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Chapter Text

The sharp scent of freshly brewed coffee and printed paper lingered in the teachers' lounge, mingling with the hum of colleagues exchanging stories about their summer vacations. The clock on the wall read ten to eight—there was still time before the first class of the year began.

Joshua Hong, English literature teacher, sat with perfect composure at the corner table, his back impeccably straight as he carefully arranged the lesson plans in front of him. Beside him, his espresso filled the air with a rich, inviting aroma.

The first day of school had always given him a thrill: a new class meant fresh minds to inspire, new challenges to face, and most importantly, new opportunities to prove that literature was anything but boring.

It would have been the perfect start—if not for him.

"Hong."

The cheerful, all-too-confident voice made him look up.

Seokmin Lee, history teacher and his self-proclaimed nemesis, leaned casually against the table next to his, a smug smile on his lips and a steaming cup of tea in hand.

Joshua closed his eyes briefly, took a deep breath, and set his pen down with calculated calm. "Lee."

Seokmin tilted his head slightly, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Ready for another year of defeat?"

Joshua crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow in challenge. "If by 'defeat' you mean another year where my students outshine yours in comprehension tests, then yes, I'm more than ready."

Seokmin chuckled, shrugging. "Oh, but things will be different this year. I spent the entire summer perfecting my curriculum. Just so you know, Hong, my students will be so captivated by history that yours will fall asleep reading Shakespeare."

Joshua clenched his jaw just slightly. He begrudgingly admitted that Seokmin was a brilliant teacher—his lessons were engaging, passionate, and filled with an infectious energy that students loved. But he wasn’t about to let literature take a backseat.

He stood with practiced grace, gathering his papers with meticulous precision. "We'll see, Lee." He started toward the door but paused just before stepping out. "May the best man win."

Seokmin grinned, looking far too confident. "Oh, he will."

---

The school quickly buzzed with the excitement of a new year. The hallways filled with chattering students, the sound of lockers slamming shut blending with teachers calling out instructions.

Joshua and Seokmin frequently crossed paths between classes, exchanging competitive glances as they led their respective students through the corridors. Their rivalry had long since become a school legend, and their students had fully embraced it, treating their classes as rival teams in an ongoing academic battle.

The perfect opportunity to prove their superiority arrived in the second week: the school announced an interdisciplinary project where students would recreate a historical period through both literature and historical analysis.

Joshua and Seokmin wasted no time turning it into a personal duel.

"My class will do the Elizabethan Renaissance." Joshua made his announcement with absolute confidence—no one could challenge him when it came to Shakespeare and his era.

Seokmin smirked, sipping his tea. "Perfect. Then mine will do the French Revolution."

Joshua frowned slightly. "You've picked the wrong century, Lee."

"Oh, trust me, Hong." Seokmin leaned in slightly, his grin widening. "My students will bring history to life in a way no Shakespearean tragedy ever could."

And so the war began.

---

The following weeks were a whirlwind of strategies, provocations, and carefully placed jabs.

Joshua had his students perform the most dramatic Shakespearean monologues, teaching them how to modulate their voices and convey every emotion with precision. Meanwhile, Seokmin orchestrated heated courtroom-style debates where his students reenacted revolutionary trials, complete with fiery speeches and a mock guillotine.

Every morning in the teachers' lounge, Joshua found Seokmin waiting for him with new taunts.

"You know, Hong, yesterday my students recreated a scene from the Reign of Terror. It was so realistic that even the principal stopped to watch."

Joshua smiled sweetly—too sweetly. "Oh, what a coincidence. Mine just finished performing the final act of Hamlet. It was so powerful that one of the students burst into tears. True art, Seokmin. Real art."

Seokmin scoffed, but his eyes sparkled with the promise of an ongoing battle.

---

And yet, somewhere between the banter and the competition, something strange began to creep into their exchanges.

One evening, they both found themselves in the school library, drowning in piles of assignments to grade. Joshua stretched, rubbing his temples.

"I never thought I'd say this, but grading essays on Shakespearean metaphors is absolute torture."

Seokmin glanced up from his laptop, where he was reviewing reports on revolutionary movements. "Same. My students get so excited about history that they completely forget grammar exists."

For a moment, the silence between them felt… normal. No teasing, no challenges. Just two exhausted teachers trying to survive.

