria Elena, about the children at Casa de los Niños. He thought about Isabella, who would be starting her final year of school soon. He thought about his mother, whose memory he carried with him every day. They were all counting on him, believing in him, supporting him from near and far.

He took a deep breath, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. This season would be different. This season, he would not just be a talented young player. He would be a leader, a mentor, a cornerstone of the team. And he would help Lukas navigate this new world, just as others had helped him.

When he returned to the room, Lukas was awake, sitting on the edge of his bed, his head in his hands. "Couldn't sleep?" Mateo signed.

Lukas looked up, his face drawn. "Barely. I keep thinking about training. About messing up. About being sent back to the academy."

Mateo sat down beside him. "Listen to me. You are good enough. You wouldn't be here if you weren't. Klopp doesn't make mistakes with promotions. He sees something in you, something special. Trust that. Trust yourself."

"But what if I freeze? What if I can't keep up?"

"Then you learn. You adapt. You get better. That's what pre-season is for. No one expects you to be perfect on day one. They expect you to work hard, to listen, to improve. And you will."

Lukas nodded slowly, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. "You're right. I just... I don't want to let anyone down. Especially you."

"You could never let me down, Lukas. You're my brother. No matter what happens on the pitch, that will never change."

Lukas smiled, a genuine smile that reached his eyes. "Thanks, Mateo. I needed to hear that."

They got ready in comfortable silence, pulling on their training gear, lacing up their boots. The dorm had a small kitchenette, and Mateo made them both a simple breakfast – toast, eggs, fruit. They ate quickly, fueling their bodies for the day ahead.

As they walked to the training ground, the sun was just beginning to rise, casting long shadows across the facility. Other players were arriving, some in their own cars, others dropped off by the club's transportation service. Mateo and Lukas walked together, side by side, two young players on the cusp of something great.

"Ready?" Mateo signed as they approached the locker room.

Lukas took a deep breath, then nodded. "Ready."

And together, they walked through the doors, ready to face whatever challenges the day would bring. The promotion was official, the opportunity was real, and now it was time to prove they belonged. Not just as individuals, but as a team, as brothers, as the future of Borussia Dortmund.

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