From his spot, Poseidon turned to Helios, who was now watching him from the seats above. "You didn't have to do that," he murmured.
"And you're not playing," Helios countered firmly, "Not right now."
Poseidon exhaled as Claude patted his shoulder, "He's right. It happens every year. They want to provoke us, to test us. Especially you. And now that you just got out of the hospital yesterday, you shouldn't let them drag you into it."
Poseidon's gaze darkened, but he nodded.
"Don't worry, Poseidon," Helios added, his tone softening.
Poseidon nodded once more but remained silent. Then, his gaze drifted toward a figure that stood apart from the crowd, watching the Society members from the railing outside. Sharp lemon-green hairs and sky-blue eyes, chilling in their intensity, locked onto Poseidon's own. For a fleeting moment, neither looked away.
Then, in an instant, the boy pulled his jersey over his head and disappeared into the crowd. Poseidon wasn't the best at reading people, but at that moment, he knew one thing for sure, whoever that was, he was anything but pleased.
Just then, a sharp snap of fingers jolted Poseidon from his thoughts. He blinked, startled, "Y-yeah?"
Helios followed his gaze, eyes narrowing, "What is it?"
"Nothing," Poseidon exhaled, shaking it off. Then, with a slight edge of annoyance, he turned to Helios, "Well, since you've interrupted and banned me from playing, I might as well get back to handling the Society's paperwork. Happy now?"
Helios chuckled, unfazed, "Alright." With that, he casually pulled off his jersey and reached for his bat, "Come on, Claude."
Claude nodded and, before following, cast one last glance at Poseidon, "Take care."
Poseidon returned the wave, but his attention lingered on the empty spot where the mysterious figure had stood. For a moment, a faint, almost unreadable grin touched his lips before he turned away.
The following days were far from easy for Poseidon. He exhaled as he stepped out of the restroom, drying his hands. The pressure from the Cricket Society, extended medical check-ups after academy hours, and the constant pressure of academics. All of it felt heavier than usual.
To make things worse, there was this unsettling sensation of being watched. Well, that was something new. But as long as it didn't escalate into a threat, he chose to endure it. On his way back to the building, his gaze landed on an empty bench beneath the oak tree.
Without hesitation, he took a seat, tilting his head back to watch the rustling leaves. A sigh slipped past his lips. "I had to take medicine twice today..." he murmured, his blue eyes momentarily distant.
"Skipping class?" A familiar voice suddenly broke through his thoughts.
Poseidon turned to see Helios approaching with a smile. "Heli…" he whispered, shifting to make space as Helios settled beside him. "Not skipping class. Just taking a break," Poseidon replied, leaning his head against the bench's backrest.
"Yeah, a top grader like you wouldn't dare skip classes," Helios remarked, resting his back against the seat.
Poseidon studied him for a moment. Something felt off. Was it the air he carried? His words? But he brushed the thought aside and closed his eyes.
"Why don't you take a break if it's getting too hard?" Helios suddenly asked.
Poseidon's eyes fluttered open.
"Balancing the Cricket Society, your studies, and your health. It's exhausting. Why not just take a break?" Helios turned to him then, his purple gaze piercing, unreadable.
Poseidon blinked before suddenly breaking into laughter, "Pfft! Haha!"
Helios shrugged, unfazed, "What's so funny? I'm not wrong. They don't believe in you, and you don't seem to care. So, why keep hurting yourself? Just leave it." There was something distant in his tone, a hollow detachment lurking in his eyes.
Poseidon wiped the corner of his eyes, the laughter fading as his expression hardened. His lips pressed into a thin line. "This…" Poseidon's voice dropped, ice lacing his words, "This is the last thing I'd ever expect to hear from you, Helios Zadeh."
Helios turned to him again, his gaze unyielding.
"Now then…" Poseidon continued, his voice as sharp as a blade, "Would you mind dropping the act, Ezekiel Vincente?" His stare bore into the illusionist, unwavering."I'd appreciate it," Poseidon said coolly, "If you didn't go around saying things like that while wearing an illusion of my best friend. It's unbelievably irritating."
At those words, Helios' grin deepened. In an instant, the illusion shattered, revealing the same boy Poseidon had spotted at the Society grounds before, the one with lemon-green locks and a sly, sky-blue gaze. Ezekiel's ever-present smirk didn't falter. "Heh~ You're sharper than I expected. No wonder everyone calls you two brothers," he remarked with a smirk.
