(Part 8)

"Senior Aaron… I'm sorry, but I give up," Poseidon said.

Helios, hearing his words, halted amid his tracks, a few steps behind him, wide-eyed.

Azazel and Feng, who were supporting Poseidon, whispered in disbelief, "What?"

Poseidon, dismayed but hiding his pain, thought, "I thought I'd never say it again after that day…" Smiling through his sorrow, he continued, "Unfortunately, all my abilities have been countered, and my rhythm is completely off. Even if I bowl now, the outcome won't be any different from this over. So… I won't bowl. However, I won't be a burden and will aid you in fielding in every way."

Isa glanced at Aaron, who stood stiff. Kazuna, Xavier and Aigou exchanged concerned looks.

Helios, looked at Poseidon's back silently.

Nodding, Poseidon headed towards the boundary, aiming for his usual 'Fine Leg' fielding position. However, as he turned, a stabbing pain shot through his neck to his arms followed by his lower back to his thighs like an electric shock, causing him to stumble.

Aaron stepped forward however, Ezekiel went past him as he and Helios had immediately grabbed Poseidon. Puffing for breaths, Poseidon grabbed his thighs painfully. "Hehe… thanks. Heli, Ezekiel... I'm fine," he assured, standing with their support for a moment, his eyes remaining fixed on the ground.

"Poseidon… please don't give up," Helios whispered, patting his back lightly.

Ezekiel nodded wordlessly.

With lucid, blurry eyes, Poseidon murmured, "Yes… Captain."

Rovan observed Poseidon and the others, then sighed. "You went too hard on him, Seon Yul. I thought I told you about his health before. Still?" he asked.

Seon Yul smiled. "Oops, I'm sorry. I forgot."

Rovan raised an eyebrow skeptically.

Seon Yul, giving in to Rovan's expression, clicked his tongue and scratched his head. "Alright, alright, my bad. But he was giving me a hard time. What did you expect me to do? Go easy on him because he's a middle schooler? Not happening," he retorted.

Rovan shook his head. "Just look at him now…"

Seon Yul interrupted, "I want to see him in the finals again, Rovan."

Rovan looked at him surprised.

"Poseidon Agiel, I want to play him again," Seon Yul said earnestly. "And then… I want to play with him again, once his locks grow longer on the left, curlier than before, and instead of fear, he's full of confidence." A swirl of gold rotated in his eyes as he stared at Poseidon.

Rovan exhaled, taking his position. "Don't carelessly see someone else's future, Seon Yul," he cautioned.

"Hehe, my bad. But, it happens suddenly." Seon Yul replied, heading towards the opposite side. "Once this match ends. I'll apologize," he thought, reflecting.

"I'm impressed," Ulhas said, standing by the boundary next to Hamit.

"With that boy, right?" Hamit referred to Poseidon.

"Yeah. How is he even standing there after delivering four overs and using all his skills that even got countered? This is the peak of endurance and willpower," Ulhas remarked.

Romeo listened, intrigued.

"Guillain-Barré Syndrome, right?" Venus asked.

"Honestly, I feel like giving him a big embrace for his bravery. For a middle schooler to stand tall against our top three? Even Venus hesitates," Emaad praised.

"Why me?" Venus pouted his cheeks, annoyed.

"Because it's true," Juhan agreed.

Venus twitched his brow unable to retort soon glancing at Basid, who sat dejectedly with his face hidden in his knees. "And what happened to you?" he asked.

"Oh, he says he just lost a friend," Hamza recalled.

"Friend?" Asim asked, confused. Basid nodded, still upset.

"Oh?" Romeo turned around, "Then, would you mind telling me who that friend of yours is? I think I might be able to help you."

Basid, gaining a flicker of hope, stood up, grabbed Romeo's arm, and pulled him up.

Romeo smiled, following him towards the boundary. Basid pointed to Karachi's pavilion, where Adam laughed with Senri, consoling Poseidon and playing the game of Look Point.

"The one with the golden hair," Basid said.

Venus's jaw practically hit the floor. "Out of this entire, ginormous stadium, you decided to find a friend only from that one spot?! Seriously?!" he exclaimed, his voice dripping with incredulity, "Did you miss the memo about the other thousands of potential friends here?"

"Shut up," Basid retorted.

"Pft!" Ibn Sena hid his laughter.

