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.

13. Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Una Sabbatorum

- - - - - The Evening Of One Week To The Pokemon League Tournament - - - - -

- - - - - Oleana's Home - - - - -

The clock had gone past midnight, and Oleana tried to pay little mind to the slowly growing anxiety that threatened her evening. Several things had been taking up her mental space for a bit, but if there was anything she could count on to come home and relax with it would be the notion Sam would be coming in the door any second. Since he wasn't home even as half of the hour went by, a thought came: whether or not he got held up due to this being only his third time being in Galar, or 'held up' by some troublemakers in the streets. To her own dismay, the novel she was working on reading was losing its ability to contain her focus.

/If he only had a more advanced phone then I could at least ping his location...but he insists on keeping that PokeGear from Johto./

Oleana openly sighs to herself. Being unable to stay in one spot, her trustworthy partner and best friend Garbodor sees her pace about for a bit after putting the book down. "It's only because he still has yet to drop that personality quirk of his of overworking, so I wonder if he's simply done more overextend-" the Chairman halts her speech upon hearing the front door of her home having its keyhole twisting. The sound of her home being entered and the door swaying opened showed the disheveled figure of Sam slowly making his way in, fumbling forward with great fatigue.

"Oleana..? Hey, I'm back...sorry I'm late." he calls out.

Her anxiety had finally exited her body and came over to him immediately. When it was discovered he came over to the region, she asked him to cancel his stay-over from the hotel he chose and to just room at her home instead; any reason to save money and an excuse to see him before she would begin her long days was good enough. He sees the large Garbodor make its usual cry to greet him, with the noticeable noise of heels clacking on the floor in his direction. The figure of the tall woman that was his lover, the chairman of the Galar league herself, Oleana, showed up and gave him a big hug.

"A-ah...sorry. Did I do something wrong?" Sam initially asks, with the hat of his being lifted off his head by one of her hands before caressing slowly with her fingers. Her olive green eyes vacantly look at him before narrowing from visible slight exhaustion.

"Your phone better be dead. You're home much later than I had thought you'd be." She spoke in a usual 'matter of fact' tone, but was also patting him down from some noticeable dust and not minding the smell of sweat. She grew used to being around Trubbish as a little girl, so being near him like this didn't bother her at all. Digging out his PokeGear, Sam tries to press a button on it to check...only to see the screen not light up at all.

He sighs and looks up to the pensive female that eyed the device and him. "Huh must have died when I was in the Wild Area all day." Sam gives an innocent smile, trying to play it off.

Oleana didn't think too much on that and would bring him alongside her into the living room. Being the former vice president of Macro Cosmos turned Chairman of the Pokemon League afforded her the ability to have a rather roomy home, so not only would he have space to relax but some Pokemon as well. Popping his Feraligatar out of the ball, Sam exhales, finally able to sit in something more comfortable than the cab of an Air Taxi he took to get to her place. "Did anyone tell you that you need to upgrade that thing? Tell me you ate at least, please. All I know from earlier is you wrapped up a new case today which will be going to lawyers...due to you helping our very champion himself."

The man from Johto, ex-Champion Sam, took a moment to stretch and feel fresh air on his feet: he was walking for probably far too long, and his body had yet to adjust to the Galarian timezone and weather.

He notices that when Garbordor sees his Feraligatar it's unsure of what to make of the water lizard. While there is no tension between the two vastly different Pokemon, they hesitate getting too close before settling down at their own respective corners in the living space.

"Sam?" Oleana waves her hand in front of his face.

His messy fluffball of hair sticks out while he blushes, feeling bad for zoning out. "Hmm? Sorry, just took a moment to see how you decorate your place is all. About my phone: Haru mentioned it awhile ago, but this was given to me when I first started my Pokemon journey. It's the only way to contact my parents back home...and to answer the other question: yes my love, I did eat thanks to a packed lunch and having something before heading here. The case is going to take awhile but today a lot of good strides were made."

Oleana looks back at him and just smiles. "Good all around." leaning close and examining his eyes with her body being close to him, and then going to hold onto both of his hands. "Don't move."

It goes quiet between them before she gets up and heads to the kitchen that's connected in the hallway. "You say you ate...but you appear dehydrated. I'm getting you some water before you even think of sleeping."

Alongside the walls, Sam saw that Oleana had several pictures. A few that hung on the walls were of her recent ventures as the new Chairman of the Pokemon League, with others from her cross country trips that were organized by her former boss and ex-Chairman Rose. International relations within the Pokemon League was always important, and she traveled with him when the Galar League had met with others across the globe.

There was one, however, sitting on a shelf in the living room of what looked to be taken during a staff dinner. The picture was dated a few years ago with Oleana standing near a buffet line with the then-newly-crowned Johto Champion, Sam. Back then, she had no wish to talk much shop with him, but keeps a picture of the day they met as a means to look back when she was far more 'intense' and business oriented that she wouldn't even give him the time of day outside of formalities.

/Hello there! Sorry we didn't get much of a chance to say much earlier but, I'm Sam!/

/I know who you are...you're why I'm here. It's why Chairman Rose brought me along with him and why we're having this dinner./

/a...ah...yeah you're right!/

/.../

/Uhm..you're...Oleana, right?/

/Mmhmm/

/.../

/.../

/S-so...do you come to Johto often?/

/This is my second time here. I'm...going to try this 'Krabby Rangoon'.../

/O-oh! Okay. Yeah we're all hungry here whi-oh...she walked off. Hehe...man I was probably too intense./

Thinking back on it made the sensation of his own face caving inwards due to what would only be defined as 'cringe': he tried so hard, so poorly to initiate conversation with Oleana. Despite her usually staying short while speaking to him, it appeared his persistence paid off. She saw that he always spoke to her like he would to his best friend, and the fact she never made him feel inferior spoke volumes. The romantic connection would only come much later, like a Thunderbolt attack captured into a bottle.

Having reminisced about the past got him a might flustered, and Sam spoke up when he hears her getting his drink. "Hey...thank you for taking care of me during my stay here. I really appreciate it: I don't want to be a bother."

Smugly, she came back handing him one of the larger workout jugs she was given by Bea and filled it with ice and filtered water. Coming back she sat down, handing him it and sighed. "It's you. Why would you be a bother to me? At least you didn't collapse on my doorstep. You don't seem to have acclimated here yet. Jet lag?"

"That may be it...as it probably wasn't the best idea to also consider exploring a section or two of the Wild Area." Sam said after take a large gulp of water, water dripping down his chin.

Sam sees the olive eyes of hers look at him with the usual studious half-lidded stare. Her lips puckered up a little. "That's a large amount of land if you're not riding one of our Rotom Bikes which requires a Rotom phone...which you don't have."

"Well I took an Air Taxi to get to one location...'Lake of Outrage' since it reminded me of home, then I took a popular trail from there. It seemed like a good idea; I needed to do some walking anyways." Sam said while looking at her, hoping she doesn't get too upset with him.

The woman who was taller than him lets out a huffed sigh. "...did you at least ride a Pokemon around, or have you been doing some exercising when I wasn't paying attention? Not that I think you're weak or anything: you have stamina where it matters but Johto is a lot different than Galar." tapping him on the nose with a smirk.

Sam's face went red at the implication, and shrugs. "I haven't been exercising properly as of late and I wanted to increase my stamina a bit on the off chance I need to chase suspects. Feraligatar was also...enjoying the place. I think he's acclimating." he said while rubbing the back of his head. The water starter of his let out a low growl while stretching on the floor, finding a spot to lay down.

"You should try to not have him out where some officials may see you, as you do realize your Pokemon is technically illegal and I'm an accessory to that with having let you bring him here, right?" Oleana's face stays straight.

He clasps his hands together. "I know! I'm so sorry! Please forgive me for possibly bringing any trouble towards your way! I'll make sure not to make your work even harder...!"

/That's without even going into the strange sight I came across the other day when I was here...but perhaps that wasn't what I thought it was. Who knows.../

The overly proper and formal mannerisms of him never ceased to bring her guard down. Back in the day she loathed how his sunny disposition never wavered in speaking to her, but now it was endearing. "Just...be careful okay?"

He got up to plug his PokeGear into the wall then re-joined her side, taking on another long gulp of water.

She continues, pulling out a small tablet. "In any case...I still have to make time to take you to some of the newer locations that have popped up since you last came here about a year ago. When your case is over and you've done this Team Rocket 'thing' you'll have to promise me to finally stop triple-booking yourself, okay? That's coming from a Chairman who is basically doing that daily with League Staff on the daily." folding her arms over the other, pushing her cleavage up.

The constant point of contention even when she met him was that Sam had a tendency to over-focus on a single goal and stick to it to a fault. If Haru was someone to be known as initially complacent and having issues planning, Sam was someone who is always planning and almost never resting. Haru was currently almost to that point, but Nessa would never let him get there.

Oleana sees Sam look at her with a strained expression. Taking a final sip of the mug, he threw in his thoughts on the matter. "I know...I'm sorry. I swear after all this is done that it's going to be the last time."

"You said that same thing when you came and surprised me at my office as your way of saying 'I'm back in Galar.'...though I didn't let you get much of a word in at first because you made my heart leap out of my chest!" It was Oleana's turn to blush. The day he came back made her metaphorically and physically jump for joy. He arrived when she had spoken with Haru about the possibility of Team Rocket being around, stealing Pokemon, and the minute Haru left, Sam had arrived to her office. The rest of the day may as well have been a blur, but it stayed on her mind ever since.

