3: School

Chibi Tokiko

Lvl 4

Docile

Limber

Normal/Flying

Attacks:

-Scratch

-Sand Attack

"I see you caught a Tokiko." Rikako smiled.

"Yeah." I said as the aforementioned Doll landed on my head, "I didn't even plan on catching it."

"But isn't it nice to have a new friend?" Maribel smiled.

"I guess..."

"Then take these!"

Renko received Miko OrbsX5.

"Why are you giving me this?" I frowned.

"You're going to need them if you want to catch Dolls."

"Why would I want to catch Dolls?"

"Actually, it's probably best if you do." Rikako said, "You'd need a lot of allies if you want to tear down a shrine."

"Don't you have research to do?"

"That can wait."

"But I don't want to take care of 151 Dolls." I frowned.

"You don't have to." Rikako smiled slyly, "The most a trainer is permitted to carry is 6. Any extras are stored in a PC, BUT! You don't have an account. And neither does Maribel."

"What?"

"SO! Since I'm such a nice person, I'll take care of any extra Dolls you capture." Rikako said.

I looked to Maribel.

"She's the reason I only had a CMystia." She smiled sadly.

"I'm still not sure about catching Dolls." I said.

"Why?" Maribel asked.

"I don't think I'd be able to train 6 at a time. And for all that I went through to get CTokiko, It seems like a bit too much work."

"But capturing Dolls get easier the more Dolls you have." Maribel frowned, "Same goes for battling."

"Still..."

"Ah, you can always use Statuses."

"Statuses?"

"A condition where the Doll is in a detrimental state." Rikako explained, "I've found that some Dolls have attacks that can cause them."

"Yep." Maribel said, "In total, there's 6: Paralyze, Frozen, Burn, Poison and Sleep."

"But Dolls are beings of magic right?" I frowned, "How do statuses affect them?"

"Go to school." Rikako said, "They can explain it in shorter words."

"I have time." I said.

"Yes, but the Dolldex is running out of energy."

"Eh? How do I charge it?"

"It's magic powered."

"What? Then how is it running out of energy?"

Rikako disconnected.

"School?" I frowned, "But...that would take forever."

"She's talking about the Doll School in the nearby town." Maribel said, "There's no semesters and trainers are free to come and go."

"Really? How do they survive?"

"Parental insistence."

"Oh. Sounds interesting. Want to go?"

"Eh? N-No, I've already been there. You can go."

"Really?" I frowned.

"Y-Yeah."

"Then...where is it?"

...

"So this is the Doll School." I said.

"Okay, I'll be going now." Maribel said, turning around quickly.

"HEY! You 2!" A teacher yelled at us, "You're the ones that professor chick sent right? Get in here!"

"Eh?" Maribel cried, "B-But I-"

"No excuses! Get in!"

I followed Maribel as she was dragged inside.

"Now listen up." The teacher said apprehensively, "Because I'm only doing this for the new books the nice...nice...delicious...professor offered us."

I frowned.

"Ahem. Anyway, what was it that we're learning today?"

"Aren't you supposed to know already?" I asked.

"No, this was short notice!"

"Are you really the teacher?" I asked.

"No, I'm the substitute." The teacher spat, "Now then...AH, yes. Statuses. There are 6 statuses that a Doll can be inflicted with: Paralyze, Frozen, Burn, Poison, and Sleep.

Now, Frozen and Sleep is self-explanatory. Right?"

I nodded quickly.

"Good. Then I'll start with Paralyzation. Paralyzation is caused when an attack is made on the opponent's Magical Reservoir that slows the energy that are basically a Doll's life. This doesn't kill them though as Magic cannot be fully stopped by a lingering effect, but it is enough to occasionally stall the energy output. This shows in the Dolls actions, or rather, lack of.

Poison is the opposite. It doesn't slow the Magic, but rather makes it unstable. The unstable Reservoir will continuously leak Magic, weakening the Doll. Unlike Paralyzation, this Status IS capable of killing your Doll. There's is a subtype of Poison known an Toxic. This status is basically the regular knocked up a few notches."

"What about Burn?" I asked.

"That is a physical status." The teacher said, closing the book, "Now, surprise quiz."

"What?"

"That teacher has problems." I said once it was lunchtime.

"Yeah, but he's a nice person." Maribel smiled, "...in the end."

"I guess."

"So what did you get?" Maribel asked.

"98." I frowned, "I didn't know that one question. I'm lucky most the other stuff I already learned. What about you?"

Maribel held up her test.

"100." I said, surprised, "I'm impressed. You didn't seem like the type to study or remember the sciency stuff."

"I know the basics." Maribel huffed, "And...the advanced stuff. Nothing major though."

"...So are you going to tell me why you didn't want to go to school?" I asked.

Maribel jolted, "W-What are you talking about?"

"You think I didn't notice?" I smirked, "Come on."

"...F-Fine. I was home-schooled. Is that enough?"

