(Part 8)

Azazel crouching on his bed like a cocoon, stuffed his head inside a pillow depressed. "He shouldn't have said that, my friends are the best in the entire world..." he murmured.

"And, why is he always forcing me to join the military 1when I don't want to? I told him I wasn't fit to be a soldier and I don't even want to be one. Yet, he never listens. Father is one, brother is one, isn't that enough? He himself is one?!" he thought annoyed throwing his pillow aside and slamming his legs on the bed harshly turning around.

Suddenly the door went 'Knock, Knock, Knock'. "Azazel… open the door, dear. Just how long are you going to stay inside?" Hoor asked worrisome. "Azazel…" she called.

"I won't open!" Azazel puffed his cheeks turning away, "The moment I do, they'll start giving me a lecture and I don't want to hear that."

After a short while Azazel nodded off drowsily as his door was instantly bashed. BANG! BANG! BANG! Azazel flinched sitting up baffled. His hairs perking up in panic and heart thumping wildly he stuttered, "WH-at the?!"

"Open up~ Azazel Minhas! Or I'mma gonna break this entire door apart!" came in a loud, playful and a serious voice banging the door harshly after a passing second.

"Ah-med…?" Hoor looked at Ahmed confused who had changed himself in a normal attire smiling. "Let me look after him." he assured.

Hoor nodded.

"I am going to count to three so better open this up, One…" Ahmed warned.

Azazel jolted, standing up, "Ahmed?! Didn't he go to work?!"

"Two!" Ahmed called. And, before three Azazel had opened the door of his room to find his brother and mother before him. He puffed his cheeks looking away and heading inside.

Tracing his upset reaction Ahmed stepped in grabbing him by his neck and choking him playfully, "You little…!"

"What the?! What are you doing?!" Azazel asked trying to break from his grip which he had failed to do so.

Hoor kept a tray full of food on his study table smiling. "Making mother wait on the door for this long? You do have the guts hun, rascal?" Ahmed smacked Azazel who fought back losing at the end. "I am in the military you brat! What made you think you can hit me?" he grinned.

Azazel puffing his cheeks tried to hit him back however… useless. Finally tired after a stupid brawl the two calmed down. Azazel sitting on the bed with Ahmed laying down beside him. The two stayed silent for a while.

"Cheer up, Aza. Grandpa didn't meant to say anything offensive like that. No need to get this much upset." Ahmed blew off the silence.

"No need to cheer me up. He is always like this, first it was all over me because I used to cause trouble, now it's on my friends who aren't even related to anything. And, once I am over with them, it would be something new and he won't stop until I become like you." Azazel replied rolling his eyes.

Ahmed sighed turning to him, "Azazel…" 

"I don't understand brother, I changed myself so much because of him yet he never approves of me just because I am not like you or dad or want to become like you both. This isn't right. Cricket is important to me, why won't anyone understand that." Azazel uttered.

"I understand Azazel." Ahmed added. His expression serene. "I understand your feelings very well. I supported you all this time. When you were in your rebellious phase, when you left your delinquent path, when you stepped into the world of cricket, when you played alongside your friends up until the point where you're heading for the PSL now and will go to the world cup ahead. I have and will always be right there beside you supporting you. You aren't alone." he convinced earnestly.

Azazel surprised, bit his lips apologizing, "Sorry…"

"Don't be." Ahmed sat up ruffling his hairs, "Aren't you playing for me while I am raising my ranks in the military for you. Let's just say we are helping each other in different ways on different battlefields." he winked.

Azazel wondering for a moment revealed a smiled. 

"Life wasn't fortunate to me Azazel… but I'll make sure yours to be fulfilling." Ahmed assured, his expression cast down yet sincere.

Azazel gasped silent.

"Come on, now eat something. Mother was worried for long." Ahmed passed the tray to him, "And don't take grandpa's words to your heart. Mother, father and I are right beside you supporting you." he assured.

Azazel nodding grabbed the tray eating elated. Realizing after a while he asked, "Why didn't you go to the military base today?"

