The ovation didn't fade when Izan turned his head up after his speech.
He rested one hand lightly on the podium, fingers curling against the polished surface, and let his eyes drift across the room as the applause grew louder and more.
"Arteta's speeches have been rubbing off on him," Saka said towards Rice, while Izan placed his palm on top of the award.
For a split second, he saw something that he knew he shouldn't be seeing, and his lips moved before he could stop them.
"Dad?"
Before he could go any further, a chuckle broke him out of his reverie just as Aitana Bonmatí stepped up beside him.
"First of many," she said, nodding towards Izan's trophy with a genuine and warm smile.
Izan nodded, his expression still a little distant, but finally present again.
Together, the two lifted their respective trophies as the camera snaps and flashes snapped back into place.
