Episode 22: Zephyr of the Winds

"Hey, Komori… who's that?" Han whispered.

"I dunno, but everyone's calling him "Tsurugi."

Han sniffed, "But he smells different."

Komori thought for a bit, "changed cologne?"

"Um… I don't think so."

Narukami wrapped his arms over their shoulders, "Let's observe for a bit, huh?"

"Uh, okay…"

"Well, since that's settled, let's get stuff to eat. You don't gotta worry, Han." Narukami chuckled, "We're not warping until tomorrow, so you can eat without worrying about it losing them" Han answered by sacking his teammate.

Alsius held her head as if she had a headache. Minaho noticed and asked this, though she denied it.

"I think, I'll go get some sleep…" Alsius sighed. She staggered slightly bumping into Matatagi, "Sorry…"

Alsius walked out to the hallway, slumping against the wall, "No…not again… I don't want to see it…" she sobbed softly as she held her head as if she was trying to shoo something out.

"Say, I've been wondering where Liberta is…" Minaho brought up.

Morimura gasped, "D-d-did we leave him i-in S-Sandorius?"

"Haha, don't worry, he just went to a different mission." Han explained.

Manabe frowned, "Just like that?"

"That's part of the reason why the warp is delayed." Narukami sighed. "We're waiting for the new player being sent by Melfelse."

"Who?" Tenma asked.

"Wait captain!" Manabe said, "Rather than "Who" isn't it better to ask, "How"? We're in space, how is the new player going to come here?"

"I don't really care about that." Sakura sighed and many other members muttered in agreement.

"Well, honestly, we don't know who's coming either." Han shrugged, "I guess we just have to wait until tomorrow when he arrives."

"It's too bad Liberta left… will we see him again?" Tetsukado asked which Komori answered by nodding.

"Good thing Ibuki's arm's healed now…" Narukami sighed, "If it wasn't I would be responsible for the daily vaccination…"

"Well, they'll probably come tomorrow, so we should get some rest." Han smiled and everyone headed back to their rooms.

Next day…

"Ah, Yushiro!" Han waved when he saw the boy wearing the scarf. "You're finally here. So, who'd you bring? Or are you playing?"

"…no…not me…"

Behind Yushiro was a semi-long black haired boy with lime green streaks on his bangs walked up. Both arms were concealed with what looked like giant oven mitts.

"…!? Ze-Zephyr!?" Han gasped. "You can play…?"

"Zephyr?" Komori noticed the three talking and jumped up, hugging Zephyr, "I can't believe its you!" She squealed happily.

"…Komori?"

"Yup, yup!" She smiled.

The boy blushed and wrapped his large arms around her as well, "You're always so warm…"

The little girl chuckled, "That's cause I'm a dragonis of course!"

"…yeah…"

"Aw, isn't little Komori-chan just soo innocent." Han whispered grinning.

"Naoto… not going to… like…" Yushiro mumbled ignoring Han's previous comment.

Han showed a bit of irritation, "Well, I don't know why, but he doesn't like Zephyr."

"Well… I'll…leave…"

"Already?"

"Trouble at… Earth…I'm busy…"

Han flinched, "Huh, what's the matter with earth?"

Yushiro paused for a bit, "none… of your… business…" he said finally before opening an ominous black energy portal and disappeared inside it.

"Being used by Xion like usual I guess… his ability is useful for relaying information…" Han rubbed the back of his head sighing.

"We need to introduce you to everyone else!" Komori smiled as she tugged on Zephyr's mitten.

Zephyr tilted his head to the side, "Are you able to talk to them?"

"…No… but, but captain is really nice…"

"You'll eventually get used to them." Han encouraged, "Let's head to the cafeteria; everyone should be eating breakfast at this time."

Zephyr nodded and Komori grabbed his hand to lead him to the room.

"Haku… you alright?" Narukami asked again.

"I told you, I'm okay…" Alsius groaned, "I just didn't get any sleep."