"I had a night shift last night. So, I had just returned home before you came back." Ahmed told, "Don't tell me you wanted me to go, you rascal?" he twitched his brow.

Azazel stunned shook his head, however, Ahmed had already tugged his shoulder smacking his head lightly as the two laughed.

"Haha! Stop it brother." Azazel chuckled. 

______

"Rauf, where are we going?" Alan asked confused. The two of them heading towards the bike.

"Rauf!" Alan called again.

Rauf who was busy on his phone glanced, "Hm?"

"Hm, What? Where are we going?" Alan repeated surprised on his lack of attention, "You said we have to go and we left like bats out of hell. Even Grandmother and Uncle Raees were confused."

"Coach Nidou called. He wants me to return to the base early for paperwork regarding PSL. That's why I have to go." Rauf replied.

Alan rolled his eyes mumbling, "That old man… never giving us a rest!" "Then do I have to go back too?" he asked.

"He didn't ask for you, so you can stay if you want to." Rauf replied.

"Thank goodness." Alan exhaled.

Rauf glanced.

"Moreover, about Nagi..." Alan said, speechless scrolling his phone to find the highschoolers commenting and chatting wildly, "The boys are in a pinch. All thanks to you…" he whispered. 

The rabbit too looked at the screen sighing.

"Leave them be." Rauf uttered confident.

Alan twitched his brow. "As if you would be the one to stop them from fighting each other." he thought ironically.

Rauf starting the bike unfastened his helmet as Alan stepped back, "Are you sure you don't want to head back?"

"Nope." Alan replied abruptly.

"What will you do then?" Rauf inquired, "You don't even know the routes here properly. Do you intend to get lost?" he asked hitting the weakest point of Alan's heart.

Arrows piercing his chest, "We have direction maps in this age now, brother." he showed the map app on his phone.

Rauf smiled unfastening his helmet, "Call me if you are in trouble and come back on time."

"In trouble…? Me?" Alan thought. The rabbit on his shoulder looked at Rauf keenly. "Do you want to go?" he asked him smiling. His ears instantly perking up. Rauf looked at the two of them in disbelief.

"Off you go. And, stay close to him." Alan shook his shoulder as the rabbit hopped down, scuttling over the bike and Rauf's back, instantly hiding behind his hairs.

Rauf confused blinked while Alan chuckled secretly. The rabbit admiring Rauf beamed. Getting used to the ticklish sensation, (Thanks to the rabbit and his constant movement he couldn't even wear his helmet) Rauf kept his helmet aside, "Be careful, Alan." he ruffled his hairs lightly.

"Hm." Alan nodded beaming, "You too." Accelerating the race, the bike zoomed off as Alan waved.

Seeing it disappear from his sight, he exhaled checking his phone. "Now where are they…?" he whispered inspecting the location, Senri sent. "God knows what they are doing? Let me go and take a look." he thought leaving.

______

"Augh~" Orion laid dead on the sofa exhausted after constant work from 9 to 4. What life! "Is this how employees work every day?! If that's the case I don't want to go a grade up from this point of my high school life!" Orion thought speechless his brain a mess.

If he was in a condition like this then what about the ones following him?

Behind the scenes the seven boys laid dead, souls leaving their bodies and their conditions… well better not ask....

Isa exhaling sat with his back on the wall weary. On his shoulder Aaron rested his head exhausted from the continuous stalking. With Noah laying straight on the ground as if lifeless. Aigou had finally fallen asleep on Elias's lap who peeked at the two amid the plants tired himself. 

Senri putting his binoculars aside exhaled, "In the end nothing happened…" "What the hell were we even here for?!" he asked dumbfounded.

Isa shook his head in disbelief.

"They were working up until now, why would they fight? We have to be careful from now on." Elias told.

"I am dead. Please leave me out of it. My entire body have given up. Just because of those two I even left my arriving PSL song acceptation letter in Drake's custody." Aaron added giving up.

"Zachariah was right…" Isa whispered, "I should've listened to him." he regretted, "But, those two are unpredictable 2. Who knows, what they might do?"

"Yeah." Senri concurred, "But, I do wonder what those three are up to now?"