#silvia woods | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

honeycombhq-22 · 6 months ago

Text

Episode 4: Ice Breaker

[Eng Dub] | [Jap Dub]

*insert intro music*

Taken place:

Before Episode 70

"I got into the team, Tante."

The girl said with her legs crossed over each other sitting with a straight back between the woman's legs, in front of a full body mirror.

"I saw. I watched your little match for a bit. Say..." Her dark grey dyed hair swayed to the side as her brush strokes slowed. "Who were the boys that scored goals?"

"Axel... Xavier and Shawn."

"Shawn... the acquaintance?"

"...yes Tante."

"Hm. You'll be able to fix a lot of your faults quickly if you stick with him." She concluded. "You can't be lacking in the national team now, can you? That would be such a disappointment after all my efforts to get you here."

Her ash-blue eyes locked with the other pair of eyes through the mirror but her thin eyebrows furrowed.

Her golden eyes are clouded with thoughts again.

So she tightened her grip, making the girl's breath hitch. "You won't disappoint me, right, Alexandrine?"

"N-no ma'am."

Not convinced, the woman's eyes widened into a stare.

The girl gulped softly and looked away.

The woman gave an artificial smile, "Good."

"Remember to always watch yourself," she began taking a loose strand of her hair, tying it around the navy hair band. She smiled with soft eyes while smoothing the minor hairs to finalise the girl's sleek styled ponytail.

Her eyes sharpened when they locked with the child's eyes through the mirror, "Even a gram can affect your performance."

"Yes ma'am."

"They made a training camp?!" Austin exclaimed mouth agape, staring in awe.

The manager hummed with a close eyed smile.

"Since Raimon won the Frontier, the chairman thought to build an accommodation for the national team after finding out Japan had qualified for the internationals. Everyone even gets their own rooms." The dark green haired manager explained then lead the way into the training camp, up the stairs to a wooden sign labelled 'Austin Hobbes' hanging on the door.

"Thank you so much... um..." The boy's mouth went thin.

The girl smiled with understanding, "Silvia."

"Thank you so much Silvia." The boy bowed.

"I'll leave you to it. Supper's at six."

Getting started, the boy made his bed and set out a few antiques on his desk. Feeling the hairs at the back of his neck rising, he turned around and squeaked, seeing Hurley, Darren, and Mark standing at his door.

"Are those toys?" The goalkeeper asked with a glint of interest.

He hid the box of toys behind him with flushed cheeks. Austin let out a shaky laugh, "WHAT— No-no... they're, they're—"

"It's okay to have toys Austin."

"Yeah, let's see 'em, they look rad!"

William walking past, paused out of curiosity about the crowd by the unknown new member's dorm. But once he spotted a car that clumsily fell onto the floor, his eyes almost dilated in excitement. "HOT WHEELS!!!"

He lunged forward, pushing past the boys as he got on all fours, holding the toy delicately in his hands. "No way, is this a Red Python Body?!"

"Y-yeah and the base is—"

"The CHEETAH Base?!"

Austin and William gasped together with smiles.

The three stared between the two.

"...A what?" Mark asked with a confused crooked mouth.

Darren's head leaned to the side, "Cheetah..?"

William pushed himself off of his arms, fixing his glasses kneeling in front of the (still) tense member. "This is a LIMITED EDITION collection that got discontinued. How on earth did you afford this? These are worth thousands of US DOLLARS!"

"My mom got it for me." He responded, his body softening.

"I demand you show me more!"

"S-sure, I have a bunch!" Austin stepped away from the box to allow the boys to look through the colourfully painted cars.

Hurley stepped out of the room and got onto the floor with his cobalt blue car. "Let's take this baby out for a test drive!" He pushed the car, it's wheels spinning as it wizzed across the passage.

"Look how far they go—" Darren paused seeing the car crash into someone's shoe.

Austin froze in horror seeing Archer staring at the toy that hit him on his way out the bathroom.

Hurley scratched the back of his head, "Sorry man, could you drive that car over here."

