Azazel walking towards the pitch clutched his ball tightly. "Adam, Gabriel, Brother Heber, Helios, Ryan, Seraph and Cassiel… all of them faced Alan giving their very best to reach no success, while he's coming back for more unfazed. On the other hand, I who is still progressing and struggling. Will I be able to face Alan like all of them did? What if I also come back empty handed? What will his highness think of me…? Or will he be disappointed…?" he wondered in a deep thought.
Alan standing before him, eyed him confused. Clasping his fingers together he raised Azazel's attention towards him. Azazel returning to the present gasping, blinked at Alan.
"Back to earth hun, little black kitten? What got you in such a deep thought?" he asked teasingly.
"Little black kitten?" Azazel asked back slightly annoyed. "Haha, you seem like one. Don't take it to heart. I meant you just looked cute." Alan corrected smiling.
"Cute?!" Azazel uttered taken slightly aback, he blushed.
Alan eyeing him chuckled, "Haha… Such a sweetie!" Azazel hearing him blushed harder, "Sh- shut up! I ain't a sweet-tie or whatever!" "Don't you feel em-embarrassed saying something like this?" he asked baffled.
"Haha!" Alan laughed. "Why would I? You are my junior after all, and I find you cute on top of that, so why should I be embarrassed telling that to you?" he asked back heading towards the batting pitch.
Azazel clicked his tongue embarrassed yet annoyed at the same time. "This rascal…" he gritted heading towards the balling crease.
The middle schoolers sighed. "He is such a simpleton…" whispered Ryan in disbelief. "Isn't that reaction normal from a kid?" asked Poseidon with a smile as Gabriel shook his head. Kenzo staring at Azazel stood silent.
"Say, your highness, why did you send Azazel next?" Heber asked seriously. Adam, Feng and Seraph eyed at each other puzzled.
"Yeah… I was wondering that as well. Aren't you afraid, he might do something?" asked Helios. "All childish he may look and be, in the end he's still Azazel. The same Azazel who turns into his ruthless mode when things get out of his control." continued Damian from above as Faris eyed Silas worried.
Ezekiel and Cassiel looked at each other wordless. Kenzo taking at deep sigh spoke up, "Because it's the right time. The right time for him to go out there and learn."
Xavier walked beside him, "But, wouldn't it be too harsh for him? The way you want him to learn that is. What if it shatters his determination instead?"
"In the end, it's still better than him shattering others." Kenzo replied stern, "Moreover, it's not like I want this to happen. Xavier, Helios, Seraph and Gabriel. You have my thanks for keeping him under control, facing him every time. However, what I want right now is not someone to keep him under control. What I want is someone to teach him, to keep himself under control under any circumstances."
Xavier and Helios eyed each other silent. "Then as his captain, I suppose you would've been the best candidate to do that? Why rely on Alan?" asked Seles from above.
Kenzo glancing at him smiled, "That's because if it would have been me… it won't only be his determination that would shatter… his passion will shatter well." The middle schoolers hearing his words looked at each other apprehensively. Heber eyeing Damian stared silent.
"Sigh… it's not easy being the one admired. Moreover, that Alan boy fit's for this job. Since, something tells me… he went through the same circumstances before." added Kenzo eyeing Azazel seriously.
"So… this one doesn't seem too difficult." told Aigou as Noah nodded.
"I wonder about that." replied Elias. "He might turn out to be a Pandora box." Ren uttered ironically.
"I reckon you've said that before…" Noah sighed.
"I read it on the records, Azazel Minhas was quiet a violent delinquent back at his elementary high. His play style is quite similar to our Orion's however, twice more harsh. Do you think he might not be that difficult to deal with?" asked Nagi seriously.
Orion hearing his words smiled dismayed, "Heh… quite similar to me hun?" "Geez… he never lets go of a single moment to mock me while expects me to keep control over myself…" he thought gazing at Alan.
