The Pokémon Center was a haven for both trainers and Pokémon. Plus, everything was free. That didn't really make Tsuna's life any easier.

"Guys, please," he said, clasping his hands in prayer, "it'll only take a few minutes."

Dante crossed his arms over his small chest and looked away. Mira just shook her head, always clear with what she wanted. Bacchus continued sleeping in Tsuna's arms, which were numb at this point, and Ace didn't move from his hair. The Magikarp from before waded in a small fountain and looked nervously at the rest. Well, Tsuna couldn't blame it. His Pokémon nearly mutilated it once it entered his PokéBall.

Tsuna wanted to tear his hair out. Even if his Pokémon were okay, he still wanted Nurse Joy to look at them because what if there was something wrong that he didn't know? As if his prayers were answered, one of Nurse Joy's Chanseys came over and smiled sweetly at Tsuna. "Chansey, Chansey!"

Tsuna breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you." He glanced at his Pokémon. "Don't give her any trouble, okay? I'll be right here."

After gently shaking Bacchus awake, Tsuna watched as Chansey led his little entourage to one of the check-up rooms, even carrying the Magikarp above her head with impressive strength. As soon as they were out of sight, Tsuna gathered his bag and dashed over to the front desk. "Excuse me, but could I use one of those video phones over there?"

Nurse Joy giggled. "Of course, young man. You don't have to ask me. Our phoning services are free for everyone to use!"

Tsuna flushed. "O—Oh, thank you."

He scurried over to a video phone and picked up the receiver. After dialing his home number, he waited for someone to pick up. He tilted his head when no one did. "They're not home? Oh."

Right, his parents were to Alola for vacation. He ran a hand through his hair. Well, they had been planning it for a while, and now that both kids were out of the house, they could travel as they pleased like they used to. Tsuna dialed another number; it barely rang once before his brother's smiling face appeared on the screen.

"Tsuna!" Giotto said. "You called!"

Tsuna laughed. "Of course I would. You made me promise to call you when I'm at the nearest Pokémon Center."

"Oh, so does that mean you're in Viridian City? That took a while. Mama said you left on Tuesday."

Sighing, Tsuna slumped his shoulders. "It's a really long story. How are you, Nii-san? Is this a bad time?"

Giotto frowned but didn't push. Tsuna liked that about his brother. It made him easier to talk to. "Nope." Giotto chuckled. "You'd think that being a Champion means you battle all kinds of trainers every day, but it's pretty quiet here."

Tsuna ignored the part where Giotto muttered something about less paperwork. He smiled brightly. "That's good to hear. Make sure to take care of yourself, Nii-san, and eat proper meals every day. Mama gets worried."

Giotto laughed. "I know! Ah, I miss your cooking."

"You mean Mama's cooking."

"Don't tell her but I think yours is better," Giotto whispered in the receiver.

"Mama will kill you."

"That's why you don't tell her! Oh, Tsuna, could you do me a favor? Do you remember Alaude?"

Giotto had told him about his friends whenever he had the chance to call. Tsuna could only imagine what they looked like, but they seemed fun, if a little scary. He didn't grow up with friends since Pallet Town didn't have kids but it would've been nice. At least, he wouldn't be lonely without Giotto. (No, Prof. Lal Mirch and Colonnello did not count as friends.)

Tsuna cocked his head. "I think so. He's the blond guy with scary eyes, right?"

"Yeah! Just don't tell him I said that. He'd kill me. Anyways, can you pass on a message for me?"

"Oh, um, okay."

Tsuna should've said no.

Giotto's words whirled in a nauseating spiral in Tsuna's mind while he headed to the Viridian Gym, his Pokémon, minus Magikarp who was in its PokéBall, following behind him. He was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't notice the horde of trainers running past him for the Pokémon Center, blabbering wildly about a terrifying gym leader fighting them all at once.

Ace gripped the collar of his shirt and pulled him away from bumping into a trainer. Tsuna mumbled his thanks while Mira looked up at him in concern. He smiled at her weakly. "I'm okay," he said. "Just…a lot on my mind."

For one thing, he was most likely going to die. Second, Alaude was the last gym leader to battle, so why the heck was Viridian City the first place to arrive at? It didn't make any sense. When he finally arrived at the gym, he took a moment to admire the simple but impressive building. Shaking his head, he climbed the steps and entered through the mahogany doors.

