113. The Letter

In a moment of weakness, I twisted the knob on Steven's door and found it open. I hesitated in his doorway but entered his empty home, anyway.

There was a sealed note waiting for me on his desk.

To May,

I've decided to do a little soul-searching and train on the road. I don't plan to return home for some time. I have a favor to ask of you. I want you to take the Poké Ball on the desk. Inside it is a Beldum, my favorite Pokémon. I'm counting on you. May our paths cross again someday.

Steven Stone


114. The Last Goodbye

I crumbled the paper in my hand and snatched the Poké Ball off the desk.

"Bastard…" I hissed, throwing the letter to the floor and stomping out of his house.

Sober, I wasn't an idiot, even if I was when drunk. His words weren't literal—I could read between the lines. This Beldum was a goodbye present, a symbol that, if it was up to him, we would never meet again.

How could he decide things all by himself?

If he didn't want to, I couldn't force it. It would only be awkward and painful for me in the end.


115. Brashness

"You're the Champion? You're awfully young."

I spun a Poké Ball on my finger, staring at it rather than my challenger. It wasn't the first time this had been said to me.

"And you're awfully brash," I shot back, flicking the ball into the air and then catching it. "But I like my challengers a little fiery. Keeps things interesting."

My latest victim, because I already knew I wouldn't let this guy win, was a grey-haired middle-aged man. "I have a son your age, you know. You single?"

"Oh, yes, quite brash. I hope your son deals well with disappointment."


116. Hit and Run

It wasn't as if I was turning down every offer I got. Sure, when they came from middle-age men whose sons would be embarrassed if they knew what their folks were up to, I'd definitely turn those down.

But if Steven didn't want to meet me anymore, I wasn't going to wait around for him to fall out of the sky.

Maybe I just went on dates to put him out of my mind. Yet the more boys I met, the more I thought of Steven and how no one could ever compare.

How many days now? Would infinity end?


Author's Note: Steven, bro, you're missing your chance here.

I see May as being a very laid-back type of Champion. Where Steven was very formal when accepting challenges, May is super chill.