Archer exhaled. He took his hand out of his pocket, flipped the car back on its wheels before driving the toy back to the group with a light kick. The pink haired surfer grinned, "Thanks dude— you don't wanna join us? This is a lot of fun!"

The boy dug his hand back in his pocket. "No thanks. Appreciate the offer."

"Rude." William mumbled, cleaning the grime off the car with his shirt.

"He's a bit strange." Darren muttered.

"I think he's just a little shy." Hurley waved dismissively. He grabbed the blue car from William. "Thanks man. Let's go for one more race."

William adjusted his glasses, "Let's make this interesting, shall we gentlemen?"

The group smiled in interest.

There they were, standing at the top of the flight of stairs with their cars behind the starting line (a line of tape). William had taken the hot wheels track builder slides and assembled them to make one long track that ran down the stairs into the first floor.

"On your marks, get set... GOOOO!"

And off the cars went. Mark's orange car took the lead, but the other cars soon overtook it.

The cars were neck and neck when Hurley's cobalt blue car knicked into the track barrier and ended up spinning into Austin's purple car and William's Red Python Body, knocking them out the track.

"OH COME ON!" The three yelled before quickly placing the cars back on to try and catch up.

But Darren's grass green car was speeding for the finish line, in first place—

Then it crashed into Coach Travis' ankle.

Then the next car, then the next... and the next...

His face scrunched, "What in the world—"

"SORRY SIR!"

The supper time bell rang throughout the building, and Alex closed her door before making her way through the passage to go down the stairs. Just as she was about to turn to the staircase, she heard a door close behind her and out came Caleb.

"Oi." He called making her stop in her tracks.

"I was having a bit too much fun that time, kay? Don't get too cocky and think your special or something just 'cause you took the ball from me."

Then he continued his stroll down the stairs. Her dark eyebrows furrowed as she watched him go out the front door.

Putting the thought behind her, she made her way into the large dining hall buzzing with conversation.

After receiving her food, Alex looked around the room until she found Shawn waving her over to his table. Her breath hitched when she saw a bright red headed striker sitting with him giving her a friendly wave.

Xavier's smile melted away into light concern at the girl's frozen state. "Is something wrong? Don't tell me Shawn already told you about the alien stuff..."

Shawn chuckled, "I haven't told her that yet."

She finally managed a smile and sat down beside the red head. "Sorry. I'm... I'm still adjusting to the camp."

"No worries. Shawn, Mark and the others had to live on the road for a bit, apparently."

"Yeah! They came to my school and..."

Then the two reminisced about their travels while the white haired girl watched the two converse with a glint of wonder in her eyes.

Coach Travis stood from his table and the room quickly died down into silence. "Evening, I hope you all have settled in nicely. There are some ground rules we need to go over before I let you all get to socialising. I only have 3 things to say so this will be brief.

Number one, you are expected to attend all mealtimes. If you cannot, make sure you alert a manager or myself and your food will be kept.

Number two was already made aware of before you came but I will repeat: no cellphones are allowed. There is an emergency land line that all your parents have the number to phone in case of emergencies. If you are caught with a phone of your own, it will be confiscated.

And finally, I'm aware that some of you... are still trying to adjust to each others differences." He said, seeing Archer sitting at a table with only a wrapped plate accompanying him. "It is not my problem how you handle your disputes. However, physical violence will not be tolerated. If I do find out players have gotten into a fight, it'll soon become my problem. Those players will be punished with disqualification from the tournament. Understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"That's it from my side. Any questions?" The grape haired coach looked around the hall to be met with silence.

"Great. Lights out at nine." He waved as he exited the room. After that, the team cleaned up after themselves and made their way into the Rec Room in their groups while the stragglers like Archer made their way to their rooms.

The sound of hands clapping made the room's noise quieten down as everyone faced its source. "Alright Inazuma Japan, let's get to know each other!" Thor announced. One raised his hand.

"I'll start, what are your zodiac signs?"

Jordan groaned, "Xavier, no."

"What?" The red head smiled innocently, "Gemini season's approaching."

"Gemini?"

"As in Gemini Storm?" Jack whispered to Scotty and Thor who replied with a shrug.

"What's a zodiac sign?"

