Alan sat between Zachariah and Orion, staring at the ground listlessly. His hand rested under his cheek, and his eyes blinked gently.
Orion glanced at Zachariah in confusion before asking, "What's wrong, Alan?"
Alan slowly shook his head, his gaze fixed on the ground, remaining silent.
Suddenly, Zachariah ruffled Alan's hair and asked, "Are you thinking a lot or just tired? Which one is it?"
"Neither... I am..." Alan's voice trailed off.
"Concerned?" Nagi guessed from above.
"And bored?" Ren added beside him.
Alan smiled, closed his eyes, and rested his head on Zachariah's arm, "Right on the mark."
Nidou, hearing him, shot a fleeting glance before returning to his files.
"I understand being bored, but what's concerning you?" Evandor questioned from below.
Alan, recalling the dispute from the previous night, sighed and said, "Zach… after this match, can we talk?"
Zachariah, looking ahead, hummed in agreement.
"Thanks," Alan replied.
Evan and Aaron glanced at Zachariah in wonder. Suddenly Alan's gaze shifted to Adam, who was sneakily glancing at him back and forth, looking confused and conflicted.
Alan smiled and called, "Adam."
Adam flinched and looked back, "Y-yes?"
"Is something the matter?" Alan asked.
Adam vigorously shook his head, clutching Cassiel's sleeve tightly, who also smiled at Alan, clueless. Gathering his courage, Adam took a deep breath and stuttered, "A-are you still mad and not talking to us?"
Alan blinked in surprise as the high schoolers turned to him, waiting for his response.
Kenzo rolled his eyes, looking away, while Seraph blinked with concern.
"Angry? Not at all," Alan clarified, "I've just been feeling under the weather since this morning. Seriously, why would you think I wouldn't talk to you?"
Hearing this, Adam's face lit up, and he rushed downstairs to Ryan, dabbing his back before hugging him tightly, "Haha! I told you he wouldn't be angry, see?"
Ryan, gasping for air, replied, "Tch, let me breathe. I knew it already."
Seraph exhaled with relief beside Heber, Helios, and Feng. Seles chuckled at their innocence while Pedro and Yusuf sighed in relief.
"Tch, that's no fun," Orion said, crossing his arms in disappointment.
"That's so like you and your fleeting anger," Noah chuckled, ruffling Alan's hair.
Kazuna, glancing at Senri, smiled.
"Alright, gather around all participants." Seles called.
The middleschoolers and highschoolers stood before him. "The batting and balling order let me repeat them." Seles read.
"Batting order: Balling members:
Aigou Mir Yuaan - Opener Azazel Minhas
Heber Bin Saad - Opener Poseidon Agiel
Feng Mir Ozer Ryan Ty Alexandro
Xavier Ibn Zain Aaron Noel Herve
Isa Sikandar II Helios Zadeh
Kazuna Al Haris Isa Sikandar II
Ryan Ty Alexandro Xavier Ibn Zain
Helios Zadeh Kazuna Al Haris
Aaron Noel Herve
Azazel Minhas
Poseidon Agiel
* Wicket Keeper (WK): Feng Mir Ozer "
The boys who had already memorized their orders nodded.
"Also, I wish you all the very best of luck. Don't hold back and give it your all." Seles encouraged shutting his files.
"Thanks, Seles." Azazel clenched his fists, "I'll definitely give it my all."
"Hm, believe in your strengths and play until you are thoroughly satisfied. That's my only advice." Seles added.
Hearing the word advice, Kazuna instantly turned to Nidou and so did Aaron, Aigou and the rest of the participating middleschoolers.
"What?" Nidou asked uninterestedly, his gaze still fixed on his work.
The boys remained silent.
Nidou exhaling deeply, shut the cover of his laptop, revealing his brown, poised gaze. "Just go and win." he simply uttered.
Alan smiled.
Kazuna and Xavier agreed along with the rest. The mood of the pavilion immediately relaxing.
Elias nonetheless, sat beside Rauf with a stern expression, contrary to his usual calm one.
"What is it?" Rauf questioned.
Elias revealed a smile, a deeply thoughtful and a perplexed one, he asked, "Rauf… do you believe I could change the future I foresee? Within a game or without being a part of the game… do you think I can break these restraints?"
A momentary silence.
"No, you can't." Rauf responded bitterly.
"Ouch, that hurt." Elias chuckled grabbing his chest, pretending to be disheartened.
"The Elias hud Armand sitting beside me right now and asking me this stupid question will never be able to do it. However…" Rauf continued, "The Elias of 2 years ago would definitely had that potential. You've grown too soft, Elias and that's going to prove hefty. Don't tell me you forgot the world?"
Elias's expression widened. "Grown too soft…?" he thought, seriously.
