(Part 14)

Rauf's figure quietly disappearing amid the crowd, Alan stroke his earring wondering, "Looks like… the one who's taking everything lightly is me at the end…" he thought uncertain.

"So, our first destination is?" Ren asked.

"Off to a start with Clock tower bazaar 1." Kazuna informed.

"Wah! Where we can even find bicycles and imported clothes and sneakers? Hurry up! We are off to a good start!" Noah gasped, pulling Poseidon and Cassiel along.

"Oh dear…" Kenzo slammed his forehead speechless.

"Then next, we'll have Peshawar Museum2 and Bala hisar Fort3…" Orion continued to read.

"Since, Peshawar is a small city, these places are quiet close to each other. We don't have to worry about bus travelling issues as well." Elias informed delighted.

"Well everything's well now isn't it? Hehe, then… will there be a good food bazaar coming up next?" Haruf questioned innocently.

Hearing him, all highschoolers busted in laughter. "Haha! There's definitely a food bazaar coming right up. Don't forget to taste all the delicacies 4of Peshawar. Who knows, when we'll be able to try some again?" Isa encouraged.

The middleschoolers glanced at each other in disbelief.

"And that goes for you all of as well." Senri turned to them, "Initially, this is your treat, for winning the first match."

"I don't think I believe you…" Xavier whispered blatant.

"Nor, my eyes or ears do…" Gabriel added.

"Or, is a meteor is about to crash here, for you all to be acting this way?" Ezekiel presumed.

"What in the world is earnestly wrong with them?" Seraph wondered, staring at the highschoolers doubtful.

"Listen up all of you…" Kenzo called.

The highschoolers and middleschoolers all turned around.

"Rather than beating around the bush, just tell us… what do you want?" Kenzo doubted the highschoolers, "You can impart us, help us, practice alongside us but everything else seems way out of the ordinary. So tell me what is it?"

Isa exhaling grabbed his nose bridge as Ren and Orion twitched their brows annoyed.

"Moreover, you know it feels creepy coming from you all." Ryan said, "As if you'll stab us behind our backs."

Noah blinked stunned. "Too much negativity!! They don't even trust a speck of a show we put after all this hassle! Just look at their black auras!! Their black suspecting auras!!" he thought speechless.

"That's why I wasn't agreeing to your idea Haruf…" Aaron whispered slightly irritated.

"Haha, you worry too much." Haruf uttered still positive. 

"If it's about the match…" Xavier spoke.

The highschoolers immediately frowned.

Xavier smiled, "Then we have to work together no matter what. Be it, we like each other or not. After all, we have to win at the end."

Alan, tracing them after a long while of search, exhaled. "Finally, I thought I was lost again." he murmured reassured. However, the atmosphere surrounding them all gloomy and suspicious, he narrowed his gaze confused.

"So… should we head back?" Cassiel asked.

Senri scratching his hairs crouched low, deeply exhaling as he stood back up again. Massaging his neck he uttered, "Listen up you brats. You think too much. We wanted to come here that's why we came, dragging you along was just an addition in the plan…" "So rather than ordering us around…" he sneered.

"You better listen to us instead!" Aigou added.

"Huh?" Azazel and Gabriel uttered annoyed.

"Listen to you? Why do you think…?" Helios replied as Evan turned around, "If you think within this city you can find our lodging anywhere, then go on." 

Stuck in a quagmire, the middleschoolers annoyed and hitting instant realization, glared.

"They fooled us!!" Adam growled.

"If only we'd knew where we'd be staying…" Cassiel shook his head in disbelief.

The two sides clashing against each other, a rather undesirable, unconvincing, worrisome situation…

"Why do I feel things sloping downwards…?" Alan thought awkwardly.

All of a sudden, ice cream trucks began to ring though their usual track, crossing streets after streets.

"Haha!" Haruf beamed, "Come on, we have no time to waste! In Peshawar to not even try Peshawari delight is like not visiting the beach in Hawaii!" he ran forward alongside the highschoolers.

The middleschoolers reluctant and left with no choice desperately dragged their feet following the enthusiastic highschoolers.

"Here you go!" Haruf came over handing them their huge ice cream cones.

"Whoa~!!" Adam and Heber gaped astonished.

"So huge!! Is this even ice cream?!" Cassiel investigated left to right.

"The shopkeeper gave Haruf quadruple scoop treat! Haha!" Aaron chuckled handing Poseidon and Seraph one.

"Wooh~!" Alan gasped with stars in his eyes, "Is mine five scooped one?!" "Yeah, one extra for you!" Elias ruffled his hairs. A charming blush casing his face, Alan smiled with stars in his eyes.

"Look! Look! Kazuna and Zach and going to the fort hurry up!" Aigou and Orion called.

Ren walking past the middleschoolers spoke, "Listen up, little freaks. We have to win no matter what…" "That's why we have to understand each other no matter what as well." he winked heading forward.