"Are you serious? That boy…?" Senri pointed at Azazel, "He is seriously blushing from the word cute, haha!" "Don't underestimate him." Evan warned. "Heh… even the Vice-captain says this." Isa smiled.
"Not only him but I as well." endorsed Haruf seriously. "Me too…" continued Nidou drinking his sports drinks. The highschoolers hearing Nidou's voice faced him stunned.
"You too…?" Kazuna blinked surprised. Rauf eyeing Nidou gazed at the pitch grave. "Yeah… me too." repeated Nidou staring solemnly at Alan.
Alan tapping his bat gleamed at Azazel. Azazel glancing at him sighed once more staring at the ball. "I have to give my best… for captain Kenzo, Brother Heber and Atia Eden city academy. I am carrying their greatest hopes on my back. That's why I can't fail. No matter what!" he thought rushing towards the pitch.
"Azazel Minhas, a 1st year middle schooler and an aggressive cricket player. A skilled right handed baller who excels in delivering Fast deliveries. From which his infamous ones are Fast balls, Bouncers, Knuckle deliveries and Seam balling. Moreover, don't mistake judging him by his face, he is as violent as a crocodile. Once his mind ticks off, he won't take a second on hurting his opponent or gobble them whole up. From his elementary grade he has hurt up to more than thirty players earning him the title of 'Soul breaker'. After that he entered his cricket club, to take on top three of Atia Eden city academy. However, faced defeat from the hands of his Senior Heber Bin Saad and Captain Kenzo ShahJahan who instantly became his admiration, rival and determination. Until now he still plays with that violent character when under pressure. However, he is still one of the most talented players of his age rivalling with Adam's and Ryan's talent. Making him Atia Eden city cricket club's next successor." Nagi read, closing his journal eyed Orion who sat below.
"Oh boy, I thought only Gabriel was like that who would have known there was someone else as well." Isa wondered.
"No, there's a huge difference in between them. Gabriel has his sights clear on what he does, be it implementing fear over his opponent or hurting them. Azazel on the other hand, loses control of himself under pressure making him ruthless before his opponent." explained Evan.
"Under pressure you say? What kind of pressure is it?" Aaron asked. "Pressure of losing the game, losing one's pride and facing disappointment from people whom he admires and respects. Ain't I right?" Senri guessed.
"Exactly." Nagi agreed. "So there's a bit of inferiority complex in him that he might not reach up to others expectations which makes him furious and out of control, am I right?" asked Ren. "Yeah." Zach endorsed.
"So that means, Alan must be careful out there, right?" Elias assumed. "Yeah… after all, that boy isn't a normal bishop…" whispered Isa. Kazuna and Rauf glancing at each other eyed the pitch below.
Orion sat with his arms crossed, eyeing Azazel who approached the popping crease he remembered. "He was a violent delinquent back at his elementary high. His play style is quite similar to our Orion's… a violent one." Nagi's words imprinted his mind as he bit his lip infuriated.
Azazel stepping on the popping crease bowled towards Alan aggressively. "A fast delivery." Alan grasped aiming the ball towards the center hitting a four. The ball flying past Azazel went towards the boundary.
"A four!" cheered Noah clapping Aigou's hand. Azazel tracing Alan headed back. "Not bad, he is a great bowler. His grip and speed is all under control. For a spin returner, I am sure facing a lot's of fast bowlers instead, Sigh, what luck. I have a feeling, I might turn into a fast ball returner in no time." Alan thought shaking his head soon taking position.
Azazel twirling the ball rushed towards the balling wicket once more. "Aim for his feet!" he thought bowling hard. The ball travelling fast was aimed right into Alan's stumps. "A full toss fast delivery." Xavier read.
Alan keeping the bat before his feet flung it upwards with full force aimed straight once again for a huge six. Azazel slightly surprised eyed the ball which fell outside the boundary.
"That was close. I can't believe I hit a six with a ball aimed at my stumps." Alan sighed admitting his blunder, "A single wrong move and that would have been it."
"A six it is…" Heber whispered Kenzo stood restless.