26.

Chasing Trouble

Mollie was in a mood when she told Friede the bad news.

One of her cousins in Saffron had spotted Liko but hadn't been able to catch her in time, the girl running away to who-knows-where. Her cousin asked the local gym leader, Sabrina, for help. Sabrina didn't find the girl in Saffron City, instead she found out from sailors in Vermillion that the girl had left on a ship to Slateport the day before.

It was already too late.

Lucca sent her message before Mollie gave him the bad news about Liko leaving for Hoenn.

A fire near Goldenrod had caught Lucca's attention during her search; a bit of curiosity later, Lucca found out her daughter had left on the Magnet Train.

Friede didn't think Lucca's daughter could afford a ticket for the Magnet Train unless she had outside help, and Lucca, in another message, seemed to agree with him. Lucca figured that Champion, or even that gym leader from Viridian City, had been helping Liko out.

Johto was another dead end.

Lucca sent her Squawkabilly with the message, "Got it…going to Hoenn by ship from Johto. Don't wait, L. "

Friede wasn't worried.

He was making calls, making complaints.

Blue Oak and Serena Gabena's little game had gone far enough.

Blue Oak called Friede hours later, a bit red in the face, annoyed more than angry if his scowl is anything to go by. Friede tries not to grin, satisfied that his complaints did sting.

"You wanna start something, Professor?"

"I don't appreciate being lied to," Friede responded, glaring back. "A girl is missing!"

"Take it with Gabena," Blue retorted. "The kid didn't even know you were coming! How do you expect us to trust you knowing that!?"

"Her mother…she…she didn't want to upset her," Friede lied.

Friede wasn't sure why Lucca hadn't informed Liko about them coming to pick her up from school; if things had gone according to plan (and they hadn't), Liko would have probably called her mother and got the whole story from her and Friede and crew would be on their merry way with the girl in tow, protecting her from whatever danger Lucca feared might put her in harm's way. Lucca had told him that she wanted her daughter to experience the world away from her comfort zone…but the attack on Indigo Academy and Liko's disappearance changed all that. Friede was out of his element and his old teacher was running around on her own trying to find her missing daughter. It was a painful reminder that the world was harsh and cold and ugly in the worst of times. And Blue Oak and Serena Gabena weren't helping at all.

"Her mother…sure…" Blue didn't seem to believe him. "You didn't think that rooftop ass wouldn't try that same story? He had a…no…you know what, that's not the problem, is it? You want a fight?"

"It's not about me, damn it!" Friede yelled, slamming his hand on the nearby table.

"I figured," Blue sneered. "And for your information, Liko made her choice a long time ago, and you are not part of it."

"What are you talking about?"

There's noise behind Friede; he's so focused on his call with Blue, Friede doesn't see the rest of the crew standing behind him.

"She doesn't care about you," Blue put it bluntly. "Liko made her choice, and she's not interested in making friends with you and your crew."

"Wha—"

"Did you let her go on her own with that injury?"

Friede turned and stared behind him.

Mollie was glaring at the Rotom phone, Orla was staring at him in bewilderment, Murdock and Ludlow stood nearby, both men frowning. Captain Pikachu was on Orla's shoulder, tilting his little head at his trainer.

Blue blinked at Mollie.

The gym leader was quiet for a few seconds before he sighed and said, "If you mean her limp…well, that's the thing. Her leg was already healed by the time she met up with Gabena."

Mollie stared at the floating phone, her glare softening.

"...what do you mean?"

"Serena's not a monster," Blue replied, staring at Mollie for a bit before turning to Friede. "Doctor that did the check-up told them she was fine, the leg had just healed wrong." Blue shrugged. "Gabena wouldn't have let her go anywhere if she didn't think Liko couldn't handle herself…" He turned to Friede. "But…that's beside the point. Remember what I told you before, Professor? I don't care to chase trouble but if you're going to play that game…"

"I…"

"What's he talking about?" Orla interrupted. "Friede…what did you do?"

"...Orla…I…"

"He's complaining because I let the girl that didn't trust you go away on her own…but that's all over. And Professor? Lose my number. " And before Friede could say anything else, the call was over.

Orla was glaring behind Friede.

"Did…did you seriously start a fight with Blue Oak, Friede!?"

Friede doesn't know how to answer that.