"Yeah. I've been working hard and I rarely check in, if at all. I can't do that anymore. But with that being said, I meant what I said back at your office."

There was an awkward pause before Oleana had started to understand what he meant. "W-wait.." she began to protest, but failed spectacularly when Sam interjected.

"Oleana I want to be there for you. I've been thinking about this a lot. Once the job is done, I think it would be best if I stayed here with you. This discussion has already gone on with my folks back home and they gave me their blessing. By the time I was Champion I had already been away from the 'nest' for awhile, but the fear of leaving the region was something I was unsure of until both of them helped rest those fears of mine. They said I should come to my 'home'. Not in Johto, but here." Sam said looking at her with an serious look.

In older cartoons, the sensation of steam coming out of one's ears was indicative of being excessively flabbergasted, embarrassment or arousal, and it was this that described Oleana's reaction to those words. Sure, they had made the long distance work between them, and the few trips in between was nice when they could see each other...but these were very big commitments he was making.

Oleana would seemingly flail her hands a little in her attempts to understand and confirm what was just spoken to her. "Wa.w..w.a...wa..wa..ait. Wait. Okay...no seriously, wait. Sam, you have so much left in Johto! What about your other friends there? You can't just make such a big decision over someone like me, just at the drop of a hat." she seems to have been hit off her guard.

"You may be right about the whole...'much left in Johto' thing but that doesn't change how I feel about you. My parents are fine and all my friends are busy with their lives. Adults change, friendships don't have to end on distance, but I have my own life and I have GOT to stop putting you on the back burner! I've been doing this for too long yet you have supported me for the same amount of time. It's not fair that I haven't done the same back to you. There's also the fact I've been almost everywhere else in this world already. To me there is nothing more important than you. I've already been Champion, so it's high time for me to live my life how I want it when this is over."

Sam grabs her hands and holds them close with his own, as Oleana blinks; her full attention is on every word he delivers. "I promise you, I'll come back to you once all this is said and done."

Oleana just sits there and smiles with her hands being held and looking deep in his eyes. Her face rests and head tilts to the side after a moment as the gravity of his statement weighs on her heart. "So then you've thought about this for awhile before even coming here to Galar, huh?"

"Yes I have, it's been on my mind for awhile before I was sent here for work. I haven't discussed it with Looker yet because I wanted to tell you and I want to hear your opinion about it." Sam said looking at her

A hand of hers exits from being held as a pointer finger goes to her cheek in thought. "W-well...since you don't have anywhere else here it would be unwise and catty for me to insist you...g...get a house here. S...so I guess you could just...room here with me..." with her face progressively getting more red thinking about it.

"I mean...if that's fair to you? Even if we're being generous on the conversion rate here in Galar, I don't think I have enough to buy a house." Sam laughs a bit.

She wraps her arms around him and the two embraced. "Thank you for what you said."

An eyebrow of his raises in slight confusion. "Hmm?"

"Thinking about me. Nobody put you up to it, but you went and did so much since we last saw each other. Thank you, love." Oleana spoke quietly before kissing his forehead.

Sam responded in kind with another sunny, wide smile. "You're welcome."

"Bugger...you got me all flustered thinking on it." she got up and heads to the kitchen to empty out his mug when he drank all of what was within. "So I plan on showering in the morning I didn't know if you wanted something for tomorrow morning for breakfast since I'll be up before you."

"Looker said to hang tight for the time being since now the situation has become a more of a case for the legal teams to handle, so I can't really do anything until we get more info from the suspect." he gets up and stretches "Ergo I have some free time for once and not sure what I want."

Oleana just smiles and sets the coffee timer while he's trying to think of an official answer. "Well I won't say that I'm not happy you decided all this, but it has taken me by surprise. Suppose that's one thing you have over me for now..."

She walks back and sees that he's passed out on the couch...quietly asleep. Oleana exhales a little, silently and folds her arms together. "...if only I could fall asleep that quickly." Seeing Sam pass out made her smile and decided to take in the image. It was nice to have him back. He was the ultimate reminder that there's more valuable things past her office hours. Not taking long to gaze on the scene though, she readjusts his body on the couch so he's on his back before Garbodor finds him a pillow. A few blankets are retrieved to cover him, and before long he was set to swim to the Land of Dreams.

Kneeling down so that her face was eye level to his own, she just strokes his face slowly as the fingers course through his hair. She sighs. "You're not even a champion anymore and still pushing yourself to the limit like you have something to prove. Guess that's why I fell for you..." then kisses his cheek before exiting the room with the lights off.

- - - - - 6 DAYS REMAINING TO POKEMON LEAGUE TOURNAMENT - - - - -

- - - Battle Tower - - -

"Honestly? I think the colors suit you." Leon would say to his fellow friend, from one ex-Champion to the current, Haru. Haru had walked to the Battle Tower first thing in the morning after landing in Wyndon. Circling back to several comments where people wondered if he should ever seek new activity or purpose, Haru chose to test the Battle Tower. Upon winning a few rounds and understanding how much differently it was in comparison to normal League battles, he decided to talk up with Leon on his thoughts leading to the upcoming tournament. Emblazoned with a Steel type sweatjacket and his newly created Steel Gym Leader uniform hidden underneath, Haru smiles widely.

"Thank you. I looked at myself in the mirror a few times when I was putting it on and it's hard to realize just what's coming up soon." Haru replied, zipping up the jacket from the front and leaning against the domed plexiglass of the Battle Tower itself.

Leon put a thumb to his lip, before taking off his iconic cap that he wore. "What, the Pokemon League Tournament? Well you've been there a few times already, so I imagine the idea of being there isn't what's on your mind." Leaning forward until both gentlemen were looking down at the view of Wyndon itself with an arm resting against the domed glass, his gaze went to the profile of Haru next to him. "It's the fact that your Championship is ending, isn't it?"

"Mmhmm." The expression displaying itself across Haru's persona was ill equipped to show morose emotion or apprehension, but reverence for his journey.

"You don't seem nearly as worried now as you were when you started on this: that's a big improvement compared to last time we had a talk about this...so what part of it is standing out to you now?" Leon pressed on.

Haru's eyes look down watching a few trainers outside trading Pokemon towards the foot of the Battle Tower, and chuckles. "Just thinking about what exactly happened to me throughout this whole time. I got to know so many more things becoming Champion as a whole new world came before me. I thought at first maybe I'd have to act like I was a celebrity, so admittedly hiring an agent slash security guard was the first thing on my mind when the checks cleared. I politely let him go awhile back, but that was one of multiple things on my mind of 'I must do this when being Champion' in order to be part of the new status quo. Complacency became the normal, where for some reason I got so wound up in the idea of 'needing' to do something to feel alive that it hounded my mind."

Around this point, the Charizard that accompanied Leon's side would curl up in its own circle to nap. Seeking to rebuild strength for the next fight, it felt no need to be awake just to listen to its master and friend hash it out.

Haru continued, now looking at Leon. "The recollection of your advice came to me one night while I was re-organizing things around the house with my Pokemon, and I went with an idea to go talk to someone about what life is like 'post Championship'. Hop, Marnie, You, Sonia, Bede all already had your plans figured out, but I was just...'here'. Meeting up with Nessa helped me see that one doesn't have to necessarily look to new venues that are given to you to find meaning: that life isn't always going to give you an answer so you have to make one yourself."

Sighing, Haru scratches his head in his own search to figure out how he would say this out loud.

"My own insistence on seeking out the next 'challenge' made me overwhelmed because I was still thinking like a trainer instead of a champion. I guess you could compare it to thinking like an adult instead of a pre-teenager. I didn't care for Shiny Pokemon back then, nor did I care about the Pokedex of mine being filled out. But now...? I realize that I don't have to look so narrowly. For me, a new reason to live was right around the corner." The ruby red Champion turned to Leon and smiled. "When my mind goes back to that period of rediscovery, I kept going back to thinking about how Nessa tackles things, and how her personality stood out to me uniquely amongst everyone I ever met. How often I ended up...thinking about her. Normally someone so headstrong wouldn't jive that well with me but damn it, getting to know her more and more was so eye-opening! One day, without even trying, I got the idea one day to continue being an inspiration to others by becoming a Gym Leader. As much as I went out of my way to become Champion, it'll all end that day Leon. I'll be the next Gym Leader, and live a new busy life meeting many more trainers who had the same goals in mind as I once did."

There's a little bit of awkward silence before Haru breaks it up with a half hearted laugh. "I'm sorry, I went on another chin wag with myself there..."

Flowing with the punches as he was, Leon handwaves Haru's explanation. "No, man, it's fine! You've always been passionate, and that's nothing to shoot yourself in the foot for at all! But, you were leading up to what's standing out to you on that day?"

Haru smirked, folding his arms over each other and uses his back to lean against the domed glass. "What's standing out to me is that I never figured I would be happy stepping down from such a prestigious position. That I'd be okay with just 'giving it up' so quickly. When I think back to the months I spent being alone and aimless, I compare that to when Nessa was able to give my life a new spectrum of color, ergo expanding my mind's eye! People try for their whole lives to get to this point and many never reach that point...but I'm there right now. I'll step down from this position, and I'd like to live a quiet life with my love by my side."

Taking another glance outside, Haru sees the skies clearing up from the earlier fog. "I would move mountains for Nessa, because she went out of her way for me."

Leon chuckles a little, tipping down his cap a bit with one hand. "While Sonia and I aren't quite there yet, I can't help but feel a little jealous of your happiness. It's infectious, you know?"