"Nope," Poseidon countered smoothly, his knowing smile carrying an air of quiet dominance, "You just chose the wrong person to imitate in front of me." Then, with the same effortless confidence, Poseidon added, his soft smile laced with unmistakable certainty, "And, you're right. I am the younger one, after all. Fiercely protective, unwavering in trust, and utterly devoted." His gaze sharpened, pinning Ezekiel in place, "I bet you understand that, don't you?"
For a fleeting second, Ezekiel's expression faltered. He swallowed. But almost instantly, he masked it with a wider smirk because he knew. He had been read, laid bare in a matter of moments.
The two sat side by side, an unsettling silence settling between them before Poseidon finally spoke. "So… were you looking for me? Or just waiting for the right moment to approach me?" His words carried an unmistakable implication. Was Ezekiel the one behind the lingering sensation of being watched? "If that's the case, how can I help you?"
Ezekiel let out a sigh, casually crossing one leg over the other, "Seems like you caught on, You do know me well."
Poseidon chuckled, closing his eyes briefly, "You're quite the popular one, I must say. Nearly every day, I have to console the Cricket Society members after they've been fooled by you, multiple times." He tilted his head slightly, "First-year freshman, Ezekiel Vincente… If I may ask, why do you despise us so much?"
Ezekiel snickered, his expression laced with amusement, "No big reason. You just annoy me. Cricket annoys me. And since you're tangled up in it, you just happen to be the unfortunate victims."
Poseidon's eyes narrowed slightly, his expression unreadable, "I see. But let me remind you, Ezekiel Vincente. We're not ones to be easily pushed around. If you cross the line, don't say we didn't warn you." His blue gaze carried a quiet, dangerous edge.
Ezekiel frowned, breaking the stare with a scoff, "Yeah, no doubt. You guys aren't pushovers, that much I can agree on. That's exactly why, whether it's the third years or just freshmen, you all go around doing whatever the hell you want, with whomever you want, right?"
Poseidon blinked, tilting his head slightly, "I beg your pardon…?"
Ezekiel let out another scoff as he stood up, "Don't beg for my pardon. Open your eyes, Poseidon Ageil. Look around you. See who's getting bullied, who's being pressured, who's suffering for no reason. Stop focusing only on comforting your own." His gaze was sharp, carrying a distinct irritation, before he pulled his hoodie over his head and turned to leave.
Poseidon's gaze darkened, watching him carefully. His mind trying to piece the fragments of information. Then, just before Ezekiel could step away, he called out, "Ezekiel."
Ezekiel halted but didn't turn around.
"Why did you choose to tell me this? Out of everyone, why me? There are plenty of others who could help," Poseidon asked.
Ezekiel cast a quick glance around, his expression unreadable yet edged with indifference. "Do you want me to say it out loud? Honestly… cause' aren't you the strongest of them all? Even stronger than Helios Zadeh?"
Poseidon stilled, momentarily caught off guard. He said nothing as Ezekiel tilted his head slightly before moving to leave. But just before he disappeared, Poseidon called out again, his voice steady, "I'll look into it. Until then… take care."
Ezekiel paused, his frown deepening. Then, after a beat, he smirked, "Annoying."
Poseidon watched him go, his expression thoughtful, his gaze narrowing, "That boy…"
_____
After dismissal, much to Helios and Claude's surprise, Poseidon had roped them into what felt like a secret undercover mission. The two exchanged confused glances as Poseidon strode ahead, his sharp gaze locked onto Ezekiel, who was walking a few feet in front of them.
"Uh… mind explaining what exactly we're doing here, little sea?" Claude muttered, scratching his head as he found himself crouched behind a billboard for no apparent reason.
Helios crossed his arms, lifting a brow at Poseidon.
Poseidon let out a breath and turned to them, only to find them staring back with identical confusion. "Look," he began, eyes flickering back to Ezekiel to ensure he doesn't lose sight of him, "I'm following Ezekiel."
Recognizing the name, Helios' expression hardened, his brows twitching as a frown set on his face. "That brat? The one who's been causing trouble for the Cricket Society? Good. Let's settle this right now. I'll drown him in a river the second I catch him." He stepped forward, but Poseidon clicked his tongue in irritation, blocking his path, "That's not what we're here for."