Episode 10: Aliens amongst the Team

The ambulance took Tetsukado away, however, the team had to stay to attend the awards ceremony. They had earned right to fight against the world; they were the strongest in Asia!

Narukami clenched his fist in rage, he wanted to be by his friend's side.

Gouenji Shuuya, the president of the junior soccer council, stood in front of the mic and started to make his speech.

"Congratulations, Shinsei Inazuma Japan!" a voice, not Gouenji's, boomed echoeing throughout the entire stadium.

"Hmm…" Han put his hands behind his head, "looks like its begun…"

A giant hole opened up in the sky and a single figure emerged from it. Just with one look it was evident that it was not a human. It had bluish green hair with antenna-like flicks and eerie white skin. Its clothes were not made from any fabric found on Earth.

"Greeting, people of Earth. I'm called Bidway Ozlock of the Galaxy Observatory Council. Though I doubted you would actually pass the test, I have come to congratulate you on your team's participation in the Grand Celesta Galaxy tournament." The man(?) suddenly stated. It was floating above the stadium crowd.

"Grand Celesta Galaxy?" Tenma repeated.

"Your battle against galaxies has begun!" Bidway smiled, "What will you're team be known as, Kuroiwa Coach?"

The coach was unfazed with what was happening. Too calm. "Earth Eleven."

"Application complete, the team's data has been inputted. There seems to be some… change…" he glanced down at the members of the now, Earth Eleven. "I hope for your victory and safety. The dates and times of the games will be sent to you when they are comfirmed. Until then."

After giving a small bow, Bidway flew back up into the hole. It closed up as if nothing had happened.

The entire stadium was silent. Everyone was trying to figure out what had just happened. Was it just an illusion? A dream? No, its reality.

"He… wasn't human…" Manabe stuttered. Even Minaho was having difficulty to comprehend the situation.

"Don't waste time," Kuroiwa Coach said, "get ready to leave in a few days."

"Leave?" Shindou asked, "Where?"

"Think!" Han spoke up in a mocking tone, "Space, O~U~T~E~R~ S~P~A~C~E~! you know, different galaxies."

"Don't play games with us!" Manabe sighed, "It is impossible for that to happen. Anyone could figure that out. Our technology doesn't enable us to even reach most of the planets in this galaxy, let alone other ones."

Alsius shook her head, "It's not impossible, though I know it is difficult to suddenly understand."

"Coach, can I leave now?" Narukami desperately asked. He wanted to check on Tetsukado immediately. Kuroiwa Coach nodded and he ran out of the stadium.

Tetsukado had badly broken his leg resulting in an emergency operation. When he finally awoke, Narukami explained to him what had happened at the stadium.

"Thanks for telling me, but I can't go with you guys anymore…" Tetsukado sadly looked at his hands.

"Shin… don't say that!"

A tear rolled down his cheek, "The doctor said my leg will never be able to be fully healed. That I won't be able to run let alone play soccer with it." He wipped his tear and tried to stop them from dripping. "Not only has boxing been taken away from me, but soccer as well… maybe I wasn't meant to play sports…"

"NO… please stop!"

"But that's the reality!"

Narukami fell silent seeing his friend this depressed. Neither said a word for a while. A nurse telling Narukami that visiting hours were over was what broke the silence. Narukami bowed politely and said bye to his friend.

"Bye…" Tetsukado mumbled looking out the window to avoid any more eye contact.

Narukami closed the door, "Don't worry, Shin. I'll make sure you'll stand on the field again. I'll return soccer to you… I promise." He vowed and headed out the hospital.

Alsius stood alone in a vacant lot with a single soccer ball underneath her foot. Two wooden pillars stood by a wall substituting a goal.

"Okay, time for some defense practice…" she smiled. However she realized something very crucial causing her to lose momentum. "How do you practice stealing balls, if there are no players to steal them from…" she was crushed by her own mistake.

She closed her eyes trying to think who she could ask for help, "Naoto is visiting Tetsukado so won't have time, I'd die before I ask Han… I guess I could ask Captain, but it'll be dark before I get to Soccer Garden. Besides I came here to practice in private.

"Hey! Are you doing some soccer practice?" a voice called from behind. A young man, about early 20's, stood casually by the vacant lot entrance. He had wild white hair and very smooth looking skin.

"Um… you are?"

"I also played soccer when I was you age." The man avoided answering Alsius' question, "I played for Korea's Representative team. A friend of mine scouted me. It was a shame were weren't able to play against the world…"

"Well technically we aren't going against the world either…"

"Real aliens, huh?" The man chuckled as if he was remembering some fond memory.

Alsius clenched her fists, "I need to get stronger for that! Our next opponents are unlike any other team we have faced. I need to overcome my weakness."

The man smiled and walked up to Alsius, "Mind if I help you, boy? I may not look it, but I am still very good at soccer. I will definitely be help to you."

