A Soul Of Steel

by CeroAjax

The dream of a lifetime was finally achieved by one attempting the Galar Region Gym Challenge: a trainer named Haru. However what is life afterwards for someone unsure of how to handle being Champion? What, if anything, lies next? Does he persist in his new busy life or move to something else? This story explores one such trainer.

10. Chapter 10

- - Chapter 10: Second Wind - -

- - - - - Hulbury - - - - -

- - - - - Nessa's Home - - - - -

Having gone back to sleep after the initial 'way too early' alarm that was silenced earlier, two lovers found themselves deep in rest. This wasn't due to any miracle herbs or 'special formula' but simply by coming to an apex in their relationship the other night. They had known each other for a long while now, and in the passion of their 6 month anniversary had breached boundaries as two consenting adults madly in love with each other. Nessa would be the first to wake up of the two, with her long black-and-aqua-blue hair strewn about finding herself curled up next to the one she considered her 'hero: the Galar Pokemon League Champion, Haru. For a moment she takes in the sights and sounds of her immediate surroundings.

Flying Pokemon outside chirping. The windows in her room, while shut to prevent light from crashing through, still had some illumination from the rays of the sun outside from the morning. Soft crashes of the nearby Hulbury waters. The silent breathing of a messy, medium wavy ruby-red-haired man naked in her bed looking just as peaceful as he could be. It takes her awhile to really let the idea set in that this is how her life is like right now at this moment, and it made her unfathomably happy. Content. Safe. Peaceful. She just lays there having scoot herself up a little closer so her face went from to laying on his chest to resting on his shoulder with a hand of hers lazily gracing up and down the skin.

Her mind wanders a little aimlessly, doing nothing but just looking at his figure and softly letting her fingers touch him. She sighs contently. Another moment passes and she starts leaving small kisses on his chest; little pecks of affection. Haru mumbles a little in his sleep, his head turning unconsciously towards Nessa's face. The hand she used in simply feeling his bare skin goes to his face and starts kissing it, and the second she sees him opening his eyes she goes right towards his lips kissing him deeply. He's confirmed awake with the simple body language of lightly bucking his face towards hers. His mind wakes up to the sensation of her lips and warm tongue starting to dance with his own. The two young lovers hold the posture for a bit, with a hand caressing his cheek and his auburn eyes looking back at her beautiful blue ones when they part lips.

"...well then.." he says tiredly but with a tone that resounded with comfort as a hand goes towards the one she used to caress him so delicately.

"Good morning to you, handsome. How did my Haru sleep?" Nessa replies cutely, with her face going into the pit of his shoulder and neck kissing the 'weak spot' she discovered the other night and kissing it again. Goosebumps formed along his arms as he shivers when she does that.

His left hand rakes a little through part of his hair, noticing it was slightly damp from the sweat of last night's activity. "Probably the best sleep I've had in a very, VERY long time. I didn't know anyone could sleep so comfortably. Didn't even entertain the idea of such peace being possible."

Nessa was very pleased with that answer and laid her head on his chest again. "Hmm. That makes two of us. Even now as you're rested, I can hear how fast your heart's going."

"Must be because of whom I'm in proximity with, then." came a quip from him, smirking.

"Yeah, must be. So...what did you wanna do today?" She's inquire, drawing invisible circles on his stomach.

"I know later on today I have to meet up with Ms. Chairman to give her my finished papers and will be announcing the Gym later. She didn't really give me an exact time frame, but said to just come in today when I was able to make time. That's basically it as far as I'm aware. But if it pleases the Raging Wave, I'd like to spend some more time with her." He'd say with a cheeky grin, causing Nessa to sit up as the blanket fell to her stomach, still showing her bare self to him.

She puts a hand to her chest as if addressing like royalty. "The Raging Wave has heard your statement and will consider them. She accepts!"

There's a slight pause and she tilts her head noticing he barely blinked looking at her. "What is it? I know I'm a mess but that's YOUR fault you know."

"To be fair, we're both at fault for how we look." Haru's face blushed deeply and let out a small chuckle.

"Well...what is it?" she asked again.

"I just really like looking at you. 'Mess' or not, you're so beautiful to me." he replied continuing to enjoy the quiet moment as her hand went from his chest to his lips.

She kept looking at him, smiling, as her heart rode a wave of happiness hearing him say so much praise. "You never grow tired of saying such things, do you?"

"Why would I? Be it the 10th or 10,000th time, I mean it every single time." Haru insisted.

"Hmm." Nessa appeared to be beaming hearing that. "You're gorgeous yourself, my dear. Don't forget that. In any case, we should shower soon because of how intense we got last night." Nessa paused, sat up so she could stretch her arms. The view of her bare back visible to Haru, with the side of her chest bouncing. She'd be about to get up from the bed and turned to him. "...and YOU'RE going to join me."

She could almost see steam coming out of both of his ears, as Haru's only answer was to nod in agreement and follow her to the adjacent bathroom near them as the door definitively shut when both got in.

- - - - - Afterwards...- - - - -

- - - - - Downstairs - - - - -

Poking his head into the fridge and getting some things to make brunch, Haru's seen wearing a graphic shirt of one of the former Champions he looked up a bit ago, Steven. Equipped with just that and some shorts, Nessa reaches past him to grab for some pills of various vitamin types and nuzzles noses with him affectionately. The small loving gesture makes him giddy on the inside. He takes a second to locate where he placed Zamazenta in its ball on the counter.

/Good, haven't forgotten where I put 'zenta in case I need them later./ Haru thinks to himself.

At this point in the day her hair is no longer messy but is wearing it down and straight, having put on one of the shirts she ""borrowed"" from him a long time ago not wanting to change into anything too formal as events prior to tired her out and just wanted to relax. "So darling, I know you don't know the whole PokeDex but since you're doing the Steel Gym as your 'thing' have you settled on a team?"

Sitting at the table with his brunch fully made, the thought came back on how he would work as a Gym Leader.

"Well I know that I want to have the absolute best team I can manage. I have a few ideas, but it's going to somewhat suck having to specialize now that I think about it." bringing the tea that was brewed up to his lips for a sip. Nessa pokes her head around him from behind while he's sitting and gives a peck on his lips before sitting down.

"What do you mean? That's what you wanted, isn't it?" she'd ask with her arms folding and her head resting on one palm.

"Oh of course! Definitely! Though I know how happiness can drain away from a Pokemon if they're not open and freely being used in battle. Sure you can tell them what to do if you have the badges and even more so if you're a Gym Leader or a Champion, but once I go into Steel, it's no going back for my Hall of Fame buddies of mine unless very specific situations called for it. After having made them my best friends I can't help but hope they won't feel abandoned." looking down at the cup frowning a little, then Nessa.

"You're right, you have a point. I don't think that will be a problem." Nessa said while gesturing with a pointed hand at the ball sitting on the counter.

The cup of tea is put down with just his sandwich in hand. "Why do you say that?"

"Pokemon are intelligent. They're like us humans. They understand us and we can talk to them even if we don't really understand what they're saying. It's the feeling that matters. You have full conversations with all of your Pokemon don't you? Truly they understand where you are going with all of this, otherwise none of them would have stayed by your right? Trust in them..." she'd say smiling softly at him. "...like you trust me."

She'd see Haru exhale, looking relaxed from his slight worry that came over him.

She noticed him take off his glasses and start cleaning them with the cloth he kept at the ready. "You're right, Nessa. Thank you. I think part of me just forgets some things because I'm thinking from the perspective of a trainer rather than a caretaker, and am mixing up the two. My mother is a very smart woman so while I was able to take a lot from her growing up I still feel like I'm learning a lot about them. Guess the only thing I can be proud of is that at least one of them is a perfect 100% IV Pokemon that is my lifetime buddy."

"Oho~ so while I have Cammie who is my perfect Cloyster I gotta know whose yours! Have I met this one before?" she leaned forward as Haru told her without hesitation immediately in a whisper. Nessa clasps her hands thinking about the future. "Well it makes sense then how you two are basically best friends! I hope then for your Champion defending match we see her as your trump card!"

"I'm thinking on changing up my team a little so that whoever I'm defending my title against doesn't come completely planned to take out who I used to become Champion. Also, your toast is done I don't know if you noticed, babe." Haru said sipping his tea as Nessa shoots up from the table having completely been distracted talking to him.

He teases by turning towards where she ran and whistles when he looks at her rear end. She responds in kind by wiggling her hips a little. Before either can say anything back his phone goes off, and upon returning to the table Nessa gives him his phone. Turning the lock off, Haru sees something that throws him off.

[[SONIA: Haru, are you busy? I don't know what you're doing or where because I know last night was your 6 month anniversary thing with Nessa, and I know this isn't official Champion business but someone just showed up to our lab and...I don't know who they are but they're demanding to talk to Hop for some reason. Very angry person. They're the first person to walk through my lab's doors and my little Yamper is barking at them. You know they don't bark at anyone so lightly!]]

"Bloody hell, what's this...?" He says to himself.

"What's wrong?" Nessa asks hearing him comment.

"Someone's at Sonia's lab possibly causing a ruckus with her and Hop." he begins to explain as he gets another text message.

[[SONIA: I can't even tell who they are because they're wearing a mask and glasses. But it's a girl, I do know that.]]

"...a girl wearing a mask?" Haru comments to himself out loud.

[[SONIA: Shit! They know Hop is one of the two people that has one of Galar's heroes! Haru can you please get here? I have a bad feeling about this!]]