Narukami frowned, "Why?"

"If I knew, I'd be getting some sleep now, wouldn't I?" Alsius growled holding her head. Dark bags were visible underneath her eyes.

"You're definitely not "okay.""

"What are you two talking about?" Matatagi asked as he placed his tray of food at teir table and took a seat.

"Haku's not feeling to go-"

Before Narukami finished his sentence, Alsius stood up and walked out of the cafeteria.

"Did I interrupt something?" Matatagi asked.

Narukami shrugged his shoulders, "I dunno. She never says anything about herself anymore…"

"Say, Narukami-kun," Minaho walked over, "I've been always wondering why Alsius insists being called "Alsius" rather than her given name, "Kurogane Haku.""

The white-haired defender leaned back on his chair, "Beats me. She didn't mind her name when we were younger, but when I saw her again, she was completely different."

"…saw her again? Does that mean you-"

Han's loud clapping got everyone's attention immedieately. "Hey, hey all! Attention! Introducing new member!"

"Han… that's embarrassing…" Komori whispered,"… and he isn't here right now…"

"Huh, what?" Han screamed, "Where'd he go?"

"K-Kuroiwa Coach's office… he needs to report or something…" Komori mumbled.

"Um…"

"So the "new" member isn't here?" Ibuki snorted.

"He's here… but…"

"Well, he'll be here eventually. There's no need to rush." Shindou wrapped up the conversation.

"Anyone besides, "him" I'd be glad to work with." Narukami sighed.

"Hmf, we already have enough people, we don't need anymore… it'll just add to the troubles…" Matatagi mumbled to himself coldly, but quiet enough so no one else could catch what he had just said.

"…Is he really going to wake eventually?" Liberta sighed. They've travelled for almost a whole day, but couldn't warp since Tsurugi still lay asleep inside a bed case.

"He won't be waking until we arrive in Faram Obieus, please patiently wait." Ishigashi said as she was doing some work on her Ipad-like device.

Suddenly the only door in the room opened, revealing the large horned alien, Barga, from the Shintenou from the match against Sandorius. "What are you doing here!" he demanded.

"Quiet…" Ishigashi said sternly, "He's the one we recruited…"

"Him!?"

"Oh, joining the Shitenou means I'd be put in the same boat as you," Liberta sneered, "Should've thought that one through…"

"You're just a mere human… nothing compared to us…"

Liberta smiled widely showing his sharp fangs concealed within his mouth, "not just any human, Barga-kun…"

Barga showed obvious signs of fear, but was somehow able to walk out, "Keh, you better not bother me anymore…"

Liberta leaned back, relaxing.

"Wonderful, Liberta El Mata, I can see why you have been elected." Ishigashi said not taking her eyes off the screen on her device.

Liberta smirked, "Oh, you don't know the half of it yet…"

"Zephyr! Why'd you disappear like that?" Han cried as the green streak haired boy came inside the cafeteria along with the two managers, Aoi and Mizukawa.

"I told Komori, and besides, it's manners to introduce yourself to coach first." Zephyr bluntly stated.

"So, you're the new member?" Tenma walked forward and outstretched his hand.

Zephyr didn't react immediately but did shake the captain's hand eventually.

"You have… really big hands…" Tenma gasped as he shook the boy's mitten covered hands.

"I assume, you're the captain…?"

"Yup, Matsukaze Tenma is my name."

The newcomer salute, putting his right fist over his left chest, "No. 16, Tower. Zephyr Illous. Nice to meet you all."

"Zephyr!?" Narukami gasped almost falling off the chair he sat on. "Why you!? Why are you the one joining!?"

"Ah, Naoto-san, you were here too." Zephyr smiled, "Soccer is a sport popular in the village I come from, so I have played many times It's only natural I be in."

"I don't remember seeing you in the Melfelse team we played against…" Manabe informed.

"Because I wasn't." Zephyr answered. "If you still doubt my capabilities, I wouldn't mind participating in some kind of test for you."

