Walking back to the dorms Alan silently gazed at Kazuna's back who walked a few steps ahead the two of them. Breaking the silence, Alan turned sideways to gaze at Senri who kept his hands behind his neck gazing at the sky above. "So… what about your trip to Australia?" he asked.
Senri nodded, "It was good. However, Australia was really hot. We were usually dripping sweats even in an air-conditioned room. We used to practice in the morning and then stay low the rest of the day. To sum it up, it was neither too enjoyable nor too bad. 50- 50 if you ask me. Nonetheless, it was quite different when we visited China before coming back to Pakistan. All our weather sickness was gone." He summarized.
"You also went to china?" asked Alan intrigued. "Yeah… Aigou's mother's health was not good, so we all had to take a detour since, you know how worrisome he gets when listening to something like that. But, the moment we met her… what can I say… she was just fine." Senri rolled his eyes in disbelief. "All our worry was drowned into ruins instead we all just enjoyed a breather." He added. Alan smiled, "That's good… since, now we really have to work hard."
"Did brother go anywhere ever since I left the base?" he asked abruptly. Senri thinking hard replied, "No… I don't think so. He did send Haruf on an errand when knew that Aaron was going to Britain for his concert. However, I haven't heard anything about him leaving." Alan nodded suddenly bumping into Kazuna who had stopped in between his tracks.
"Ouch! Hey, what's wrong? Why did you stop?" Alan asked rubbing his forehead. "Rauf… did he say something to you?" Kazuna asked out of the blue. "Brother? I wonder… why? Is something wrong?" Alan asked back. Kazuna smirked his eyes glaring sharply, "Since, you knew about me getting beaten up by him. I just wondered if he passed a warning or a threat."
For a moment Alan stood silent as Senri too blinked his eyes. Kazuna without a further wait once more walked forward. "He did say." Alan uttered stern. Kazuna glanced at him from the corner of his eye.
"He told me that you were not worth it. He gave you fourth place and you shamelessly ask for first. He asked me to tell you... to stay in your shoes. The world isn't kind enough for you to place the world's rank badge into your hands." he continued, "Although, I intended to keep this a secret from you, yet you didn't let me do so."
Words harsher than knife as Alan spoke were echoing in between the long silent route. Senri stared at the two of them with a widened gaze. "Rauf… said all that?" he asked in disbelief. "He did. And, you know it very clearly that I don't like to joke around in conversations like these." Alan claimed serious.
Kazuna gazing at the ground below smirked, "Tch! Who in the world does he thinks he is?" Alan and Senri looked at him perplexed. "Asking me to... to stay in my shoes and the world isn't kind enough to place the world's rank badge into my hands? He doesn't gets to decide if I am worth it or not. And, neither the fact that I ask for the first rank or not. I am the one who gets to snatch it away from him in the end, and I surely will! Moreover, the world in my eyes is much kinder than him." he commented gazing at Alan dangerously.
Alan speechless gulped. For a moment the wind around them had halted and complete silence took over. Kazuna however ignoring it moved ahead. "Don't do it." Alan called, his expression blackened.
"I am telling you to stop, Kazuna. And I am serious. How many times will you get hurt to realize that you aren't his match? Why is this little thing so hard for you to understand?" he asked pissed.
"Just tell me… how much longer will you suffer? What if one day all because of your stubbornness he injures you so bad that you can't even move an inch? What will you do then? How are you going to win the world then?" he continued to ask. Kazuna hearing his words glared at him grave. Senri witnessing the tense atmosphere around the two of them interrupted.
"Alright, alright. Let's stop it for here. You just made up now. Are you thinking for fighting again? Come on Alan, leave it. If you have that much energy, just use it to give me a little hug then." he teased winking at Alan.
Kazuna ignoring his words walked away while Alan sighed. "Seriously… what words do I use to explain him?" he asked troubled. Senri smiled, "Don't use any. Did you know the way he practiced after going back to Australia was like madman? Really, even if we are his teammates it was still unbearable to look at him. It was as if Rauf's injuries never affected him in the first place. While the thing which took the most impact on him was his loss. He had become crazy. To the point he even fainted in between."
"Evan's scolding didn't affect him, our worry didn't affect him and neither did our threats. But, his kindness amid all that enraging practice had already become his strength. So rather than stopping him. I suggest you push him forward now. For I have a feeling, he might beat Rauf not today, neither tomorrow but some day in the future."
Alan hearing his words clutched his fists. "He's such a jerk!" Alan whispered while biting his lip. "Haha… anyone would think that." Senri laughed awkwardly. "A kind and stubborn jerk…"
Alan however, clicking his tongue in annoyance rushed forward towards Kazuna. "Hey! Wait!" said Senri running after him. Grasping Kazuna's sight, Alan suddenly grabbed both of his arms and mercilessly pulled them behind his back. "Ghk!" Kazuna startled winced in pain, "What are you doing?!" "Did it hurt?" Alan glared at him angrily.
"Huh?" Kazuna blinked his eyes puzzled. "It didn't, right. Then how about this!" Alan asked pulling his arms a little more. "Ghk!" Kazuna once more winced in pain soon concealing it. "Hey! What are you two doing? Oh my god!!" Senri asked shocked, the two of them one being crazily being pulled and the other pulling mercilessly.
"Say it! Did it hurt now, you marvel comic superhero?" Alan glared. Kazuna eyed him wordlessly. "Still, it didn't, right? Then how about this!" Alan asked once more. This time he grabbed his waist tight squeezing it. Kazuna wincing in pain once more took deep breaths.
"Time out!! Time out!! Stop! That's it! This much punishment is fine!" screeched Senri pulling them apart.
However, it was as if they had been glued together jammed.
"I'll ask you one last time now! Say it! Did it hurt?" Alan shouted cross, as his anger had finally reached its limit. Kazuna looked at the ground grinding his teeth.
"Kazuna! I dare you! If you glare at me with a gaze, like that ever again. I'll send you to hell before brother even can! Don't take other people's worry like trash and throw it away!!" Alan warned. Senri stood silent. Alan taking deep breaths left his arms, soon keeping his head behind his back.
A mischievous smile escaped Kazuna's lips. "Really… did you actually think something like this would hurt me?" he asked sarcastically.
Alan clutched his fists silent. 'Hey, Kazuna stop it!" Senri gulped. "Your brother is way much harsher. But, to think you would be the one to get hurt while hurting me… I'm sorry for that." Kazuna continued with a smile.