CHAPTER 44

Most of my Pokemon were already done eating by the time I finished cooking lunch for myself. Half of them went back to my house's backyard to rest while the other half decided to stay at the Gym… and apparently that meant lounging around in my office while I worked.

I peered around the side of my monitor with an expression torn between amusement and fond exasperation. Fizz was busy admiring his reflection in a wall mirror, Audi appeared to be fussing over and cleaning my shelves cluttered with decorations, Peri and Choux had taken over my couches and were using them as napping spots, and Willow had sneaked a weight out from the training room to lift up and down with his jaws. In the corner of the room, a Hatterene stood with a pencil and paper floating in front of her. Silque seemed to be sketching everyone.

On my desk, Mem had plopped himself down by my keyboard and was playing on my phone. A shadowy appendage peeked out from underneath his cloth and tapped rapidly at the screen. It looked like he was playing some sort of tile-matching game he'd downloaded from the app store. I couldn't feel any noticeable weight, but I knew Cally was on top of my head. Every now and then the Cutiefly playfully tugged on my hair with her spindly legs. If she had more dexterity, I had no doubt she would have tried weaving the ends into tiny braids.

Finally, Vel sat on my lap. I was careful not to get bits of food on him as I reached for my bowl of fried rice and shoveled some of it in my mouth. Vel complained anyway and told me to focus on either eating or working, not both.

"Can't," I said after swallowing my food. I set the bowl back down and reached for my mouse again. I was currently going through the rest of the gym trainer applications. "I have to get as much work done as I can while I'm on standby."

Despite saying that, I felt restless.

Being on standby was frustrating when I knew criminals were hiding out there somewhere, but I could not fight what I could not see. I had to trust our League and Interpol allies to do their share of the work and root out the Rockets first. They would call me when my services were needed.

I couldn't let Team Rocket consume every waking moment of my life either. I was in no way underestimating them, but they were one of many criminal organizations out there in the world. This was not going to be the last time people like them cropped up in my line of work, so I had to get used to it.

Crime could be found anywhere and everywhere in the world. The world kept spinning, and people went on with their lives regardless of such evils.

It was time to compartmentalize. Anything Rocket-related was officially given its own space in my head and kept separate from my usual work life. The Rockets would be dealt with. Until then, I sure as hell wasn't pausing my own life because of them.

All of this made me respect dad so much more. He'd had to juggle Gym Leader work with this kind of stuff for years before the Rocket War, and then he'd actually had to survive the war itself. On top of everything, he'd managed to maintain a calm image at home to the point where child me never realized what he was dealing with behind the scenes.

Hopefully the apple didn't fall far from the tree and I could emulate him.

I was pulled out of my musings when something soft wrapped around my arm. Even before looking down, I knew it was Vel's ribbon. Pale blue eyes full of unspoken worry blinked up at me.

"We'll be fine," I told the Sylveon. I took one hand off the keyboard to scratch his head. He tried not to smile, but I saw his lips tugging upwards as he leaned into my touch. "Worst case scenario, we just beat them up. You guys are good at that."

I said it half in jest. In all honesty, that was what everything boiled down to in the end: taking down every last Rocket and their Pokemon. Vastly oversimplified, of course, but it helped take the edge off our combined stress. Vel barked out a resounding yes to my lighthearted answer.

This in turn got the attention of every other Pokemon in the room. They joked about how they should compete to see who defeated the most enemy Pokemon in the future and keep a running headcount. I rolled my eyes at them. Meanwhile, Mem abandoned his phone game and floated up onto my head. He and Cally playfully pulled at my hair in tandem.

I let them and the others be. I knew what they were all really doing here in my office. They were here to check up on me, and I loved them for that.

(I did, however, wince when Mem tugged my hair a bit too hard with his shadowy claw.)

Back to work.

I alternated between eating huge spoonfuls of rice and typing away at my keyboard. Thankfully, this round's worth of applications was disappearing much faster than the last had. Most of them weren't any good. Near the end, I found one more application that seemed promising.

It was another strong trainer I hadn't expected.

Over a dozen interview requests were sent out to hopeful applicants once I finished going through the forms. Much to my surprise, most of them responded very quickly. Apparently a lot of them were in town already because of the Gym's recent grand opening. They'd extended their hotel stays to sightsee.

I made space in my schedule tomorrow for morning interviews. This also helpfully reminded me I needed to contact one other person, and I pressed Tuff Tuff King's name on my contacts list.

No ringtone ever came. Luca instantly picked up.

"Arin, sir! Hello!" Luca greeted energetically. "Is there something I can help you with?"

I'd long since gotten used to his strange manner of speaking. Whether it was through texts or calls, he addressed me as sir even though he was only a year younger than me. Every time I gently reminded him not to be formal, he ended up reverting back by our next conversation.

So, I'd given up on trying to correct him.

"Actually, there is," I replied, and I tried my best not to smile as I imagined the incoming reaction… one of utter elation, no doubt. "My Gym's PR team has recommended you as a potential new hire. Is being a part of our gym staff something you're interested in? If so, I'd like to hold an interview with you."

"…"

Contrary to my expectations, Luca didn't say anything for a long time. My brows furrowed.

"Luca?"

"Oh. Sorry about that," Luca apologized. He sounded surprisingly calm. "I'm definitely interested. Could we hold the interview today by any chance?"

I raised a brow. "Sure. I don't mind. What time works for you?"

"Would, uh, a meeting in another 30 minutes be okay?"

"That's fine. I'll let the receptionists know to expect you."

"Thank you, sir."

That wasn't exactly how I expected the conversation to go. Since it seemed like we were done, I was about to say goodbye when—

"YEAHHHHH! YES! OH MY ARCEUS, YES!"

An excited yell — Luca's — came from the other end complete with mysterious whooshing sounds. I liked to imagine that it was him fist pumping the air in rapid succession. His shout was so incredibly loud that I had to hurriedly jerk my phone away lest I go deaf.

I awkwardly cleared my throat as I brought said device back to my ear.

"Er… I'll see you later then," I said.

"Wait, what?" came Luca's strangled voice. It gradually rose in pitch as he continued. "Did you— did I— was… was I not on mute?"

"…No?"

"Fu— er, fudge! I meant fudge!" Luca hastily corrected himself. I was pretty sure he'd been about to swear, and it made me wonder if his Igglybuff Egg was within hearing distance. "Arceus, that's embarrassing. Please forget that ever happened and I'll, uh, see you soon!"

He disconnected from the call without further ado. I felt my lips twitching as I lowered my phone. Right as I set it on my desk, laughter exploded outwards from me. My Pokemon shot me confused looks.

Oh, Luca. He was a funny guy.

I pressed a button on my desk's landline phone to ring the lobby's receptionists. After verbally relaying news to them regarding Luca and tomorrow's interviews, I went back to sifting through emails on my computer. There were a lot of messages from companies across Kanto-Johto asking about sponsorship deals for the next League Circuit season. Everyone was eager to snatch up ad broadcasting rights and have their logos displayed in the arena.

I was also pleased to see an inquiry about the Gym's availability as a Contest venue. Much like I'd hoped, the grand opening had garnered a lot of attention from the Indigo Contest Committee. Pokemon Contests were not nearly as popular in Indigo compared to Hoenn or Sinnoh, but I hoped to slowly change that. Contests would be good business for both me and the city, and they would help enhance our country's overall culture.

It was like taking down three Pidgey with one stone so to speak.

The Indigo Contest Committee was based in none other than the stunning Cerulean City. Once again, I was reminded of Daisy's previous offer about collaborating with the Cerulean Gym. I would have to look into how the Contest season worked in Indigo before agreeing to anything.

After shooting off a quick reply to the Committee, I browsed through more emails. There were some notifications in my inbox I wasn't happy to see… ones regarding dad's health. Weeks ago, I'd reached out to my friends in other regions and given them copies of dad's medical records. They had passed them onto trusted medical professionals.

Much to my immense frustration, they didn't have any known cures for dad's illness either.

I leaned back in my seat with a grimace. I couldn't lie, there had been a part of me that hoped a solution would be easily found. If only human healthcare was nearly as advanced as it was for Pokemon… Dad's hopeful expression flashed through my mind as my grimace deepened.

There was the possibility of funding medical research and trying to develop a cure within the year, but that was as unrealistic as it got. It wasn't like dad was the first person in the world to have his specific illness. Scientists had long been researching known diseases throughout the years. If they hadn't found a solution before, it was highly unlikely they suddenly would now.

We also didn't have enough time. Dad didn't have enough time.

If medical technology wasn't going to save dad, then what would? We almost needed an outside intervention, a miracle wrought by gods—

Any thoughts I had abruptly stopped there. My mouth suddenly felt dry.

