Xavier once more delivering the ball stood on the pitch as the ball went past Helios's head. "It's a bouncer this time!" claimed Heber and Azazel together. "It was a close call." Ezekiel added.
"The last ball…" whispered Isa. "It was just like that finals match that we watched right? The only difference was of the baller. Last them it was Ryan and this time it's Xavier." repeated Aaron. "For some reason… I feel so curious and scared at the same time." Poseidon clasped his hand together tightly.
The boys looked forward to the last ball Xavier delivered. Going through the pitch it went slower than his usual deliveries.
"A knuckle delivery!" called Cassiel and Nagi together, jinxing once more. "Slow yet a fast delivery…" thought Helios as he was about to hit the ball however, the moment he aimed, the ball spun towards the right side evading his bat. The boys including Helios looked at the ball which passed beside him shocked.
However, the distance between the wicket and the ball was only of inches. Passing beside it in the blink of an eye the wicket stood unscathed. "Did… I see it correct?" Gabriel blinked his eyes.
"A knuckle turned into an inswinger…?" whispered Ryan, "Inswinging knuckle ball…"
"Work of Art…" Noah gasped stunned. The highschoolers witnessed the over ending with Helios's win.
Helios looking at Xavier seriously. "It really was a fluke hun… looks like I'll have to work harder." Xavier smiled heading towards Helios. "Take it easy little genius… you were really strong today.
" Helios commented. "Is that so? Thank you." Xavier replied with his usual loving smile. Ryan gazed at Xavier in wonder, "This is how much stronger brother Xavier has gotten…" A smile escaped his lips, "In that case I'll become even stronger!" he aimed. "Looks like we are done with our training practice as well." Helios strolled towards the highschoolers and middle schoolers handing his and Xavier sheets to Cassiel. "Good work." Cassiel commented.
Xavier approaching the others gleamed. Kenzo on the contrary sighed speechless, "Calm yourself down a little, brat. Save that energy for the one we have to face tomorrow."
Xavier realizing his mistake apologized, "I'm sorry. Your highness… however, it was so much fun. I couldn't help it. It's been so long since I played so whole heartedly." He confessed. Seeing him happy Kenzo scratched his hairs, "Argh! Alright! Don't make me the bad guy here!" "Brother Xavier…"Ryan called. "Yes…?" Xavier asked. However, the moment he faced him, Xavier found his fist before him. Xavier tapped his fist on it.
"Good job… in the future if we ever get a chance, let's play against each other." Ryan said. "Hm…" Xavier agreed. Helios walking towards Poseidon smiled. "Good work." Poseidon praised. Helios rejecting replied, "I was surprised instead." "Me too." Elias interrupted. Orion looked at them wondering.
"Really, you never fail to surprise me." Noah commented Xavier. "Me?" asked Xavier. "Indeed, I was reminded of a young Kazuna right before my eyes." reminisced Isa. Xavier blinked his eyes puzzled. "Is that so…?"
"Look it's already 12:30 am. Should we head back?" asked Ren gazing his watch. "Yeah… I'm done for today." sighed Adam and Ezekiel together. Helios eyed them speechless. Seraph endorsed, "Let's head back." Xavier too nodded as the high schoolers smiled.
"It was great to see you practicing. I was able to achieve great data on my hands." thanked Nagi eyeing the middle schoolers mischievously. "Creepy!" shrieked Azazel and Feng while Cassiel and Seraph sighed. Gabriel ignoring all of them walked away.
"Kazuna and Senri haven't come back right?" asked Orion. "Hm… they might be at the dorms since, they didn't knew we were here." assumed Noah. "Should I go check it out?" Zach asked Isa.
"Let's go back and check the dorms first?" told Isa. "Come on. This king is tired as hell. Let's go." Kenzo ordered. Hearing him the middle schoolers soon headed back following the high schoolers.
"Well on contrary of our rivalry, best of luck tomorrow." Noah encouraged the middle schoolers. Ren and Aigou nodded. The middle schoolers eyed them surprised. "Alan is a strong opponent, but he is still facing all of you monsters alone." said Elias.
Ryan looking at him suddenly asked, "Say… what is his world rank?" Hearing his words the high schoolers stopped amid their steps. "Huh? Is something wrong? Why did you stop walking?" asked Heber who had bumped into Orion's back unconsciously. "Yeah… if the top three are Rauf, Evandor and Haruf. Then, what is his rank?" asked Seraph.
Aaron turned around winking amused, "Are you curious to know?" "What's with that… it feels creepy?" Feng shuddered.
"Platinum." exclaimed Zach.
"Platinum? What platinum?" Kenzo twitching his brow. "If Rauf is our gold… then Alan is our platinum." repeated Aigou proudly.
"In our base we have two first world rankers, in which Rauf owns the world wide known 1st gold rank, while unknown to the world Alan owns even a higher rank than him. The Platinum 1st world rank. Since, he's our Ace we have hidden from the world." Explained Isa.
The middle schoolers blinked their eyes with their mouths a gape.
"More like, Rauf is concealing him from the world under his shadow. We won't reveal our cards in front of the world just like that or can, we?" asked Orion.
The middle schooler's silent for a while gasped. "So you mean we are not going against the third, second or first or even the gold we are directly competing with the base's platinum badge holder?!" asked Ezekiel shaken.
"Indeed. I am surprised you weren't aware of that." Ren wondered. "Unbelievable…" cried Adam however, Helios, Kenzo, Gabriel, Xavier, Seraph, Ryan, Poseidon and Cassiel revealed a devious mischievous grin.
"That feels creepy. What is wrong with you all?" Noah gulped. "Ah~ this king feels so honored. A platinum to face at first. Can't help but be proud of myself." Kenzo claimed proudly. "Yeah… since, we are given such prestige why not return it back twice fold tomorrow?" asked Seraph confidently.
Adam looked at him gulping, "Here it is… the monster Seraph…" "Indeed, I can just imagine it." told Helios while Poseidon smiled. "Are you sure about that, captain? It's the platinum! The platinum! We are facing!" reminded Ezekiel while Heber and Azazel nodded.
"We'll show them what we got tomorrow." declared Gabriel. "My thoughts exactly." endorsed Cassiel. "Yeah… we'll claim the whole base tomorrow! Is that fine, brother?" marked Ryan glancing at Xavier. "It can't get any better…" Xavier responded amused.
"You know… you lot scare me." Feng uttered speechless. The high schoolers smiled at each other. "Come on…or else the whole night will pass here." called Nagi. "Sigh… such a bunch!" commented Elias.
"I can see it, we all together are going to have one hell of an adventure." assumed Ren, gazing at the star studded sky. Followed by the middle schoolers behind, they headed back to their dorms.