"Home-schooled?" I said, "By your parents?"

"Yeah." Maribel sighed, "They taught me stuff that they don't even teach in regular schools."

"...But your past contradicts your nature." I frowned.

"Eh?"

"If you were really taught so much, then you'd be able to answer my questions. I wouldn't have needed to go to Rikako."

"U-Um...T-That's because..."

"Oh. It that you, Maricel?"

Maribel jolted as someone addressed her. She spun around, "K-Kai?"

"It is you!" Kai smirked, "Maricel, that freak genius."

"Freak?" I frowned.

"Who's that?" Kai asked, looking at me, "Your friend?"

Maribel shrunk back. She hasn't even corrected her own name.

"What's your story?" He asked me.

I ignored his question.

"Hey. You hear me?" Kai said, leaning forward, "Ha. Fine. Hey, Maricel."

"Maribel." Maribel corrected under her breath.

"What has a genius like you been doing? Huh? Bet you got a high end job like an attorney or something. Good for you. Normal people like us have to save up money for what we want you know."

"Who are you?" I frowned.

"Oh, so you can speak!" Kai smirked, "I'm Kai. I'm a trainer. You?"

"Usami Renko." I said, "I'm also a trainer."

"Is that so?" Kai smiled slyly, "How badges do you have?"

"Badges?"

"You don't know about badges?" Kai cried, "What is with you? Hey, maybe you can explain it to him. It can't be too difficult for a home-schooled genius like you."

"What do you know about Maribel?" I frowned.

"AH, it was Maribel?" Kai said, "My bad, I only remember relevant people you see. And Maribel...well, she's so smart and all. Being a genius and all, she didn't want to talk with dumber people like us regular people."

I was seriously getting irritated by this person.

"So what are you doing back here, Maribel?" Kai smirked, "Forgot everything? Or are you just here to feel smart?"

"That's it." I said, reaching for CReimu.

"Renko, No!" Maribel cried, holding me back.

"Oh, you wanna go a round?" Kai smirked.

"Ignore him, Renko!" Maribel said, dragging me away from him.

"Heh. Sayonara, Freak and Mighty."

"Who was that?" I demanded when we were far away from him.

"K-Kai." Maribel said, "He was...a classmate of mine."

"Classmate?" I frowned, "But weren't you home-schooled?"

"I went to a school once." Maribel bit her lip, "It...didn't turn out well for me."

I waited for her to elaborate. She sat down first,

"When I went to school for the first time, I was a year ahead of them lesson-wise. Since I already knew what they were teaching, naturally I excelled their subjects."

"I can't imagine you being hated for that."

"I wasn't. Well...not really." Maribel smiled sadly, "It might seem weird to you now, but I was actually pretty quiet back then. Being a silent, aloof genius got me a few enemies, but Kai was the one that made picking on me popular."

"He was jealous?" I asked.

"I suppose." Maribel said, "Aha. I...tried fighting back the insults, but they never went well. Eventually, I lost my friends. After I became a trainer I decided to act normal, though that hasn't really worked out for me."

"...What were those badges that Kai was talking about?"

"Ah, those are given by Gym Leaders, trainers deemed above the norm by the League. They're situated in various towns for trainers to test their abilities. When you win, you get a badge."

"You really do know a lot." I smiled.

"Ehe." Maribel smiled.

With Maribel in a better mood, I finally noticed something strange,

"...Maribel."

"Eh?"

"Kai is a trainer right?"

"That's what he said."

"And you went to school with him here?"

"Yes."

"Trainers don't usually stay in one place do they?"

"No. You won't meet a lot of dolls that way." Maribel frowned, "What's with all the questions?"

"Kai is a trainer and with the way he was talking, he seems to be a very good one. He should've left this town then, but he's here?"

"...That's a good point." Maribel said, "Why is he still here?"

"Only one way to find out."

"Eh?" Kai said, "Why I'm still here?"

"Certainly a trainer of your caliber must've left this city at least once right?" I asked.

"Y-Yeah. Of course I did."

"What are you doing back?" Maribel asked, "Did you only go to the neighboring towns?"

"Ha!" Kai smirked, "I'm after much bigger things."

"And they're in this town?" I asked.

"Gh. W-What do you want from me."

"You sound nervous." Maribel said, regaining a bit of a smile.

"Nervous? A great trainer like myself doesn't need to answer to you."

"Then. How badges do you have?" I asked, pointing at him dramatically, "Surely a great trainer like you must've gotten some badges."

Kai took a step back, the mental struggle clearing reflecting in his face. Hesitantly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small case. Pinned inside...was a badge.

"See? I got a badge! What do you have to say for yourself then? Huh?"

I bit my lip.

"Ha! Now what? I bet you 2 don't have a single badge!" Kai boasted, his pride returning.

"Actually." Maribel took out her Dolldex.

With a button, a panel slid out, revealing...4 badges pinned to it.