"It's a bit much at times, I know, Leon. You can say it." Haru says with a little of a smug grin on his face while the two gentlemen laughed it off.

There's another pause as Haru brings out his wallet and takes out a small picture to show to Leon. The picture is of Haru with all the Gym Leaders and ex-Champion at the Staff Dinner during the Pokemon League when he became Champion himself. It's of Haru sitting next to Hop, with Marnie on the other side, and Nessa having put an arm around him to crash the selfie he was taking at the very last second. "To sum it all up: I'm happy. Maybe one day I'll even decide to search for Shiny Pokemon and fill out that PokeDex."

Unexpectedly Leon would lean towards Haru and give him a big bear hug. There's a bit of a surprise from Haru, who reciprocates the action by hugging the big guy back. "You know what Haru? I think you're gonna be a great Gym Leader. I can't wait to see what your team will be, and what you'll bring to table. Though...maybe consider a cape or something to go with the uniform."

"Oh come on! Not you too!" Haru's face goes a little red.

The spiky purple haired would-be Champion bellowed out a laugh. "Milo has his hat, Allister has his mask, Raihan has his jacket, I have my cape: it's all a thought!"

Though the idea would be considered, Haru was flustered all the same. His lack of a 'true' fashion sense only was due to the wish to only wear what he felt was comfortable to him, so perhaps a conversation with someone who had a better eye for detail would be in the cards soon.

- - - - - Syra's Home - - - - -

Syra decided to take at least one day away from overworking her Pokemon League teams to visit her old home again and get dirty clothes taken care of by putting them in the wash. Thankfully at the time she was there, her brother was actually home and as such decided to treat him to lunch. With a call of "Dad we're going out! Be back soon!" while heading out the door, the two head out to one of the local restaurants that was owned by family friends. The first thing to come to conversation was her own apology for being unable to keep in much contact with him after leaving to go on her Pokemon Gym Challenge. Making no excuses and owning up to the mistakes made, she couldn't help but ask over and over again for him to forgive her.

"Sis it's fine. I'm not mad, I just got a little lonely after awhile. Dad puts in the hours he does, and I have my own friends I've been making ever since. You have a life, too, you know..." Gabriel comments, while taking a few chips from the basket in the center of the table.

Readjusting the blue jacket she wore and taking off the cap with the Pokemon League on it, Syra pensively responds. "Right, right...we're not joined by the hip. Still, I kept in touch with dad and on the short times I visited I never even bothered to leave you a note or anything. That's not right of me, especially since I started this so long ago. You deserve a better big sister out of me, Gabe."

A waiter comes by to ask the two siblings for their orders and leaves shortly after taking them. Gabriel took after Syra similarly in appearance: straight black hair that parted to the sides and magenta-red eyes. While younger than her by a large margin, he was well spoken for his age. The difference between the two would mostly stem from his upbringing being with mostly his father while Syra at one point got to live with both parents. "I'll forgive you if...maybe you get me an autographed league card!"

Syra puffs her cheeks a little. "Oh come on! I'm not Champion and I can't just go and buy one. They're expensive on the secondhand market, Gabe!"

Her outburst drew attention from a table over who recognized her voice, making Syra sweat a bit and waving to some fans of hers. Gabe's eyes narrowed a little and exhaled. "Well if you become Champion it won't be hard right? Or at least get me some gear from one of the Gyms? You know I'm not good with large crowds like that, so unless I got one of those expensive V.I.P. seats I wouldn't last very long at one of the games. Well..maybe. It's hard to tell at this point."

The Challenger that was his sister got some motivation back and flashed a thumbs up. "You got it then! But moving on from that...are you doing okay? I know I've been gone a long time but you're..."

She couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence. She still worried about his mental health ever since 'that' event occurred within the family. Gabriel looked nonplussed and nodded with a proud face. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me, I've been keeping active both mentally and actively. You should see some of my drawings."

Despite his insistence otherwise, Syra felt a little awkard for thinking he would be in much worse shape. Moving her hand to take a few chips out of the basket, Gabriel's next sentence would throw her completely off her guard. "I know what you're doing, by the way."

Her skin turned pale and Gabriel sees Syra for the first time shaken up. "W-wha...huh? What do you mean?"

"It means I know what you've been doing. All this time." Gabriel had his hands folded together and looked at her straight. For some reason the idea of her being caught by him made her feel guilty, and tried to play it off.

"U...uh...hang on back up. You wouldn't...be referring to...uhm.." Her hands fidgeted together and was noticeably uncomfortable despite trying her best to keep a confident profile.

Her brother answered with a confident, low tone. "Yes, I am, sis. How much longer are you going to keep up the facade that there's nothing going on?" the look on his face showed immense disappointment and sorrow. Knowing the truth behind his older sister broke his heart.

/So...he knows, huh. I don't even know why I thought I could hide it from him, but I guess even I slip up sometimes./ Syra looked down briefly and letting out a low sigh. Her eyes had landed on the badges she collected over all of the Gyms, and how far she had gotten while trying to maintain what felt like another personality hidden away from even someone like her brother. Raising her head after a moment, she puts on the most confident face she could and smiles. "Don't worry, Gabe. After all this is over, it won't even be an issue. You'll see."

Her brother looked a little frustrated and not pleased with her answer as his eyes look outside at some couple who walk by, hand-in-hand with a Flygon trailing them. "I hope that's true, but Sya, for my sake? Seek help. I...I don't want to remember you like this years from now."

"Duly noted."

- - - Later That Day - - -

Syra is seen walking by herself after having hung out with her brother during lunch. Keeping to herself while on her way down one of the busier towns in Galar, she's been checking her phone for messages from someone. With the recent events all seemingly coming to meet at an apex in her mind, the Pokemon League Tournament's results meant one thing no matter the end result: her life would be forever different at the conclusion. She was quietly pondering whether or not it was right to go to Team Rocket for help, and how she would hide that part away of her once becoming Champion. Albeit with an open mind to other options, there weighed another thing on her heart.

/I know that the way I've been feeling has been so wrong. Over time I've been giving into the desires, acting crazy, and outright being shitty. I could stand to lose so much if word got out, and people would spread whatever they could in order to get their '15 minutes of fame'./

She had gone down to one of the more seedy looking areas and looked both ways before putting on a face mask as she crossed the streets towards a hotel. A text appears on her phone from the number she expected a message from:

[["Will be there in 10 minutes. Don't wait for me and head inside."]]

Replying to the messenger with a simple "Ok" and putting her phone away, Syra heads towards the elevator to get to the hotel room. It was convenient that she had already been given the key to the room, but while getting into the elevator still wearing her mask with the ensemble she chose, her heart was beating irregularly. Anxiety and uncertainty filled her mind.

/One way or another, Giovanni's services to me, and I to his will be coming to an end soon too. Once I become Champion, all of this is going behind me. Gabriel's words to me earlier brought me back to reality, so I should rectify all of this. Today./

The door is opened, and then closed. Inside Syra sees the way how the hotel is just as high class on the inside as it is the outside, and at least takes a moment to relax on the nearby bed. Grimacing in disgust that it was shaped like a heart, she takes off her hat and runs both hands through her face, breathing deeply. "Okay, Syra...just...when he arrives...and you have *that* talk about this...stand your ground." The oncoming conversation was going to be tense, dramatic, possibly ugly. She begins to pace back and forth along the carpet, and before she knew it a few clicks are heard from the hotel door. The sound alone causes her face to immediately swivel in the direction of the door.

"Syra, glad you came."

Her eyes narrowed coldly with the full intention to stop it all, as both hands went into fists. "Hi, Dad."

He made a smug expression, eyeing her with the thigh highs she wore and short shorts that was her iconic outfit that was emblazoned on her League Card. "Mmm."

"Surprised you were able to even leave the house convincing Gabriel of you heading to some late work. Again." Syra's tone in her voice shows how not 'in the mood' for him she was for anything.

The tall burly man with long hair tied back set down his suitcase that had a few things included that would be displayed once snapped open. PP Up, PP Max, Ether, Elixir, Full Restore, Max Revives, Dire Hits, X Accuracy; the whole lot of supplements that Syra could use was brought in the room, causing her interest to at least wane back to the positive side of the scale. "I didn't come empty-handed. I brought what I said I would in hopes you could use this for your tournament fight."

/Take it and leave.../ she tells herself upon seeing the contents out in the open, having walked over. "From Giovanni, I assume?"

Ritsu held up a hand and pointed, chastising her. "Ah-ah. He's 'Boss' Giovanni to us, Syra. You know better."

"Right, right. Well. I...wanted to talk to you about something."

"We can talk later." he was curt in his response with one hand going to her shapely ass, as her hand swats it away.

"HEY, we can't-!" her voice was cut off as Ritsu had cornered her on the nearby table that the suitcase sat on.

"What's with you? You normally don't fight back. You know you've gotten real mouthy this past whole year since you became a Gym Challenger, daughter of mine." He bellowed out, looking down at the raven haired girl before him with both hands starting to roam around her figure slowly.

"Look, I've decided I don't want to do this anymore...and when I become Champion, I'm taking Gabe with me. He knows, by the way." raising her eyebrow to her dad, who lets out a surprised gasp.

/"It means I know what you've been doing. All this time."/

"Gabe knows about me being with Team Rocket. He knows that YOU work for Team Rocket...and he also knows...about us!" her face grew dark with blush and she couldn't make eye contact with Ritsu as shame filled her demeanor. A hand swipes across her face, causing Syra to yelp in pain.

"You dare raise that tone with me?! After everything I did for you-" Her father began to yell at her, before Syra cuts him off holding a cheek with her hand.