"Let's go, we can't leave you all behind." Nagi patted Feng's back.

Alan standing between the middleschoolers who shrugged their shoulders smiled. "Rather than thinking too much. Its better you have fun. Ezekiel, why don't I show you a guitar shop? There's even a studio behind." he turned to him.

"Really?" Ezekiel asked.

"Yeah, and not to forget meat kebabs and chicken leg pieces…" Alan remembered dribbling, "We are definitely going to have a feast!"

"Yeah, I am in!" Heber and Adam raised the hands while Seraph laughed awkwardly as Kenzo rolled his eyes.

"Your highness…" Alan turned to Kenzo, "When in Rome do as Romans do. Don't forget Peshawar's cricket street play now. Every talent from every house comes out on streets for a match after midnoon. Don't you want to have fun joining that?"

"Oh dear… looks like you won't let us go today." Poseidon followed the highschoolers.

"Yeah, I won't let you all go. You are our future kings after all." Alan beamed.

Stunned for moment the middleschoolers looked at each other.

"Your Future kings? You just want to use this lame excuse to bind us." Gabriel uttered vexed.

"Hm~? Do you really think that way?" Alan wondered.

"Don't worry about it. We know highschoolers don't mean any harm. We'll go on with the flow." Seraph patted his shoulder.

"Tch!" Kenzo clicked his tongue following.

"But the match…" Heber whispered concerned.

"To think this simple of a match makes you so~ nervous. Oh my god~" Alan pretended to irritate them, "Sigh~ where are my kings who would sneer and grin while facing the entire team of highschoolers…?" he asked, "Aren't you all just that strong?" His smile bothersome yet heartening at the same time.

"Pft! Haha…" Xavier chuckled marching on, "Now I feel like enjoying everything, right Feng?" he tugged his arm.

Feng caught up in a deep thought, instantly jolted agreeing, "Y-eah…"

Xavier concerned pondered.

After a while of walk, between the bustling city. Rauf looked at the elevated apartment. Deluxe from the first glance, he clarified the address crosschecking from his phone soon heading in. Recognizing the staff and coaches throughout the entrance walk, he stepped inside the reception hall.

"Hello sir, how may I help you?" a staff man required politely. Rauf nodding began to speak however a familiar voice interrupted calling, "Rauf?"

Rauf turned around, "Coach Seles."

"You're back? So early?" Seles asked soon responding to the staff, "Thank you so much for inquiring, he is with us."

The staff smiling bowed his head slightly low, "I see. I'll leave you both now. Please do call me if you need anything." he excused himself.

Seles nodded pleased. "What's wrong?" he turned to Rauf.

"Nothing." Rauf replied heading for the elevator.

"Nothing? I thought you were with Alan? To be here this early… don't tell me you fought?!" Seles assumed.

"Tch…" Rauf clicked his tongue.

"Hehe, I was just joking." Seles teased.

"Where's coach Nidou?" Rauf asked.

"Getting ready for the meeting and devising their punishments." Seles informed cumbersomely remembering the boys and their mischief.

"I'll go to him then…" Rauf replied pressing the elevator's control. 

"I thought you'd be taken by Alan this time no matter what." Seles exhaled.

Rauf glanced behind.

"But it seems like he didn't force you again." Seles added, "For I know… once he makes his mind even you can't say anything yet you came back like nothing ever happened."

Rauf squinting his gaze wondered.

"Go on now, but don't be too hard on yourself." Seles smiled.

The metal doors opening, he stepped inside, his expression hidden.

The markets first, forts next, amusement parks on the line. The boys admired, explored and studied the notable attractions they met one after another. "Cunningham tower5 is quite old. More like everything here, has connections to the past." Helios observed.

"It is called 'Gateway to frontier' for nothing. Mughal's first entrance to subcontinent was through this city all because of the Khyber Pass." Nagi informed.

The noisy, bustling bazaar was a cacophony of life and commerce. Shouting vendors, rowdy horns, and the constant hum of conversation created a symphony of bustle.

"Look an aeroplane!" Adam pointed his finger up at the sky."

"Don't point to bad omens, sheesh!" Senri went past him shuddering.

"Haha!" Azazel chuckled.

"Look, look this bat looks nice right?" Aigou showed it to Isa.

"Waah! A white duke ball! It even has Don Bradman's6 signature!" Heber pointed with stars in his eyes. "I want to be just like him!" he gleamed.

"Heh~ how ambitious." Haris commented.

"Oh, come on big guy~ Could we not stop at every single food stall now? Your little bag is about to burst!" Aaron cried while Poseidon and Xavier chuckled amused.

"It is good to be overloaded with food though, in case you all get hungry." Haruf replied chomping a dumpling.

"Not every time! And we don't get hungry after a second." Aaron responded curtly.