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.

20. Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Recovery

- - - - - Wyndon, Oleana's Home - - - - -

- - - - - Early morning - - - - -

The buzzing of a morning alarm clock rang a disgustingly annoying noise that woke up one Oleana, the Chairman of the Pokemon League in Galar. By reflex alone an arm shoots out from underneath the blankets and punches the alarm clock straight from the dresser to the floor. It makes a loud clash of cheap plastic nearly exploding on impact, and a few seconds later Oleana groans. Her head slowly rises from the pillow as both eyes open. Sitting up, the blanket falls to her stomach as she wore no top: in the buff first thing in the morning. A few things had run through her mind in consideration. The first was that as she sat upright in irritation of the morning hours, she remembered all of the things that had been conveniently 'forgotten' on her 'to-do list' when she returned home the previous night. The second was that her one love, one quietly sleeping Sam, was next to her. Was he dreaming of his home, Johto? Would he ever miss it now that he had committed in their relationship?

Looking down at his unconscious profile, one hand lightly raked through his thick hair. /I have done nothing but put in as much time as I have every single day ever since Rose was taken in by the authorities. For his crimes against Galar and its common folk, I took up the mantle of responsibility. Sam and I have had many a conversation about our own lost time being apart despite our responsibilities.../ Her eyes look up to one of her windows to see that no sun had begun to come up yet even as the curtains had shut out the outdoor scenery. Removing herself from her bed quietly and going to put on a robe, Oleana walked to the window and peeked outside. It was still dark, but Galar was already awake and active as if nothing had changed in the past day. If she got ready now, by the time she would arrive at the League Headquarters the sun would begin to peek across the horizon.

"Oleana...mmg...you going to work?" Mumbled Sam from the bed, who had stirred subconsciously in his sleep only to wake up on his own. The clash of scheduling on her workload and his own retirement from all things in the League would ultimately take some time to get familiarized. Oleana turned her head to the still sleepy Sam and walked until she was near his bedside and sat on it so he could make out her figure in the still of the darkness. "Good morning, dear. Did you sleep well?"

Sitting up, Sam grinned a bit sheepishly upwards at her as she leaned towards him and kissed him lightly. "How could I not after yesterday evening? Plus, I'm finally home where I belong."

It felt good to hear those words come out of him. She pulled aside some hair and chuckled. Oleana was, sometimes to a fault, a very stoic and serious person. "To answer your initial question, dear..." she inhaled deeply. "I don't think I want to go in today."

Despite the fact the bedroom was dark and her own vision had begun to adjust to it, only illuminated by the slight glow of the outdoors of Galar's morning society, she could tell her comment made Sam do a double take. "You don't..?"

Oleana shook her head slowly then reached for where his hand was at underneath the blanket while now able to make out the figure of his topless torso. "You finally came back to me. I don't wanna leave your side at all for the entire day."

His hand reaching out from beneath the blankets to hold onto hers, Sam did his best to look at her in the darkness of the room. "But you're the Chairman! I'm sure you have something important to do that will require your expert direction and management! I'm just...it's imperative you're there in case something happens right?"

She was sure that his concern was coming from a place of earnestness but it was a little adorable how much emphasis he put on the wording he used. Leaning forward, Oleana placed a finger on his nose and tapped it. "For the first time in my life I have something that is far more valuable than my salary; a thing more worth than all the world's findings in the Pokemon and natural world." The same finger then found the diaphragm of his chest and poked it. "You. I can take some PTO for you and get away from everything for a bit. My staff is more than qualified to run things without me for a bit. I don't tell you many things that go on because of non-disclosure agreements, but trust me. When Rose left, yours truly whipped the whole place into shape."

"Oleana..." Sam appeared to be momentarily displaced at the way she worded her feelings and intentions to him. As she disrobed herself, once again in nothing more than her birthday suit and getting back into bed, she pulled him onto her in an embrace as his face went into her cleavage. "So then...what do you want to do today? Anything special?"

One hand began to stroke the top of his head as she laid her head further on the pillow. "Nothing. I don't want to do anything special today. I just want time with you."

Sam took in a deep breath before nuzzling the bosom squished against his face and closed his eyes once more. It could have been the embrace itself, her smell, the sound of her heartbeat, or that it was still very early for him to wake up. He begun to feel his eyes grow heavy once more and smiled. For the first time in his life he felt truly content, and before passing out within his lover's embrace, he said to her, "That's fine. I think I've done enough adventuring for one lifetime. I've seen enough places to say that I'm satisfied, my dear Oleana."

"..and I'm happy, too."

The staff would end up not hearing from her with the exception of a late message that came to her second-in-command that she would 'be taking some much needed time off'.

- - - - - The Wild Area - - - - -

- - - - - Stony Wilderness - - - - -

Syra took a few steps back and looked through her Pokedex entries as a single bead of sweat formed on her forehead. She stood back a few steps and looked to Sevan, who had joined her for the day. "Holy shit what IS that?!"

Not even blinking twice, Sevan pursed his lips together and answered. "If I didn't know better I'd say that's a Wailord. Huh. I thought this wasn't native to Galar? What's it doing spawning in one of your raid dens?" he eyed her as Syra was still checking her Pokdex. She had ran through it a few times before putting it aside and looking at him.

Flashing the Pokedex function of her Rotom Phone, he saw that there wasn't even a space for it to exist. "It ISN'T! If it's here, then that must mean something's gone on recently where we've let some come overseas, or maybe...hmm." Folding her arms together, her brain began to deduce possible options.

"What're you thinking it is? For all the time I've been here and only now a Wailord shows up? If it's legal then we should think on catching it, but if it isn't..." Sevan trailed off remembering that he was technically breaching normal conduct for Pokemon trainers by having slipped by and brought his Pidgeot to Galar.

Taking off her hat and combing her hair back before rolling up her sleeves, Syra looked to him. "A possibility is that our own sister locations of the Isle of Armor or the Crown Tundra have opened up again, and with them, some new Pokemon. That's just a guess, however, because I haven't looked into it outside of pre-ordering my travel ticket to go to them and ending up with some free uniforms that are two sizes too small." Looking rather annoyed upon recalling that factoid.

"You have to purchase tickets for those places?" He asked, sorting through what little he had brought with him to consider using against a Wailord, and nodding to the Pidgeot who was seen pecking at a wandering Zigzagoon. "Cho! C'mere, I'm going to need you."

The girl put on her hat and began to look through her belt for a good counter for the Water Pokemon. "It's a one-time purchase to get to both locations. Anyways, do you wanna set up a beacon to see if we can get some more trainers to help us?" As the two trainers sat near the den, Syra crossed her legs and idly started to think on the implications of new Pokemon arriving. /If we suddenly got some more Pokemon crossing our shores due to our neighbors then why haven't we heard anything about it happening yet? Did Oleana forget to announce it or something?/

Elsewhere, Oleana would subconsciously turn in her sleep as if knowing she was being spoken about.

Two more trainers joined up, and the small group took on the Wailord.

- - - A short time later - - -

A hard upper swipe knocks one of the trainers' caps off causing it to fly off. "HEY! ASSHOLE! We agreed that HE would be the one who takes the Pokemon! That's how we do things, so don't get greedy!"

"OW! Ok okay! Just because you were the top runner-up in the League Championship doesn't mean you gotta strong-arm us." Said one of the guys who picks up his hat and looks at her.

She nods to Sevan. "Go ahead, man it's yours." Syra would be remiss to reassure them however, knowing that it was also a new addition for them and decided to make up for something she did in the past. It was as if seeing her own shadow project further from her feet to an uglier side that once took over her entire being.

/"Hey what the hell are you doing?!"

"This isn't a part of what we do here!"

"It's supposed to be an equal shot for all of us, and we have to come to an agreement! We DID come to an agreement!"

"Oh shut up. None of you could ever train this Alcremie to the full potential like me. None of you deserve it. Only I do. I did the most damage. I beat this thing. She belongs to ME now."/

Sighing and shaking her head on the memory flashback, Syra looked to the other trainers while Sevan catches the Wailord. "Listen, I know I was rash just now, but I wanna make sure everyone has an opportunity okay? Tell you what: give me your contact information and I'll phone you two if I come across another one. We can reconvene and strategize for another one when another one comes by, okay? I may even let you all in if it's a shiny."

The looks of dismay washed away from the two trainers' faces as they felt relieved and reassured. Quietly exchanging numbers, and giving the two some copies of her own League Card, she walked up to Sevan as he picked up the Dive Ball that shrunk from its Dynamax'ed state to a normal one. "So, whatcha going to nickname it?"

"Nickname it, huh?" He stood up and watched as his Pokedex didn't update to include Wailord. /What in the...? It's still not in the Pokedex here?/ Flashing it to her face, his eyebrows furrowed, seeming more troubled than when they encountered the den. "You ever see this happen?"

Her lips coiled in confusion. "Hmm...I guess whatever that Wailord belongs to in terms of OUR Regional Dex will update once we sync up on the Isle of Armor or Crown Tundra. It's possible that it'll belong to one of the two. Shit, that's lame...also...you didn't answer my question!" She lightly swatted at him, to which he parried every single faux hit. Before going to respond to her, Sevan calls out to the one trainer earlier who wasn't that far off as the group had dispersed. "Hey! Catch!" Tossing the Dive Ball to them, with the Wailord inside.

They catch it, and without much of a word Sevan gave the thumbs up. /Since we don't know if Wailord here is legal or not, I'm not taking chances on getting heat. That's the one thing I need less around here./

Having given the Pokemon away to the trainer and looking to Syra he saw her confusion in him giving it away. "Oh, sorry. You were asking me about how I nickname Pokemon..."

She had begun leaning forward with the body language showing she really didn't understand his way of thinking by pinching a part of her forehead in irritation. "What the heck was THAT for? After I just stuck up for you, and you go and give it to the one that was begging for it?! Do you think so little of me?!" Cheeks starting to turn pink as she huffed.

