Nidou sighed, "This twitchy brat."
Mir glanced, "How's he feeling now?"
"You should've asked him that rather than glaring at him like a mad lion." Nidou mocked.
"Just like I told you before. I cannot sympathize with him and his situation. However, I am not an inhumane to not even inquire about his health." Mir replied.
Nidou slightly offended upon his words frowned, "Mir… he is my child. He doesn't need yours nor anyone else's sympathy. So keep it to yourself kindly. As for his health, he is right in front of you living well, perfectly fine."
Mir grinning shook his head. His arms crossed, "To think you can still make this expression? I am impressed."
"Don't be. I'll can make worse if it comes to him." Nidou warned.
Mir looking at the middleschoolers sighed, "So what about them."
Nidou wordlessly handed him multiple files.
"What?" Mir grabbed them.
"Read them. I don't have any energy left in me to speak anymore." Nidou replied, uncapping his sports drink and gurgling half of it down in one go. "Ahh…" he growled.
Mir rolled his eyes disgusted, "What a disgrace…"
"By the way, where are the boys?" Seles inquired.
"They took the flight 2 hours later than ours. They'll arrive a little late due to that." Yusuf informed.
"That's it? I was worried for no reason at all." Kortes replied relieved.
"Yes, or else they would be swarming around here like wild horses left and right. Even though I told them to come along with us, they still choose the other plane. Those brats!" Yusuf recalled irritated.
"Hehe…" Seles chuckled.
____
On the ground the middle schoolers positioned themselves. Feng wearing his gloves and helmet took over the wicketkeeper's position showing a thumbs up.
"Since Helios is going first, seven of us are to be inside the 30 inched circle while Gabriel should be on the
"Right." Kenzo agreed. "Azazel! Stand on
The umpire threw the ball to Helios who rubbed it on his sleeve. "A new ball it is…" Helios smiled.
"I'll stand on the
"Looks like, it's finally starting. Off to the pitch we go." Elias wore his helmet as Noah tugged his bat on his shoulder.
"Wish us luck." Noah waved heading out of the pavilion.
Helios tracing them approach tossed the ball up and down. Kenzo one last time observed the fielders. "All set… if any changes needed I'll do make in the meantime…" he whispered.
Elias standing on the batting crease with Noah taking the runner's side. The umpire stood behind the baller's wicket ready to commence the game.
____
"Rauf." Alan called from the rails.
Rauf who was about to sit beside the highschoolers turned around.
Alan smiled.
Rauf headed over. His golden hairs tied up neatly with a head band and his typical worn jacket removed. He gave off an imposing and psyched aura.
"Playing this time?" Alan teased.
Rauf grinned. Turning around he stood with his back resting on the rail beside him. "You still aren't tired hun?" he remarked over his playful behavior. "
Heh." Alan smirked, "Not that I will change even after you beat me up pretty bad."
Rauf's finger instantly twitched.
"Seriously, it hurts a lot. I won't talk to you for that. I just wanted a game and look at you beating me all up…" Alan pouted complaining looking at the scar on his arm.
Rauf squinted his gaze. "Your condition worsened didn't it?" he asked out of the blue.
"Huh? What are you talking…?" Alan blinked.
"Your breathing became shallow after the second delivery." Rauf interrupted. His face hidden under his fluttering hairs he continued pointing out, "You lost your sight on the third ball, you also lost weight since the last time I saw you and your return strength has decreased too."
Alan stared at him astonished.
"All of that makes me wonder, what were you doing out there?" Rauf questioned stern. His blue gaze grave, Alan gulped. "Getting stronger…?" he stuttered, unsure of what new excuse to make now.
"And this is how you end up?" Rauf interrupted.
Alan smiled gently, "To think you would play me just to read my current state. I am astounded… yet, not even surprised. Is that why you agreed to play me?"
"Indeed." Rauf added abrupt.
"Haha!" Alan laughed, "That's my brother." "No wonder I want to hug you right now." he teased at the end.
Rauf sighed walking back to the pavilion.
"Be careful… brother." Alan warned.
Rauf halted, "Talking to me?"
"Yeah and thank you." Alan thanked.
Rauf glanced sideways smirking, "For what? Beating you up? Or beating those rascals up in advance?" he pointed his thumb at the middleschoolers.
"For everything." Alan grinned, "Even beating me. Though I'll return this favor one day." "As for those boys… I'm afraid I disagree. Because, they'll wreck a havoc! On this stage!" he declared ardently.
Rauf headed back smirking cleverly. "What are they talking about?" Orion peeked at Alan and Rauf, moving right and left of Kazuna.
"Leave them be. Focus on the match, Orion." Isa advised.
"But it hasn't even started yet." Orion exhaled sitting straight.
Alan studied the positions middleschoolers took. "Two on the back side of the ground with five covering inside the
Instantly his gaze shifted towards Seraph who looked back. Alan called him gesturing with his hand. Seraph looking around pointed at himself confused. Alan nodded. "Geez, he is so dense." he chuckled amused.
Seraph ran over. His arms covered with long black sleeves Alan inquired, "Still wearing the
"I don't know how to put up with that question…" Seraph replied, "My master warned me never to remove it, until very mandatory." Alan stood straight. His hand held up for a high five.
Seraph smirked stepping forward clapping his hand against it he headed back. "Don't fret about it and off you go. Make the ground under their feet tremble." Alan encouraged.
"We already planned that. Just sit back and watch now." Seraph responded poised.
Poseidon glanced at Cassiel, "Nervous?" "Haha… you bet." Cassiel replied anxiously.
"Don't worry, they have all worked very hard and are already aware of everything. It's going to be alright." Poseidon assured.
"Elias Hud Armand…" Cassiel turned over the pages of his journal, "A Third Year High schooler and a strategist cricketer, Age: 18, Height: 189cm, Weight: 75 Kg is a Left handed batsman who excels in countering spin deliveries. Mostly, against
Azazel stretching his arms recalled...
"Aren't there any prominent skills he uses?" he questioned throwing the ball to Ezekiel.
"Yeah, there must be something or even one." Ezekiel asked curious, catching the ball and passing it to Alan.
"Hm…" Alan mused. "There are many of them but it's hard to remember them all since, it's been a long time I played against him. But one thing's for sure, Elias's skills are just like Xavier's counters. Defensive, offensive, controlling and decisive, they could be of any type. The more he makes the more he hides and uses them as per opportunities arise. Who how many are even there." he informed.
Xavier and Helios looking at each other pondered.
_____
"Right now we just have to worry about his own abilities rather than Roaring since his partner isn't here." Heber thought.
"And Noah Chevalier…" Xavier recalled Cassiel's words, "A First Year High schooler and an offensive cricketer, Age: 16, Height: 185.4cm, Weight: 73 Kg is a Right handed batsman who excels in countering every type of pace delivery the exact opposite of Elias Hud Armand. His prodigal play from around the age of 13 has ranked him 5th in the overall Pakistan batsman juvenile ranking list. Moreover, he is the only highschooler amongst the fourteen to achieve the 'Pinnacle of Perfection' just like our Helios earning him rank 14th in the base's genius's list. His prodigal and diverse play on the pitch gets him the title of 'Stadium's Chevalier'. His abilities can be similar to Helios however nothing could be said for sure but he is the only one not to achieve a double ability out of the entire highschoolers. Maybe that's due to his ability I guess…?"
"A right handed and a left handed batsman. Heh~ confusing us right from the beginning?" Helios tossed the ball up and down standing at the back ready to deliver the first delivery, "As if that's this easy." he declared in a confident murmur.