(Part 12)

The hushed, air-conditioned coach, excluding mixed blessing serenity. Drowsiness and tranquility cased the middleschoolers as some slept, some adored the view outside their windows while the 3rd year's studied the player files. They couldn't help but sigh with contentment, experiencing a profound sense of calm and relaxation.

Alan and Poseidon sleeping peacefully on each other's shoulders seated in line to Seles and Musa's seats. Little Will, snuggling deeper inside Poseidon's jacket, shivered from the cold. Peshawar middleschoolers settled at the very back remained wordless.

"I don't think I can even turn my head around…" Azazel shuddered sensing their intense stares.

"Now that I think about it, we didn't even talk to anyone of them right?" Adam realized.

"Yeah, I do remember some of their names from the meeting but I have no slight idea which one belongs to whom." Cassiel murmured.

"Your highness, what are you doing?" Heber inquired looking ahead at Kenzo's seat.

"Nothing, just reading…" Kenzo replied engrossed within his phone. 

"Sending messages?" Azazel assumed.

"No way, we already sent them before. Senior Romeo and Senior Haitam even replied them back." Feng informed.

"Huh? What did they say?" Ezekiel asked oblivious.

"They both replied 'Thank you, we'll do our best'." Helios told.

"I see." Ezekiel smiled relieved. "You all sure got quite close to them didn't you?" entered an unfamiliar voice.

Xavier glanced behind.

The boy's hairs black, highlighted red in a side swept fringe. His green eyes were narrowed with an inquisitive look. A smirk resting his lips he added, "Why bother with this pointless attachment when you'll stand against them on the same pitch in the end?"

"Kamiluddin Siraj aren't you?" Xavier guessed.

"Hmph," Siraj scoffed, "Indeed that's me, Xavier Ibn Zain. Though, I am surprised you were aware about me despite not making an official entrance in the tournament."

Xavier shook his head, "It was just a hunch, who knew it'd turn out to be correct."

"As for pointless attachment… you lot are quite unwary of the world aren't you?" Kenzo grinned. 

"We haven't faced the world yet, what's the rush?" another one shrugged his shoulders careless. His curly blonde Caesar hairs contrasting his yellow orbs, he looked outside the window.

"Your Captain isn't here with you or is he?" Seraph questioned.

"Nope he is with Senior Captain Suleiman. We unlucky eight were the only ones shoved in here alongside you, what humiliation!" another one rolled his magenta eyes revolted flicking his violet middle parted, shoulder lengthen wavy locks.

Haris furrowed his gaze while Gabriel clenched his fist upon his comment.

"Humiliating hun…" Helios repeated masking amusement over his face.

"Ah, sorry about that…" another one entered smiling awkwardly, "Our Orhan and Iosif are both young, I apologize if their words offended you." His smile caring, with maroon brown short straight middle parted hairs and dark blue eyes. A long, lantern shaped, red earring hung in his right ear.

"Humayun…" Iosif retorted as Humayun gestured him to stop.

"Don't worry about it, if were to take everything so seriously, we'd be just like our highschoolers." Seraph assured sardonically.

 At the same time… "Achoo!!"

Senri, Aigou, Aaron, Noah, Orion and Ren sneezed.

Startled altogether both Peshawar and the rest of Karachi's highschoolers alongside Nidou and Mir turned to them. "Are you all, alright…?" Isa blinked.

"Yeah…?" Aigou rubbed his nose confused.

"But sneezing altogether…?" Haruf added.

"I bet someone is talking about us behind our backs." Ren twitched his brow. Kazuna realizing shook his head while Elias chuckled awkwardly.

"Those little…" Aaron grumbled.

Suleiman and Zhangli glancing at each other exhaled.

"Haha, you don't seem to like your seniors very much." Humayun chuckled.

"While you seem to like them a lot." Heber dodged the flow of conversation.

"Yeah, our seniors are quite nice we respect them." Orhan replied.

A moment of enviousness dancing past the boys (as if devils laughing over them), they twitched their brows masking delighted smiles.

"We see…" Xavier said.

"Why do every middleschooler we meet up until now, except for Lahore have nice seniors?" Adam whispered.

"Because ours and Lahore's are by default going against the laws of physics." Cassiel sarcastically humored. 

"Pft!" Heber and Seraph coughed.

"Anyways, best of luck for your first match tomorrow, we are glad to face you after that." Helios looked behind.

Siraj grinned, "Make sure not to go easy on us, you haven't met Omar, but I bet he would've said the same thing."

"Hm." Xavier smiled.

"You know, you lot are pretty easy to get along with. Just when Lahore and Islamabad threw daggers at the beginning, it felt as if every team is going to be like them. Since then, we have raised our guards up." Humayun told.

"Multan and Quetta could be the entirely opposite of us. It's better that you stay alerted." Kenzo advised, "Moreover, stay wary of us as well. We aren't descended angels." he warned at the end.

