(Part 7)

And so, he had locked himself away in this moment of solitude.

A light knock on the door broke the silence as Ahmed called out softly, "Aza… open the door, please."

Azazel, struggling to rise, used the chair for support, then leaned against the wall as he made his way to the door, slowly unlocking it. Ahmed immediately caught him before he could stumble, gently holding him up.

"Take it easy," Ahmed murmured, steadying him, "How about we step outside for some fresh air?"

Azazel nodded weakly.

They moved to the sliding doors leading to the garden, where Azazel sank down onto the veranda, his dull red eyes gazing listlessly outside. Every inch of his body was wrapped in bandages, and he stared at his hands in silence.

"Hurry up and get better, Azazel. You've got a lot to catch up on at school," Haris said, sitting beside him and holding out a spoonful of medicine.

Azazel obediently swallowed it, then leaned his head against the wall, lost in thought.

"A hooligan yesterday will forever remain a hooligan." Azher's harsh words echoed in his mind over and over.

"Father…" Azazel whispered softly.

"Yes?" Haris responded, his voice full of affection.

"I tried my best, but I'm sorry—I still let you down," Azazel said apologetically, looking away.

Haris remained silent, biting his lip. "Azazel… did you really fight?" he asked after a brief pause.

Hoor and Ahmed exchanged anxious glances as Azher stepped outside, causing them all to fall silent.

"Does it even matter?" Azazel asked bitterly. "A hooligan yesterday will forever remain a hooligan. So why does it matter?" he repeated Azher's words, his voice filled with pain.

"Why doesn't it matter, Azazel Minhas?" A familiar, crisp, commanding voice interrupted.

Azazel's head snapped up in surprise.

Perched on the wall of the house with one leg crossed over the other, Kenzo gazed at him with a mix of concern and regret. His vibrant silver hair fluttered in the breeze, and his hands rested confidently on the wall, exuding an air of authority.

Azazel, unable to believe his eyes, rubbed them in disbelief. "Captain…?" his voice trembled.

"When you do something, you admit to it. When you don't, you deny it. It matters," Kenzo stated firmly.

Haris, Hoor, and Ahmed looked at Kenzo in astonishment.

"And who are you?" Azher demanded with a stern glare, "Trespassing on someone else's property is a serious offense, not to mention a lowly act. Didn't anyone teach you that?"

Kenzo smiled calmly, "Trespass? My mother, the queen of this world, taught me everything flawlessly, sir. That's why I'm sitting on this wall—neither inside nor outside," he replied confidently.

Turning to Azazel, who had risen to his feet and was staring at him in sheer disbelief, Kenzo asked, "Does it still hurt?"

Azazel, suddenly infused with a renewed sense of strength, shook his head vigorously, "No, Captain! Not at all!"

Kenzo smiled, sensing a burden on his shoulders raised. "Well…" he stood up on the wall as Hoor gasped. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Kenzo ShahJahan, Captain of Atia Eden City's Cricket Society and Azazel's senior by 2 years. Today, the academy mentors sent me here to check on Azazel and offer any help we can. If it's alright with you, may we come in?" he asked politely.

Recognizing his name, Hoor rushed outside to unlock the door, "It's you. Please, do come in."

As she opened the door, Heber and the others followed.

"Oh?" Hoor stepped back, surprised.

"Sorry for the trouble, Aunt," Vincent apologized, while Heber rushed to Azazel and hugged him, "Aza!"

Azazel's eyes widened, and tears brimmed as he fought to hold them back, "Everyone…?"

"Greetings," Faris and Silas said, one by one.

"We're sorry for coming unannounced, but it would have been too late if we had called first," Damian explained.

"N-no, it's alright. Please, have a seat," Haris offered.

"Thank you, Uncle, but we're fine," Izaak said, giving a thumbs-up and ruffling Azazel's hair, "We just came to check on our persistent junior. We were worried when he didn't show up with the form," he teased.

Azazel was at a loss for words. Apart from his mother, brother, and father, no one had ever shown such care.

"Hmph," Azher snorted, "You are good kids, but be cautious before befriending him. Just as he's gotten himself into trouble, don't let yourselves end up in a similar situation."

Azazel's eyes widened, his heart pounding. "Ah… not in front of them…" he thought nervously.

Heber looked at Vincent and Faris, puzzled.

