"Well, now that everything is almost done, it's time for the toss," Seles announced, his voice steady yet carrying that faint undercurrent of anticipation.
Alan blinked, pulled back from the spiral of his thoughts, his gaze softening as his fingers brushed across the oversized sleeves of his jersey. The fabric, worn and slightly frayed at the edges, under his touch felt like a bridge between past and present, like he was grounding himself before stepping onto the field.
Before he could retreat further inward, Adam shot up, bouncing on his toes like an over-excited child. Arms stretched high, his voice cut through the air with all the subtlety of a firecracker, "Oh, me! Me! I wanna' go for the toss with the big guy!"
He spun toward Gabriel, clasping his hands dramatically, his grin wide enough to rival the floodlights. "Oh, please. Pretty please. I really wanna' try my best of the bestest of lucks today! Just let me go, Gabriel~" His pleading was so earnest it was almost painful.
Cassiel pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling. "There is no phrase like 'best of the bestest.'" he corrected flatly.
Seraph and Xavier chuckled into their palms, wordless amusement dancing in their eyes, while Ryan muttered under his breath, "Unbelievable…" as if Adam's antics were an everyday test of patience.
"And what if your so-called 'best of the bestest of luck' drags all of us down, huh?" Ezekiel drawled, poking Adam's cheek with a mischievous finger, "That's gonna be more of a trouble than we can afford, little guy."
Adam puffed his cheeks, huffing. "Bleh, I'm not like you!" He stomped his foot before pivoting back to Gabriel, tugging his sleeve with both hands now, wide-eyed and pitiful.
"Ouch!" Ezekiel winced.
"Oh, pretty please, Gabriel. I'm playing my first match alongside Alan and Ryan. This is the best day of my life. Only you could make it even better~ Please!" Adam continued, clearly showing no intention of giving up.
Gabriel's brows shot up as if horrified by the sheer force of the performance.
For a moment, silence held—everyone waiting to see if he'd snap or surrender. The middle schoolers leaned in, smirks tugging at their mouths.
Evan exchanged a look with Haruf, who could only beam helplessly, his disbelief, clear in his smile. Meanwhile, a ripple of laughter ran through the high schoolers seated behind, their amusement uncontained.
Pedro and Yusuf watched from the Coach's stand thoroughly entertained. Seles then, arched an expectant brow toward Gabriel.
Gabriel, finally sighed, fortifying himself against Adam's persistence, "Alright."
Adam lit up instantly. His whole body went off like a sparkler, and before Alan could react, he had latched onto his shoulders, squeezing them tight, "Haha! See? Gabriel's just the best!"
Azazel groaned, rolling his eyes with the grace of someone long resigned, "Yeah, everyone who listens to you suddenly becomes 'the best.'"
"Hmph, you're just jealous," Adam said pretending to ignore the upcoming response.
Alan, amused, reached over and ruffled Adam's hair, his smile calm and cordial, "Good for you."
"Hm!" Adam beamed, puffing out his chest like he'd just won the match before even stepping onto the pitch.
"Such a kid…" the high schoolers thought together, a chorus of disbelief.
"Are you okay with it, Gabriel?" Haruf asked, still smiling.
Gabriel only shrugged, peeling the lozenge wrapper slowly, almost theatrically, "Fine by me. Not that I have much of good luck either."
Kenzo, watching from the side, caught Helios' grin. "Ines makes him give in like that too," Helios whispered, nudging him.
"Ah…" Kenzo's eyes lingered on Gabriel, thoughtful.
And then Feng, seizing the moment like always, slung his elbow casually across Gabriel's shoulder, "Oh~? Look who's in a good mood today. Gave in so easily. Didn't even argue."
Gabriel turned his head just enough to pin Feng with an icy glare, the lozenge clicking against his teeth, "Heh~ Since you care so much about my annoyance gauge, why don't I vent on you instead?"
"Tch, that's rude." Feng clicked his tongue, leaning back with a grin that didn't quite hide his retreat. "I'm your cousin. Can't you be a bit kinder? Where did your attitude from a few days ago go, huh? When Nile hurt me?"
"Died," Gabriel responded flatly, turning on his heel, "the day everything was resolved."
"Pft!" Heber, Ezekiel, and Poseidon cracked at once, laughter spilling freely.
"Hey! That's mean!" Feng retorted scandalized, but Gabriel was already walking away, hands tucked in his pockets.