Tears filled the corners of her eyes as she glared back angrily. "What you did was you kept the family apart because you still haven't owned up to the fact you fucked up with Mom and instead of becoming a normal human being with a normal life, you just pushed yourself all on me! It's why you are always looking over our shoulders to keep her away from us! Sure, I've gone along with your shtick for awhile because I was afraid, as you not only trained me yourself but groomed me. Used me. Threatened to hurt me if I fought back. Y...You did so many other things, but not anymore! That time I came over not long ago? That was the last straw."

Her mind flashbacked to the time she showed off the Team Rocket outfit she got to him, and what ensued afterwards. She had wanted to tell him this for awhile but had only recently built up the courage and words to say it all. Ritsu ignores her plea, angrily pushing her against the wall with both hands on her shoulders and exerted as much force as he could.

"Hey stop!" she cries out, immediately struggling, before he puts one hand over her mouth.

Ritsu's free hand began to work, yanking on Syra's collar and pulling her top open making her cleavage jiggle from the harsh motion and grabbing her chest with the intention to disrobe her. "If you're not going to give me what I'm here for, then I'll simply have to take it from you again! We're not doing this now, not ever, so just lay back and take it like the good girl I know you are, Syra."

She would be pushed against the wall, feeling his hands start to roam around her chest and inhaled deeply in rejection. /Now or never.../ she thought to herself.

His hand slipped over her mouth and Syra used the brief split second to bite down hard on the palm, breaking the skin. The second he reels back was enough for her to strike: using the wall as a means to leverage Syra pushes a knee into Ritsu's stomach as hard as she could. The air escapes his lungs due to the increased force behind it, and without skipping a beat Syra throws several palm strikes across his face that send him flying back on the carpet with a loud thud. Panting a bit from having to exert more force than normal due to how hard of a body he had compared to normal thugs, Syra's face was flustered. Riding high off of her own adrenaline, there was no way she would be able to come back from this.

"Fuck you! You're a piece of shit father! You took away my innocence, forced yourself on me over the years and continued to manipulate me! I told you that this ends now! I'm not doing this anymore! You're dead to me!" she would hastily get her boots back on, ignoring the supplements that he brought and looks at his writhing figure on the floor. Blood had began to seep from his nose, and Ritsu none to happy with her actions. When he sat up, he saw Syra's imagery one last time looking back at him. Empowered. No longer seeking validation from him and succumbing to the awful mixed lifestyle. At this point onward she was her own woman.

The hotel room door slams and she runs out onto the streets. Mask now re-applied around her face, it's not until she's several blocks away behind a vendor's booth before breaking down into tears. Several years of abuse, manipulation into thinking it was okay, and harsh upbringings finally made her say 'Enough is enough'. The Pokemon Gym Challenge may not be finished yet, but one of her goals had already come through: leaving the home behind her. She pulls out her phone, and wipes more tears while texting.

[[SYRA: Gabe, if Dad says anything or does anything to you, you tell me ok?]]

[[GABE: Wait what? What happened, sis?]]

[[SYRA: I ended everything with him. We were going to exchange goods that I could use for the league on account that...well you already know what he was going to do to me. I told him that he's dead to me, so I can't be home anymore. I don't care if any of my stuff is thrown away, but please find the pictures of Mom we have saved away and put them in a safe spot okay? Once this tournament is over I'm going to get you and I our own place..maybe move back with Mom. But for now, I'm going to at least make sure one loose end wraps up before then: taking down Haru, our Champion.]]

[[GABE: You're not hurt are you?]]

[[SYRA: No, but he is: a bite and several hard strikes is going to leave a contusion or two. He just almost tore part of my clothes but they're fine. I have enough money to last at a camp if I wanted to but since he would probably expect me to be in the Wild Area I'm going to just find a random place. I'll send some of my Pokemon remotely to pick up my things okay? I'm sorry Gabe. Love you, I'll chat soon.]]

Syra typed those last words through frustration and what was years of problematic living conditions finally put behind her. The world would soon find out what kind of man Ritsu truly was at his core.

- - - - - 5 DAYS REMAINING TO POKEMON LEAGUE TOURNAMENT - - - - -

- - - - - The Wild Area, Dappled Grove - - - - -

It was a good thing that the weather was so nice for Haru and Nessa, and also a good thing that he was used to doing laps in The Wild Area with her. In the time that passed since they first started doing this cooperatively, Haru was able to consistently hit the morning exercise goals of at the very least jogging around for two laps. The breaks were shorter, and he made sure to not repeat the same mistake as the first time by actually eating something so he wouldn't be running on empty. Today the goal was to set out into The Wild Area and train his Pokemon League Tournament team, so once him and his beloved were done she would head off to her Gym in the morning.

The two run into Sam, who's out with his Gallade; the two training and trying to catch some of the Galarian Pokemon that were about.

Nessa is the one to raise a point, folding her arms. "Hey, while we're here and talking about Pokemon: you should at least invest in registering a Galarian Pokedex for yourself here. I don't know if you have to head back to Johto after your case is over, but I'll at least make sure nobody messes with your 'mons you collect here!"

Sam's Gallade bellows out, as Sam himself seems to reciprocate the notion. "Huh...yeah that's a good idea actually. Not like my one from home can update to the 400 you have here now could it?"

"You may not be able to take some, or any of them home as of this moment so just leave one box here in my care. I'll make sure they stay fine." Haru suggested, nudging with an elbow. "Who knows? You could learn to try doing a Max Raid here, too. Give it a shot with a few other trainers."

"Max Raid? Oh right..I did read about that. The whole time I've been here I've seen those 'dens' that you guys talk about but haven't bothered with any. I should give those a shot. Anyways, sorry to bother you two! I gotta see a man about a dog. Thanks for having a chin wag with me!" the Johto ex-champion would wave to the two of them, with Haru kneeling down onto the grass as a wind blew by the two.

Nessa joins his side, stretching her legs. "Going to take 5?"

Haru takes off his glasses and exhales on one of the lens before using his shirt to rub on them softly. "Aye. Plus, we already did 2 laps, right? I should be good to go maybe another half lap but I'd rather just relax for now. Will you be able to head to your Gym relatively on time after all this?"

The limber water gym leader who never skipped a leg day nodded confidently. "Shouldn't be a problem. I do have to tend to my water babies after all, and to any possible challenger that will be arriving today. How do you feel right about now?"

Haru looks at his glasses pensively before putting them back on his face. A few trainer whiz by on their Rotom Bikes as Nessa eyes him. "Feel like I have worked myself up a post-workout appetite. I may stop by a place or two after you head off to get some grub before working on my Pokemon League team. My new guys I got have been getting along with everyone else and I've given them nicknames already."

"Okay...so you have Mirukon, Masako, Leafa, Yuri, Luna, Nora, and Goji. What did you go with on the newest 3?" tilting her head to a sideways glance.

He almost seemed too pleased with his choices and held up his right index finger. "Hehe...the Coalossal is Optimus, my Aegislash is now Polnareff, and Toxtricity is Crane!"

The winds picked up as Nessa eventually let out an audible exhale with a slightly smug look. "Goodness, dear, did you really go with those choices? I know you're a dork but come on!" laughing out loud, she couldn't help but find silliness in what he had gone with for them. Reacting to this, Haru just puffed his chest up a bit and stuck his chin upwards.

"That may be true, but for the quality that each one of them will bring I figure they all deserve powerful names to go with their personalities and traits! You'll see!" he exclaims confidently.

The laughter coming from Nessa had calmed down, as she wiped a tear away. Her giggling was only in jest, since Haru tend to find ways to make her laugh. "I know of the first two references...but what is the third one: the one for Toxtricity?"

Haru's eyes lit up a little as he loved having any reason to gush about his favorite comic book series. "Based off a popular comic book villain...though it's from the villain's actual name. Same as Nora. He was in that movie we watched together a few nights back!"

It took her a second to recall the details of the movie but when she did, Nessa snapped her fingers. "Ah! Okay: CubatMan Begins! Considering that Toxitricity has Poison and Electricity moves, that's a perfect name."

Both of them took a moment to enjoy a protein shake that was brought on the morning workout as the skies had cleared from the clouds that hung above them. Only the sounds of trainers out in The Wild Area capturing Pokemon, and conversations being heard murmured from afar would accompany the airwaves around them.

Flipping part of her hair back with a hand, Nessa looked to Haru with a peaceful look on her face. "You know...before any of 'this' between us ever happened, a lot of what I focused on was just myself. I would wake up daily and choose to multi-zero-in on my modeling career, making time to help get fish for my town, and being a prominent figure as a Gym Leader. Some people thought the 'model' me and the 'gym leader' me were two different people. I suppose there's some truth in that, but it's just rubbish. Then on the side I would probably make as much time as I could for other, smaller things on the side. Now? I'm getting into some new things thanks to you, and even the more mundane activities feel new."

Taking the hint from the silence, as Haru simply just blushed dark in response, the ebony skinned lady chose to lean against his side, with Haru extending an arm around her waist. Nessa's head leans on Haru's shoulder. "I enjoy doing anything that makes you unable to speak." she spoke proudly.

He was unable to really say anything back because when Nessa put her mind to small things like that, it made his heart skip a beat. Be it as it may, he was distracted; thinking of a way to work towards something on his mind. "That Sam fellow. What do you make of him?"

