A metallic banging noise, like steel failing under a sudden force, rang through the gym's hallways. The thudding echoes reached the ears of the party as they searched for the Greninja. Meanwhile, Azul was busy punching a locker, frustrated over his loss. Before he could make another dent in the locker door, Suzuki grabbed the Pokémon's wrist, halting its path.

"Hey! Don't be a sore loser," he lectured.

Almost immediately, Azul thrusted his arm out of Suzuki's grip.

"Nin-ja, Gre-ninja!" the Greninja exclaimed

The ninja-frog soon rested his hands on the locker cabinet and lowered his head, dejected and exhausted. Suzuki sighed. He placed a hand on the water Pokémon and spun him around so they would lock eyes with one another.

"Azul. You already know this, but I'm going to tell you anyway," he said.

"You are different. You are special, and you are destined for great things..."

The staff member took a deep breath before saying;

"...but you are NOT invincible."

The Greninja sighed.

"Gren," he said.

"One day, you might be, and it will surprise very few who truly know you," continued Suzuki. "So listen when I say...'you will have days like this'."

For a brief moment, Azul remained silent. Then, he responded to Suzuki's words with a nod.

Then, pain shot from Azul's side and up his body. He wheezed. Recalling the damage that he had gone through in the previous battle, Suzuki pulled out an item which would help Azul in his current predicament - a Potion.

He pushed the top of the bottle down, spraying the potion onto the areas of Azul's body where the pain was most present on the Pokémon.

As he applied the healing liquid, Suzuki said;

"Now, that was a brand new, and rather expensive locker. So if you'd mind terribly, please don't punch any more school property, okay?"

A chuckle came from the ninja-frog.

Then, the sound of footsteps reached the ears of the staff member. Once he had finished applying the healing ointment, Suzuki said;

"Ok. I need you to go to the sakura tree. This is gonna be a crucial thing happening now."

The footsteps grew closer.

– "Go-go-go-go-go!

The Pokémon put an open palm and closed fist together and bowed, ran in the opposite direction of the sound, and in a puff of smoke, disappeared. Suzuki sighed in relief and planned his next words like a Rattata, creeping through the night.

'Louis is probably gonna kill me right now,' he thought.

Soon, the footsteps stopped. Suzuki already knew who it was. He turned around to see Louis, Taki, Roy and the young adult's Pokémon. Louis had his arms folded, while a stern expression glared at the staff member.

Louis said, "...what. Were you. Thinking?"

A sigh left Suzuki's airways. He turned to the young adult.

"...it wasn't an easy decision, Louis," he said. "Sometimes...sacrifices have to be made."

A spark ignited in the young adult's heart.

"Sacrifices?! Are you serious?!" he exclaimed.

"Whoa whoa, slow down Louis," reassured Taki. "What's going on?"

– "I'll tell you what. Suzuki took that Greninja off of Zack's team for the qualifiers."

"What?!" yelped Roy. "You gotta be kidding me, Suzuki!"

"Why wouldn't I do it?" said Suzuki.

He then focused on the young adult and said;

"...he's your Pokémon."

The gang froze.

Louis felt a mixture of shock, surprise, but also a hint of disgust. Taki, on the other hand, felt slightly outraged. Roy, unbeknownst to the others, was livid at Suzuki's deception.

"...what did you say?" blurted Louis.

"Come on, Louis. You didn't think I wouldn't work out that Zack's Greninja was Azul, did ya'?" replied Suzuki.

"I found it out a few days ago, while you guys were on break from training. I saw him talking to his sister, where I saw the pendant that you gave him before he went to-"

Suzuki's explanation was interrupted as Marowak's bone club had struck him in the head, knocking his glasses off.

"OW!" cried Suzuki.

"Maro-wak Maro Maro?!" yelled Marowak.

"Uh...Marowak said..." Louis paused. He cleared his throat and finished by translating;

"...'why didn't you tell us?!'"

Suzuki groaned at the pain sustained as he picked up his glasses and put them back on.

"Well, I had a feeling you still thought that I wasn't aware, so I decided to play along," he explained.

Still angered, Louis stepped toward the staff member.

"Where is he?" he asked, seethingly.

"I told him to wait at the sakura tree," answered Suzuki.

– "He better be there. For your sake."

From behind, Taki stepped toward the young adult and staff member.

"Suzuki..." she said.

Louis stepped to the side. Both individuals stared at one another. Then, to everyone's surprise, Taki swung an open palm at Suzuki, striking him.

"That's for deceiving us," she said.

Suzuki rubbed the side of his face.

"Ok, I deserved that," he silently said.

Then, an announcement rang across the old speakers.

"The next battle will be Roy Hunter and Team Supernova versus Taki Hinamura and Team Forest."

Alertness swept across both of the spoken trainers. They both turned to Louis.

"Sorry Louis," apologised Roy. "We'd love to help, but we got to go."

"Yeah, we'll talk after our match," added Taki.

As the two trainers departed, Louis turned to Suzuki and said;

"We'll finish this later. Right now, we've got a Pokémon to find."

Tsk tsk tsk. Oh, Suzuki, you should've been honest with Louis when you first found out. Just pray that Louis doesn't whoop your butt later.

Anyway, thanks for reading. Is there something you enjoyed? Can you guess what happens next? Or...what do you hope to see in future chapters? If so, go ahead and leave a review explaining any of these reasons. (Please don't leave hurtful reviews)

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Thanks again. See you next time