(Part 9)

Inside the coach, Nidou exhaled deeply questioning, "How is the situation behind?"

Pedro, in moment of disbelief over his actions glanced outside the back mirror to find the boys losing their pace. "They… are left behind, I guess." he replied.

Nidou smirked, "Is that so?" "Speed up, then." he added.

The coach driver peeked aside puzzled, "S-should I speed up even more?" he asked with a gulp.

Musa too blinked speechless.

"Hm." Nidou just gestured closing his eyes.

Mir and Seles glancing at each other remained silent for they knew nothing could be done of this man and his craziness.

"Not this now… Hurry up, the coach is rushing away!" Helios realized the vehicle speeding up immediately informing the rest, "They speeded up!

"Tch! You follow it Helios. Just sent us your location. We'll follow shortly." Kenzo called.

Helios showed a thumbs up.

"I am following Captain Helios," Ezekiel followed.

"Can you walk?" Xavier asked Feng, his brows furrowed worriedly.

"Yup, it wasn't a big deal. Felt like I took a ride to the heavens and just came back," Feng overstated.

"Absolutely, you sure you haven't lost your mind on the way or have you?" Gabriel flicked his forehead, doubtfully.

"Ouch! It hurts. Are you cracked?!" Feng shrieked annoyed. A red bump pulsing on the corner of his forehead under flocks of purple with his brows narrowed, he hid it embarrassed.

"If he can fight back like this, he's definitely fine," Gabriel grinned running forward.

Kenzo's phone ringing, he immediately took it out to find Helios sharing his current location. "Come on, we should…" he called the rest however, stared at them while they shared hearted banters and loving smiles teasing Feng.

"Pft! Haha! Looks like a big red balloon now," Adam hugged Seraph, patting his abdomen entertained.

Seraph showed a light, concerned beam.

"Hehe, how could you be so silly, Feng?" Azazel patted Feng's back while Xavier, Cassiel and Poseidon too shared lighthearted chuckles.

Feng deeply embarrassed looked away, "Don't look at me and quit laughing already! I don't believe even you joined them, Brother Xavier."

"Here, let me see how it looks like…" Mikael teased Feng as he backed off.

"S-stop it, already! You are all so cruel!" Feng cried.

In that moment, all of Kenzo's worries and irritations vanished. Unable to contain his amusement, he lightly chuckled, bringing his hand to his mouth. The gentle breeze tousled his hair, giving him a demeanor of true gentleness and warmth, like a white rose blossoming in spring. The boys looked at him, astonished.

"Captain…" Heber whispered, delighted.

Feng however gasped, "You-! You're laughing at me aren't you, Kenzo?!"

Kenzo coughed immediately returning to his usual contemptuous and sarcastic demeanor, "Oh? I don't have that much of free time in my hands. Hurry up, Helios already sent his location," he evaded Feng's question following Gabriel. "And, make sure you don't annoy any other billboard. In case it attacks your nose next." he teased.

Dug him a hole and that's where he'll disappear! Was what Feng thought as he twitched his brow embarrassed, "You, damn king!" soon running after him.

"Haha!!" the boys laughed aloud. 

"Heli! Ezekiel!" Poseidon called Helios as soon as he traced them waiting.

"You're all here," Helios walked over to them.

The boys exhausted, some crouched low, some knelt flat on the ground while others grabbed their stomach sides panting heavily.

"Calm down and take deep breaths," Helios patted Adam's and Poseidon's back.

"We aren't late or are we, huff…?" Cassiel inquired.

"Nope, the coach is being parked, right now. Look," Helios pointed ahead.

"Dead~" Feng wailed beside Heber, Adam and Azazel.

Looking at Feng Helios asked, "Are you alright, Feng?"

Feng realizing, immediately hid his forehead, flustered, "It's nothing."

Helios chuckled, "Hehe, that's good to hear."

The rest once again recalling the incident tried to conceal their laugher as Feng grumbled, "Don't laugh!"

As Nidou stepped down from the coach, he cast a glance at the middle schoolers who approached him with frowns. Nidou scoffed. "If glares could kill me, I would've been dead ages ago. Keep them to yourselves," he uttered sarcastically.

"We are well aware, but this is all we can do I am afraid," Seraph retorted with a loving smile.

"Cleve Persona?!" Cassiel asked him stunned.

"Nope, I am myself. I just couldn't help saying it," Seraph whispered back.

Kenzo grinned pleased, patting Seraph's shoulder. "Full points on that one," he praised.

Nidou exhaled, raising his sports drink up.

"Nevertheless, to think you could catch up us in no time surprises me. Your physical fitness is top notch." Seles remarked.

