My Ultimate Gacha System

Chapter 389 - 62: Medical Day & Official Unveiling II

11:00 AM — Orthopedic Assessment

The orthopedic examination room had a padded table and specialized equipment for measuring joint angles and muscle strength, and Dr. Chakraverty conducted the physical assessment himself because this was where most football injuries originated and thorough evaluation here could prevent problems later.

"Lie on your back," he instructed, and Demien complied while the doctor began systematic joint mobility testing starting with his ankles.

Passive range of motion first where the doctor moved each joint through its full arc while Demien stayed relaxed, and both ankles achieved normal dorsiflexion and plantarflexion without restriction, and both knees extended fully and flexed to one hundred thirty-five degrees which was normal for someone without current injury.

Hip internal and external rotation tested next and Demien’s range was slightly better than population average because years of football training had maintained mobility in these joints, and when the doctor palpated along the hip flexors and adductors looking for trigger points or areas of tenderness nothing concerning appeared.

Spine assessment involved sitting up and performing flexion and extension and lateral bending, and Demien’s lumbar mobility was good with no pain or restriction, and when he lay prone while the doctor pressed along each vertebra checking for tenderness or step-offs the examination was unremarkable.

Active range of motion testing required Demien to move each joint himself against resistance provided by the doctor’s hands, and strength was symmetric bilaterally across all movements which meant no weakness or compensation patterns existed.

"Isokinetic testing now," Dr. Chakraverty said, and he directed Demien to the Biodex machine in the corner that would measure peak torque production.

The device locked Demien’s right leg in position with his knee at ninety degrees and a pad against his shin, and when instructed he extended his leg as hard as possible against the resistance while the machine measured quadriceps strength, and the peak torque number appeared on screen before he performed the same test flexing his knee to measure hamstring strength.

Left leg tested identically and the computer calculated the quadriceps-to-hamstring ratio for both sides, and Dr. Chakraverty reviewed the data before making notes.

"Right leg shows sixty-two percent hamstring-to-quad ratio," he said. "Left leg shows fifty-eight percent. The left side is slightly low but within acceptable range for midfielders. We’ll flag it for the strength coaches to address with targeted hamstring work."

The assessment continued with adductor strength tested using a different attachment where Demien squeezed his legs together against resistance, and glute strength measured with hip extension against bands, and calf strength tested with single-leg calf raises until fatigue.

Functional movement screening followed and required Demien to perform deep squats while the doctor watched from multiple angles looking for asymmetries or compensation patterns, and he performed single-leg hops and balance tests and overhead squats with a wooden dowel, and cameras recorded everything for later review by the performance team.

"Lower back examination," Dr. Chakraverty said, and Demien lay face-down while the doctor palpated along his lumbar spine and into the muscle bellies of his erector spinae and quadratus lumborum.

Straight leg raise test checked for neural tension where the doctor lifted each leg while keeping the knee straight, and Demien felt mild stretching in his hamstrings but no radiating pain which indicated no nerve involvement.

Pelvic alignment assessed because misalignment here often contributed to hamstring and adductor injuries, and the doctor measured leg length and checked anterior superior iliac spine positions and found everything symmetric.

"Previous injuries?" Dr. Chakraverty asked while making final notes.

"Right ankle sprain last season," Demien said. "Healed completely."

The doctor palpated the lateral aspect of Demien’s right ankle and found slight tissue thickening where scar tissue had formed but no tenderness or instability, and he performed anterior drawer and talar tilt tests that checked ligament integrity and both were negative.

"Scar tissue present but not concerning," Dr. Chakraverty confirmed. "Joint stable. No functional limitation."

Orthopedic assessment complete by twelve fifteen.

12:15 PM — MRI Scans

Lunch was a protein bar and water consumed quickly in the medical wing waiting room while Marco checked emails and Demien stretched his legs after an hour of physical examination, and at twelve thirty the imaging technician called him back for the final component.

The MRI suite was cold and the machine dominated the room with its large cylindrical opening that looked smaller than it was, and the technician explained the process while handing Demien earplugs because the scanner was loud during operation.

"Both knees, both ankles, lower back, and hips," she said while directing him to lie on the sliding table. "Each area takes eight to ten minutes. Total time about fifty minutes. Stay as still as possible or we’ll have to repeat sequences."

The table slid backward into the tube and the confined space closed around him while the opening remained visible at his feet, and when the technician activated the scanner from her control room the noise began—loud thumping and buzzing that sounded like industrial machinery despite the earplugs.

