(Part 16)

"They are all here right beside you to help you and encourage you. To help you grow and become stronger. People who want you to rely on them. Just have some courage and accept it. You're already strong. Admitting something as trivial as this won't make you weak. And lastly, try and help yourself as well. Because when one gate closes a hundred more opens. Who knows, the gate meant for you is right before you yet, the one who can't step in, is you yourself?" advised Alan eyeing the middle schoolers who came downstairs, from the pavilion.

"I see…" Xavier thought smiling, "Thank you, Alan." he thanked.

"That's nothing to worry about." replied Alan heading back.

"I have to take over the world with you all. If I won't help you then who will? Strengthen yourself Xavier, because you are their heart. After you're done with that I'll give you a push, which the entire world will witness." he claimed waving his hand back.

"Geez… such a boy you are that I can't stop smiling for even a second when I'm with you, such a powerful smile wielder. Even Haruf might lose to you on that point!" he commented teasing.

Xavier hearing his words blinked his eyes smiling again. "My smile hun. Such a weirdly confident boy he is. It's as if he isn't afraid of anything. Seeing his behavior even I can't help but smile as well." he thought astounded.

"Alan…" he called out.

Alan halting amid his steps turned around, "Hm?"

"Let's play once again when you are at your upmost strength."

Alan hearing his words realized, "Alright, young genius. You have my word, you won't be the last one next time. I'll give you the first place." he assured. "Such a child…" he thought.

"Hurry up!" called Ezekiel from above. "Just wait a moment I might slip!" shrieked Azazel. Adam splashing in the rain ran around.

"Stop running!" scolded Seraph. Adam eyeing him ran even faster.

"Seraph, has turned bad. I am not listening to him!" he ignored.

Helios standing on the ground turned around, "Come on, Poseidon." Poseidon jumping lightly stepped down supported by his arm smiling back, "Thank you."

"Come on, get out of my way. How dare you stop this king, you brat!" growled

Kenzo annoyed while Ryan eyed him cross, "Shut it, you Wannabe monkey king. Or else I will push you down first, if you're that impatient."

Kenzo sneered. "You rascal, you are standing right before me. Who else has the authority to push someone down else than me?" he pushed Ryan down deliberately.

Cassiel sighed, "Come on, both of you. Just let me go and then fight all you want." Gabriel ignoring them walked down from the side while Heber smacked his head in disbelief.

"Just leave them be." told Helios as he headed inside the ground towards Xavier. Feng grasping Xavier's sight followed right behind with the others making way towards the pitch from where Xavier came back.

Xavier tracing them approach halted. "Everyone?" he asked confused.

"Xavi! Xavi!" called Adam in delight embracing him in a hug.

"Sigh… It's raining a downpour now. I am all soaked up." Seraph complained covering his forehead with his hand.

"It's alright, sometimes showering in rain water is also good for health." stated Poseidon. Suddenly Heber sneezed. "Don't get a cold now." Azazel cautioned patting his back. "Haha… my bad. It feels cold all of a sudden." Heber shuddered sniffing.

Xavier gleaming at Adam patted his hairs. "You were so cool, Xavi, Xavi! Even your dragon was cool!" Adam commented delighted.

Xavier hearing his comment nodded, "Thank you."

Kenzo grasping Damian's sight called out, "Damian, Give me an umbrella." Damian threw the umbrella towards him, "I knew you'd ask for it, so I read the forecast beforehand and bought one with me."

Kenzo grasping it pulled it open. An assured grin resting his lips, "Heh, I knew I could count on you." Damian hearing his words smiled. Kenzo taking the umbrella walked over to the ground.

"Sigh~ a king to the very end he is." commented Seles standing up.

"Where are you going?" asked Mikael. "Where else? Back to work. It was a good game and I enjoyed it a lot. Tell them, they did a great job once they come back." "You could've told them before." said Christopher confused.

Seles realizing his mistake gleamed scratching his head, "Haha! I'm sorry I forgot. They were just so chaotic that I even forgot what I wanted to say." The middle schoolers smiled. "Well, you're right on that." endorsed Ebraham while Ines nodded. Kenzo heading towards Xavier beamed.

