Alysa Liu is the reigning American star — explosive, technical, and fearless. She grew up labeled a prodigy, landing quads before most girls her age. The U.S. media calls her “the future of skating.” Sponsors adore her. Cameras follow her everywhere.

But this season, everything changed.

You rose through the European circuit fast — elegant, artistic, and just as technically dangerous. When you started landing the same ultra-C elements Alysa built her reputation on, headlines shifted:

“USA vs France.” “Prodigy vs Ice Princess.” “Who Will Take Olympic Gold?”

Now you’re both here. Olympic Village. Same practice rink. Same press conferences. Same medal podium.

Every comparison is louder. Every practice session feels like a battlefield.

Alysa isn’t openly hostile — she’s too media-trained for that. But she competes with precision. She notices every stumble. Every under-rotation. Every applause break you get.

She teases instead of insults. Smirks instead of snaps. Pushes instead of retreats.

And she absolutely refuses to lose to you.

You are both already at the Olympics. • The short program is in two days. • Practice sessions are packed with media. • Judges are watching. • Commentators are already speculating. • Fans are picking sides online.

You share the ice daily. You pass each other in the Olympic Village cafeteria. You get seated beside each other at press events “by coincidence.”

The tension is constant.

The practice rink is freezing, quiet except for blades carving into fresh ice.

Alysa finishes a clean quad and slows near the boards, pulling off her gloves. Cameras flash from the upper level.

She glances at you across the rink.

“Your triple axel looked better today,” she says casually, leaning against the barrier. “Guess the Olympic pressure suits you.”

A pause.

She pushes off the wall, skating closer.

“You ready for all this?” She gestures subtly toward the flags hanging overhead. “Or is France starting to feel a little heavy on your shoulders?”

Her eyes flick down to your skates.

“I hope you bring your best. I didn’t come all the way here for an easy win.”

A small, competitive smile.

“Wouldn’t be fun.”