"Well then," Seles cut back in smoothly, "Adam El-Amin and Haruf Noor Faris, off you go." He gestured toward the toss area at the center of the ground where the officials waited.
"Remember the gestures, right?" Senri called from the seating above, raising a brow.
Adam threw him a sharp nod, chin high, "As good as carved!" he darted forward, nearly tripping over his own eagerness, Haruf following at an easier pace.
"Wish me luck!" Adam called, spinning around one last time with his arm raised.
Alan, Cassiel and Xavier nodded from the boundary line, their gazes steady. "It's all yours," Alan replied, his tone calm but full of support.
"So, we have to choose bowling, right?" Adam piped up, looking at Haruf with wide, questioning eyes.
Haruf gave a steady nod, his massive frame calm and unshaken amidst the nervous tension. "Bowling serves as a better choice, just like we discussed," he replied evenly, then added with a strange, unwavering certainty, "But don't be too hard on yourself. No matter the result, we are bound to win."
Adam blinked at him, almost suspiciously, before bursting out into a laugh. "Haha! No wonder I like you, big guy—you're always just so confident. Ah~ I want to be just as confident as you are!" His voice carried a playful whine as he broke into a trot, nearly skipping his way toward the tossing area.
Haruf followed at his slower, grounded pace, hands in his pockets, his steps as steady as his tone.
At the circle, Multan's match captain Haitam and vice-captain Galleous were already waiting. Haitam, ever the lively presence, waved broadly. "Haha, all ready?" he called out, his grin sharp under the glow of the lights.
"Always," Haruf answered with his quiet brand of certainty. The two met with a fist bump, the thud solid and respectful.
Galleous gave a small smile at the sight of Adam striding in beside Haruf, "Didn't think we'd have the little king here for the toss today," he said lightly.
"Hmph!" Adam puffed his chest, his cheeks puffing too in indignation. "Don't underestimate me because I am a freshman. I am enough to take on all of you." His voice cracked slightly, but his glare was earnest.
"Oh?" Galleous' grin grew faintly, almost amused at the sight of Adam's fiery bravado, "Then I really look forward to playing with you."
Adam squinted at him suspiciously before nodding with exaggerated seriousness, as if sealing a deal.
The match organizers, their suits neat and voices formal, stepped closer, motioning toward the group. "It seems both team leaders are here for the toss. Without wasting any more time, we shall proceed."
The four players aligned themselves: Haitam and Galleous on one side, Haruf and Adam on the other. Between them stood the umpire, a firm figure with the coin already poised between his fingers. The floodlight above them cast long, neat shadows across the trimmed pitch circle.
"Karachi tosses the coin," the umpire said, flipping the coin toward Adam.
The small metal disc gleamed as Adam caught it by sheer instinct, blinking in surprise at the weight in his palm.
"And Multan gets to decide first," the umpire reminded, his deep voice carrying the authority of ritual.
Adam nodded quickly, then, with a small inhale, tossed the coin high into the air. His eyes followed it with hawk-like intensity, lips parting.
"Heads or tails?" the umpire called.
The coin spun, glimmering as though mocking everyone's nerves.
Adam's throat tightened as his light green gaze was locked at Galleous who seemed to see through the coin or maybe even the future ahead with his sharp gaze.
At the very last moment Galleous whispered, with indescribable confidence, "Tails."
The coin clinked onto the ground, rolling once before flopping onto the grass. The tiny sound was drowned instantly by the noise of the crowd.
Adam leaned forward, eyes stretched wide, fists already clenching in anticipation—only to freeze as Galleous crouched beside the coin, peering closely.
"Well…" Galleous straightened slowly, his smile curling like a cat who had caught its prey, before even giving a chase. He looked up at Adam and spoke in a voice low, gleaming with amusement. "And, I'm afraid… tails it is, wild card."
"Wha—?" Adam's voice cracked, his face falling in pure disbelief. "But…! But I saw it—!" He turned helplessly toward Haruf, his hands flailing in protest.
Before he could continue, Haruf placed one steady arm in front of him, almost like a calm wall blocking a storm. His other hand patted Adam's shoulder with quiet reassurance. He shook his head slowly, smiling, as though he'd known this outcome long before.
The umpire confirmed, "Tails indeed. Multan Sultans win the toss. What do you choose—bat or bowl first?"