"You…!" Venus raised his brow, in disbelief.

"Pft, haha, is it Adam Al Emin?" Romeo asked, amused.

"Yeah!" Basid's face immediately lit up, "I want to play against him."

"Alright. I'll ask him to be your friend, okay?" Romeo ruffled his hair.

Basid, elated, hugged him and went back to the pavilion while the rest of them exhaled with smiles.

____

Poseidon, settled in the pavilion for a while, was attended to by Seles, the high schoolers, and the rest of the middle schoolers. Seles anxiously checked his tablet, showing Poseidon's abnormal heartbeat fluctuations, blood pressure levels, and paralysis limits, and then looked at Poseidon's reports. Sweat dripped from the side of his temple.

"How is this kid even sitting here like this?" Seles thought, bewildered, "It's as if something is protecting him in the shadows because this is more than abnormal. If it wasn't for his prolonged surgery, this could've put him in a life-threatening situation..."

Alan, sitting cross-legged on the ground before Poseidon, rested his hand under his cheek, continuously staring at him, while Rauf sat beside him, gawking silently.

A cold sweat dripped from Poseidon's forehead. "I feel... quite awkward," he said, scratching his temple nervously.

Alan nodded lightly, still not moving an inch. "I know, little charmer," he replied.

Elias smiled caringly at Poseidon.

Glancing at Kenzo, who briefly looked his way, Poseidon called out, "You must be thinking all that big talk last night was for nothing, right Kenzo?"

Kenzo, looking slightly upset, replied, "If you think I'm that kind of person, then I'm more disappointed that you believe so."

"Sorry," Poseidon immediately apologized.

Kenzo called out earnestly to Poseidon, "You don't need to apologize. I might not fully understand your current state, but one thing is for sure: matches will keep coming, rivals will continue to pile up, and the desperation to win and surpass yourself will only grow. But if even one of you isn't there to face them with me, it would be more humiliating and disturbing for me than any loss." He looked at each of the middle schoolers one by one, making his point clear.

Alan and the middle schoolers looked at him, stunned.

"Hey, are you saying you care about us?" Feng teased Kenzo.

"Who the hell said that?" Kenzo denied. "Tch, Kenzo's lying now. He just spoke such a caring truth that even his ears are flushed," Ezekiel added, fanning the flames.

"Pft!" Xavier and Cassiel hid their laughter.

Kenzo, speechless and slightly embarrassed, turned around to face the field, wordless.

"Oh~ he's shy," Isa smiled.

"So cute," Senri said, clicking a picture.

Kenzo, twitching his brow, tried to control his annoyance and remained silent.

Poseidon smiled at his back. "He may be awkward at expressing himself, but he is kinder than you think," he murmured, smiling at Alan.

Alan nodded, his expression remaining unchanged.

Helios stood beside Kenzo and asked, "What's on your mind? If I recall correctly, you're the last person to get sentimental."

Kenzo grinned, "Question backfired—now you answer."

Helios exhaled in disbelief, "Are you for real?"

"This match is quite tough; don't you agree?" Seraph joined the conversation.

"Indeed, our entire morale is shattered," Helios replied honestly.

"Does that include yours too?" Seraph asked.

Kenzo waited for his response. Helios smiled, shrugging, "I'm not a superhero, but I don't think it's enough to take me down."

Kenzo smiled, "Then, nothing's lost."

The break time up, Aaron, stretched his arms, revealing a vengeful smile soon pushing his hairs back. "Now Little Poseidon~" he sang, walking past Helios, Feng, Poseidon, Alan and Xavier, inside the ground.

Poseidon wearily glanced up.

"There's no more hope left, right~" Aaron continued to sing. "When there's none, that's where I come~ So, stand at mid-off, little fighter~ Then you'll witness the magic of an off spinner~!" Aaron grinned, a stunning, charismatic aura radiating from him. All of a sudden, a whirlwind began to swirl round and round in his dark green eyes.

As soon as Xavier met his gaze that seemed completely off, he immediately closed his eyes, shaking his head and backing off. "My head is spinning...? Is it hypnotism?" he wondered taken aback.

"Don't look, dear~ You'll go crazy." Aaron cautioned, ruffling Xavier's hairs and playfully pushing his head a little low.

Xavier, grabbed his hairs looking at his back startled.

Isa called the boys in from the field, "Come boys, it's our turn to dominate now!"