That line of thinking had brought forth a new and incredibly dangerous idea in my head, one that hardly anyone in the world would entertain if they valued their sanity or life. I myself valued both, but I couldn't stop the vague outlines of a tentative plan — not to mention backup plans — from forming in my mind.

I suddenly felt like a very pious man. There was no harm in beseeching a god, right?

I needed to visit the Galovea Continent this summer with dad. More specifically, we'd be visiting Kalos. It would be a crazy endeavor disguised as a nice family trip. Hopefully we wrapped up the business with the Rockets before then, but even if we didn't, a vacation on the other side of the world was now forcibly and permanently etched into my schedule.

Was my plan reckless? Infinitely so, yes. Was it going to get me killed? Maybe.

Would I regret it?

No.

For the people we loved, we could do almost anything.

Besides, the moment I returned home to Johto, I'd set into motion a series of events I could never take back. I'd embarked on a journey to become the greatest Gym Leader and Fairy Specialist the world had ever seen.

I would simply consider my upcoming summer plans as an extension of that long and overarching quest.

What a monstrous summer it was turning out to be, too. A criminal organization was looming over our heads, preparations for the next Johto League Circuit were underway, and I had to find a cure to dad's illness… I wasn't even thinking about all the things that came in between either.

One step at a time, I told myself with an inward sigh.

Right now, that meant wrapping up mundane business.

I started pulling out sheets full of notes about local traditional clinics from my desk drawers. After I got Luca's interview out of the way, I planned on popping into town to visit said clinics and run a few other errands. Some of the Fairy type Pokemon in my possession had useful byproducts. I wanted to ask experts about incorporating them into herbal medicines that dad could consume.

There was also the chance this could expand into another side business for the Gym, but that was only if said herbal medicines were approved by the national product safety bureau for widespread sale. I was so busy thinking that I nearly missed someone knocking on the door.

"Come in," I called out without looking up.

It wasn't yet time for Luca's interview, so I assumed it was one of my gym trainers. Sure enough, Hazel walked in with a folder in hand. He offered a dimpled smile in greeting as he approached my desk.

"Just got back from patrol with the others. Nothing of note, but here are our reports," he said while handing off said papers. I had just uttered a thank you when Hazel blinked, leaning forward in curiosity. "These are the clinics my sister recommended, right?"

I tore my gaze away from the reports he'd given me. Hazel's eyes were wandering across the papers I'd strewn across my desk.

"They are," I replied. "I was going to make a trip to town later and speak with their practitioners. I'm hoping to get some herbal medicines made."

Hazel nodded slowly. "For… your dad, right?"

We never told them, but by this point, all of my gym trainers had an implicit understanding that dad wasn't exactly healthy despite being at the prime of life. They were the ones who spent the most time with us, so there was more than one occasion where they glimpsed our family Chansey following dad around.

I tried not to sigh. "Yeah."

There was a moment of silence. In the corner of my eye, I saw Hazel struggling to come up with what to say.

"I don't know if you'd find it helpful or not, but I could try to connect you with professors from my old university," he eventually offered, fidgeting. "Some of them are still active physicians."

Right. Hazel used to be a student at Celadon University before he dropped out to pursue the trainer life. Professors there were usually top of the line in their respective fields. It was an unexpected but thoughtful suggestion, so I bobbed my head up and down in a nod.

"Sure. Thanks, Haze."

Hazel took one look at the smile on my face and beamed. Then he turned away to make a phone call, and I went back to answering emails while waiting.

Mem finally jumped down from my head and started investigating stuff on my desk: Fairy-themed coffee mugs, framed group photographs of what I called the Cherrygrove Gym Fam, and the Fire Stone look-alike I was using as a paperweight, the latter of which I brought with me sometimes as a hand warmer. I didn't really need one because it was summertime, but the stone gave off such a faintly pleasant warmth that it almost felt like a massage.

Mem liked it, too, if the way the Mimikyu had lovingly face-planted himself on it was any indication. He didn't seem like he was going to move anytime soon.

"Hey, long time no talk, Haji. Is Professor Grayson there?" I heard Hazel ask.

I gave Vel a scratch on the head while using my other hand to click with my computer mouse. More snippets of Hazel's conversation drifted my way.

"…What? He passed away?" There was a brief pause. Hazel's voice went down to a more hushed whisper. "A heart attack? Arceus. Did they hold a funeral already?"

I almost wished I wasn't overhearing this conversation, but it wasn't like I could shut my ears off. All the Pokemon scattered throughout the room were being respectful of Hazel's phone call, too, and remained silent.

Thus, it was very quiet in the room.

"What about Professor Nakani? Can you transfer me to him?" Hazel went on.

I at least tried to ignore Hazel's voice as I worked. Almost five emails later, my gym trainer finally came back with a bright yet subdued expression.

"Good news, Arin," Hazel said as cheerfully as he could manage. I still sensed the underlying sadness in his voice. "I just spoke with one of my old professors. He said you're welcome to pop by his clinic anytime this week for a chat. It's, uh, over in Kanto, though. Hope you don't mind."

I immediately shook my head. "Not at all. Where's his clinic?"

"Mulberry City."

A lightbulb went off in my head as soon as Hazel finished speaking.

"One of the cities with a minor gym," I muttered to myself with interest. Since I was going to be in the city anyway for a meeting, maybe it wouldn't hurt to check out the gym afterwards. In a louder voice, I simultaneously thanked Hazel and expressed my condolences for his professor's passing.

He smiled awkwardly.

"I should have taken the call outside," he murmured. Slowly, Hazel removed his glasses from his face and idly wiped them with the hem of his shirt. His voice was quiet when next he spoke. "He was getting old. Almost eighty, I believe, so he was more at risk for a heart attack. I'm at least glad he managed to live a long life."

The look I gave him was one of sympathy. "What kind of person was he?"

"Brilliant man. Highly respected, too, even among all the staff. I heard a rumor he used to work for the League when he was younger…"

Recounting fond memories about his old mentor seemed to make Hazel happier instead of worse, so I considered this a successful diversion on my part.

We couldn't chat for too long. I was expecting Luca's arrival any minute now, so I eventually waved Hazel goodbye as he disappeared from my office. I made sure to remind him he had the rest of the day off, which meant he was probably going to visit his sister later and crash at her place for the night. He left me with an address and contact details for the professor he'd spoken with.

I had just tucked it into my bag when a knocking sound echoed.

"Mr. Luca Hirafuji is here for an interview," I heard a female voice say.

Right on time.

No sooner had I given permission to enter did the doors swing open. Luca was shown inside by one of our receptionists, and boy, did he look anxious. I smiled when I saw his Igglybuff Egg strapped to his chest with a baby carrier. Maybe others might have found it a bit ridiculous looking, but I thought it was sweet.

Then I saw the shirt he was wearing when he turned to thank the receptionist, and the smile slipped from my face.

By all the Legends above and below, was that a signed T-shirt? Me burning holes in the article of clothing didn't help. It only confirmed that yes, Luca was indeed wearing a shirt with a Sylveon color gradient. There was a picture of me standing next to Vel and my signature penned on the T-shirt with a flourish.

When I glanced down, I saw that Vel had shrunk down on himself with embarrassment and buried his face in his paws. My other Pokemon in the room snickered at the Sylveon's poorly hidden agony.

Vel's reaction brought a smile back to my face. Ah yes, it was always better to suffer together rather than alone.

Coughing back a chuckle, I raised a hand in greeting. "Good to see you, Luca. Don't be too nervous, just think of this as a regular chat."

Vel hopped off my lap to roughhouse with the other Pokemon who were laughing at him. Meanwhile, Luca slowly approached my desk as if he was a Mareep heading for the slaughterhouse.

He threw all caution to the wind soon enough. His eyes glimmered with excitement as he took in all the Pokemon in the room with him.

"Holy crap. That's Silque, Willow, Choux…" Luca babbled out loud. He continued rattling off the names of my Pokemon even as he slid into the seat in front of my desk. I couldn't help but be impressed. He got every single name right.

"You know all their nicknames?" I couldn't help but ask.

Luca looked at me with a horrified expression.

"Of course!" he said proudly, and he puffed his chest out. It was an awkward motion considering he had an Egg incubator strapped to his chest, but both of us ignored how silly his pose looked. "What kind of fan would I be if I didn't?"

I couldn't help but laugh. Kari hadn't been kidding when she said Luca was a diehard fan of the Cherrygrove Gym.

Now that Luca appeared to be less nervous, I leaned back in my seat. Luca's eyes darted between me, the Mimikyu that was still sprawled out over the maybe-not Fire Stone like he was at the spa, and the Cutiefly still pulling at my hair half an hour later.

