Ghostball! Round 23 [A New Roster]

Roster
Goaltender: Nakahara-Butoukai Bob, Vice-Captain. #13
Defender: Sakuraba Jusace. #3
Defender: Himawari Eri. (Runner) #5
Attacker: Lillitu De Sepharial-Hagawa. #9
Attacker: Takashi Akane. #8
Attacker: Hagawa Miyabi, Captain. #1
Ghost: Sengoku Aurora. #7

Switcher: Sasegawa Minorin. (Chaser) #2
Switcher: Oshiro Manami. #14
Switcher: Harada Shion. #89 
Switcher: Nakahara-Butoukai Andy. #65
Switcher: Hoshiko Sturmgieru. #19

Coach: Iris Smirnoff
Medical: Himawari Nobara
Dietist: Doremi Fasola Tido


The new roster was pinned to the wall in the small room that was the office of LANA Dragons. Even with the loss of Kasumi, Maya and Ren, had they gained a new force. After a discussion between Iris, Bob, Mike and Ana had they decided to keep all four after the try out; Manami, Shion, Andy and Hoshiko. It increased the team with a young line-up, with lots of energy and great potential. Even if Bob still was rather grumpy about Andy joining, was it overruled by Iris that slammed down the hammer about it. When Iris put that side to it was she like Judge Dredd, she was the freaking law. 
Even Mike and Ana was terrified and hugged each other when Iris went full terminator on Bob about it. 
"I'm not so happy to have a bunch of kids on the team either." Iris declared and looked at Bob, their eyes was like lightning strikes. "However we don't have anything else to go with. And you know that very well. What happened to you Bob was horrible. But holding Andy and the rest of your daughters away Ghostball won't protect them."
The black woman was going to say something but became quiet. "I know. I just want their best."
"And isn't the best to let her be in the same team as you?" Iris darted at Bob that sighed. "Yea yea. Still I can't shake it of."
"I don't expect you to do it right away."

Outside at the small field that was LANA Dragons own match ground was Miyabi sitting on a bench at the side-line. The others wasn't awake yet, but as captain did Miyabi feel more responsible and wanted to hear right away what the decisions would be after the try-outs. She knew Bob wasn't happy that Andy might join, and after hearing about Bob's past did she not blame her. Still, after playing against Andy under the try-out could she feel that the girl poured her heart and soul to the game, that she loved it just like Bob once did.
"Are you still here Miyabi-san?" Miyabi jerked surprised when a voice was heard behind her. Quickly she glanced over the shoulder and saw an old man with big gray beard showing an old wagon which he sold food. "Oh, hello Gunnar-san. You are up early."
The old man laughed a bit, that turned to coughing. "I'm used to be up early. And an early bird catch the worm did my grandpa always say."
She smiled at him and when she felt the smell of food from the wagon did her stomach grumble a bit. "Oh, you hungry young lady?" He asked and it made Miyabi blush. "A bit, but I will get something to eat later."
"Oh posh on that." Gunnar grumbled a bit as he opened up some of the cabinets in the wagon. "Can't have you becoming so thin that you vanish. And being a ghostball player take lots of energy."
Before she could say anything about it had the old man made her a little plate with warm rice and sausage. "Here young lady, it's on me."
"A-are you sure?" She asked but looked hungry on the plate, the smell made her just hungrier. The man laughed and held the plate to her. "Of course I am."
"Thank you Gunnar-san." Miyabi smiled warmly and accept the plate, both of hunger and to accept his kindness. A few spoons and she sighed delighted. "This is delicious."
"It's not that good. However, my mother always said that hunger is the best spice." Gunnar chuckled a bit as he leaned against the wagon that rustled under his weight. Then she noticed a sticker of LANA Dragons logo on the side of it. "Thats... our logo?"
He looked a bit surprised and then nodded. "Of course. I need to support my favorite team." He smiled big and looked at the little building where the others still held their meeting. "I wanted to be the bus-driver, but he didn't allow me, that silly boy."
"Who?" Miyabi looked a bit confused while eating of the rice, getting curious on the old man.
"Mike." He said and chuckled a bit.
Suddenly it came up for her. "He is your grandson? I... had no idea." She mumbled and felt stupid about it. She had seen Gunnar so many times and didn't even know that much. 
"No one asked about it." He shrugged a bit. "Since he started LANA Dragon with Ana, have he not talked about anything else. I'm just sad I didn't get to drive the bus though."
It made her smile and she could imagine Mike spend hours speaking Ghostball with the old man. "You drive bus?"
"Yes I do, I spent 15 years driving bus!" He said proudly. "Through many different countries. Loved it."
"I know you do grandpa." Suddenly was Mike, Ana, Bob and Iris there. "And you know I don't want you to drive cause I'm afraid it will stress you more, and it's not good for you."
"Bah, it wont be a problem, I'm strong as an old oak!" He laughed and Miyabi couldn't help to smile. Mike and Gunnar continued to talk and pick on each other in friendly manor, while Bob sat down beside Miyabi. "Oh, food, I've been starving!" Without any further adieu did she take a bit of the food, not that Miyabi minded it. "How did the meeting go?" 
Bob just grimaced. "Iris kind of bent me over and fu---"
"All of the try outs are accepted." Iris interrupted Bob and glared at her before looking back at the pink-haired captain. "Andy, Shion, Hoshiko and Manami are all for now switchers in the team. Eri replace Kasumi as a defender. We have a full second line up so we can make a team-switch if needed."
"Team switch?" Miyabi frowned a bit while Ana smiled. "It like in some sports, like hockey, where you switch all the outer players. Some teams use that, others not. Its part of a strategy too."
"Oh, I see." She nodded a bit, chewing on some rice and thinking through all the things she learned. 
"And tomorrow is our second game." The coach sighed and ran a hand through the brownred hair. 
"Which team is it?" Bob leaned back while Ana picked up a notepad and scrolled down on it. "Ehm, let see. It's a new team called IRON Warriors. They won with 22-6 against SKY Snakes."
Bob blinked a bit. "Only 22 against 6 goals? I don't think I ever heard of so few goals in a game." 
"I will explain later in the meeting Bob-san."