"Ah! This fake king has an umbrella! Give it to me!" Adam persisted, jumping up to snatch it away from his hands, which Kenzo successfully dodged.

"Quit it, you are already wet." he stated. Adam rolling his eyes cursed him in a slight murmur.

Standing before Xavier he grinned asking, "How was it?" "Mind blowing…" Xavier responded. "Haha! See? I knew it. That rascal, make's one's mind go blank." Kenzo remarked. Xavier agreed.

"But, Alan wasn't the only one who made our minds go blank." added Poseidon.

"Yeah, when you concealed yourself, no matter how hard the other one tried you won't open up but, the moment you unleashed yourself, No one could stop you." commented Helios, "Well done."

"Yeah, I'm proud of you." Seraph ruffled his hairs as Gabriel nodded. "Seeing you just made me wonder, that who amongst the both of us really got stronger?" Seraph added.

"Indeed, this is something to be proud of, however, I thank you for giving me a great amount of data as well!" glared Cassiel freakily. Azazel and Ezekiel sighed. "He has lost it…" whispered Heber in disbelief.

Ezekiel waved his hand at Xavier while Poseidon patted his back. "Even in this cold rain… it feels unbelievably warm right?" he asked smiling.

Xavier hearing his words stood with his expression widened as he remembered Alan's words, "They are all here right beside you to help you and encourage you. To help you grow and become stronger. People who want you to rely on them. Just have some courage and accept it. You're already strong. Admitting something as trivial as this won't make you weak."

Soon a beaming laugh covering his lips he nodded, "Yeah, it's really warm…" Kenzo pulled his umbrella closer over him. "Good work…" he remarked in a proud whisper.

Xavier suddenly realizing called out, "Ryan…? Feng…?"

The two of them who stood silent behind everyone else were traced by him. "Ah… they're reflecting on themselves. Geez… they aren't supposed to be like this when I play." Xavier thought going towards them, instantly embracing them in a hug.

"Cheer up both of you. Did I not play up to your expectations that you're greeting me like this?" he asked playfully.

Ryan and Feng looking at him shook their heads. "You were the best captain!" Feng replied earnestly. "Yeah… It makes me want to become stronger as well." continued Ryan hiding his face.

Xavier nodded, "Hm, good job then. Let's become stronger together."

Feng and Ryan looked at his speechless, "You're already very strong. Don't joke around."

Xavier laughed teasing, "Haha, is that so? My bad I didn't realize that." Ryan grasping his sight sighed, "Ever since, captain left. You have been working really hard, pushing yourself to an extent which you yourself don't even know. For a little while… just relax a bit. Let us both handle the rest for you…"

Xavier finding them determined upon their resolve agreed. "Alright, it's all up to you both now. Fine?" he asked back accepting his defeat. Feng gleaming happily nodded while Ryan hid his face with a light smile.

Alan heading back walked lightly as his feet quivered. "Huff, huff, huff…" he panted. The highschoolers coming down walked over to him.

"Seems like… I broke even the last bit of my limits today. My eyes are damp black and I don't even feel where I am walking. Just where in the world is the resting seat I can't even detect that anymore…" he thought wearily his legs suddenly giving away.

Kneeling on the ground he grasped his chest tightly.

"Alan?!" asked Kazuna, grasping his sight bewildered. He rushed into the ground along with Orion, Senri and Elias.

"What happened?" asked Nagi anxiously too making his way down.

Rauf stared at Alan grave. Evan and Haruf confused, too stood up heading down.

"What happened?" Aaron inquired puzzled.

Kenzo sensing commotion from the highschoolers side, eyed the sight with slight difficulty from the falling rain.

"Is everything alright, Kenzo?" Helios asked bothered. Adam looking difficulty stared wide eyed, "It's Alan! He fainted!"

"What?!" asked Heber, Feng, Azazel and Cassiel together. Xavier turning around stared baffled, "But, he was alright just a moment ago?"

"Let's go." told Kenzo, running towards the highschoolers.