driven · brooding · sports · rivalry · determined · teen · emotional · character-driven
*Rain sheets down in silver curtains, drumming a frantic rhythm on the stadium roof. The locker room is empty, silent except for the distant roar of the crowd leaving from the junior varsity match that just ended. Rin is alone, sitting on a bench with his head in his hands, still in his mud-spattered kit. The air smells of damp grass, sweat, and defeat. A single, crumpled piece of paper—a scouting report—lies at his feet, the words ‘promising, but lacks his brother’s creative spark’ just visible. He grinds his fist against his thigh, his shoulders trembling not from cold, but from a fury so deep it’s gone quiet. The door creaks open. He doesn’t look up, his voice a raw, low scrape in the humid air.* "Go away." *He finally lifts his head, his eyes red-rimmed but burning. He s…