"F-F-"

"Four?" I cried, "Maribel, you fought 4 gyms?"

"And won?" Kai added.

"Yep." Maribel smiled.

"So that's why you were training!" My Dolldex cried.

"Rikako?" I said, taking out my Dolldex, "I thought this thing was running out of energy!"

"Nonsense, I just had research to do."

"Then why'd you lie?"

"Look, the important thing here is that I thought Maribel was up to something and I was right!"

"S-Sorry, professor."

Kai chuckled. Then a bit louder. Finally he bust into a full on laugh, "I always thought that it was only brains that you were gifted with. But now I know. You're a full on genius."

"K-Kai?" Maribel backed down a bit.

"Maribel...Fight me!"

"E-EH?"

"Come on!" Kai cried, taking out an Orb, "You got 4 badges, you don't need to be afraid of me!"

"K-Kai..."

"Don't think about it." I said, "Kai, I'll be the one to take you on!"

"E-Eh?"

"You?" Kai smirked, "What do you have to do with this?"

"Nothing. You just annoy me."

"Honest aren't you? Fine. I'll just use you as an appetizer."

Trainer Kai challenged you to a battle!

"Let me out." CReimu said, rattling in her Orb, "I want a piece of him."

I reached for my Orbs.

"Go! CTokiko!"

"A Chibi? Heh, If that's all you got, then this one Doll is enough for you! Go, F.O.E!"

A small white tuft of fur with eyes emerged from his Orb. My Dolldex beeped as I set it to Battle Mode,

"Lvl 25?" I said.

"That's right." Kai smirked, "I just recently caught this little guy too so we should be about even."

"Even? He's 21 levels higher than your CTokiko." Rikako frowned, "If you get hit once, you're dead."

"Ha ha! I'll even let you get in a free hit!" Kai said, "Come on! Get a good one in!"

"...Sand attack."

CTokiko drew a wing back and then forth again sending dust flying into the F.O.E's eyes.

"S-Sand attack? Are you kidding me? F.O.E Tackle!"

The Kedama tried looking around, and shot off in the direction of my CTokiko. CTokiko noticed him well in time to dodge it by lowering herself.

"Sand-Attack! 5 more times should do!"

CTokiko frowned, but swept up dust again, blinding the white furball again. Each tackle failed to hit, instead, being countered with more Sand-Attacks. Until the 5th one was thrown into the Kedama's eyes.

"Good job! CTokiko, switch!"

"W-What are you doing, withdrawing your Doll now?" Kai demanded.

I ignored him and took out my next Doll, "Ready? Go, CReimu!"

CReimu appeared on the field with a smirk, "It's about time you let me out. I've been wanting to Pound on this guy for a while."

"Then by all means. Growl!"

"All right, let's go! Po-wait what-GROWL?"

"Do you want to die on the off chance that he hits you?" I asked.

CReimu gritted her teeth, but reacted fast enough to jump over another Tackle. She opened her mouth and released a cry that shook the Kedama.

"Good. Now again, 5 more times."

"F-Five?"

CReimu grumbled about it, but she managed to dodge all the Kedama's attacks while releasing her Growl. By the time the 5th Growl was over, she was incredibly impatient.

"There! That all?"

"Yep. Go on. Pound him all you want."

"I've been waiting a long time for this." CReimu smirked as the Kedama rocketed towards her.

"POUND!"

Reimu punched the Kedama square in the face, sending him flying back and into a tree. Before the dust could even clear, CReimu had jumped in and was continuously Pounding the furball.

"She's scary." Maribel smiled nervously.

"I-I lost?" Kai said, stunned at the Kedama that laid at his feet.

"That's what you deserve." CReimu said, dusting off her hands.

I returned her to her Orb before she could make the situation worse.

"...K...Kai?" Maribel stepped forward.

"Get away from me!" Kai said scurrying back, "I don't need your pity! F.O.E, return!"

As Kai got up he shot us one last dirty look, "I won't forget this you freak genius. And you, crazy friend of hers."

Maribel looked sad as Kai ran away.

"Don't be so sad." CReimu frowned as we left the town, "He's nothing worth getting worried over."

"But...he's right." Maribel said, "To him, I was a genius that needed no one's help and was probably pampered. As a normal person, it must've deeply hurt his pride."

"...If you want to keep thinking..." I sighed as I fed my CTokiko who landed on my head, "He's unusually obsessed."

"Eh?"

"He continued to hate you over these years? How odd. You're definitely not just a classmate to him at any rate."

"Yeah." Maribel smiled sadly, "But, I'm not his friend either. I'm nobody's friend."

"You're my friend." I said.

"Hey what about me?" CReimu frowned and punched me in the face.

"Gah! Hey, Dolls don't count! Otherwise, Maribel always had her CMystia anyway!"

"I'm your friend." Rikako said from inside my pocket.

"Shut up you."

Maribel smiled.