Fancy meeting you here

Shido walked into a sports arena, looking for his seat in attendance to watch the game

"I had no idea that hockey was a thing in Japan. I mean, I'm from the states and it's a thing, there, but us Americans don't really think about it in other countries much."

He had won tickets to a hockey game in a raffle at a local convenience store. And he was excited to see what it was like in Japan and how it compared to sporting events back home. While looking around for his section and seat, he had noticed a group of people, some of whom looked very familiar....

While not as big as it would be in say Canada or in various countries in Europe, there was some decent hockey in Japan if you knew when and where to look. That was something Sion knew, and when time permitted during a recent visit to Japan he decided to take a game in. He didn't come alone as Lita and Daisuke joined him.

Sion mentions to them that he read that since it's not a big thing here there isn't as many development programs as there is back home. Lita, being born here can confirm Sion's info, and brings up that them simply a women's team qualifying for the previous winter Olympics was a good thing and hopes that it can improve things for the sport in this country. Sion tries to explain to Daisuke how the international rankings work and how come why there was national women's team but not a men's team. He tries to keep it simple and while he isn't completely sure how it's figured out for Olympic play he does know how countries ranking can go up or down, which he found out after hearing there are multiple world championships for hockey each year but different divisions of teams. He brings up just before puck drop that he heard of a junior tournament game in 2011 that was held outdoors in Mexico between Mexico and Bulgaria that was held on a soccer field that could easily hold 50000 people...but heard only roughly 3000 showed up."

Daisuke jokes "Well that was the average attendance for a Phoenix Coyotes home game around that time" which was little exaggerating but Sion got the reference. He then asks "Isn't Lina coming?" Lita nods and mentions "Yeah, she was finishing up some things and said she'd meet us here. She should be here soon."

Shido approached the Sion and Daisuke, having overheard their conversation.

"Excuse me, you guys seem to know much about hockey. I got tickets here from some contest and came because they were free, but I don't really understand the sport at all. Would you mind telling me what the rules are?"

He thought he had recognized the two as members of AFW but he hadn't remembered exactly who. He'd bring it up if it occurred to him later, but for now he was interested in understanding an event that he had taken time to go to. Also, the story about the low turnout to the Coyotes game sounded funny to him and he had planned to ask about it.

Lita asks him "Do you want the short version or the long version? We may be here a while if you choose the latter." Sion wasn't sure if she was being sarcastic or if that was meant as a jab of some kind but said nothing. One thing Sion wasn't sure of is what set of specific rules these people used. Sure a lot of it is the same world wide but there are some differences between various countries. He could go into some detail but it might have to wait until. Before Sion can say anything Lita would give him the short rundown of how to win, what each team has, basic stuff like that. She adds if he has anymore questions, while pointing to the scoreboard, feel free to ask when the time clock hits 0 the first time...which she adds that will happen three times total.

Shido nodded, appreciating the promise of a future explanation for the sport be wasn't familiar with. He watched the time wind down and looked around to see if there was anything he could deduce about the sport on his own.

While looking, he noticed someone approaching from behind. "Oh... I know you. You're Lina, right? One of the managers at AFW! You do an awesome job!" he said in appreciation of her work

Lina didn't miss much when she arrived, but she was still trying to get there as quickly as she could. She stopped and turned to him when she heard him call out to her. "Hm? Yeah I am. Thanks." She did like that he noticed who she was and recognized her eye for talent as well as them in turn making her look good. She sat down with the others and asked if they knew him. The others looked at each other and shrugged.

Shido sat with them in a somewhat awkward silence for a bit. He was trying to understand the sport and their appreciation for it.

"Do you guys visit hockey games together, where you come from?" He asked, trying to spark more conversation. "The only sport I've seen people come together over in person so far is American football" he added.

Sion nods at him "Yeah. Can't see as many as we'd like to but it is what it is." When Sion finished talking to him Lina looked over in their direction for a moment, wondering who Shido is since it looks like they were talking to each other before she got there. But when she initially asked the others their reaction spelt that that they didn't know him either.

Shido noticed everyone reacting to his presence. He knew he had a habit of meeting people under awkward circumstances and tons and this was no different.

"Sorry I didn't introduce myself, before guys. My name is Shido. I recently signed up at AFW and I recognized Lina from the archives of the roster, there. I feel like I've seen notes on the rest of you, but I can't recall all your names. Mind running them by me?"

Lina grinned a little bit at Shido admitting that he recalled who she was by name more so than the rest of them, but in a normal sounding tone introduces the rest of them by name to Shido as things on the ice continue to go down.