The bright blue eyes went half lidded in thought. "I think he's a genuinely good fellow. A bit formal at points, but his heart is always in the right place it seems. You two get along like buddies. Kinda like you and Hop, and from what you told me of you and Hiro." one of her fingers goes to 'boop' his nose. Satisfied that Haru lets it happen, Nessa giggles a bit in amusement.

"Yeah...say, Nessa...I've been thinking." His tone changed, as her attention was now entirely on his words.

"Yes, dear?" she asked, as the two ended up watching a few Pokemon trainers across the lake from them on their Rotom Bikes going across the waters to catch some of the fish Pokemon that lived within. One of them throws a Timer Ball on a Gyrados, and cheers when it stays shut.

Haru spoke as the hand that was around her waist hugs her with a light squeeze. "Awhile back you had suggested on the idea of us moving in. Back then it was only a 'metaphorical' question. Do you remember asking me about it?"

"I do! Feels like yesterday. Why do you ask? Are you...?" Nessa turned while on the grass with her body shifting so she'd face him. The expression matching hers was one of Haru smiling. His heart felt like it was seconds away from leaping out of his chest, but he pressed on.

"After I become a Gym Leader officially this week, I'd love to look at some places to move in with you. It's going to be awhile before my Gym is even finalized, as the area has to be continuously constructed at every day for the next few years. We can sit down together at either of our places and...look at some homes. It can be somewhere you and I can still work our careers, and we can use this opportunity get to know each other even more. That is...if you're ready to take the next step with me."

She blinked at him a few times as a dark blush spread across her face, and then tackled him to the grass. The two lovebirds embraced each other, as Nessa's body was on top of his own, peppering his lips with kisses and then his face with affection. "Haru I would love to do that with you!" she exclaims, bringing one of his hands to her cheeks and nuzzling it. He would sit up with her still straddling his lap and gave another squeeze of a hug.

"Then it's settled. We'll look for a place you and I can call home for us and our Pokemon after the Tournament is done!" He proclaimed.

Nessa laughs a little at the idea and squeezes her 'main squeeze'. "Man...to think this is where we're at now huh?" The memories of the recent past she now shared with him cause her to smile wide.

"We were both kind of stuck in our heads that the idea of us being together just 'wouldn't be right' for a bit hmm?" the redhead Champion would say, finding himself lost in her eyes.

"Hmm..." was all Nessa would say back.

"I know that I started out this whole...relationship really hesitant and scared considering I've known you for awhile as a headstrong person. Back then I never figured I was going to be good enough or you'd care if I kept trying to chat you up duri-mmph?"

He began to go on a tangent but Nessa pressed her right index finger against his lips to shush him. Doing this with a smile, however, she spoke when releasing his lips from her finger. "That's what a relationship is supposed to entail: empowering each other. But it's fine, dear. You got me already."

"Hehe...right. We both do go on..." His face blushed with slight embarrassment though it was only in jest.

Her free hand that was clinging to his hand against her cheeks clasped it before kissing him lightly and grinning wide with her teeth showing. "Yea~h, I kno~w."

The two laid there for awhile just listening to the wind blowing and the sounds of a raid happening nearby until Nessa broke the silence. "...wait. Haru, you did tell Sam he needs a Dynamax Band in order to even do a Max Raid in the first place, right?"

His face went pale. "Ah. Uh...I'm not sure he knows." several beads of sweat form on his forehead in anxiety.

Nessa had switched posture to just laying her head on Haru's lap like a pillow. "Eh. He'll be fine. I'm sure he'll figure it out."

- - - - - Later that Same Day - - - - -

- - - - - Wyndon, Downtown - - - - -

Some whipped cream had flung right off the cup's lid, as Mathias spoke in protest, frustration, and boisterous noise.

"You've kept me long enough in the dark darling. I'll have you know I'm not a very patient man and it's been awhile. EVEN THOUGH you told me you'd update me on everything awhile back you didn't call or drop by or text-" Mathias was giving Haru an earful while at a coffee shop before Haru held up a finger.

"I know I know. I'm sorry, teach! I just got caught up with a lot of things. I owe you, and I appreciate you taking the time to come out today. It's just I got caught up and a little overtly into...things. You know: Nessa, my Pokemon, dealing with some other interpersonal things. That was no excuse of mine but trust me I'm sorry for keeping you in the dark!" Clasping his hands together to ask for forgiveness, Haru bowed his head a little.

The two had met up at a small coffee shop to play 'catch up'. Haru had been spending several hours training his secret 'League Team' for the upcoming tournament and felt it necessary to start tying up some loose ends before making the announcement. As the two had met up, Mathias was only playfully frustrated for being put on 'hold' for so long and asked for the largest size for his own frappuccino in return. The extravagantly dressed dance trainer for Haru sipped his cup with a smug expression.

Flipping his hair back, showing the new makeup he wore and the newly straightened 'do, Mathias smiled. "All is forgiven Haru...but do tell what's on your mind! You may have caught me on a bad hair day but I try to make myself work on my personal appearance for you!"

The champion-to-be-soon-gym-leader narrowed his eyes. "I want to continue doing some lessons and learn the advanced techniques. Eventually I want to be able to do things that continue to keep the flames high between Nessa and I..." Haru's face grew dark with blush. "..especially since the first time I danced with her it resulted in a successful anniversary night."

"Nothing's gone wrong since then, has it?" The gorgeous man teased, as Haru's face blushed stark red.

"N-no! Matter of fact, it's only gotten better daily! Nightly even!" both of his hands balled up into fists, only realizing at the end that his flamboyant teacher was merely trying to goad a reaction out of his student. "Grr. Damn I went and said all that, but the point remains! She's my everything. But also, it was a very fun way to exercise so I would like to continue!"

Mathias just chuckled and took the cup in his hand, eyeing Haru a bit more. "So you want to come back to me for some more private lessons and to expand your horizons! Wonderful! Beautiful!"

Haru gave a full, hearty laugh at his teacher's excitement at having more time to spend with him. He never minded the 'bold' nature at how Mathias carried himself so being around such a bubbly person was fulfilling. "I also want to ask a favor of you, if it's possible."

"What is it? Do you want your own makeover like moi when you've graduated?" Mathias teases.

Haru would slip him a photo along the table that Nessa took of him wearing the Steel Type Gym Leader uniform he would be wearing. Lowering his voice to a whisper, Haru gives the photo to Mathias to look at carefully; making sure nobody else notices. "Do you think you can direct me to someone that can make me shinguards and bracers? I think if I had something to compliment the steel type uniform like that, it would complete the image."

Eyeing the photo of Haru, and then Haru himself, Mathias had a serious judgmental expression. A finger tap on the chin and some 'mm-hmm's later, the purple eyed man glances at his compatriot, going "Shinguards? Creating an ensemble for your big debut hmm? Are you sure about this idea?".

Confidently, Mathias sees the champion give a nod of certainty with a fist being clenched on the table. "I'm certain. Nessa and Leon helped me figure it out since all of the Gym Leaders have their own fashion-based thing if you think about it. Milo has his hat, Nessa her anklets and arm bands, Allister his mask, you get the gist of where I'm going right? Gotta stand out and look 'complete'! All of them look fabulous and iconic, and I want that too!"

Taking a sip of his hot cocoa, Haru sees his friend take out his own phone and scroll through the contacts. In a moment, a new text appeared from his teacher, who sent it to him even though they were sitting at the same table speaking to each other. "You'll want to contact this girl. Her name is Cassie. She's a smith who also specializes in Steel Pokemon care, so if you tell her I sent you then she may even run you a discount. Heck, she may do it anyways because of who you are."

Haru waved his hand. "I'm not one to shortchange someone for the labor they put in, so I'll have to decline any such 'discount' offer and will pay her properly. Thank you, teach. With that in mind...will I see you at the tournament? My Champion title is on the line you know." winking so that if anyone heard him talking they'd think nothing of it. Going right along with the hint, Mathias gives an 'ok' hand gesture and would continue chewing the scenery for the moment before making his exit later. Before doing so however, he insisted Haru stop by more often. While no promises were made outside of his own to continue learning more ways to dance, the Champion would see his friend off with a smile.

- - - - -That evening, Motostoke - - - - -

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

Taking one step into the door of his own home, Haru popped open the balls containing the Pokemon that he took with him to allow his compatriots to freely walk in the home. Goji, Nora, Masako, Optimus, Crane, and Polnareff exit and stretch. "Welcome ho~ome" Haru hears upon entering his own abode from a familiar voice. Nessa had seemingly been in the kitchen upon Haru's arrival. The second Masako got done stretching her limbs from the rough training earlier, she would find the Lucario named Mirukon and give him a big hug. Luna, his Lunatone floats over to her master and obviously wanted attention. Haru manages to pick the crescent moon-shaped Pokemon up and then looks at his extended 'team' members.

"Tonight before I go to bed I'll have to make sure you all get your maintenance. Especially you, Luna. Gotta make your rock-like exterior look polished!" he said grinning a bit.

Thinking nothing of what would be awaiting him, Haru set down the Pokemon and broke out his Rotom Phone to check on everyone's stats. Noticing that his team only needed a bit more of a push before feeling fully confident in the win of his defending the Champion title he bore, he sighed with relief.

/For some reason I'm looking more forward to everyone's reaction of my announcement than my own Championship battle. But yet, also looking forward to that moreso than I have before in the past. Long as I don't overthink things I should come out victorious! Go out on a high note!/

The thought of the sounds of thousands of Pokemon League Tournament attendees and fans of his own filled his soul with determination. A part of him even pictured his little fan girl that he met, Donna, at the stadium. "Ah...I hope she and her mum are doing okay too and that they'll be there!" he spoke to himself.