He stands up from his chair reading that message. /Someone found out about what Hop and I did to save the region and that he has Zacian? But...other than Sonia, those twins, maybe that spy, and the police, nobody should know! Nobody! I know he doesn't carry his team around him much anymore and only takes Zacian as a means of security like I do. But Hop isn't a trainer anymore! If he doesn't get backup, they could find out more or do something to hurt him!/

/"You don't think that just because you get along with all of the Gym Leaders, are dating one of said Gym Leaders, are life long friends with the ex-Champion, and even are on good terms with Ex Chairman Rose that you created any enemies along the way?"/

The words that Marnie spoke to him when he visited her and Piers echoed again in his head.

"Babe...?" Nessa says worriedly seeing him get up.

"Nessa, I may have a problem that I have to resolve now. Not sure. Someone has figured out that I was the one with Hop to put a stop to that nonsense the twins did awhile back. Remember THAT? It was when you gave me your Rare League Card. While people are aware that I helped the efforts to calm the Dynamax Pokemon, only Sonia, Leon, Piers, and you and other Gym Leaders know that him and I hold the heroes of our region as Pokemon! Someone SOMEHOW found this out and I think they're targeting Hop for some reason!" Haru explains, then shooting a glance to the ball on the counter.

"Darling, go. You should go there and resolve this!" Nessa gets up from the table herself and moves to him.

A little frustrated at the events, Haru just bemoans "..b...but...I mean we were going to spend a day just lazying about...!"

She calms him down by giving him a hug and then a soft kiss with both hands going to his face. "We have time, love. You're needed. Go be the amazing hero I fell for, okay?" looking past him and nodding to the ball with Zamazenta inside it.

Haru knew he had to act on this and quick: otherwise a big problem may evolve into an even bigger one.

- - - - - Sonia's Lab - - - - -

Hop looks at the girl who stands before him wearing a cloth mask that had illustrated fanged teeth on it tied to her face and a black hat showing the Pokemon League logo on the center. She was rolling a ball around in one of her palms eyeing him carefully.

"So. Since I was able to track you down I have some questions. You don't mind a curious individual asking more now would you? After all, I'm no trouble maker here...just a simple Pokemon trainer." Syra would say, keeping her identity hidden and having worn a black biker jacket with a turquoise colored top underneath.

Hop eyed her a little nervously, noticing that Sonia had put away her phone after most likely contacting Haru. "You already figured out that I was involved in the incidents some time ago. What of it?"

Syra readjusts the glasses she was using to disguise herself and angrily huffs at the tone in his voice. "When you were taking down other challengers, trainers, and doing what you can to discover your place in this region did you ever once think about the other side of the coin? About who you messed with after all it was said and done?"

"I...I'm not sure I follow, you, miss...?" the purple haired boy would start to say before one of Syra's fists clenched.

"My identity is not important! Answer me this: was it not enough that you so arrogantly helped Haru take on the crisis he himself instigated that you had to harm others?" She yelled at him, stepping a little forward.

She threw her fist out before Hop had a chance to reply. "Don't act coy either! Because of you, someone's life went to hell in a hand basket due to your meddling! Those stupid royalty twins with the awful hair are in jail just like ex-Chairman Rose but they gave purpose to some people! Some very close people that I know! You were there, and because of that I've been working hard to get back at you. It wasn't just because you were able to stop their plans, but a cavalcade of several other problems that occurred because of it!"

Hop's mind flashes back to the events of the past: losing to Haru in the Pokemon League, going with him to find the legendary Pokemon Zamazenta and Zacian in the flesh, having one of them taken away from him, only to be 'rescued' when Haru resolved the whole conflict. Events like those, and prior to had reminded him of what brought him to his current position in life. Readjusting the lab coat he wore, Hop decided to take the offensive. "What's your point in all of this? Anyone involved in all of that on the side you're claiming to defend was no ally to justice, and whatever occurred to them they chose of their own free will. We all take a risk when we battle. There is nothing in this world that is free of consequence. What about you, unnamed, masked girl who's charged in here? What do you stand to lose here, if anything at all?"

Syra grits her teeth and growls towards Hop while full of spite. /He speaks just like Haru does...fuck that really pisses me off!/

"I came all this way on a personal journey to not just be a Pokemon Champion like you once claimed you wanted to be. At least, that's what I gathered on looking at your data, and the fact you did compete in the tournament. But it's more than that for me. Part of what I'm doing is on a personal journey, and part of that means showing people who hold positions of power like yourself that if you're not willing to use it you're harming the balance of life. You're less than worthless and should be willing to give up what's given to you to someone who will put it to good use!" putting her ball back on her belt, Syra looks back at Hop.

"So, what, you want me to just give you my whole collection up to this point simply because I'm an assistant to Professor Sonia? You think you're better suited just because I'm not a trainer? That's not how this works! That's not how any of what we do works!" sounding annoyed of her shtick, Hop had asked this while seeing from a physical cue by Sonia that Haru was on his way.

"Inaction breeds contempt and fear! You're not someone who's doing anything with your Pokemon so just leaving them be is harmful: like someone who gets a pet then does nothing but put them in cage. I, on the other hand, actually care for mine individually. I cycle through nearly all of them and give them all attention. You're the kind of pet owner I speak of, Hop, that does the former. So no, I don't want your whole collection because frankly that will give me way too many duplicates that I'd just give away." Syra would explain before pointing at him.

"There is but one in particular I'll take from you. You know the one." she slowed her speech to add emphasis on the wording. Hop understood and met her intense gaze right back.

"Zacian. I won't just give him to you. That's not how the rules go." he would say, throwing his hand to the side in a gesture of defiance.

Syra threw her head back as Hop could almost see a sickly evil smile behind the mask around her face. "Oh I'll take him right under your nose; right after I defeat you in battle. I have to show you that even as you hold that Pokemon in your possession you'll fall just like everyone else I've fought because you don't understand their strengths and weaknesses like I do. You take it for granted. Plus...if I defeat you, then I know without a shadow of a doubt I'll be able to take down Haru. See. I have a problem with people like you and Haru. You get very VERY lucky to have certain opportunities and then build yourselves up and up and up. Then you decide that one day you got so far that instead of trying to make up with all that you've gained you'd rather waste away."

Both him and Sonia's eyes widened, and she spoke. "So Haru's your actual target in the end?!"

She turns to them with a more angry expression hiding behind the mask. "My endgame, sure. Originally I was just thinking on becoming Champion, taking the title from him, maybe change some rules of the league, hold a custom tournament between other champions from other regions. I have a bucket list of things I want to do. But after learning about you two? Two prominent figures who offer us nothing? Figured I'd knock you down a few pegs. It's infuriating how you just gave up everything and called it a day once you got the legendary Zacian in your grasp and sit around doing what you can to 'study'. I KNOW someone who is far more qualified for the same spot you're trying to become; you're not even close to their level."

Sonia interjects. "Excuse me miss, but you have no clue just how helpful Hop has been to me throughout his entire time being my assistant. He may not be a veteran like my Yamper here, but he's been learning a lot more than he did before and isn't going to just sit here and let you lecture him on his life!" turning to Hop, who just huffed a few times.

Hop throws out a hand trying to get where she was going with all of this pontificating. "So...a battle? I defeat you I go back to doing what I was, and you leave? Lose, I give up Zacian?"

"What about it, Hop? We do a battle right outside the lab. Bring him out. I want to see if you truly are worthy to be noted in the chronicles of history as someone who defended our region..." Syra began to say taking one specific Poke Ball out, tossing it upwards then catching it in mid-toss. "...or if you're just some boy who's gotten lucky this whole time riding on your brother and best friend's coattails who had both bail you out repeatedly."

Hop tensed hearing that, as it reminded him of Bede saying similar things when they were early on in the Gym Challenge. Sonia walks forward a little bit.

"You know it's rather uncouth of you to just barge in my lab and acting haughty. I ought to report you for being a domestic disturbance as is, honestly. Do you have any standards to follow? Is this what the Pokemon League takes nowadays as challengers and trainers?" she'd say with her arms crossed.

The masked trainer would let out a haughty laugh. "What do I care about what you think should be 'standards'? When I become Champion I'm actually going to make this region proud to have me as a symbol!"

Doing her best to be the big sister type of friend, Sonia put a hand on Hop's shoulder, as he had gone quiet. "Hop, just wait for Haru to come here. I've already alerted him to the fact you've barged in here trying to start trouble here and it won't be long now until he gets here."

Syra folds her arms. "What, you going to let him fight your battles some more? Let him save you once again from humiliation? Got no balls?"

"I'll do it! I'll take on your stupid request! But you have to leave right afterwards!" Hop finally speaks, shouting at her sounding irritated and gesturing to follow him outside behind the lab.

/Bingo. Got under his skin. Now to go in for the kill./ Syra would think to herself licking her lips slowly in satisfaction. /Meanwhile, if Haru even thinks about getting close I'll know it since I have a special treat for him.../

The two would walk outside as Hop reaches inside his assistant lab coat and pulls out one Pokemon contained within a ball, looking at her. "This is going to be a quick battle for either of us. So I don't plan on entertaining you long no matter which way this goes."

Revealing a full belt of 6 different balls and only pulling one of them out, Syra tosses one confidently in place. "That's cute of you to think your fate isn't already sealed."

Sonia tries to interject one more time, with her Yamper growling at Syra. "If you continue going down this pathway you know, you're going to have a bad time! Taking on someone like this in this manner won't pay you back in the way you think it will: it won't bring you true resolution! I don't know who you think you are, but having seen this attitude up close repeatedly in the past isn't going to reward you!"

Glaring immediately in Sonia's direction, Syra's eyes widened. "Neither of you can comprehend what this will mean for me. Now enough talk, have at thee!"

- - - - - Nearby, 3 minutes later - - - - -

Sitting inside the Air Taxi, Haru looked over the town of Postwicke and its neighbor Wedgehurst. Having only one Pokemon on board, he only hoped that whatever was going on at the lab wasn't going to be out of hand by the time he got there.