"Course not. Look, don't get attached to things; learn to let go." He rolled his shoulders forward before putting a hand in one of his pants pockets. "As far as nicknames go, I don't normally have them come to me immediately. Nicknames come to me more easily to those that mean the most to me. Like you, Cho." He looked at the Pidgeot who caw'd at him proudly. "Good work with the Wailord there."

She decided to address the 'Phanphy in the room' while looking past him at the Pidgeot. "Okay, well now that I've cooled down a little bit there's something else on my mind. Neither of us really knew about the Wailord, I get that, but you do know that you having Chorui here is illegal, right? How the heck did you manage that? You got some sort of permit or 'free pass' I'm not aware of existing? The only other person I know who has some sort of bend to the rules is Sam."

The two began to walk again while passing by two trainers trading amongst each other and the skies clearing from the overcast. "Who's 'Sam'?" he asked while monitoring Chorui's movements and curiosity at its surroundings. "Sam was an ex-Johto Champion who came here while on the trail of that big event you saw on the telly about Team Rocket. He met Haru the day he came here not too long ago and thanks to..hmm..what was his name? Looker!" She snapped her fingers before running to catch up to Sevan's side. "So he worked with a man named Looker to trace Team Rocket's movements...though part of that was due to me."

Sevan had widened his eyes in both shock and half confusion on the casual nature she divulged that information. The statement was enough to get him to stop in his tracks. "You were a part of WHAT now? Fuck off, seriously? They may not be from Hoe-...er...my home...but I'm familiar with them all the same. They're complete deadbeats, and you're anything but a deadbeat!"

Shrugging her shoulders and hopping onto a small boulder she balanced herself to attempt and get a better look of other dens. "It's become public knowledge by now, so anyone can look back on the whole situation and trace it to what I had to do with it." Putting her feet together once balanced on the boulder's top, Syra saw that Sevan was giving her a little more tense of a look. Her face once again flushed a bit red as the shame of her past actions came back to her. "Look, I'm not proud of it, okay? But at the time I did what I felt was right!"

The last words hit him a bit differently while looking up at where she stood. /Doing what you felt was right, huh...? Heh.../

/"I can sense your trying to recruit me to something here. I don't care about your business or your plans..."/

/"Brendan, I'm sorry, but I have to go! We can do this another time!"/

/"Arceus damn it! I shouldn't have left! I should have never done this whole thing in the first fucking place!"/

/"Coming again for another night? Don't you think you'll lose in the first round looking like that?"/

/"Hey guys, look, do you want to stay, or come with me? It's your choice."/

Sounds of snapping fingers were heard. "Hello? Hey!"

Sevan shook his head as he appeared to zone out. His gaze being met by Syra who was inches away from him and poking his forehead, he took a few steps back. "WHA-HEY what the heck? Why are you so close?" /Damn did I just flash back right now? Shit.../

Syra readjusted her cap and got a smug look on her face whilst eyeing him from the side. "I was trying to ask you on how you seem to know stuff about Hoenn Region Pokemon. Are you a researcher AND a Pokemon trainer? You sorta zoned out on me and I had to make sure you weren't just so frozen stiff by my performance earlier." She twirled a bit in place before jutting out her chest, grinning as her hands went to her hips. "I AM a runner-up Champion you know, so I couldn't blame you if you did!" laughing a little at her own silliness.

Her friend appeared none the wiser on what to say. "...uh."

His response was met with her getting flustered and red cheeks. "Look, I don't NORMALLY act this way but around you it feels natural to be this open."

He paid no direct attention to her comment and answered her earlier question for fear of making it more awkward to step away from it. "I'm just...very knowledgeable about Hoenn is all. Call it a specialty of mine."

"Just like how I myself am knowledgeable to Galar, you are to Hoenn. Pairs up nicely! So then, not-trainer-or-researcher Sevan, tell me about a few of the special Pokemon from Hoenn then. But first, let's keep heading up that hill..." pointing past him to the dragon-shaped entrance to Hammerlocke not far from them. "You can tell me more once we get up there."

The two of them made it there as Syra took to the dropoff that overlooked a large part of the region via cliffside. Syra took off her cap, holding it in hand and slipped her bag off as she sat down while Sevan looked on quietly. He had been pondering on his answer until Syra had pat the ground next to her while looking up at him. "C'mon, sit. We've been at the catching game today for a bit so let's rest up."

Joining her side, Sevan had to take a breath so that he could collect his bearings. That breath would then be taken away briefly when he saw Syra lifting her arms above her head as she shed the jacket. "Shit, it's a lot hotter here than the previous area we were at, so you'll forgive me if I get a bit more comfortable."

Changing up her usual appearance underneath the iconic look she sported, Syra instead had a white crop top with the graphics of the 3 starting Pokemon of the Galar region. The lettering of their names scribbled in a graffiti-like text spread across the bottom. She let out a contented sigh. "Aaaa~hh so much better. Now I don't feel like I'm going to shrivel up like a Persim Berry." Contented with the better airflow around her skin and bare abs, of which Sevan had to look away from when her stomach was shown off.

/Holy fuck holy fuck holy ffff...okay...okay..relax. Talk about Pokemon. Don't...stare at the bare abs that are pretty lean and defined and..and...are just OUT. THERE. How did I not figure she was packing? HOW does she keep them covered up? WHY would she?/

He had to take a deep breath through the nose while looking away, trying his best to compose the now flustered and reddened face he wore. "Hey Sevan, you okay man?" Syra had looked over to him, noticing he went quiet. As his body had shifted to look away but pretended he was merely coughing.

"Y-yeah I just needed a moment. We were uh, about to talk about Hoenn?" Working himself up to face her. The second he did he was met with a much closer Syra who was propped on her knees on the ground and glanced at her abs. The sweating came back, yet he persisted.

Internally, Syra got the grin like a Meowth and felt more than satisfied seeing him freak out a bit. /Oh I see what's going on. He saw something and got super flustered. In that case, I ought to milk out more responses like this and see where it leads. Never knew he was the type to lose it over just some skin. Who knows how he would have reacted if we were swimming or something./ "Hey bud." She snapped her fingers in front of her, seemingly snapping him out of his spell.

The man shook his head and combed once through his hair as the blonde streak part of his front stood outwards. "Right right. I think Hoenn Pokemon are really fascinating and as such, I keep them very close to my heart. Granted I'm not just talking about the ones exclusive there, but I do have a few favorites. Plusle, Torkoal, Absol, and especially the Mudkip evolution line are high up on my personal tier list. The whole area may be surrounded by a lot of many small bodies of water, the complete opposite of Galar, but it's got a nice 'small town home' feeling to it. Some travelers would like to say that fond memories are moreso made from Johto or even Unova, but Hoenn's probably the most special in my opinion."

She pointed at him. "Ha! I knew there was something about you I liked. We're fellow water starter trainers: we gravitate towards each other. HA! My mind doesn't recall much at the moment of Hoenn but I DO KNOW that Swampert is its final form. It being Water/Ground is pretty cool." Syra laughed, then heard her PokeBall that contained Intelleon shake, as if he heard her and got envious. "You're still my #1, Josef." picking it up and kissing the red top of it. Her affection to the loyal starter Pokemon made Sevan's heart ache while he looked away from her for a moment. She looked up at him and caught him looking away, letting out a laugh.

"Sevan if you see something you like it's fine. I don't mind. I know I keep the girls patted down while I can, and the skin may not be as 'model perfect' as other women sure but...I do take pride in it all the same."

"What? Why would I see something I like? Er, I mean why wouldn't I? I have no clue what you're..." His defense was poor and was shot in the kneecaps when her smug profile didn't waver a bit as he rubbed his neck.

Inhaling deep and then exhaling with a sigh, she placed a hand on top of her chest. "So here's a little bit about me: I grew up with a, shall I say, 'rough background'. It forced me to become a physically fit person who knew how to throw a punch, break my own falls, and defend myself from creeps. Not everybody could brag that they could beat up a whole crew of gangsters. But I can! Hehe." Her eyes close and squinted. The past came back for her to be able to discuss this but held back the pain it all brought. "It's uh...I'm..I'm not a great person, Sevan. It's no big deal to me that you may get distracted looking at me, but I wouldn't get too attached okay? It's not really worth the salt to bother. I've had things happen to me that don't make me look as nice as I'd like to be with this face and body."

This was an awkward change of topic for the two and Sevan was battling to think of a way to bring it back to the former subject. "If it means any coming from me I think you look great. Whether you have marks or scars or whatever. Nobody is perfect."

The ray of sunshine that seemed to emanate from her when she heard those words radiated back. "Thank you. So...what else can you say about Hoenn, then? Tell me more."

The blonde streaked young man thumbed his nose whilst exhaling. "Barring everything I said prior, the legends they share in Hoenn are neat as well. Your region may have nearly met its end here, but thanks to some events awhile ago, the whole planet nearly saw an apocalypse if not for one legendary putting a stop to it all. You had the physical embodiment of water and land duking it out at one point, and then it just sorta stopped." He had Syra's complete attention with how he described the region and some of its history. "My only regret is that I myself wasn't there to see it, but I at least know about it all and it just kind of speaks to the character of Hoenn."

"The character, huh?" Syra's eyes squinted while Sevan gestured holding his hands out forward as if to hold an invisible plaque.

His own expression made it appear he was recalling knowledge that came from experience rather than someone who looked up the information online or in a library. "Well, it pains me to admit that I haven't studied a lot here of what Galar considers its legendaries, nor do I have a solid idea of its own 'character', but yeah. It's hard to explain. You have your Zamazenta, Zacian, and Eternatus while Hoenn has Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza.."

"Kyogre, Groudon and Rayquaza? Huh. I like the sound of that third one. What type is it?" Her head turned towards him as Sevan pulled out his Pokedex. The name was simple but had a 'punch' to it that grabbed her ears.

