Episode 4: Don't Judge a Book by its Cover
"Huh?" Tenma realized one day before early morning practice, "Where's Alsius?"
Everyone peered around their surroundings and all looked at Narukami. He sighed in response "She probably went out to buy a new manga. Do you want me to look for her."
"Again…" Shindou growled.
"Wait Narukami… 'she'?" Tenma confirmed.
Narukami stared at the captain, puzzled. Soon that look turned into a grin, "Wait, did everyone here think that Haku was a boy?" Seeing everyone's confused response, Narukami started laughing.
"Are you telling us that Alsius is a girl!?" Tetsukado gasped.
"What are you people saying," Manabe sighed, "If you look at the player data on Kurogane Haku, it tells you that her gender is indeed, female. See?" Manabe showed everyone the image on his tablet.
"Well captain, are we going to look for her or just start practice?" Minaho asked.
"She'll eventually come back, don't worry." Narukami laughed, "She always does this, it's nothing unusal."
"If you say so…" said Tenma.
Phew, I was able to get the final copy…" Alsius sighed as she lined up to buy the new manga. Unable to wait, she opened up the book and started reading it.
"Ouch!" the little boy standing in front of Alsius was pushed down. A large man stood over him sneering. He cut in line!
"Got a problem, kid?" the man sneered at the little spikey headed boy.
The boy clenched his tiny fist, ready to fight back. But, before he did, Alsius stood between the two and peered up at the large man through the top of the manga she was reading.
"'scuse me, but we've been waiting in line, could you kindly follow manners and go to the end and wait your turn? Budging in line in front of a little boy just to buy some books, you're sickening."
"Who do you think you are, kid?" the man swung his arm, punching Alsius across the face. Without falling over, Alsius stayed standing, turning and glared at the man who just attacked her. She calmly put away her book as she walked over to him.
"Come on" the man provoked.
However, instead of fighting back, Alsius turned his face showing the non-bruised side of her face. Tapping slowly, she encouraged the man to punch her again.
Confused at this unusual reaction, the man finally realized how many people were watching this. Eventually, the man grumbled to himself and ran out of the store.
"Wow, you're so cool bro!" the boy exclaimed. "Wait, I recognize you… you're Kurogane Haku from my big brother's team!"
Alsius rubbed her hurting cheek as she peered down at the excited little boy, "brother?"
"I'm Matatagi Shun! Wow, you do look like a boy. If I didn't read your profile on the Shinsei Inazuma Japan pamphlet, I wouldn't of known!" The boy kept talking and talking.
"Um… so you're Matatagi's little brother?" Alsius confirmed
Shun nodded in response, "If you want, I have a patch to cover that bruise on your face. Does it hurt?"
"O-of course it hurts! Ah… I'm so glad that man decided not to punch me again…" She placed the patch Shun handed her on the wound.
"You're so strong, Haku-ne!"
"H-Haku-ne…?" Alsius stammered.
"Huh? You don't like being called that?"
"No, that's not it… I have a younger twin brother who always called me like that. I haven't met him for a few months, so it just reminded me of him."
Shun cocked it his head to the side, "Does he play soccer, too?"
"Hmm… I wonder…" Alsius smiled, "Oh, looks like you're next Shun."
After buying their books, Alsius bought Shun and herself an icecream bar and sat on a nearby bench.
After tasting the cold bar, Shun said, "You were pretty cool the last match!"
"Thanks."
"But not as cool as my big brother! He's the best on the team." He added chuckling.
"Hmf, he better watch out or I might beat him soon." Alsius taunted.
Shun shook his head violently, "No, you'd never catch up to him!"
The two glared at each other, but soon that turned into laughter.
"Haku!" a familiar voice shouted.
"N-Nao!" Alsius gasped, "I completely forgot about soccer…" she added.
"I've been looking all for you!" Narukami yelled, "Where were you all morning?"
"I went to buy a new manga and well…"
Narukami suddenly grabbed Alsius' arm and looked closely at her patched cheek. "What happened? Why are you hurt?"
'I-it's not that bad, so don't worry," Alsius shoved Narukami's hand aside. "Don't we have practice now?"
"It was only in the morning, so I and a few others went to look for you."
"Sorry…"
"Tell Captain that when he gets back." Narukami sighed, "Who's that kid?"
"I'm Shun!" he smiled.
"Yeah, that doesn't help…"
"He's Matatagi's little brother and I met him at the book store," said Alsius.
"Now that you mention it… he does look like him." Narukami giggled.
"Huh? Why are you laughing there?" Shun frowned.
Alsius finished her icecream quickly and got off the bench, "Well, I guess we should head back. Good bye Shun." She waved.
Shun smiled big, "Bye, bye Alsius."
"I'm very sorry for causing everyone trouble." Alsius yelled, deeply bowing her head.
"No worries…" Tenma laughed, "but I was so surprised, I didn't know you were a girl."
"Just by my appearance, people think I am a guy. Don't judge a book by its cover; don't judge people by who they look on the outside."
"Maybe Narukami's a girl too?" smirked Tetsukado.
Narukami just glared at him.
"Kurogane." Shindou frowned, "Don't skip out on practice again. That's all I have to say." Shindou then stood up and walked out of the lounge.