They heard a throat clear, "If I may?" Jude asked with a hand on his chest. Xavier nodded.

"The zodiac is a repeating cycle of 12 years, and each year is represented by a different animal. It is a traditional classification system that the Chinese use in their traditional lunar calendar." Jude elaborated.

"Ohhh."

Mark chuckled, "Well, that's Jude for you. Always knowing stuff!"

"Well actually..." Xavier began slowly to avoid causing conflict.

"Now you've woken the bear!" Jordan exclaimed leaning backwards to fall onto the floor dramatically.

"The zodiac I'm referring to is the Western Zodiac. These signs are divided into 12 as well, but they're based on star constellations and are split in 1 year. For example, if you are born in September, you could either be a Virgo or a Libra."

"Ohhhhh!"

"Which zodiac you are specifically, depends on the day you were born in that month. For example, Jordan and I were both born in September. But I'm a Virgo since my birthday is the 16th. While Jordan," he pointed to the green head, still on the floor with his hands over his ears in a fetal position, "is a Libra because he was born on the 26th."

He helped sit the grumbling member upright then faced the group again, "These zodiacs also have characteristics that play a role in your personality, just like the Eastern zodiacs, so it's also a fun activity to discover more about yourself."

"So there are Western and Eastern zodiacs," Jude mumbled stroking his chin. "Interesting."

Nathan raised his hand, "What's my zodiac sign when my birthday's on the 1st of February?"

"You're an Aquarius."

"I also wanna know my sign!" Mark exclaimed, enthusiastically stretching his hand into the air.

Soon, more and more boys started calling their birthdays out with Xavier answering with a closed eyed smile.

He turned to the girl who sat quietly near the corner of the room next to Shawn, "And yours Alex?"

"June 21st."

"Oh. You're just nearly a Cancer."

"Just nearly?"

"Mhm. The 21st is the first day of Cancer season, but she could show traits of a Gemini. They call it a Cusp."

"Ohhhh!"

"If I'm correct, Shawn & Mark are cusps too." Xavier added.

Jordan's arms waved around frantically as he yelled, "Enough with the zodiac talk! Why don't we talk about normal things that can strike up an exciting conversation. Like, what was everyone up to before the selection match? Let's start with...hm...Jack!"

Jack twiddled with his fingers. "I wasn't really doing much. I just sat around and ate."

"Okay... That's fine. Mark?"

"Playing soccer with Millie and the kids!" Mark grinned.

"That's cute. Jude?"

"I was learning calligraphy."

Jordan stared at Jude.

"What?" He asked with an arched eyebrow.

Jordan shook his head, "Nevermind. Nathan?"

"Running."

"The whole time?"

The bluenette nodded slowly, "Aside from sleeping and eating, pretty much."

"Axel?"

"Exercising."

The green haired boy sighed.

"What about you Alex?"

"...I was in Paris."

"No way! THEE Eiffel Tower Paris?" Jordan jumped onto his feet with sparkles in his eyes.

"Bonjouring and all?"

"Can you speak French?"

"No way! Can you say something in French?"

She glanced out the window then looked back at the group, "Bonsoir, Je m’appelle Alex."

"Don't French people say bonjour?"

"They do...but it's like saying good evening."

"SO COOL!"

"Bonsoir!"

"I always wanted to go to France."

"Eat baguettes, croissants."

"MAGRET DE CANARD!" Jack exclaimed passionatley, making Alex's eyes widen not by the sudden loudness of his voice, but how well he pronounced the dish.

"I always wanted to ride those boats in the Venice canals."

"Venice is in Italy, Darren."

"My bad."

"Have, have you had those round biscuits!" Jack asked.

Alex paused in thought until she realised, "...macaroons?"

"Yeah!"

"Can you teach me all the swear words?"

The room went silent as everyone stared at Hurley.

His broad smile shrunk. "What? It's fun cursing at someone in a language they don't know." He defended with crossed arms.

"French is one of the most learned langauges in the world. If you do go ahead and curse at someone in French, there is a high possibility someone will know what you are saying Hurley." Jude interjected with a smile, amused by the elder member.