"Dragon/Flying. Here." Holding up his Pokedex and showing the image, Syra turned into a character completely opposite of her usual self and started to gush. Both of her hands balling up into fists, eyes widening with interest and an even wider smile, Sevan saw her start making a squeal. "Are you okay?"

"SHIT THAT IS A FUCKING COOL POKEMON! I WANT IT! I NEED TO CATCH IT MYSELF!" She stood up while having grabbed his Pokedex as if to swipe it, and was using it to view the image of it closer. "Forget Zacian, Zamazenta, or Eternatus. Haru can have his dumb shield dog and Galar-ending Pokemon, and Hop can have his sword dog, but this?!" Syra had gained some fire in her eyes and was starting to chuckle. Her competitive spirit lit aflame by seeing something like this and was already starting to picture Haru's jealousy of her capture of it. "Oh man he would be so fucking jealous if I caught such a cool legendary Pokemon. Look at its cool green color, scales, and the fact it looks so threatening! It says 'Hey! The trainer that caught me is one of the, if not, the actual best there is because I'm Rayquaza!" she laughed loudly, boasting to nobody.

Sevan wasn't having any of it. That she swiped it out of his hand so quickly got him to stand up and start grabbing for it. The device contained not only the Pokedex but memories of his home and wasn't keen on her taking it. "Hey, I didn't say you could take it!" He'd lean forward to grab it while she leaned away and stretched her arm backwards.

"You didn't NOT say I could take it to get a closer look." wiggling her eyebrows at him before ducking past him as if attempting to trip him up. It fails. Sevan's natural instinct kicks in as he stands opposite of her and is on the defense as both arms slowly raise up. "Syra, please. Give it back." raising his voice a little out of irritation. He lunged again while she tossed the Pokedex into the other hand and was seemingly keeping it just a tad out of reach via 'keep away'.

She seemed to thrive on this reaction of his. If there was one thing that never escaped her turnabout into a better person, it was the pleasure she gained from messing with others via her usually dominant personality. "OOooooooo...getting feisty?" holding the Pokedex behind her with one arm in front and turning to the side in a similar stance to his own.

"I'm warning you. I need that back, so hand it over already: I'm not playing!" He said with a bit of a growl.

She leaned down to grab the hat she took off earlier and put it back on her head before biting her bottom lip. Her eyes narrowed while her face grew a bit more combative and gestured with the one hand in front towards her. "C'mon, c'mon. Get serious."

His fists start flying but with no intention to harm her but to try and knock the Pokedex out of his hand for him to grab. It's easy to spot in her mind as his swings are deliberate, low to mid height, yet is lacking an error in his execution. Her own focus stays tightened: having sharpened a little after sparring with Bea a few times up to this moment. She sidesteps away as the two move from the spot they were sitting at seconds ago; a hand coming up slapping a strike away from herself. Another comes to her waist and she parries the hit. Syra hops in place, switching her feet's stances before Sevan lunges again but has his fist meet Syra's one at the same time to block. He can see her tossing the Pokedex idly behind her back as if to goad him. "I like how fast you are." She says confidently.

He knows she does this to possibly distract him, so he doesn't take the bait to look away, instead standing his ground while he hops in place to avoid a sudden leg sweep. Upon landing after his evasion, he sees the bottom of her boot come upwards him from the ground causing him to reel back and dodge. Syra rises back to her feet and switches the hand that's carrying his Dex before tossing it up high. Baiting a left hook before swinging a right strait, in her direction, Syra backs away in a fraction of a second while the Pokedex falls in between them. Both of their hands clasp around it at the same time. "Could be faster." Sevan remarks, centering his gravity.

She throws the entirety of her weight into her shoulder towards his torso as if to attempt to throw him off balance. When that doesn't work she throws another fist. Sevan catches it early and blocks. A rising knee comes up to him from underneath. He catches it, but the one to lose balance is her. She doesn't let go which causes her to take him down onto the grass when he held the interrupted knee attack in place. "Wait...hold on..!"

Thud.

The both of them fall down to the grass as Syra's cap flies off, and the Pokedex is grasped by its original owner. He had won this little game that she started, and looked down as the girl's crop top rolled up due to their playful sparring session. A slight view of her toned midrift and dirt on her clothes while her chest heaved, her face was a little pink while quietly looking up at him. He seemed frozen in place looking down at her.

"You won. Hehe. You're not bad at all." Syra gives a thumbs up as he got off and put his Pokedex away while looking to the side. She sits up after him and starts dusting herself off. "Sorry to spring that on you like that: I hope I didn't catch you too offguard."

/No, man. Calm down, this isn't a big deal. Don't get attached. This isn't the time and place, nor are you deserving. She's not even that charming, this is stupid, you're being stupid. Relax. She's just a friend./ His mind ran through, before looking down to her and having a smug look on his face. "Trust me, you never got me off guard once." It was a partial bluff, as the glance at her midrift got his heart to race a little.

Taking the comment in stride and rising up to her feet, she grinned proudly. "Someday I will then! Maybe not today but the next time we duke it out! Though it won't be for a Pokedex or whatever: just for fun cuz why not?"

Her Rotom Phone starts to buzz and she takes it out. Dusting himself, Sevan glances over to her with an inquisitive look. "Got somewhere to be?"

[11:10. BRING HARU SOME FOOD]

/Right...I remember now./ She looks up from her phone after putting it away. "I gotta go, man. Paying a friend a visit. That, and I have to get in contact with someone who was asking for an interview the other day." Folding her arms, she sighed and hung her head low.

Sevan catches the way her tone shifted about the interview and looked at her facing forward. "You don't sound all too happy about that, but each time I've ran into you with exception to how we met, you seem pretty popular. Is it really that troublesome?"

As both of her own hands clasped onto each other and flexed her fingers, Syra looked up at him slowly. "Can I tell you something before I leave?"

Unsure where she was leading with that, Sevan raised his head with a side glance. "Yeah I suppose. What is it?"

She reached behind herself and grabbed a hair tie wrap and started to put her hair into a high ponytail while looking at him. "It has come to my attention lately that being famous can have its downsides. In the past, I used to chastise Haru, Leon, Blue, Lance, Leon, and other region champions for supposedly not acting like what I thought one should act. The consideration of all the responsibilities they hold never once crossed my mind. While I can't say yet that I'm a Champion, I can understand why those who rise to the top can become jaded over time. On my first Gym Challenge, I, the one now nicknamed 'Miss Blue' was only a runner-up to the title. It sucked. But even then it's a little overwhelming having so much focus and importance thrust upon you that I often wonder how the others can be so strong."

The ponytail was done up and she walked past him to grab her backpack before slinging it over her shoulder and walking to him. "You love Hoenn much like how Haru cares for Galar so much that he stoked his life for even shitty people like myself. It didn't matter that I didn't know him, he did it anyway and would probably do it again without my asking. I can't understand what you know or how you know any of it, but I have a feeling about you that I can't shake. I think we're a lot more alike than you're letting on...but won't for one reason or another."

Between the two of them an invisible aura had seemingly been circulating between them. An aura that could only be felt between highly skilled Pokemon trainers had vibrated in silence while her striking magenta colored eyes looked at him. "But that's okay. Our type is usually never that far apart from each other, you know? Anyway, I'll catch you later."

He initially went to shrug it off, turning to the side while side-eyeing her but had a small smile finally show itself. It was so minute you couldn't see it from more than a couple meters away, but it was there all the same. Huffing a little after that speech, Sevan let out a sigh. "Sure thing, Syra. You won't get the jump on me next time, though. I'll consider that Rookie's Luck."

"Hey." She called to him, walking where he was standing. He turned to her and was immediately silence. A flash of a second later she had leaned forward as her cap briefly shielded the sunlight from his face. Lips touched, and his eyes widened. She took a step back and had a smug grin on her face before readjusting her cap so the Championship logo showed more easily. "Oops. Got the jump on you." Syra turned and waved before calling for an Air Taxi to hitch a ride for Hulbury.

Standing there watching her leave, Sevan looked down to Chorui who was holding some Pecha Berries in its mouth and had dropped it when it came upon the scene. "Hey, look, don't give me that look in that tone of voice." The bird Pokemon looked to the side as if to ignore what just occurred, but Sevan just rolled with it, leaning down to pick up the Pecha Berries and put them in his bag. "She's almost too good at reading me. Not sure if it's such a good idea to relax this much here...know what I mean?". His Pidgeot caw'd at him with a wing stretching outwards and waddled towards him before hopping onto his shoulders. Deep down his trainer could hear the cooing within its throat. "Anyways, let's head back home and pray that Fen hasn't set the house on fire."

- - - - - Turffield Gym - - - - -

- - - - - Interior - - - - -

Milo was helping his staff with the arena that all Gym Challengers had to battle through before getting to him. Carrying huge loads of hay and shooing Wooloo out of his walking sights, he had called to action a few staff members to assist with the cleanup. His mind flashed to the day he was visited by Nessa as echoes of their clash hit him.

/"You're ALWAYS like this! Ever since we met, from the Gym Challenge to Gym Leaders you're ALWAYS like this!"/

He stayed silent, looking back on his own actions in the past and wondered if he was truly at fault for his own personality quirks. If it was done in earnest, he'd find a way to make up. /Then again, if she was that mad at me for so long then there's no way it wasn't just budding up for a good while. The way she looked at me when shouting was pretty honest./

Watching a few Wooloo roll out of the way, it began to bother him a little more than it normally would when the two of them had their clashes be it within the Pokemon battles they've had countless of, that it never escalated to that degree. Milo's mind started to mend together a hypothesis. /She's never been the one to let the results of a competition get her down for long, and in the professional limelight there's nobody else but her that could match her talents. We've known each other for such a long time that I can read her more than she can read herself./ It only now occurred to him through his thoughts on how much he had paid attention to her. Sure, she was his self-appointed rival ever since they were Challengers but then again who else would he know so much about other than himself?

