"No need to be so surprised. Usually whenever I'd call you would be like 'Aaron what about your new song!' and 'Any updates for the concert!' or 'Hurry up and come back for the match!' full of enthusiasm. So sensing your silence I just guessed if something might've happened. Tell me, did you have a fight with someone or did someone say anything?" Aaron asked considerate.
Alan, upon his words smiled bleakly, his hairs concealing his expression.
"I see…" Aaron spoke after hearing the entire story, "A lot happened."
Alan hummed.
"Now if you don't have anything else to do rather than thinking about this stuff. You better hang up and listen to the song I just sent you without delay. Get your ardour back until I return by night and from tomorrow onwards we'll rock this year's PSL." Aaron heartened.
"Alright…" Alan replied hanging up. Placing ear plugs in his ears next, he pressed the song's play button. An elevating and uplifting melody travelling through from his ears to his mind he gasped wide eyed. Words true and music refined Alan's lips curved into a heartfelt smile.
"That's right… it's still burning. My passion is still burning. That's why this Mask won't be taken off right now. Not until I am satisfied!" he thought. His red gaze flaring confidently.
_____
"Are you kidding me?!!" Damian, Mikael and Christopher freaked.
The middleschoolers scattered around the huge room which was joined adjacently with another room exactly the same size, by a big round opening. Some laying on the bed, some settled on the table, and some on the floor with some still standing, were now dressed up quite comfortably.
"There's no need to freak out more than us." Kenzo sipped tea, resting on a couch.
"But- but- oh my god…!" Mikael cupped his face speechless.
"This is indeed a very big news. I can't believe my ears. But to think it would be hidden so flawlessly despite us being with him all this time?" Damian whispered stunned.
Ryan drying his hairs pushed Azazel aside on the bed, "Let me lay down too. Move a little bit over there."
"Tch! Just wait a minute. I'll lose the game." Azazel uttered, immersed in his phone. Soon rolling to the middle of the bed, he pushed Ezekiel beside him who groaned annoyed.
"That's what I am surprised about too. We have been with Alan for long as we can remember ever since he arrived. How could we not sense something was wrong?" Helios said. Appreciating the breathtaking view from the balcony he continued, "Moreover, not even when he played against us back then."
"As much as I hate to accept it. He is a Sovereign of disguise." Gabriel sat on the couch beside Cassiel, both reading PSL matches and player files.
"Maybe he didn't wanted to show his weakness since he is a platinum ranker?" Adam assumed turning around on the floor mat, wiping his ball to make it shine.
"What a lousy excuse that is." Azazel rolled his eyes as Heber shook his head confused.
"This is all senseless. I thought at this point we were friends." Poseidon said taping his bat slightly disappointed.
"Friends hun…" Feng whispered laying down on the other bed, constantly staring at the fan on the roof.
"Tch? Friends? If I were in your place I wouldn't even thought of making him one." Kenzo stated.
"From when do you think did he started losing his senses playing against us before? Does any of you have any idea?" Cassiel asked.
Xavier resting with his back on the bed's footboard closed his book pondering, "From the time he started using his skills, I guess?"
"Yeah, because he starts losing his senses once his skills are activated." Feng sat up agreeing.
"When did he start using his skills?" Poseidon wondered.
"From my time I think because he copied my Pinnacle of Perfection remember?" Helios recalled.
"Huh?! That early?! Wasn't that just the start of the challenge? If I remember you were the fourth opponent." Christopher realized stunned.
"I don't think it was at that time. Only when skills are excessively used was what they said. Facing Helios he just started using them." Cassiel said.
"Maybe when he got hurt playing against me?" Azazel guessed.
"I think so…" Xavier agreed, "He started looking tired after that."
"Of course he'd be. He was taking all of us alone by playing more than 20 overs by himself. Don't forget this fact too." Seraph added.
In the end, not getting towards a single right assumption they all sat silent.
Kenzo who hadn't participated in the guessing game stared outside. "Islamabad sure is appealing…" he remarked in a light whisper.