"We aren't that weak, sir," Silas replied confidently.

"And, we don't care. Everyone has a past, and Azazel is our junior and friend. Trivial things like this won't make us abandon him," Heber assured.

"That's it," Kenzo murmured, still perched on the wall, his azure eyes gleaming, "Now everything makes sense."

Azazel looked at him in silence.

"Being under pressure, facing humiliation," Kenzo continued, locking eyes with Azher, "Azazel has endured this since he was young, which forced him to build a protective barrier within himself. Once he reaches his breaking point, he turns violent. Did you know that?" he asked, addressing Azher directly.

Azazel was stunned by Kenzo's words.

Azher raised an eyebrow, "And who do you think you are, meddling in our family affairs?"

"This isn't just a family matter," Kenzo replied, jumping down from the wall.

"Watch out...!" Ahmed cautioned, but Kenzo landed gracefully, his jacket fluttering behind him.

"Azazel Minhas, from this moment on, I need you to answer every question I ask truthfully. Do you understand?" Kenzo demanded, standing before him.

"Y-yes," Azazel stammered, resolute.

"Did you fight those sixteen boys who ganged up on you last week?" Kenzo asked.

"Sixteen...?" Ahmed repeated incredulously while Hoor took her hands to her mouth in disbelief. 

Azazel hesitated for a moment before shaking his head, "N-no."

"Why not? They ganged up on you first. If you had fought back, it would have been self-defense," Kenzo pressed.

Azazel gulped, "I... I tried to run away, but I couldn't. I had no intention of fighting, so... defending myself never even crossed my mind."

Kenzo's gaze softened as he asked, "Were you scared?"

Azazel looked at him, mouth slightly open, then lowered his gaze, "Yes... very scared. Scared that gramps might scold mama again. Scared, that I wouldn't be able to go to Atia Eden City anymore. Scared, that I couldn't ask the teachers for the form... yes, I was really... really scared..." he sobbed, hiding his face in his hands.

Hoor buried her face in Haris's embrace, while Ahmed stared at the ground, frustrated.

Heber patted Azazel's back, letting him pour out his emotions.

Kenzo stepped forward, gently ruffling Azazel's hair with an expressionless face. "You did well... proud soul-breaking soldier of cricket." he then turned to Azher, raising his voice, "Bring them in."

Hoor, Azher, Ahmed, and Haris looked outside, puzzled.

A group of boys was soon escorted into the house, their faces pale and fearful, surrounded by tall men in black suits.

"Take a good look, uncle, aunt, brother, and grandpa. These are the ones who beat your child. Not a single scratch on their faces. Ironic, isn't it? The one known as 'Soul Breaker' had his soul crushed instead of crushing theirs just because of a simple wish that he wanted to remain in Atia Eden Academy," Kenzo remarked coldly.

Hoor glared at the boys upset, while Azazel gasped.

Kenzo walked toward the leader and grinned, "Now, apologize."

"You...!" the leader gritted his teeth, but before he could react, Kenzo's eyes flashed red as he spun through the air, his leg slicing through the space in a powerful arc. His heel connected with a resounding crack against the leader's face, sending him crashing against the gate and flying through the air.

The surroundings fell into stunned silence.

Hoor covered her mouth in shock, while Haris, Azazel, and Ahmed stared in disbelief.

Azher remained silent.

"Me... what?" Kenzo asked the rest with a menacing grin.

"Nothing! We're very sorry!" they knelt down in fear, their heads hanging low.

"It was us! We always picked fights with him! He wasn't at fault, really!" one of them confessed.

"Yes, we were the ones who harmed his friends first, that's when we first fought. We also took the ground when it was their turn to play. We ganged up on him after he defeated us. We're very, very sorry!" they added.

Azazel's mouth hung open, his eyes hidden beneath his hair.

Disgusted, Kenzo signaled his men to take the boys away. But as they were about to leave, Ahmed stepped off the veranda beside Haris.

"Kenzo ShahJahan, may we personally deal with them?" Ahmed asked, his expression hidden.

"Indeed, my son didn't deserve to go through this, and if I am a soldier, I must prove it right here and now," Haris added.

Kenzo nodded, "Of course, just tell my men that I gave you permission."

Ahmed glancing at Haris nodded, the two soon walking out.