Alsius thought for a bit, "Sure!" she kicked the ball towards the white-haired adolescent. The man kicked the ball up and started juggling it with his knees. He dropped it back down and started dribbling towards the goal, "Can you steal this from me?" he provoked.

Alsius charged forward, but was easily evaded. The man stopped and turned around telling Alsius to try again.

"You focus on the ball too much and don't see your surroundings. Soccer is a team sport, understand what is going on around you. And always remember, success isn't only stealing the ball."

"Y-yes!" Alsius huffed trying to steal the ball again.

The two kept practicing until night. They met up again the next day and the next until the day before Alsius had to leave for the Grand Celesta Galaxy.

"Your movement has improved since the first day we practiced." The man smiled, "what is your position?"

"Midfielder."

"Do you have any shoot hissatsu?"

Alsius frowned, "1 alone and 2 with others."

The man smiled, "how about today we make a new shoot for you? It's sometimes good to change courses and focus on other skills. What do you think?"

"I don't have any ideas now though…"

"Let me show you mine; I believe you are an ice user as well?"

Alsius nodded and the man took the ball in front of the goal posts. Crossing his arms, his entire surroundings into a field of ice. He moved so quickly it seemed like he disappeared for a moment. He appeared behind the ball and kicked it with the bottom of his foot.

"Northern Impact!" the ball was enveloped with icy energy and rocketed towards the net. It left an imprint in the wall it collided with.

Alsius' eyes sparkled with excitement!

"Well," the man grinned, "Let's get started."

"Everyone's here?" Aoi asked taking the attendance. Even Tetsukado was present because Kuroiwa Coach called him over. Thought the ex-boxer was unable to walk without the aid of crutches.

Kuroiwa Coach walked forward, "Before leaving for the Grand Celesta Galaxy, we'll be picking up two more players."

Shindou perked up, "Who?"

"You'll know when we get there…"

Tenma cocked his head, "Get there?"

Han sighed happily, "Finally we get to be home again…"

"Home?" Minaho noticed, "Are the new members from your old school or town?"

Han chuckled, "Something like that. Hey coach, we are allowed to say it now, aren't we?"

"Do as you like!"

Han pumped his fists, "Alright! Don't be surprised but Haku-nee, Naoto and I aren't from Earth!" Han announced. "Ahh… I really wanted to say that the whole time…"

"Wait, wait, wait!" Kusaka gasped, "Not from Earth? Are you suggesting that you are aliens or something?"

"Aliens… from your perspective, yes."

Manabe sighed, "Who would listen to someone tell them that they are aliens and agree with them without giving it another thought."

Alsius sighed and glared at Han, "Let me explain…

"We are actually from a planet not from this galaxy, but near it called Melfelse. We too received the invitation to enter the Grand Celesta Galaxy too, but our planet doesn't have enough players who play soccer. That's when the leader of our planet proposed that we team up with Earth, the planet which was closest to us in terms of appearance and ability.

"Bidway Ozlock agreed to his, so the 3 of us was sent here to play for you guys for the FFI vision 2. I think you guys know now, but we are about to play against beings from many different galaxies across the universe. I'm pretty sure having a few of us from Melflese would help since humans are one of the weakest of races."

"So you 3 really are aliens?" Konoha gulped.

"From our point of view, you're the aliens…" Alsius pointed out. "Don't worry, there are humans in our planet too. In fact, our planet is very similar to Earth, so you won't be too surprised."

"Humans? On another planet?" Konoha mumbled.

Ibuki looked like he was trying to think hard, "Seems like we got caught up in something big… I don't understand a thing anymore!"

As the teammates discussed amongst themselves, Narukami approached Tetsukado. They haven't talked since their last encounter in the hospital.

"Hey Shin," he started, "Don't give up on soccer!"
"Huh? What do you mean? There's no choice."

Narukami shook his head, "As long as your feelings for soccer are still there, I guarantee you that you're leg will be healed."

Tetsukado's eyes were clouded with pain, "Please Naoto, stop…"

"NO!" Narukami yelled, "Trust me!"

Before Tetsukado had the chance to protest, the ground started to shake. It split open in front of everyone and from there emerged a train like vehicle. It was white with blue painted streaks and a yellow lightning bolt on its sides; Inazuma Japan's colours. Besides the colour there was something else very familiar with the train.

"Isn't this our rooms?" Tenma realized that the portables which they slept in were missing from the area.

Aoi nodded, "Apparently they were part of this space train all along.

Tenma noticed everyone's worried looks so spoke up, "I know everyone's unsure and still confused, but we can't stop. We can't be number one in the world quite yet, we need to trust our coach for now. I know there is a reason for us all meeting up and I think this is it. Let's do our best and win this Grand Celesta Galaxy. We are now, Earth Eleven!"

The train started rising up into the air. Higher and higher and higher until it disappeared in to the vast universe. Inazuma Japan, no Earth Eleven's battle against true aliens was about to begin!