Xavier engrossed in a deep thought for a long while fiddled his fingers.
"What is it?" Gabriel asked tracing his confusion. Helios and Seraph too looked concerned. Kenzo raising his brow glanced at Xavier who furrowed his gaze. "Speak up, Xavier my boy. Before both your eyebrows meet each other."
Xavier exhaling, looked up, "I don't know if I should say this or not. Though I promised indirectly not to say it…"
Adam curious sat beside him, "What is it? What is it? Don't worry I won't tell it to anyone."
"Is it about Alan?" Heber asked hitting right on the mark.
Xavier nodded lightly.
"Did he say something to you?" Poseidon asked.
Xavier shook his head, "No… but I do know he is enigmatic. Everything around him is so hidden and blank as if the things we know are just mere specks of dust in his desert of secrets."
The boys looked at each other puzzled.
"What does that mean?" Ryan asked coming closer to the bed's footboard.
"He…" Xavier whispered, "Is… also adopted."
Hearing him the entire room went silent as Kenzo and Helios blinked wide eyed.
"He isn't coach Nidou's son. Back when I met him before coming to the Shrine he told me. He was adopted at the age of 6 and came to this base. He calls Rauf as his brother since he knows him ever since and also the highschoolers who were with him since he turned 11." Xavier told.
As if a burden released from his heart, he sank his head in between his knees.
"What…?" Mikael and Christopher uttered since the rest had nothing left to say anymore. However, they had this one little thought clouding their minds. That the Platinum ranker they are acquainted too… they knew entirely nothing about him. He was truly an enigma.
"Auugh!! This really won't work!" Feng stood up scratching his hairs out of the blue. "And the more I hear the more messed up I get! Now I'll find everything out! That's it!" he exclaimed.
"Yeah! There must be more. I don't want to get shocked anymore. I'll find out too!" Adam agreed pumped up.
"Sigh~ what work. Darn this curiosity." Heber cursed speechless.
"Actually, he said that too." Xavier recalled, "If I was curious why don't I try and find out about him. Who knows what I might discover? As Genius as I am it won't take me long."
"He is seriously inviting us to do so?" Ezekiel blinked not even surprised anymore.
"Heh~ what guts!" Kenzo smirked irritated even he didn't know why?!
"If we wants us to find out about him why don't we do it?" Poseidon smiled amused.
"I don't have that much time to waste." Gabriel and Kenzo retorted abruptly.
"Yeah, not when we have the PSL on our hands." Cassiel concurred.
"For some reason I have a feeling even if we don't. Time will do it for us…" Helios said, "As for those who are very much curious. They are free to go on this exploration however…" his gaze turning into a threatening one he warned, "If I see anyone of you getting distracted because of it. Then you'll see what I'll do."
"Yikes!" Adam and Ezekiel shuddered.
"He should've said not to do it in the first place." Heber and Seraph thought in disbelief.
"Helios is right. This is no time to invite distractions. Better keep it, but at the back of our minds." Cassiel suggested as the rest agreed.
All of a sudden, someone knocked on the door. "Come in…" Seraph stood up glancing out.
The door opening with a clank, different pairs of eyes seem to peek inside from the opening.
"A…ha?" Ryan asked with question marks on his head.
Kenzo realizing looked away.
Soon opening the full door, Senri jumped inside the room beside Ren, Lou Wang and Noah. "Hello, little juniors!" he greeted as Noah waved happily. Ren tracing an empty chair pulled it out sitting down.
The middleschoolers who laid left and right holding disheveled sights abruptly sat up straight maintaining themselves.
"Hehe…" Ren giggled over their confusion.
"So what brings you here?" Kenzo asked uninterested.
Up to his surprise Isa too came inside, "An attitude like this won't get you anywhere little king. You aren't talking to your servants remember that." he smiled heading over to the tea table and sitting before him.
His gaze sadistic. Kenzo rolled his eyes looking away he thought, "He has lost it. Even his eyes are saying that."