I probably looked a bit ridiculous myself, but since I planned on keeping this interview casual, I figured it was fine.

"So…" I trailed off. Luca subconsciously leaned forward in his seat. "My PR team told me you've been making a lot of content centered around our city and gym recently. I'd like to thank you for the advertising."

"I was just carrying out my civic duty," Luca boasted, and he waved his hands through the air energetically. He'd completely shaken off his nerves at this point and gone back to his usual upbeat personality. "Gotta strike while the iron's still hot, you know? Everyone's curious about the Cherrygrove Gym…"

I let him ramble on about the work he'd been doing thus far for our fair city and gym. Every now and then, I slipped in interview-appropriate questions.

"Which online and social media platforms are you familiar with?"

"Oh, basically all of them. Poketube, Turtwitch, Chimegram, Chatter, Teddit…"

"How would you go about promoting the Cherrygrove Gym from here on out?"

"With the next League Circuit season coming up, we have to start building up the fanbase now. Ideally, I'd want to build a sense of community. We could shoot videos of daily life here at the Cherrygrove Gym or how you interact with locals in town…"

Minutes ticked by. It was blindingly obvious how much Luca wanted the job, and he made his adoration for Fairy type Pokemon quite clear (I ignored his favoritism towards Wigglytuff). I was also impressed with how up to date with all the latest news and trends he seemed to be.

Luca was in the middle of outlining a grand plan for the Cherrygrove Gym's official Poketube channel when I held a hand up.

"I think I've heard enough," I told him.

Luca froze in place. He looked like a wide-eyed Magikarp with the way he stared back at me.

"Uh… Is that good? Bad?" he finally stammered out. He slowly wilted under my gaze as I stared at him with a stony expression.

I decided to stop teasing him and smiled widely. "Welcome to the Cherrygrove Gym's PR team."

Luca blinked once. Twice. Finally, he unfroze.

"YES! Thank you!" Luca exclaimed, hands flying up in the air from excitement. His enthusiasm was infectious. I found myself grinning as I stood up from my chair. Luca nearly fell right out of his trying to do the same.

"Easy there. The Gym's not going to run away," I joked, and Luca wore a bashful smile as he scratched his cheek. "I'll send a contract later for you to review. Do you want to see the staff lodgings?"

Luca's head nearly fell off from how hard he nodded his head.

So, off to the nearby staff lodgings we went. Luca already had an apartment in the city, but he wanted to do a half here, half there situation like what some of my other gym trainers did. I assured him we would cover the costs for his living situation. Not only that, but I made sure to emphasize he still had the freedom to make non-Cherrygrove related content. His main job was to increase brand visibility and give more exposure to the Cherrygrove Gym and Fairy Pokemon.

Luca was all smiles when we finally reached the apartment building for gym trainers. I let him go inside and inspect an empty one bedroom apartment to see the general layout. Various oohs and aahs filled the air as the boy inspected every nook and cranny.

"So it's a 1LDK… Living room, dining room, kitchen…" Luca muttered to himself. He popped his head around the corner to stare at me with wide eyes. "This is practically twice the size of my place back in town. Are all the other apartments like this?"

"Yep," I said, and I popped the p with a smile.

I didn't spare any expenses where employee benefits were concerned. If someone was going to work for me, then I wanted to make sure they were happy. It was the least I could do.

Luca disappeared from my view again. There was the sound of footsteps and then a door opening. Maybe he'd gone into the bedroom?

"I'm so excited already," I heard him call out. "Uh, just a quick question. How soundproof are these apartments?"

I caught on instantly.

"Good enough that people won't hear you yelling in a livestream late at night," I replied with a smirk.

"…Never mind, I'm living here full-time."

Luca Hirafuji. Ruler of Fluffy Kingdom, Tuffest Man of All, King of Tuffs… or best known as Tuff Tuff King.

The Cherrygrove Gym had acquired its very own social media influencer.

----------------------------------------

I walked Luca back to his apartment in the city.

It was by no means a silent journey. Far from it, truly. Luca was still in high spirits after the successful interview, and he constantly spewed out words while we walked. I had no idea how he wasn't getting tired from talking so much, but I let him chatter on.

I think part of it was because Taffy was with us. The Wigglytuff practically bounced along the road next to me, and he was one of a few Pokemon accompanying me for errands.

Vel, of course, was with me. Where I went, my closest friend was always sure to follow. Cally was snoozing in the front pocket of my dress shirt. One other Pokemon was with me but hidden in my shadow: Mem.

The Mimikyu had taken an almost obsessive liking to the faux Fire Stone, so I decided to let him hold onto it rather than keeping it around as a mere paperweight. He was chilling at the moment. I tried not to shiver from the cool and otherworldly sensation that bore down on me from all angles.

No matter how many years passed, I didn't think I'd ever get used to the feeling of a Ghost dwelling in my shadow. And to think Agatha had dozens of Ghosts living within her own every second of the day…

By the time we made it to Luca's place, I'd heard everything from local gossip to gym livestream ideas. I told my newest employee to contact me if he needed help moving things over to the staff lodgings, but Luca waved me off. He was going to hire a Machoke moving company instead.

"Bye, Arin! Bye, Taffy!" Luca called out with a tearful expression. He waved at us from the doorstep of his apartment building.

Taffy played along. He dabbed at his eyes and wailed out a dramatic goodbye of his own. We got more than a few amused looks from passing pedestrians, and I fought to keep a straight face as I turned away.

What was this? Some sort of soap opera?

"Alright, enough with the theatrics," I said with a fond shake of my head. "We've got errands to run."

Taffy mock saluted me, but not before he let out a giggle.

Our first stop was the nearest Pokemon Center. I had to get some gym Pokemon looked at and their health records updated for the impending audit.

Luca's place happened to be near the central district which housed the biggest Pokemon Center in our city. The distinct red-and-white building glowed brightly even from afar. Together, my Pokemon and I stepped through the automatic doors into a massive lobby. Cold air blew across my cheeks.

Even though it was the off-season for the Johto League Circuit, there was no shortage of trainers. Pokemon Centers offered a variety of amenities: free healthcare for one's Pokemon, rentable rooms and training halls for people with trainer cards, food and drinks in a cafeteria, wifi and telephone services, and more.

In the fall, the Centers would become twice as packed with bright-eyed trainers signing up for the League Circuit. They'd nab a card and Pokedex of their own, and they'd dream of attaining eight gym badges.

Hopefully, the Cherrygrove Gym would be on their to-do list.

People recognized me the moment I stepped inside the Pokemon Center. Out on the streets at least, the locals simply treated me like one of their own (and I was). Here?

I got a mixture of awed looks and scrutinizing gazes as I walked up to the front counter. Maybe they were sizing me up for gym matches next fall, but I ignored said stares as I waved hello to the nurses on duty.

"Hello, Leader Arin. How can we help you today?" one of the ladies, April, asked me. I was already familiar with the employees here as well as those at the other Pokemon Center in the city.

We were going to be seeing a lot of each other once the Circuit started back up.

"Hi, April. We had a few Pokemon who evolved recently. Could you please check if they're alright? I also need updated health records for them," I asked with a smile, and I slid over a belt of Pokeballs from my bag.

"Sure thing! Shouldn't take too long," April chirped.

As she swiftly disappeared through the back entrance, I took a seat in the waiting area with my Pokemon. I counted exactly ten seconds before someone had the guts to come up to me. It was a timid-looking boy with shockingly orange hair, and he wasn't alone.

Much to my pleasant surprise, he had a Snubbull with him.

"L-Leader Arin," he stammered, licking his chapped lips nervously. "Um, are you going to hold any public lectures or training sessions at the Cherrygrove Gym?"

It felt like the space around us got quieter. People stared with obvious interest and awaited my answer.

What the boy had asked wasn't something uncommon. Gym Leaders spent most of their efforts teaching the gym trainers and disciples they personally took on, but there were some who taught the basics of their respective type specialties to the general public. For example, I knew Morty occasionally hosted classes at his gym for young kids. Over in Kanto, the Waterflower sisters held swimming classes and helped trainers bond with their Water type Pokemon.

This wasn't my first time getting asked this question. Some visitors at the gym's grand opening had brought up similar inquiries, and I gave this boy the same answer I gave them.

"Yes," I announced. I gave what I hoped was my friendliest smile and tapped my wrist. "Keep an eye out for news on the Cherrygrove Gym's website. Class registration will be up soon."

Murmurs broke out amidst the crowd. The teenager who talked to me squeaked out a thank you before hurrying away to join his friends. My smile only grew as I took in the swell of excitement around me. It was good to see that interest in the Fairy type was as strong as ever. I needed to keep up the momentum. As the only Fairy Specialist in Indigo, it fell on me to spearhead awareness about my chosen specialty.

