Azher frowned as a tense silence gripped the stadium's exit hall. The middle schoolers exchanged tense glances. Without uttering a word, Azher moved toward Azazel.
Kenzo stood his ground, his cocky grin daring Azher to challenge him.
But Azazel, emotionally drained, didn't move. His face grew expressionless, and he gently grabbed Kenzo's sleeve. "It's no use," Azazel thought, feeling defeated. "Gramps always get what he wants. If Kenzo, Heber, or the others try to stop him, they'll just be labeled troublemakers. I can't let that happen..." He let go of Kenzo's sleeve and gave a weak smile, his voice low, "Thank you, Captain, for everything, but this is where my journey ends."
Kenzo's eyes widened, stunned into silence alongside Heber, Seraph, and Helios.
Azazel continued, his voice breaking, "I'm sorry… but your knight won't be following you anymore. It's been fun, everyone, but I hope you go on to win the World Cup without me."
Alan clenched his fists, his frustration barely contained.
Kenzo, his mind a blur, stared at the ground, unable to process what was happening.
"Don't say that, Aza," Adam said softly, but before anyone could act, Azher stepped between Kenzo and Azazel.
"Come. Let's go. I have no time to waste on this farce; my duties await." Azher ordered.
Azazel leaving Kenzo's sleeve followed Azher, but before he could keep even a single step forward, Ahmed intervened standing in between the two. "Stop it! Please. Please Grandpa!" he cried, his voice echoing.
"B-rother…?" Azazel stuttered bewildered.
Azher squinted his brows.
"Don't take him back, please grandpa. Let him play, I beg of you." Ahmed pleaded, his voice quivering, "His world. Please don't destroy it. I'll do it, instead. I'll be the best soldier you want to see grandpa but please let him follow his dream!"
Hoor kept her hands on her mouth, tearfully.
"Please, I never asked for anything. I always did what you told me to. I never talked back, never said 'no' to anything you said so please. Let him touch that sky. Let him play cricket." Ahmed said.
Tears rolling down Azazel's eyes, he looked low.
"He is not just playing for himself grandpa, he is playing for my sake, my dream. too He is doing it for me as well. I didn't get a chance to play because I wanted him to. For everything I did… can't you grant me this one single wish?" Ahmed asked, his last step for Azazel, his last effort, "I want to see him smiling like the brightest star in the sky, grandpa. So, let him show you what he's capable of, please." He lowered his head. His clenched fists quivering.
Helios, Cassiel, Heber, Feng and Ezekiel gasped in disbelief.
Azher stared at Azazel and Ahmed expressionlessly.
Soon, Hoor rushed beside him, lowering her head as well, as Haris followed, "Please father. I want all of us to trust Azazel." Azazel wiped his tears sobbing uncontrollably.
Alan, moved by the words from Azazel's family, recalled how Rauf, Nidou, Sairah, and the high schoolers had always stood by him, just as they did for Azazel. Whispering softly, he said, "Family…" His bat tapped against the ground as a realization dawned on him.
Turning to face Azher Minhas, Alan spoke firmly, "Sir Azher, I want the world to remember the names of every boy standing here. I want them to be remembered as legends and heroes. Since I was young, I've watched teams from around the world reach the highest peaks of success. I've seen incredible setbacks, unforgettable victories, and the greatest teams crumble in moments. This experience has been a constant in my life, just as it was for my old man, who lived through this cycle of highs and lows. But you know what? Cricket is so much more than that." He paused, his gaze steady, "Since you've arrived, have you seen anyone leave Azazel's side?"
Silence followed.
"No, right? That should tell you how much he means to us. Have you ever asked why cricket matters so much to him? Why he would defy you but never give up on it? Right now, have you asked them why they keep pushing forward, even after today's defeat? Why are they still standing, not breaking down?" Alan's tone remained gentle yet firm, his smile filled with understanding.
Azher stayed silent.
Alan answered his own question, "Because this game means everything to them. Just like your duty calls to you, this is our duty." His voice grew more impassioned.
"I promised my teammates, the high schoolers, my old man, and my brother that we'd win the World Cup. We lost two years ago, and yet here we are again. But this time, even if we win, I won't be able to enjoy that victory. That's why I want to pass it on to them. I want to take them there, to that moment of triumph. So, please…" Alan bowed his head, "This one time, for this World Cup—please let Azazel have it."