"So he's not going to expand on why he wasn't on that team…"

"Alright." Shindou nodded.

Since it was about the time for practice, all the members of Earth Eleven entered the virtual world created by the Black Room. It became the exact replica of the stadium back in the Soccer Garden.

"So this is what earth's stadium is like." Komori smiled feeling the soft grass on the ground.

"Haku you oaky to participate in practice."

"I told you, I'm fine Nao!" Alsius growled, "How about you? I see that Zephyr's the one joining."

Narukami slouched over and let out a big sigh, "The only person I didn't want coming… I'd even put up with annoying Kenji or cynical Fubuki or clumsy LunA…"

"Why does he not like Zephyr?" Matatagi asked.

"I-I-I don't know…" Alsius muttered walking away from the striker.

Matatagi frowned darkly, "I don't care for others, but when you're obviously being avoided its annoying…"

"Okay, Zephyr." Tenma placed a ball on the centerline, "You said your position's defender, right?"

The boy nodded, 'But I can shoot, too."

"Uh huh, let's have you do a simple demonstration of your soccer against… Sakura and Tetsukado!"

The two players stepped forward.

"You're foot's alright, now?" Sakura asked which Tetsukado nodded in response.

"Okay, so all I have to do is steal the ball and shoot?" Zephyr confirmed.

Tenma nodded.

"Yes that's it, Zephyr!" Komori yelled.

"Begin!" The captain yelled and Sakura started dribbling the ball forward.

Zephyr stood without moving for a sec before suddenly charging towards the pink-haired girl and swiped the ball before she could react causing a slight breeze to blow behind him.

"What? How's he this fast!?"

"You're movements are too simple…" Zephyr grinned, "The wind's honest, it tells me your actions exactly."

Tetsukado went to slide tackle him, but Zephyr leaped over the ex-boxer and kicked the ball into the net.

"Wow… you're amazing!" Tetsukado exclaimed.

"Thank-you…" Zephyr bowed without changing his expression. "I hope to be useful to the team for the time being."

Manabe smiled, "He has a strange play style."

"Those movements…" Minaho put his hand on his chin, "Is it just my imagination or…"

"You're awesome, man!" Kusaka praised.

"Y-yeah…"

The members surrounded Zephyr each giving him words of praise, slowly, the newcomer's face started to get pale.

"Wah, wah, wah!" Komori noticed this and stuttered flailing her arms in panic.

Heh, serves him right." Narukami sneered.

"You're cold towards Zephyr like usual." Han laughed nervously.

"Hey, Han, you know what's up with Haku? She been acting strange lately."

Han sighed, "Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you. It's not my job to tell you what's troubling her. She'll tell you herself if she wants you to know."

Narukami couldn't return any words, "She's… changed"

"Your fault or not, you haven't."

Tenma woke up with a start, "Again, it's the same dream…" He carefully opened the drawer of the desk next to the bed. A large yellow stone was placed inside.

Pixie, who was woken by Tenma, flew next to the stone rubbing it with its tiny hands.

"Katra… Paige… Is this really one of the items needed to save all the planets?"

"Hey, Alsius!" Matatagi yelled. "What's your problem, huh? You're obviously avoided me…"

Alsius looked away, "Wel… um…"

"If I did something to hurt your feeling or something, I'm sorry…" Matatagi put his hands together apologetically.

""Outward relations are all that matter; as long as it seems to be going well, that's all that you need." Right, Matatagi-kun." Alsius quoted.

Matatagi flinched.

"I'm sorry, but your memories…" Alsius held her head, "I have watched…"

Matatagi clenched his teeth, but forced it to an evil smile, "What's wrong with my memories…huh?"

Episode 23 preview:

With Zephyr successfully arriving, the Earth Eleven warp to the next planet, Sazanaru. Mizukawa's secret is revealed. A new planet, a new environment. And why did Faram Obieus abduct Tsurugi? Episode 23: Sazanaru: Planet of Water.