A few more brave trainers came up to me to ask for training advice or pictures before April came back with everything I needed. My Pokemon and I left the comfort of the air-conditioned lobby for the warm outdoors.

That was one errand off the list.

Next, we visited the traditional clinics in town that Beryl had recommended to me. Fragrant, woody scents lingered in the air for each of them. They reminded me of the herb gardens dad grew at home but much more concentrated.

I handed each herbalist I met copies of dad's health records and byproducts from the gym Pokemon. These included pollen puffs from newly evolved Ribombee, vials of healing oils and flower pollen secreted by Comfey and Flabebe, and more. We negotiated contracts where I would supply them with ingredients, and in return, they would make herbal supplements for dad.

Most of them practically kicked me out of their doors once we were done speaking, far too eager to research things they'd never seen before.

The sun was setting fast at this point, but I had a few things left to do.

I managed to squeeze past long lines at Bourke's Bakery. Inside, Keiji Bourke ran to greet me once he spotted my face.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"Leader Arin!" he greeted breathlessly. "What brings you here today?"

"Business is booming, huh?" I said instead, smiling. The inside of the bakery was full of people putting pastries on their trays with tongs.

Keiji beamed at me. "It is! Thank you again for letting us borrow the gym Fidough. Oh, speaking of which, let me go get them."

Faster than I could blink, the man scurried over to the kitchen door and held it open. Three different Fidough charged out with energetic barks. Customers around us made cooing sounds as the dogs circled me and threatened to slobber all over my pants.

I grinned when a ghostly head peeked itself out of the ground. From her feathery appendages, Fia handed me empty Pokeballs. My Flutter Mane had been on Fidough babysitting duty today.

I turned to face Keiji while recalling the Fidough. "I'm glad my Pokemon are having fun here at the bakery. As for why I stopped by today… I don't suppose you have any Blossom Breads left?"

"They just sold out," Keiji informed me with a wince.

I didn't mind at all; in fact, I laughed loudly. Cherrygrove's newest local specialty was a hit. It was probably the same over at Takai Sweets with the Blossom Cakes, too.

"What else would you recommend then?"

Five minutes later, I was out of the doors with two nicely wrapped gift bags full of pastries. I now headed through town to hand them off to their intended recipients. Fia had joined Mem in my shadow, but I had to return Taffy to his capsule for where we were going.

Solaris Hospital only allowed one Pokemon companion per visitor. I figured my Ghosts were fine since no one could even see them.

Once we got to the hospital, I went to our family doctor's office first. I handed Dr. Monzen one of the bags as a thank you gift for always taking care of dad, then I made my way through the maze of sterile hallways again. The other bag was a thank you gift to Beryl for her helpful recommendations. I had to ask around a bit, but I eventually found Beryl's office.

I rapped my knuckles against the door. No one answered. The blinds across the small window panel were drawn shut, so I couldn't see inside either.

Just as I thought Beryl had gone home for the day, the door swung open.

A Hypno stared back at me from the other end of the room. It beckoned a hand to me, so I took that as an invitation to come inside.

"Hello," I greeted politely, shutting the door behind me. I remembered seeing this Hypno with Hazel's sister before. "I brought a gift for Beryl."

Greetings, a female voice spoke into my head. Hypno dipped her head in my direction. Her eyes focused on my shadow for a moment, and I knew she must have sensed my Ghosts. They weren't exactly hiding their presence at the moment. Beryl went to go see a patient.

I'd thought as much. I had assumed Beryl was still working the moment I only saw her Hypno in the room.

"Can you pass on a thank you message to her then? I can just leave the bag here."

I could, but would you like to stay? Hypno asked. The Pokemon smiled kindly at me as she gestured to an empty coffee table. Beryl should be back soon for her break. I imagine she would be delighted to hear from you in person.

Well… there was no harm in hanging around a little longer. This was my last errand before dinner anyway, so I accepted the offer. Hypno turned away from me as I sat down and put the bag of pastries on the table.

Tea? Hypno inquired. She was bustling around by cupboards in the back of the office. Porcelain cups and bags with tea blends floated in the air around her head. We have ginger, green, chamomile, and lemon.

"Oh, chamomile please. Thank you."

I thanked Hypno again when she brought out treats for Vel. The Sylveon delicately ate the cookies presented to him. While Hypno brewed tea, I found my gaze wandering around Beryl's office out of boredom. It looked like every other doctor's office I'd been to but with some cozy differences.

There were some succulents by the windowsills, framed photographs of Beryl and her brother, some awards her Hypno had won for psychic skills and certificates of Beryl's medical achievements…

My eyes latched onto colorful drawings hung on one side of the room. There were so many of them that they took up nearly the entire wall. Some were mere scribbles that I couldn't make heads or tails of, but others were more distinguishable and portrayed blocky figures running through fields of flowers or holding hands with friends.

I wondered if they had been drawn by children.

Gifts from young patients Beryl has helped in the past, Hypno spoke to me out of nowhere.

I didn't jump, but I did jerk my gaze away from the drawings. The Psychic type placed a cup of steaming tea in front of me.

Evidently, she'd caught me staring.

"They're cute drawings," I said once my heart rate calmed down. "Does she work with kids often?"

Very often. Most of these drawings came from her volunteer work in Kanto. She has helped many small hospitals, orphanages, and homeless shelters there.

I remembered Hazel mentioning as much before. "That's wonderful."

Hypno smiled softly. It is. Beryl is a good person.

Our conversation was interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Lo and behold, the newest arrival was Beryl herself. Her eyes flew open in surprise when she saw me and Vel in the room.

"Leader Arin," she said, blinking. "What a pleasant surprise."

I smiled, gesturing to the bag of pastries on the table. "Just thought I'd drop by with a thank you gift. I'm thankful for the clinic recommendations you gave the other day."

"You didn't have to!" Beryl tried to frown, but there was a smile on her face as she joined me and Hypno at the table. "Thank you, though. I appreciate the food. Goodness knows I need pick-me-ups after long work shifts."

I merely smiled in response as I sipped my tea.

Beryl's eyes twinkled as she looked between me and Hypno. "Now… Hypno, dear, you didn't tell our guest anything embarrassing while I was gone, right?"

Hypno let out a strange sound that I interpreted as a snort of laughter.

No. There are many things you would be angry with me about, but this is not one of them. We were discussing the drawings and your volunteer work.

"Oh!" Beryl's face lit up as she stared at said drawings. "It's very fulfilling. I even used to follow my parents around for volunteer work when I was a teenager. They were doctors, too."

I didn't miss the use of past tense. There was a brief twinge of pain in my heart for Hazel and his sister. I had to take a few more sips of tea before I came up with something to say.

"Why Kanto?" I finally asked. I was going to be here until I drank this cup dry at least.

"Well…" Beryl trailed off, looking a bit emotional. I wondered if I'd chosen the wrong topic. "Have you ever been to Kanto, Leader Arin?"

"No," I confessed.

Not once in my life had I ever been to Kanto. I had been away from this side of the world for a decade, but even before I left, my childhood had been spent in Johto. I had never visited the other half of Indigo before.

Beryl gave a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"It's… different over there," she said, clearly choosing her words carefully. "Or was, really, up until recent years."

"How so?"

"The poverty and crime rates in Kanto are much higher compared to Johto," Beryl elaborated. She fiddled with her hands on the tabletop. "Part of it stems from Kanto's troubled history before our unification, but part of it has to do with Team Rocket. When they first emerged in Kanto twenty years ago and began causing trouble, it encouraged other criminals to do the same. Then the Rocket War happened, and Kanto was hit especially hard. Lots of people lost their families. Children lost their parents. A lot of rebuilding had to be done, and, well… poverty and crime go hand-in-hand."

"…"

My tea was left forgotten on the table. I almost felt out of my element here.

As a kid, most of my history lessons at school had obviously been centered around Johto. I knew Johto used to oppress Kanto before the latter broke off and claimed independence. I knew that years later, the conflict known as the War of Ashes was what ultimately brought our two regions together as one country.

What I did not know was the Kanto side of things.

Right now, as I tried to put myself in the perspective of the other side of history, I could only imagine that troubled history Beryl spoke about… how tense and terrible things must have been in Kanto while Johto squeezed them dry of resources and everything they had. I could see how dire conditions would be linked to rampant crime.

From history, I knew things had improved after the War of Ashes. Champion Oak had advocated for Kantonian rights after our unification and ensured equality between our two regions. It was by no means a fast process, however, and it took time for Kanto to truly recover from years of tyranny. Crime likely would have festered during this shaky period of transition.