"Um… though I doubt Multan would be like that…" Cassiel remembered their dancing and singing the moment they met.

"They looked honest and jovial." Adam praised.

"Yeah… no malevolence excluded." Azazel agreed. 

"Don't worry, you aren't on our safe lists as well." Siraj assured.

"Good." Gabriel smirked.

The rest of the journey progressing smooth and refreshingly. After two hours, the boys had finally reached Peshawar. Coaches coming to a standstill one after another at Peshawar's motorway station. The boys one by one stepped down the coach stretching themselves.

"Augh~ I am as stiff as a board." Noah complained stretching his arms to his legs.

"Mine just went on strike." Orion humored, rolling his eyes.

"Haha! I feel refreshed though!" Aigou spun around showing a victory sign to Elias.

Aaron yawning nodded at Haruf who ruffled his hairs laughing.

"Come on, Rauf, Zach, Kazuna." Isa called.

Alan and Poseidon stepping out exhaled energetic. "I am glad I took a rest." Poseidon beamed, his complexion livelier than before.

"Yeah, me too. After all, we'd be practicing all day long." Alan agreed.

Helios viewing around remarked, "Unlike Islamabad, Peshawar carries a lot more ancient culture within its beauty."

"Right, even the air around here feels different. Not to forget this artistry…" Seraph added, touching the wall structures adorned with intricate stonework, where each stone seemed to have been meticulously carved and placed to form stunning geometric and floral patterns.

"Ouch! Ouch! They're gone! They are gone… augh..." Feng shrieked crying and jumping around.

"Easy, just what is gone?!" Cassiel asked bewildered.

"Legs! My beautiful legs! They are attacked by an army of Persian soldiers, pricking needles all over! I can't even stand straight! Is this Gulliver travels?!" he complained.

"Pft! Haha!" Haris, Heber and Siraj laughed grabbing their stomachs while Kenzo looked away speechless.

"Just quit hopping here and there and rub the back of your legs…" Nagi explained.

"No! They'll break! Don't touch, don't touch!" Feng jumped away while the rest chuckled unceasingly amused over his nonsensical spectacle.

Will exhaled rushing to Xavier, who caught his sight picking him up.

"Home sweet home~" Humayun whispered delighted. Suleiman, Zhangli and highschoolers alongside their middleschoolers grouped together.

"Captain~!" Orhan waved jumping over, glomping him in a hug.

"Sigh~" the boy exhaled, his slicked back, greenish black hairs contrasting with grey eyes, he pushed his round Ful Vue spectacles up, adjusting himself. "You are on it again despite warnings?" His voice heavy and stern.

Heber and Adam gasped. Xavier and Feng too looked up, sensing a familiar resemblance.

"Captain Hugo…?" Ryan thought, instantly shaking his head, "No, he just excludes a familiar aura like him."

"Come on, don't be angry now, Omar." Siraj patted his shoulder, "You know that's his usual habit."

"Not exactly a delightful one." Omar responded curtly.

The middleschoolers looked at each other silent. Glancing at Kenzo, Omar stepped forward. "I witnessed your match yesterday. Without doubt, you all are quiet a formidable team. Your presence on the pitch felt invigorating. I look forward to play against you day after tomorrow." he gave his hand.

Kenzo grinned, "We too, despite not watching you play up until now. I hope we have a thrilling confrontation."

Omar nodded.

Siraj agreeing shook Helios's hand, "By the way, Peshawar's quite nice too. Though it might not be as luxurious as Islamabad or as vast as Karachi. It isn't that bad as well. I hope you enjoy your stay here."

Helios glancing at Seraph nodded.

Listening to their conversation Alan smiled. "Good thing they are getting along." he thought relieved.

Naeem turning to Nidou spoke, "Thank you very much for keeping with us, Headcoach oach Nidou. And, excuse us for any inconvenience we may have caused in the meantime. Nevertheless, we did had a great time." 

"Sheesh… don't be so formal, you brat. You are already a grown up, stop apologizing and excusing every moment now and then." Nidou uttered walking away.

"Best of luck." Seles dabbed Naeem's arm spurring on.

Omar and Iosif along with Zhangli and Suleiman nodding at each other parted ways as Rauf and Kenzo too resumed their plan.

"Bye, bye~" Adam waved beside Heber and Ezekiel.

"Bye~" Orhan and Humayun waved back.

"Let's meet on the field next time. Make sure you don't run away." Iosif irritated them.

"Same to you~ don't make us wait." Ryan replied.

"Hey, stop going ahead leaving me here, my shoe…" Feng tied his shoelaces, left behind by the others.

"Come, Feng." Gabriel called.

"Yeah, yeah… just wait…" he replied standing up. However at that moment a tall figure went past him. Draped in a golden and black jersey, his purplish-black hair concealed beneath a baseball cap, his countenance gave away nothing but a cunning smile as he softly yet sharply murmured...

"Long time no see, Feng Mir Ozer~"