My Ultimate Gacha System-Chapter 169 - 164: Welcome To the Family II

Chapter 169: Chapter 164: Welcome To the Family II
Demien pulled out the solar red pair again and Owen let out a low whistle as he examined them.
"These are proper nice. You wearing them Friday?"
"If I get the chance," Demien said, and his voice carried hope mixed with uncertainty. "Got to make the squad first."
"You will," Owen said with the confidence of someone who’d been through this before. "Carsley’s not stupid. He’ll have you on the bench at minimum."
Demien nodded though his stomach still twisted with nervous energy, and he returned the boots to the box one more time before closing the lid.
Tomorrow’s session would tell.
Thursday, September 22, 2022
Training Pitch 1
10:00 AM
Thursday arrived with the weight of matchday-minus-one hanging over the entire facility, and the entire squad understood that this final session would determine the starting XI that faced Italy tomorrow, and the tension was palpable as players gathered for what felt like an extended trial.
The session was scheduled for exactly one hour—sharp and intense, designed to test combinations and finalize decisions rather than teach new concepts—and Carsley’s expression carried the seriousness of someone about to make difficult choices.
Carsley gathered them before warm-up and his message was direct and unambiguous.
"Today I’m looking at personnel. Who starts, who’s on the bench, who travels. Give me everything you have."
The warm-up passed quickly with players moving through their routines with added intensity, and by ten-twenty they were organized into two groups—likely starters versus likely reserves—and the divide was obvious immediately as established players claimed their positions.
Demien found himself in the second group along with Owen, Harvey, and several other newcomers, while the established core formed the first group with Kayden, Jamal, Reece, and the others who’d been through multiple camps, and the separation felt like a verdict before the session even began.
The session played out as a competitive match with coaching staff observing from the touchline making notes on clipboards, and Demien’s performance was solid but not spectacular—competent rather than commanding, adequate rather than exceptional.
He completed his defensive duties competently while tracking back when required, and he made a few decent runs inside that created half-chances, though none of them resulted in clear opportunities—and in a session designed to showcase special qualities, competence wasn’t enough.
Reece Darlow, by contrast, skinned his fullback twice in the first fifteen minutes and forced a save with a curling shot from the edge of the box, and his explosiveness made every touch look dangerous—and the comparison didn’t need to be stated aloud because everyone could see it.
At eleven AM exactly, Carsley blew his whistle and called them together for cooldown stretching followed by the squad announcement, and the finality in his voice suggested decisions had been made.
"Right, everyone inside. Briefing room in ten minutes."
Briefing Room
11:15 AM
The squad filed into the briefing room still wearing training gear with sweat cooling on their skin, and the atmosphere carried nervous energy as players took seats knowing the starting XI was about to be announced, and conversations were minimal as everyone waited.
Carsley stood at the front with his tactical board displaying England’s 4-2-3-1 formation, and he waited until everyone settled before speaking, and his eyes scanned the room with the expression of someone who’d made difficult choices.
"Starting XI for tomorrow against Italy," he began, and his eyes scanned the room while his voice carried authority. "I’ll read the names, then we’ll discuss the game plan."
He clicked to the first slide and the formation appeared with names filling each position in England’s traditional white.
ENGLAND U21 STARTING XI - 4-2-3-1
GK:
Tommy Grayson
RB:
Elliot Ford
CB:
Marcus Doyle
CB:
Tyler Nix
LB:
Carter Ives
CM:
Jamal Whitmore
CM:
Leo Merrick
RW:
Reece Darlow
CAM:
Kayden Muir
LW:
Javier Crane
ST:
Mason Teller
Demien’s eyes found his own absence immediately though he’d expected it, and the sting was still real despite the rationality of the decision, and disappointment settled in his chest even as he understood why Carsley had chosen differently.
Javier Crane—Leicester City’s natural left winger who’d been at the camp since day one—was starting ahead of him, and the logic was sound because Crane knew the system, had international experience, and was a true winger rather than a midfielder adapting to a new position—but logic didn’t make the disappointment easier to accept.
"Substitutes," Carsley continued, and the next slide appeared with nine names listed in order.
SUBSTITUTES:
Alfie Marston (GK), Samuel Price, Harvey Keane, Owen Blake, Ryan Hobbs, Daniel Huxley, Nathaniel Cross,
Demien Walter
, Rhys Moreland
His name was there—eighth on the substitute list—and relief mixed with frustration in his chest because making the matchday squad meant he’d at least have a chance to play even if starting had been unrealistic, and the opportunity hadn’t been completely lost.
Owen elbowed him gently from the seat beside him while offering silent support that Demien appreciated more than words could convey, and the gesture reminded him that others were in the same situation.
Carsley continued speaking about the game plan—defensive shape when Italy had possession, pressing triggers, set piece assignments—and the tactical information flowed for another twenty minutes before he finally dismissed them, and throughout his explanation the starting XI listened with increased attention while substitutes processed their roles.
"Rest this afternoon. Light activation tomorrow morning, then we travel. Subs will decide this match—be ready when your moment comes."
The room emptied gradually as players filtered out with some heading for lunch while others went straight to their rooms to process the squad announcement, and the corridor filled with quiet conversations about tomorrow’s match.
Demien walked out with Owen and Harvey, and none of them spoke immediately because words felt insufficient to address the mixture of disappointment and determination they all felt, and silence seemed more honest than forced optimism.
"At least we made the squad," Harvey said finally as they reached the corridor junction where their paths split toward different rooms. "Could’ve been left out entirely."
"Yeah," Owen agreed while his Liverpool accent carried resignation mixed with hope. "Gives us a chance to prove ourselves if we get on."
Demien nodded though his mind was already shifting forward toward tomorrow, because bench or not he’d have an opportunity if called upon, and he couldn’t waste it when his moment came.