Joshua caught himself staring at Seokmin longer than necessary. The slightly tousled hair, the warm glow of the desk lamp casting soft shadows on his face, the way he absentmindedly chewed on the end of his pen while thinking.

He quickly averted his gaze. You are NOT about to think he's cute, Hong. Focus.

Seokmin yawned and stretched. "Hey, how about a truce for tonight? We need it."

Joshua pretended to consider it. "Mmm… Alright. But just for today."

Seokmin smiled, and for the first time, there was no challenge in his expression. Just something softer. "Great. I'll run to the café down the street and grab us some coffee. Black, right?"

Joshua nodded, ignoring the warmth that spread in his chest.

Chapter Text

The air in the school was charged with energy as students immersed themselves in their projects. Meanwhile, Joshua and Seokmin seemed ready to declare open war.

The literature teacher watched his class with pride. His students were focused on staging a fragment of Hamlet, and he made sure every line was delivered with the proper intensity.

“More feeling, Chan,” Joshua instructed, crossing his arms. “When you say To be or not to be, you have to make them feel the weight of the question. It’s a reflection on life and death, not a grocery list.”

Chan nodded, cleared his throat, and tried again—this time with more conviction. Joshua smiled, satisfied.

But his satisfaction didn’t last long.

Because at that very moment, from the adjacent classroom, a thunderous round of applause erupted, followed by enthusiastic cheers. A shiver of irritation ran down Joshua’s spine.

“Alright,” he muttered under his breath. “Let’s see what Mr. Lee is up to.”

---

With composed steps—or at least, as composed as one could be when literally rushing to spy on a rival—Joshua peered into Seokmin’s classroom.

And there he saw the unimaginable.

Seokmin stood at the front of the room, a revolutionary cap perched atop his head and a triumphant smile on his lips. In front of him, a student was delivering a fiery speech, brandishing a piece of paper as if it were an official declaration.

“Brothers! We can no longer tolerate this injustice!” the boy shouted, his face flushed with passion. “The tyrants have crushed us for too long! It is time to rise up!”

The class erupted into an ovation, and Seokmin clapped enthusiastically.

Joshua cleared his throat. “Excuse the interruption,” he said in his most professional voice. “I just wanted to understand what’s going on here.”

Seokmin slowly turned toward him, one eyebrow raised and that insufferable smirk on his lips.

“Oh, nothing much, Hong,” he replied with feigned innocence. “We’re just reenacting a revolutionary assembly. You know, to make history come alive.”

Joshua shot him a suspicious look. “You’re not trying to sabotage my lesson with these… theatrical demonstrations, are you?”

Seokmin chuckled, leaning against his desk with casual ease. “Sabotage? Joshua, how could you think that? I’m just teaching in the most effective way possible. If my class is engaged, well…” He shrugged. “It’s not my fault history is more captivating than literature.”

Joshua took a step forward, closing the distance between them. “Oh, don’t you dare.”

Seokmin leaned in slightly, shortening the space between them even more. Their faces were now mere inches apart, and Joshua noticed something particularly annoying: Seokmin smelled of tea and ink—a strangely comforting mix.

“Oh, I dare,” Seokmin murmured.

Joshua held back an exasperated sigh and was the first to pull away. “Fine,” he said, straightening up. “We’ll see who delivers the best project in the end.”

“Oh, we will,” Seokmin replied with a mischievous wink.

Joshua turned sharply and left the room. But the warmth on his cheeks took much longer to fade.

---

The following days were a constant exchange of snide remarks, glares, and academic low blows.

Joshua intensified the theatrical rehearsals, ensuring his students fully embodied their roles. Seokmin, for his part, turned his class into an arena of fiery debates.

But amidst the competition, small moments began to occur—moments that Joshua couldn’t ignore.

One morning, as they both sipped their coffee in the teachers’ lounge, Seokmin observed him carefully.

“You look tired,” he commented.

Joshua lifted his gaze from his cup. “Thank you for the enlightening observation.”

Seokmin smiled, but his expression softened ever so slightly. “If you want, I can lend you the armchair in my classroom. It’s much more comfortable than the stiff chairs here.”

Joshua stared at him. “Seokmin, are you… worried about me?”

The other quickly shook his head. “No, no! It’s just that if you pass out from exhaustion before the final evaluation, it wouldn’t be a fair victory.”