"Har~u are you talking to me?" called Nessa again from the kitchen. The smell of something tropical filled the air of the hall, and beckoned Haru to walk towards its origin. Following his nose led to the epicenter of such delightful smells that would no doubt be devoured soon, if the scent was anything to go by.

"I was just making a mental not-WHOA MAMA~!" Haru exclaimed in the middle of his own sentence. Before him was the sight of Nessa cooking in his kitchen wearing an apron.

Nothing but an apron.

She was completely bare with exception to the aforementioned kitchen gear and had caused Haru's face to turn redder than his own haircolor.

The epicenter of delightful smells also seemed to have delightful sights as well tonight. Laughing at the reaction, Nessa turns around to him with a ladle in hand, having stirred a pot with a delicious stew she was making. Brimming ear to ear with a smile and a blush on her face, she greeted him. "Good evening, honey. It won't be long now. Like what you see, by the way?"

It was hard not to look over every single inch of her bare body. "I can't...Nessa you're just..."

Putting the ladle to the side Nessa embraced her man openly and grinned. "It may be cliche to say this you know but, there are multiple things up for dinner tonight. You're currently looking at one that's almost done and one that's been ready for you before you even arrived..." she would whisper. Her tongue carefully gracing along his right earlobe causes Haru to shiver and exhale purely through his nose. Letting out a low giggle, the barely clothed chef in the kitchen looked at him, satisfied. "We~ll what do you want first?"

Nothing more needed to be said. A quick audible warning to one of his Pokemon that was within earshot, Haru would embrace Nessa right there in the kitchen: the two losing themselves in their passion for the evening. It would be another night spent enjoying what little time was left before the upcoming big day.

- - - - - 4 DAYS REMAINING TO POKEMON LEAGUE TOURNAMENT - - - - -

- - - - - Stow-On-Side - - - - -

The lady behind the hotel counter looked up curiously and politely made the reminder to the girl across from the counter. "We have one room available for extended stay, but it's one of the cheaper rooms: one double size bed, microwave, free internet. I can set you up with that if you're willing, for only ₽7800 a night. Are you certain you wouldn't like to go with the previous one mentioned?"

Syra stood there with a Machamp holding several suitcases full of clothes from her home, and a Toxtricity carrying a large sack. Equipped with her now colorful backpack she got while shopping at Wyndon, Syra tips her hat down to avoid eye contact from some fans walking by. "Y-yes. That'll be fine. I may extend my stay but if I pay for two weeks up front is that okay?"

"Yes ma'am. Say are you...?" the lady began to comment but Syra just nods to stop her. The lady lowers her tone to a whisper. "Right. Staying low profile. I understand. Was curious cuz I'm rooting for you for the league!"

A few minutes later, Syra walked down the hall to the room she would be staying in and slid the keycard in its slot. A quiet 'click' is heard, and she walked in with her Pokemon. The hotel wasn't as high class as the ones in Motostoke, Circhester and definitely not the ones in Wyndon, but it would work. Watching her Pokemon set the suitcases down, she got her phone out and sent a message to her brother that she had made it.

[[SYRA: Hey Gabe. I'm here. For now this is where I will be: sending you the address in case you need a place to stay. Don't let dad see this!]]

[[GABE: I wish I could leave with you, but Dad has been on edge. The stuff you told me seems to have him really pissed, though he's not showing it.]]

[[SYRA: ..yeah. Like I said before; when I win the tournament, I'm taking you with me and we can start a new life with Mom. I'm gonna try to find her and see if I can't do something about what Dad's been doing to me. It's gone on longer than you probably think it has, Gabe, and I'm sorry you had to find out the way you did. Anyways, ttyl. Have to unpack.]]

[[GABE: Hey, Syra. It wasn't your fault. None of it was.]]

Syra stared at the last text he sent before putting her phone up, as she took another glance around the basic looking hotel room. It was a far cry from her own room, but without running into her abusive dad it was the best she could manage on such a short notice.

"Champ" her Machamp spoke to her, noticing his trainer's morose expression and putting one of his multiple hands on her shoulder. Syra looks up at him and smiles a little weakly before going to sit on the hotel bed softly, looking at the carpet.

"I'm okay, Diamond. Just a little zonked is all, so just...give me a bit. I'm sorry that I put you all here in this situation. But you know I couldn't be there any longer."

Her Inteleon had come out of his ball, noticing his trainer was feeling down and just cuddled up to her side. The massive height difference and slender figure was a little hard to effectively hang onto, but since he was the Sobble she took at the start of her journey it was always comforting to have him by her side. All Syra does is just lay her face onto its chest and quietly cries; the other Pokemon going to her side.

Moving ahead was going to take awhile; Pokemon League Tournament or no.

- - - - - Elsewhere, at the same moment in Stow-On-Side...- - - - -

Two people sat out on the side of one of the cliffs that would look over the horizon: Bea and Haru. He had come to her for some early morning training that she specialized in, and instead was offered something referred to as 'tai chi' and meditation. He was so used to the exercises that he did with Mathias' dance class, Nessa's jogging in The Wild Area or swimming in the swimming pool, or elsewhere; never once realizing that doing some activities merely slower could also result in a heavy workout.

They wouldn't be alone either. His Cinderace, Goji, stood alongside and attempted to do the same activity as him. A Machamp that Bea had as a partner Pokemon for herself was also there doing the same activities. While the group had gone for half an hour cycling through their dance-but-also-kung-fu like exercise, they would end on meditation.

"Clear your mind, Haru. Just remember to continue to breathe in deeply, and out deeply. Let go of everything around you." Bea instructed: sitting with her legs crossed, back straight and arms relaxed as her eyes were closed. Meditation for her was a state she could get into if need be for her own physical training, but didn't mind keeping her mind 'active' in order to at least tutor her friend in achieving the same amount of peace.

As Haru sat there in a similar manner that Bea was doing, he did his best to let any and all thoughts escape him. Part of him tried not to focus so hard on the instruction of doing the actual meditating while the other tried to not drift off in thought of upcoming events. Eventually, he wouldn't be distracted by anything at all. Merely listening to the winds of the Galarian skies above him, and making sure his breathing stayed consistent.

His head nodded forward, and almost as if sensing this in an ethereal fashion, Bea sends a lightning-fast 'thwap' to his side. Haru jolts up. "I'm awake! I'm awake!"

"Shhhh~! Again!" she simply instructs him, exhaling slowly through her mouth and breathing through the nose. "It's not a 'process' you have to think about, Haru. You just simply let go of everything. Surrender yourself. Pay attention to nothing at all, but be awake at the same time. Your mind must grow quiet."

She stayed quiet and let him do his best to let go.

A quarter of an hour goes by as her phone vibrates its alarm time for the meditating. Shaking his head and blinking his own eyes open, Haru then leans back until he lays on his back on the hard ground. The silver haired fighter next to him stood up and stretched while eyeing her 'student'. "Do you feel rejuvenated now? Did you achieve what you wanted?"

His eyes looked uncertain, glancing left and right without focusing on any one thing. "I...think I did? I'm not sure. Having never done that before I can't say for certain if I feel anything but relaxed."

Bea leaned down and tightened one of the wrappings around her ankles that she had put on before starting their regiment. "'Relaxed' is good. Doing this will help your body in ways you could never guess, so if you do this at least once per day you may see an improvement! Can you tell why I enjoy this?"

She saw him slowly get up from the ground and dusting himself, while Goji had unfortunately meditated too hard; a 'nose bubble' seen with him being passed out. "The jury is still out on that one. I'm mostly glad that I didn't fall arse over tit when we were doing the slow stuff earlier: I got my dance teacher to thank for that set of skills. Not sure if any of this will help me in my upcoming Pokemon League Champion Title defense...but I do feel like a better man all the same because of it!"

The champ turned to Bea as both bowed as one does after any martial art training, and put his hands on his side. "I very much appreciate that you took the time out today to allow me this opportunity. S'ppose the rest of my day will go much smoother now!"

His 'tutor' as it were looked proud to be of help, and shadow boxed a bit in place before holding one fist outwards. "Be that as it may, I was going to get myself something of a post workout treat. You down for some gelato? I know a good place!"

"You got a sweet tooth craving eh?" he asked.

Bea blushed a little and puffed a cheek. "H-hey, don't blame me! The place is amazing! You'll see, too! C'mon, I know the folks that run it! Try to keep up with me, 'Champ'!"

She would take off, dashing in the opposite direction of where they stood, with Haru following somewhat closely behind. At the end of the day, his team was almost ready for the upcoming tournament.

- - - - - 3 DAYS REMAINING TO POKEMON LEAGUE TOURNAMENT - - - - -

- - - - - Lakes of Hulbury - - - - -

- - - - - 4:30 a.m. - - - - -

In the early hours of the morning, two gentlemen would be sitting on a small boat with fishermen gear, plenty of bait, and just the calmness of the Hulbury waters surrounding them. Haru had been invited to go fishing one day with Nessa's father, Armstrong, and was looking forward to having some one on one time. 'Perhaps I'll pick up a few tips on the way' was a thought that came to him while arriving to the fishing piers, but Haru would get a bit more out of the whole visit than just some tips on getting better fish Pokemon.

"As promised...here y'go son." Armstrong said, handing Haru a Premiere Ball. A little baffled, Haru looks up to him.

"Sir?"

The older gentleman gestured towards the waters surrounding them as they were in the fishing boat. "Go ahead and throw it!"

