Chapter 19: The Shadows of Rivalry

The storm that had been brewing in the distance now unleashed itself over the city. Rain lashed against the windows of Rosario High, drumming out a steady rhythm that matched Lio's pulse as he lay awake in his dorm room. The victory over Madeira High had come and gone, but the weight of it still lingered. His body was exhausted from the match, but his mind refused to rest, cycling through fragments of the game, the fleeting joy of winning, and the gnawing sense of unfinished business that lingered in his chest.

Lio pushed himself off the bed, pulling on his hoodie and slipping quietly out into the hall. He needed air—space to think. The school was eerily quiet at this hour, the usual bustle of students replaced by the occasional flicker of the overhead lights. The rain outside was heavy, a constant drumbeat that echoed the storm inside his mind. His footsteps were soft as he walked down the empty corridors, thoughts heavy on Chris.

He knew Chris wouldn't take the loss lightly. Chris was like him—driven by the need to win at all costs. Defeat had a way of burning a scar deep into someone like Chris, and Lio could already feel the weight of their rivalry intensifying. It was inevitable that they'd face off again, but next time, Chris would be prepared. And Lio couldn't afford to fall behind. He wouldn't allow it.

As Lio neared the entrance of the building, the sound of soft footsteps echoed down the hallway, pulling him from his thoughts. He turned sharply, muscles tensing, only to see Mia standing there, her holographic pad glowing faintly in her hands. She gave him a knowing look, one that said she understood far more than he let on.

"Couldn't sleep either?" Mia asked, her voice soft as she approached him, her footsteps light against the tiled floor.

Lio shook his head. "Too much on my mind," he muttered, his gaze flicking towards the rain outside.

Mia nodded, glancing out the window at the storm. "I figured I'd find you wandering the halls. I know how you are after a match."

Lio smirked, but it quickly faded as his thoughts returned to the game, to Chris. "You know me too well," he said, but there was no warmth in his tone, only a simmering tension.

Mia stepped closer, her eyes searching his face. "Chris is going to come back harder. You can feel it, can't you?" she asked, her voice low and serious.

Lio's hands tightened into fists as he rested them against the window ledge. "Yeah, I know. And I need to be ready. The next time we face each other, he won't be the same."

Mia studied him for a moment before sitting on the bench beside the window. "You've been different ever since the game ended," she said quietly. "Everyone's celebrating, but you… you're already thinking about the next battle. It's like you can't let yourself enjoy anything."

Lio's eyes flickered with an unreadable emotion. "It's not that I don't want to enjoy it. It's that I know this victory means nothing if I let my guard down. Chris is dangerous, and if I give him even a sliver of hope, he'll take everything from me."

Mia's expression softened as she looked at him, her voice tinged with concern. "You're not fighting him alone, Lio. We're a team. Kaito, me, everyone—we've got your back. You don't have to carry this all by yourself."

Lio's gaze finally met hers, and for a moment, something softened in his eyes. "I know," he admitted, his voice quieter. "But this fight… it's personal."

Mia didn't push any further, sensing the depth of Lio's internal struggle. She stood up, taking a step closer to him. "Just don't lose yourself in this rivalry, okay? We need you—not just as our star player, but as our friend."

Lio gave her a small, grateful nod, appreciating her words more than he could express. "Thanks, Mia."

As Mia started to walk away, she hesitated, glancing back at Lio with a hint of hesitation in her eyes. "Lio… you don't have to answer this, but… I've always wondered. Why do you care so much about beating Chris? It feels like there's more to it than just football."

Lio froze for a second, his eyes darkening as memories of the betrayal and his old life resurfaced. Chris's face, twisted in anger and jealousy, was a ghost that haunted him. But that was something Mia couldn't understand—not yet.

"It's complicated," Lio finally said, his voice low. "But one day, I'll tell you everything."

Mia watched him for a moment longer, her expression unreadable, before nodding. "I'll hold you to that." With that, she left him alone with his thoughts.

---

Far across town, Madeira High's training grounds were deserted, save for one figure standing under the harsh glow of the stadium lights.

Chris stood in the rain, the heavy downpour soaking through his training gear, but he didn't care. His eyes were fixed on the goalpost in front of him, his body tense with fury and determination. He had failed. The match replayed in his mind over and over, each missed opportunity, each mistake gnawing at him like a relentless beast.

He kicked the ball with all the force he could muster, the sharp crack of leather against metal echoing through the empty field. But no amount of power could erase the loss.

"Never again," Chris muttered through gritted teeth, his breath coming in harsh gasps. "I'll tear him apart next time."

In his mind, Lio's face flashed before him, smug and victorious. Chris clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white. He had underestimated Lio, but never again. He would become stronger, faster—he would find a way to crush Lio underfoot, no matter what it took.

As the rain continued to fall around him, Chris's resolve hardened. Lio had won this round, but the war was far from over.

---

Back at Rosario High, Lio finally turned away from the window, a steely determination burning in his eyes as the storm outside raged on. Chris was coming for him, but he would be ready. He had no choice. This rivalry had transcended the football field—it had become something deeper, something more dangerous.

Lio's reflection in the window shifted as a flash of lightning illuminated the storm clouds in the distance. For a moment, he thought he saw something else—a shadow lurking just behind him. But when he turned, the hallway was empty.

The hunt had begun, and Lio knew there was no turning back now.

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