"So he copied it hun…" asked Nidou unimpressed.
"It was expected." replied Evan, "But, what triggers me the most is… the smile over Helios's face. It states clearly, that he doesn't care whatever Alan shows him."
"Indeed… a victor's smile is resting over his face." endorsed Isa. "To think it is that last ball. I can't help but be amazed by these two overs…" said Ren. "You know… it really surprised me that you copied it just by looking at it for a while." told Helios twirling his ball.
Alan nodded, "However, you didn't seem too surprised by it right?" Hearing his words Helios gazed at the red cock ball. From the looks it felt old and used up. Nonetheless, felt as if carrying a whole life for him.
Setting it in between his fingers, he rushed to deliver the last ball. "You're right… it didn't surprise me… but, I wonder will this surprise you?" he uttered throwing the ball towards Alan.
"A Yorker?!" asked Noah and Azazel puzzled.
"No… it isn't…" replied Xavier and Kazuna together. The ball aimed towards the right was instantly shifted towards the utmost left straight into Alan's stumps.
"Oh no! It will hit the wicket if I use the zone!" Alan thought dissolving his aura. Soon he clasped both of his feet together to counter the ball. Clashed by Alan's bat the ball swinged towards the side landing over pitch's short leg.
"A reverse… swinger…" Alan whispered stunned as sweat dripped his forehead down to his chin. "Amazing…." whispered Ezekiel and Heber astonished. Helios panting, looked up at Alan who stood wordless.
"Blazing Flare…" he whispered.
"Elegant… to the very end." Alan praised.
The highschoolers looked at them silently. "Incredible," whispered Noah in utmost gleam. "He sure gave Alan a hard time until the very end." Isa told.
"The Ultimate paladin, now do you get it why he's given a title like that?" Senri asked Orion who sat dazed.
"I have no words to describe this over." told Haruf speechless. "Of course… because it was epic." continued Aaron. Nidou eyeing Helios ticked his file once more drinking sports drinks as Rauf eyed him seriously.
The middle schoolers on the other hand eyeing Helios smiled with a heartened look.
Alan walking towards him gave his hand commenting, "Bravo…" Helios smiling back grasped his hand.
"But, you didn't get out till the very end." he replied. "Hm… now that's a problem. How about we call it a tie? I couldn't return back your swingers and you didn't send me back to the pavilion. Is that fine?" Alan asked back playfully.
"No way…" Helios replied seriously. "I won't accept it till I send you back to the pavilion myself." he claimed.
Alan gazing at him sighed, "An elegant boy yet persistent to the very end. Alright, do as you wish."
Helios walking towards the pavilion eyed the middle schoolers who had surrounded around to welcome him back. Large, satisfied smiles rested on their faces.
"Welcome back! Captain!!" greeted Lucifer, Ebraham, Claude and David together. Ryan seeing him approach jumped from his seat heading towards the ground.
"Wish me luck, Vice-captain." he looked at Xavier before leaving. Xavier smiling behind his back nodded as Feng cheered, "Way to go Ryan! Show them what you got."
"Best of luck… our prince." Xavier encouraged.
A light smile resting on his face. Ryan walking past Helios stood still. "Good job. Now leave the rest to me." he headed towards the pitch.
Helios smiled walking towards the seats.
"Good luck. Princely boy." he encouraged. Standing before Poseidon and Ezekiel he smiled lightly whispering, "I am back…" "If you're back, then why the long face?" asked Poseidon.
"Yeah… why so demoralized?" asked Xavier patting his back. Kenzo sighing pulled Helios turning him around.
Helios blinked his eyes surprised. Keeping his arm around Helios's shoulder Kenzo pointed at Alan who sat with a cool towel on his eyes, "Look, I told you shake up his roots and you already did that. To think he would be lucky enough to evade those two outs. He was just lucky. So relax, Ruler of the sun. You gave an outstanding performance. Now, Leave the rest to this king." he encouraged walking away.
"That was one weird way to encourage someone…" said Azazel and Heber. Helios smiled, "Thank you, your highness."
Kenzo smirked, "No need to thank me. Just open the hot water tap for me when I bath." Hearing his words Seraph, Helios, Poseidon and Gabriel looked at him who stood proud for no reason annoyed.
"Just do this on your own." Helios replied irritated.
"King Kenzo is a real idiot." commented Adam as Xavier and Cassiel patted his head. "Good job, Helios." praised Seles from above. Helios looking up nodded, "Thank you."
Drinking water Helios suddenly eyed Ezekiel who stood silent. "What's up?" he asked. "Or was my performance not that outstanding?" he continued to ask. "Hun? How could that be? Ezekiel finally realized how much he had troubled you and he was even crying HMPHF!!" told Claude as Ezekiel suddenly clogged his throat at the end choking him.
"Huh?" Helios blinked his eyes stunned.
"Pft, haha!" Poseidon and David laughed. Ezekiel leaving Claude who took deep breaths stood before Helios with his expression hidden.
"Cap… captain…" he stuttered after a long while.
"Yes…?" Helios asked confused.
Xavier and Seraph glancing at each other smiled soon eyeing Ryan who stood on the pitch waiting for Alan. "That brat… really has no restrictions. Doing whatever comes to his mind…" Kenzo clicked his tongue annoyed.
"I guess, that's the charm of being kids." replied Seraph as Xavier nodded.
"I-I- I'm sorry… I won't disturb you or Vice-captain Poseidon from now on and won't be lazy as well. So… please… don't leave me behind no matter what!" Ezekiel confessed as the others smiled.
Helios blinked his eyes while, eyeing Poseidon who hid his inaudible chuckle. "What's with that…?" asked Helios standing up.
"If I wanted to leave you, then I would've already left you behind. However, you still realized and I'm glad for that." he told.
Ezekiel nodding looked at the ground as Helios patted his head. "You are a good boy, and be proud of that." Helios praised. For a while Ezekiel stood straight suddenly whispering, "But I won't promise to sleep less. Since, I can't help it…"
"It's alright, I already have the choice to throw you into the river ready for that." replied Helios with a caring smile. Ezekiel and Poseidon shuddered.
"Now that doesn't sound too reassuring…" Ezekiel gulped. Hearing his words everyone started to laugh.
Ryan on the other hand eyed Alan who came towards the pitch setting his glove. "Huh? You were already here?" he asked glancing at Ryan who threw the ball on the ground grasping it again and again.
"Took you long enough hun? Let's get over with it." he declared tossing the bat towards Alan. Alan slightly surprised grasped it blinking at Ryan who walked away, "Wow~ I got a stubborn one this time. Hm… let me remember, who you were…?" he spoke thinking hard. Ryan turning around tossed the ball into midair catching it back as a light breeze blew.
A sharp smirk resting his face he uttered, "Ryan Ty Alexandro, 1st year middle schooler also known as the 'Prince of Cricket'. Is that enough for you to get ready? We are already running late."
Alan eyeing his egoistical demeanor flunged his bat over his shoulder. "Eh… seems like I'm going to have much more fun than I had initially expected!" he grinned proudly.
The two of them gazing at each other ardently, at that moment were more than ready to clash against each other vigorously.