"Ah...sir? Professor Sonia's lab there, you see? Is there any way we can speed this up?" Haru points in the distance.

"Aye aye champ! We'll land as close as we can, but I have to consider Ace's stamina for the whole day you know. You won't be the only passenger." his pilot calls out. Suddenly the Corviknight that's carrying him cries out and swerves as something flies by the Pokemon at an intense speed. The swerve away from danger causes the lifted car to sway in the air.

"What the hell?" Haru poked his head out towards the direction of the anomaly and sees a glimmer in the distance. Of what little he can make out there's an Inteleon perched up on a building with one arm extended aiming at them. "Someone's got some Inteleon sniping at us!"

"Sir I can't land near it! Zone is 'too hot' as they say!" the pilot would shout back before Haru handed him some extra money.

"I'll make my leave now okay? Don't worry about me!" getting up as if meaning to jump from the sky.

The pilot began to slightly panic."Wait! Champ you don't even have a parachute!"

Haru grins confidently, getting his Master Ball out. "Don't need one."

He jumps from the skies and throws his ball downwards. "Zamazenta! Come out to my aid!"

In a flash a large canine-like beast of a Pokemon appears howling loudly; its shield-like mane giving a bright glimmer in the sunlight. Haru lands on its back, breaking his fall as both him and the Pokemon make a soft landing with him clutching to its fur.

"Thanks 'zenta. If I need you in a second I'll call on you again. We may have a problem, and you're my only hope, buddy." giving the Pokemon a serious look before withdrawing it into his ball. He'd only hoped that whoever set up that anti-air measure for him specifically getting closer to the lab wasn't counting on actually having to take him out on the ground. It'd cause too much chaos, and too many eyes would trace it to him.

On the ground, Hop bites his lip as he retrieves Zacian back into his ball as Syra's Arcanine exhaled as if to flex on the battle's results, with her laughing loudly. Hop looks at the ground, clutching onto the ball with a look of defeat.

"How pathetic! I fought the Gym Leaders and Raihan was my biggest challenge yet! I figured someone who was half responsible of those events I learned about would pose a much greater threat! But either you've lost your touch..." she would begin to say, walking towards him with the Arcanine being retrieved back into her ball and leaning towards Hop. "..or I'm just that much better than you. Now. You know what the deal was: hand it over."

Sonia at this point has been dialing Haru and Leon's numbers in her phone to try to see if either one is any closer to this.

"No." Hop says angrily looking at her.

A vein in her forehead pulsates with irritation. "What do you mean 'No'? YOU LOST. The way the fight was going to work out-" Syra would begin to spew her rhetoric again but Hop cuts her off.

"I don't know who you are, and I don't care! I may have lost this battle but it doesn't mean I'm any less of a trainer than what I was yesterday! My value is not determined simply by numbers and statistics: Pokemon are more than just the data points of value that we write on them about. That's what makes them unique! Zacian was, no, IS a guardian of our region, and I'm not turning it over to some power hungry brat who probably used a stolen team to beat me! You reek of someone who's gone power hungry: who's unable to take 'no' for an answer. Someone who doesn't know the true value of being a trainer. In my eyes you have the guise of someone who fits these descriptions only because of your victories, not in spite of them!" He'd say to her, having just 'had it' with her endless speeches and her boasting upon winning.

Syra stood there with her arms lazily to her side and had quieted her breathing. Before Hop knew it, everything suddenly went dark as an intense pain in his gut took over as her fist had rammed into it. Her eyes had shown a great menacing aura deep within as a smile came over her. "Really? That sounds like something a loser would say to me." going to knee him in the face to make sure he was knocked out cold. The loud 'crack' of the attack causes him to fly backwards unconscious as her hand lashes forward to yank the ball from inside his coat. He hits the ground hard on his back.

"You little bitch, how dare you lay your hands on Hop like that!" Sonia would come up from behind tackling Syra from behind trying to stop what she was doing.

Syra turns her head behind her as her arms are constricted by a hold from Sonia behind her. "Oh you wanna go, lady? Guarantee you won't get me like this!" shifting her weight to throw Sonia off of her, still holding onto the ball. Sonia hits the ground hard, but uninjured and starts to get up.

Rubbing her cheek, Sonia looks up to the girl. "Was it not enough to have defeated him?"

"HEY!" calls a voice not from far away.

Syra's head jerks in the direction of it. It's Haru. He's running full speed at her and she just grunts. Her heart rate spikes in anger. "Oh COME ON!" before taking off. Haru sees her running off and sees Hop unconscious on the ground and Sonia. He slows down briefly.

"Sonia what happened?! Who was that?!" asking her while kneeling down. The girl has begun to make her exit; retrieving a perched Inteleon when he wasn't paying attention.

"Haru don't mind me and Hop! That girl's taken Zacian for herself and is making a run for it!" gesturing him with an arm to 'go'.

/Shit..!/ is all he thinks, trying to find out where she went before he hears a loud 'thud' from something that sounds like someone landing from a grand height.

Running as fast as he can towards the sound, he sees the masked assailant locks eyes with him. Haru points at Syra. "Stop where you are! I won't let you get away with what you did!" making chase as she runs off.

/Just my luck that I can't even get out of here without drawing attention. Good thing nobody notices who I am thanks to this stupid getup, but also good thing that shit of a Champion can't match me physically...and I know that from personal experience!/ She thought to herself, tightening the mask around her face and running around a corner of a few buildings.

/Okay Haru, you've been running with Nessa for a good while now, and even though you're no athlete you're a lot better off than before! Just control your breathing when sprinting, and you got this!/ Haru thinks to himself, trying to control his breathing and stamina.

She's very fast, and her ability to parkour over a few gates in the town and tossing anything remotely in her way to slow him down was unmatched. While not as well trained in keeping up with whoever this person was, Haru now had the stamina to somewhat keep up considering he had been training under Nessa for a good while now and wasn't out of breath.

/Oh what the hell is this: NOW he can keep up to a degree? I'll have to find ways to slow him down!/ Syra grits her teeth hard, taking off her jacket to use as a makeshift parachute to help her land a little softer from a larger jump from a tall hill onto an alleyway. She lands into a tactical roll and Haru follows doing the same thing.

"You won't get away with this!" he shouts in her direction.

"Oh yeah?! Seems I'm doing a great job of it currently!" Syra calls back, laughing before using her legs to break a stand holding some heavy amounts of fruit to crash. Haru's able to at least speed up enough and take a large leap. Accidentally running into someone he helps them stay up.

"S-sorry! Gotta go!" he'd say before bolting again after the girl. Syra clicks her tongue in annoyance and happens upon another busy scene then takes out her knife. Bolting around a corner, Haru quickly jumps out of the way as Syra had sent a bunch of large crates crashing near him that was being held up on a lift due to a cut. "Oh come on-my tools and paint materials!" cries a worker. Haru hits the ground, landing on all fours with his elbows keeping him from getting his face banged up.

"hehehe...get past THAT, Champion..." she giggles confidently to herself, putting away a knife she would normally use for camping to slice the rope. It seemed doing that slowed down Haru's pursuit and hoped to have lost him. Bumping into sparse crowds while sprinting full speed, Syra spots an idling Air Taxi waiting for passengers and yells. "HEY! YOU! TAKE ME TO HAMMERLOCKE'S POKE CENTER! NOW!" flashing a few bills and sprinting until she was near the carrier and leaping full speed into it head-first.

"Hey what's goi-" the pilot began to ask before being handed forcefully a wad of cash.

"JUST DO IT! NOW! GO!" Syra yells again at him, as the Corviknight gets instructed, flapping its wings beginning to take off.

"ZAMAZENTA! GO!" is heard being called out nearby as Syra sees Haru riding on the back of Zamazenta and having caught up even though she's up in the air.

/Damn it, what kind of luck does he have?! Go figure he has the other one with him!/ One of her eyes twitches in annoyance looking down at the four-eyed Champion that looked at her making escape. He simply sees her floating away while he was sitting on the Pokemo; flashing him a middle finger insult.

Haru leans forward while on the back and pats on the Pokemon's mane. "Okay listen to my heart Zamazenta. I know that's not a Dynamax Pokemon. But this is important. SHE contains Zacian. She stole your friend! Listen to my heart and do Behemoth Bash! Knock that carrier down so we can get her on the fall and bring your friend back! We're not going to hurt her, but bring her in!"

Syra would hear the Pokemon's legendarily loud howl and its mane glowing with what looked like several tectonic plates shifting onto its face. Throwing one last PokeBall inside the carrier she lets out one command on emergency. "Solrock, use PROTECT!"

The canine legendary shot up into the skies towards where she was and upon getting there, Haru and it would see at the last second the Pokemon within the carrier flash once and repel both of them away. As if hitting an impenetrable wall, Zamazenta bounces off down back to the Earth with Haru riding on it. The force of being repelled in mid-air for a collision nearly made him fall.

Seeing the Air Taxi fly off successfully with the masked girl having taken Hop's legendary made him angry. Haru hops off and kicks hard into the ground, looking into the distance. He'd look at the humongous partner of his that stood next to him on all fours, and sighed. "I'm sorry I wasn't faster, 'zenta."

He'd hear Zamazenta let out what sounded like a depressed, low rumbling call. "I'll find out who that was and bring Zacian back okay? You have my promise. For the meantime, let's get back to Hop and Sonia: find out what they know."

There's one final pause before Haru just exhales, frowning. "Damn it all! What the hell is going on?"

Inside the Air Taxi the pilot looks back at the girl in her seat. "Hey miss? I know it's not my business, but I guess you got some bad blood with the Champion huh?"

She doesn't say anything and just looks at him coldly.

"Right right. I won't say anything else." he comments, before she shuts the window that separated between the passenger and pilot so he wouldn't hear anything she says.

