Ren stood at the center of Fujisato High's offense, scanning the field with a fierce intensity. He knew deep down that Sota was the better quarterback, a star from the past whose talent eclipsed his own in every way. But experience—that's where Ren had the upper hand. Four years of grinding it out, sweating through every game, memorizing every play. There was no way he would let some first-year kid outshine him now, not when everything was on the line.
His heart pounded, but it wasn't from fear. It was determination. Sota might have the raw skill, but Ren was confident in his ability to outthink him. "Talent only takes you so far," he muttered under his breath, tightening his grip on the ball. He knew his team wasn't as coordinated as Seiryuu, but they had been together longer, had more battle scars. And that mattered.