Not wanting to second guess Nessa's father on such a random request, he takes the Premiere Ball, pressing the center button and throwing it forward. Out popped a small water Pokemon with a bright yellow and black color scheme, making Haru's eyes go as wide as dinner plates.

"It's a shiny Tympole, as we agreed." the bearded man smiled widely, taking pleasure in Haru's sudden excitement. He had remembered about the agreement on if he found one of the collector 'pocket circuit' cars for Armstrong that he would, in turn, get him a shiny Tympole.

The face of pure elation filled his soul with glee, but tried his best to also be quiet. Retracting the Pokemon back into the ball, Haru shakes Armstrong's hand. "Thank you! It's been awhile but now I remember! Man...this is my first shiny."

Giving a firm handshake and a tip of his fisherman cap, the man stroke his beard a little at the youthful burst. "Good on you for keeping low volume, son. You'll scare the fish away otherwise."

"Ah...y-yes!" Haru immediately shushes himself.

The two had been meaning to take some time to go out fishing in the waters of Hulbury, as he wanted to help expand Haru's skillsets. With only a few days left until the tournament, one morning spent fishing instead of rough exercising would be just the thing to break up the monotony. Several other small groups of fishermen were also seen off in the distance either doing the same for collection sake, or food.

"So, my daughter says you two have been getting along rather well and are even thinking of moving in together soon? Do you have a place picked out yet?" he asks, after pulling in a Magikarp and putting it in the container where they've been saving their catches. Grumbling only due to his lack of catches in the morning so far, Haru nodded in affirmation.

Rubbing his hair a little bit, eyeing his fishline, Haru quietly kept the conversation going. "Not yet. That's actually going to come after the Pokemon League Tournament, as my schedule will be freed up quite a bit for some time while the area near my Gym is constructed. We're going to go over the details and shoot back and forth some ideas. I'm looking forward to it but I'm also nervous."

The veteran fisherman looked over to the young man tensely. "Really? Why is that? If a man like you is the man you are then what's there to worry about? You love her, don't you? I know you do."

"Of course I do! Not even a question. I'll take care of her and look after her until I can't anymore! I guess...to a degree I was unsure where I was going to see myself awhile back when I started dating her, but it's only cuz I spent so much time second guessing things. Part of me worries she'll see something after we move in together that'll make her go 'oh I'm not sure I signed up for this'. You ever do that?"

Nessa's father raised an eyebrow curiously. "Do what?"

Haru went on to explain, though now his attention span heightened as his line seemingly 'hooked' a lively fish. "...think you're just some schmuck who got 'lucky' and go 'what does she even see in me'? It took me awhile to even accept myself for who I am. It's not something I really question anymore. Nessa says I've had problems accepting compliments, but I've gotten better at it over time."

Reeling it in reveals that it was a somewhat small Basculin, which makes Haru happy that after sitting there for half an hour with nothing that he finally caught something. Armstrong ponders his query and raises a finger. "You know that even while we're married, I sometimes still wonder if I'm worthy to be around Tilia. But then I recall the things we did to make things work out between us over the years, and I look at Nessa. Those thoughts then just fade away easily. It wasn't easy back then, I'll tell you that much for free."

Armstrong would pull in another fish, this time a Seaking, and put it in the container with a sigh. "Haru, here's what I'll say. If your heart is in the right place and you love a woman you are going to have moments where that bubbly feeling you have for someone isn't going to be there. You'll think 'is there something wrong with me' and worry you aren't in love with them anymore. But just because that happens doesn't make you any less 'in love' with someone: too many young people mistake that part as such and it leads to poor relationships. You're going to have ups and downs, but what makes love last is the will to work things out and keep things going. Whether it's a Pokemon or a human, love finds a way to make things work. The important thing isn't to mistake what I said as 'it's gone'. Think of it as 'it's settled'."

Crossing his legs and leaning back in the chair on the boat,Haru folded his arms."You're right...there have been a few times where it's not exactly the best of times, but those moments are quickly fleeting. What keeps putting me back into perspective are the smaller things too. I try my best to cycle through the 'love languages': words of affirmation, quality time, gifts, acts of service, physical touch. Just simply being around her is enough for me."

Armstrong stroked his beard again and nodded solemnly. "Hmm. Those are all good things to remember. Also...I'm over you, 5 to 1. The box is almost full already."

With that, Haru would slump a little forward, causing the old man to chuckle to himself. "Gah...you're so good at this! At least you'll still teach me how to de-gut a fish right? I'm only used to preparing meats after they've been sold on the market."

The old man chuckled a bit, popping open a bottle of beer he brought with him. "Sure thing, sure thing..."

Haru takes in what he said and then blinks after realizing something he had just finished saying. "Wait...did you say 'whether Pokemon or human' when it comes to love? That's...a thing? Pokemon and humans together 'like that'?"

Hissing a little from the taste of his drink, Armstrong put it down and threw out his fishline again. "Trust me, it doesn't appear as often as you think, but it's a thing."

It took Haru a little bit to just settle on the idea of romance like that even being possible, but he withdrew any doubts once he thought back to his own Pokemon he took care of and had become 'family' with back home. "I mean...I care for my own like family so I guess it's not too beyond the realm of possibility. Huh...guess there's a lot more out there about Pokemon that I have yet to learn."

- - - - - 2 DAYS REMAINING TO POKEMON LEAGUE TOURNAMENT - - - - -

- - - - - Motostoke, Haru's Home - - - - -

Haru's Glaceon 'Nora' was on the carpeted floor in the center of the living room with Haru as he had several sheets of paper and his PokeBalls sitting around in a somewhat 'organized chaos' sort of way. Bottles of Full Restores, potions of multiple kinds, battle boosters such as 'X Attack', 'X Sp Defense' and the like were sitting out as Haru was now going over everyone's stats, what moves they knew, and his stack of TR's and TM's. He pondered whether or not he should replace a move or two on any of his Pokemon to change up a strategy for the oncoming battle as the television was switched to the sports channel for all updates for Pokemon League information or other events related to it. Around his house, his Gardevoir 'Masako' was floating on her way to the outside as the rest of Haru's team was preparing for the fight. 'Leafa', his Tsareena, sees her master on the floor with Nora and decides to join in on the pre-battle discussion.

"...and you have Mirror Coat, Freeze-Dry, Blizzard, and Last Resort. Thankfully we've never had to use that one. If the opponent uses any other Ice Pokemon it could be good since you have the 'Snow Cloak' ability...hmm. Oh hey Leafa. Just planning and running through the gamut." Haru looks up to his Tsareena with a pen in his hand, with Nora sitting down. Almost as if sensing a way to help, Leafa goes through his backpack where he kept other items for the Pokemon team to use in battle.

"...are you trying to find something?" he asked. He wouldn't get an answer for a bit as his attention went to the television, as an update for the Pokemon League Tournament came onscreen. Up to this point Haru had somehow managed to miss entirely what the lineup for the top 8 for the tournament would be, and was curious who would be competing. No Gym Leaders are mentioned in the lineup, as it would consist entirely of new Gym Challengers. He recognizes none of the Challengers...except for one.

The screen flashed the image of Syra's League Card interspersed with footage of her previous matches, and the hairs on both of Haru's arms stood on end. This was the one person who was gunning for his position all this time, and the person who he had several run-ins already during his time of being Champion. The fact that she was able to back up all that smack talk during all the times she met him felt like an omen. As the footage of Syra's career played onscreen, showcasing her stats, Haru took note of the League stats and something speaks to him deep down inside.

Looking to his Pokemon who were in the room with him, Haru eyes his strategies that he laid out already. His Tsareena is still quietly looking through his backpack when he put a hand on top of Nora's head; giving the Glaceon a small pat. "Nora? You're going to be my trump card: the reason I win this Championship match and defend my title. I'm going to move you to the back of my lineup as my final defense. If something happens in the fight and I have nobody else to rely on...it'll be up to you to do it. Can you do that for me girl?"

The Glaceon looks at her master with the same determination as he had and nodded. At that moment, the Tsareena near him pulled out an item and brings it to Haru. "A Focus Sash huh? Leafa, good idea. I may have to change out who wears this for the match." His eyes glance back at the screen and narrowed when it switched to raw footage of Syra during a league match. She had looked directly at the camera when the question she was asked was done, and Haru felt a certain intensity build up.

/Bede was one thing...but this girl may actually end up as my one true rival. The 'Blue' to my 'Red'. Syra, I hope you bring your 'A Game' to the League Tournament. I'm not going to go easy on you!/

At that same time, in the hotel room that she was holed up in, Syra was on the carpet with an equally looking chaotic mess. Her own assortment of PokeBalls containing her chosen team, both pre-battle and in-battle supplements laying around, and a pen resting on one of her ears as she was watching the same broadcast as Haru was in his home. The footage had gone through the Top 8 finalists and was now going through Haru's own battles within the League. The fire in her eyes burned bright, as she stood up from the carpet floor. Extending one arm outwards when he was onscreen and giving a 'thumbs down', Syra felt she was finally ready to tackle this battle.

/The last time we met, I had gotten lazy. It's what gave you your win over me. But when we meet next, and I see you Haru...you're going to be taken down. There's no way my team will lose, and I'll take your Pokemon to complete my PokeDex. The whole world will see that I'll be the best there is and ever will be!/

Before he got too focused that he'd be holed up in his home for the whole day, Haru received a phone call. Grabbing the phone and muting the television, Haru sees that it says "Sam" on it, and answers.

"Morning, Sam. How goes your day?" Haru says, putting him on speaker and setting the phone down on the carpet.

