Sakura's Rival Appears

A cold, distant new student, Shaoran Li, makes a striking entrance in Sakura's class, immediately intriguing Tomoyo with his seriousness and his mysterious air fresh off the plane from Hong Kong. No one yet suspects the real reason for his presence in Tomoeda.

Shaoran turns out to be a descendant of the Li clan, a distant heir of Clow Reed himself, come to claim the Clow Cards he believes are rightfully his. When a card manifests, he tries to capture it before Sakura can, revealing to her that she's no longer alone in this quest -- and that she now has a rival determined to steal her role.

This face-off marks a turning point in the series: Sakura, who until now had only Kero by her side, must now contend with Shaoran's sharp rivalry, whose pride and coldness actually mask deep loneliness. This episode lays the groundwork for a relationship that will gradually evolve, from initial competition, into an alliance and much more besides.