The next day, Raiden was closing up his equipment locker. The lockers in the school were accommodated per individual. His locker was huge but what was inside was quite the mystery as he didn't want to expose it right away. He had to save it for later. He loved keeping his secrets hidden until the time it might be needed the most. He locked up the locker and walked down the halls looking for his cousins or anyone that was on the dodgeball team.
Kasaru had arrived on location to the school, he looked up in the building with slight awe as nervousness built from within him, he hesitantly stepped forwards and walked in. He got himself checked in as a guest due to not being properly enrolled yet. He located Raiden decently quick enough and gave him a soft wave, keeping his expression neutral. "I managed to find my way here, it was quite the journey from where I live."
Raiden saw Kasaru and waved back, approaching him and smiling. "What's up? Where do you stay at? I know the city itself is pretty big so it must've been a journey if you lived in the Outer Sanctum or even worse the Outlands."
"I live closer to the outer sanctum, makes getting here feel like an utter maze." He leaned against one of the lockers as he fixed his jackets sleeves. He had brought his own sports equipment, which was currently tucked under his arm. "Gonna trust we're just waiting on everyone else arriving then?"
Raiden nodded to Kasaru. "Yeah, we're just waiting for everyone else to arrive, once they get here we're gonna have to introduce everyone to each other and what not, we still need a few more people too."
"I suppose we best just wait on that then, doesn't seem like there's much else we can do." He watched the end of the corridor as he crossed his arms. Sighing before looking back at him.
"I'll discuss this further once our other teammates are here, but I might have something of usage that I can do with my ability. I won't be much use outside of this, but I think if I can pull it off correctly we'll have a very high advantage."
A large man walked the halls toward the two. However, this was no man. It was more of a beast or animal. He had to move a long way from where he'd been. Wouldn't be the first time he had to come to school, after all education was important in many aspects. Joseph checked in as a guest, as this wasn't his school anyway, walking in and looking around at the interior designs.
"Hm...Looks okay I suppose."
He made his way over to the two he saw in the hall, his tail swaying slowly behind him as his body language shifted into his friendly manner he usually depicted.
Raiden looked over to the new guy that had come into the school, he looked up to him as he himself was shorter than him. "Hey! You're tall! I got an offer for you!"
The husky looked down at him and fixed his beanie. "Sure little dude, shoot." He humored raiden's request to make an offer to him, crossing his arms with a little smile.
Kasaru kept quiet, he was somewhat surprised by the strangers appearance, however he chose not to say anything. He eyed him for a moment and resumed staring down the hallway to see who'd be arriving next.
Raiden pointed up at Joseph and motioned to his height. "How do you feel about dodgeball my friend?" He raised his fist to his own face as he always did. "How about gaining
a name from dodgeball?!"
He thought on it for a moment, tapping an index finger to his chin as he gazed upwards to the ceiling in a stereotypical fashion. "Hm...I mean I wouldn't exactly be opposed to the idea." He chuckled, giving him another little smile as he fixed his posture. "So...if you're inviting me onto the team, I won't exactly say no."
Raiden nodded quickly to Joseph's question. "Yeah Yeah, we NEED you on our team, that and I think two more people!"
"Hm? Alright, I'd assume more would've shown up by now, but I can do with waiting." The canine's tail stopped its motions, his ears twitching slightly as he leaned to the wall. "Name's Joseph by the way, who're ye?"
Raiden turned to face Joseph once again. "I'm Raiden, Raiden Otizawa. My parents are the leaders of Ashina. We're gonna participate and when we win we will contend in the tournament!"
"Fired up today aren't we?" Mamba had made her way down the hallway, even putting a hand on Raidens head rubbing his hair. "Good work on the team building. Albeit, size isn't everything now."
"Yeah he seems pretty wound up, not that I'm against it, a good spirit usually makes for a great team lead." Joseph nodded slightly, closing his eyes. "Though, would that mean I'd have to transfer? I do go to a different school as well."
Raiden's facial expression changed to a pouty face as she rubbed the top of his head. He looked up at her with that same pouty expression. "Thanks Mamba... I think I did a decent job but we still need two more people." His eyes peered over to Joseph. "No, you don't have to but if you do then we'll all get recognized as a team you know." Raiden put his hand up to his mouth to say secretly. "Me and Gharma are throwing a party afterwards too if anyone wants to show up."
"Your mother and father would kill you if they found out. You know they don't want that." Mamba scowled. She grabbed Raiden by his collar.
