Said girl looked at the singer passively and muttered in a soft voice: "Ah… I'm sorry again… for back then…"
Ming-Ming gave her a quick look over, hands on her hips and a skeptical look on her face. "So… are you a beyblader or why are you here? To visit your boyfriend? You were somewhat in a hurry, running into me and all that." the dark-skinned girl inquired, her way of asking a bit brutish but with no malice in her voice.
"B-boyfriend?" She stared at the singer surprised, her cheeks tinted red. "I-"
Tyson then stepped forward, casually putting an arm around her neck and pulling her slightly closer to him, making the girl look up at him. Everyone's eyes were wide in shock – save for Hiro's – trying to process if that intimate gesture means what they think it means.
"This is Alice, my childhood friend and the newest member of our team!" the teen exclaimed proudly. "And let me tell you this: Daichi, Alice and I will obviously win this tournament! So y'all can pack your bags and go straight back home!"
"That's not a very nice thing to say, Tyson, considering we just arrived" an all too familiar voice echoed.
"Huh?" the blue-haired youth turned his head.
He spotted a white gravity-defying scarf, somehow fluttering in the non-existent wind inside the building… a blonde puppy, vigorously waving his hands at them as they walked and his gaze finally shifted to the person who spoke to him just moments ago – a black-haired teen in Chinese garb.
"No way!" he released his quiet friend in order to step towards the new arrivals. "Kai, Ray and Maxi! What are you guys doing here?"
"We wanted to spent some quality time with you before the big tournament!" 'Maxi' stated.
"He speaks for himself" Kai cut in at once.
They stopped shortly before the triple world champion.
"So, you want to tell me that you didn't missed me, Kai? Not even a tiny bit? Why are you here then?" Tyson began to tease.
"This is the BBA training center. I obviously came here to train. Now shut up."
A satisfying grin spread across the navy blue-eyed boys face, seeing through his former captain's lies with ease – why else would he still be standing there and not be training, as he just proclaimed?
"Man, I missed you guys, too" the current captain of the Bladebreakers laughed. "Oh, let me quickly introduce you to my childhood friend and new teammate." He grabbed the blonde girl's wrist and dragged her towards his former teammates. "This is Alice Vermi-"
"-Vermouth. Alice Vermouth. Pleased to make your acquaintances" the girl boldly took over the introduction and bowed her head slightly.
A gray eyebrow rose in suspicion and golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"Hi! I'm Max Tate! Nice to meet you!"
"My name is Raymond Kon, but you can call me Ray for short."
"… the name's Kai."
"Hiwatari" Tyson added. "Look, we're like a couple, finishing each other sentences!" He continued to tease, but Kai just glared at him.
And then soft giggling could be heard.
"Oh, damaged-hair girl has a girly side after all" Ming Ming butted in. "And since we're already at the introduction: I am Ming Ming, world-class blader and super pop star." she said, deciding she's been ignored long enough. "And that big guy behind me is Crusher. He's a big softie, even though he looks quite intimidating."
"Johnny McGregor. My condolences that you had to know Tyson since childhood, it was surely not easy for you."
"… you couldn't bite that last remark back, could you?"
Alice seemed to be genuinely surprised by Johnny's statement. "No, not at all. To be honest, my happiest memories happens to be my time with Tyson."
Now it was Johnny's turn to be surprised. "Whaaat? Are you sure? That blockhead?" He pointed at Tyson to emphasize his words.
"Yes. He always made me laugh. He was my best friend."
"Wait, was? I am not your best friend anymore?" Tyson pouted, seeming to be honestly upset.
"Ah… no, I didn't meant it like that. Of course, you're still my best friend…"
"Well, that's good to hear." Once again, he put his arm around her neck, being in a cheerful mood again. "Huh? Hilary, Kenny, you guys are so quiet. Is something wrong?"
The two of them were just utterly baffled, by the sheer… possessiveness Tyson showed over the girl.
"Uh… no it's nothing. We are just confused. Tyson, we know you for like an half eternity, yet you never even mentioned a best friend before" Kenny started.
"Or that it's a girl" Hilary thought.
"Oh well, I guess it never came up. You know, with the world championships, relatives who stabs you in the back and rich, evil people trying to conquer the world with beyblades – instead of using their money" Tyson explained with a straight face.
"… you've got a point there. And with that cleared -" he turned to the new girl, "- I am Kenny, the Chief."
"The Chief?" she questioned, tilting her head somewhat.
"They call me the Chief because I'm an expert on beyblading."
"And I'm Hilary Tachibana. I used to be the manager of the Bladebreakers."
"… it's nice to meet you."
"So, for Tyson wanting you to be part of the team… you must be an excellent beyblader. I can just imagine how you two beybladed together since childhood" the brunette tells, trying to maintain the conversation.
"… ah… to be honest… I've never played beyblade in my whole life before" Alice stated absently.
Many pairs of different colored eyes stared at her, completely dumbfounded.
"What?!"
They collectively shouted, gawking flabbergasted at the blonde girl, but she doesn't even seem to register their stares. Then they directed their gaze towards Tyson.
When said teen noticed their eyes on him, he just scratched the back of his head, a flattered expression on his face. "Guys, I know I look good, but you don't have to stare at me like that!"