(Part 7)

Back at the gymnasium, Cassiel listened as Seles shared key points for the upcoming matches, the others leaning in attentively.

"I hope my message is clear to everyone, and I trust you're ready to focus on your own progress," Seles asked with an encouraging smile.

"Definitely! I just need to control my temper and keep pushing my limits forming new skills," Azazel said, raising his fists in excitement.

"I need to refine my bowling," Helios chimed in, "Like working on precision with seam position, using deceptive speed changes, and adjusting my grip based on ball conditions. My bowling needs diversification."

Turning to Coach Musa, Poseidon added, "I'll also keep working on what you told me, Coach Musa. I won't let you down."

Musa grinned back confidently, "Of course, I know you won't."

Ryan, overhearing him, narrowed his eyes, gripping his bat with resolve. Meanwhile, Yusuf turned to Heber, "Heber, are you still focusing on your fielding?"

"Yes," Heber replied, "After my abilities were completely shut down by Senior Seon Yul in the last match, I don't want to feel that helpless again. I'm determined to be prepared and never face that disappointment again. That's why fielding comes first."

Yusuf nodded, impressed.

"And you, Ezekiel?" Seles asked.

"I'm will control my forceful agitation and grow my illusions enhancing my batting to support Vice-Captain," Ezekiel answered with a firm shrug. Poseidon glancing at Helios gave a grateful smile, as Ezekiel nodded but as he remembered losing control and nearly imitating Poseidon's style too closely yesterday, he muttered, "I have to control it no matter what. This ability is dangerous."

"And, what are you aiming for, besides just speed, game-changer?" Musa asked, his eyes resting on Seraph, who sat quietly between Gabriel and Kenzo.

"I..." Seraph began but fell silent.

"Get back in tune with your rhythm, Seraph. That's where you are struggling," Musa advised.

"My rhythm?" Seraph repeated, looking up.

Musa nodded, "Sometimes, when you're chasing after something distant, you lose sight of what's right beside you. It's only when you stop and look around that you find the small, missing piece that puts you back in the game."

"Look around me...?" Seraph murmured, lost in thought, "Have I been too focused on speed and relying so heavily on it that I've gotten stuck? But… what else should I focus on?"

"You know, Coach Musa's right!" Adam chimed in, "The Sera, Sera back at the academy didn't care about speed at all! He just went straight for the wicket with everything he had. His golden eyes would light up without using any Realm or Pinnacle, and before you knew it—bam! The wicket would be up in the sky!" Adam said, pride evident in his voice.

Seraph gasped as the realization hit him. Something so simple that he'd forgotten. "That's it," he grinned.

Musa smiled knowingly.

"Thanks, Adam," Seraph said warmly, giving him a caring smile.

Adam pointed to himself in confusion, "Huh? What did I do?"

"And what about you two, little ones?" Yusuf asked, looking at Adam and Ryan.

Adam replied confidently, "I'm going to put everything I learned from watching Senior Aigou in the last match into my batting and perfect it."

Ryan hesitated for a moment before adding, "I'll… ask him to bowl."

Yusuf raised an eyebrow, "Who?"

Ryan remained silent, his gaze resting on Musa who nodded talking to Helios, "The Phoenix of Pakistan. I won't let myself go through that humiliation again. So for that I want to face his bowling."

Yusuf sighed, "Best of luck with that."

Turning to Feng, Gabriel asked, "And you who seems to be carrying the entire burden of the world on his shoulders? Don't you want to do something useful in this world?"

Feng snored lazily, shrugging. "Nope. I already did my part in the first, second, and third matches. I just hope Head Coach Nidou gives me a break. I'm exhausted." 

"Lazy," Gabriel remarked, unfazed.

"Yeah, yeah, say what you want," Feng replied with a smirk, "But for once, I'm actually proud of the progress I've made."

Gabriel, amused, couldn't help but smile as well.

"Xavier, what about you?" Coach Musa asked, noticing Xavier sitting quietly at the back.

Xavier pointed to himself, a bit puzzled, "Is there something you think I need to work on?"

