"Since you all still have a lots of ways to go. Let me tell you who the high schoolers are. From the batting sides we have Elias-Aigou pair, Senri-Ren pair, Aaron-Haruf pair and that rascal-Kazuna pair." Nidou remembered.
"Excuse me?" Alan retorted on the word rascal.
Seriously did he not have a name at all?! The boys turned to Alan.
"Even you have it?!" Ezekiel asked stunned.
"Of course I do? And what's with this unbelievable reaction on top that?" Alan replied obvious.
"And from the balling side?" Gabriel asked.
"From the balling side, we have Orion-Nagi pair, Zachariah-Isa pair, Rauf-Evan pair and Rauf-and that rascal's pair."
"Again?!" Heber twitched.
Alan on the contrary, aimed a stone for Nidou's head, "I'll smack your head with a stone now, humbly speaking if you call me a rascal!"
Seraph pondering over Zach's name exhaled, "He is there as well…"
"Wow~ so many of them are already users of these skills." Azazel admired.
"Indeed they all are… but more than that aren't you much more curious about yourselves?" Alan asked.
The thirteen of them looking at each other remained silent.
"Even you all can do it." Nidou spoke serious, "It won't be easy however the pairs I call out, do have chances of developing these skills."
"Huh?! Really?!" Adam shrieked overjoyed.
"From the batting side I'll bet on Ezekiel-Heber and Adam-Seraph. As for the balling side it could be Poseidon-Helios, Azazel-Gabriel and Ryan-Cassiel." Nidou declared, "But in the end, these aren't perfect. Who knows, what other skills you might develop considering your partners?"
The boys hearing their pairs wondered.
"Are you really sure?" Cassiel questioned.
Alan stood up, "Surer than ever this is a final decision."
Kenzo however dazed on the contrary stood silent beside Xavier pondering over the unexpected remarks.
Heber instantly stuttered, "His highness…?"
Nidou sneered, "Who? Him?" he pointed at Kenzo, "Forget him brat. It's impossible for someone with a personality like his. Just like I told you before, what these skills need are mutual trust. Someone who only thinks of himself as everything can never master these skills."
His words hitting like sharp needles Kenzo gritted his teeth.
"He can." Alan uttered out of the blue, "He can… and his pair is Feng Mir Ozer."
Kenzo wide eyed glanced at Feng who pointed at himself flabbergasted, "Me?!"
"Yes… you both. Only if his highness wants it." Alan repeated smiling.
A sudden sense of relief took over Kenzo. "And, I know he will. But, who intrigues me the most right now…" Alan stood before Xavier.
"It's you whose name wasn't taken from the very beginning. Aren't you surprised?" he questioned playfully.
Xavier slightly anxious shook his head, "Nope. Not at all. Maybe I am still not good enough for my name to be called. I'll work harder for good results next time…"
"There's no next time." Alan interrupted dead serious.
Xavier gulped. "What you need isn't a call, boy. It's a step! And the reason I didn't call your name is crystal clear…" Alan stated, "Since you are the only one who can pair with anyone of us here to achieve those skills, even me. That's the kind of genius you are."
Hearing his words Xavier stood wordless. The middle schoolers looking at him gasped.
"How grand…" Adam whispered awed beside Ryan.
"Happy?" Alan teased winking.
Xavier response less closed his eyes gleaming strikingly.
Alan dumbstruck himself smiled pleased.
"Since everything's clear. Go back and reflect on what I just said. And be early here tomorrow." Nidou disbanded.
The boys in deep thought, headed down the mountain. Some still confused, yet the others wondering about what to do next. They walked the path in complete silence. Kenzo squinting his brows remembered Nidou's words "Him? Forget him brat. It's impossible for someone with a personality like his. Just like I told you before, what these skills need are mutual trust. Someone who only thinks of himself as everything can never master these skills."
Gritting his teeth, he clenched his fists hard. "How dare you judge this king!" he thought enraged. Stepping ahead, he left the others behind.
Helios glancing at him anxious beside Heber exhaled.
"Looks like he really took it to heart…" Ezekiel guessed.
Xavier smiling rejected, "Nope, not the heart." Pointing the finger at his forehead he corrected, "He took it right on his mind."
Poseidon and Seraph sighed.
"I just hope nothing bad happens." Azazel prayed.
Feng staring at Kenzo's back shook his thoughts away, "Mine and his pair…? Hmp, seems like a far-fetched fantasy."
Arriving at their asylum, night took over. Kenzo standing before the waterfall slammed the ball towards it. Frustration, anger and skepticism surrounding him, he slammed each and every single ball harshly than the one before.
"Calm down a little will you, your highness?" Feng interrupted all of a sudden.
Kenzo glimpsed aside grave.
Feng resting his back on a tree grinned, "You know, I don't think you should reflect this much. It was just something head coach informed us with. It's not like our whole lives depend on it. As for our partnership, if you are that angry about it, you don't need to pair up with me at all."
Kenzo hearing his words stared at his queen silent.
"Don't take his words to heart. It's worth nothing." Feng added sincere.
A long silence hovering over the two of them Feng stood straight. "Alright, I'll head back first. Don't work too hard, since we have to head back to the mountain early tomorrow. And, don't overthink it as well, Night~" Feng left waving his hand.
Kenzo glancing at his shadow turned to face the waterfall again. Tossing the ball up into midair he smacked his it with his queen harshly. The ball blazing glided over the water heading down the river's flow. Its sight lost forever, Kenzo pushed his hairs up conflicted.
Feng heading back stared at the sky.
"What a kind liar you are hun, little Feng?" Helios uttered out of the blue.
Feng hearing his voice flinched grasping his chest, "Oh my god! You just beat the hell out of me?"
"Tell me earnestly, why did you ask him not to be your partner, when you never even had the intention of doing something like this at all?" Helios questioned ignoring him.
Feng blinking his eyes for a while masked his face with a fake smile, "Because… he is king after all…"