Keeping the herd of Wooloo out of the way so he could feed them as the indoor grass terrain was being mowed, he removed his strawhat from his peach colored head of hair. Hearing the sheep-like Pokemon quietly eating while being huddled together, he sat with them on a block of hay nearby. /Now that I think of it, it's been bothering me how a lot of her quirks have only seemingly worsened over time. Makes me wonder if.../

The image of Haru appeared in his mind, and his eyebrows furrowed. Shaking his head, he sighed. /No, that's not like you. It's too mean, even for you Milo. A companionship like that is none of my business outside of what they've already let out in the light./

Nessa comes back to his mind and he just huffs to himself. /Then again, I worked my way up as a proper man: a son of a farmer who knows the etiquette needed to get where he is in life. He just sort of came in here one day and now he's one of us. Has the clash of the two personalities and livelihood allowed Nessa to feel as if she should lash out more often? What if it leads her to the self depreciating path she once held?/

At the Gym and his own farm, the work was what was on his mind the most. It was common knowledge he was the cheerful, jovial Gym Leader who was mostly in it 'for a good time' which made him being the starting Gym Leader a relatively easy fight for many Gym Challengers. The conflict brewing within was not mutually enjoyed even as they were his own thoughts, however. /Does this make me a bad friend if I didn't at least feel like there could be something more I should be doing? It's not toxic to consider maybe there are bigger issues abound, right?/

These weren't the type of thoughts that would normally make into his headspace so it was disturbing to him that any kind of character betrayal to his friends would even come to him. It was already bad enough to be a Gym Leader and a farmer, so these were uncouth of him to mentally conclude. Being compounded to his position of the first Gym Leader in the entire challenge no matter which set you took on, Sword or Shield, meant being the friendly guy to wean trainers in. The personality and character displayed was one that everybody saw.

Milo sighed. /No. I'm being selfish about this, how could I possibly even begin to think any of this when he's done so much for us? What does it even matter to me what they're like together, much less her? She's an adult, she can handle herself./ Milo thought, getting up and exiting towards one of the many hallways within the stadium. There were other things that had to be focused on for now instead of entertaining 'what if' theories in his mind.

- - - - - Haru & Nessa's Home - - - - -

- - - - - Hulbury - - - - -

"ACH-HOO!" Haru sneezed, rolling over to the other side while in bed as Nessa had come in after knocking.

"Hey hon. How are you feeling, sneeze aside?" She teased, walking up to his bedside and kneeling by to take the dampened cloth from his forehead and placing a large jug filled with ice cold water within it on the floor. At this stage of his fever he was able to speak more eloquently but still had the temperature symptoms.

"Bleh. Felt like someone was talking or thinking about me. Didn't even feel the itch to sneeze until just a minute ago. I hate it...cuz now my headache feels worse." Haru sat up slowly with Nessa going from a 0 to 10 on worry.

Her hands went up to his chest to keep him from falling to either side. She didn't want him to pass out from overexerting himself since that's what got him to his current condition in the first place. "Hey hey...slowly! You're still in the early stages of your sickness so take it easy." lightly chastising him.

Looking at her, Haru smiled weakly. "Thank you for helping to take care of me. Are you sure you don't need to be at Hulbury's Gym for today? You know you can just let me be. I'll just sleep for the majority of the day."

Nessa would fix to reply to him but as her mouth opened, there came a knocking from the front door making her head whirl towards the sound. Her Drednaw had walked by the door, joined by Nora and called out to her, appearing to have sensed someone was nearby just seconds before the knock happened. "Hold on, love." She leaned down and kissed him on the forehead before walking downstairs to the living room to peek through the peephole. The Drednaw and Nora wait patiently to see Nessa's response with baited breaths. On the other side she saw a familiar figure standing and holding a to-go bag that featured a colorful design on it. "Oh..!" Opening the door, Nessa's eyes widened to a pleasant surprise. "Syra! I wasn't expecting you."

The fellow rival to Haru held a paper bag in her left hand that had a drink and some food contained within. Smiling wide and waving with a freehand, she chuckles. "Good morning Nessa. Sorry to disturb your home but I wanted to surprise Haru with some food; the kind that he would get as an in-joke. Is he awake?" the tall girl leaned somewhat to the side as if to look inside. Nora looked at Syra inquisitively whilst hiding behind one of Nessa's legs and peeking at her from the side. The Drednaw had retreated to attempt hiding near the couch, though it had failed in doing that much due to its large frame.

"Hmmm. He's been awake for a short bit, sure, but the jury's still out on if he's hungry." Nessa considered the possibility it may not be wise to have this visit but ultimately chose to go with her own gut feeling. /Syra has been making the efforts to turn herself around and her going out of her way for him like this means a lot./

Syra lowered her brow worriedly and looked to the side, taking note of both Nessa and the Pokemon in how they acted. "Is...this a bad time? I can come back at another time and just leave it here.."

Her worry was dismissed as the Gym Leader had handwaved her comment while Nora hadn't stopped staring up at the newcomer to their home. "No you're fine. Come on in. It'll be a nice surprise for him. He's at least able to speak without appearing like he's having any fever hallucinations...I think."

Walking up the stairs to the bedroom, the two ladies go up the floor to see Haru in bed. Two knocks on the open door and sticking her head out with a wave, Syra smirks. "Hee~y Haru." Nora follows right after, hopping onto the end of the bed and making sure she never had Syra out of her vision.

He had to take a second glance when she walked in slowly whilst Nessa followed her in and sat on the other side of the bed to keep watch over his condition. To say this was a pleasant surprise would only be the tip of the iceberg, but even as he wasn't at full strength, Haru managed some energy to welcome her in. "Syra...holy Miltanks, hey. Sorry I'm not at the best of conditions right now." Looking up at her as the tall velvet haired girl pulled up a chair near him and had a decidedly mischievous smirk. Saying no words, she lightly set the bag she had been carrying on her person on the drawer near him. It had a familiar logo: 'KarpBurger'. As his eyes met it and registered what she had done, he looked over to Syra who seemed all too pleased and showcased a smug grin. Haru laughed weakly and made a low energy handwave. "My gods, Syra, you really went the full monty for a gag gift?"

His rival couldn't help herself and began chuckling rather openly as Nessa inquired. "What's the deal with the KarpBurger order?" narrowing her eyes inquisitively.

"The evening that Syra challenged me and initially beat me in a random exhibition match in Hammerlocke, I was going to give her some prize money because that's what you do when you lose. But she refused it no matter what I said." As Haru was explaining, Syra had opened the bag and got out some food she brought him: a sandwich with 'the works', chips, and a Sitrus/Lum Berry flavored soft drink. She took on the task of finishing Haru's reference of her own gift.

Haru was handed a small tray with the food neatly packed inside it and set his drink near him. Sighing, Syra looked to Nessa with some visible cringing on her own past. "I was being really bitchy to him after I had won. In the middle of a sentence I reeled back because my stomach was aching really loud. I lost all potential I made to look like 'the better trainer'. Once I tried to finish that thought, I collapsed again due to the growling in my stomach coming back tenfold. So I then caved and cried out...'Fine. I want a KarpBurger Meal!'."

As the two rivals laughed with each other on recalling the memory, Nessa put a palm to her face as Nora flattened her icy form. The two humans around her may have begun to trust Syra, but she wasn't quite there yet. "Hon you attract the most vivid of people around you, huh?"

Being flashed 'finger guns' in her direction, Haru looked to the lady he called his girlfriend and smirked weakly. "Don't think you aren't included in that equation you know." winking at Nessa.

Syra made a pout and felt a vein in her forehead throb while watching and then looked at Haru. "Hey look, I made sure to have this made fresh when I got there so if you're eating make sure to eat all of it."

She was still as high energy as ever, and Haru wasn't truly capable of handling it currently, try as he might. "Ok ok...I'll see what I can hold down first.." Nessa tapped on Haru's hand and leaned in. "Haru, hon, I'm going to check on the Pokemon and make a call, but I'll be back. Let me know if you need anything or are feeling worse okay?" To her dismay she had to briefly make an exit and let Syra know that she was not fully trusted yet but was given enough leeway to have her there. "Try not to stay for too long Syra, he still needs his rest."

Understanding her own place currently, the blue vested girl gave Nessa a thumbs up. "Sure thing: I got some things to handle myself."

As the Raging Wave made her way out of the bedroom, Haru began to slowly but quietly eat the meal Syra got for him. When he finished, his friend helped him lay down without overexerting himself. It seemed the food was enough to get some life back into him but he was still recovering slowly. "Now I can say this with you being able to reply back without your mouth being full: you look like shit, dude." Syra says with a bit of a frown. Haru simply raises his left hand and extends the middle finger upwards, causing her to laugh. "I'm pretty sure that's Nessa's job to you, right?"

Both eyes closed but Haru kept himself awake to talk to his rival-turned-good-friend. He groaned and turned his head to the side. "I'm uncertain if the details hit you but a Nurse Joy and a Blissey diagnosed to me that it was self-inflicted. Turns out this is a stress-induced fever. Never knew that could happen, but when it did it just plum sucked the life right out of me. Everything feels a lot slower than it actually is, and laying in here for hours sucks."

Hearing the comment about stress made her raise an eyebrow. "Do you always just keep it all in quietly? After everything I learned about you from when I was with Team Rocket, and of my own account, you've done nothing but take on enormous task after enormous task. You're a guy from a small place, like me, but after everything is said and done-" her own words were interrupted by Haru lazily raising his right hand as if to halt her.

