The break between halves was a blur of exhaustion, adrenaline, and anticipation. The crowd buzzed, chattering about the fierce first half, but Rio couldn't focus on that. His mind was set on one thing: Akira.
He stepped out of the dressing room, grabbing a quick drink from the vending machine before heading back to the stadium. He was only a few steps away from the entrance when he stopped dead in his tracks.
There, standing in front of him with that familiar cold smirk, was Akira.
"Rio-kouhai," Akira said, his tone dripping with malice. "You think you can win this? You think you're stronger than me now?"
Rio's jaw clenched. He felt the weight of everything—the fights, the rivalry, the challenge Akira had always been. But this time, Rio wasn't the scared kid he once was.
> "I will defeat you, Akira," Rio said, his voice calm but full of resolve. "Not tomorrow. But today. I'll prove that I'm better."
Akira's smirk widened, but he said nothing. He simply watched as Rio turned and walked away.
Rio headed back to the dressing room, trying to shake off the tension. As he walked past the team area, he noticed Taiki and Miku talking, their heads bent together in a quiet conversation. His heart tugged, but he didn't stop. He watched them for a moment—Taiki's smile, Miku's laugh—and then turned toward the room to meet with Rin.
Inside, Rin stood, a presence of calm amidst the chaos. He could feel the weight of the game on the team's shoulders, but he wasn't about to let it crush them. He clapped his hands, gathering their attention.
> "This is what we've worked for. You're all strong, and I know you've got this. The second half is ours to take. Let's go and show them who we are!"
The team nodded, their spirits lifted, ready to give everything they had. Once again, all the players lined up in the field, Akira's and Rin's eyes locking in this time. The whistle blew, signaling the start of the second half, and the game erupted into chaos once again.
The clash on the field was brutal. Every pass, every tackle, every shot was a fight. But Hanamura was resilient.
The crowd was on the edge of their seats when the breakthrough came. A beautifully executed header by Taiki, set up by Rio's perfect cross, put Hana City ahead. It was 2-1. The stadium erupted in cheers as Hanamura surged forward, their confidence soaring.
But the All-Stars weren't done. The game was far from over.
Rin was roughed up, his jersey torn as Simone from the All-Stars played dirty. The referee's whistle blew, and Simone received a yellow card, but it was clear—this match wasn't just about skill. It was about heart.
At the 80th minute, the tension hit a fever pitch.
Akira made a dangerous pass to Yoichi, who managed to slip past Hanamura's defense. Yoichi's shot hit the back of the net, leveling the score at 2-2.
The crowd fell silent, unsure of who would come out on top. The All-Stars had equalized, and the stakes were higher than ever.
The game raged on. Nakamura, Rin, Rio, Taiki, and the rest of Hanamura fought tooth and nail to keep the lead. The All-Stars, led by Akira, Yoichi, and Simone, refused to back down.
And then—disaster struck.
A bad play in Rio's team's defensive post. Akira seized the opportunity, charging toward the goal. It seemed like he was going to score, but in a split-second decision, Nakamura made a crucial interception, saving the ball just before it hit the back of the net.
Nakamura turned and launched a counterattack with speed that caught everyone off guard. Rio, now free from his defender, was in position. He saw the ball coming and sprinted toward the box. He was just about to take the shot when—
Thud.
Rio was tackled in the All-Star's box.
The referee's whistle blew.
It was a penalty.
The stadium was on edge as Rin walked forward to take the shot. The crowd's collective breath hung in the air. It felt like time had stopped.
Rin stared at the ball, his mind focusing. His eyes flicked up to the stands where, at that very moment, he saw rio, taiki, shouting at the top of their lungs.
> "Rin-senpai, you got this!"
Their words filled him with something more than just adrenaline. They filled him with purpose.
The whistle blew.
And Rin took the shot.
The ball flew into the corner of the net, beating the goalkeeper. The crowd exploded in deafening cheers as Hanamura took the lead in the final minute of the game.
3-2.
The whistle blew again. The game was over.
Hanamura had won.
Rio had won.
Hana City had won.
The celebrations began almost immediately. The team rushed to each other, jumping, shouting, and hugging. The players' hard work and determination had paid off. They had secured victory.
But the moment of triumph was cut short.
As the rain began to fall heavily, Akira, Simone, and Yoichi approached Hanamura's team. The rivalry was far from over. There was a storm brewing under the rain.
> "You think you've won?" Akira said, his voice cold as the rain poured down. "This isn't the end. It's just the beginning."
Simone stepped forward, his eyes flashing with anger. "We'll get you next time."
Yoichi cracked his knuckles, his gaze hardening. "We're not done yet."
Rin, Rio, and Taiki stood their ground, the rain soaking through their clothes, but they didn't flinch.
> "Bring it on,"
Rio said, his voice steady, as he met Akira's gaze.
The tension between the two teams was thick. The fight under the rain was about to begin.