“Everyone shut up, I can’t hear the tv!” The Gym leader barked, his deep voice still capable of commanding a room of rowdy spectators despite his ever-advancing age. At the front of the room, the large screen on which the Indigo Plateau Conference was being shown finally became audible again.

Ran was grateful for the interruption, as just at that moment Bugsy - the childhood name having stuck to the boy and, as far as the Leagues were concerned, now his official moniker - stepped out into the arena. Had it not been for the Gym leader’s interference moments before, Ran was sure the crowd noise would have become truly unbearable. Now, however, he could listen along with everyone else as the commentators discussed Bugsy’s first round performance and his Bug team.

Having missed Bugsy’s first round due to its timing unfortunately coinciding with an apricorn-gathering foray for Kurt, Ran listened along enviously as the commentators ran through some quick highlights of Bugsy’s performance.

A lone mention of Bugsy’s Scyther soon turned to needlessly effusive praise, the commentators’ words picking at an old wound, but Ran assuaged those bitter feelings by letting one hand drop to the pokéball at his side. He’d still have to wait another two years, but if Bugsy could complete the Kanto circuit in a single year as a complete, although sponsored, rookie, then Ran felt good about his own odds when he finally got to apply for a Common Gym Challenge license in another two years.

Finally finished with talking up Bugsy, the commentators turned their attention to his opponent. Where they’d treated Bugsy with far too much regard for Ran’s tastes, now their bias was really put on full display, as they started singing the praises of the Kanto-native and Oak-sponsored trainer facing Bugsy. There was more than one angry mutter in the room at the thinly-veiled favoritism shown by the commentators, though personally Ran found this round of praise easier to stomach than the prior one, but it was the Gym leader’s disgusted hocking of a wad of spit at the ground that best summed up how almost everyone in Azalea Town felt about Kanto’s superiority complex. Of course, the Gym leader had actually fought in the war, unlike everyone else in attendance, so Ran could sympathize with the man’s feelings.

To Ran’s great personal relief, once the fight began, the commentators didn’t need to be biased in the least, as the trouncing Bugsy received at the hands of the other trainer’s Charizard was one-sided to put it mildly, which Ran wasn’t inclined to. So, more accurately, Bugsy got absolutely humbled.

As most of the people who’d been watching slowly started leaving the Gym’s large auditorium whilst on-screen the commentators discussed some of the fight’s highlights and the officials restored the field to pristine condition, Ran caught sight of Spencer Curtis, the other sponsorship applicant who fell victim to Bugsy’s Scyther a year earlier. It was Spencer’s Pineco who’d managed more damage to Scyther than Ekans had, though said damage had been inflicted through Self Destruct, which had put a significant dent in Ran’s admiration for the other aspiring trainer’s performance.

Glimpsing the pokéball by Spencer’s side, Ran started making his way towards the other boy, the two only briefly having crossed paths a handful of times over the past year. Though from what Kurt had told Ran, Spencer hadn’t given up on his dream of becoming a full-time trainer any more than Ran himself had.

“What’s up, Spencer? Can I sit with you?” Ran asked, acknowledging the other boy’s attention as it fell on him.

“Sure,” The slight, bespectacled boy allowed easily enough, “I’ve been well. You?”

“Likewise,” Ran replied with a grin, “How’s that Pineco of yours doing? You reckon Bugsy would’ve stood a better chance today if he’d gotten one of his own?”

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Spencer’s face soured slightly at Ran’s inquiry, which Ran took for a hopeful sign that the other boy also saw Bugsy for the lucky fluke that he was. Still, despite his clear displeasure, Spencer answered dutifully, “Seeing as he’s got a fully evolved team, I assume Bugsy would have had a Forretress if he wanted one. A well-timed Self Destruct might have given him a fighting chance against that Charizard, but he’s there and we’re here, so I guess that means it’s not up to me to judge him.”

Slightly caught out by the other boy’s answer, something must have shown on Ran’s face, because after a moment, Spencer hurried to speak again, “Oh and Bunker is doing well, thank you for asking. How is your Ekans?”

“He’s doing well too. Though I haven’t named him yet, we’re waiting for him to evolve before we cross that bridge.” Ran replied, hoping that he sounded curious rather than judgemental.

“Fair enough, but Bunker and I agreed. Eventually, the name will fit him perfectly. For now, it’s… aspirational,” Spencer clarified easily enough, not at all discouraged by Ran’s answer, before changing the topic, “But say, you’re pretty much the only other unsponsored young trainer around here with a real shot at a meaningful journey. I’ve been doing some calculations to estimate things like how much starting budget I’d need and how successful I’d have to be in my first few months and years to make sure I’ll be able to reach the point where full-time training becomes viable long-term. I was wondering if you’ve put any thought into the matter. It’d be quite useful to have someone to compare notes with.”

Pleasantly surprised at the turn the conversation took, Ran eagerly confirmed, “I have, actually! Though I’m not going to school anymore, so my math might not be up to your standards, but I’d be happy to get together sometime so we can bounce ideas off of each other.

“Excellent,” Spencer nodded decisively, expression and voice professional as he continued, “It’ll be good to have a proper sounding board. Bunker is a great listener, but a talker, not so much.”

Ran paused, caught off guard by Spencer’s nonsensical comment, as only psychic-types or pokémon with at least some natural aptitude for psychic-energy were capable of ‘talking’ and he knew full well that the Pineco line didn’t have any gifts in that direction whatsoever. As the other boy paused for a few moments, Ran wondered if he should be offended at Spencer’s seeming assumption that Ran didn’t know his stuff, only to be surprised again as the other boy’s shoulders sagged and he slouched in place after a moment’s pause.

“That was a joke.” Spencer clarified with a light blush, clearly embarrassed by Ran’s lack of visible amusement.

“Oh! I’m sorry, I didn’t realize.” Ran apologized hurriedly, not wanting to risk his future meet-up with Spencer by offending the other boy.

Spencer shrank into himself even further, only just keeping himself from pulling the back of his blazer over his head as he whined in embarrassment, “That’s even worse than just thinking it wasn’t very funny.”

Eager not to upset his fellow trainer, Ran tried to clarify, “You just sounded so serious that I didn’t realize.”

“I-It’s fine,” Spencer waved off his earnest clarification, as he fished out a small card from one of his blazer’s pockets, “We all have our talents and humor isn’t one of mine. Anyways, the next match doesn’t look too interesting and, unlike some lucky people I could name, I do have school tomorrow and then I have to tutor Liz and Meg before I can even get started on anything pokémon-related, so I should really head home for the evening. Here’s my card, shoot me a message and we’ll figure out a time to get together and compare notes, alright?”

“Sure thing,” Ran agreed happily enough, accepting the card before waving Spencer off as the other boy left the auditorium, before taking a proper look at the card in his hands. A small plasticized card greeted him. It held the other boy’s ID number and his contact info and, right at the top: ‘Spencer Curtis: Tutor and Aspiring Pokémon Trainer’.

Putting the card securely away for the moment, Ran looked back to the screen. Sure, it was only the second round and nearly all of the limited number of Johto-born participants had already been sent packing, but, unlike Spencer, he didn’t have school tomorrow. In fact, he didn’t start work until ten, when he’d be escorting the Charcoal Kiln’s Farfetch’d on another woodcutting jaunt into Ilex Forest.

He settled in for another match, thoughts of the defeated Bugsy temporarily far from his mind.