Joshua scoffed, but he couldn’t help but notice the way Seokmin scratched the back of his neck, as if embarrassed.

Strange.

Very strange.

---

Then came the evening of the school dance, a formal event where teachers were required to attend to supervise the students.

Joshua arrived in a sleek black suit, perfectly tailored. He would never admit how much he enjoyed dressing well for such occasions.

Seokmin, of course, had the same idea. When Joshua saw him enter in a deep navy-blue suit, wearing his usual cocky smile, he had to admit—to himself only—that he was beginning to hate him for completely new reasons.

“Hong,” Seokmin greeted, approaching with a glass of orange juice.

“Lee,” Joshua replied, sipping his own drink with feigned distraction.

They held each other’s gaze for a moment—a second of silence that seemed to stretch longer than necessary.

Then Seokmin did something utterly unexpected.

He held out his hand.

“Dance with me?”

Joshua blinked in confusion. “What?”

Seokmin shrugged, his usual playful smirk in place. “Come on, let’s entertain the students. Show them that teachers aren’t just authority figures.”

Joshua opened his mouth to protest, but then he noticed that the students were already watching them with curiosity.

“Coward,” Seokmin murmured, teasingly.

Joshua gritted his teeth and grabbed Seokmin’s hand. “You’ll regret this.”

They stepped onto the dance floor, moving to the elegant music playing in the background. Surprisingly, Seokmin was a decent dancer. Joshua found himself staring at him, jaw clenched.

“I look at you more often than you think,” Seokmin said softly, a smile tugging at his lips.

Joshua felt his heart skip a beat.

“What?”

“Nothing,” Seokmin replied nonchalantly.

But Joshua knew it wasn’t nothing. And for the first time, the competition felt far more complicated than he had imagined.

Chapter Text

The night of the school dance had passed, but the effect it had left on Joshua lingered.

The teasing was still there—the sharp glances exchanged in the hallways, the subtle provocations during department meetings, the ongoing battle of wit that had become second nature to them. And yet, every time Joshua thought about Seokmin, one particular phrase echoed in his mind.

"I watch you more often than you think."

Had he really said that? Or had Joshua imagined it?

He didn’t have the luxury of dwelling on it. The day of the final project presentations was approaching, and Joshua was determined to prove once and for all that literature could be just as engaging as history.

---

That morning, Joshua entered the teachers’ lounge with a stack of papers tucked under his arm, fully intending to focus on his lesson plan. But, of course, fate had other plans.

Seokmin was already there, seated by the window with a steaming cup of tea in hand. The soft morning light illuminated him in a way that Joshua found annoyingly… pleasant.

“Good morning, Hong,” Seokmin greeted him, his tone as casual as ever.

“Lee,” Joshua replied curtly, settling into the seat across from him.

Seokmin studied him for a moment before tilting his head slightly. “Did you get any sleep at all?”

Joshua exhaled through his nose. “That’s none of your business.”

Seokmin chuckled. “Oh, but it is my business if my rival isn’t at the top of his game. Winning wouldn’t be as fun if you were running on fumes.”

Joshua shot him an irritated look—mixed with something else, something less defined, something that made him feel like he was treading on dangerous ground.

“Don’t worry about me,” he retorted, keeping his tone as neutral as possible. “Focus on your own class. You’ll need to.”

Seokmin shook his head with a knowing smile and took a sip of his tea. “Oh, Hong. You’re adorable when you pretend you’re not struggling.”

Joshua tensed. “I’m not struggling.”

Seokmin set his cup down and leaned in slightly. “No? Then why are you biting the inside of your cheek like you do when you’re nervous?”

Joshua stiffened. Damn it. He hadn’t even realized he was doing that.

Deciding to ignore the remark, he opened his notebook, forcing his attention on the day’s lesson plan. But even as he scribbled down notes, he could feel Seokmin’s gaze on him.

And, for some reason, he didn’t mind it.

---

As the presentation day drew closer, the entire school seemed to pick up on the tension between them.

Students watched them with curious eyes whenever they passed each other in the hallways. Fellow teachers chuckled to themselves when they overheard their sharp exchanges. Even the principal, during a staff meeting, had given them a weary look and sighed in resignation.

Then, just two days before the big event, something unexpected happened.