Syra takes off her bag and sighs contently. "Oh Haru, if you only knew what kind of face you had on just now. It turns me on knowing that's the sort of face you make when you have no options and can't even come out as the victor. Oh! Almost forgot..." readjusting herself in her seat she gets the ball out that held Zacian and brings up her phone.

Checking the statistics over Zacian, Syra would look at everything she just got by collecting him. Amazing IVs, and still has room to get stronger. Kicking her feet in glee, she puts it away and starts dialing into her phone.

"Hello, Giovanni? Syra here. Just to clarify out the gate, you guys are still keeping me 'green' right? Okay good. Now that we have that out of the way as my identity is crisper and cleaner than a morning shower...you would never guess which Pokemon I just got my hands on~"

- - - - - Sonia's Lab - - - - -

- - - - - Outside - - - - -

Haru's gotten a medical team of Pokemon and officials looking over Hop putting him onto a rolling gurney. He has a blanket over him as well as something on his forehead and chin with Haru sitting on the steps of the lab. Sonia came out with just some dirt on her coat, and goes to sit next to him. "They're going to take him to get looked at, but initial report looks like it's nothing more than some light bleeding. They won't know until later.

Haru looked at Sonia with an increasingly morose expression after having texted Nessa what occurred from his arrival to the current point. "Ms Chairman Oleana is also going to have to hear this because this ties to something she assigned me. Whoever that person was may very well have ties to bigger things."

There was some silence as Sonia puts an arm around Haru, letting him lean on her shoulder in a 'big sister' kind of way. She was one of the few people he felt so comfortable around. "Hey...I'm a good person, right?"

She turns to look at him with a confused face. "Huh? Haru where did that come from?"

Her Yamper would waddle up to Haru and extend a paw at him before leaning up on Haru's knees. Haru responds in kind by giving headpats to the little electric canine.

"It's just...there's been a lot happening that has led me to think I'm not as great as everyone thinks I am. Makes me wonder that if someone has gone up to this point to do all this, and if it ties to me, then maybe I did something so horribly wrong and it's a bad thing I don't even know it. How could I be so callous? Imagine doing someone wrong and then not even knowing you did it. Now even Hop's on the receiving end, and it may be because of me." He'd say before Sonia just pushed his face into her ample chest for a comforting embrace. He didn't get a chance to protest as she squeezed him against her.

"Haru, hush. You're not a burden or a bad guy or any of those things you think you are. You're the friend I got to know over time who became our new Champion, best friend to Hop, best friend to Hiro, Leon, you're a lovable, flawed human being like the rest of us, and if it were't for you I would have never been able to find my calling! Hop too!" giving him a pat on the head to try and comfort him.

There would be no struggle to argue against her point, as Haru just sighed deeply due to the fragrance she wore smelling like oranges.

Sonia kept his head there before bringing him back up squishing his cheeks together. "Plus, you're dating one of the most popular Gym Leaders, are going out of your way to help the region itself with a new Gym, and maybe go on to do more good things. Give yourself more credit. You've come a long way."

Haru's seen sighing a bit but finally smiling. Sonia stops squishing his cheeks and lets go of him. "Thank you. Nessa's help me see I have issues accepting my accomplishments and seeing what good I've done since I'm used to helping others. It's not unreasonable to think I'm just letting this get to me. I'll continue to work on that front."

The orange side ponytail'd woman gave him a pat on the back. "See? There you go! Already back on the upswing. You're no skive, you're not useless, you're not a bad person, you're just Haru. For those of us close to you, that's enough."

She'd see Haru readjust his glasses turning to her. "You really know how to give me a pep-talk, Sonia. Thanks."

Suddenly both would see Leon come to a skidding halt. "Where's Hop?! I got your texts and came as fast as I could but..well you know. What happened?"

Leon would see Sonia get up from the ground, dusting her coat a bit. "I'll explain it all to you Leon and actually direct you to where he's at now okay? Haru, you have business to do yes?" winking at him a bit.

"You're right, I do. will be expecting me. Please tell Hop that I'm sorry I wasn't there when he wakes up, but will visit him soon." as he stood up, watching Sonia animatedly talking to Leon on what was happening but taking note of how physically close she was to him too. His arms cross and a smirk stretches across his face.

/It may be beneath my ability to play 'matchmaker' considering how I ended up where I am but...I can't help but wonder if either of those two are going to pull the trigger./ Haru thought to himself, and pulling out his phone. Pressing on the screen for one specific contact, he's connected within a few seconds.

Making his walk now casually to an Air Taxi station, the line connects and Haru speaks. "Ms. Chairman, do you have time? Don't suppose we can meet a bit earlier? Not only can I meet you for the you-know-what, but something else has occurred that may require your attention. I apologize in advance for what you're going to hear, but it's about my assignment."

- - - - - Wyndon - - - - -

- - - - - Pokemon League HQ: Oleana's Office - - - - -

Before making his way to the office, Haru had stopped by his home to get documents that he knew was necessary to be brought to Oleana's hands at the same time as his report on the current day's events. Several folders of properly and arduously filed paperwork with help of Nessa to oversee the process, and one final re-look from Melony got him to be confident in submitting the papers.

She'd overlook everything that he brought; several 'mm-hmm's and page flips later, the woman finished looking a bit happier.

"Everything's in order here! With this all squared away we can hold an official press conference to announce this and get immediately under way. You've certainly done your homework, Haru. Though I can't say that once again I am a little bummed you've decided to forego your title in lieu of pursuing this side of the professions within the Pokemon League itself. Before I stamp these pages with my approval, are you absolutely, positively certain this is what you want? There's no going back." she'd ask once more holding a stamp in one hand while fetching a pen in the other to give a signature on any area that required it.

Haru narrowed his eyes and looked at her with the same assertiveness as when he presented before her and the other officials in the conference room. "Yes, I'm certain. This is how I can continue to help other, younger trainers. Plus there is one benefit to being a Gym Leader over a Champion." he spoke confidently, raising a finger.

"Oh? Pray tell, what is that?" she'd ask him.

Haru would pose like he was about to toss a PokeBall in his seat. "The best battle music the league has!"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

She broke the silence in laughter.

"What?! I'm serious! You can't tell me you don't agree!" Haru insisted, blushing from feeling a little embarrassed.

Oleana wiped a tear from her eye and began to sign the blank spaces that required her penmanship, and stamped any area that required her seal. "As a Chairman I can't honestly say I agree or disagree as I must remain neutral...but your enthusiasm has its high points, and you've done everything I asked to the book, so to that I'll sign and stamp these papers. Haru you really are something else. You're going to be a fantastic Gym Leader: I know it."

"Thank you." He would bow respectfully in gratitude.

"Thinking back on it, it only made sense how you and Nessa got together. You two are practically made for each other with the way your personalities match and compliment the other.." her olive eyes would dart up to him briefly before finishing on one final blank space.

The comment made him a might flustered but he took the compliment in stride.

A few taps of her flattening all the papers together before filing it, the two would get up from their chairs with Oleana leading the way out of her office; gesturing him to follow her. "Now, come with me. There's a place we can broadcast and get the media here so your announcement can get to the appropriate channels. -Then- afterwards you can report to me on everything else you had to discuss." with her head halfway looking at him while they walked. She had referred to the earlier incidents with Hop and 'masked girl vigilante' who assaulted him earlier.

It wouldn't be a fun topic to revisit but Haru hoped getting this big announcement into the public eyes and ears would invigorate him.

- - - - - 30 minutes later - - - - -

- - - - - TV Studio, Pokemon League HQ - - - - -

The people behind the camera all line up as several reporters are in the room having microphones on a pedestal with Oleana at it as Haru is beside her. "On in 3! 2!..."

The video would be broadcast immediately across all televisions across the Galar region as well as radios. Oleana smirks and opens up "Good afternoon, all who live in Galar. This is a special broadcast that comes in the form of an announcement that I hope everyone watching, listening, or otherwise absorbing in proxy, will find to be very exciting. I have with me our recently crowned Champion, Haru. He has something he'd like to tell everyone and for the moment no questions will be answered."

She turned to him with a wink in a way to say 'I got your back on this'. Taking a deep breath, Haru walked up to the pedestal with multiple cameras going off by several newscasters.

The signal of the broadcast would reach every Gym on their intermission between Gym Leader battles. If they were currently in a battle, the broadcast would air afterwards in a post-recording.

At that same time, Nessa would be home after having run errands seeing the television shift to the live broadcast and blushed into a smile having a feeling her honey was going to announce the project he had been so passionate in pursuing for a bit. She was seen leaning forward a bit towards the tube by a Sobble she was raising, who sat on the arm of the couch with her.

"Once again, good afternoon everyone. I stand here before you as your Champion in the very proud region of Galar. Over the course of my career I was able to pursue the Shield Challenge with my fellow colleagues and befriend many people. We currently have a very unique Gym setup unlike any other region. One day you can go and see Allister using his expertise to trick opponents with a Mimikyu, the other you can see Bea showcasing why she's the go-to opponent for her knowledge on fighting types. There's wildcards like Piers who to this day doesn't Dynamax but still shows how strong you can be without needing to use that technique in battle. Our region can be proud of many things. Gym Leaders are essential in the growth of Pokemon Trainers learning how to become better trainers, better professionals in their own right, and maybe.." he looks directly to the camera.

Nessa blinks feeling like he was looking at her through it.

"...maybe even become better people due to those you meet along the way because they are a puzzle piece you didn't know you needed in your life. I know that describes me to a T. I'm certain I don't need to tell anyone standing here whom I mean by that statement." he smiled.

Sobble sees Nessa briefly cover her face with the flush of red on her cheeks and wobbles over to her curiously.