Then, like Beryl mentioned, Team Rocket sprang up in Kanto and launched the Rocket War years later. That was another slap in the face for Kanto, right when they'd achieved some semblance of stability and prosperity. They had to deal with the aftermath.

No wonder they were currently facing more difficulties than Johto. Any hopes of long term peace or progress were repeatedly snatched away from them.

My facial expression must have been grim enough that it compelled Beryl to bow her head in apology.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to dampen the mood," she murmured. "But… yes, that's why I do volunteer work in Kanto. They've been through a lot. And to be clear, things are much better now compared to a decade ago. It doesn't matter that Team Rocket is back. Kanto has rebuilt— no, forgive me. Indigo has rebuilt itself."

I almost smiled weakly in response, but I forced myself to put more feeling into it.

"You're right. Indigo is strong."

Any talk after that was a little more subdued. I stayed long enough to finish my cup of tea that had long gone cold, and then I waved goodbye to Beryl. Hypno accompanied me out the door because she needed to help put some patients to sleep. Apparently, she was in high demand at the hospital for her skills.

"Thank you again for the tea," I told the Pokemon.

Hypno shook her head with a modest smile. Next to me, Vel thanked Hypno for the snacks and held a feeler out for a handshake.

Hypno stared at the offered ribbon with an odd expression. She didn't move.

Several seconds of awkward silence passed by. Vel was about to say something to the other Pokemon, but Hypno finally chose that moment to move. Instead of shaking Vel's ribbon with her hand, she used her psychic powers to gently move it up and down in the air.

I raised a brow but refrained from saying anything.

Have a nice evening, Hypno told us with a smile. With those as her final words, she disappeared down the corridor.

Vel and I walked the other way. I looked down and shared a confused look with the Sylveon.

"She might be averse to physical touch," I suggested.

Vel told me Hypno might have been uncomfortable with the idea of his ribbons instead. Pokemon like Sylveon and Ralts who had the innate ability to read emotions and thoughts were well-loved across the world. At the same time, people were also wary of them because of said powers and the possibility of invasion of privacy.

"Maybe. She might not be up to speed with the news on Fairies, though. I don't think everyone in Indigo knows what your species is capable of yet."

Vel shrugged. Wordlessly, he wrapped a ribbon around my hand. I gave it a gentle squeeze. He was probably more bothered about what had happened than he was letting on.

"Come on, let's go home," I urged, and I shot him a conspiratorial grin. "I'll give you the last Deluxe Oran Chocolate from the fridge. Don't tell the other Pokemon."

Ghostly whispers full of mock outrage drifted outwards from my shadow. Instead of answering, Vel squeezed my hand back with his ribbon.

He was smiling.

----------------------------------------

The next day, I sat at full attention at my office desk.

My monitor and keyboard were shoved aside so that I had a clear view of the empty seat across from me. Folders, papers, and pens were organized neatly on the table. Aside from me, the room only had two other occupants. Vel was curled up in a corner like a watchdog, and Silque stood next to my desk with an ever graceful and imposing appearance.

It was gym trainer interview time. I was elated that I could finally hold meetings in a proper room rather than the… unique outdoor setup I had going the last time I was hiring people. Much more professional and safe. Plus, since this was the last hiring round before the next Circuit, I expected to make easy and fast decisions today regarding who I wanted to add to the Cherrygrove Gym Fam.

When the clock struck nine o'clock, the first of many interviewees was escorted into my office.

For every single person, I began our conversation by notifying them of a mandatory psychic check. Since Indigo was currently facing the threat known as Team Rocket, Gym Leaders and other influential figures across the country had the authority to screen people in the interest of preserving public safety and peace.

For me and the Cherrygrove Gym, that meant interviewees. All the other new employees like janitors, receptionists, and security guards had gone through the same procedure. I didn't want a criminal hiding under my roof.

Thankfully, no such people appeared. Not so thankfully, the interviewees so far were kind of bland. Some of them didn't even make it to the battle stage, but that was fine.

There were three applicants I had high hopes for. One of them arrived right on the dot at 10:30 AM.

A lanky teenager confidently strode into the room. Brown hair with streaks of gold framed his tan skin. As he sat down, I could make out the faintest of freckles dotted across his nose and cheeks.

This boy, Felix Leicester, was none other than Fantina's former apprentice.

He was an eighteen-year-old from Sunyshore City in Sinnoh. As soon as he was old enough to compete, he became a Coordinator and took the industry by storm. In his first year alone, he managed to beat out the fierce competition and collect three different Ribbons. That was essentially unheard of for a newbie Coordinator.

His stellar performance caught Fantina's eye and earned him a spot as one of her disciples. Under her guidance, he further honed his skills and spent the next year challenging both gyms and Contests in Sinnoh. The following year, he switched over to the Hoenn League and Contest Circuits. He was considered a rising star and someone who would make it to a Grand Festival before the age of twenty.

And now… now he was here.

"Mr. Felix Leicester," I greeted. "Fantina has told me a lot about you."

"Only good things, I hope," he joked, flashing a winning smile.

I liked his easygoing personality already and chuckled in response. The psychic check went by fast without any issues. Then the real interview began in earnest, and Felix leaned forward in his seat.

"I was impressed by the resume you sent in. You collected four badges each from the Hoenn and Sinnoh League Circuits while competing in seasonal Contests," I began. My eyes scanned said paper resting in front of me. "It's uncommon for people to do both, and it's definitely not easy. Can I ask why you elected for that dual route?"

"My mentor at the time was the one who suggested it," Felix admitted. I wasn't too surprised there, I knew as much already from previous chats with Fantina. "She didn't give me any reasoning, but she told me to try collecting some gym badges. To be honest, I didn't see the appeal at first. Then I actually tried training, and when I got my first badge…"

Felix trailed off, smiling.

"That's when I realized it was fun. Battling to win League matches is vastly different from battling to win Contest rounds," Felix explained. He was starting to talk a little faster now, and his eyes were full of life as he waved his hands around. "It's funny, though, because in both cases, you still need to come up with creative strategies to pull off a win. My Pokemon and I learned a lot both from my own gym battles and watching other trainers. I'm a Coordinator first and foremost, but I'm not afraid to draw inspiration from outside sources. There's a lot you can learn if you open your eyes."

I hummed quietly to myself in appreciation. Those last two statements alone got him points from me. Being open-minded was an excellent trait for anyone to have, not just prospective gym trainers.

"Sometimes knowledge is gleaned from the most unexpected places," I agreed. Felix only got the benefit of a brief smile before I moved onto the million dollar question. "Is that why you want to come work at the Cherrygrove Gym? To somehow enrich your skills as a Coordinator?"

Felix didn't hesitate. "Right."

"What do you hope to learn by working here?"

"I'm interested in the core of the Fairy type as you've stated to the public… the idea of belief."

"You, or your Pokemon?"

"Both. Coordinators need a strong conviction if we want to set themselves apart from our competitors. As for my Pokemon, I have two Fairy types," Felix revealed. He coughed into his fist a second later. "Well, one is part Fairy and another is hoping to become a Fairy."

I knew which Pokemon he was referring to because they'd been included in his application, but I asked anyway.

"Your Kirlia and Eevee, I presume?"

"Yes!" Felix beamed at me. "Truth be told, most of the reason boils down to my closest partner, my Eevee. She's been holding off on evolution for years now because she never felt like any of them were right for her. But when she saw videos of your Sylveon online… she finally found what she wanted to be."

Quietly, I looked at the back corner of my office. Vel had stopped grooming his fur to stare at Felix instead. A mixture of emotions swirled around in his eyes.

I knew what he was thinking about. The story of Felix's Eevee resonated with him because he'd gone through the exact same thing before. He hadn't evolved until years into our journey when we reached Alola and, for lack of better words, attained enlightenment there.

"So, you'd want me to teach your Pokemon how to handle Fairy type energy then?" I asked, turning back to Felix.

"If you'd be so willing."

"Of course," I readily agreed. "Do you plan on participating in the next Johto Contest Circuit?"

"Yes. In fact, I plan on revolutionizing the Contest scene around here. I've heard Contests aren't popular in Indigo, and I want to change that."

"Ambitious," I remarked, raising a brow.

I only planned on contributing to local Contests by offering my gym as a venue, but Felix wanted to shake things up with his own two hands.

The boy smirked at me. "I'm up for the challenge. I can't call myself a Coordinator if I'm not willing to take risks," he said.

I was liking his personality more and more.

"Alright. Hypothetically speaking, if you become a gym trainer here, will you be able to keep up with the workload? Juggling tasks around the Gym during the League Circuit season while training for Contests is not going to be a walk in the park," I warned him.