The school’s heating system malfunctioned.

Which meant that, for safety reasons, all extracurricular activities were suspended for the afternoon.

And that meant Joshua and Seokmin—the two most stubborn teachers in the entire school—found themselves stuck in the teachers’ lounge, waiting for the issue to be resolved.

---

Joshua sat in one of the lounge’s armchairs, a book open in his lap—but he wasn’t reading.

On the other side of the room, Seokmin had removed his jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, leaning against the desk with an infuriatingly relaxed posture.

The silence between them was thick.

Eventually, Seokmin was the one to break it.

“Okay, we need to talk.”

Joshua barely lifted his gaze. “About what?”

Seokmin folded his arms. “About us.”

Joshua raised an eyebrow. “Us?”

“Yes, Hong. Us. Because I don’t know about you, but I’m starting to think that this whole rivalry of ours is a little…”

He trailed off, searching for the right words.

Joshua felt an unexpected tightness in his chest. “A little what?”

Seokmin looked at him, and for once, there was no teasing glint in his eyes—just something intense, something unspoken, something that made Joshua’s breath catch.

“A little too charged with… something else.”

Joshua’s heartbeat stuttered.

Something else.

As if it wasn’t just competition.

As if there was something underneath it all.

Joshua knew he should have laughed and dismissed the entire conversation. But he didn’t.

Instead, he closed the book in his lap and leaned back against the chair, holding Seokmin’s gaze.

“And if that were true?” he asked, his voice quieter than usual.

Seokmin didn’t answer immediately. He simply studied Joshua’s face, as if trying to decipher something between the lines.

Then, after a long moment, he gave a small, knowing smile.

“Then I’d say we need to figure out what to do about it.”

Joshua took a deep breath. He knew that whatever happened next, it would change everything.

And for the first time, the idea didn’t bother him at all.

Chapter Text

The air in the teachers’ lounge was still charged with that strange electricity. Joshua could feel the weight of Seokmin’s gaze on him, the question he had posed still lingering in the space between them.

"Then I’d say we need to figure out what to do about it."

Was it a provocation? An invitation? Or just another one of Seokmin’s ways of getting under his skin?

Joshua stood slowly, willing himself to maintain control over his reactions. “There’s nothing to discuss,” he said, his voice deliberately neutral, even though he knew it was a lie.

Seokmin merely tilted his head, a small, knowing smile playing at the corner of his lips. “If you say so.”

But the look in his eyes said something entirely different.

Joshua clenched his jaw, grabbed his books, and left the room with a frustration he couldn’t quite explain.

---

The day of the final project presentations had arrived.

Joshua’s students were ready. Their adaptation of Hamlet was perfect—their lines flowed with intensity, the costumes were well-crafted, and the emotions behind each word were palpable. As he watched them perform, pride swelled in his chest.

Across the room, however, Seokmin was watching with that same unreadable smile. His turn would come next, and Joshua knew better than to underestimate him.

When the imaginary curtain fell on the performance, the room erupted into applause. Joshua turned toward Seokmin, his expression holding a challenge.

“Let’s see if you can top that,” he murmured.

Seokmin chuckled, his eyes gleaming. “Oh, Hong. I won’t disappoint you.”

And he didn’t.

His class delivered a revolutionary assembly so immersive that even Joshua had to admit it was impressive. The students debated with conviction, their arguments sharp and well-structured, their enthusiasm contagious. The energy in the room was undeniable.

When it was over, the panel of teachers in charge of judging took a few moments to deliberate.

Joshua crossed his arms. “Not bad.”

Seokmin raised an eyebrow. “Just not bad?”

Joshua hesitated for a fraction of a second before allowing the faintest of smiles to curve his lips. “Maybe a little better than not bad.”

Seokmin laughed softly. “I knew you’d admit it eventually.”

A few minutes later, the results were announced.

A tie.

Joshua remained still for a moment. Seokmin clapped slowly, an amused smirk on his face.

“Looks like we’re even,” he said, his tone laced with challenge.

Joshua shook his head, but he couldn’t quite suppress the smile tugging at his lips. “It won’t last.”

---

Later that evening, after the students had gone and the school halls had fallen into silence, Joshua found himself wandering the corridors, lost in thought.

He stopped outside Seokmin’s classroom.

