My Ultimate Gacha System-Chapter 307 - 295: Twelve Hours to Kickoff

Team Hotel

Demien’s Room

2:30 PM

He wakes to his alarm at 2:30 PM and the room is bright with afternoon sun filtering through curtains that don’t block light completely, and twelve hours separate this moment from kickoff which means the final phase of preparation begins now.

He showers again even though he showered this morning because routine matters and the hot water helps wake his muscles fully, and when he emerges he dresses in casual clothes rather than the tracksuit because the team dress code for matchday travel requires specific attire that won’t be needed until later.

The dining room downstairs is quieter than breakfast was and players drift in and out rather than gathering simultaneously, and Demien fills his plate with salad and grilled fish while avoiding heavy carbohydrates that would sit in his stomach during the match.

The food tastes clean and simple and he eats alone at a corner table while watching teammates move through their own routines, and the atmosphere carries focused energy that’s different from morning’s heavy silence because now the match is close enough to feel tangible rather than distant.

Team Hotel

Conference Room

4:06 PM

At four the squad gathers in a conference room on the second floor where chairs are arranged in rows facing a projection screen, and when everyone settles Gasperini stands at the front while his assistants load the final tactical presentation.

The screen shows Milan’s defensive setup from their most recent matches and video clips play showing how they transition from defense to attack, and Gasperini pauses frequently to emphasize details about positioning and timing.

"When they press," he says while pointing at the screen where Milan’s forwards close down centrally, "they leave space wide. Hateboer and Mæhle need to be ready to receive in those channels immediately."

The clip plays again and the space he mentioned becomes obvious when viewed with his instruction in mind, and players lean forward slightly to study the angles more carefully.

Another clip shows Milan’s counter-attacking patterns and how their wingers time runs to exploit space behind high defensive lines, and Gasperini’s commentary focuses on preventing those transitions through disciplined positioning rather than trying to win every ball aggressively.

After forty minutes the screen goes dark and he shuts off the projector before turning to face the squad completely.

"You know what to do," he says, and his tone carries confidence without arrogance. "Trust yourselves. Trust each other."

The room empties gradually and players disperse toward their rooms to complete final preparations, and the hours before departure stretch ahead with time moving slower than it should because waiting is always harder than playing.

Team Hotel

𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Parking Area

5:31 PM

At five-thirty the bus departs for the stadium and the police escort is larger this time with four motorcycles forming a perimeter around the vehicle, and as they enter the area near Stadio Olimpico the streets are completely packed with supporters who have been gathering for hours.

Red and black on one side where Milan fans form a sea of color that extends for blocks, and blue and black on the other where Atalanta supporters mirror the display with flags and scarves creating visual walls that stretch toward the stadium.

Smoke from flares drifts above both sections and the colors mix in the air creating purple haze that catches the late afternoon light, and the noise is visible even through the bus’s closed windows as thousands of voices chant and sing simultaneously.

The bus slows to navigate barriers and security checkpoints while supporters press against metal dividers trying to glimpse players through tinted windows, and photographers line the walkway leading to the entrance with cameras raised and ready.

Atalanta supporters on the left wave scarves high above their heads and one banner stretched between poles reads "SESSANT’ANNI DI ATTESA" which means sixty years of waiting, and the weight of history sits heavy in those words because this opportunity doesn’t come often enough to take for granted.

Milan fans on the right create their own noise and smoke while banners reference their last Coppa Italia triumph in 2003, and the rivalry between both sets of supporters builds tension that will explode when kickoff arrives.

The bus stops at the secure entrance and players begin standing to gather their belongings, and Musso moves toward the front because goalkeepers always exit first according to tradition that nobody questions or discusses.

Stadio Olimpico

Player Entrance

5:47 PM

The barriers hold back masses on both sides and photographers form a corridor that creates a path from bus to entrance, and when Musso steps down onto the pavement camera flashes erupt in rapid sequence that creates strobe effect.

Flash. Flash. Flash.

Koopmeiners follows and more flashes trigger while his face stays neutral and focused, and he moves quickly through the corridor without pausing or acknowledging the cameras.

De Roon exits next and the flashes continue without pause because every player represents content for media outlets who will use these images across tomorrow’s coverage.

Scalvini. Tolói. Ederson. Each exit triggers another wave of flashes while photographers call names trying to get players to look toward specific cameras.

Demien steps down with his bag over his shoulder and headphones around his neck, and multiple cameras train on him instantly while shutters click in rapid succession.

"Demien! Over here!" a photographer calls from the right side, and his instinct is to ignore the voice but he glances briefly in that direction before continuing forward.

Flash. Flash. Flash. Flash. Flash.

The lights create spots in his vision that fade slowly while he walks through the corridor, and behind the barriers an Atalanta supporter holds a sign that reads "WALTER - FUTURO NERAZZURRO" which means future Nerazzurro player in Italian and suggests belief that he’ll stay with the club long-term rather than leaving for bigger teams.

Another supporter waves a scarf high above their head while shouting "FORZA ATALANTA!" and their voice cuts through the general noise because proximity makes individual words distinguishable from the collective roar.

Security keeps the path clear as the squad moves through and the corridor ends at heavy doors that lead into the stadium’s interior, and when the last player enters the doors close behind them while the noise outside continues undiminished.