"Right, right, I know. Trust me, I know. Nessa has told me before in the past I need to relax. Doing all of these things keeps me busy. She's been leading a dual life as a model and a Gym Leader, Leon is the Champion until you or someone else takes the title from him, and I'm not even the worst case out there. Before I even became a trainer I mostly studied what I could to be even considered for the Challenge, and helped my mom who is a Pokemon Veterinarian ever since I was a kid. When I got the epiphany on becoming a Gym Leader, I have almost not stopped pursuing that goal. Studying all the other regions informed me how crazy talented all of the others are, but here I am falling to pieces over what is currently an unfinished, work-in-progress Gym, and my own studying to become qualified for a Pokemon Sanctuary." As Syra watched him explain himself, she took note of the seeming tone of disappointment in himself and went on the offensive.

Pulling her chair up a bit closer, she sighed and folded her arms over each other. "Look, just because others can handle some things doesn't mean you can or can't do the same thing. You're not lesser of a person for it, Haru, you're just mortal like the rest of us. You can only handle what you're capable of: unfortunately I found out my limits a long time ago and became hard edged due to all that shit."

One of Haru's eyes opens up and he looked up at her. The gravity in the words she spoke of her finding her 'limits a long time ago' hit different. "Right, I'm still shocked and very sorry you went through that."

She fired back with a bit of a plea, sighing and taking her own hat off. Placing it on her lap, Syra furrowed her brow at him once again. "This isn't a competition, Haru. We both have gone through a lot of trials and tribulations, but you don't have to look down on yourself for falling ill. It's okay. The world, and Arceus, will still continue to work itself despite you taking a day or three off. You didn't get sick because you can't handle it, you got sick because you've been handling so much for so long and then one day something just told you 'No, stop'. So take this as an opportunity to get a 'Full Restore' in."

He laid there and laughed weakly, turning on his side to face away from Syra. "Nessa said something very similar. I promised her that I would walk away from the 'hero' role when I came back with you from Operation Critical Hit, and so far I've done a good job of keeping that promise. But now the issue at-hand is simply trying to not overdo a simpler life as I shift into other priorities. Not going to lie, trying to walk away from all the responsibility I once held, what with the whole world on my shoulders, is something I can't even properly put to words."

"Is there a word you COULD describe it to? The whole...'world savior' role you have: it's something I don't know what it's like." Syra had asked, wanting to know more from his perspective. He merely handwaved it once again and stayed laying as he did.

"Don't sell yourself short. You were in Operation Critical Hit. That's kind of a world saver." He replied.

The two of them were silent with each other as Haru knew that wasn't the answer she was looking for at all. "It's frightening. Horribly, horribly frightening. All of these people looked up to me to resolve their issues because I guess I got lucky enough to be in all the right places at the right times. Becoming a Champion was what I wanted to be, and I did it, but when other events started happening I usually just clammed up around Leon and the others for a good bit."

"Even the Gym Leaders?" Syra asked.

She saw him nod his head slowly. "Even the Gym Leaders. For some reason I...I just went mute. At a time I could barely muster more than one sentence at a few hours at a time...maybe. Call it the combination of what happened with Hiro and dealing with popularity or whatever: I honestly don't know to what dividends it stops. Call it the will of the cosmos that I were placed where I was at, but it scared me. I was just really good at not letting any of it affect me for awhile. So I just dealt with it in private until I was able to start letting Nessa see that side of me."

Haru was heard laughing weakly before a cough came out. "Well...that makes you another one that's seen a little bit of this side of me I suppose."

Haru went quiet for a short moment, and in that moment Syra looked around the bedroom. She saw several pictures hung up on the walls of dates Nessa and Haru had, and a couple showcasing Nessa's fishing catches-of-the-day. The atmosphere was different than her own home, but it was nice to see another side of him in his own abode. "Do you still plan on becoming Champion one day, Syra?" Haru asks, sounding a little drowzy.

She made a fist and lightly hit her own ample chest near her heart with a proud smile. "It's a promise. I WILL become Galar's next Champion, and once that happens, I'll work to make myself the next unbeatable, invincible Champion who won't be dethroned."

The high he got from eating a meal, albeit fast food, was waning. Yet still, Haru managed to reply with his own idea with a little more fervor. "To know you haven't lost your goals is empowering. You have yours, and I have mine...heh heh. How's this? I promise that no matter whether you challenge me or not as a Gym Leader in your second round in the Gym Challenge...that I'll be there to see you become the Champion. We will find a way to have our rematch. How's that?"

"Deal!" Syra got fired up from hearing those words and threw a fist pump. "You won't get me next time Haru! You can count on that!"

He heard but wasn't able to respond. The bed had suddenly become too comfortable to him that he had begun to sleepy soundly, causing Syra to make her exit.

Upon reaching the door to go outside, Syra calls to Nessa. "Hey Nessa, I'm out! Let me know if Haru starts getting better okay?" She turned the knob, intending to leave but was halted when Nessa made her way over and replied "Hey Syra, I know we're still not completely 'there' on good terms in comparison to say, you and Haru. But for what it's worth I'm happy that you're there as a friend for him."

It wasn't much of an improvement from last time, but with how taken back she was by the compliment, Syra felt a weight begin to lift off her mind. She gave a wide smile, said "You're welcome. I used to be the worst to him at one point, and now I'm continuing to forgo that past self for my own and everyone else's benefits." Stepping out of the grounds, she waved farewell and headed off to her own errands. Picking up her phone and dialing in on another friend.

"Hey Holly, you busy? Wanna go see the sites a bit today?"

- - - - - Wedgehurst, Sonia's Lab - - - - -

During the time that Syra paid Haru a visit, a certain pair was busy in the backyard of the lab. Hop had been going over several new rumors that were coming from the Crown Tundra area, but since he couldn't be bothered to tell Haru, Marnie was the one on the receiving end of a growing cacophony of things beyond her usual understanding. She was an expert trainer in her own right and the more recently appointed Dark Gym Leader, but Hop was leaving her in the dust. Sitting at one of the tables outdoors, enjoying the shade from the umbrella, Marnie leaned on one elbow. "So you're telling me that this supposed finding you're referring to can link to alternate worlds?"

At this stage of assisting Sonia, Hop had been fitted with his own white lab coat and took a pen out, sat opposite of her at the table and pointed to several parts of the graphs he got. "There are alternate universes, or dimensions. At least, that's what the rumors say...we don't know yet. It's uh..." Hop scratched his head and recalled back to what Haru told him about Hiro: how he 'confirmed' about the afterlife. If such a thing existed, then would that also mean there are multiple afterlives, or only one? He appeared to be getting stressed out thinking about it. "Well, some Pokemon that have been rumored to be coming from the Crown Tundra that don't match with descriptions of what we've seen here in Galar, and the ones that do match mirror reports from Alola."

Sonia's Yamper looked up at Hop and stood up on its hind legs to lean against Marnie, wanting attention and pets. She obliged and looked to him when he wasn't talking. "...what is it?"

"Honestly moments like this are a lot to take in. I'm uncertain if I believe in it." He put his pen down and looked at Marnie. "Sonia is the professor here of this region, sure, but as someone who is under her wing I have to look at things like this as logically as possible. There's no reason for me to read all this and disagree with the possibility of these findings, and if I do, then that opens up a whole slew of other questions." Hop stood up and started pacing around, combing one hand through his purple hair. He turned to Marnie and Yamper, who had been watching him as if innocently listening to his every word. "What if the 'me' that stands right here isn't the real me? Could a 'real' me even exist? If there's multiple universes of Galar, then that means..."

Marnie got up from the table and walked over, pulled the hand from combing his hair and set it down to his side. She put both hands on both of his wrists and looked him in the eyes. "Don't you dare start thinking like that, I don't care what sort of science you've been studying: the only Hop that matters to me is the one I'm looking at right now!"

He blinked as she put both hands on his cheeks and squished them with the palms of her hands. "Look, I may not have a full grasping of what you go through when you research the things you do. You shouldn't focus on so many 'what if' situations like this to the point that it's tearing you apart." Marnie's face softened up as Hop's face blushed, and then huffed.

Nodding in understanding, yet not fully accepting her kind words, Hop delicately moved her hands away from his face to sit on the ground with a hand keeping his face propped up. "It's not that I can't handle it, but then I start wondering where do we go from there? Perhaps it's not nihilism to believe that what I do here doesn't matter, but just my own perception expanding. If there's another 'me' out there, then does that really make me special at all?" Having long since forgotten his jealousy he got when Haru ended up never losing against him in a battle, it returned twice strong. Hop began to figure that if he wasn't really special in the multiverse's understanding of all things, then was he special at all?

The sounds of Marnie's boots clicked when she walked over and sat next to him with her arms by her side. It was a heavy set of questions that sprang up in the morning that she wasn't ready to hear or respond to in kind. Being around Hop calmed her down and set her mind at peace in comparison to everything else they had been through as fellow ex-Gym Challengers, but seeing him put on a sour face of despair wasn't what she had hoped to see.

/I suppose there's no better opener for something than now./ She thinks to herself, before one hand moved a little closer to the one of his own that was near his side. "I think you're pretty special just as you are; multiverse or not."

Hop didn't quite understand what she meant but felt a certain warmth take over when the punk dressed girl took one of his hands and held onto it. "Wait, really?"

/Oh shit! He isn't pulling his hand away! What do I do after this? Are we going out? Was that okay to say to him? Was that too forward? Does he like me like I like him? How does one progress from this point?/ Marnie shouted at herself in her mind, almost wrinkling her nose and squinting; the answer to his question somehow escaping her. "Uhm..uh..yeah, special...cuz you know, not everybody can just turn their life around after facing what you did. But you did it! You're actually a lot more cool than you give yourself credit for, you know?"

The result of her complimentary combo got him to start blushing back. "You're saying I wasn't at one point..?"

"WHAT?! Oh no no! I uh.." /Crap, turn this around. I was so good at managing myself around him for a good while but talking about him directly like this isn't helping me word things between us less awkwardly!/ Her hands met each other and started to poke the others' fingers in an attempt to try and calm down.

