[Football] The Superstar from a Small Country

[The main story is complete. Extra chapters will drop at random.]

One-sentence summaries from each character:

Kostic: This world rejects me. I build a wall around my heart and hide behind it, licking my wounds alone.

De Bruyne: What is this illegal structure? Tear it down.

"So, My New Roommate Is the World's Most Socially Anxious Person"

Manchester City's latest locker-room mystery: Why does the handsome goalkeeper they bought for 20 million euros run away whenever he sees someone?

Milos Kostic is handsome and quiet, with incredible saves. But his social skills are practically nonexistent, and his life motto is: "Whoever gives me an egg tart, I'll give them a cufflink in return!"

He believes in one thing: returning every favor, and never being in anyone's debt.

On his first day at Manchester City, he did two things:

1. Won over the coaching staff with an unbelievable save.

2. Successfully "scared off" every teammate who wanted to be his friend with a "thank you" and a gift in return.

The whole team was scratching their heads: "Dude, what are you trying to say?!"

Only midfield maestro De Bruyne saw what was going on. This wasn't aloofness. It was a stray dog wrapped up like a hedgehog!

And so Mr. Ding launched his "Tame the Dog" plan:

1. Offer him an egg tart? "Don't let it go to waste!"

2. Ask to share a room? "Sure!"

3. Get a gift in return? "Nice. Don't give me one next time."

The whole team watched the drama unfold: "Kevin, what do you get out of this?!"

De Bruyne: Don't ask. I'm playing the ultimate character-raising game, which unlocks after collecting 100 "thank yous."

This is a story about a bunch of "socially terrifying people" helping a level-ten social phobic heal. Watch Manchester City turn into a real-life makeover show and help a handsome guy who thinks he's "unworthy of love" understand that friends aren't people you have to "pay back"!

Read now to see how a cold, aloof goalkeeper gets "tricked" out of his little world, one box of egg tarts, one roommate, and one whole team at a time!

Content warnings:

[This is in bold!!! The story spends a lot of time in several characters' inner worlds. It's about healing, with a psychologically realistic style, and isn't especially feel-good.]

[The main story is more serious than the blurb suggests.]

[The national team is Bosnia and Herzegovina and that won't change. The protagonist has lived through war and has genuine psychological trauma.]

[The author is a pretend fan, writes nonsense, makes things up, is illiterate, and doesn't know much. These are all the author's labels.]

[The author is a Manchester City fan and a De Bruyne fan, and is extremely biased and wears heavy fan goggles.]

[Maybe it's easy to follow, since the author is a pretend fan.]

Read or don't, as you like. Don't insult Milo. If you want to insult someone, insult the author directly.

Finally, I hope you enjoy the story and that life treats you well.

Theme: Every lonely yet resilient soul can find their own light and home.