Chapter 50: After the Roar
The night after the championship was quiet, a stark contrast to the thunderous celebration at the stadium. The bus ride back to Rosario High was filled with the echoes of victory, voices overlapping as players recounted the match's defining moments. Kaito mimicked his own slide tackle with exaggerated dramatics, earning groans and laughter. Andre, seated near the back, replayed his save for the umpteenth time on someone's phone, shaking his head with a faint, incredulous smile. Even Coach Gadiona, usually reserved, had cracked a rare grin when the team broke into an impromptu chant, their energy refusing to fade despite the late hour.