Rice paper windows, sliding doors, and neat tatami mats decorated the foyer of the Petalburg dojo hybrid gym. Apart from the reoccurring statues in all gyms, inscribed with those who have successfully challenged the gym leader, all other lingering attention was brought to a framed calligraphy symbol boasting its audaciousness. Inhaling the smell of fresh bamboo, Kuroko was surprisingly not surprised at all to see the mop of raven hair and darting silver eyes.

The usual routine occurred: Kuroko tapped Izuki's shoulder inconspicuously, Izuki let out a yelp that sounded like a cat being strangled in a washing machine, Kuroko outwardly appears indifferent but secretly finds it utterly amusing.

"Aha..ha..ha" Izuki managed to stutter out, still recovering, "there really was no need to do that was there Kuroko? I mean we're friends aren't we?"

Kuroko just nonchalantly shrugs and stares blankly at Izuki.

"Okay okay," Izuki pushes back his fringe after realising that Kuroko would not impart an answer, "I guess its part of your low presence and all."

"Wow Izuki-san, you're so much smarter than you look."

"Seriously Kuroko?!"

He coughs, clearing his throat.

"Anyway I'm assuming that the reason you're here is to challenge the gym leader. Which means its time for Izuki's special tip corner," Izuki gestures with flourish, "there are seven different rooms between you and the gym leader. As you can see the décor is quite plain and simple, all part of the normal ambience the place is trying to exude hehehe."

"No offense Izuki-san, but that wasn't very good even for you"

"Shhh Kuroko, coming up with puns as hilarious as mine is difficult even for me, especially when it's a normal type gym, but I'll suppose I'll lay off them for today since I'm still thinking them up. Anyway as I was saying there are seven rooms: One-Hit KO, Accuracy, Attack, Defense, Speed, Recovery and the Confusion room. This doesn't mean you have to go through each one though; you only need to complete three of them in a row, luckily for you. And remember, normal Pokémon are considerably weak against fighting type moves but ghost type moves have absolutely no effect on them. In general they are well-rounded pokemon in terms of stats but the trainers here like to boost that with items so be careful."

"Ah understood."

It would seem the battles would have to be won with sheer strategy, something Kuroko had no problem with. Izuki searches distractedly inside his silver messenger bag and pulls something out.

"I have half the mind not to give this to you today since-"

"Izuki-san makes the most amazing puns ever."

"-but I suppose I will."

Kuroko grabs the milkshake with concealed impatience, cradling the beverage preciously. Two doors stand before him imposingly as he turns away from Izuki, one proclaiming One Hit KO, and the other emblazoned with the word Accuracy.

Kuroko considered. One Hit KO definitely sounded less appealing. More brawn then mind, and therefore Accuracy room it is.

In the end Kuroko completed the Accuracy, Recovery, and Confusion room to finally reach the inner chamber where the Gym Leader resided. The Petalburg Gym had to be the most frustrating gym Kuroko had encountered so far. To start of with, in the Accuracy Room, Kuroko had to face the terrible wrath of the X Accuracy item, and then in the Recovery Room Kuroko resiliently fought against the slow creeping irritation of a Chansey's recover and continuous supply of potions – he really needed a finishing move dear god. And the confusion room, let's just say it involved a pitch-dark room, strobe lights and uncompromising positions and Kuroko would never speak of it again.

The final room is spacious and for the majority empty. Kuroko can distantly hear the sound of bamboo clunking onto smooth stone periodically. There must have been a Japanese garden outside, one like his grandmothers. Kuroko assumed the single other person in the room to be the gym leader. The man sported tufts of caramel hair and had his back towards Kuroko, and appeared to be eating something with no lack of passion. Kuroko gently padded towards him on the tatami to notify the man of his presence but just before he could the man turned around, a single rice grain on his cheek.

"Eh was somebody here, sorry I didn't notice you there," the gym leader declared jubilantly.

Kuroko's eyes widened.

"…Ogiwara-kun?"