Hop asked. "Marnie?"

"What? AH! He-what're you doing?" She leaned a little away as Hop stepped up and got on one knee, leaning towards her. She jumped a little, withdrawing her own hand as her cheeks grew to the shade of pink to match her Gym Leader uniform. "Huh!? What're you doing, Hop?" frozen stiff trying to get herself calmed down as her own heart was racing.

It didn't work and only got worse when Hop put his hand on her forehead, causing her to go into a momentary panic when he leaned closer. "I noticed for a little bit your cheeks seemed flushed. I know you live in Spikemuth but maybe the weather out here is too cold for you: getting used to the climate can be a bit of an issue for some people. You feeling okay?"

Marnie hands clenched as she was not able to look at him straight. This was the first time they even got slightly physical with each other outside of friendly hugs, and it was proving to be more difficult for her to deal with currently. Hop got up after withdrawing his hand, looking down at her. "I'm going to see what we have in the cabinet for medicine. If you catch something here, it'll look bad."

She briefly snapped out of her stupor and shot up onto her feet in a second, walking to him. "HEY! Don't have pity on me like that, I'll have you know I'm doing perfectly fine, thank you! You just caught me in mid-thought and it threw off my groove!" /Almost lost my cool there!/

Yamper barked towards the screendoor that Hop was in the middle of heading through and ran in between his legs causing him to lose his balance. In the second that Marnie registered he was stumbling it was too late and the two fell to the ground with a 'thud'. Yamper's barks are heard growing louder, and another voice was heard.

"Ohhhhhh hello Yamperrrrr whosagoodboy mama is hoo~oome!" the sound of Sonia talking to Yamper as she was ruffling his cheeks and wagging its behind like a propeller. "Where's Hop, boy? I don't see him anywhere!" The orange haired professor then followed the electric dog Pokemon to where she stared in confusion and shock. Everybody gasped at each other while Sonia had a mixture of multiple emotions come to her face and one throbbing vein in her forehead. Hop was seemingly mounted over the other girl as the two looked back as the goth-dressed girl had one leg slightly bent. Hop's own lab coat looked unkept as if to imply he was in the middle of something.

"What the heck is this?" she asked with a tone that wanted to know in as few words as possible as succintly as possible. Hop nervously scanned the terrain and pointed to the table where there were two plates with half eaten Nanab Bread, Tauros Sausage, and Eggs.

"Breakfast." he states plainly.

Rolling her eyes, Sonia closes the screendoor. Turning around and huffing as her head looks to the side, Sonia quipped "Get back to work, Hop." She quietly mumbled to herself. /Are kids really going at it like that so quickly with each other nowadays? Making me and Leon look tame.../

The door shut and Marnie looks up at Hop with her blush coming back: unable to look him in the eyes. "You can get up now, Hop." she said quietly as her cheeks were red.

"Oh right, apologies. Let's finish eating. There's some more stuff I have to finish today!" He got up and helped Marnie to her feet while dusting himself off. For the rest of her short visit, Marnie put on her normal stoic face expression but internally was unsure where this led her. Had he reciprocated anything back at all to her, or was she just not direct enough?

Upon leaving the lab and calling on an Air Taxi for transport, Marnie looked back as Hop waved farewell outside of the front door and sighed. Motioning to the pilot and stepping inside, Marnie stared at the floor for a good portion of her trip with only the sound of the air currents and her mind. /A part of me wants to believe he has to be told directly while the other part is telling me not to worry so much on this for now. Surely Nessa has dealt with this sort of thing. Maybe I can ask her for help on how to approach this./

Two fingers go up to press on her forehead while she groans. /It's only now come to my attention that I recall the advice I gave Haru about crazed fans finding out about their idols possibly diving into romance, and here I have my own actual 'team'. Maybe it's to my benefit that both Hop and them not know about this for now./

She took a glance out the window later in the trip when Spikemuth came into view and recalled her prior thought. "No, don't be stupid.." Chastising herself and pushing the idea further into the back of her mind. Marnie came home more frustrated than satisfied despite the good breakfast eats.

- - - - - ? - - - - -

A small group of men met once again in an alleyway later that evening, but this time in Motostoke. One of the spotters outside of the alleyway stood watch wearing a mascot costume for a local shop not dissimilar to the PokeBall Guy seen at the Gyms within the Galar region. His job was to quietly signal whether or not trouble was 'coming in their direction'. Further down where the man stood there was the same group that had previously run into issues collecting information...until today.

One of them held up a small folder with multiple noir-esque photos taken. Two shown were of Lana at her home with Klara happily and quietly helping her, as well as a Munchlax and Budew. Another was a photo of Haru as he was exiting an Air Taxi on his way to his new home in Hulbury.

"So what's the plan?" One of them asked gruffly.

"The way I see it? This bastard somehow managed to get himself involved with all the wrong parties all at the same time. We know that our boy Luke was put in bars because he got help by the one man capable of finding him: Sam from Johto. Luke was paid to take out the ex-Champ's Pokemon, then bragged about it to the wrong person. Don't forget, too, that Syra squandered us all in the way she did. I don't know how he did it, but he worked with her for that big important operation and then got her pardoned."

The shortest guy amongst them spoke up. "Hey hey hey wait, do we ACTUALLY know he was the one who pardoned her at all? I mean, she led Team Rocket here, and Haru may be friends with her but that don't mean there's a correlation between-"

The inquiring mind asking about details was shut up when one of the guys had their Toxtricity corner them against a wall with the electric-like hair on its spine sparking. "You were saying...?" the Pokemon's owner sneered.

Taking a step away from the sneering Poison/Electric Pokemon, the other man continued. "Look, Haru's done a lot for us as the now ex-Galar Champion, man! We don't have to rough him up just because someone else got involved with both him and us at the same timeframe of this past year! What are we going to do, beg him for money? Let's go after Syra first, or better yet, ANYONE ELSE! Why does it have to be this?"

The Toxtricity zapped him with a low-damage attack, which merely left him in pain; not enough to cripple him nor his ability to speak. "You dumbass!" the other man spoke. "If we go after Syra first while she's dealing with the court we'll have the feds all over us like a Meowth and loose change! Look! We ain't gonna kill the guy. We're just going to rough him up a little for him not being as 'thorough' in trying to take care of those he pretends to care about as our region's "hero". After playing buddy buddy with someone who basically got a slap on the wrist it pisses me off to see her walking around."

Toxtricity's owner snapped his fingers at him, recalling the Pokemon to his side while he looked to the other guys. "It's best to go after him first since we all are aware how easily Syra took us down, so unless you guys have any other ideas let's go with what we have, then."

Flashing the picture of Lana once again, he looked to his comrades. "Remember we act in one week. That'll give me enough time to get you guys the Pokemon you worked for, and then head to the house here. Your instructions will come by text." The remaining gentlemen just looked at the one amongst them who was zapped by the Toxtricity and shook their heads. No other arguments were to be had, and the group dispersed quickly into the evening.

- - - - - That evening, at Haru and Nessa's Home - - - - -

- - - - - Hulbury - - - - -

Thanks to the earlier visit from Syra giving him some of his own energy back, and having taken a lot of rest Haru was feeling at the very least ''50% of my health is back'' as per his description to Nessa. Fixing himself to only watch some television shows on the one screen in their bedroom, he still rested to ride out the fever. At around the time dinner would start to take place his phone went off. He glances at it inquisitively since the sound coming from it indicated it was relating to the Gym Leaders group chat he was a part of, and slowly picked it up. "I have this set to only notify me when I'm being tagged, so this better be good."

It turned out the message initially came from Milo, who had only the guys tagged in the discussion but in a separate chat entirely. /Huh, okay this is new. Wonder what gives?/

[[6:01PM. MiloMilo: Hey sorry to create a whole other chat for this but I wanted to ask you all about something I think would be fun. Things have been pretty stressful during the whole of this past Gym Challenge year so I think it would be nice if we got together and head to the Isle of Armor together.]]

[[6:02PM. SpikerPRC: Ah, cool. I'd be down for that! I haven't been there in a good bit, and it'd be a nice change of pace.

[[6:02PM. Hop2Hop: I'll have to check with Sonia depending on the day we do this...I'm unsure if she'll let me out of her sight considering what happened today.]]

[[6:02PM. SpikerPRC: Why, what happened today?]]

[[6:03PM. Hop2Hop: Eh, don't worry about it. It was just one of those big 'discovery' kind of days. Marnie was at least there to help me make sure I don't lose the plot.]]

[[6:03PM. SpikerPRC: :squint: You don't say?]]

[[6:03PM. HaruOfSteel: Wait Milo, do we ALL have tickets to do this though? I know I pre-ordered mine awhile back but I'm also recovering from a fever, man. Can't guarantee when I'd be up for this at all, personally.]]

[[6:05PM. RockTheGordie: Haru how are you feeling right about now anyways? You're talking online so...what would that put you at?]]

[[6:05PM. Allist3r: Right, I was told you had collapsed not long ago. Are you doing okay?]]

[[6:05PM. HaruOfSteel: The jury is still out on it but I barely move from the bed. Nessa has been a lot of help. This is probably Bede's fault somehow.]]

[[6:06PM. FinalBedeasyVII: WHAT?! HOW?! I haven't even been near you or done anything!]]

[[6:06PM. HaruOfSteel: :smugscorbunny: Just taking the piss, mate. Glad you're paying attention to me buddy.]]

[[6:06PM. Kabu10282020: Milo I'll have to check back with you on if I can join or not. As far as I know, the only 'big' thing I have coming is a conference call with some other Fire Gym Leaders.]]

[[6:07PM. SSDrag0nBoy: Oh thank Arceus I'm actually here in the beginning of one of these chats. Thought I would miss out just like last time. Milo I'm down for this so put me on the list.]]