"So yes, I'm a Champion. I defeated Leon in battle, and since then he's endowed me with knowledge on how to handle things alongside the mentoring from other Gym Leaders. However recently I haven't exactly been giving a lot back to you folks outside of promotional materials and meeting some of you personally since then either through interviews or what-have-you. Which is why I decided that my newest venture for the Pokemon League..." he inhaled a little, realizing that he was going to announce it to the world.

"C'mon sweetie. Tell them!" Nessa says to herself shaking both hands into fists at the television screen.

"...is a new Gym. It will be constructed in the North-NorthEast section of currently undeveloped land around Circhester, and will be home...TO THE STEEL GYM!" his voice doesn't crack as his enthusiasm shows. "Starting today, applicants will be received for Gym Trainers as we move into the beginning phases of construction. This is but one of two projects I am allowed to inform you all right now. We have a Gym Leader in mind already of course but as of this moment I think I'll keep you all in the dark on who that is: a true Champion doesn't reveal his entire deck of tricks at once right? Ms. Chairman Oleana informs me that this project will be finished approximately 2-3 years from now so some of you may not retain all of this announcement. So...let's just say you may hear more about this soon, and that you should definitely come down to Wyndon Stadium when the Pokemon League Tournament resumes where I shall defend my Championship title." he bows briefly.

"Thank you everyone. That is all." he leaves the pedestal as the media ignores entirely what she was saying earlier about no questions and remarks herself.

"For now this conference has come to a close, thank you everyone for watching and have a wonderful night." Oleana waves and the broadcast cuts.

Mere seconds after the cameras cut off, Haru's phone rings. Oleana walks over to him, seeing that his phone is going off and sighs. "Keep it brief. In my office when you're done." she'd say curtly before walking off. Haru answers his phone.

"Hello Ms Raging Waves." he'd say cheerfully.

"Honey you did it! After all that prep you finally got started on this project!" Nessa says back, sounding very giddy herself with the sounds of a Sobble making noise in the background.

"heheh..yeah I did, didn't I? Talking directly to the people like that was a little more intimidating than doing an interview or being in the stadiums for a battle but I managed it somehow. My legs feel like jelly."

"Oh~o? THAT'S what made your legs feel like jelly then, huh?"

It takes him a second to understand what she means by that and his face goes red. "Y...well yeah. ONE of the things that do anyway. You should know that more than anyone, huh?"

"Mmm-hmm! Rather intimately too."

"C'mon babe don't bust my balls here. I gotta report to Ms Chairman over what happened earlier...she did allow me to answer your call at least."

"Ah! Gotcha. Well call me when you can later! Oh, and Ami says hi." Nessa is heard talking away from the phone receiver saying 'Say 'hi' Ami' before Haru hears a Sobble making a noise. "See? Told you."

"Tell her I said it back. Anyways, I'll talk to you later, gorgeous. Shouldn't be home too late."

"Love you~"

"I love you too, Nessa." he does the 'kiss' sound, with her being heard doing the same before hanging up and makes his way to Oleana's office to debrief her on the events of earlier.

Oleana sat in her office chair hearing the whole story of what Haru was able to gather from Sonia from his messages, what he came across upon immediate arrival at Sonia's Lab, his chase of the rogue trainer, and what occurred afterwards. Sitting there with a troubled expression, Oleana shifted in her office chair facing sideways from Haru's view putting a fist to her lips in thought. Having no identity or anything substantial to zero in on didn't help either. Telling him that her having long dark hair wasn't enough as their database would simply come back with hundreds of female trainers having that exact same kind of hair. Him being unable to find out her eye color didn't help them match it to an ID either, since her outfit matched several other trainers as well of similarly dressed female trainers.

Haru slumped in his chair having both hands clasp around each other. "In the end all I'm aware is that she somehow found out what occurred with Hop and I dealing with those stupid 'royalty' twins that are still in prison to this day, and went after Hop first. Bad enough I already have someone who's giving me weird vibes that may also be either a 'hater' or something."

Oleana finally turned in her chair back to him.

"...OH?"

"Yeah. I've met her a few times. Heck I even battled her too. I lost but that's cuz I literally was unprepared. It was an unofficial one that ended up with me just paying for her dinner. Her name is Syra. Really good trainer, too." he shrugged at the mention.

Oleana got a big hunch however when he mentioned a name and started tapping away with her fingers on the keyboard with the computer in front of her.

"Ma'am?"

"I'm looking up this 'Syra' you just mentioned. Does she also have long dark hair?" not looking away from the computer, Oleana came across a long list of trainers with league cards that were updated daily.

"Yes. Black, actually. Magenta/Red eyes I think too." Haru comments.

"Is this her?" The chairman would shift the monitor back to him showing Syra's latest League Card: herself wearing a dark cap that had the logo of an Articuno on it, red sweater and jeans in a pose where she had her arms crossed. The number '365' and a checkerboard gloss applied to the league card were given to it recently.

He nods to confirm. "Same number I've seen her wear. Yup, that's the same one."

"Let's see her records, then. We may be able to see if this Syra has anything to do with what you have been dealing with, Haru. Any anomalies should point us into a possibility.." Oleana's fingers went faster than Haru's eyes could keep up with as he briefly wondered if she was part-machine.

His eyes widen in shock. "...wait, are you saying she could be a suspect?"

There was a brief respite, as Oleana leaned towards the screen biting on a thumb.

"Hmm...guess not. Her records are clean. Chose Sobble as her starter, then quickly obtained all 3 of the starters and has specialized in all 3 of them. Let's see...used Thwackey to defeat Nessa in the Gym...spends a lot of time in The Wild Area helping others in Max Raids...has a lot of the Gigantimax forms of Pokemon. Let's check on those Pokemon. Hmm. All Pokemon she's caught are ID'd to be owned by her, or through trade. She's done a very good job engaging in the Pokemon Gym Challenge. Has gone on record playing fair when she fights other trainers either for sport or for the challenge leading up to Gyms. It seems she's building up her team for the tournament. No anomalies detected anywhere. It's neither here nor there."

She turns to him. "Sorry, Haru. Guess that was a red herring on my end. But since you gave us that much we will possibly narrow down our searches on our end."

Haru sighed. They came to a dead end, and on top of falsely thinking for a moment Syra was the one behind this, he had no leads to the girl from earlier. "I'm sorry ma'am. I won't disappoint you again on this case."

"It's of no consequence my dear. In the meantime..." her eyes shift back to him without having changed her body away from the computer monitor. "You just got some more homework didn't you, Mister-Steel-Gym-Leader-To-Be."

She'd see him stand up and shake her hand again. "Thank you. I'll get to work on recruitment from my end and see if I can't get started."

The sound of her door shuts and Oleana goes back to look at the image of Syra's league card, with her eyes narrowing. She had found absolutely nothing on Syra's records to lead her to believe she would be linked to these cases at all. The data points on the computer told her as such.

/...and yet./ Her gut told her there may be more to this but as it stood currently she had nothing else to go from it but to move on.

- - - - - Hospital - - - - -

"I was useless once again. Perhaps that girl was right.." Hop sat upright in bed, talking to his older brother, the ex-Champion of Galar, Leon.

Leon would shift a bit in the seat near the hospital bed that Hop sat in, who had a few bandages wrapped around his face and some basic equipment to keep a check on his vitals in case anything else was damaged on the inside. "Hey, don't talk like that man. It's not your fault. I'm sure Haru and the others are trying to figure out who that was and get your Pokemon back. You know Haru is your best friend who'll do anything to make right by you."

His little brother hung his head a little further. "...do I even deserve to have it at all? Some of the things that girl said to me admittedly do make sense. It made me very angry to have heard all those things said because in the end, it's all similar to what Bede would say to taunt me early on in the Gym Challenge. The difference here is that she spoke with so much more conviction. For some reason it wasn't just whatever petty angst or confidence she had, but I can't put my finger on it. She just exuded much stronger energy."

Leon sat there with both of his hands clasped over the other. Outside of the room Sonia was talking to a few League officials who were curious on Hop's condition, trying to give the brothers some space. "Hop, I can't say I don't understand your perspective. But if someone like that girl did this to you after spouting some rhetoric like she was in the 'right' then I don't think she had much faith in her own words, so neither should you."

"What do you mean?" the would-be-assistant replied looking back up at Leon.

Sighing, and putting his arms across the other, Leon took his hat off for a second to look Hop in the eyes. "I'm saying that if she was willing to give all that but then put you in this hospital with the intention of getting her way anyway, then it doesn't matter what she said earlier. Words are only words, but words can be legendary if one acts upon them. Otherwise you're just someone who talks a lot. Let's take this assailant for example. She might as well be using those words just as a dressed up coating to defend her flimsy, anger fueled point of perspective. Even if she was right about all of that, who's going to care about any of that when it sent you here? She's the type to use force: 'might makes right'...which seems to line up with that spiel you told me about her going on and on about 'using the power given to you'."

Sitting in silence, the brothers shared a moment with nothing else to say for a little while. Hop eventually lays back down on the bed looking at the ceiling.

"I won't say you're not right, Leon. But it still hurts; what she said. At the end of the day, I lost, and her point of contention on looking after Pokemon properly was correct. You have to at least admit to that much."

His fellow spikey haired big brother sighed. "Maybe, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. You're my brother. We're here for each other. Now get some rest, okay?"

Sonia sees Leon exit and follows him. "Hey, so how is he now?"

Leon sighs a little, gesturing with a nod to the adjacent vending area. "Fancy a coffee?"

A finger goes up to protest "No thanks..I uh..." before she catches him looking at her a certain way, then re-thinks her statement with her heart briefly skipping a beat. "Y-yes, actually I will."

Putting some money into a machine as a cup dropped down, Leon sighs. "Hop's doing okay but he blames himself for the actions that happened. Says he thought about the words the girl said even if it led him here. I'm trying my best to convince him to not take it to heart but I don't know if it's working."