"I can do it," Felix declared in a confident voice, and he wasn't just saying it. I saw the honesty in his eyes. "I've gotten pretty good at using my time efficiently in the last few years. I'll make sure to meet the expectations you have for me."

We spoke a little longer, but I'd already heard most of what I wanted to hear from the verbal portion of the interview. Before long, we moved downstairs to the battle hall for a quick battle.

I was going to use one of the gym Pokemon, but when Felix sent out his Eevee, I changed my mind. Vel shot me a look like he personally wanted to gauge Eevee's abilities, so I let him go onto the field instead. I wasn't worried. I knew he was going to be mindful of the power gap.

"Take the stage!" Felix called out.

I only got to briefly wonder if that was his Coordinator catchphrase. When the battle began, two things became very apparent.

First, Felix had come up with a storm of custom moves as befitting a Coordinator.

"Fallen Stars!"

"Sand Blaze!"

"Summer Shield!"

Some of them were simpler combinations like Shadow Ball and Swift where type energy was injected into another move. Others, however, were more complex and involved creative applications of existing moves. I was particularly impressed when I saw Eevee dash around with Trailblaze. In her wake, she grew patches of grass that eventually wove themselves into a giant dome of protection.

Second, and more importantly, Eevee knew a crap ton of TM moves.

Sunny Day, Trailblaze, Shadow Ball, Calm Mind, Double Team—

"Rain Dance!"

And when Vel warped the reality around him to make himself invisible, droplets of water poured down from the sky at Felix's command. Vel immediately undid his use of glamour. There was no point keeping it up when the rain would expose the outline of his body. It was quick thinking on Felix's part, and I gave him a thumbs up for it in my head.

My point stood. Eevee had learned a lot of different moves.

It wasn't necessarily a bad or good thing. Having many moves opened up endless possibilities in battle, but it also made it harder for a Pokemon to train. If they wanted to use all of those moves reliably during matches, then they needed to practice using them and keep using them lest they get rusty. It came down to muscle memory.

I knew that even when compared to trainers who took League Circuits seriously, Coordinators spent a lot of money on TMs. Their goal was to add more variety to their performance routines.

I also had the feeling Felix and his Eevee had been experimenting with different type energies to see what Eevee was most comfortable with for a potential evolution path.

"We'll end it here," I called out at some point during the battle.

Vel casually flicked away some incoming Swift stars with his ribbons, and then he trotted over to stand next to me. Felix and Eevee soon joined us with hopeful expressions, though the latter looked more envious than anything. Jealousy was written all over her face as she stared at Vel.

"Are you sure? Eevee and I are up for more," Felix said. There was a hint of anxiety slipping through his voice when he asked, but his Eevee barked confidently to make up for it.

"I'm sure," I replied with a reassuring smile. "I just wanted to check the bond between you and your Pokemon."

"So did I…?" Felix trailed off.

"Did you pass?" I picked up where he left off, and I nodded my head. "You did. I was very pleased with the whole interview. Welcome to the Cherrygrove Gym."

Felix practically melted from relief. Much to my amusement, he bowed earnestly a few times.

"Thank you so much. I'm looking forward to learning from you!"

I showed him the staff lodgings, negotiated a contract, and then waved goodbye to my newest gym trainer. Fantina had truly sent a blessing my way. I couldn't contain my excitement when I returned to my office.

I couldn't wait to meet the other two promising applicants.

----------------------------------------

One hour later, I found myself nearly jumping out of my seat from impatience. Promising applicant two was almost here.

I stared intently when the door opened and a guy walked in with a confident gait.

I'd seen the picture attached to his application and videos of his matches online, but they still didn't prepare me for seeing him in person. He was dressed in remarkably fancy clothing to the point where I wondered if it was his signature trainer look or just the style he liked to wear in general.

He even wore a white cravat.

My eyes were drawn more to the black-and-white mask slightly obscured by purple bangs. Unique clothing aside, it wasn't everyday you saw someone who waltzed around with half their face hidden. Again, I wondered if this was more of a publicity thing. Some trainers wore very distinct outfits to sell a certain image to the public and solidify their reputation.

This was the guy I'd been most interested in meeting today, and the one whose application had caught me completely off guard.

Will Itsuki.

He was a twenty-one-year-old Psychic Specialist from Violet City. I didn't dig too deeply, but from interviews and information online, I knew he'd grown up in two different orphanages across Kanto-Johto. He was also a notable psychic, but he came nowhere close to the existence known as Sabrina Natsume.

Will was kind of an odd case when it came to his trainer career. He'd started his journey around the same time I did (back when the minimum age hadn't been bumped up yet), but he didn't challenge the League Circuit for a long time and trained by himself instead.

Then, when he was eighteen, he seemingly appeared out of nowhere. He breezed through the Johto League Circuit, qualified for the Silver Conference, and then proceeded to demolish the competition.

Needless to say, the media had jumped all over him at the time and called him a prodigy.

Will used his privilege as Conference winner to challenge the Elite Four, but it was a failed endeavor. He only managed to take down two of Bruno's Pokemon even with a type advantage. Following his loss, he returned to training and amassed a dedicated fanbase in the process for his flamboyant personality. He also happened to be very active on social media.

Fast forward to today, this guy was apparently here looking for a job. I was excited by the prospect of a strong trainer working at my gym, but that didn't mean I wasn't cautious or confused. A trainer of his caliber could have spent his time better elsewhere. Hell, he could have worked for the League if he wanted to. They'd hire him in a heartbeat.

It made me wonder why he was here, and I fully intended on finding out.

I opened my mouth to say hello only to find myself beaten to the punch.

"Greetings, Leader Arin! Greetings!" Will spoke cheerfully.

He bowed with a flourish to me, and I raised a brow. My other brow rose to join its kindred spirit when Will bowed again, this time to Vel, and a third time in the direction of Silque. Then he gracefully took a seat. Will was practically grinning from ear to ear as he crossed one leg over another, hands clasped firmly in his lap.

He was the very picture of eagerness.

"Good morning," I finally made myself say, blinking out of any confusion I had. I gestured to the Hatterene on standby. "Before we begin the interview, I'd like to inform you of a mandatory psychic check. Due to the presence of Team Rocket—"

"Oh yes," Will interrupted, but it was more out of enthusiasm than rudeness. He studied Silque with an intrigued expression. "By all means, please go ahead. I will comply with our fair laws."

I blinked several times before restarting. "Due to the presence of Team Rocket, Gym Leaders may invoke their authority to screen individuals in the interest of public security. Later, if you have any concerns with how the screening was conducted, you are encouraged to bring them up with the Indigo League. Any questions before we begin?"

I was thankful that Will waited until I was done talking this time.

He shook his head, smiling. "None at all. I am ready whenever you are."

"Very well."

With one nod from me, Silque tipped her head ever so slightly and focused her attention on Will. I had just leaned back to sit through the impending minute of silence when Silque moved.

She smiled, flashing sharp teeth.

Interesting, she murmured. Out of all the humans I have met in recent years, you have the most intricate network of mental shields. Not terrible.

I blinked. Belatedly, I realized she was talking telepathically to both me and Will. What I really focused on was the fact that she'd given a stranger the closest they would get to a compliment from her.

My Hatterene did not typically hand out compliments outside of our family.

"Why, thank you," Will replied, beaming. He unclasped his hands to tap the side of his head with a finger. "Most of these are due to my Pokemon, though, so I shall pass your kind words to them. Do allow me to apologize for not removing the shields in advance."

No matter, Silque said in a dismissive manner. I am already unraveling them.

If it was possible, the grin on Will's face grew even bigger. "So you are."

I refrained from showing any emotion on my face as I reached out privately to my Pokemon. Should I be concerned about anything?

Not at all, Silque replied. I merely found the protection around his mind interesting. There are infinite ways to craft mental shields. Sometimes it is a matter of quantity versus quality. Sometimes it is a matter of discretion versus security.

And Will's shields? I asked.

Very noticeable, the Hatterene answered dryly. In fact, they practically scream for attention. But it is the delicate way the layers of shields interlock with each other — complex patterns and shapes in the form of a puzzle — that make this stand out. He and his Pokemon have designed them in a way so that he would sense it right away if someone was to approach his inner mind. Any attempts to unravel the first layer would set off a chain reaction. An alarm system, so to speak.

I found myself mentally nodding, mildly impressed with this piece of information. I wouldn't have expected anything less from a Psychic Specialist.

Silque, of course, caught onto what I was feeling.

The shields I made for you are better, she declared with a tone that left no room for discussion. I barely stopped myself from laughing. It almost sounded like she was feeling competitive.