"I suppose I can transfer, it would be no issue if they have the same classes and keep my current progress through the years." He opened an eye to peer over, uncrossing his arms.
Raiden waved his hands in the air nervously, laughing while doing so. "Well as long as you're not going to snitch then everything's going to be be fine. It's the only way Gharma would join and I'll take the fall if they find out."
"Raiden, shouldn't we be reserving the party until we know we win?" Kasaru looked back at him, he smirked a little at his words. It was a joke but was also a somewhat-serious question. "I think we're going to be okay though."
"I agree, we shouldn't count our chickens before they hatch, but I've got a pretty good feeling we'll hold our own." Joseph zipped his jacket up some, digging his hands into the pockets of it.
"They're right Raiden. You've got some matches to win first." Mamba smiled, reaching over him and covering his eyes. "I won't snitch on you about any party but if you lose you'll wish that your parents found out about this over my anger."
"That reminds me." Kasaru reached into his satchel and walked forwards towards the group. He rummaged within the bag for a moment before getting out what appeared to be chocolate bars.
"Presuming this is all of us here for our team, i'm gonna need you all to get this in you quickly. It'll make sense once we're actually in and I'm able to pull off what I need to do for our team." He wasn't letting in yet what his secret weapon was, he looked up at Joseph, squinting at him. "You... can have chocolate right? I'm just asking given... you know."
"Haha, Yeah because I'm a dog?" Joseph reached down and took the one he was offered anyway. "Duh, don't you remember we anthro's evolved with the ability to metabolize the previous ingredients that were dangerous to us?" He would wait until Raiden began to open theirs before joining in, just so he didn't seem rude in going first. "I just hope it's not some...extra deliberate scheme."
"It's not overly deliberate, it's just a precaution once I get this started." Kasaru watched him as he ate his slowly, he took a few moments before eating another piece. "I'd advise you all eat yours slowly, I promise this will be worth it if it's executed properly."
Joseph slowly undid the wrapper, raising an eyebrow in slight suspicion. "I don't know, sounds pretty deep as it is." He took a bite into the bar, eating around the same speed as set by the other. "Yeah, if being the keyword."
"Believe me, it'll work. It's the only ability I can actually competently control due to its simple nature so its control is self fulfilling." He pushed his feelings back, if this was going to work it would have to rely on strictly professionalism.
"Let's just hope you aren't trying to get away with anything." Joseph didn't like the idea of that, but he didn't make it too big of an issue, more so just expressing mild disinterest at that thought with his body language.
"You're being paranoid. I'm telling you that as a paranoid person." His attention turned from him to the rest of the group, waiting on them finishing before the game started.
"Rightfully so. Accepting candy from a stranger like my mom told me not to do." He shook his head, taking his beanie off and letting his hair free.
Raiden's mouth was open in confusion as Mamba's hands covered his eyes. He nervously laughed again. "Mamba, I can't see!" He put his hands on her wrists to try and pass move them away from his face. "I don't want to make you mad or anything so we'll win, trust me." He took the candy and unwrapped it, eating it quickly. "What is this going to do again?"
Kasaru looked at Raiden, watching him devour the candy in front of him. "I'll tell you once it comes time for us to play dodgeball, that'll be long enough for the sugar to get in your blood." He turned his direction to Raiden, he pulled his satchel back as he sighed and brushed his hair back. "I don't want to reveal too much until we're actually in."
"Just from hearing that statement I have a feeling I can already tell some of what you can do, but I'll keep it my secret until they figure it out too." Joseph fixed his hair, squaring it back up into a proper look now that he wasn't wearing his beanie to cover it.
Mamba eventually let Raiden go. "I have some news anyways. The comittee has changed things around. They truly want to see what the schools are capable of, which will in turn decide if the Council has been doing their job or not. Looks like there's going to be more than just a dodgeball game. You've got about 20 minutes or so before we start. Game One: Volleyball. Game Two: Capture the Flag and Game Three: Dodgeball. The winner will get home turf and advantage in the exams coming up in about a month or so. So throw the strategy you had for dodgeball in the back of your head. You need one for volleyball and capture the flag as well. You guys have got three games. So do your best."
Raiden spun around quickly, his eyes were widened as the realization hit him that this wouldn't be as simple as he thought it would be. "B-but mamba! The change was so sudden... that means we might have to just wing it?!"
"That's perfect actually, you'll all be in a more active state then."
