It was the summer of everyone's second year in high school and the original Teikou group decided to meet up again near their old middle school all the way in Rustboro City. They all went to the high schools in their hometowns (which also happened to be some of the best schools for Pokemon and basketball), so they didn't get to group up much often.
"I've never seen a Growlithe with eyes like these before," Aomine said, petting one of Kuroko's newer Pokemon. The group was chilling along Route 104 with their Pokemon running about freely.
"It looks just like you, Kurokocchi!" Kise cooed, getting in Aomine's way to get to Growlithe.
"That's what my team said as well," Kuroko responded, watching as Aomine and Kise looked back and forth between him and his Growlithe.
"Tetsu-kun, look!" Momoi pointed at her Skitty and Kuroko's Growlithe. "They're already so close!" Her heart fluttered, thinking it had to be fate that their Pokemon got along so well so quickly. Only, she didn't notice Growlithe running off to play with Kuroko's other Pokemon.
Over by Midorima, the bespectacled teen said, frowning, "Akashi, I would appreciate it if your Persian didn't eye my Xatu like prey." Midorima still didn't like cat Pokemon.
"Persian wouldn't do anything," Akashi reassure, but still clicked his tongue and called Persian over. Persian turned from eying the Xatu perched in the tree, walking back to Akashi and laying beside him.
"Same Persian that stole our stuff as a Meowth though," Aomine joined in.
Akashi and Persian both shot a glare at Aomine. "Are you still going on about that?"
Aomine shrugged, plopping against his Absol resting on the grass. Absol was the best pillow.
"Ne, Mido-chin," Murasakibara started, "I don't think Xatu is the one you should be worried about. Kingler looks like it's fighting with Crawdaunt."
Midorima shot his head over to where his Kingler was in the water. Murasakibara was right; Kingler and Aomine's Crawdaunt were clashing their hard claws at each other. "Oi!"
"They're just playing," Aomine yawned, ignoring the commotion while Midorima charged over to the Pokemon. Aomine rolled his eyes. "He's only going over there because he knows Crawdaunt is stronger than Kingler."
"Really now?" Momoi sarcastically asked.
Aomine nodded his head. "Yep. My team's the best."
"I beg to differ, Aominecchi," Kise argued with a smirk. "My Pokemon are the strongest and most beautifully talented." Right then, his Swablu landed on his head. "See!"
"What'cha mean 'see?'" Aomine indignantly responded, sitting back up. "It just sat on your head."
Kise ignored Aomine, cooing his sweet Swablu. His cheery smile quickly changed to dread when a giant tongue come from nowhere and licked Swablu, messing up its fluffy feathers. "Eh!?"
"Sorry, Kise-chin," Murasakibara drawled. "Lickitung thought Swablu looked like cotton candy."
"And your Pokemon ain't that tough!" Aomine yelled, pointing at Swablu. "One lick and it's out!"
"It's just upset about its feathers!" Kise yelled back, helping his Swablu.
"Will you two quiet down," Akashi deadpanned. "You're disrupting the peace." Though it looked like his words were drowned out.
"Aomine! Handle your Crawdaunt!" Midorima yelled.
"Maybe your Kingler shouldn't have messed with my Crawdaunt!" Aomine yelled back.
"Murasakibaracchi! Luckitung's tongue was sticky!" Kise whined, having trouble grooming his Swablu. "Did you give it candy again!?"
"Kise-chin's Pokemon's just weak to Luckitung," Mursakibara defended his Pokemon.
"What did that have to do with what I said!?"
Over by Kuroko, Momoi gave a screech. "Skitty! No!"
"Growlithe, please stop!"
Growlithe ended up chasing after Skitty, making the Kitten Pokemon sprint up a tree. It continued happily barking while Skitty hissed.
Akashi took in a deep breath. He really wasn't surprised this was how their hang out ended up, but that still didn't help his head.
"Fine, we'll see who's stronger!" Aomine and Midorima yelled at each other.
"You take that back about my Pokemon!" Kise and Murasakibara yelled at the same time.
"You're not supposed to battle without us!" Kuroko and Momoi also yelled.
And Akashi had enough. The second he stood up, the fighting amongst the trainers ceased. While when Persian stood beside Akashi, the Pokemon halted.
Scanning his eyes at everyone, heterochromatic for a moment, Akashi gave a misleading smile. "How about another friendly competition. See who's the strongest of us."
"What, like a tournament?" Aomine asked, wary of Akashi.
"I was thinking something bigger maybe," Akashi answered. "There are five of us, and six regions we're all familiar with. Why don't we each go to one and whoever can conquer their region first is clearly the best trainer. It doesn't just tell us who's the best at battles, but also who can go through their travels without over exhausting themselves and their Pokemon."
"Sounds interesting," Midorima inquisitively said more to himself.
"I'm game," Aomine agreed with a competitive smile.
"This could be fun," Kise said. Though he had a cheery smile, he also had a competitive aura around him.
"Ehhh, sounds like a hassle," Murasakibara complained, not into the idea.
"How about the winner gets something, too, then?" Aomine suggested.
"Yes. The winner gets treated by the losers," Akashi declared. "No questions or complaints."
"Okay," Murasakibara instantly agreed, thinking of all the sweets he could get.
"What about me?" Kuroko asked, forgotten once again. He was curious to see who the strongest was as well.
Akashi turned. "Right, Tetsuya. Well, that makes six of us and six regions then. We each get one region." He then gave his attention to Momoi. "Unless you want to join as well?"
Momoi shook her head. "I'll stay out of this." She could feel the tension was almost as heavy as their basketball competition and wanted no involvement if it was going to be that serious.
The six trainers began coming up with their rules and guidelines. They simply had to conquer the region as Akashi said. The second the person does, they have to announce it in their group chat, that way there was a date to when they finished. Everyone also had to start on the same day at a town with no gyms. Their deadline was the week before summer break ended. If no one conquered their regions by then, they'd go with who got the farthest. Finally, no home region advantage.
"Okay, I wrote all the regions on paper and it's shuffled in my bag," Momoi said, shuffling her bag a bit more. "Everyone picks one. If you get your home region, just put it back. And no trading!"
Momoi went to each trainer. First Kuroko, who pulled Kanto. Next was Kise with Johto. Aomine went after, who had to redraw when pulling Hoenn and got Sinnoh afterwards. Midorima pulled Hoenn. Murasakibara pulled Unova. That left Akashi with Kalos.
Aomine nodded acceptingly at his slip. "Not bad."
Murasakibara looked down at the slip, then up to Aomine. He shook his head. "Good luck, Mine-chin…"
"Kalos is pretty far, isn't it?" Kuroko asked Akashi after look at his paper.
Akashi pocketed his paper. "I've been farther. This'll be interesting."
"Johto has very nice contest halls," Kise shared with Midorima. "Maybe I could do both!"
"I highly recommend you don't if you want to win," Midorima shot him down, pushing up his glasses. "What I do recommend if that we start as soon as possible. They're big regions and I want to utilize our time."
Akashi nodded. "Agreed." He smiled again. "I believe this meeting was very interesting."
The group went their separate ways once again, rushing to get home and pack for their journeys.
Instead of mushing it together, I decided to break things up into chapters. Each person will show how they were during a certain part of their journeys. Broken up like this bc I know for a fact I would never get anything done if I wrote ALL their Pokemon journeys and matches. Hope you still read and enjoy!