Inside, Seokmin was still there, perched on the edge of his desk, absentmindedly twirling a pen between his fingers. When he looked up and saw Joshua standing in the doorway, a tired but genuine smile crossed his face.

“Well, this is a surprise,” he said. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

Joshua leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms over his chest. “Neither did I.”

Seokmin gestured toward the room in invitation, and despite himself—despite the little voice in his head telling him he should just walk away—Joshua stepped inside.

“You know,” Seokmin began, stretching his legs out in front of him, “this rivalry of ours has definitely gone beyond the usual level of professional competition.”

Joshua nodded slowly. “Yeah.”

Seokmin tilted his head, studying him. “And what if I said I liked it?”

Joshua felt a flicker of warmth creep up his neck. “What, the part where you challenge me at every given opportunity?”

Seokmin’s smile widened. “That too.” He paused, his expression shifting to something more serious. “But not just that.”

Joshua knew exactly what he meant.

And for the first time, he didn’t feel the need to deflect.

Instead, he took a step closer. “Maybe,” he said quietly, “I don’t mind it either.”

Seokmin didn’t look away. “Good.”

Joshua smiled. “Good.”

And for the first time since this all began, neither of them felt the need to win.

Chapter Text

The rivalry between Joshua and Seokmin had always followed a certain logic. It was the driving force behind their days, the thread that connected all their interactions. A challenge, an unspoken agreement that neither of them would back down. But now, something had shifted.

After that moment in Seokmin’s classroom, there had been no official declaration, no definitive conversation. And yet, they both knew—the line between competition and something more had been crossed.

Joshua, who had built his life around structure and careful planning, had no idea what to do with this new dynamic.

---

The following week was a test of endurance.

Seokmin seemed to enjoy pushing Joshua’s limits in increasingly subtle ways.

“You still haven’t managed to beat me, Hong,” he murmured one afternoon during a department meeting, leaning in just enough for his words to be meant only for Joshua.

With remarkable self-control, Joshua didn’t turn to look at him. “There’s more than one way to win, Lee.”

Seokmin chuckled softly. “True. But I want to see which one you’ll choose.”

It was a dangerous game.

And Joshua knew he was losing, because every time Seokmin leaned in just a little too close, every time he threw him a look filled with quiet challenge, Joshua felt his heartbeat quicken.

And it wasn’t fair. It shouldn’t be like this.

---

It was a Friday afternoon when Joshua once again found himself alone in the teachers’ lounge with Seokmin.

The room was quiet, the school empty now that the students had left for the day.

Seokmin was leaning against the table, arms crossed, watching Joshua with that infuriatingly unreadable expression. There was something different in the air between them—something Joshua couldn’t quite name, but could feel pressing down on him.

“I have to ask,” Joshua finally said, exhaling heavily.

Seokmin raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his gaze. “Oh? Are you giving up?”

“I don’t give up.” Joshua’s jaw tightened. “But I want to understand.”

Seokmin studied him for a moment before tilting his head slightly, his lips curving into the faintest of smiles. “Understand what?”

Joshua gestured vaguely between them. “This. Why did you start… flirting with me?”

Seokmin let out a quiet laugh. “Flirting?”

Joshua felt a slight heat creeping up his neck. “Yes. Why? Is it just another way to test me? Another attempt to win?”

Seokmin’s amusement faded, replaced by something unreadable. “Do you really think this is just a game?”

Joshua opened his mouth, but for once, he had no immediate answer.

Seokmin took a step forward, closing the distance between them by a few inches. Joshua could feel the warmth of his breath against his skin, his heart pounding against his ribs.

“Maybe at first it was a game,” Seokmin admitted, his voice lower now, more deliberate. “But not anymore.”

Joshua felt his fingers tingle, as if his body was instinctively searching for something to hold onto—something to ground him.

“So… what is it, then?”

Seokmin’s smile softened, but his eyes remained locked onto Joshua’s. “You tell me.”

Joshua frowned. “Don’t answer my question with another question.”

Seokmin chuckled at that, but instead of responding, he took another step forward. Now, they were close enough that Joshua could feel the heat radiating from his body.

“Fine,” Seokmin said, his voice almost a whisper now. “I want to see you frustrated because you can’t stop thinking about me. I want to keep pushing you, keep challenging you, keep making you lose control no matter how hard you try to hold on.”