Sam is heard sighing on the phone. "Ahhh...not great, Haru. Do you recall awhile back that we were investigating what would be a coup d'etat where Team Rocket was going to invade other regions and how we alerted the other Champions? Well uh...turns out it was a red herring. Which means we still don't know who is stealing Pokemon and trafficking them from Galar."

"WHAT?! So you're NO closer to figuring this out than I am now? What, we've just caught a guy who killed my past teammates and that's it? Not even a link to-...okay..okay I need to calm down." Haru put a palm to his face and dragged it sideways slowly.

Sam retained his formal sounding personality by remaining calm and collected despite the circumstances. "Yes I know, I'm not happy about it either. I can't even say for sure if we'll come up with anything but call it a hunch: maybe at the tournament? If this person or persons have been doing this for awhile you may meet them or we may meet up with them or catch them at the stadium? We're working around the clock. In the meantime, the enhanced security measures will obviously be taking place to make sure everyone is safe: attendees, challengers, yourself, staff, everyone in between."

Nora goes up to Haru and paws at him, noticing his dismay. "...all this time I feel like I've been letting down Miss Chairman Oleana on investigating this thing with our region and yet up until now I have come up bupkis. Then you come here and we make one discovery and then bupkis. Ugh. This is frustrating! Anyways, thank you Sam. I'd like to chat for longer but I have to prepare for the League Tournament. I suppose I'll see you there, right?"

Sam responds quickly. "Yes, both I and Oleana will be there. See you there then, bud."

"Yep. Later!"

Haru hung up and began to put the pen to one of his papers before freezing in thought. "...wait a minute. He just said 'Oleana'. I didn't even ask about her cuz of course she'd be there and he didn't say 'Chairman Oleana'...just her by name. No title." His eyes narrow, and felt like several mathematical equations just started firing off in his brain at once analyzing how Sam just nonchalantly spoke of her like that.

"...I'm probably just overthinking that detail."

- - - - - 1 DAY REMAINING TO POKEMON LEAGUE TOURNAMENT - - - - -

- - - - - Hulbury, Water Gym - - - - -

The final day before the Pokemon League Tournament would grow long for Haru as his own anxiety had ramped up considerably leading up to the final hours. As he had finished his preparations on the day before, he decided to take another visit to a few Gym Battles. Earlier he hopped on by Kabu's Gym in Motostoke, and was planning to go to Raihan's later in the evening. Having his full team on his waistline at the ready, Haru walks into the stands to a sold out Hulbury Stadium. The crowd is going nuts as Nessa takes out the Gym Challenger with a Dynamax Drednaw attacking its Pokemon. Much to the dismay of the Challenger, they would have to come back sometime to have another Go at Nessa's Gym.

As Haru got to his seating area, he notices that the stadium suddenly get noticeably much noisier. There wasn't another battle happening already in the stadium, but the staff using the giant jumbotron had zeroed in on a certain attendee in the Gym: Syra. Almost looking like she was relishing the noise, Syra noticed that she was on camera and took in the immense amount of cheers given to her when her fanbase sees her. Closing her eyes and raising her chin upwards as if to 'smell' the excitement, and raising a fist upwards like she was ready to claim the upcoming title of 'Champion'.

"Already soaking up the limelight, huh?" Haru monologues to himself, seeing how she was posing as such to the thousands of people within the stands. The blue jacket wearing Challenger then opened her eyes and scanned the crowd studiously until Haru noticed that her eyes lock right onto him. The way she didn't take long to find him and stare him down was almost like she was able to sense his presence. Following her glance and direction of view, the staff monitoring the jumbotron screens then put Haru on the screen. The crowd now notices that Syra has locked eyes in public with Haru and got even louder.

"What in all of Galar is going on out there? I haven't even walked out yet..!" Nessa says, poking her head out where she would normally enter onto the field and sees the jumbotron screens. Not only was her lover there in the stands now, but Syra as well. It made sense now. "Oh. That makes sense now. She's here..."

Hundreds of flashes of cameras seemingly go off as Syra then held out a thumbs up to Haru as if to wish him well in the upcoming League Tournament...only for her to turn the hand upside down into a 'thumbs down' causing her own fans to rile up. Haru just kind of laughs it off and readjusts his glasses. "So that's how she wants to do this huh..." keeping his glance on her. Even as the crowd cheered them both on, Syra did not blink even once. There was something new in the fighting spirit that Haru felt welling up. He could tell that something had changed in Syra, if ever so slightly, that has her willing to gesture a 'victory' for herself so publicly.

- - - 2 hours later, Intermission - - -

Towards the 'halfway point' of the day, Nessa took a brief respite from the Gym Challengers she had been facing to walk with Haru. After a small lunch break for herself, and with some time to spare, the two would be walking inside the stadium hand-in-hand for a bit. "You're not doing so bad today, gorgeous. Roughly 50/50 on the victories and defeats. Methinks you're getting better!" Haru teased, squeezing her hand and then kissing it.

Nessa tilts her head a bit and smirks. "I've been cycling through a lot of the Pokemon I have and looking deeper into their abilities, but I'm trying to make sure I keep my Drednaw as my backup. I owe everything to him."

"What, no thanks to me?" Haru asks with an eyebrow raised.

"Hmmmmmmm...okay maybe a teensy bit of thanks to you~." Nessa giggled, with Haru just chuckling right alongside her. Their talk would be cut off short when in the hallway they both come across a girl with long raven black hair wearing a newly purchased Water Gym t-shirt underneath a blue jacket, short shorts, and black-and-hot-pink leggings.

"Hello Syra." Haru says plainly, with her keeping the cold eyes right back at him.

"Hello Haru. Nessa." Syra responds, her magenta eyes looking at the two of them. Nessa keeps to Haru's side, ready to either defend him or throwdown...whichever happened first. Doing no such thing as throwing down for a Pokemon match before the League Tournament, or getting into a fistfight over what occurred last time between them, Syra exhales and looks at Haru alone. "Sorry for how weird I was being last time. It was uncalled for, and it won't happen again."

The apology throws Haru for a loop, as he's unsure how to respond. "O-oh. Right. Yeah I hadn't been really thinking about that for long. But thank you."

Syra begins to walk, as if meaning to pass by the couple. "Tomorrow's going to be your last day enjoying being Champion. I'd suggest getting plenty of rest." tilting her sunglasses down past her eyes now and walking past them. As she passed by them, only Nessa looks behind herself to see the girl move past them, as Haru just kept looking forward to nobody in particular. The way she felt standing near him was much different than the previous few times. The intense aura of fighting ability and spirit was quite a bit more intimidating than before, causing a bead of sweat to form on Haru's forehead. Something about the way she carried herself made him feel uneasy, and Nessa caught onto his apprehension. The hand that wasn't holding onto Nessa's had turned into a fist; clenching and shaking a little.

He turns to her. "Nessa, don't worry. Everything is going to be okay. I'll be okay. Whatever it is she has planned acting all weird like that, will be fine. Something tells me though that I have myself a heck of a time ahead of me tomorrow."

"That's all fine, but...here." Nessa let go of his hand and reached around her neck, un-snapping the necklace she wore and handing it to him. "I want you to wear this tomorrow. Put it on you as a good luck charm. As a means of having me down in the battlefield while I watch from the stands. I won't be able to do much but maybe it's something."

Looking at the Water Gym medallion for a moment, Haru's eyes glance back up to hers."Nessa are y...are you sure? You wear this at every single Gym Battle you do. It's as iconic as everything else you wear at your battles."

"Yes I am. Keep it on you. Also tonight, after I get off, I want you to come by my place and spend the evening. Tomorrow morning I'll make you a big breakfast and you'll be able to fight with all of your might as you defend your title as Galar's Pokemon League Champion." one of her hands extends and places it on his chest. "My Champion."

There would be no more debate from that point onward, as Haru did exactly that. Meeting Nessa later in the evening after her Gym closed, Haru had brought over only his essentials and his entire Pokemon League Team with him. The night would disappear before he even realized it, and destiny awaited him.

- - - - - THE DAY OF THE POKEMON LEAGUE TOURNAMENT - - - - -

Haru looks at himself in the mirror in Nessa's bedroom after putting on his outfit. On the first layer was his Steel Gym Leader uniform, and on the outside, the side that the audiences far and wide would be seeing, was his Pokemon League Champion uniform. Assembling his whole outfit and hiding the fact he would be revealing himself later as the Steel Gym Leader, he chose to attend the event publicly wearing the Water Gym sweatjacket, as it had been one of the most common items he wore during his career. There's a moment when he's eyeing himself and feels like he sees a taller man standing behind him. He immediately turns the complete opposite direction as if to try and 'catch' whatever apparition was there...but alas to no discovery.

Haru exhales and wears a smile on his face. "Okay Hiro, I know you're here. You're watching me right now and are going to cheer me on today aren't you? Heh...thanks brother."

Smelling the completion of a hearty breakfast downstairs coming from Nessa's kitchen, Haru then looks to a handknit scarf that his mother, Lana, had made for him. Putting it on around his neck and taking one final glance in the mirror, Haru imagines just how the audience will react to seeing their new Gym Leader. He reminds himself of the time he spent being a Pokemon Champion. "One week has gone by. Today is the day. The day I step down from being Champion. My, what a Champion of a time it has been then..."

Flipping the scarf around his neck one more time, Haru went downstairs, quietly singing to himself a theme he heard time and time again.

"I wanna be the very best...that no one ever was..."

- - - - - END CHAPTER 13 - - - - -