1010 heros (nsr au)

Episode 3: Red Dead Punk Head

There's the sound of a tape recorder clicking on as a distorted voice speaks into it
"Log date xx/xx/20xx. Reviewing white's first appearance has yielded nothing of note. So I've decided to move onto other team members. Red was the first team member to appear, so I shall start with him, ugh, I remember this battle. Not the best monster available but it still proved to challenge one of the members on their own... hmm." The audio clicks off as the recording ends. They put down the recording device and sit in front of the screen to pull up the file, surely something in here will give them the edge they need.

[Intro plays whoop boop scoot]

Rin practically kicked open the door when he arrived at neon j's house, announcing his arrival with a sing song.
"Captain J I'm here!"
Neon j practically fell out of his seat with a yelp, His radar blipping rapidly in surprise.
"Knocking exists solder! Consider using it!"
"Noted captain." Rin grinned as he shrugged off his backpack and hefted it onto the table. Neon j looked over and tilted his screen as the teen pulled out a few books and a notebook. It wasn't until everything was spread on the table that neon j asked.
"I'll bite, what's all this solder?"
"I'm glad you asked sir!" Rin grinned and pulled out one of the hardcover books. "You said you were making a new hero team, meaning I've got to work with these people. So I took the liberty of making a list of potential candidates. Since I would need to at least get along a little with them I decided to pick out people from my school, specifically those around my grade level. I have to know a decent amount about everyone as the class representative." As he spoke he opened up the book in his hands, revealing it was a yearbook, he had used a pencil to lightly circle various pictures and made notes in the margins of various pros and cons they could have. Neon j's radar blipped once as he slowly nodded, impressed with his initiative.... but neon j didn't know any of these kids and the thought of adding them to the team on rin's word alone was... he looked up.
"Solder I'm not sure if you're aware but I don't know any of these people. How can I be sure they'll be fit for hero work." Rin seemed to anticipate this question since he sat down and pulled out a notebook.
"I thought you'd say that. So that's why I also made this." He held up a page that had two columns 'people I know well' and 'people I don't know' "I'll try to learn what I can about anyone who potentially is a fit. And when we narrow down the list you can personally go and talk to them. So like we're both in agreement." Rin looked proud as neon j nodded.
"You've thought this all out. Good work soldier. What candidates do you have already?" The cyborg asked as Rin smiled and turned the yearbook over to him, happily listing off names of those he thought would fit.
There was some theatre kids, a few smart kids, musicians, though what got neon j's attention was one of the jocks.
"This Guy is Zim, full name Zimelu. He's on like every sports team ever, though he's kind of a hot head from what I've heard. I'd need to try and figure out whether that's a defense mechanism or if he's genuinely like that."
Neon nodded though something in him made him curious about this kid, maybe he just wanted to know how he was on every sports team, so then he asked.
"If he's on sports teams then does that mean he has practice? Perhaps I can speak to him before or after one of those?" Rin nodded and pulled out another notebook (how many of those did he have?) this one seemed to be a planner of sorts as he flipped through the pages looking for the date.
"Got it! There's a soccer practice after school Tomorrow till 5, from what I've heard Zimelu usually stays till long after it's over so you'll be able to talk to him then"
Neon j thought about his upcoming schedule... then remembered he pretty much never leaves his house so yeah safe to say he was free. So he nodded.
"Alright then. You'll have to go with me though, I doubt they'd let me in if I just went alone"
"Haha, you'd be surprised" Rin chuckled with a nervous smile. "But sure, if anyone asks your like my cool cyborg Uncle"
That seemed fair so the plan was set.

The next day neon j found himself on a soccer field outside of Cadence Academy. He tried to make himself look inconspicuous, what with wearing a red turtleneck sweater and leggings. But you can only do so much when you got a radar screen for a head (how nobody was recognizing him still baffled him). But Rin had gone ahead and was doing... something, he said it was related to student council business, god when was the last time he heard someone say that? Anyhow it didn't take long to find who he was looking for. The red haired teen was kicking a soccer ball into a goal at the other side of the field on his own. It did seem to be the end of practice and most kids were going home, neon briefly wondering where Zimelu's parents were. But hey he had a job so he jogged over towards the teen. He waved and called over.
"You got a good kick, son. Do you usually stay late during practice?"
The red teen looked over, he was wearing a no sleeve Jersey with the number 10 on the back and sports shorts with dirty, well worn tennis shoes. Currently he was dribbling the balls out of the goal, likely lining them up for another round of kicks.
"Yeah? What of it? My old man is busy and I'd rather not sit around on my lazy ass." He said this while kicking a ball up to his knees and kicking it to keep it in the air. Neon j decided not to press on the family part, he only idly wondered how busy this father was to leave his kid so long and so close to sunset. But he had a goal in mind. So putting a hand to his chest he decided to start his speech he prepared in advance, can't go around parading that he's scouting new heroes, but he can do something similar.
"You see, I'm a representative for a college sports team, I'm looking for particularly gifted individuals who have the qualities we like to see in-"
"Oh quit the bluff old man. You're not a scouting agent" Zimelu spat as he harshly kicked a soccer ball into the goal net. "What are you really here for?" Neon j sputtered, his screen buzzing for a moment. The last thing he was expecting was for his act to be seen through, he thought he was better than this. But he was caught off guard and the teen was waiting for an answer, so an answer he gave.
"Alright fine, I'm not a scouting agent. But I am looking for a team. Rin had good things to say about you so I wanted to know more" at the mention of Rin's name Zimelu audibly groaned.
"Ugh! Him? That stuck up student rep who's so full of himself? No thanks, if he's involved in it I want no part." Now Neon j was confused but it quickly turned into frustration. He had known Rin for over a month now and that kid was anything but full of himself. But keeping his cool he crossed his arms.
"And what makes you say that, son?"
"First off, don't call me son," Zim kicked up another soccer ball. "Second, he always says how he 'speaks for the class' and how he 'wants to do what's best for our grade' bullshit he doesn't speak for me. And everybody knows he can't do any meaningful changes to the school, he's just a teen like us. He needs to get off his high horse and admit that!" As he finished he harshly kicked the ball into the net, neon j was mildly surprised the net didn't snap at the force. But his focus was on the teen. Neon j huffed.
"I'd beg to disagree. In the time I've known him he's been very selfless. He takes his position seriously I think- come to think of it have you ever met Rin?"
"Does it matter? I know enough about him to know we wouldn't get along" so that was a solid 'no.' If Neon j had any he'd be pulling hairs. But he could see this conversation wasn't going anywhere so with a sigh he decided to change the subject.
"Let's just agree to disagree. How long have you been playing?" Neon j nodded to the soccer goal. Zimelu kicked another ball into the net.
"As long as I can remember? I'm pretty good at this one though." He shrugged.
"Really? I used to play soccer back in my day." Neon j hadn't actually, but he knew enough on how to play, and he was trying to hook Zim in with something he definitely liked.
Zimelu took the bait.
"Oh yeah? I'd like to see you try old man!" He laughed with a grin. And so Neon j jogged over to the goal and kicked over the balls resting inside.
"I won't go down easy solder!"