As he steps out of the jet bridge, the distinctive sounds of PA announcements in both Japanese and English along with crowds moving all over the place leave him in pure awe. Narita International Airport, needless to say, is humongous. Grabbing a small yellow book that has been his best friend for the last six months since deciding to take this trip, he scans a few words in it and looks up at a board of announcements – making out some of the words but not quite everything. He pockets the book in his large red and black backpack with the Nike swish logo on the back and pulls out two folded pieces of paper – one being a map of Narita with notes written in sharpie in his native tongue, the other being a map of the railway routes between Tokyo and NRT. Examining both maps, he puts the railway map behind the airport one and slowly, he begins to make his way through the crowds and up to the baggage claim area.

About thirty minutes later, after getting confused as to which station was dispensing his bags, he finally had them at his feet. A duffel bag, a giant travel bag and a smaller carry-on he brought with him alongside the backpack in his back. He looks over at the map again and memorizing the exact route he needed to take in order to get out of the terminal before folding those papers and throwing them in his back pocket. Looking up, he adjusts his cap and manages a small grin even if the flight's left him quite tired and with a major case of jet lag. Hell, none of that really mattered right now.

He was finally here. He had finally arrived Japan.

Following the route and bits written on the map, he eventually made his way out of the North Wing of Terminal 1 and onto the outside of Narita. It was nice, breezy day outside with the sun shining and a few clouds on the horizon. Breathing in the air, he finally overhears a bit of shouting that's even more so distinctive amidst the crowd roaming the outside – getting closer and closer with each second.

He finally turns around, seeing a girl close to his own age run towards his direction, waving as if to get his attention – whether they're excited or just plain tired, he cannot even begin to tell. He waits until she gets closer and it seems he was the intended target she was shouting at all along, as she stops a few feet short from where he's standing. Panting slightly, the girl finally looks you in the eyes and smiles kindly.

"Ano…suminasen, excuse me, but are you the American?" she asks curiously in her native Japanese, making sure to keep the words slow so he understands. "The one who is enrolling in Hakushuu this year?"

He nods. "Yes, that is me." He manages a small smile, feeling a bit like an idiot. Even after two years' worth of classes and practice, he still felt self-conscious about his Japanese even if his teacher has praised him time and time again in his pronunciation of it. "My name is Curti- erm, Kurt Parker. It is a pleasure to meet you."

She nods. "I'm Maruko Himuro. It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Parker-san," she explains, offering him a small bow to which he follows awkwardly – standing at nearly 183 cm (6') made Parker considerably taller than most people in this entire country. Maruko can definitely see why he was so interested in getting this specific transfer from the airport. Once the quick greeting is out of its way, she speaks up again. "I am sure you have a lot of questions about Hakushuu High, but Reiji and I can answer those in the car. We should get going."

"Yes," replies Kurt, grabbing his luggage and carry-on and following her to the lower area until reaching the parking lot and the parked silver Subaru Legacy. In the front seat, with his seat leaned back sits a man sipping on a one liter glass bottle of Coca-Cola, wearing a sleek and tailored three-piece Italian suit. As Maruko pops the trunk open, she nods as Kurt then places his duffel bag and pieces of luggage on it, closing the trunk shut before entering through the back door – having to bend quite a few inches in order to do so without bumping his head. As Kurt takes his seat, the man that was sitting side reaches out to him with his right hand.

"Hey. You must be the American transfer. Maruko Reiji," he says, offering his hand in a more typical Western greeting, which Kurt soon shakes. "Call me Marco. Maruko's a rather girly name."

"Makes you wonder why your parents gave you the name, doesn't it Reiji," Maruko replies, as she looks backward before pulling out of her parking spot and then beginning to drive the Subaru out.

"Oh, so you'd like me better if I were a girl, Maria?" replies Marco with a devilish grin, getting a swift punch on the shoulder from Maria's left arm. "Easy. It was a joke, you know."

Maria flashes him a small grin before focusing back on the road. "So, Parker-san, how was your flight?"

"Long. Very long," Kurt explains, sighing. From his native city of Orlando, Florida to LAX and then to Narita, it took quite a few sittings in flights and there was definitely a lack of sleep in his eyes. However, he did not mind – an opportunity to study abroad in Japan for a year was something he has been excited about ever since setting it up. "Thank you for picking and of course, to Hakushuu for taking me in."

"Believe me my American friend, we're glad to have you aboard," says Marco, taking another sip of his Coca-Cola shortly after. "As one of the student council's representatives, it is my job to get you introduced come the start of the semester – as you know, you're staying with Maria here at her place through the year…"

Kurt's eyebrows rise – a part of him definitely wasn't sure where Reiji was going with this one. Maybe something got lost in translation. "Question. Is Maruko-san a Hakushuu student?"

"I was. Graduated last year," she replies. "I'm a first-year at the Open University of Japan right now and have my own apartment. So you'll be rooming with me for the year."

"Consider yourself lucky," says Marco with a devilish grin. "She's a pretty amazing cook."