[[6:08PM. Allist3r: I'm not sure if I could. Crowds aren't really my thing you know, with the exception being my own Gym. Give me some time to think about it.]]

[[6:09PM. HaruOfSteel: Hey Allister, if you come I'll hang with you as your bodyguard and make sure nobody messes with you. How's that?]]

[[6:09PM. Allist3r: :gasp: I'd appreciate that very much, Haru! Thank you! But since you are still sick you should focus on that first!]]

[[6:11PM. SSDrag0nBoy: Just realized that Leon was invited to this too. LeonZardo are you down for this? Stop lurking, dude, I can see you're online.]]

[[6:15PM. LeonZardo: Sorry. Been busy. Yeah I'm down.]]

[[6:17PM. HaruOfSteel: Question, Milo. Can I bring a +2?]]

[[6:17PM. MiloMilo: Uh it depends. Why +2?]]

[[6:20PM. HaruOfSteel: Well the first one would be Sam. He'll probably want to hop in on this and I owe him a lot as a new friend in my life. I don't know if he's home quite yet but I'm going to see if he can make it and I'll get back to you what I find out. The second would be another friend of mine who has been dropping in to help me at my new home while Nessa and I settle in. We're basically done, sure, but it wouldn't have been if not for him. His name is Sevan. Tells me he comes from Hoenn and I met him during Raiding here. You guys will like him. Has a thing for Pecha Berries.]]

[[6:31PM. MiloMilo: After some thinking on it, yeah go ahead. Anyone being given a go-ahead by the ex-Champion is good enough by us, right?]]

[[6:32PM. SpikerPRC: Long as it doesn't involve more world-saving. I take it since it's just us that you tagged, Milo, that this will be a 'Guys Day Out'?]]

[[6:34PM. Kabu10282020: It certainly appears that way. I'll check up on you gentlemen later, I have some errands to run now.]]

[[6:35PM. RockTheGordie: HaruOfSteel if you come with your buds I'll bring the drinks this time okay? Let me pay back the favor from the last time haha.]]

[[6:37PM. HaruOfSteel: Thanks Gordie. Milo I'll also check in later and let you know what Sam and Sevan say. I'm going to get some more sleep perhaps after I text both of them. Before I go, just as a heads up I'll say to give me a few days of rest to let this fever go the heck out of my system. I may be talkative online when asked to be, but my energy is low. Bearing that in mind, I'm going to go sleep. Night all.]]

[[6:37PM. Allist3r: Rest up well, Haru!]]

[[6:38PM. RockTheGordie: Take care dude.]]

Putting the phone back down, the back of Haru's head hit the pillow and stared into the ceiling. The dulcet tones of the painter on the television talking to the viewer helped Haru relax into another trip to the dream world. /I don't actually know yet if Sam is back home, but I'll ask him when I wake up. Sevan probably won't mind, right?/

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

A familiar ringtone shocked Haru out of his sleep just as his brain was starting to shut off. Cursing that he hadn't silenced it, he looks at the screen whilst grumbling and feeling his head hurt. "Oh..speaking of..."

Tapping on the screen once and laying flat on the bed, Haru tried his best to greet. "Fhs...hello?". It was not a fantastic effort. "Uh, Haru? You okay?"

A free hand lazily goes over part of his cheeks and drags on it downward as Haru sighs. "Kinda sick at the moment, but it's good to hear from you Sam. I was starting to wonder when I would hear back after the big court finale."

As of that moment, Sam was in bed while Oleana laid next to him as a TV was on in their room. She had been watching one of their favorite movies with him and stayed quiet. "Eh...I've been in Galar for a bit, but currently am relaxing. Let's go with that, okay?"

Not wanting to press on the subject of whom Sam was dating, and having a small memory of who it was he just grumbled once again in response. "Right, I remember. Wasn't gonna ask. Anyways, yeah...you sorta woke me from me trying to take a nap but I'm glad you called. Was going to ask if you were available to come with me and the other guy Gym Leaders to the Isle of Armor for a 'day out'. Milo is the one heading the trip. You remember him, right?"

Sam suddenly felt a lot worse about calling during what he thought would have been a good time. "Yeah, I'm down for this...but I'm going to let you go. You said you were sick so I'll let you go dude."

Haru felt his consciousness slipping back into subconsciousness as he was speaking, which only drove the tone in his voice to sound more irritable. "Cool, thanks. I'll let you know when it is, since the group is mostly waiting on me to have this fever pass. Keep a lookout for your phone for an invitation to the group chat."

The two hung up and Haru put his phone on silent before staring into his ceiling for a short bit. After a short check up by Nessa and Nora coming back up to his room to lay down on the edge of his bedcovers, he settled in for a restful but short slumber. /I know Nessa wants me to not push myself so I relapse and get worse, so I'll just take a short nap before checking up on Sevan./

- - - 6 hours later - - -

Haru awoke in the middle of the late night, having slept through his own alarm. Though he hadn't known it until his eyes opened back up, Nessa had come to his side to silence the alarm so he could sleep. If it was as heavy of a sleeping spell as she had assumed, then it was needed. Mumbling to himself while turning over, he looked outside and let out an audible grunt of annoyance when he spotted the clock on the drawer next to him and its displayed time. "Oh. That wasn't a short nap at all..."

It appeared some of his energy had started to come back. Whether it was from the constant napping and proper rest he was getting, or all of the aforementioned with the food Syra brought he couldn't figure out yet. He did however spot a text from Sevan that was asking how he was doing and replied to it quickly. Sitting upright very slowly so he wouldn't overdo his feverish condition, Haru focused on the small screen before him and tapped away.

[Haru: Hey, sorry I didn't get to this earlier, was asleep. Haven't been feeling well for a bit, though I may be up late now since it's been several hours instead of the single hour I was planning to nap.]

Mere seconds he put the phone down and thinking he wouldn't get a reply, his phone went off with a text. It was from Sevan, causing Haru's eyes to widen in both surprise and shock.

[Sevan: Shit. You doing okay now?]

And so the conversation begun, leading into Haru asking Sevan about the gettogether.

[Haru: How are you still awake? I thought you would be napping by now since you're usually so sleepy around me on the times we hang.]

[Sevan: Yeah? How do you think I end up like that then?]

[Haru: By being a really active member of society, working out, boxing or whatever? I know you're a fisticuff fighter right?]

[Sevan: Yes, but also no. Maybe.]

[Haru: You've lost me.]

[Sevan: Insomnia. I've been awake for maybe a day or two extra since and getting only 3 hours of sleep. That's including going in and out of consciousness. What's up?]

The look of intense worry came over Haru's face as he was without words but had to press on.

[Haru: I'm going to ignore that worrying revelation for the moment to ask if you'd be up to hang with me and some others on a trip to the Isle of Armor. It'll be myself, the male Gym Leaders of Galar, and another friend of mine: the one I told you about when you came by.]

A few moments had gone by before his blonde hair streaked friend with a penchant for Pecha Berries replied.

[Sevan: Sure. Just tell me when and I'll do what I can to make sure I have a house by the time I'm back from this.]

[Haru: Are you sure you don't need help taming your Ninetails or something...?]

[Sevan: Trust me, there's only one way to do that and I don't believe you have the power to make it happen, Haru. Regardless, I'll live. Hopefully. Sign me up for your trip but get back to me on what I need when you're NOT sick.]

Nodding and sending a simple reply of [Okay.] back, Haru had slowly walked to the accompanying bathroom that was near the bedroom and used it. Upon exiting, he laid back down and had one final thought before going to tell the others within the group chat about his friends joining up. /Man I hope he doesn't drop unconscious in the middle of the trip. If I had known his insomnia was so aggresive I would have tried to do something, but then again he's probably already two steps ahead of me on trying./

Milo and the others were then informed on Haru's 'Plus Two' accompanying him for the trip and as such laid in bed to play on his phone. Before he fell asleep in his fever-induced state, Haru caught wind of one final thing: a newsletter headline. 'Pokemon Tournament For The Ages' is what scrolled on the marquee. It seemed that whatever negotiations, sponsorships, or legalities that Oleana would have to do in order to set this new event in motion were coming along smoothly. /Right. I'll have to change up my team entirely from my usual set if Nessa and I are to make a splash together and stand out in the crowds. If I can help her achieve her goal of winning big like I did, then perhaps her waves will be tamed on the stadium grounds./

The last thing Haru told the group chat of the other fellow Gym Leaders plus Leon was 'Give me 2 days and I should be okay for this trip, everyone'. After he said this, the world of the subconsciousness swept Haru away like the oceans do to the shores of Hulbury every day.

- - - - - Amiri's Home, Circhester - - - - -

- - - - - 5:04 AM - - - - -

Shooting upright to a sitting position and swinging her right fist, Syra screamed. Her heart was racing in the same manner her previous panic attacks did whether awake or asleep. Feeling the cold sweat pouring from her brow and the looseness of her top after seemingly almost tear it off, she tried to figure on just what happened. She could have sworn that she was back in her old bedroom trying to fight Ritsu off from taking advantage of her body. The fists that flung outwards still knew how to defend herself and reacted from her wishes unconsciously. Looking down, she saw the sweat had made her own shirt dampened and slicked her hair back. /Fuck, I thought that was real, but it was just a dream. It doesn't make sense how.../ Syra slammed a fist on the bed mattress and teared up before putting both palms to her face. /I'm supposed to be behind all this now..! C'mon...get better about this already! It happened! It won't happen anymore! Just...okay...stop crying...stop crying.../

Wiping the sweat from her forehead and drying her tears, Syra huddled her knees up while sitting and looked around. The sun was starting to rise as its beams were beginning to pierce through the window in her bedroom. The nightmare may have woken her up but in truth she was struggling to fall asleep ever since coming to a new household where Ritsu wasn't around: a phantom sensation on always needing to be in defense of herself and hyper aware of her surroundings. Despite pushing herself past the need to actually be on guard from a looming threat like him, the mind was as powerful a trickster as it was a tool for healing.

