Public Displays of Aggression
Chapter 35 – Photography
[AN: Another chapter similar to "Where We May Go". I just need a break from action scenes. They're strangely draining to write.]
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Midorima and Takao eventually went inside and talked to Nurse Joy about her healing their Pokémon, she let them know that Ilex Forest had been cleared and it was now ready to be open to the public again. Nurse Joy accepted their Pokémon and when she turned her back and told them to wait a few minutes in the foyer. They then caught up with the others who had been hanging out in what had essentially become the VIP area of the common room.
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Upon hearing the announcement, Kise's eyes immediately lit up. 'How about the five of us all go to Goldenrod City together?' he asked. 'I'm so lonely, Midorimacchi, Kurokocchi... pretty please? C'mon, Takaocchi, Kagamicchi. Let's do it. Let's grab our stuff and go.' Kise begged.
'I refuse. Go die.' Midorima spat.
'No need to be rude, Shin-chan.' Takao scolded. He was unsurprised though. Midorima was still fuming from his loss.
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Kagami and Kuroko glanced at each other. 'I'd be fine with it.' Kagami said.
'If you would like Kise-kun, you can travel with us.' Kuroko decided.
'Yay, at least Kurokocchi and Kagamicchi are nice to me.' Kise chirped.
'If you weren't so irritating there would be no need for me to be rude to you.' reasoned Midorima and Kise crossed his arms sulkily.
'C'mon Shin-chan, it'll be fun. Let's go with them to Goldenrod.' Takao argued.
'If you wish, you can join them. I am simply going to refrain from doing so.' Midorima said.
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Nurse Joy turned back around. 'Hello?' she said and she noticed tension between the group. 'You may collect your Pokémon.' The Trainers accepted their Pokémon back and then moved out of the way so that other people may access the reception desk. They moved themselves to what had become their corner of the common room foyer.
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The argument managed to fizzle out by them thanks to Kuroko's amazing negotiation skills. He soothed Kise's petulant mood and Midorima's prickly attitude by simply telling them to both "Shut up". It made Takao wonder what they were like during their time at the Academy. There was still so much he didn't understand or know that it was kind of daunting but if he knew anything about Midorima; it was that he would eventually open up. He was just awkward and private.
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Over the next few minutes Kise, Kuroko, and Kagami planned when they would leave. Midorima and Takao listened to them prattle about their opinions. They ended up deciding that they would leave within the hour that way they would get to the other side of Ilex Forest by sundown and they could camp out on its outskirts.
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By two o'clock, the three were ready to farewell. Midorima retreated into his and Takao's room and chose not to see them off. Takao had more courtesy than that. He stood out front the Pokémon Centre with Kagami and Kuroko. They were waiting on Kise. The blonde soon arrived. He was farewelling his fangirls and they were acting as though he were being sent off to war. He waved them goodbye and put on his hat. He met with his friends.
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'Oh? Did you decide to come with us Takaocchi?' Kise asked.
'Uh, no. I just thought I'd say goodbye since Shin-chan's being an ass and won't.' replied Takao.
'That's just like Midorimacchi.' Kise sighed and Kuroko scowled. 'He's probably still salty about all the times I ever teased him; and well, his most recent loss. Who can blame him, really?'
'Well, let's hit the road.' Kagami butted in.
'Yes, Kagami-kun's right. If we dilly-dally then we won't reach our goal of getting through Ilex Forest before sundown. Goodbye Takao-kun. Tell Midorima-kun we say "goodbye".' Kuroko said.
'Yep, well, bye.' Takao said.
'See ya.' Kise chirped.
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The three Trainers waved at Takao who waved back before leaving. Takao didn't stay to watch. He turned back and started to head up the stairs inside the PokeCentre. He opened up his room and found Midorima studying at the kitchenette table with Bayleef snoozing at his feet.
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Takao sat down opposite of Midorima. He didn't look up from what he was writing. Takao gave it a quick scan. Unsurprisingly, it was a study guide. 'You really are committed to school.' Takao mused.
'I want to be a doctor. Not all of us can be Pokémon Trainers forever, after all.' Midorima said.
'Understandable.' Takao sighed. 'That's a depressing topic for me, to be honest.'
'Why? Let me guess, you haven't thought further than when you decide to "give up".' Midorima guessed.
'Bingo.'
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Midorima set down his pencil since he could see that Takao was determined to be a distraction. He had gotten enough study in for today so it would be fine. 'Have you any ideas?' Midorima asked.
'Not really. Maybe I should start studying, become a nurse. Maybe I could be your nurse.' He winked and Midorima became embarrassed. Takao chuckled. 'Go into disabilities or something. It'd make sense. I've already got experience handling blind patients.'
'That was more practical than I was expecting.' Midorima said.
'Practical? I hate studying.' Takao said.
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Midorima outstretched his hand. 'May I see your PokeGear?' he asked.
'Why?' Takao asked but it was more of a formality as he unlocked it and handed it over. Midorima noticed that Takao was using that picture he had taken during their second meeting; the picture of Sen-chan cuddling Bayleef when she had been a Chikorita. For some reason, it warmed his heart.
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Midorima thumbed through Takao's photo album. 'Just as I thought.' he mused.
'What?' Takao asked, bored.
'You really do have a good eye for photos.' Midorima said. 'Perhaps you should do something artsy. If you had a better camera than just your PokeGear's, you would be able to take some truly stunning photos.'
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Takao smiled sheepishly. The last person to compliment his photos was his mother; before she had truly started losing her vision. That had been seven or so years ago. 'Thanks.' he said, earnest. Then he frowned with a pouty lower lip. 'You really shouldn't have gone through my reel. You could have found anything in there – porn, my dick, ugly selfies.'
'I know but that was a risk I was willing to take in order to substantiate my theory.' Midorima said.
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Takao chuckled. The way Midorima spoke never failed to amuse him. He was such an old person; it was hilarious. Midorima handed back Takao's PokeGear back. Midorima put his head down and began studying again. With a snide smirk, Takao took a candid photo of Midorima who was instantly angered by the shutter noise. Bayleef rose her head sleepily and Takao took a photo of its sleepy doe eyes as well.
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'Quit taking photos.' growled Midorima whilst Bayleef became intrigued by Takao's device.
'Then why encourage me?' Takao asked. He didn't have the heart to tell Midorima that he could never seriously consider something artsy as photography as a career. It simply wouldn't pay the medical bills. Though, it would be nice.
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Takao checked his photo reel. He liked the photo of Midorima. He caught him right before he had gotten angry at him for taking the photo without permission. The sunlight through the musty windows caught on Midorima and made him glow. Bayleef's head could be seen at the bottom corner and the pencil blurred in mid-action. Takao smiled.
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'I guess I'll let you keep the photo.' Midorima sighed.
'Nah, I'll just send it to Mado-chan and then I'll delete it.' Takao said.
'That is also acceptable.' Midorima decided.