Forbidden Protege

Ch. 1: Moving In (Part 4)

            Initially, no one batted an eye at the three new arrivals to the room. Soon enough, however, conversations started to die off and pairs of eyes watched as the three people went to the line to receive their lunch. Kuramochi felt uneasy under everyone's gaze and Miyuki also felt weird. Everyone's eyes held the same question: 'Who is this girl and why did she enter the cafeteria with Miyuki and Kuramochi?' Alexia felt the hairs on her neck rise along with a bit of heat. Luckily for the three of them, a kind lunch lady broke the now suffocating silence.

"Ah! You must be the new member that we heard about. Narumiya-san, correct Dear?" She was an elderly lady and wore her greying hair under a net cap and the usual white apron of the cooks.

"Yes, Ma'am. I take it that Rei-chan has already told you about me then?" Alexia asked, smiling at the woman. Both of the boys noticed her slightly twitch at the name and the fact that she didn't correct the lady.

"Of course, Dear! Rei-san told us that there would be a young lady joining the team and asked us to make sure that you had everything you need. If you ever do need something, please don't hesitate to ask us!" The lady sent a subtle wink towards her and Alexia caught on to what she meant. After all, the cooks were probably the adult women she would be seeing the most. Alexia knew that none of the other members had seen the wink and both Miyuki and Kuramochi didn't seem to catch the meaning. "All of the players here are required to eat three bowls of rice in a meal, but if you want, I can make yours a bit smaller." The lady lowered her voice at this last part, surely to keep the others from hearing about the favoritism.

Alexia shook her head. "That's fine. I've always had a big appetite and could out-eat my American teammates." She smiled at the lady who nodded and gave Alexia a heaping bowl full. Alexia hadn't been bluffing either. Even with the rice overflowing from the bowl, it was just barely comparable to a normal serving size of food in America. If there was one American stereotype that Alexia had learned was true, it was that they ate a lot at every meal. Alexia had gladly fallen into that habit as well.

The three of them received their food and the boys led the way over to the table. After the satisfactory explanation from the lunch lady, most of the boys had returned to their conversations, albeit the topic was now 'why was there a girl on the team?'

"Before we sit, I'll introduce you to Tanba," Kuramochi said to Alexia, who was now a step behind him. Alexia hummed in agreement and followed Kuramochi to a table full of third years.

A boy with short black hair and a serious expression was the first to greet Alexia as she approached. "Hello, Narumiya-san. Coach told me that you would be joining the team. My name is Yuki Tetsuya and I am the captain and first baseman. I hope you are settling in well?" Yuki spoke softly, yet Alexia picked up a hint of worry in his voice.

"Yes, I am, thank you. And please, I don't like going by my surname. Anything else is fine," Alexia said in return. A small look of confusion showed on Yuki's face but he didn't say anything, only nodded. "Miyuki-san and Mochi-san here helped me move my stuff into my room. It's certainly nicer than I was hoping for." Alexia noted that Yuki seemed well-built, most definitely the fruits of hard labor.

"Good," came the short reply. Yuki turned to the guy sitting beside him and Alexia looked him over once. He had dark sandy hair and the shadow of a beard on his chin. He was leaner than Yuki, but no less muscular. He also seemed to be permanently scowling.

"I'm Isashiki Jun. I play centerfield and I'm the vice-captain," he said, his voice gruff. He narrowed his eyes and Alexia could guess what exactly he was scowling at. "I heard that you just moved here from America. Do all of the kids over there have so many piercings?"