"Yeah… we are back." Kenzo replied standing before the rest. "What is with this manner as if you completed the task given to you before time and are confidently facing victory, when in reality you are late again?" spoke the blonde haired man. His voice deep and solemn send shivers down their spines. Moreover, a leader like aura surrounded him. The boys gazed back at him grim. "3o seconds late huh?" said the old man sitting on the bench.
"But you still bought all the boxes in one piece… what shall we do now, Rauf?" he asked the blonde man who stood with his back before the boys. "What do you mean what to do? They might have bought the boxes back but they are still late. What do we usually do when they are late?" he questioned the old man instead.
The boys gazed grave. "Grrr… just seeing him talk so mightily like this makes me so angry!! If only I had my bat with me, I would have smashed his head!" Adam angered, gritting his teeth in a whisper. "Calm down Adam. Don't say anything rash." Whispered Seraph anxiously. Ryan too eyed Rauf dangerously.
"Tch! We were only thirty seconds late, not even a minute. What's the great deal to make a fuss about it? Moreover we did bought the cartons back right?" Kenzo asked mad. His mood was ticked off badly. First they worked so hard to get those boxes from the hill top moreover, double the load they usually receive and then they were not even letting a 30 second late pass on.
"Oh… so you dare question us now? Do you even wish to go to the International world cup? Or do you want to go back to your homes and lie down in your comfortable beds? Listen up you dorks! The world which you want to face, is a hundred times more ruthless and cruel than we are with you right now! They won't forgive even a single second of mistake less than your thirty seconds of being late!!" Rauf angered.
"It's decided! You will stand outside all night and climb the hill tomorrow again and complete this task before the time which you have been allotted!" he ordered leaving. The boys looked at him shocked, "No way…" Ezekiel whispered baffled, "All, when we worked so hard…?"
"Oh my god" sighed Heber, crouching over his knees. Gazing at the sight of his dejected teammates Poseidon walked forward. "Hey… Just wait a minute. Isn't it too much?" he asked angrily. The usual most calm and joyful one was now forced to put up a tough front. Helios looked at him surprised yet anxious at the same time.
"Who the hell do you think we are? Some random passerby players whom you were told to train mercilessly? Since, day one you have taken away all our sports gear and we have been working hard like idiots doing this same practice again and again without a single word of offense just to hear all this?" he asked. Hearing his words Rauf turned around to face them once more.
A dangerous grin resting his lips, "Poseidon Ageil was it? Looks like you are just fine now since you are courageous enough to talk back to my face." "I hope once you face me your, long forgotten illness doesn't act up." he taunted. Poseidon stared at him wide eyed. "Hey! Hey! You've gone too far this time!" Azazel fumed. "If you have the guts to talk back to me like this, then prove yourself worthy of facing me first!" Rauf exclaimed. Gabriel gritted his teeth in anger.
"Eh… you want us to prove ourselves to you? Why didn't you say this before?" Ryan eyed him sneakily. "Doesn't it makes things a lot easier now? Alright, if that's what you want. Return our bats and gears back and we'll prove ourselves. How does that sound?" he proposed. Seraph, Cassiel and Feng endorsed nodding. "Tch! I'll know that soon enough, even without handing you your bats and gears again." Rauf responded surely. Xavier smiled steppping forth, "You seem really sure on your victory. Ain't I right?"
"However, don't forget…you opened the gates for these lions on your own. Don't regret if they bite your back." he added gazing at him with a mischievous smile taking over his lips. Rauf smirked, "Oh~ just like I thought. A smile like this suits you a lot better than the frown I saw that day. Well you are right, I am surer than ever while looking at your abilities every day, but, little Prodigy… I don't keep my openings bare just like you have yours. Looks like that little lesson you learned from your friend was not good enough to change you." he jeered. Xavier gazed at him with a frown which instantly blackened. Feng and Ryan eyed him worriedly.
Xavier clutched his fists hard. Ryan looking at him gently grabbed his wrist. "Brother Xavier…?" he asked nervously. Hearing his voice Xavier looked back at him with his usual kind smile. "Are you alright?" Ryan asked. Releasing his hand from Ryan's grasp Xavier assured, "I am alright… no need to worry." However, somewhere near his heart Ryan knew, that he wasn't. Not after Rauf resurfaced his old memories like this.
Kenzo suddenly laughed."Haha!! It's a challenge then right?!" he smirked. Rauf smirked back. "Alright… then bring it on!! Be it the punishment or proving ourselves. We'll make sure to break that darn overconfident ego of yours! What do you say you lot?" Kenzo asked the others surrounding him.
"You're right captain! Bring it on!" Azazel and Heber called out together. Helios patting Poseidon's shoulder spoke, "Bring it on! I will surely crush that egoistic pride of yours!" "Hell yeah! Bring it on!" Adam jumped in excitement. Looking at him happy like that even Seraph smiled nodding. "Alright, you're on!" Gabriel smirked kicking his fist on his palm.
Rauf smirked left them behind. The boys looked at his back until he left and soon at each other. After a moment of silence they instantly fell on the ground with a thud.