It was quiet, too quiet.

Ace looked around from on top of his head, keeping a sharp eye out for any danger. Bacchus had woken up from his sleep but still seemed drowsy. Mira and Dante scouted a little farther ahead. Dante's fiery tail was the only source of light since it was dark.

"H—Hello?" Tsuna cleared his throat. "Hello? Anyone here? Please…"

His voice trailed off into a whisper until the lights suddenly brightened, making him squeak. He gaped when he saw the battlefield in front of him. It was so…big and intimidating. There was a small boom behind the bleachers before some footsteps sounded in the distance. Tsuna gulped, unconsciously hugging Bacchus closer to his chest.

A young man with platinum blond hair and icy blue eyes in a trench coat appeared. He kind of looked like Tsuna had imagined. He just didn't expect him to be so…good-looking. Alaude eyed him disinterestedly before standing at the other end of the battlefield. "One-on-one," he said blandly.

Tsuna blinked. "Um, wh—Oh no, wait! I—I'm not here to battle you!"

Alaude paused, but his hand still rested on his belt. Tsuna swallowed a small lump in his throat. Geez, the teen was pretty terrifying. What was he? 18 or something?

"I'm"—Tsuna coughed lightly—"I'm Tsuna, Giotto-nii's brother."

Alaude raised a brow but didn't say anything. Okay, it would've been a little less awkward if Alaude could, Tsuna didn't know, talk? He mentally groaned. "I just came to give you a message from my brother…"

"Speak."

Tsuna wanted to smack him. Mira placed a hand on his leg as small comfort. He smiled down at her before closing his eyes and taking in a deep breath. Finally, he looked up. "Stop doing your job so perfectly, you fucking idiot! Just give the trainers their dumb badges and send them to the League already! I'm bored out of my fucking mind here while you guys get all the fun! Let me do my job too, asshole!"

Heavy silence hung in the air as Tsuna panted hard to catch his breath. He'd never thought that Giotto would say those kind of words but he was his older brother. What right did Tsuna have to judge? Alaude stared at him hard while Dante rolled around in laughter with Ace joining him with his trills.

Tsuna snapped out of his daze and flushed. "W—Wait, that wasn't me! That was from Giotto-nii! He told me to say that! I'm sorry! Please don't kill me!"

At the mention of the word "kill", his Pokémon stopped and immediately fixed a glare on Alaude, as if daring him to try. Even Bacchus hopped onto the ground by Tsuna's feet, his vine whips ready. Something must've clicked since Alaude's lips twitched into a smirk. "I accept," he said, taking a PokéBall from his belt.

Tsuna widened his eyes. "W—Wait, I said I didn't come here to battle! Are you crazy?"

Too late. Alaude had already tossed his PokéBall in the air. Tsuna covered his eyes and maybe screamed. He didn't know.

"Tuff! Wigglytuff!"

He blinked. Removing his hands, he was greeted with the sight of probably the most terrifying Wigglytuff he had ever seen. It immediately fixed its sharp blue eyes on Tsuna, making him flinch. He had to give it to them though; his Pokémon weren't the least bit intimidated.

"Charmander! Char!"

Tsuna gasped as Dante opened his mouth to release a stream of Ember. "Wait, Dante!"

Alaude wasn't fazed. "Tuffy, stand your ground."

Tsuna blinked. Then he blinked again. Tuffy…? Tuffy?

Huh.

He returned to reality when Tuffy—seriously, did he hear right?—just smirked when the Ember barely even grazed it, much less burn it. Okay, that was bad, really bad. Alaude was the eighth Gym Leader, not the first.

"Wait! I was being serious! I don't want to battle!"

No one listened to him. Tsuna wanted to bash his head against the wall and maybe strangle his brother at the same time.

"I said I don't want to battle!"

His screams could be heard throughout the whole city, but there was no one willing to help him against the strongest Gym Leader in the region and his demonic Wigglytuff.

A/N Beware of Tuffy. Tuffy kills. :^)

Thank you for reading! I hope to see you again in the next chapter.

Have a lovely day~

Little Miss Bunny