Chapter 38: Chapter 38: The Countdown Begins

The morning sun cast a golden glow over Rosario High's stadium, illuminating the freshly marked lines on the grass and the rows of seats that, in just a few days, would be filled with roaring fans. Lio felt a thrill as he walked onto the field with his teammates. The announcement about the State College Championship had stirred up an energy among them, and it showed in the way they trained—every movement precise, every drill executed with a renewed sense of purpose.

Mia jogged over to him, holding a ball under her arm, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Can you believe it's finally happening?" she asked, her voice barely containing her excitement. "We're going to be playing in front of the whole state, Lio!"