The magnetic field was powerful enough that he could feel nothing but the images being captured were detailed enough to show cartilage and ligaments and bone marrow, and the sequences changed every few minutes with different sounds corresponding to different imaging protocols.

Right knee completed first showing all structures in cross-section, and then left knee, and then the table moved to position his ankles in the scanner, and the process continued methodically while Demien focused on staying motionless because any movement would blur the images.

Lower back imaging took longest because multiple sequences were needed to evaluate disc height and nerve root compression and facet joint alignment, and when that finished the final area was both hips where labral tears and cartilage damage could hide without causing symptoms yet.

The scanner went silent at one twenty and the table slid out into the room again, and Demien sat up slowly while his ears adjusted to normal volume.

"All done," the technician said. "Radiologist will review everything and send the report to Dr. Chakraverty within the hour."

1:30 PM — Results Conference

Dr. Chakraverty’s office was small with medical texts on shelves and a monitor showing MRI images, and when Demien and Marco entered he was already pulling up files.

"Sit," he said, and waited until they did. "Blood work’s clean. ECG normal. Echo showed good structure. Stress test perfect. Joints all clear. MRI’s clean except for expected scar tissue in the right ankle which doesn’t concern me."

He turned the monitor so they could see the knee images.

"Left hamstring ratio’s a bit low. Fifty-eight percent. Not dangerous but the strength coaches will want to address it. Otherwise everything’s where it should be for someone your age playing at this level."

Demien waited because the doctor’s tone suggested more was coming.

"You’re cleared," Dr. Chakraverty said. "Full training, full match participation, no restrictions. Steve will get you integrated tomorrow morning."

Marco spoke before Demien could. "Any concerns at all?"

"The ankle scar tissue gets monitored. The hamstring gets addressed in strength work. But no, nothing that concerns me medically." He stood and extended his hand. "Welcome to Manchester United. Try not to get injured immediately."

The corner of his mouth twitched and Demien realized it was meant as humor.

"I’ll try," Demien said.

McNally appeared in the doorway. "Canteen’s open if you’re hungry. Media at Old Trafford at two so you’ve got twenty minutes."

Monday Afternoon

Old Trafford Media Suite

2:00 PM BST

The canteen lunch had been quick and professional with Marco reviewing the afternoon schedule while Demien ate grilled chicken and vegetables and drank water, and by one forty-five they were in the car heading to Old Trafford where the media suite was prepared for the official announcement photoshoot and video content.

United’s communications team waited in the media suite when they arrived—press officer James, social media manager Sarah, photographer David, and videographer Tom—and the room was set up with the official club backdrop displaying the Manchester United crest in red and gold with proper lighting rigs positioned at precise angles.

"Right," James said while checking his clipboard. "Photoshoot first in the kit, then video introduction, then sit-down interview, then photos with the manager. Should be wrapped by four."

Two hours of media obligations before the announcement could go live.

Demien changed into the Manchester United home kit in the adjacent room where the number fourteen shirt hung waiting, and when he pulled it over his head the fabric settled against his skin and the weight of what this meant registered properly for the first time because this was no longer hypothetical or contractual but real and visible.

Red shirt. White shorts. Black socks. WALTER 14 on the back.

He walked back into the media suite and the photography team adjusted lights while David directed him to stand against the backdrop, and the first pose was standard—arms crossed holding the ball against his chest while looking directly at camera.

"Good," David said after the shutter clicked several times. "Now action shot, like you’re about to strike the ball."

Demien positioned the ball and drew his right foot back as though preparing to shoot, and David circled around him capturing different angles while calling out adjustments to body position and facial expression.

Portrait shot next with Old Trafford visible through the window behind him so the stadium became part of the composition, and then holding the shirt up displaying the name and number, and the photoshoot consumed thirty minutes before David reviewed images on his laptop and confirmed he had everything needed.

"Video introduction now," Sarah said, and she directed Demien to sit in the chair positioned in front of a clean white background while Tom adjusted the camera and checked audio levels.

The prompter displayed the script: "Hi, I’m Demien Walter, and I’m delighted to have joined Manchester United."

Simple. Direct. Multiple takes to get clean delivery without stumbling over words.

Take one felt stiff and Sarah asked him to relax his shoulders and smile more naturally, and take two was better but his hand gesture looked awkward, and take three finally captured the right combination of professionalism and genuine enthusiasm.

"Perfect," Sarah confirmed. "That’s the one we’ll use."