"Of course, it's all thanks to google maps that shortcuts are now just a step away before we could keep pace with anyone." Helios responded, displaying his phone to Seles, his eyes closed and a triumphant smile gracing his face.

The coaches, stunned and speechless, stood there in disbelief.

Nidou, with a sarcastic eye roll, remarked, "New generation, huh..." as he grabbed a stack of files and headed inside the arena.

Meanwhile, Musa, chuckling amused patted Seles on the back. Seles, unable to find the right words, sighed in response. Adam and Ryan, satisfied with the outcome, bumped fists as Helios, grinning at Poseidon, exchanged a high-five.

Soon, abrupt shouts of 'Catch! Catch! Run! Run!' diverted the boys' attention. Turning towards the direction of the arena and recognizing the familiar voices, they exchanged glances.

"Highschoolers...?" Ezekiel queried.

"Possibly. Let's go check it out," Xavier suggested, darting towards the venue. The others trailed behind.

Darting one by one beside Nidou like bullets triggered. Nidou's his hairs fluttered. Grabbing his neck Nidou sighed, his dull gaze wondering about the shouts from the arena ahead, "Now, what is wrong with those troublemakers?" he referred to the highschoolers.

"They might be playing a friendly match." Pedro guessed. Musa and Seles followed.

Entering the arena, the middleschoolers observed the highschoolers deeply engrossed in their match. The practice nets were set aside, and the pitch was alive with action. The arena's roof was open, allowing warm sunlight to flood the space. Alan, running towards the non-strikers crease grinned. His bat resting on his shoulder, a glittery golden aura surrounded him as he Kazuna and took a run.

"That's a 4 now! Yes!" Noah raised his fists pumped up, cheering from the pavilion.

Evan clapped pleased. "At this rate we'll win in no time, Rauf." he said to Rauf who stood on the boundary's end towards deep cover.

Rauf indifferent to Evan's claim focused on the field ahead.

"Good job," Kazuna patted his glove against Alan's bat. Alan went back to the strikers end.

"Honestly, you both turn coldblooded when you're on the pitch. Even activating SYNCHRO on top of everything?" Ren remarked slightly annoyed, positioning himself on the silly mid-on.

"Hehe, we happen to activate it just at the right time. I am glad about it. But, If Rauf hadn't used his over to wipe out our top order; you wouldn't have been having this much trouble," Alan replied.

"At least, he played and took 3 wickets of your team in that over," Senri said, standing behind the slip.

"Yeah, he's crazy." Ren shuddered just by the thought of how his over went '1W0W0W'

"Furthermore, Zachariah's last over is still left. Don't celebrate too soon, little galaxy," Haruf warned Alan with his usual loving beam from behind the wickets.

Alan smiled tapping his bat on the crease whispering, "Zach hun~ he's definitely a dangerous trump card. In that case…"

The middleschoolers analyzing the field, pointed the players one by one. "Alan's batting there." Ryan said surprised.

"That's Senior Kazuna and Alan's SYNCHRO… those two are dazzling." Poseidon gasped at the two awed.

Kenzo narrowed his gaze.

Tracing the scoreboard Azazel pointed, "Look, look. They only need 6 runs on 9 deliveries."

"Alan's team, right?" Adam confirmed.

"Yup." Xavier replied.

"A five-over match with the target of 75. The second innings is right now at 69 with the loss of 7 wickets. Only 9 more balls left to play," Seraph summarized the situation.

"7 wickets?! Did they just came to the pitch to get out?" Heber remarked foolishly.

"Despite that they are still winning." Kenzo told, "To chase 75 runs, they needed aggression. And, seeing their current target. They have succeeded in doing so."

"To think they were here all this time?" Cassiel however, wondered surprised.

Aaron delivering the 3rd delivery of the 2nd last over, stepped on the popping crease, the ball leaving his grasp.

"I'll end the entire game before this over ends!" Alan exclaimed as he stepped forward and tried to play a straight shot however, the ball went past his bat. "Darn…!" his mind went.

Before Haruf could aim the ball towards the wicket he immediately turned around and kept his bat inside the batting crease, tumbling over.

"Oh!!" Senri, Orion and Ren went.

Beads of sweat trickled down Alan's forehead while his heart throbbed out of his chest. Haruf seeing him safe beamed, with the ball in his wicket keeping gloves aimed so close to the wickets that Alan grinned speechless.

"Be careful." Haruf advised caringly.

Standing straight Kazuna exhaled relived as Alan showed him an assuring thumbs up regaining his stance.

Looking at Aaron who stood on the balling crease with his fingers on his lips and eyebrows raised mischievously, he uttered, "Don't look down on me, my dear~. I might just wipe your remaining batting line before this over ends." he threatened dauntingly.