Poseidon, Xavier, and Seraph tensed, swallowing hard.
"Alan…?" Azazel, too, blinked in confusion.
Azher turned his gaze toward Alan, his voice surprisingly softening. "Why would you go so far?"
Alan's expression turned wistful as he replied, "Because it's the only thing I know how to do. My old man might be strong enough to stand against you, but I'm not. I don't know how. I can act tough, fight back, show disrespect—but none of that will change anything. And it might not show, however, I care deeply for my juniors. I can't put into words how much they mean to me. They're simply irreplaceable."
Heber, Kenzo, Gabriel, Ryan, Feng, and the others remained silent, grasping Alan's words.
Alan took a breath and asked quietly, "So, what do you say, sir?"
Without a word, Heber bowed his head, followed by Adam, Xavier, and the rest, leaving only Kenzo standing, his expression unreadable. "Please, sir!!" they all echoed, including Azazel.
Azher finally gave in with a sigh, "Honestly, Nidou... you really didn't leave me with much of a choice, huh?" "Alright," he muttered.
The moment those words left his mouth, Azazel and the others stared at him, stunned, their spirits suddenly alight with hope.
"Are you serious?" Ahmed asked, barely able to believe what he had heard.
"So, Azazel can still play, right?" Ryan and Adam chimed in.
"Yes," Azher confirmed, "If he wins this World Cup, he can pursue his dream of becoming a professional cricketer."
With that, Azher turned and began walking away. Azazel stood still, watching him in disbelief.
"But what if we lose?" Cassiel asked cautiously.
Azher stopped and glanced at Alan, who met his gaze with determination. "I don't think I can expect defeat when I look into those eyes," he remarked, catching Alan off guard.
"But if it does happen," Azher added, "I'll leave it to Azazel to decide what he wants to do next." He walked away, followed by Haris, as Hoor and Ahmed turned to Azazel, their faces glowing with joy. They rushed to embrace him tightly.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, all of you," Azazel said, his voice full of gratitude, tears of happiness spilling from his eyes as he laughed.
Hoor ruffled Ahmed's hair and patted Azazel's back, while the middle schoolers erupted in applause, celebrating the moment.
Helios gave Kenzo a relieved pat on the back.
...
"Father," Haris called, causing Azher to pause mid-step. "Why did you say that to Azazel just now?" he asked, puzzled.
"You mean, about letting him decide for himself?" Azher repeated.
Haris nodded.
Azher smiled faintly. "I made decisions for Ahmed, and that's enough. As for Azazel, I want him to stumble and find his way back to me when things go wrong, but more than that, I want to see him grow through difficulty and show what he's capable of. I have high hopes on him, Azazel isn't timid like you or Ahmed," he explained.
Haris blinked, then chuckled, following him. "Seriously, you always cared, father. You were simply too awkward to show." He thought.
"Where are Hoor and Ahmed?" Azher asked.
"They're on their way," Haris replied.
...
"Am I clear?" Hoor asked, cupping Azazel's face as he struggled to escape her grasp.
"Yes, yes, I'll take care of myself. Now, can you let go? This is embarrassing," Azazel mumbled, clearly flustered as Feng, Adam, Cassiel, Ryan, and Heber, shot him playful looks.
"So cute, he's definitely a mama's boy," Ezekiel teased.
"Hehe, so cute," Xavier and Poseidon giggled.
Hoor and Ahmed waved as they left.
"Kenzo," Ahmed called out.
"Hm?" Kenzo responded.
"Was I brave enough to be a decent pillar for Azazel this time?" Ahmed asked.
Kenzo smiled, "Didn't you just shatter all the chains holding him back?"
Ahmed grinned and nodded.
Hoor, proud, stepped forward and ruffled Kenzo's hair, catching him by surprise. Azazel, Heber, Seraph, and Helios looked on, equally astonished.
"Thank you as well," Hoor said warmly. "For giving us the strength to stand up for Azazel. Child... your words can break through even the toughest and most stubborn of hearts. I'm glad Azazel has a senior and friend like you," she praised.