Heath's graduation was at the end of the week, and he was very excited for it. Kate could barely keep up with him during the few days before. The night before his graduation, she had met in the Staff Room while he was asleep to discuss his assigned Ranger Base with Principal Lamont. He had suggested sending Heath to Haruba, but Kate had told him of Chairperson Erma's request he be sent directly to the Ranger Union.
Kate awoke on the table the following morning to Heath towering over her. "Kate!" he shouted and pulled her up.
She groaned, half asleep. "Don't do that again."
"Kate, I become Ranger today!"
"Yeah, I know. Lots of other people become Rangers today, too."
Heath bounced around and dragged Kate downstairs, only for her to fall down on them. She fell asleep on the spot.
He frowned down at her, picked her up and carried her downstairs where the graduation ceremony was being held.
Kate ended up sleeping through the entire graduation ceremony.
Heath was on his way to the Ranger Union and Kate was still asleep.
She finally woke up as he was passing through Pueltown. She stared silently at the sky for a few minutes. When she finally spoke, all she said was, "This isn't the Ranger School."
Heath grinned. "You sleep long time."
"Where are we?"
"In Pueltown. Be at Ranger Union soon."
Kate flailed around; Heath nearly dropped her. "You carried me all the way out here?!" She climbed out of his arms and onto his shoulder. She looked toward the sky and could see the top of Altru Tower. "H-Heath.." She stammered, and jumped to the ground.
She was confused, mostly due to the fact he was headed to the Ranger Union. She'd expected him to run off somewhere, but instead he was doing exactly what he was supposed to. She began to think that perhaps he really was interested in being a Ranger after all.
Heath frowned at her. "Kate?"
She shook her head. "Sorry. I just..never mind. Let's go." She ran ahead through Altru Park, Heath close behind, and onto Union Road.
The first to greet them at the Ranger Union building was Keith, who immediately pulled Kate aside. "How was he?"
"He's perfect..ly obedient," she said quickly.
Keith raised an eyebrow.
"He did everything he was supposed to, and nothing he was told not to.."
"Are you saying you trust him?" Keith replied angrily.
"Uh...I guess. I mean, he carried me most of the way here.."
Keith was confused. "..What?"
Kate bit her lip. "Ah, nothing. Where's Chairperson Erma?"
"Her usual spot. I'll take you to her-"
"I can take myself," she snapped, and walked briskly to the escalator; Heath hurried after her.
He followed Kate up another escalator before they reached Chairperson Erma. Kate was unaware she'd been followed until Erma made a point to greet him.
"Oh!" Kate said in surprise. "I thought you were staying downstairs with Keith."
He shook his head. "I stay with you."
"...Oh." Kate turned away, red-faced. Heath grinned.
Erma looked at him with some sort of respect. "So, you've become a Ranger after all?"
He nodded vigorously.
"Good, good."
"I get Ranger clothes?" he asked.
Kate smiled. "Yes, Heath, we'll go get you a Ranger uniform in a minute. Chairperson Erma," she started, "did you want to speak with me?"
"No, that's quite alright. I will send for you if you are needed later."
"Understood. Let's go, Heath." He happily followed her out.
A while later, Heath was dressed in his new Ranger uniform. After seeing him in green for so long, the bright red looked a bit strange on him to Kate. He was also given a Capture Styler, as he no longer had one due to turning the School Styler in before graduation.
Keith watched the two with distaste. Kate shouldn't be spending so much time with Heath, he thought bitterly. It was only a matter of time until he stabbed her in the back...possibly literally. He decided he needed to separate the two. As he approached, however, they ran outside, leaving him alone again.
Keith growled and hurried after them.
When he'd reached them, Heath was in the middle of a capture, experimenting with Poké Assists. Kate was watching. He pulled her aside to talk once more.
"What's your problem, Keith?" Kate said with a yelp as he grabbed her arm.
"My problem? What's your problem? All of a sudden you'd rather spend more time with that criminal buffoon than me!"
She stared at him. "You've got to be kidding me. You're jealous?"
"No, I'm not-" Keith frowned as he forgot what he was going to say for a moment. "I'm not jealous. I'm just worried, got it?"
"And you don't trust him, so you think he's going to kill me."
"Something like that," he agreed.
Kate looked back at Heath before responding with, "Look, I think he's being honest about all this."
"How do you know he's not faking it?"
"Uh, who went on the Mission to the Ranger School?" she snapped.
Keith flinched. "You did..."
"Exactly. So you would think I would know what I'm talking about?"
He stepped back. "Okay, sorry.."
Kate huffed and walked over to congratulate Heath, who had completed the capture and successfully used a Poké Assist. "I capture Pokémon!" he said excitedly.
"Yeah, you're gonna do that a lot now!"
The two ran down Union Road. Keith stood sulking for a few minutes before following them.
"Where are we going?" Kate said as they walked into Altru Park, Keith hiding behind a bench.
Heath grinned at her. "You will see." He took her hand and they went back to Pueltown. Keith hurried after them.
He followed them to...a restaurant? He scratched his head. Why would Heath take her to... Oh.
He quickly formulated a plan as he hid from view of the window. He knew exactly what Heath was up to, and one way or another he was going to stop him.