"Yes," Musa replied, his tone serious, "You're too kind on the field, Xavier, and that can be a weakness. Even a moment of hesitation or sympathy can cost us the entire match. So, when it's time to strike, don't hold back."

Xavier's expression tightened as he reflected on this,"Coach Musa, I usually understand everything going on around me in seconds… but that's also why they reproach me of being duplicitous…" 

Musa cut in, "I know."

Xavier looked at him, surprised, as Musa continued, "There was someone like you when we were your age—a considerate guy. He'd try to appease everyone and stay silent even if he saw something wrong happening right before his eyes. Whether it was match-fixing, or losing his best friend, or even the girl he loved to someone else. He just smiled through it, getting hurt without a word. Sigh~ I am still regretful that I never got the chance to say this to him but Xavier…"

The boys exchanged curious glances.

"I'll say this to you. Don't worry about what others think," Musa said firmly, tapping his chest, "Strengthen this… your heart. That friend of mine built a strength within himself that no one could ever break, all because he had an unbreakable heart and mind. On the field, Xavier, don't hold back or feel pity; give your opponents a true challenge. Whatever, you are facing is what they are facing as well. Cricket isn't a game to prove yourself virtuous."

Xavier's eyes widened, as he swallowed.

"Who was this friend of yours?" Adam asked, clearly intrigued, "He sounds like a really cool person."

Gabriel and Seraph looked at Musa, who chuckled quietly.

"It doesn't matter," Musa replied, "But… he is the best man I've known. No matter how many mistakes he made, setbacks he faced, or how clever his schemes seemed, or even how scary his threats looked, he's still that same stubborn and resilient fool I'll never forget. He changed this base's entire life." A soft smile crossed Musa's face as memories from years past stirred within him.

_____

"Hey, idiotic brat! She's leaving! Really!" Musa exclaimed, young and energetic as he stood before a figure who kept walking forward.

A smile etched on his face, hurt and meticulously hidden, he sighed, "Come on Musa… just give up. I am already over her." The figure replied, his long brown hairs hiding his eyes as the wind caressed his fair skin.

"Over her?" Musa asked, taken aback. "Do you think I'm stupid? You think I don't know what you're feeling?" Annoyed, he shoved the figure, bringing them both to a stop.

The figure still smiled, "I am glad you know, Musa…"

Musa gritted, frustrated, "You…! idiot, crazy, weirdly annoying bastard! Why… why are you like this?"

The figure blinked stunned.

"Cael left… you both fought. We won the World Cup but what? Everyone's drifting apart now? And, you are smiling? The girl you love is leaving you and marrying another friend of ours, yet you congratulate them? Why are you so stupid?!" Musa snapped, frustatedly

"Hey, take it easy…" the figure tried to calm him, but Musa, like a frustrated child, pushed him back again.

"Don't stop me! Cause I won't. You did so much for all of us, and now, everything is being taken from you. You're leaving us, retiring? You're abandoning Head Coach, who treats you like his own son. I don't understand! Why do you keep smiling after all this, Nidou…?" With tears threatening to fall, Musa's voice broke, "I feel like punching you right now, but somehow I just can't."

Nidou, smiling warmly, as his brown eyes glistened under the sun he stepped forward and embraced him, "Come on, don't cry now. It's alright. There must be heavens will in everything." 

Musa, shook his head disapprovingly.

"Smile Musa. The World is ours now." Nidou encouraged, "No one will dare to look down on us again. As for me, I want to go back to my sister and tell her the tale of my entire journey."

Sniffling, Musa asked, "Is there really no way I can make you stay?"

Nidou's face softened, and he hesitated, "I'm afraid there's not."

Musa clenched his fists, his tears finally falling. "Alright… just tell me one thing—are you happy?" he asked, wiping his tears.

Nidou hearing him stood stunned. His expression widened as words failed to come out of his mouth. "Yes…" he wanted to utter but as if emotions had welled up and transformed into a hurricane. He looked at the ground below soon clutching his chest as his surroundings went blurry.

"Nidou…?" Musa touched his shoulder in concern.