Well, after my X-Box got fried by lightning, for the second time in half a year, I said fuck the X-Box considering it got cooked even with a surge protector. So I gots me a Switch, and yeah, fuck you Microsoft. Never gonna pick up an X-Box ever again. The Switch is too cool.

February 7th, 2019. 7:00 pm.

It had indeed taken a full week to get through Pinwheel Forest due to the snow. It melted a little bit every day, but not enough to make a huge difference. Still, it wasn't a big deal to either Logan or Ben. Ben had managed to get in some decent training when the Pokémon came out to find food once the snow had sufficiently melted. For an entire day and a half he had focused on nothing but training to make up for the lack of it in the previous days. He had managed to get Nito Ichi up to Level 24, Blitzle to Level 22, and had it learn Flame Charge, replacing Tail Whip, and Munna to Level 23, replacing Defense Curl with Moonlight. As they walked onto the massive Skyarrow Bridge he began to think about strategies to win in the coming Bug Type Gym. Munna was going to not participate unless he needed to as Bug Types would take him down rather quickly. Nito would be up to the task so long as the Bug Types didn't have too many Grass Type Moves. He didn't want to use Logan unless it was necessary because, although the Pokémon and trainers they were encountering were catching up, Logan still held an overwhelming advantage, especially with his Flamethrower in this case. Blitzle with Flame Charge would be a great choice, and so he decided he would lead with him. They traveled down the bridge, and stepped into the huge city. Bustling with people and skyscrapers, this was truly a huge city. Hundreds of thousands of people called it home. Simply traversing the city could take days without a car.

Logan coughed a few times as they entered. "This is one of the reasons why I don't like cities. The air sucks." The air did indeed have a sort of car exhaust smell to it as people drove to and from pretty much everywhere, and with so many cars in such a small space, morning smog wasn't uncommon.

"Yes, it is not the clean and clear air we've been breathing in Pinwheel for the last week. Though city life has certain charms. The food for one thing. You have so many kinds of restaurants to pick from. In the last three towns we've been to we've had fast food and mom and pop places. Here we can have something a bit better. Which is what I suggest we do first. I'm starved."

Logan broke out into a smile at the mention of food. His stomach had been growling for a couple hours now. "I like either Asian or Unovan food. What all do we have?" Both of them pulled out their phones as they travelled along the sidewalk. The sidewalk was mostly empty. It was a lot more busy in the evening and mornings as people who could walk to and from work did. Logan looked for Unovan style cuisine like steakhouses, while Ben began to search for Asian food like you saw in Jhoto and Kanto. "Nah. No. That's Italian. Pass."

""How about Shogun's? It's a hibachi place."

Logan's stomach answered before he did by giving an audible growl. "That would be a yes. How far is it?"

Ben checked the distance. "About a mile down this road." Before he looked up from his phone, he found himself on top of Logan. The Zoroark had crawled under Ben's legs and gotten to all fours with Ben's legs just behind his shoulders.

"Hold on tight. We'll be there in about three minutes if not less. Logan began bounding forwards. Ben was jolted back with how quickly Logan had accelerated. He was glad he had taken Logan's advice. Before he knew it, the scenery around them began to rush by. Logan was doing at LEAST 25. He was still probably taking it easy. True to his word, less than three minutes later, they had arrived. The distinct cat statues told them this was indeed the right place. Logan knelt down and allowed Ben to get off. Ben was amazed that Logan had not only let that happen, but actually started it. Perhaps food had something to do with it, but perhaps not. They walked into the decorative building. Darkly colored to give a more sophisticated and serious feel. This place was expensive and they wanted you to know it.

The female anthro tuxedo cat looked to them and smiled. "Hello and welcome to Shogun's. Two of you?" They nodded. "Hibachi or table?" Logan looked to Ben with a pleading look. Despite the vicious visage that Zoroak's had, it was kinda cute with those ocean blue eyes. Ben let out a sarcastic sigh and smiled.

"Hibachi please." Logan's face beamed with happiness He loved this kind of experience. They were sat with five others, a family of humans. Logan gave a short look at the menu before picking what he wanted. Ben decided on the hibachi shrimp. It was then Ben noticed the price. $20 for hibachi shrimp. Oof. This was gonna hurt, but, Logan looked happy. He was sure if the fox still had a tail like his prevolved form, it would be wagging like crazy. They got their drinks, as well as a miso soup and salad. Logan slurped down the soup rather rudely. "Logan, I know you lived in the wild for over two years, but at least try to be polite please?" Logan rolled his eyes and pushed the salad away. 'Foxes are definitely not into greens.' Ben himself didn't eat much of the salad, but did enjoy the tasty miso. When the waiter came back, they ordered their drinks and food. Logan asked for double fried rice with no vegetables, no surprise at all on the vegetables, and hibachi chicken. Also known as a fox's favorite protein.

Eventually the chef came out. A lynx. Ben began to wonder if everyone here was a feline since their waiter was a panther. He began to put on his show. His dexterity with his hands as he juggled the tools was remarkable, and that he was able to juggle an egg on a metal spatula showed how well trained he was in precision. He made the traditional onion volcano by stacking the rings, which Logan commented to Ben that he couldn't do that with his hands, let alone with a spatula and... whatever that other thing was called with the two points. After that he began cooking up the rice. After he began, he grabbed a bottle filled with sake and after lightning the grill on fire, offered it to the parents of the family, neither of which took any, to Ben, who took a little bit of it, and to Logan, who opened his mouth and began gulping it down with his mouth open as the chef kept spraying it. After a full ten seconds, he waved his hand over his throat indicating to stop. Logan shook his head and gave a satisfied ah. Ben leaned over. "Aren't you underage?"

"They don't know."

Soon enough, they chef put the vegetables on, but separate from the rice, and offered to try and toss one into each person's mouth. None of the humans managed to catch it, Ben got close, but wasn't able to grab it. Logan had no trouble considering how wide his long muzzle could open. Soon enough they were given their rice, Logan was given his first as his didn't have vegetables, and immediately he began to devour it. Ben wondered if he was part wolf with how quickly he was downing it. Soon enough, their main courses were cooked up and served as the chef had finished his show and was now focused solely on cooking. Logan's chicken, and Ben's shrimp, were covered in a tangy teryiaki, and even Ben couldn't help eating it a bit quickly. Once Logan finished, he was of course the first one done, he gave a loud and satisfied burp, which the kids eating with them laughed at. Ben elbowed him in the ribs.

Ben was given the check and his eyes nearly watered from the pain of his wallet. $45 for two people to eat. 'Well, Logan definitely enjoyed himself, and it was delicious and it was a good show.' Ben payed the check and the tip, which pushed the bill over 50, and they left happy, and Ben a bit lighter in the wallet. Logan had a distinct spring in his step and a smile on his face. Ben decided that the cost was worth it as he had never seen Logan so happy before, and with how much he seemed to beat himself up, he bet it had been years since Logan was this happy. "You seem happy."

He burped again and rubbed his gut. "Well that's because I am. Damn that's good stuff. Ya know, I like you."

Ben couldn't help but smile at the happy fox. 'I think I've finally gotten through.'

A couple hours later, they arrived at a Pokémon Center and got a room. They laid out on their beds and Ben could tell Logan was thinking as he had been unusually quiet for the last 20 minutes. "Ben?" He gave a noise of acknowledgement. "You've asked me before what happened in my past that... made me the way I am... I... I think it's time I tell you. I trust you." Ben sat up as the Zoroark leaned back against the wall. "I warn you... it's... it's dark. I... I just hope that you won't judge me too harshly for this. For what I did. It happened a little over a year ago."