He turns to Sonia, seeing her frown a little and messing with the side ponytail of hers. "I see. The pain on the inside can have more effects on us than we normally think it would. The human mind can be a dangerous thing. In that respect, I think I understand."

"Here, you first." Leon says handing her the first cup while putting in another order for his own.

"Thank you Leon." Sonia goes, blowing on it to cool the temperature a little.

"What you said just now, let me guess you were referring to our fellow red-haired friend?" Leon asked, looking at the clock absentmindedly.

"Mmhmm. Hop was the first to take action when the event occurred, seeing how Haru reacted to the news. Basically wouldn't go a day without making sure he was managing and spent as much time with him as he could." She says, finding a nearby seat and looking at Leon.

"At that time when it happened, I was touring. Hiro was a great friend of ours, so I can only imagine how rough it was to have discovered it on the day of...well, you know." His eyes meet hers as Sonia just exhaled.

Her memories of that time came back as she saw Haru buckle down having heard the news. He was with other people who were friends with Hiro, and looked pale with intense pain cycling in every vein of his body.

"Parts of me still think back to it all like it's not even real. I felt bad since I wasn't as close to Haru back then like I am now...but decided to change all that learning about the whole thing. We never really know when we're going to be gone and can't plan around it. I think Haru began to regret every single day he existed with what's called 'Survivor's Guilt'. Hop is probably going through his own crisis at the moment since he threw away his previous ambitions to come and help me, and yet signs of the life he once led have come back." The professor would say with a bit of pained eloquence.

Sitting next to Sonia, Leon would look focused on his cup of coffee to help him gather his thoughts. He sounded drained. "While in there all I could do was just feel bad that he was on the receiving end of such pointless drama. None of this had to happen. But because it did all I can do is just be here for him. It doesn't feel like it's enough. Never before have I felt like I couldn't do anything to help someone. It's irritating."

He'd feel one of Sonia's hands go over his own, as she smiled. "I think Hop knows how badly you want to help, and that alone is enough to make him feel better."

She's finally see him smile for the first time since they got there, as Leon takes a sip of his drink. "When you're right, you're right, Sonia. Thanks."

Sonia smiles wide. "I've been getting that often today."

The two end up looking at each other, with Leon looking down at Sonia's hand on his. "...uh.."

"OH! Sorry! I uh..got caught up in the moment." her face goes red and looks away.

"Hello there!" came a feminine voice from nearby. The sudden new voice in close proximity causes Sonia to twitch in her seat, yelping. The two look towards it and find it's Marnie, who was carrying a small bag, with Moripeko beside her.

"Oh, Marnie, you came!" Sonia said with some relief that she didn't have to focus for long on the awkward moment between herself and Leon.

"Is Hop in that room?" Marnie gestures with her head nodding in the direction of an open room. On her way over, she was told the number Hop was resting in and made a guess on it considering how the rest of the hallway was ordered.

Leon's seen pointing to the room with his coffee cup in hand. "Yes. He's resting but you may be able to catch him before he falls asleep. I take it those are something you brought for him?"

The gothic-dressed girl nods. "Snacks I got from Spikemuth for him. Figured they could at least brighten up his mood. Thank you." she'd walk off towards the room.

/Phew, things got a little much for a brief second there../ Sonia thinks to herself with a hand on her chest.

Marnie pops her head out to look at the two again to make a cheeky comment. "You two look adorable together by the way."

Sonia gets flustered and clenches both hands "Hey! You're visiting him, not us!"

"Right!" Marnie disappears back into the room.

Sonia's then heard hissing as having done that made some of the coffee spill onto her hand. Leon doesn't get why she was reacting as such, points to the mess she's made on herself, only causing Sonia to draw more attention by continue to blush from it. It seemed the two went in a circle of misunderstanding; something not uncommon for Leon.

- - - - - Motostoke - - - - -

- - - - - Haru's Home - - - - -

The day had been long, and short was Haru's patience. After dealing with the events earlier with Hop, his talks with Oleana, and being stopped by a few people who reported for several media outlets he no longer had any patience for the common person and simply just wanted to be home. Slumping his way into his home, his Gardevoir, Masako, greeted him with a big hug. Feeling defeated, he sat down and told all of his Pokemon that lived with him what went on so they would all know in case he had to rely on them to deal with the renegade trainer at some point in the future. As a Champion, it was his duty to keep tabs on it. Even after explaining everything however, he just felt down and had to see if Nessa was available to talk; bringing his computer up and phoning her for a video call.

A minute goes by and she picks up. "He~y gorgeous." she cheerfully greets. Haru is seen somewhat lazily waving. "Hon what's wrong?" she'd notice that his energy seemed at a little under half of what she expected considering he got his project off the ground.

"Nessa, I need to update you on what occurred earlier, and there's some things relating to that as well. Hop was...attacked. He lost a Pokemon battle to someone who was very very skilled. They were prepared enough to take him on and then in some form of agreement, take his legendary Pokemon, Zacian. You know how I hold Zamazenta? Well he held Zacian. HELD. Now he no longer has it...and I came onto the scene as it just ended when this person forcibly took Zacian from his hands through brute force. They had a falling out from the results of battle, and I made chase." Haru raked a right hand through his hair before continuing. Nessa sees that he looks exhausted going over the events again, but not in a physical manner.

"I was able to keep up a lot better thanks to you being my coach in doing morning runs together for some time now, and there's also the swimming I've been doing. But whoever this person was, was amazingly skilled at keeping away and doing anything possible to slow me down. I met them as they left in an Air Taxi and tried to knock them down so I could capture them. But they used a 'Protect' move at the last second and got away." His eyes narrow, looking at the keyboard.

"When I talked to Ms. Chairman about all this, we both came to a conclusion that this could very well be the same person that I'm supposed to be pursuing who's been stealing Pokemon from people. We can't figure out why they're doing it, but they're doing it and now Hop's been sent to the hospital!" balling up a fist.

Nessa had a pained expression seeing how troubled her man was, detailing the events of that morning to her. "Honey I'm sure you did absolutely everything you could do in the moment. Hop isn't the kind of person who would blame you."

His eyes look back up to her as he has to take off his glasses to rub his eyes. The stress was getting to him. "On top of that, we briefly had a moment where we may have zeroed in on a possible suspect, but no such data backs it up. At least, for now. Unrelated: I forgot to tell you but not long ago I bumped into Syra in the streets."

She almost looked like it was her turn to blow up, but only on the pretense of the bad feeling she had the last time both of them bumped into her in public. "You WHAT?! Wh-...well did anything happen?"

"You could say that. We had this very, very intense lockdown of stares between us and we spoke for a bit. Felt like I was in the 'wild west'...before she tackled me to the ground because someone nearby was attempting to knock my lights out using a Pokemon. We chase them down together and apprehend the suspect. Some person wearing a makeshift Team Rocket outfit. Reports came back they're just an angry ex-fan before I started dating you...so I guess they're just very jealous to a fault. But I got to see Syra battle up close. Afterwards, her and I did a random battle out in the streets where we met up originally. I wasn't prepared at all, having only a Flygon with me, so I lost. Instead of taking some reward money she ended up just asking for food. That was it. Marnie even bumped into us to say 'hey' at the end of everything." Haru takes one long inhale then exhales.

"So...did you feel anything?" Nessa crosses her arms.

"That's the thing. The entire time when Syra and I were speaking to each other, both before I was attacked, and before the actual battle AND afterwards, I kept getting this irregularity of an aura coming from her direction. She isn't just a very talented trainer who is aiming for my title if she makes it to the League's Top 8, there's something..." He gestures with a hand in a circle trying to come up with the words.

"Deceitful? Crazy? Spooky?" Nessa begins throwing words out to try and help him finish the thought.

She sees him in the chat window lean back in his seat. "Overpowering. It's this weird thing I got a sense for when I was doing my Challenger run where just being near another Pokemon trainer I get a sense of what type of person they are and how good they can be. I heard that sometimes trainers can get this sense, so it seems I'm one of them. The first time I got that was when I battled you for the Water Badge. Then later I 'felt' it again fighting Piers, then Raihan, and then the entirety of the League Tournament. Rose was a powerful trainer but I never felt any true malice from him. There was however, one time and one time only where the sensation was so powerful I felt like my knees would buckle if I didn't focus on a positive victory as the end result."

"Let me guess, Eternatus? A lot of us across Galar felt that energy everywhere, so I can't even imagine what it was like standing mere meters away from such a creature." the Water Gym Leader would guesstimate, as her fellow Sobble, Ami, was seen on the desk where she was sitting.

"Yes. I remember it like yesterday. But now there's another time when I've felt that: standing toe to toe with Syra. I don't know if she..."He sits on a word and can't bring himself to say it without feeling more tense. "..hates me or is a sore fangirl of someone I defeated. I don't know if it's how I look, or it was something I said, but I definitely felt a constant stream of just absolute, pure intensity from her. Maybe it's anger. It wasn't until she had left that I physically felt better. The whole time it felt like an oncoming panic attack that kept building up but then never caused my body to go into shock. Probably the worst feeling. Does that make sense?" He asks, looking at Nessa with a little bit of an embarrassed face.

The two went quiet, with Nessa's expression going serious. Knowing that Haru felt the exact same level of uneasiness that she did when they were approached that one day was very reassuring, but worrying. To know at any one point that your hunch isn't 'just you being crazy' helps when someone else confirms it, and for Nessa this would be one such moment.

"Yes it does, sweetie. You're not crazy. It's a bit of a relief to know the two of us now got the exact same feeling from her. I wish I could say why she may be any one of those things you're guessing about, but I've got nothing. In my eyes, you've done nothing to deserve anything like that at all! In the end, I am thankful you're okay. But..." Haru sees Nessa clench a fist and lean towards the camera. "...if that girl so much as lays a finger on you attempting to hurt you at all, or gets too chummy, she's going to get a complete makeover with a custom 'battle' with ME and my team of TWO FISTS!"