"There's no harm in trying." Hurley shrugged with a smile. He crawled to the girl and whispered, "I'll find spare time for our lessons." Her mouth curved into a small smile at his determination and nodded.

"Do you know how to speak French Jude?"

"I wouldn't be surprised, Mr Classy himself."

"No, I do not." He replied. Then he held his hand out as he began to count, "I have only learnt how to speak English, Korean, Mandarin, Italian and Portuguese fluently."

The team sweatdropped, "Of course you have."

"That is actually going to be a big help in this tournament. The tournament's medium of communication is English." Xavier pointed out.

"Who knows how to speak English?" Thor asked and started counting the number of hands in the air.

Nathan's eyes narrowed, "Properly."

Many hands went down.

"So there's only two?" Thor chuckled nervously seeing only Jude and Alex with raised hands.

We're doomed.

"Silvia's also pretty good at English." Mark recalled the times when the manager would help him properly pronounce the English named Hissastues.

"She grew up in the US." Shawn whispered in Alex's ear.

*knock knock knock*

"Speak of the devil and she shall appear." Jordan grinned before waving to the girl, "Hi Silvia!"

"Hi!" She waved. Her eyes searched the room until they locked with a pair honey eyes belonging to the white haired player. She smiled, "The girls would like to borrow Alex, if that's okay with you guys."

"If that's okay with them?" They heard a voice behind Silvia filled with offence. Soon, the blueberry haired Celia stormed into the room and grabbed the female player's hand. "There's no need to ask them for permission. Come on, Alex!"

"O-okay." And off the girls went.

Then the atmosphere darkened as everyone turned to their targets.

Alex's eyes looked around the unfamiliar side of the building. While everyone else wondered the building getting used to it's interior, she never went this side because the first floor was where the managers and Coach Travis stayed.

Celia let go of the Alex's wrist to enter her dorm. She told Silvia and Alex to wait a few seconds while she cleaned up a bit.

Alex gulped softly looking to Silvia. "A-am I in trouble?" She asked quietly.

"Of course not! We just wanted to have time alone with you to get to know you." She reassured softly.

"It must be so suffocating with so many boys. I don't know how you did it Silvia." Celia chimed in. Alex's eyes widened. Her door was closed completely, how could she have heard what Silvia said?

She must have sharp ears.

Silvia chuckled, "It's not all that bad."

The door swung open. "And here we are! Welcome to my temporary home abode!" She presented with open arms.

Celia got comfortable very quickly. The plain white walls were decorated with Polaroids and fairy lights. On the desk lay stacks of newspapers next to her white laptop with a black camera sitting on top of the pile.

On the bed was a yellow duvet with thin white stripes and a small plush emperor penguin sat in the middle wearing her red framed glasses. And finally, a yellow rug.

Alex smiled softly at the warmth the room gave off, "Your room is really pretty."

"Thank you!" The room owner beamed. "I wanted my room to be either orange or yellow. I heard they stimulate creativity and productivity."

"Am I late?" Camellia spoke softly standing by the doorframe holding onto a lilac pillow.

"Course not! Come in, come in!"

Camellia then froze, not knowing what to do in Celia's room. Her blue eyes roamed the room hoping the two veteran managers would take the hint that she was confused when they met the golden eyes and blurred for a moment before they focused on the rest of Alex's features, which also looked like she didn't know what to do.

Though they were the new girls on the team, this was their first time meeting properly. With polite smiles, the two waved quietly to each other.

"So Mark— or should we say Marky."

"Yeah, 'AsK mE aNy qUEstiOn yOu wAnT, I'Ve gOt aN aNsWer fOr aLmOsT AnYtHiNg'."

"Yet he can't even answer what 7 × 8 is." Jude tsked, shaking his head with a serious expression.

"Oh come on guys, he was just being nice." Xavier defended with a smile.

"Oh nooo— He never acted like this with Tori or Sue."

"Well yeah. Cammy and I were friends in preschool so of course she's different from Sue and Tori." He said. His fist balled and eyes narrowed into a glare. "And I know what 8 × 7 is, Jude!"

