Nagi spinning the ball, raised his brow studying Nile; His stance, probability of where he might direct the hit on which delivery and his speed to take a run in the meantime. He exhaled stepping on the popping crease, delivering a top spinner.
Nile once again playing a flick shot took two runs.
Kenzo rushing after the ball, grabbed it tossing it back to Elias.
Nagi frowned at Nile who smirked, "Well, what about a maiden over now, senior?"
Nagi grabbing the ball headed back.
Xavier studied the tension on the field, "So, he is provoking Senior Nagi on purpose."
Stepping on the popping crease, Nagi bowled a slider as it travelled down the pitch. Nile immediately alerted stopped it with his bat.
"OH!!" the middleschoolers inside the 30 inched circle gasped.
"That was a good delivery. Gliding directly into feet; you can't do much about those." Jones commented.
Nagi grabbed the ball glancing at Nile, "A maiden over… who says I only specialize in bowling them? To satisfy your curiosity… shall I show you what I am really capable off?" His gaze sly and voice threatening.
Nile grinned, "It would be my pleasure."
Nagi stood straight, heading back, "Very well. Now… let's see when you run away." "Brokering…"
"Brokering?" Azazel repeated confused.
"With the mind…" Nagi completed his sentence, delivering the third ball of the over.
Nile squinted his gaze, a delivery aimed outside off stumps, he tried to hit it towards the fine leg however, instantly his mind went blank. Standing in the same position, his body didn't even move as the ball made its way straight into Elias's hands. "Great delivery, Nagi." he praised.
"Huh?" Nile uttered blank, "Where did I meant to hit it?"
Cassiel hearing his words stood astonished, "He… forgot his aim?"
"Nile couldn't react?" the commentators questioned each other. "The ball was medium pitched and slow. It could have been a shot towards the square and fine leg. To miss such chance…" Jones added confused.
Elias throwing the ball back to Nagi clapped his hands, "Good job, everyone. Stay attentive."
Nile shook his head puzzled, "I remember… I wanted to strike it hard. So, why did I stop?"
Nagi smirked whispering once more, "Brokering with the body…" Delivering the fourth ball of the over, he aimed for an off break.
Nile taping his bat deciphered the delivery, "I'll play a flick shot and take a quick run…" he thought however, up to his surprise he struck the ball towards the mid-on where Feng immediately grabbed it gesturing the two players to stop. Confusion taking over Nile, he looked at Nagi distressed, "He is definitely doing something." he clicked his tongue.
Nagi snickered, "There it is. What a lovely expression he holds." he thought pleased. Heading back he again whispered, "Brokering with the soul…"
Humayun hearing him, immediately walked over to Nile. "Nile." he called.
"Hm?" Nile asked back.
"On the next delivery take a run, no matter what. He's… dangerous." Humayun warned.
Nile pondering for a while nodded, "Alright."
Nagi stepping on the crease, delivered a slow spin towards Nile's feet. Taking a chance he struck it ever so lightly as Humayun began to run from the non-striker's end, "RUN! Nile!"
Nile without halting leapt as Azazel grabbed the ball aiming for the wicket at the baller's end. Unfortunately missing a direct hit on the stumps, the ball landed in Feng's hand behind safely. Nile securely crossed the non-striker's end.
"Darn!" Azazel punched the ground annoyed.
"Oh!!" the crowd gasped.
"Yup, that could've have been a chance if a direct hit was made but great effort by Azazel Minhas and great running between the wickets by Humayun and Nile." Wasim remarked.
Senri grabbing Azazel's arm pulled him up while Azazel gritted frustrated, "It should've been on the mark."
Senri smiled consoling him, "It's alright. Don't fret it. One way or another we are going to send them back to the pavilion." Patting Azazel's back, Senri took his position once more.
The first half of the innings ending after the 10th over. Peshawar accumulated 72 runs at a loss of two wickets. The boys gathered around the pavilion for a 3 minute drink break.