For a second Haru feels relieved that Nessa is willing to put herself up to defend him like that, and sighs, contented. "Thank you, hon. I'm hoping it won't have to come to that. Sonia had a pep talk with me earlier that I should look at my achievements and give myself more credit. We have this situation with Hop, whoever did the Wyndon Stadium thing, that random fanboy that tried to seriously hurt me, and whatever the deal is with Syra. 3 of those things somehow feel connected to me and I don't really know how to process that."

"Do you need me to come over there? Because I will!" she points to the screen, ergo, him by extension.

"Threatening me with a good time, then?" his eyebrow raises with a cheeky grin.

"I'll do it! I'll go over and cuddle the shit out of you!" she insists, with the Sobble near her making an excited noise.

Haru briefly loads up a tab on his computer that held the mail he was getting from possible applicants for the Steel Gym. There were already over 30 applications. It would take a bit to go over each one and make calls from there for interviews.

/"In the meantime...You just got some more homework didn't you, Mister-Steel-Gym-Leader-To-Be."/

He thought back to what Oleana said, and closed the tab looking at his mail, to go back to the video window with Nessa on it. "Sure. Come on over. I can take at least tonight off to not look at the oncoming applications for my Gym. Bring a movie over, and I'll order out."

His reply gets Nessa to cutely bounce in her seat. "Awesome! I'll be there soon then!"

Haru smiles. "See you soon, Nessa my dear." before closing the window. He's nudged on the elbow by his Lunatone who's hovering near him with a movie on hand. It was an animated movie about how two estranged lovers, one of them being half-human, half-wolf, fell for the other and had a family with them. "Good one, Luna, but I'm letting her pick this time."

Nessa arrived shortly thereafter, much to the comfort of Haru's soul and cheerful greetings by all of his Pokemon too. Bringing over a comedy that she thinks he'd like about a lawyer who has trouble telling the truth, and a simple phone order for delivered pizza, the two sat on the couch like two spoons, enjoying each other's company. As if history found a way to pay tribute to previous events, Mirukon came later to check on if his master was feeling any better from earlier.

He'd instead find that Nessa was huddled up on top of Haru on the couch with both of them asleep and the television having turned off from inactivity. Her hand was seen resting on his chest, facing him, with Haru having one arm around her back and the other on top of her head. The Glaceon, Nora, was seen curled up at the foot of the couch from the two. Haru's Lucario saw this as a cute way to see the same thing his master saw long ago when he was in a similar situation and decided to pay the same respect forward. The two of them were soundly asleep, and didn't want to interrupt either one. Finding a blanket and carefully placing it over the two, he saw Nessa cuddle up a little closer but not wake up. Not wanting to overstay the breach of privacy, Mirukon walks off softly trying to not make any noise. The two sleep peacefully.

- - - - - 4 Days Later - - - - - -

The news would hit every single radio station, television channel, broadcast, podcast, you name it: the Pools Tournament for the Pokemon League will be held in 1 week. Reminding everyone that this tournament is because the Wyndon Stadium's attack held back the League's Tournament and since by then more people will have completed the Gym Challenge they have to narrow the entrance down to the Top 8 that will be competing. Syra hears about the news and goes to work in her own private 'lab time' going over all of the Pokemon she's collected trying to get the best time for the job. Haru, several days after his Gym announcement, hears the news at home while having printed out his 37th application for a Gym Trainer that he plans to have interviewed. Yuri, his Hatterene, looks over to him in curiosity of the oncoming Championship match that will no doubt be happening not long after that. The end time of his title is nigh. His brain goes back to the conversation he had with Nessa on his own Steel-based team, and starts making notes of possible candidates.

At the same time this information is announced, the Pokemon League informs everyone that when this occurs to head to Motostoke where Kabu's Gym resides for this event. During that time, no battles will be taking place for his badge as it is a necessary step to get the whole Gym Challenge back on track.

- - - - - Wyndon - - - - -

- - - - - Pokemon League HQ - - - - -

The day after the announcement, all of the Gym Leaders would assemble together early in the day into a conference room where they sat along several tables with microphones and speakers. Haru himself would be at the center of every Gym Leader, with the rest of them in order of their Gyms in respective to the Sword or Shield Goal Set. The idea was to have the Gym Leaders ask a question or two for the group of Pokemon trainers that Haru handpicked for interviews. Those that were called in for the interview would also be asked to go over their respective achievements, what their teams would consist of, what they could offer back to the coming Steel Gym, and asked every trainer if they had any questions for them in return. Unbeknownst to the applicants, those that answered the most favorably from what Haru asked would most likely be considered later. Their answers would range from generic, to the very few being outstanding.

"Well, I have a family that's based in construction. My father is the one who helped teach me to weld and always had hoped we'd eventually get a Gym for the Steel type..."

"My PokeDex is complete for the region, so I can use any one that you'd need! Of course, not to outdo whoever the Leader is, and I don't want to brag per se..."

"I breed Klingklangs."

"There isn't that many Steel types that I have registered, so I would hope the quick versus battles I've had that show on my record can be enough..."

"I already have a 6 Pokemon team ready right now actually, and was really happy to hear about a Steel Gym coming! Which, by the way champ, thank you for setting it up, and..."

There'd be one person in particular that stood out towards the end of the session of interviews when Allister proposed the simple question of 'what is it you can bring differently to this Gym over others?'. Of all the applicants prior to, this one would stand out.

"I'm not really sure what there is there that I could offer differently, but if you do need someone who has what she believes is a good team that can pass on the torch to others through battle, as well as someone to design your interior Pokemon Gym Challenge, I'm your girl! I also have expansive data entry skills to add, so if you need someone to help with that, again, you can rely on me!"

The quotes came from an energetic girl that Haru found familiar. "Hey, I think I recognize you. Sorry that it took me this long even after the introductions, but you spoke to me when I was in Hammerlocke. It was outdoors, and I had ran into another Pokemon trainer that same day too. You're THE Monika that I met and handed me her card, right?" Haru said into the microphone.

The brunette with a ponytail nodded. "Yep!"

Piers looked over her profile again as the Leaders went quiet for a second. "You told us that you could help design the interior challenge? How is that possible? The construction has started on the area surrounding it as we speak. You'd need an extensive kind of knowledge on that sort of thing, since it involves what the Steel Gym, heck, any building requires: architects."

Haru raises a hand. "To be fair...there never came up a design document on the challenge. It is yet to be decided."

Gordie hears this and turns to Haru for a second. "Really man? That's really important you know. You don't just expect people to walk in do you?"

The ruby red hair Champion just gave an impassive shrug having no answer, seeing Gordie readjust his shades in dismissal.

There'd be a small chuckle of confidence from the applicant as she puts her arms behind her. "If you look where I did my schooling, and on the achievements I've done outside of being a trainer, I think you'll see I'm quite qualified."

Haru decided to speak up."When I met you, you offered me to be a moderator for my online activities, such as any livestream I personally hold that's not regulated by my security. I assumed then it was nothing more than just a babysitter to keep bitter trolls in place. Of course that in of itself is a simple job, but are you saying you know the ins-and-outs of computers so intimately you can do such a thing as help us design the initial Gym Challenge of the Gym?"

"Haru, hey, look." Melony asking him to pause, brings his attention to several spots in her education. Mastered knowledge around carpentry, construction management, architecture, software engineering. Both Melony and Haru just look back at the girl standing before them with a newly heightened shock and surprise.

Haru sounded completely baffled to the qualities, as Melony pointed it out to the other Gym Leaders sitting near her and they had to do a double-take. "If I may be blunt, Monika, it seems you're a lot smarter than I initially took you for: no wonder you offered me the position so seriously. I just gotta ask how you were able to do all of this up to your age. As of right now I don't have anyone that's quite like this at all."

"My Dad says it kind of came to me as I was young. So I advanced through schooling at a much more accelerated rate than others have and..." she gestures with her hands on her hips. "...here we are. But for me being a part of the upcoming Gym would be a new way for me to express myself. After completing the Gym Challenge I decided to hold back and continue my knowledge of both Pokemon and everything you just read in my file because I figured 'one day this may help someone else instead of me, and that's more important than trying to become Champion'."

"If that were the case why did you attempt the Gym Challenge at all, then? If I may, Miss Monika?" Bede would ask in a polite manner.

"Just Monika, Mr. Bede, Monika is fine." smiling wide. "To answer the question, I did it to obtain the firsthand knowledge of what other trainers would go through so I wouldn't be so naive in my pursuit of knowledge. Adventuring is a part of the process of growth, and you can't risk losing anything with just your nose stuck in books. My file shows how much time I already have done doing that, much less computers. Well rounded knowledge is better, even if you don't exactly become what the League refers to as a 'Pokemon Master'."

Raihan asks one, after taking a sip of his water as at this point Haru is trying to think of what to ask from this point onward, if anything. "Why focus so much on that aspect when you could have gone the route others did? We must remind you that being associated with a Gym isn't such a willy nilly job you can simply choose one day to 'leave'. You have expectations every day as your position is greater than yourself. Your presence is is there to help others grow. Like a teacher. Why does that inspire you?"

The bowed brunette ponders for a second, and exhales before answering. "I think it's important to better teach others through action, not just text on a screen or some books. I love reading, but I also love helping others a lot more. I'm aware of what this job requires, and honestly there's nothing about it that seems like an issue in my mind. After all, at this point where I'm at now so many others out there start to think about either the Gym Challenge, or they've already completed it. Or they've quit before finishing. They may feel lost, or are looking for a new purpose like I am right now. Nobody should have to feel so lost. Adventuring and getting those badges was fun, but my heart figures I would take my gifts and do something that was selfless since that sort of ideal brings me comfort. I see becoming a part of a Gym as a means to empower others: whether it's a matter-of-fact celebrating a kind of Pokemon with a Gym through battle, or wearing their merchandise wherever you go. You know about that particular one, don't you, ?"