Rauf glanced at him, his sapphire gaze travelling down his soul, Elias flinched with a gulp. In a single moment it was as if he had been completely read.
Rauf looked ahead, his grin evident, he uttered, "Oh? So that's what's going to happen today. I am looking forward to it." he whispered amused.
"Y-ou?!" Elias stuttered speechless, shudders travelling down his spine while sweat dripped his forehead, "You understood everything…?"
"That's what being Number 1 is all about. You don't even have to say anything." Rauf replied calmly.
Elias looked down with an exhilarated grin thinking, "Ah… this man is crazy. To think he has progressed this much? His talent really knows no bounds. Every moment he is evolving. There's no doubt I lost to him not once but twice. And no wonder Kazuna wants to beat him. He is way too dangerous…"
"Rauf…" Elias shot a confident glare, "This match it's 'Me vs You'."
Rauf snickered smugly, his head raised high, "Oh? Bring it on."
Musa staring at the two from above whistled, "Now this is what you call interesting."
"Ah, look. Isa is gesturing here." Ren pointed.
The boys turned towards the ground noticing Isa's arm raised and his fingers gesturing a victory sign.
"It's fielding first." Helios interpreted.
"Seems like we loss the toss and got to bowl first." Senri added.
Elias's brow suddenly twitched, a frown etched on his face.
"Then, what the hell are you rascals waiting for?! Get the hell inside." Nidou slammed his fist against the seat's arm rest as the highschoolers exhaled while the middleschoolers immediately flinched stepping in.
"We were just going in. Why are you shouting?!" Feng asked in disbelief.
Ryan exhaled indifferent.
"He's crazy. Did you forget it?" Gabriel mumbled, rolling his eyes.
"We're heading out, Captain!" Heber raised his fists while patting Azazel's back who smiled slightly nervous.
Kenzo, going through his pocket threw something towards the two. In an instant, Heber grabbed it. "Go and teach those showoffs a lesson." he ordered grinning.
Heber seeing two candies in his wrist, smiled. Tossing one to Azazel the two went inside showing their thumbs up.
Helios and Poseidon nodded clapping Gabriel's hand and soon Seraph's.
"Best of luck, both of you." Seraph encouraged.
"Hm." Helios and Poseidon smiled.
"Vice-captain!" Ezekiel immediately glomped Poseidon, play-acting in quite a professional manner, "Oh! How could you leave me? What am I going to do alone?"
Poseidon ruffled his hairs chuckling while Helios twitched his brow, "Watch and learn. If I find you anywhere near close to sleeping you are as good as gone, drama."
Ezekiel sighed hopelessly, "See? He's a devil in disguise. How could you still be his friend?"
"There, there." Poseidon consoled him, "He isn't wrong or is he? It's a golden opportunity to learn."
Ezekiel pouted unconvinced, "To hell with learning. I just want to play a match alongside you."
Helios's gaze soon shifted to Kenzo, the two understanding each other without words, Helios turned around showing a perfect sign.
Kenzo closed his eyes relived.
"Beat them up, Ryan!" Adam and Mikael cheered.
Ryan, stepping in the ground beside Kazuna and Aaron smirked, "Of course, that's the only plan."
And with that, the ground began to be adorned with dark green, silver and golden stars as the crowd rooted in excitement.
________
"They are on the move, Rovan." Seon yul came back to the pavilion.
"It's batting first." Ibn Sena informed, getting geared up.
"Very well." Romeo smiled at them.
Still, unable to find Rovan, Seon yul raised his brow up confused, "Rovan…?"
"Ah…" Romeo began.
Meanwhile, in the audience's stand above the Lahore's pavilion Rovan positioned the wheel chair towards the ground.
"The view's great right, Maria?" A middle-aged man asked sitting beside her as Maria nodded. "Yes, father, the weather is perfect as well." she replied gladly however, turning around Maria apologized, "I am sorry, I had to make you all work despite knowing you have such an important match."
Rovan leaving the wheel chair glanced at Asim and Hamza with a smile, shaking his head.
"Don't worry about it, sister-in-law. Anything for you." Hamza showed a thumbs up.
"Hehe… thank you." Maria chuckled. "And, all the best." she encouraged, "I'll be rooting for you all."
Rovan nodded, yawning.
"That's perfect. I'll make sure to tell Brother Romeo that!" Hamza uttered excitedly.
"Calm down." Asim sighed.
"Well then, enjoy Maria. We'll be off." Rovan waved one last time before heading back.
"Hm." Maria agreed.
"Bye, bye~ our good luck charm of victory… ouch!" Hamza exaggerated as Asim smacked his head speechless, "Just shut up already."
"…I see." Seon yul smiled at Romeo.