"I thought host parents are the normal way for exchange students in Japan," comments Simba, quite confused. After all, Maruko Himuro was a fairly good-looking woman and he was a man; add that in with a living situation that Kurt has seen in far too many cheesy and raunchy comedies in the past and…

"Don't worry about it. My apartment is close to Hakushuu and I used to do Reiji's job last year, so it is much easier to have you room with me rather than through a set of host parents." She looks back, flashing Kurt a small smile before focusing back on the road. "I'm not going to bite, I promise."

Kurt finally manages a small nod. "Thank you, I guess."

There is a moment of silence between the three, before Marco decides to shift into a different subject entirely. "So Kurt, American football. Or just football, as you call it in America…thoughts?"

"Wait…what do you mean Japan knows about football?"

That gets an odd look from both Marco and Maruko, as they look back at Kurt in the backseat – although Maruko shifts her focus back to the road. Marco, on the other hand, keeps his gaze, blinks a few times and then manages a small chuckle.

"Well, yes. We've known about it for quite some time," Marco replies, taking a sip from his bottle of Coke. "Not to rub my ego or anything, but I was the starting free safety for the Japan team that got second place in the American Football Youth World Cup a few months ago."

Kurt scratches the back of his head, before glancing back at Marco. "Oh yes. I remember reading about it on the papers," he explains. "It didn't get much broadcasting on television even though they made a big deal about it a month or so prior to it starting."

"Parker-san, but they broadcasted it in stations worldwide," says Maruko, sounding slightly confused by the foreigner's last statement. "I don't understand."

"Maruko-san, Marco-san…it's hard to explain but I will try. From what I read back home after it was all over, there was a breach of contract between ESPN and Morgan, the guy who organized the tournament in the first place." Kurt Parker crosses his arms, sighing. "Morgan was too greedy – decided he wanted even more money from ESPN for the rights to show the Cup. ESPN didn't take kind to that, programming changes were made, they sued Morgan for all he was worth after it was all done," he explains. "Whole case going to trial soon, but it got worse. The NFL came down on him due to his whole 'one player automatically entering the NFL' deal. That rule done without their consent."

Marco whistles lowly, quite impressed at the shenanigans that unfolded – not to mention, the lack of news after it was all said and done. They all just assumed Patrick "Panther" Spencer was already off to the races as a NFL running back. "So, what ended up happening?"

"The Armadillos are no longer a part of the NFL, Morgan had to sell off the team to cover for his losses and considering the lack of viewership, all we remember this Cup by is the drama that followed afterward." Kurt looks over at Marco and Maruko again, managing a small shrug. "If anything, I feel bad for Patrick. I know he was talking about how excited he was to get a chance at that opportunity before it all blew up on everybody's faces."

"Spencer…?" asks Maruko, the name sounding a little too familiar. "Wait, you know of Panther-san?"

Kurt's answer is a few, rapid nods. "My high school played against his in an exhibition game during their spring break a few months ago, got to know him a little during the time his team was in town," Parker explains. "He's a good guy. He's a bit of a jokester but definitely intense when he puts on the helmet."

"Ooh, so you've seen just how fast he is," Marco says.

"No doubt. Fastest player around, even when counting the NFL players," Kurt replies, before leaning back a little further into his seat. "But wow. It's cool that Japan plays football. At least I won't miss that aspect about it."

"If football is what you're looking for, then you couldn't have transferred to a better place," comments Maruko, shifting lanes and taking a specific exit in the process. "Hakushuu has a great football team. Marco's kind of the brains behind it all, but the team itself has got heart. Even if sometimes the tactics aren't the most favorable."

Marco glances over at Maruko, as if to wonder if she was really planning on going on the entire tangent that they have discussed since after Hakushuu's loss to the Deimon Devil Bats in the Kanto Tournament Finals. "Let's not scare our exchange student here, shall we?" asks Marco, finally getting a nod from "Maria" a few moments later before he claps his hands together, looking over to the back seat again. "Needless to say, we'd be glad to have another person on board for our team as well – it's grown rather tremendously since last year." He finishes the remainder of his Coca-Cola. "So, what position do you play, Kurt?"

"Coach shifted between running back and corner back. Although I like the running back position best."

"Huh. You don't say…" Marko takes another sip from his Coke and the expression on his face doesn't go unnoticed by the woman driving the car.

"What are you scheming now, Marco?" Maruko asks, snapping the Hakushuu QB to his senses.

"Oh, nothing too big…some things in regards to our playbook for this upcoming season, but outside of that…" Before he can go any further, Marco turned around in a ninety-degree angle from his spot, arms leaning on the top part of his seat, eyes on the foreigner himself. "So, can I perhaps slot you in as one of our new club members once everything's in full gear for this year?"

Kurt exhaled, managing a frantic nod with a huge smile. "If it means playing football, I'm in."

"Splendido!" Marco exclaimed in an Italian fashion, shaking hands with Kurt one more time. "I'm certain your time with us will be worthwhile. Trust me…we're planning on some big things for this year."

His grin was from ear-to-ear as he turned back to face the road and saw a vision of what the future could hold. The new, foreigner kid's build, the fact he was already familiar with the spot and of course, the kind of offense that they could run with Kurt Parker and his abilities on board…

Needless to say, if everything went well, the teams in the entire Kanto area wouldn't know what the hell was about to hit them.