Chapter 42

Watching a reporter's footage of May rushing through Mount Chimney, Steven Stone leaned forward in his chair, his expression as stern as his father's. He couldn't keep putting off his corporate responsibilities, and May's pokémon showed a significant amount of promise he hadn't seen in most trainers he'd encountered around Hoenn.

Resting his chin in his hand, Steven watched silently, analysing her every movement, trying not to notice the fiery glint in her eyes, her lips set with a determination that Steven could recall once having. In requesting she assist him, Steven had sent her to Mount Chimney as part of a test to examine her resolve and abilities from a distance, though watching her on the screen definitely interested the champion more than most other battles did.

He'd had Wallace hack into the reporter's systems and was fully utilising it. Honestly, he'd been surprised when May hadn't even glanced back at the relaxing sauna in the distance, especially with his intel. No, it had been a relief when she turned her eye on the two teams, her expression serious. She'd been as determined as he'd suspected, and that was something he was extremely grateful for.

'We need to eradicate those two groups. They've become quite intrusive, and it will become problematic unless we squash it now,' Wallace's voice chimed from the nearby loveseat, his eyes trained upon the animated screen, his hands playing with pokéballs in that lazy way only Wallace could have.

Steven glanced at his best friend who, appallingly, seemed quite comfortable in the article of furniture he'd insisted on buying. With a sigh, the Hoenn champion returned his gaze to the screen. He knew he was procrastinating, but he knew the man was right.

'Maybe, though it seems to push her forward. Unless she's pushed, May seems to be quite complacent,' Steven muttered as he took a sip from his water. From what he'd seen of her, she seemed to thrive in adverse scenarios, something which puzzled him. He didn't understand how May could not thrive for her own cause when she was perfectly capable in her own right. Was it that she didn't see her own potential or did she require external pressures to thrive?

'But will she appreciate what you're doing when she realises? You can't deny that you're attracted to her, I can see it in your face,' Wallace mused as he calmly inspected his nails. The man was completely blasé about the situation, which only fuelled Steven's irritation with him.

'Then we'd better make sure she doesn't realise,' the champion scowled back, much to the amusement of his friend.

'And you'd better keep your emotions in check, else you're going to get hurt. Neither of us want anything worse than what's happened with Cynthia to happen here,' the man taunted before leaving the room, and an extremely irritable champion.

Whilst Steven Stone didn't respond notably, he did return his attention to the young woman on the screen before him, his lips forming a subtle frown, his thoughts returning to the red man she was often around.

As interested as he was in her, he knew that Wallace was right.

Watching her battle, Steven knew he should switch the screen off.

Instead, he found himself analysing the battle, relishing the unbridled emotions that flickered across her face.

A/N:

So Steven admits that he has feelings for her. Do you think May will find out?