Will and I waited patiently for Silque to sift through his mind. She was done within the minute. She'd verified his identity, and nothing suspicious had been found. She announced as much to both of us.

"Excellent," Will all but sang. He clapped his hands together in delight. "Alright, please hit me with your worst. I'm ready for the interview."

I truly could not wrap my mind around the enigma known as Will Itsuki, but so far, I did find him entertaining. He was certainly chipper.

I just hoped that would translate over to him taking the interview seriously.

"Let's begin with your trainer career then," I decided. I wore a friendly smile as I picked up a folder from my desk and opened it. "You were able to conquer the Johto League Circuit and Silver Conference all in the span of a single year. Very impressive. May I ask why you waited so long to participate?"

"I wasn't ready," Will stated simply. With crisp, energetic waves of his hands, he rambled on in a bright voice. "I wanted to be a trainer. And if I was going to be a trainer, then I wanted to make a significant splash. So, I dedicated myself to training and honing my skills. I only made my debut once I was sure I could achieve significant results."

I sensed there was perhaps more to the story, but maybe it was too private of information. Will had provided a sufficient enough answer to my question anyway. I didn't judge him negatively for his reasoning. There were lots of people in the world who did the same and prepared for years before tackling Circuits.

Now, were there people who waited nearly a decade after they became a trainer? Yes, but significantly less. Will was a slight anomaly there at least.

It made me wonder if the decision tied into him being a Psychic Specialist. When people thought about Psychic types, they typically thought about high intelligence, levitation and teleportation, and psychic constructs like barriers. All the usual basic imagery one might associate with the type.

The Psychic type was about mentality. Control. Clarity. Their thoughts became their fuel, and through focus, they could channel power through their state of mind. Only by having a mastery over themselves could they then control the world around them. In some ways, Psychics were similar to Fairies in that both groups dealt with reliance on their inner selves.

Sadly, I was here to conduct an interview, not interrogate Will for his entire backstory. I nodded slowly.

"Well, you certainly made waves," I told him. He seemed pleased with my response. "This leads me to my next question: why have you applied to be a gym trainer here? With your skill level, you could be aiming for the Elite Four again instead."

I hoped to dear Arceus this was not a joke application but one made in earnest sincerity. I hated wasting time like that.

Will's lips curled into a grin.

"I do want to work here. I'd like to make that very clear," Will told me with a vigorous nod of his head. "As for why… well, you brought up half the reason already. I do plan on challenging the Elite Four again, but I'm not ready yet. It's not enough training on my own anymore. Thus, in the event I pass this meeting, I would be honored if we could train and spar together occasionally."

Just like that, I was no longer confused by his application. This was a classic give-and-take situation. I would get extra labor around the gym, and in return, Will would get a sorely needed opponent to help whip his team into shape. Who better to ask than a Champion-level trainer?

It was a perfectly reasonable request, and I found myself liking the arrangement already. My team would never say no to new opponents, especially ones they could fight at any time.

For now, I hid my thoughts and cleared my throat. "That could be arranged, yes. Is that the only reason why you applied?"

"No, no, no," Will quickly said. He waved his hands in front of him. "Please do not misunderstand that I only came here for a training partner. I applied because I find the Fairy type itself to be very interesting, and I wish to learn more. Some of my Pokemon are half Fairy types as well."

I smiled, encouraging him to continue. I almost froze when I heard his next quoted words.

"'Fairies make a place for themselves in this world.'"

I stared at Will. He stared back at me with an easygoing smile on his face.

"That was a line in the pamphlet given out for the gym's grand opening," he said, drumming his fingers against his knee. "It has stayed with me ever since I read it. Consider me intrigued."

He did not elaborate. He simply watched me for my reaction.

To think he'd been so moved by that single phrase… I didn't know what kind of person Will Itsuki was, but I did know one thing: he seemed to have a serious interest in Fairies.

And that was enough for me. I found myself leaning a little more towards hiring this guy as an employee.

"If you're accepted as a gym trainer…" I trailed off. Will didn't say anything, but he leaned forward slightly in his seat. "I hope you'll be ready to learn all there is to know about Fairies."

Will blinked. A moment later, he threw his head back and laughed loudly.

"Ah, fret not! Everything will be committed to memory," he promised with a smile full of delight.

Seriously, it was hard to get a read on this guy. I did have a decent opinion of him so far, though.

The interview continued. At one point, I knew I had to say something. It wasn't my place to talk about wardrobe choices, but there was one item I was obligated to bring up.

"May I inquire about your mask? For example, if it's for fashion or health related reasons," I asked as politely as possible. I waited to see if Will was okay with this line of questioning.

"…"

He didn't say anything, but he remained sitting with a relaxed posture. I took that as a sign to continue.

"If in the event you are hired on as a gym trainer, there will be times when you'll have to deal with bright spotlights in the battle hall during gym matches. Just something to be aware of."

Will didn't say anything for several long moments.

"Please forgive me, Leader Arin, but I do not feel comfortable answering this question after all," Will eventually apologized. His voice sounded more subdued than the usual chipper tone I'd come to associate it with. "I assure you, though, that me wearing a mask shall not pose a problem during my time working here… assuming I am hired."

"That's fine. Thank you for the answer."

The last word barely left my mouth when Will snapped his fingers.

"Speaking of fashion, is there a uniform gym trainers will be required to wear for the Circuit?" he asked.

That clearly sounded like misdirection to me, but I willingly let Will steer the conversation down a different path. His mask seemed to be a sensitive topic for him.

"You'll have to wear a jacket or shirt with the symbols of the Cherrygrove Gym and Indigo League on them. They come in a few different colors like emerald green or pastel pink," I replied.

"Oh dear. I don't know if that would fit with my outfit… Would a cape be acceptable?"

"That can… be discussed at a later time."

Once we'd run through all the questions I had in mind, Silque Teleported us downstairs into the arena for the battle portion. Will's interview was running far longer than I thought it would, and it threatened to cut into my next appointment.

Will was busy oohing and aahing at our surroundings during my explanation of the match rules, but I was pretty sure he was still listening. Right after I finished, though, Will held up a hand.

"May we have a serious match instead?" he implored. "Until one side is knocked out. I would like to see the difference between my Pokemon and yours."

So he wanted a preview of how spars between us might go in the future. I didn't think for too long.

"Sure," I agreed.

I didn't see it, but Will smirked and bent forward in another theatrical bow.

"How delightful. Thank you for humoring my request."

We quickly took our sides on opposite ends of the field, both eager to get this show on the road. As soon as the League Hypno and Kadabra on duty put up barriers, we tossed out our respective Pokeballs.

Choux emerged with a huge smile. The cheerful expression didn't slip from the Dachsbun's face even when he realized he was about to fight, but he did lower his stance in preparation. On Will's side of the field, a Xatu appeared in a flash of crimson light.

From research I'd done online, this was Will's starter. I'd never fought a Xatu before. I ran through notes I had on Will's Pokemon in my head, but I didn't have a lot to go off of. Most of Will's archived battle recordings were from three years ago before he secluded himself in training again. His Pokemon had probably grown a lot since then.

No matter. We'd see this through.

"In the spirit of battling, I will not communicate telepathically with my Pokemon," Will called out from his side.

I wouldn't have minded if he did, but I accepted his decision. I gave a short nod.

There was a moment of silence, then—

"Eyes open! Shades!"

"Close in. Work Up."

Orders flew from our mouths.

Paws pounded against dirt as Choux took off running with narrowed eyes. Every step he cleared stoked something within — a fervor for battle — and the heart beating inside him. That well of madness answered him. Blood roared in his ears, and power flowed through his veins. He let out a scream as his body lit up with an almost ominous red, eyes focused on his target.

Xatu had not moved from its initial position. The only indication that anything had changed was the faint glow of its beady eyes. Inky shadows rippled along the bird's sides, but they made no sound as they coalesced into distinct figures.

Carbon copies of Xatu birthed from the darkness then took silent flight.

I yelled out an order right as they flapped their wings. "Snarl! Spread it wide!"

Choux was already on it. He was a third of the way across the field when distorted rings tinged with black blared outwards from his ensuing bark. The real Xatu disappeared and reappeared elsewhere with Teleport. Meanwhile, the Night Shades were not idle. They were slow-moving, but they took off in two separate directions and circled Choux from the air.

More waves of darkness came hurtling outwards in rapid succession. None of them hit their marks, much less clipped any bodies. Xatu and its copies were as elusive as night itself. If they were too slow to dodge by flying, then they disappeared from one point to another with Teleport. It almost seemed like they were dancing a well-rehearsed choreography through the air.

Sometimes, I remembered how much I disliked fighting Psychic Specialists and the move Teleport in general.

