Chapter 17: The Hunter and the Prey
The stadium erupted into chaos as the final whistle pierced the air, confirming Rosario High's victory. The scoreboard glowed, the numbers "2-1" in favor of Lio's team flashing like a beacon. Exhausted, Lio collapsed onto the cool turf, his chest heaving with each breath. The world seemed to blur around him as he let the realization sink in.
They had won.
But as the crowd roared, it wasn't the taste of victory that lingered most on Lio's lips. His gaze drifted across the field to where Chris stood, fists clenched, his face twisted in frustration. The usually calm, composed player was visibly cracking under the weight of defeat. Lio's heart hammered in his chest, but this time it wasn't from exhaustion—it was from the thrill of seeing Chris, his long-time rival, reduced to this.
This is what I wanted, Lio thought, a slow smirk curling across his face.
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Chris's icy composure shattered the moment the whistle blew. Fury bubbled up, unchecked, as he stormed toward his teammates, his voice cutting through the noise of the celebrating crowd.
"What the hell was that?!" Chris bellowed, his voice trembling with barely-contained rage. He shot daggers at Alexei and Leon, two of his most trusted players, but at this moment, they were nothing but targets for his frustration. "Where were you?!"
Leon shrunk under Chris's glare, staring at the ground as guilt weighed heavily on him. He knew they had been outplayed, but hearing it from Chris made it burn even worse.
Alexei, however, stood firm, his tone calm but sharp. "We did our best, Chris. They were just better this time."
"Better?" Chris spat the word out like poison. His disbelief hung in the air, as if the very concept of someone being better than them was impossible. His gaze flicked back to Lio, who was watching the scene unfold with an irritatingly smug expression. Chris's fury flared even hotter. He could feel his chest tightening, rage surging like a fire inside him. "No," Chris seethed. "No, they weren't better. You let them win!"
His voice cracked with desperation, as if denying the loss could somehow change the reality. "We should have crushed them!"
The rest of the team stood in awkward silence, avoiding Chris's gaze, too scared to say a word. Everyone knew there was no reasoning with him when he got like this. His eyes flickered back to Lio—who still wore that damn smirk.
The sight of Lio standing there, triumphant, as if this win was nothing to him, was unbearable. Chris's blood boiled. He thinks this is over?
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Wiping the sweat from his brow, Lio felt a wave of satisfaction unlike anything he'd ever experienced. This wasn't just about winning the game. It was about breaking Chris.
For so long, in his previous life, Lio had chased after Chris, always falling short. But now, everything had shifted. He had finally done it. I broke him.
Watching Chris unravel in front of everyone—lashing out at his teammates, losing control—Lio felt something stir deep inside him. Satisfaction, yes, but also something colder. More calculated. He had expected Chris to put up a fight, but this? Seeing the once-unflappable rival crumble so completely filled Lio with a grim kind of triumph.
He replayed the match in his mind, analyzing every moment, every mistake Chris made. There were cracks in Chris's strategy, flaws in his approach that Lio had picked apart. He hasn't changed as much as I thought. Lio's eyes narrowed as his mind raced. He's still vulnerable.
As his teammates celebrated, Lio's thoughts moved far beyond the victory they had just earned. This wasn't just a game—it was the start of something bigger. This isn't just about today. He was going to make Chris lose every time they faced each other from now on. No matter the stakes, no matter the match, Chris would be left scrambling to catch up.
The resolve settled deep inside Lio, cold and unyielding. I'll make sure Chris is always second. Beneath me. Forever.
His gaze shifted to Kaito and Mia, who were embracing and laughing nearby, basking in the win. For a brief moment, a flicker of gratitude surfaced—his teammates had played their part perfectly—but Lio's mind quickly returned to the only thing that truly mattered now: Chris.
From now on, every competition would be a chance to push Chris further into the shadows. Lio's eyes darkened as they locked onto his rival once again, the smirk on his face growing colder. Every time we meet, you'll taste defeat.
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Chris's Final Glare
Chris, still brimming with anger, shot one last venomous glare at Lio before turning sharply and storming off the field. His defeated teammates followed in silence, too stunned and ashamed to speak.
Lio watched as Chris disappeared into the tunnel, but his smirk didn't fade. If anything, it grew wider. He had found a new purpose, and nothing would deter him from seeing it through. This wasn't just a rivalry anymore—this was his life's mission. He would make sure that every time Chris set foot on the field, he would be reminded of today.
Chris would forever be chasing him, a shadow of his former self.
The roar of the crowd still rang in Lio's ears as he walked off the field, but his mind was already elsewhere. This is just the beginning, he thought, a sharp determination settling in his chest. I'll always be number one. And Chris?
He chuckled to himself as he disappeared into the locker room, the chants of his name echoing behind him.