Jude folded his arms, arching a brow, waiting for Mark to respond. He pointed matter of factly, "It's... it's... Hold on a second... if 5 × 5 is 25... then..."

"Don't think we forgot about you Shawn. What's the deal with you and the new girl?"

"Oh, I don't really know Camellia that well." He replied strategically, tilting his head.

"Don't play dumb with us ice pop, we're talking about the French speaking cutie."

"Yeah, spill the beans!"

"Oh? Alex is just a friend, if that's what you're wondering."

"Okay but what is she like?"

"She's really nice." He replied.

The team rotated their wrists, gesturing him to keep going.

"That's it, really guys." He chuckled with his hands raised. "We only met a few days ago."

But the boys weren't convinced. With Mark or Shawn's answers. This had to be the tip of the iceberg they were hiding. And they were going to find what's beneath the water.

The Ice Breakers loomed over Shawn while Mark continued figuring out what 7 × 8 was after shouting out many wrong answers.

Why is it always me?

The girls sat in a circle on the floor with snacks in the middle.

"How's the team been treating you?" Silvia asked, passing a freshly opened bag of sweets to Cammy and Alex.

Cammy smiled in gratitude and took a sweet. "Well, everyone's been nice to me, but Alex..." She turned to the white haired girl chewing. Cammy leaned onto her hands a bit, "How does it feel to be in the team with them?"

She swallowed. "I haven't had any problems so far."

"Do you guys have an eye or two on anyone?"

"Celia!"

"What? You can't tell me you aren't curious either!" Celia countered with a shrug. Cammy blinked staring at the duo while Alex's cheek began to flush.

"An eye or two?" The new manager said slowly, processing.

Silvia sighed, hand on her forehead, "She means a crush."

"It doesn't have to be a crush. I feel like things are too soon for that stuff. Hmm... anyone you admire so far?"

"Admire?" The two repeated.

"Yeah! Like, for example, when I first joined, I loved Nathan's hair— Oh! Let me find a picture—this guy!" The girl grabbed a Polaroid off her wall and showed the two the blue haired player waving to the camera with a smile. "And don't get me wrong, I still do! It looks so soft and silky."

Silvia chuckled at her friend's enthusiasm. "And he said all he does is wash it."

"Really? No oils or moisturisers?" Alex blinked in surprise.

"Nope. Just shampoo and good genes." Celia shook her head dramatically.

"Well... if it's like that, then... I'd say, I admire Mark." Cammy nodded slowly, satisfied with her reply.

"No surpise there." Silvia smiled while tilting her head, "Everyone likes him."

"He's just so positive and friendly. You can really tell he was a captain." Cammy smiled.

"That's Mark for you!" Celia nodded. "And you Alex?"

Her fingers gently fiddled her earlobe, her eyebrows forrowing lightly. "The person I admire so far... well... I can't really say right now. They're all pretty great."

"I thought you would've said Shawn." Celia said placing her chin between her cupped hands.

Cammy tapped her chin with finger in thought. "Shawn... Is he the one who scored with that wolf?"

"Yeah!" Celia jumped onto her bed and kneeled on one knee. "WOLF LEGEND— RAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"

Alex and Cammy smiled while Silvia burst into laughter. "What about Axel!"

"Of course, this is MY MOVE." The girl replied bouncing on her bed before spinning her leg around making a whoosh sound with her mouth. "FIREBALL STORM!!!"

The girls' laughter filled the dorm. Meanwhile the boys erupted into laughter across the passageway.

Caleb frowned at the noise when entering the building. His eyes wondered the floor when he spotted behind the door to the Rec Room stood Archer, leaning against the wall with closed eyes.

"Oh? And what're you here for? You wanna go make lucky charms with the rest?" Caleb taunted with a smirk.

Archer stared at Caleb for a moment before closing his eyes, ignoring him.

Caleb blinked before shrugging his shoulders. "Not the talkative type, are you? Oh well."

The hallway erupted in laughter from both directions, almost like the walls were mocking him.

"Tch."

🌄2 July 2024🌄

MASTERLIST | [NEXT EPISODE]

Outro:

1 note · View note