"Air Slash!" Will commanded with a wave of his hand.

Xatu and its shades flapped their wings simultaneously. Dozens of spinning blades of pressurized air went tearing through the air which hissed in their wake.

I didn't need to tell Choux anything. The Dachsbun focused his energy into his legs and picked up the pace before the first of the blades descended. In and out he weaved with random bursts of Agility, speeding up and slowing down as necessary to escape the storm.

"Keep it at a distance!" Will warned his Pokemon.

Choux was running a circle around Xatu's main body at this point. The shades harassed him with Air Slashes whenever he tried getting closer, and their aims were somehow accurate. The shades sometimes fired off shots seconds before Choux switched directions or increased his speed. Each of those somehow managed to find Choux's back without fail. I could tell he was getting annoyed by the lack of progress from the scowl on his face as he darted to and fro.

Something wasn't sitting right with me. How the hell did they seem to know where Choux was moving to next?

My mind whirled. My eyes narrowed. Quietly, I stared at the immobile Xatu across the field from me and its glowing eyes. Why were its eyes still shining so bright—

Future Sight.

That realization stabbed through all other thoughts I had. It had to be Future Sight. That's how Xatu and its independent shades were targeting Choux. Xatu was predicting the future in real time.

I had to give Will and his Pokemon some praise here. I'd fought Psychic Specialists before whose Pokemon utilized Future Sight, but it was usually to severely delay attacks or even their own bodies and movements during battle. This was the first time I'd seen a Pokemon use it like this during a match. Xatu was capable of having it active not just for a moment but for a long and extended period of time. It was a constant feed.

And it was using it to literally watch the future of this battle play out even at this very moment.

Now, it was time to shut down the Future Sight, Night Shade, and Teleport shenanigans all in one.

For me and Choux, I decided we were just going to throw a wrench in their plans. A very pleasant wrench that they wouldn't be able to stop even if they knew.

"Overdrive!" I ordered.

Choux's ears twitched with undisguised enthusiasm.

Xatu remained rooted to its spot, but the movements of its shades became more hurried. One whipped up a renewed wave of pressurized air, and the other attempted to trap Choux inside a psychic dome. I could only guess that Xatu had seen what we were trying to do and was trying to stop it.

Choux shattered the psychic dome with a breath of darkness. He didn't bother to guard himself against the incoming Air Slashes and bore their combined weights with a mere grunt. He breathed in and out evenly.

Xatu and its shades stopped what they were doing and shielded themselves with psychic barriers. Seconds of near deafening silence followed. On the other side of the field, Will wore a confused expression because nothing was happening.

Something was happening, but we could not see it… or smell it, either, because of the barrier around the field.

Choux and I grinned almost ferally.

"Alright. Our belief versus your mind. Let's see which is stronger," I murmured.

I knew Choux had heard me with his sensitive hearing because he let out a determined howl.

Fairies lived by beliefs, their beliefs. Their desires, hopes, and dreams— each of these gave meaning to Fairies and empowered them. Beliefs shaped who they were as individuals and gave rise to unique ways of living and fighting. They affected their powers in battle and how they manipulated reality.

Every single Pokemon under my care had their own core beliefs that affected their battling styles and the things they did with fairy aura. Vel defied the world and its rules. Arya desired to lull the world to endless euphoria through music. Freya wished to deceive. Yuno wanted to captivate and destroy.

And so on and so forth.

For Choux, his belief lay in indulgence.

A Dachsbun's body typically exuded a faint but pleasant scent that was so invigorating it helped crops grow. Right now?

That aroma was being amplified with fairy aura at Choux's discretion. It surged outwards around in an invisible wave, an inevitable tsunami that came crashing down upon Xatu and its shades. Xatu was so desperate that it let go of its constant Future Sight and shades to focus on itself.

Choux's belief was stronger.

Give in. Indulge.

Give into the overwhelming madness, the pleasure, all the feelings in the world and let yourself run wild.

The barrier cracked as the invisible pressure against it intensified. Just a few cracks.

Then it all came crumbling down in an instant.

I could clearly see the moment Xatu inhaled the addicting scent against its will. Its eyes glazed over, and it flopped over with twitching wings. It screamed out incoherent garbles. It had no hold over its sanity, not for now at least.

Choux raced over to deal what would have been a satisfactory one-hit KO Crunch, but his jaws snapped around empty air. Will recalled his Xatu with a stupefied expression.

Any notion of awkward silence was broken by a long whine of disappointment from my dog, and that finally snapped Will out of his stupor.

He hurried over to me with arms spread wide in an exaggerated show of surprise.

"Marvelous! Simply marvelous!" Will declared. "Although, I'm afraid I did not understand the conclusion of this match. May I get an explanation for what happened?"

"Would you like the long version or the short version?" I asked with a grin. I knelt down as Choux bounded over, more than happy to give the dog some well-deserved belly rubs.

Will raised a brow. "What is the short version?"

"A bit exaggerated, but your Xatu inhaled the equivalent of the world's most powerful Sweet Scent."

The baffled look Will gave caused me and my Pokemon to burst out in uncontrollable laughter. Still, I gave him the long winded explanation he wanted, and he gave my Dachsbun a renewed look of appreciation afterwards.

"Now… may I ask if I met your expectations for a Cherrygrove gym trainer?" Will asked politely.

I grinned.

"Welcome aboard."

New recruit number two: acquired.

----------------------------------------

I was in high spirits after the interviews with Felix and Will. It helped that we were on the final interview of the day.

A young woman with silver hair pulled into braids and lavender eyes stared back at me.

Hana Eldbeth.

Like Will, I had not expected this person to send in an application. She was a promising trainer who could have gone anywhere. Just a few days ago, I'd watched her fight in the finals of the Silver Conference. Hana was the trainer I'd even picked out as my favorite of the two finalists.

She was a twenty-two-year-old from Goldenrod City. Since she was a fairly well-known trainer in Johto who consistently made it to the yearly Conference, I'd been able to dig up more than a little information about her online. She'd started her trainer journey late, but Hana had her own fanclub website and everything. This year, her League Circuit run had been sponsored by Silph Co.

Interestingly enough, Hana was a Grass and Flying Specialist. She had a Togekiss in her possession that had been given to her by a sponsor a year ago. I'd also asked dad about her the day before. Hana had challenged the Cherrygrove Gym in previous League Circuits, so dad remembered her quite clearly. He only had good things to say about her and her Pokemon.

When I asked her to explain her trainer journey to me—

"I didn't want to be a trainer at first. I did it for money," she admitted in a sheepish voice, looking as if she expected me to reprimand her.

I did no such thing and merely gestured for her to continue.

"It's not a terribly unique story. I'm the oldest of five kids," Hana explained. "My parents had it rough back then and couldn't make enough money to comfortably support us all. I had the crazy thought one day to make money from the League Circuit, so I just… told my parents and left once I made up my mind. I still think it's crazy I've managed to make it as far as I have."

"You wouldn't have made it this far if you weren't skilled," I pointed out.

Hana smiled wryly. "Thank you. I do think I might not have won this year if Yasura Chouno was still in the running though. If you don't know, he won the Silver Conference last time. He tackled Sinnoh this year."

I nodded politely. It seemed like Hana was too modest for her own good. I had no idea how good this Yasura person was, but I'd seen Hana fight in the flesh. She was a lady who could rip the field into shreds without batting an eye.

"What brought you to the Cherrygrove Gym, then?" I asked curiously.

"I might not have wanted to become a trainer, but I did. And I love my Pokemon. I truly do," Hana said with emphasis. She was quiet before continuing. "But I've made enough money now for my family to live comfortably, and I'm tired of traveling. I want a stable life and job. My Pokemon like how peaceful Cherrygrove is and all the gardens here at the gym."

As she said that, she rubbed her neck and bare arm. I briefly glanced at the old scars and disfigured skin at those locations. Hana hadn't mentioned it on her application, but when I did research online, I came across news articles. She'd been involved in a few wild Pokemon incidents, most notably in Ilex Forest and the Mt. Silver Range.

Being a trainer was not always easy or the cushy, comfy adventure people expected. Sometimes, wild Pokemon got the better of people.

I smiled softly, setting down the folder with her resume and information.

"It's definitely peaceful in these parts. You should see how our city looks during peak blooming season."

Hana smiled back at me.

The battle portion went off without a hitch. She used her Venusaur against me and, to no surprise, peppered the field with smoking craters from barrages of poison and deep gouges from Frenzy Plant usage. She apologized profusely, but I just waved her off. It'd be fixed within the hour.

Hana was soft-spoken, but she sure packed a mean punch. I hired her on the spot.

That evening, the Cherrygrove Gym celebrated its newest gym trainer additions.