Confusion swept through the man's face as he frowned before it was replaced with thin clarity.

"Kuroko-kun?" he questioned disconcertedly, "it is you isn't it Kuroko!"

Ogiwara jumped up in elation and threw one arm around Kuroko and with the other began messing up Kuroko's hair.

"Oh my god it's been ages, I haven't seen you since I've moved from Azure Town. How have you been Kuroko?!"

"Ogi..wa…kun" Kuroko struggles to breathe, "you're…sort of..strangling me"

"Oh right right," Ogiwara lets go of Kuroko hastily and scratches the back of his head giving a bashful grin, "sorry sorry it's just I'm so happy to see you again."

Kuroko was glad to see Ogiwara again as well. The friendly older boy had been his neighbour for around two years before he had to move away due to his parents demanding jobs. Kuroko had never taken a liking to pokemon battles when younger, scared that Nigou would get seriously injured despite Aomine pestering him every other day to give it a go. It was only when he say Ogiwara battling someone one day that he had taken interest in Pokémon battling. Ogiwara had taught him the ropes of Pokémon training and battling, and given both Kuroko and Aomine tips to improve their strategy, although Aomine often only half listening would find it boring and leave halfway. If Kuroko had to give a name on how he viewed Ogiwara, it would be something along the lines of an older brother who he looked up to and admired, a role model of sorts and a friend.

"Yes I suppose we fell out of contact after you moved again from Viridian City to Hearthome City. I think you forgot to tell me your new address." Kuroko smiled fondly at his old friend.

"Ah… I think I did I'm so sorry Kuroko! But it must be fate that we met up again. I'm a Pokémon Gym Leader and you're a Pokémon trainer wishing to challenge me, it must be destiny. But enough about that how have you been? You must have travelled pretty far to get to Petalburg right? How are Aomine and Momoi?"

Kuroko's smile subsided slightly.

"Actually I'm here in Petalburg City to look for Aomine, he left Azure town two years ago so I've been trying to find him."

Ogiwara expression turns concerned, catching the miniscule amount of melancholy that Kuroko had accidently allowed to slip out in an otherwise unbreakable mask.

"Is that so, I haven't seen him around these parts. But hold on a minute I'm gonna grab my stuff and then I'll start looking with you. Oh also do you have an XTransceiver, that'll be useful, but what am I saying everyone uses them these days not like Pokémon mail hahaha. That's sort of out-dated." Ogiwara had begun ranting as he pulled out a backpack and various items from hidden doors in the room.

"Ogiwara-kun wait a minute please," Kuroko had to plant himself directly in front of Ogiwara to halt his aimless pacing, "it's alright I'll be able to manage it myself. Plus you're a gym leader now, wasn't that always your dream? And now you've achieved it you can't forget about the responsibility you have now, so don't worry about Aomine and me. Also aren't we forgetting why I'm in this room in the first place?"

As Kuroko's logic sinks in, understanding dawns on Ogiwara's face.

"Well if you say so, oh man I can't believe why I forgot how you got here," toothy grin fully showcased once more, Ogiwara grabs Kuroko's shoulders.

"Let's get this Pokemon Battle on the road then!"

Ogiwara tended to go headfirst into Pokémon Battles, passion and brashness outweighing careful planning, and this was exactly how Kuroko's battle with the Petalburg Gym's gym leader began. It was only after Kuroko had managed to knock out Ogiwara's Delcatty that his opponent's demeanour began to sober. Commenting on how much Kuroko had improved as a trainer, Ogiwara's Linoone succeeded in knocking out Azurill, but not before Kuroko had reduced his Linoone's health points to 5%. Lapras thus managed to make Linoone faint with ease, and now both trainers last Pokémon were standing.

"Exciting isn't it Kuroko! This is exactly why I earn my living through Pokemon battling," Ogiwara gives a dangerous smirk, "but this is where I get really serious."

Kuroko only smiles in return.

"I would only expect so much."