"Say Nagi, why didn't you take Nile's wicket? You had him pressured yet you missed the chance." Isa asked.
Feng curiously waited for his reply.
"Hmph, that coward. He ran away. Not my fault. I negotiated with his mind and body; all remained was his soul. I guess that other brat got what I was up to and took that hasty run disrupting my manipulation." Nagi replied.
"Hard luck." Zachariah remarked.
"Not that it matters. We will take them down." Azazel clenched his fists stilled annoyed.
"Looks like that missed run out chance changed his sentiments completely." Helios wondered.
Seraph and Kenzo away from the group discussed while pointing at the field.
"Busy bodies…" Alan thought tapping his cheeks with his hands.
"Head coach Nidou." Ren called out.
With his eyes still closed, Nidou responded with a casual, "Hm?"
"Any advice?" Ren asked.
"For you all?" Nidou asked.
"Yes." Xavier replied.
For a moment, Gabriel, Cassiel, Feng, and Azazel exchanged glances, anticipating that what he would say next might not be any less provocative or condescending however, Nidou remained silent. His gaze fixed upon the ground and expression devoid of humor and levity, he tapped his finger on his thigh for a while. Soon, his pupils tracing the 4 highschoolers particularly, he addressed, "You all… better stop playing around now." And with that he went silent once more, shutting his eyes.
"Huh?" Azazel uttered confused.
"Stop playing around…?" Cassiel repeated skeptical.
Xavier, Adam, Gabriel, Helios and Poseidon too looked at each other stunned. Silence befalling, the highschoolers seated in the pavilion exhaled while Haris glanced at Rauf who remained indifferent. Alan slightly anxious, stroked his earring.
Elias, Ren, Senri and Nagi whom the conversation initially pointed to; immediately lost their playful grins evading the middleschoolers gazes.
"Well, its party popped now, isn't it?" Pedro whispered unfazed.
"Playing around…?" Adam and Ryan repeated in disbelief.
The break ending, the middleschoolers silently headed for the ground. Seraph and Kenzo who already conversed inside, waved at them. However, tracing their downcast, puzzled and stunned expressions in return, they glanced at each other. "Did something happen?" Seraph doubted.
Kenzo shrugged his shoulders clueless, "Beats me." "Hey, Azazel, Xavier, Come here." he called.
Feng at a loss of words stared at the ground, "Playing… around? What does that mean? Hah, are you pulling my leg? We are amid a serious match. On the brink of losing and winning and they were playing around? All along…?" Keeping his hand on his mouth, he pretended not to accept the bitter, harsh truth. "Don't tell me we played like that since the beginning?" he murmured in disbelief.
Xavier and Azazel walking over to Kenzo inquired, "Yes?"
"What's wrong?" Kenzo asked.
Azazel's brows furrowing with eyes downcast, he clenched his fist masking a smile, "Nothing, your highness. Don't worry about it. If you have some changes to make to the field... do tell us."
Kenzo narrowed his gaze, "I should tell you? Why? Did Senri say that…?"
Xavier interrupted, "No, he didn't." His voice slightly raised for a moment, he immediately gained his composure continuing, "And he won't. Even if he do says so. I will definitely not listen to a single word."
Seraph gasped utterly baffled, "Hey, Xavier…"
"We have to win this match Seraph..." Cassiel interrupted dabbing his back.
Seraph peeked aside.
"Alongside Gabriel, you both are, leaders. So lead on. It's now or never," Cassiel added serious. "Even if it was all an act. We definitely aren't here to lose." he clenched his fist, looking away.
The entire atmosphere of the field draining into gloom.
Kenzo looking at Senri and Elias pondered, "Act? Just what in the world happened…? Didn't I see them fine a moment ago…?" "Sigh~ forget It." he pushed his thoughts aside replying, "Alright, take the same positions as before. I'll inform you of any change after this over."
The three nodded dispersing.