Hoshiko leaned against the wall outside the office, blowing a bubble of gum. Even if she expected to get into the team, had she not been 100% sure either. The game she had seen them play was kind of lacking but when thinking on how new the team was and that most players where old ladies, did she feel that a player like her was definitely needed. So she had been happy when Ana had called her and explained that she had been accepted to the team.
"Oh, you got into the team too?" It was the tall woman Shion that came walking, waving with a smile. Beside her was a shorter girl with purple hair, face with scars and looked rather chill. "Oh, giant girl and... who is scarface?" Hoshiko grinned a bit and looked at the other girl that didn't really react to the name. "Oh, this is my girlfriend, Eric."
"Hey..." Eric voice was rather low and somehow annoyed Hoshiko. It annoyed her when people didn't speak out loud. "Eh, hey." 
"Thanks for walking with me hun, see you later." Shion smiled and leaned down and gave the other girl a kiss. Eric replied and nodded, waving at Shion and ignored Hoshiko while going back. "Wow, her face look like being hit by a train!" Hoshiko blurted out and laughed. Suddenly Shion's hand was beside Hoshiko's head, and her face was suddenly in a grimace of anger. "One more word about that, and your face will eat gravel, okay?"
Hoshiko didn't get scared, most just surprised how the constant smiling Shion suddenly became furious like that. Growing up with her two brothers had she seen enough of rage and anger to be able to deal with it, it was also one reason why she acted up as she did. "Wow, take it easy giant, I was just joking. Sorry, okay?"
It was like a switch turned of and Shion smiled, patting the other on the cheek. "Good."
"You two seems like good friends already." A sweet soft voice behind them and they look around to find Manami shyly smiling and waving her hand at them. "Oh, hello... Manami-san was it right?" Shion said and the other girl bowed politely. "Yes! Thanks for remembering my name!"
"So all four did get in huh? That's cool." Sliding in on el-blades was Andy, stopping by. "Yo girls, how ya doin'?"
All four of them were completely different, both as persons and as players. How it would work out in a team, was up to Iris.

"So everyone is here? Good." Iris stated as the office room was pretty packed with all members of LANA Dragon there. "I got someones tit in my face--- Oh wait, is my own." stated Bob jokingly while sitting between Miyabi and Akane. Iris just grunted and turned to the TV on the wall. "Ana, do you continue?" Ana nodded and smiled. "Yes of course." With a pen did she draw over her tablet and it showed on the TV, where it would start playing up a match of Ghostball. "This is from IRON Warriors versus SKY Snakes." she said; the Warriors in black and gray, while Snakes was red and orange. It was something odd on how Warriors match up was, and when Ana drew it up on the screen did it became clear. "They have five defenders?" Akane frowned a bit, as much as anyone else in the team. 
"Yes, five defenders. Even their Ghost is a defensive player."
"But isn't that bad?" Jusace asked a bit shyly. "They lack attackers?"
"Usually it would be a pretty weak team yes. However, their strength lies in their ability to wear down their opponents and capitalize on their mistakes. They are very conservative with their energy, making them last longer and with their captain as a control tower do they play incredible effective. Their captain is Sakura Fukui, and is a true genius when it comes to read the game."
Lillitu grunted and elbowed Akane in the side. "Then we will just ram their fucking defense down and stomp them."
Ana shook her head and the screen turned to show two women; they appeared huge compared to their team-mates, with heavy mass of muscles and short purple hair. They were identical in every aspect. "The Iron twins, Hanako-san and Himeko-san. Both are 2 meters large giants that is the solid base of the defense. While not fast or smart players, are their size and strength well compensating for that."
"What the fuck is that for people?" Lillitu hissed and like the rest where they taken with shock over the sight of these titans. 
Ana continued. "Even in the sky are they strong, with the high-jumper Fuko-san, and the runner Elise-san is quick to move at any part of their field. They cover everything completely. Their Ghost, Zula-san, is a fast and precise player that use her ghosting for defensive purpose, breaking the opponents attacks."
"They sound like a nightmare to play against." Aurora grimaced a bit and shook her head. NuclearZ was a tough team, but it had been all out in all fronts. Not a turtle team like this. Even in their training had they never thought of something like this. "Do they have any switchers?"
"Yes, they have five. However they never used any in their previous game."
"What? They used same players through the entire game?!" They were just as stunned by the thought as Miyabi was. After playing one real game and many training sessions did she know how incredible tiresome it was. 
"As mentioned, they are conservative with their energy so they last and wear down their opponents. However, their defense isn't unbeatable." Iris continued and looked at them, turning the screen into a plan. "So this is how we are going to do this..."

-----

It had been some intense hours with discussions and training, before Iris sent them home to rest and prepare for the game. Somehow was this more nerve-wrecking than the game against NuclearZ, as it was such a different team and unlike any they had seen before. Yet it was just one of many styles and strategies used in Ghostball. Miyabi and the rest knew it would be a very hard game, even with the strategies Iris presented to them. With almost half being new to the team, was it a true wild-card. 
Yet they were eager as they entered the IRON Dome, for their second game as LANA Dragons.