Lacing Up with the Wildcats

Piper's hockey career had been a long and winding road, filled with early morning practices, endless drills, and a passion that had driven her to push herself to the limit. As she stepped onto the ice at Inarizaki High's rink, she felt a sense of excitement and nervousness wash over her. Today was the day she would finally meet her new teammates. The rink was abuzz with activity as the varsity hockey team, known as the Wildcats, gathered for their morning practice. Piper spotted Kita, who was lacing up his skates on the sidelines, and made her way over to him. "Hey, Kita-kun," she said, trying out her Japanese pronunciation. "I'm glad I finally get to meet the team." Kita grinned. "Everyone's eager to meet you, Piper-chan. You're a bit of a mystery, you know? The American hockey player who shows up out of nowhere and joins our team." Piper chuckled. "I guess I am a bit of an enigma. But I'm excited to get to know everyone better." As Kita led her onto the ice, Piper was immediately struck by the team's camaraderie. They were all chatting and laughing, their sticks and skates a blur as they moved through their drills. Piper's eyes widened as she took in the speed and agility of her new teammates. The team's captain, a tall, imposing figure with a rugged beard, caught her eye. He was directing the practice with a confident air, his whistle blowing to signal changes in the drills. "That's Takashi Nakamura, our captain," Kita said, following her gaze. "He's a bit of a tough guy, but he's got a heart of gold." Piper nodded, taking mental notes as she watched Nakamura in action. She was eager to prove herself to him and the rest of the team. As the practice session drew to a close, Nakamura called the team together for a huddle. "Alright, team, let's review the game plan for next week," he said, his voice firm but friendly. "We've got a tough opponent coming up, and we need to be sharp." Piper listened intently as Nakamura outlined the team's strategy, her mind racing with questions and concerns. She was determined to do her part to help the Wildcats succeed. As the team broke up and began to change out of their gear, Piper felt a sense of belonging wash over her. She was starting to feel like part of the team, and she was excited to see what the future held. "Hey, Piper-chan," Kita said, as they walked off the ice together. "You did great out there. I'm glad you're on our team." Piper smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude toward her new teammate. "Thanks, Kita-kun. I'm glad to be here." As they walked into the locker room, Piper caught a glimpse of a familiar face - Suna Rintarō, the quiet, imposing figure she had seen at the volleyball team's practice. He was sitting on a bench, his eyes fixed intently on a book. "What's he doing here?" Piper wondered, feeling a sense of surprise. Kita followed her gaze. "Suna's a bit of a multi-sport athlete," he said, with a chuckle. "He's friends with some of the hockey players, and he likes to come watch us practice." Piper nodded, intrigued by Suna's eclectic interests. She made a mental note to try and get to know him better, sensing that there was more to him than met the eye.