A chilly breeze swept across the field as Seiryuu High stepped out of the locker room, the afternoon sun casting long shadows over the freshly lined grass. Each step toward the pitch felt heavier than the last, but the weight wasn't from fear—it was anticipation, a hunger to prove themselves. Sota's eyes wandered to the far side, where Midoriyama High's players were already lining up, a sea of navy blue uniforms with a presence that could only be described as imposing.