A close battle thus ensued, the room often flooded with water and deep scratch marks that ripped up the tatami and walls occurred continuously. Until both Lapras and Ogiwara's Pokemon Vigoroth had eight health points each remaining. The silence so tense that even a knife could cut through; it was now a competition of speed.

"Lapras Surf"

"Vigoroth Slash!"

"Oh man, I don't know how you did that," Ogiwara complained, "I'm so sure my Vigoroth's speed stats are higher than yours, so how did you manage to land your hit first?"

Kuroko smiled secretively.

"Let's just say I taught them a little trick of mine."

"Ah well you deserved it, you battled brilliantly," Ogiwara smiled as brightly as the sun, "and now I present to you your Balance Badge and…"

Ogiwara's hand shuffles around his jacket before pulling out a circular disk.

"Tada, here's the TM for Retaliate which is the move that my Linoone used and of course your name will be engraved into the honorary statues at the entrance."

"Thank you Ogiwara-kun."

"No problem no problem, anyway I'm thinking we should go eat something together cause man I don't know about you but I'm starving."

"Before I came weren't you already eating a rice ball-"

"Sir, Ogiwara sir!" a man hurriedly runs up to Ogiwara and salutes him.

"Yes Satoshi, what's the rush?" Ogiwara answers carefree.

"We've received news that there's been a mass poisoning of dozens of Pokemon. Word is that all victims of the incident had within the last twenty four hours frequented the Berry Farm so it is believed that someone has tampered with the machines," Satoshi explicates in a rush.

Ogiwara's face darkens.

"Sorry Kuroko for doing this right after our big reunion but I got to run and check out what's happening, gym leader and all."

Ogiwara grasps Kuroko's hand and scribbles something messily on his palm.

"Here those are my contact details, call me later ok, don't forget."

"Of course."

Ogiwara flashes Kuroko one more smile before waving and rushing out of the room with Satoshi and Kuroko conjectured that he was headed towards the Berry Farm.

Kuroko frowned, he had only been there only a day ago and nothing had seemed out of ordinary except perhaps maybe how deserted it the place was. And Akashi of course, but nothing more suspicious seemed to be lurking underneath. Shaking his head, Kuroko dispersed his thoughts - what good was speculation – and headed out of the gym.

Kuroko bumped into someone for the second time that day. Glancing up he caught sight of familiar brown hair, tacky sunglasses, and an even tackier white suit.

"You look like you work at a host club Aida-san."

Aida lifts up his sunglasses.

"Eh is that you Kuroko-chan, I don't even get a hello?" Aida pats Kuroko head and in the next instant doubles over in return, "ouch, ouch you really didn't have to punch me, calm down I'm sorry."

"Just don't do it again, I'm not a child," Kuroko glowers.

"Alright alright, anyway glad I managed to catch you here. I heard from Midorima you were headed towards Petalburg City and guess what, I was around the area and thought you might have needed this."

Aida hands Kuroko a black wristband with an electronic screen at the front, various sections emphasised in blue.

"This here is a XTransceiver, a powerful communication tool. If you put someone's contact details into it you're instantly able to call them, and since you're meeting so many new people now I thought you might need it. I've already programmed Riko's, Midorima's, Hyuuga's and my numbers in there, so when you need to you can call us."

"Thank you Aida-san," Kuroko gratefully nods, glancing at the numbers scribbled onto his hand.

"No problem at all Kuroko-cha-" Aida quickly corrects himself, "-kun. Anyway I'll see you around."

Omake:

"Oh wait a minute I have something extra special for you today," Aida exclaims cheerfully, "Kuroko do you like PokeBalls."

"Um I suppose."

"Well actually I have a secret passion for basketball and I've been experimenting around with Pokeball designs since I have contacts and all in the field. So you see I was struck by a genius idea to combine the two and this is the result."

Aida holds up a basketball looking Pokeball in the air, displaying it as a trophy.

"So what do you think, it's going to be an instant seller isn't it?"