Internally Kasaru was unsure given his plan relied on it just being dodgeball, but he calmed himself down, it would hopefully still be able to work.
"Sometimes that's what it takes to win. Adaptation and Doing things on the spot. Keep the same attitude as Kasaru. He seems like he's got a plan..and he's new in town." Mamba smiled at Kasaru, she knew he was a great addition to the school.
Joseph didn't quite like the implications, giving a bestranged look towards Mamba but said nothing, his shadows lightly dancing below his feet but only known to himself. "A plan that we know nothing of? I have my own idea for capture the flag personally."
Raiden thought about it, putting his pointer to his chin. "If I can manage to get a set up, I could potentially spike it with my own abilities, we're definitely going to have to work together for the win though."
"I'll just hold my idea until capture the flag comes, It's very effective too, so, i'll probably leave it saved until we need it most." Joseph leaned back to the wall once more, sighing a little. "Just have to work in tandem with one another properly"
"I am just going to mention this now given this isn't critical information. Outside of dodgeball, my plan isn't going to be all physical, My abilities won't match up well with capture the flag or volleyball." Kasaru was being brutally honest regardless of expectation, it seemed at this moment it was a good idea to mention this instead of revealling it mid game. "I'll likely be fine given the rules, but it's just to let you guys know."
Raiden thought about Yuki and Cynil, and how they would possibly fit into their team. "Well we have other teammates that should be showing up here pretty soon, then we might be able to actually have the edge in the places where we fall short."
After a few minutes, Yuki showed up and walked over to the group of people standing in the hallway, she looked at all of them and smiled, attempting to hide her true nature once again. "Hey there! We all going to be on the same team then, yeah?" She slung her arm around Raiden's shoulder.
Raiden shook his head as soon as Yuki swung her arm around his shoulder, he thought about the chances of them winning just by winging it. "Maybe we can win, then Mamba won't be mad and we get to have a party afterwards." Raiden thought about the oncoming games and how they would affect their near future in the exams. Home turf was important to keeping his classmates comfortable and provided a mental edge against Yoshiwara. He sighed, looking on in the distance waiting for his brother to show.
"Maybe you can win?" A boy the same height as Raiden walked through the halls in between his team. "A party? For what? Losing?" Tengoku eyed Kasaru and Raiden. He put his hand in his pockets looking back down. "You don't even take this serious. You're more focused on the party than the game. We're already warming up. What are you guys doing? Celebrating before a victory?" He laughed to himself before walking to the doors, leading to the gym. "I'll see you guys on the bottom spots in the PWI. This wil take no time."
Raiden eyed the guy up as he walked by, his demeanor changed from that of happiness to a focus on Tengoku. He knew they had to win this event even if it meant using all of their power to do so. "What a prick."
"I mean he's not entirely...wrong, we should probably get focused on practicing rather than planning a celebration ahead of time hm? Once we have the rest we'll go get started, and maybe I can let you in on my CTF idea a bit more...as long as prying ears aren't around." Joseph watched the other dude as well, his gaze locked in study as he took in any info from body language and such that he could. "Don't let it get to you too much raiden, We'll give it our all"
Raiden turned to look at Joseph, a fire brewing in his eyes. "The party is going happen no matter what! Gharma has to join us... I hope he's on the way here now. Plus it's always the cocky people that end up being losers in the end."
Minutes passed as the game drew closer and closer. Gharma walked in with his casual wear. Fancy clothes with light jewelry. Almost like he wasn't about to compete but rather go out on the night. He looked on at Raiden and Yuki. "The hell you two doing? We got a match in a few minutes and you're sitting here going on about a party."
Raiden looked at his brother and sighed from annoyance. "Yeah Yeah, might as well get to the gym everyone."
Yuki furrowed her brow at Gharma, having a love-hate relationship with her cousin due to the both of them being very similar but very different. "Wah wah wah, fine fine, we'll get ready mister bossy ass."
"Can't say I didn't make the suggestion we should go, granted I said we ought to wait til whoever was showing up did, so, guess that'll count now." Joseph took his jacket off and walked over to the door, his hand hovering over the push bar, holding it open for the rest. "So let's head on in and get warmed up before the games begin. If there's any time left for it anyway.."
Raiden walked into the gym area, Yuki following behind him. Kasaru followed behind the group, keeping quiet as he rolled his jacket off.
"I'm going go get changed, give me a moment." Joseph ducked into a nearby changing room which was vacant and got dressed, before shortly following the group to the game.