Joshua held his breath.

“And,” Seokmin added, his gaze unwavering, “I want to see what happens when you stop holding back.”

The silence between them was thick, the kind that stretched out just long enough to make every second feel unbearable.

Joshua knew—knew—he was standing at the edge of something irreversible.

And this time, he didn’t step away.

---

He didn’t know who moved first.

Maybe it was Seokmin, tilting forward just slightly. Or maybe it was Joshua, giving in to the pull between them.

Either way, the next moment, their lips met.

It wasn’t tentative. It wasn’t hesitant.

It was a challenge, just like everything between them.

Joshua felt Seokmin’s fingers grasp the edge of his shirt, pulling him in just a fraction closer. He responded in kind, his hands gripping Seokmin’s wrists as if to keep him there, as if he’d spent far too long pretending he didn’t want this.

When they finally broke apart, both of them were slightly out of breath.

Seokmin looked at him with that same maddeningly confident smile, but this time, there was something softer in his eyes.

“I think I won this time,” he murmured.

Joshua exhaled sharply, shaking his head as he bit his lip. “Not a chance.”

Seokmin laughed. “Perfect.”

And Joshua realized that, for the first time, losing to him didn’t bother him at all.

---

The following week, everything seemed the same.

Joshua and Seokmin still challenged each other. They still exchanged sharp-witted remarks in the hallways, still competed to outshine one another at every opportunity.

But now, something was different.

Now, every comment carried a second meaning. Every challenge was an excuse to get closer. Every look lingered just a little too long.

And when, one day, Seokmin leaned in and whispered, “I watch you more often than you think,” Joshua understood.

Their rivalry wasn’t over.

It had just become much more interesting.

Chapter Text

The rivalry between Joshua and Seokmin had never truly ended.

It had simply evolved.

The school was the same as it had always been: classrooms filled with noisy students, department meetings full of tired teachers, nights spent grading papers with cups of now-cold coffee scattered around. But between them, everything had changed.

Each day brought a new challenge, but now the prize was no longer just academic victory. Now, there was something more.

---

It was a May morning when Joshua walked into the teacher’s lounge to find Seokmin sitting at their usual table, a newspaper in hand and a mischievous grin spread across his face.

“You’re late,” Seokmin observed, without even looking up.

Joshua raised an eyebrow. “We’re not even in class, Lee.”

Seokmin folded the newspaper and slid it across the table toward him. “Read this.”

Joshua sighed but did as suggested. The headline was clear:
“Students Awarded for Best Interdisciplinary Projects: English and History Win Together.”

Joshua furrowed his brow. “Wait. Together?”

Seokmin nodded, his smile widening. “Seems like our students decided to join forces instead of competing.”

Joshua shook his head in disbelief. “Are you telling me that our entire year of bickering and rivalry ended in a draw for them too?”

“Exactly.”

Joshua sighed, massaging his temples. “Perfect.”

Seokmin laughed, standing up and leaning against the table beside him. “But maybe it’s a good thing.”

Joshua lifted his gaze. “What do you mean?”

Seokmin shrugged. “Maybe it means that we can find a way to work together… instead of always trying to outdo each other.”

Joshua studied him for a long moment before shaking his head with a half-smile. “It wouldn’t be as fun.”

Seokmin burst out laughing. “Right.”

---

Later that afternoon, Joshua and Seokmin found themselves walking through the now-empty hallways of the school.

Joshua stopped in front of his classroom, his fingers absently drumming against the door. “So, now that the project is over, what do we do?”

Seokmin leaned against the wall beside him, wearing his usual mischievous grin. “We can always start a new challenge.”

Joshua crossed his arms. “Oh? What kind of challenge?”

Seokmin stepped closer, reducing the distance between them. “Let’s see who can resist kissing the other first.”

Joshua blinked, surprised by the boldness of the suggestion. Then he shook his head with an incredulous laugh.

“Ridiculous.”

Seokmin shrugged. “You only say that because you know you’ll lose.”

Joshua met his gaze for a long moment before moving even closer, his fingers gently grazing Seokmin’s chin.

“We’ll see.”

Seokmin smiled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Oh yes, we’ll see.”

And with that, their rivalry continued.

Only now, every challenge came with a new reward—something far sweeter than victory.