There's some talk amongst Haru and Nessa. He gets back to Monika with a hand held up. "Give us just one moment, Monika. I'll be right with you." gesturing to the other Gym Leaders to join him in the adjacent room.

They all huddled together in a circle, with Haru in the middle. "Is it possible to hire someone as not just a Gym Trainer but as other positions as well? Can I do that? Cuz I really don't see why she should be stuck just doing the task of fighting other Gym Challengers daily. She could be a wild card for my Gym, and the whole league if I bring her in. She is too damn smart to just be assigned to one thing."

Bea flashes a thumbs up with a neutral expression. "Don't see why you couldn't. You know from personal experience my own staff isn't just there to flash cool moves and pose with Machamps."

Milo comments. "Two of mine are people you see helping my town with the plants and produce that are grown there, so I too am fully aware of this!"

Nessa nods, raising a finger up. "One of the ladies I have employed is a nurse who helps keep the others in check in case they're sick or aren't feeling so tough. Even if I'm the main person people can rely on to keep their spirits up, we do have someone dedicated for more serious issues."

Bede was being professional due to the nature of the process and offered his own two cents as well. "A lot of what I've gone through has been an interesting process. You know what the challenge was like in of itself since part of it takes place in a stage. We've used it for productions, like plays: it's a hit with kids you know. No way do I handle that by myself however, I have someone on board who manages that sort of thing."

Raihan slaps an arm on Haru's shoulder. "When you fought me you already knew what I was doing: I was training all of mine to become my personal apprentices, so we all have our own ways of handling our trainers. I say this: if you feel it in your gut she's a perfect fit to your Gym, then do it!"

Haru looked at everyone and nodded definitively. "Thanks, guys. Just needed that extra insight." gesturing with a hand to return to the conference room.

They would see Monika was still standing patiently as they filed back into their seats, with Haru going to Monika herself on the floor and extended a hand for a handshake. "You're hired. Welcome to the upcoming Steel Gym."

Her eyes light up brightly and she jumps a little in place excitedly. "THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU HARU! Thank you everyone, I won't let you down!" she'd exclaim then shook his hand.

"Absolutely welcome, Monika. The Gym is still a ways off until it's completed, but I'll keep in contact to get our Gym Leader to train you when the time comes okay? Glad to have you aboard. All I'll be needing from you are your measurements so we can order official Steel Gym uniform clothing for you okay? I'll give you the address to do so." She'd be told by Haru, who went and stamped a big 'approved' print on her application.

- - - - - Hulbury - - - - -

- - - - - Nessa's Home - - - - -

The same evening that Haru had approved Monika to be a staff member for his upcoming Gym, Haru brought home a printout that he had of every single Steel-based Pokemon he caught, as well as the entire region's Dex of what Steel-based Pokemon existed in the area. He wanted to make sure that whatever he chose would be right, and had brought Goji, his Cinderace, with him. Since it was awhile having taken him out, he figured Goji could use the time to at least hang with the Pokemon Nessa kept at home to have a 'break' from the others; at the very least Mirukon and Masako's constant canoodling. It went late into the evening, and Goji got tired, looking for a place to crash as Nessa helped set up a spot for the bipedal hare Pokemon in a spare room.

Upon returning to the study room Haru was in, Nessa would lean over him from behind as he sat in his chair with her head resting on top of his own. Haru would notice her embrace from behind, smile at her and give her a quick kiss before continuing to write.

"So, have you come up with anything close to a team at this point, hon?" she asked.

Amongst the several sheets of paper and dozens of notes Haru was writing in, after calculating the strength of IVs and overall team balance, he looked like his brain was going into overdrive. "Possibly. I'm really feeling up for putting a Ferrothorn, and adding Mirukon as my possible last guy; the one that I would Dynamax at the end of a match. He's a high IV Lucario, and since he's a Hall of Famer I picture myself throwing him at the end of a match and driving the crowd wild. He could be a fan favorite!"

"Hmm." She'd hum, listening to him with her arms squeezing his chest from behind in a reverse embrace. "You should call it for the night, Haru. You've been at it since you came over; longer if you consider the whole applicant process earlier. Your mind needs rest. You don't need to overwork yourself. The Gym won't be finished next week."

"I don't know, Nessa. There's still a few Pokemon left I haven't..." he paused for a second feeling one of her hands going inside his shirt from the top opening and slide down. Very. Very slowly. He feels her nails grazing his skin. "...haven't looked over."

"Uh-huuu~h. So?" Nessa couldn't help herself and just gave him a small peck on the cheek from behind. Then another on his neck. Then another.

"T...the ability to have a well rounded team is paramount you know. Like...you and your Drednaw.." Haru's face leaned a little but only gave Nessa more open leeway to attack him, as he feels her nibble a little on his ear affectionately. The attack causes him to exhale sharply.

"So I...have to stay focused..." Haru bit his lip as her other hand went inside his shirt and inhaled a little. His ability to focus was waning.

"Yeah? How's that working out for you, then?" she teased with a low chuckle. Her face would start nuzzling his neck in a romantic way, one hand going out of his shirt then to where his right hand was holding the pen that had been writing notes for so long. He ends up letting go of the pen when her hand clasps over his own, and nuzzles herself into his neck again before kissing it. Every single tiny bit of contact that her lips made to his skin made him react by shivering ever so slightly from head to toe.

All Haru ended up doing at this point was just quietly breathing a little more rapidly than he was minutes ago when she came into the room and started 'attacking' him. The careful and very calculated way her hand was touching his chest, paired with the kissing was sending innumerable hairs to stand on end along his arms.

"Haruu~~uu..." she purred into his ear directly.

"Hmm?" he'd answer in a much higher pitch in a half-whimper.

Nessa lets a tongue lick the top of his ear causing him to moan. "Come upstairs with me okay?"

His glasses had nearly slid off from how his face was angled, and nods. "o...okay.."

The late night came, and all of the worries of earlier just melted away as he took solace in the one he loved over everyone else. Laying nude in bed, with pieces of clothing from himself and Nessa having been lazily tossed to the floor from earlier, one of his hands rest underneath his head while staring at the ceiling. His work had been left in the room, but was so deep into what he had been focused on for so long that parts of him were just running numbers and calculations. It felt good to finally get work officially done on all of these things.

Nessa would rejoin from the connecting bathroom and hops back into the bed right alongside him. A slight bounce from the impact, as Nessa wraps an arm around his stomach and presses her bare body with his own and smiles. "Aha, I'm back. Gotcha!" Her hair is slightly strewn about with part of it covering a bit of her face when she snuggled up to him.

"Tch. So you have. Didn't even need a specific kind of ball to do it either: as expected from an expert like yourself." Haru teased a bit, looking down at the dark woman who had cuddled up to him affectionately. The display was adorable to a a degree he could picture hearts floating above her head.

One of her fingers goes up to his nose and taps on it lightly. "Nope, but I did weaken you in order to 'catch' you all the same."

The two share a mutually deep red blush from that statement, with him chuckling. "That you did, Nessa, that you did." They shared a kiss, and Nessa hums to herself in a sing-song-y manner.

They share a quiet moment just laying there as they join hands as the sound of the ceiling fan relaxed the two towards the oncoming slumber that awaited them both. Her eyes were fixated on him as the smile that was perpetually stuck on her face didn't seem to leave nor want to leave. "I already said you were attractive multiple times, Haru, but ever since this whole Gym-thing happened? It's like seeing a rebirth of you as a whole. I can't look at you now without feeling like my own heart is doing laps."

"Is that so? How do you figure?" His eyes narrow, looking back.

Nessa shifts a bit to make herself a little more comfortable as one of her legs lay over one of his under the bed covers. "Confidence is sexy, and you should know that you no longer seem nearly as distraught as before. I'm certain it's not all gone of course. Sure, you had a downer of a moment thanks to that renegade trainer and recollecting everything prior to, but you know what? You've become a much bigger man as a result. You should know how far you've come."

"Heh. Perhaps it's some form of second wind I'm feeling. Who knows. Meh, that doesn't sound very 'steel-y' of me. Hmm. Maybe I've been 'reforged'." Haru began to comment before one of Nessa's fingers went to his lips.

She had to stifle a laugh. "Nuh-uh, hon you had it the first time you dork. 'Second wind' is right."

Sleep would find its way to the two of them eventually, as all Haru and Nessa ended up doing was just making more small talk with each other while in bed baring themselves to the other. A lot of things had been happening that had taken a lot of focus but she was correct in stating his ability to stay on the top of his game was getting better. For many reasons, Haru felt like these events all came at the proper time.

The day-to-day depression that loomed over him about Hiro that used to plague his mindset every moment was no longer controlling parts of him to focus on them, instead choosing to let the memories fuel his ambition. With Nessa by his side as intimately as the two were at this point, Haru found it a lot easier to find the strength to continue moving forward. He may not have the pursuit anymore of seeking to be a Pokemon 'Master', but he was becoming far more satisfied with the few things he had managed to have within his life.

Nessa was having her own second wind in being able to continue her dual career and find the strength to not let what the critics and media say about her affect her as much anymore. They were all becoming just word salad. Meaningless banter. The expectations of her from other people became less of a focus for her stress, and had found that she was able to continue going about her day to day life simply by reminding herself that she bagged someone like Haru. As much as he made her feel safe, she made him feel accepted, and vice versa.

Tomorrow is yet another day for these two, but even now their love felt endless.

- - - - - END CHAPTER 10 - - - - -