(Part 7)

Fighting the rays of street lights shining on the terrace's glass Alan blinked his eyes annoyingly suddenly siting straight. Rubbing them lightly Alan looked around the vast empty room. "What time is it?" he wondered grasping a look at his phone. "9:00 PM hun… I slept for long. I should go for a jog outside." He whispered yawning.

Heading towards the restroom Alan gazed at himself in the mirror. His condition disheveled and unkempt he stood speechless, "What in the world happened to me?" Unfastening his hairs he combed them from up.

Staring at himself he remembered, "If you're worried about me just because I am a girl… then I won't forgive you. Mark my words. I'll never ever forgive you brother! Because you being worried for me because of my gender was not a part our plans!"

Alan sighed hard. "In the end…I am still an odd one out." he thought keeping the comb aside. Wearing his jacket he walked outside the room. Suddenly his phone rang. Picking it up, he asked, "Hello…?" "Hello Alan…" replied a soft voice. "Stacy…" Alan guessed smiling. "What's up?" he asked. "Nothing. Just asking if you've arrived back to Pakistan safely?" asked Stacy.

Alan replied, "I did arrive back safely, thank you for worrying. And, Inform Izack as well about it." "Why? Aren't you going to call him?" she asked abruptly. Heading outside the building Alan took a deep breath, "I… don't feel like calling anyone… not right now at the moment." The voice silent for a while asked,

"Come on Alain, tell me what's wrong? I can sense it. Something's not right." Alan blinked his eyes hearing the same name again, "Geez, Nothing at all. I will compete against the middle schoolers tomorrow and I just woke up a while ago. Nothing is wrong…"

"Lie to me and I'll kill you." Stacy uttered ghastly, "Alan, I love you very much and care about you a lot but if you lie to me then I'll hate you much more than this. Come on tell me." She asked.

Alan taking a deep breath sighed, "My reports… you have them with you right now?" Stacy again silent for a while replied, "I do… why? Do you want them?" "Will I be fine if I play tomorrow's match?" Alan questioned. "And how long will you be playing it for? Just like I told you Alan, your condition depends on the strain you give to your body after using your skills. The more you use your skills and strain yourself the harsher the results."

"4 to 5 hours approximately…?" Alan estimated.

For a moment both of them stood wordless. "Do you want to die?! Or are you out of your mind?!" shouted Stacy as Alan removed the phone from his ears. "Or have you finally gone crazy? 4 to 5 hours are you kidding me? Sigh… I don't know what to say anymore…" she continued.

"Tell me, will I be able to make it?" Alan urged. "You'll die!" Stacy claimed, "Three hours is your possible limits right now. Your senses start giving up after that are you really going for 4 to 5 hours now?" "Then, I'll try not to use too many of my skills and get it over before three hours. That will be fine right?" Alan asked back.

Stacy speechless sighed. "I don't know, Alan. I am warning you strain yourself before me and I'll send all your reports to Rauf. Then you'll see what he'll do." she threatened.

Alan smiled, "You don't need to worry about that. Even if you don't send him the reports after the match with middle schoolers I already promised him to get a full checkup from the base. Since, he wouldn't let me play." "Are you serious…?" Stacy asked shocked.

"No I am not." Alan replied sarcastically.

"Oh my god, what will you do now?" she asked. Alan shook his head, "God knows… I don't have a choice." "But still Alan, be really careful. Your condition is still unstable. Eat the medicines I prescribed before the match. I'm sure they'll help you a lot. I can only wish you best of luck." Stacy encouraged him helplessly in the end. "Hm… thank you Stacy." Alan thanked.

"Don't thank me. Just take care of yourself. I'll tell Izack that you've arrived safely." Stacy told. "Hm… take care." Alan replied. "You as well, Darling. I'll call you later. Take care, bye." She told hanging up.

Alan looking at the route before him knelt down. "Be very careful Alan, your condition is still unstable." he thought as Stacy's words repeated him mind once again. "

Forget it… an unstable condition? I don't have time for that. There's no way anything is stopping me taking over the world this time. An illness it is… I'll gladly take it on!" he thought tying his shoes soon jogging around the whole base.

"3 hours have passed already, its 9:30 PM now. Hurry up." Kenzo informed while drinking water. "How much longer can we practice?" Ryan asked. "I think for 3 hours more. Not more than that since we have to rest as well." replied Cassiel.

"Then let's hurry and complete it" Poseidon encouraged while looking at his sheet which was half checked and half unchecked. "Most us of including, I, Ryan, Kenzo, Gabriel, Azazel, Adam, Cassiel and Seraph have already completed more than half of our training plans. I think for others three hours should be more than enough right?" asked Helios eyeing Feng, Ezekiel and Heber who nodded back.

"I think so… since, the one who still has the longest list to left yet to complete is Vice- captain Xavier." Feng pointed out. "Huh?!" Kenzo stood surprised, "What was he doing all this time to stand at the last?" "Reading and helping others…" Adam remembered. Helios and Kenzo sighed.

"That boy… what should we do about him?" they asked together. "Don't worry about Brother Xavier. Look he is still completing his tasks." Ryan pointed out at Xavier who was balling one after another on the pitch.

Helios smiled relieved, "Alright, I'll go and help him while the others who are about to complete their plans please help the ones far behind." The others nodded heading back to practice.

Suddenly, Aigou interrupted heading towards them waving his hand, "Hello, little monsters~!" The middle schoolers who were surprised and perplexed at the same time gazed at the approaching high schoolers.

"What are they doing here now?" asked Ezekiel pointing Ren and Elias beside him. Kenzo who felt annoyed just by their approaching sights clicked his tongue.

"I think they won't leave us until we are properly placed in our coffin beds on our last days…" assumed Adam.

For a child to think that that... even Seraph had to sigh hard.

"Stop making senseless assumptions…" he ruffled his hairs. "But, he's right isn't he. They have been on our tails ever since we met them. It creeps me out." shuddered Ryan endorsing. "Who knows… they might just be curious." assumed Poseidon looking at the bright side.

"Curious my foot…!" gritted Gabriel annoyed. "Anyways…" spoke Kenzo pressing the bridge of his nose with his eyes closed. "Don't let them get you all, continue your practice just like we planned. Remember we only have 3 hours, don't let anything in the meantime distract you. Alright?" he made himself clear. The middle schoolers surrounding him nodded dispersing.

"Huh? What's wrong with them? Didn't they hear me?" Aigou tugged Elias's sleeve. Ren who walked beside them, his arms resting behind his neck, he smirked, "Candy boy, it's not like they didn't hear you… those rascals pretended not to."

"Heh?! But why? Did I do something wrong?" asked Aigou shocked. "Not at all. Maybe they want to concentrate on their practice, let's just watch them and try not to disturb them Okay?" Elias patted his head. "Um…" Aigou stuttered. "Hm?" Ren glanced. "Can I help them? If I feel like it?" Aigou whispered.

Ren and Elias both looking at each other smiled. "If you feel like it, you can." Elias replied. Hearing his words Aigou beamed up with a large smile nodding back. Meanwhile, Isa, Zach, Orion and Noah sat on the audience seat gazing at middle schoolers below.