There wasn't any more danger. There won't be any more danger coming her way in the same way that he brought to her life.

One hour passed and her attempt to calm down and try for more sleep went unrewarded, and she huffed. Frustrated, Syra pulled herself from the mattress and walked to her closet. /Perhaps I need to get some fresh air. I'll leave a note for Mom so that she doesn't begin worrying on where I went off. Maybe go check out what early morning Circhester is like./

She walked out of the house wearing a jacket that she got from the stadium in Wyndon before rubbing her hands together and exhaling. It was usually cold in Circhester which caught tourists off guard on just how extreme it could be. For the morning it was only a mere 20'C: enough to walk around without feeling her own thumbs going numb. Clapping her hands together while her Intelleon came outside and walked right by her, she turns to him. "Morning Josef. Sorry to force you awake at this hour, but I was hoping for some company and to stay safe. You don't mind, right?" The Intelleon shrugged before yawning, to which Syra laughed and gave him a hug. "Thanks for making sure you keep me safe. Now! Let's go get lost shall we?"

They passed by the 'Bob's Your Uncle' restaurant and had to be reminded that it wouldn't be open until lunch time. At the hour she was outside, it was easy to walk out openly without having to be approached by fans of her Pokemon Gym Challenge career. The requirement of needing a mask or scarf was low. While she passed by the outskirts of Circhester and began to walk down Route 08, Syra decided she would play no mind to which direction to go. A few Pokemon archaeologists were up early continuing their studies as she balanced herself on the beams laid around as bridges from one side to the next. Hopping off one beam and landing with her Intelleon not far behind, she hit the dirt and scared a Perrserker off.

"You know where we haven't been to in awhile since the challenge, Josef? Spikemuth." She said to him. The water Pokemon looked at her wondering where she was going with this, and the girl snickered. "I know it's a small town, but I'm so used to Circhester, Motostoke and Hammerlocke that I've kind of forgotten what the town holds when I'm not trying to overwork myself for my career." The pair ended up jogging together and passing through the connected roads to the large entrance of Spikemuth. There the lights of the tiny town were welcoming despite the punk vibe that it naturally gave way.

"Ay Syra!" Calls out someone from nearby. Her face turns to the voice and upon the eyes being met, she sulked.

/Fuck../ she thought to herself. It was a member of Marnie's overly attached and personal cheerleader squad, Team Yell. The girl with the magenta-and-black patterned goth attire that mimicked Marnie walked over to where the ex-Gym-Challenger was at and gave an unsolicited hug. Syra's hands immediately ball up into a fist; her first intention to swing also came unrequited as the fan hung on and let go quickly. "What's brought you out here so early?" she asked.

Syra kept herself at a full 3 meter distance after the hug she didn't ask for at all. Her lips flattened; annoyed. "Insomnia and a wish to get lost just for fun. What are YOU doing up so early? Is there some creepy thing you and the others have to attend to this early?"

"Oh right, you're talking about the usual facepaint and gear? There's no timetable for celebration! If you're passionate about something it never truly dies down, right?" the Team Yell Grunt replied. Syra wasn't buying the response and started to walk into the town as the girl followed her. "You guys ever hear about how studies show insane levels of obsession leads to stalking?"

It was like Syra was speaking noise. "Pardon?"

Both Josef and Syra facepalm. "Right. Nevermind. Anyways, I'd like some alone time with my Intelleon, please. I haven't had my coffee which is a decision I'm now regretting." The tall water sniper looked at his Master with crossed arms and was heard clicking its tongue at her. Syra huffed back at him. "Hey don't look at me like that: I was bored and in a hurry!"

Without saying a word, the Yell Grunt waved and headed off to do her innocuous but unknown morning errands. If it meant staying out of Syra's way and not initiating a Pokemon battle, the Grunt knew to stay out of the way. Even with the implication the town was a little more awake, Syra noticed that the citizens in Spikemuth had some early life in them. A few shops were opened and, as always, the Pokemon Center was open. A tourist with a travel bag hailing from Sinnoh had walked out and looked around to try and find a nearby hotel. Syra hung her head and placed a hand on her scalp. "Now that mention of coffee has me thinking about doubling back home and using the brewer for a nice cup. Damn."

She went to find a nearby bench and sat down. As Josef joined her side, Syra pulled out her map that she used when on her Gym Challenge and her notes to see if she marked down anything noting a convenience store that sold instant brewed coffee or coffee shops. "Maybe there was something I missed. Nessa told me not long ago about a truck that was going around selling coffee and other food or drink items. Is it new, or did I just miss something when doing all that walking?" She seemingly asked her Intelleon, who was distracted by a noise it was picking up.

"...Josef? Hello? I asked you a question." She poked his arm, and the jittery water Pokemon looked at her in a startled manner. Her eyebrows furrowed. "Hey, what's with you?" Her Intelleon stood up and looked in the same direction it was previously distracted and began to walk. The actions were confusing since the last time they were in Spikemuth nothing had thrown off either of them to this degree. Following him, she began to notice the muffled bass of crowds chanting, hooting, and hollering. It seemed to be coming not from a stadium, of which Spikemuth had none, but from somewhere hidden within the many alleyways of the town.

As the pair quietly followed their sense of hearing, Josef eventually took off sprinting after pointing in one direction. "Hey, wait up!" Syra calls out to him. Sprinting after him, they met around a corner where a staircase lead further into the ground and led to an unmarked door . It was guarded by a single sketchy looking, balding man and was paired with a shiny Hitmonchan. Josef retreated back behind the corner before the two of them were caught as she whispered. Leading him by the hand to then kneel behind a large pillar of shipping pallets, Syra whispered. "Josef where the heck did you lead us to? This place looks suspicious. It's bad enough I had a run-in with some gangsters here before, but this area gives me the shivers. We could be looking at another team hideout." She stood at a semi-sideways angle and looked back. The door had no markings or mail slot and the building it accompanied had nothing that stood out amongst the others. It simply blended in.

Josef looked at her and seemed a little anxious. Whispering again, she held up a pointer finger and shushed him as they saw someone walk by. The man and Hitmonchan got closer together and looked at him. "There is no Missing No." said the man guarding the door. "Mew is under a truck." replied the one who approached them. The guarding man and Pokemon step aside and open the door for him, and he stepped inside. Spying on them and their conversation, Syra retreated and reached for her waistline before looking up at her Pokemon. "I know the code to get inside, but I'm worried about you okay? If something happens to me, let the others know about it okay?". Before stepping out to the strange locale, Syra looked in her bag and brought out a hair-tie to put her hair up in a side ponytail.

The nonverbal communication between herself and her Intelleon was as thick as the bond with her brother. Josef put his full trust in her completely and was withdrawn into his PokeBall. After making sure that nobody else saw her, she made her way to the door. The guard and the Hitmonchan touched elbows and looked at Syra. She smirked confidently and waved. " 'Sup."

"There is no Missing No." said the guard man.

"Mew is under a truck." Syra replied, but the two did not budge. The man who saw her narrowed his eyes studiously for a moment and then opened the door. She wasted no time walking in and as soon as the door closed she exhaled. Looking down at her waistline, Syra gently tapped on the PokeBall containing Josef. /Phew. Now to see what the heck this location is and why Josef was bothered by it./

- - - - - Amiri's Home, Circhester - - - - -

- - - - - 9:05 AM - - - - -

The Air Taxi slowly landed with Syra looking out the viewing window, and spots her mother Amiri standing outside the house with her arms folded over each other. "Young lady you'd better have a good excuse to have not gotten back to my texts after leaving that random note about going on a walk!" She sighed. The girl waved to the pilot and Corviknight as both lifted back off, and turned to her mom, who walked forward and hugged her. "I was worried about you, darn it! I can't expect to understand what's going through your head if you don't talk to me, and vague notes won't help."

Sinking her head a little downwards sheepishly and leaning into the hug, Syra frowned. "I'm sorry Mom. I would have been home a little sooner but Josef and I ran into some...stuff. I'll tell you about it when we get inside."

This shocked the green haired woman. Even as her daughter went out and about, knowing she didn't so much as eat breakfast or even anything else on her way out was another red flag. "I...I understand if you don't want to divulge everything since I've only recently been able to come back into your life, what with the events you've told me about."

Reaching to the front door and opening it, Syra looked back to Amiri with a curious expression. "OH. No it's not about that, it's a little complicated. You'll excuse me if I'm a little hesitant to tell you because it's not about me this time, although I guess you aren't wrong in saying I still have some demons." Her mind went back to think on how she woke up from the nightmare of a relived encounter with her dad. The parent decided not to push it further unless Syra spoke of it, and walked in with an arm around her daughter.

"We all do, Syra. Guarantee even your crush Haru has some too." She spoke calmly, and with that alone Syra's mood shifted into irritation as her face went red and a vein pulsated on her forehead. "MOM!" She growled while Amiri howled with laughter. /Even as Mom says that, I guess telling her about Sevan wouldn't really help my case any. Still, with what I found out today there's a lot more here about Galar and what Pokemon can do to people than I previously figured./ She went to the kitchen to look for something simple for breakfast while her mother and her had a small conversation and began discussing on the next day of her court trial. While chomping on some cereal that had a Pikachu on its box, Syra started to ponder on something else when it came to her own future. /When I become Champion, I'm going to use my powers for good and see what I can do to clean up the place. If I can become half the Champion that Leon, or even Cynthia were, then I'll have done more than enough./

"Hey Mom? You said something awhile back when I first got to see you again about managing. If-..." Syra shook her head. "No, WHEN I become Champion, can you be my manager?" Before Amiri could respond, curious if she had already answered this question, they were both interrupted by Syra's younger brother, Gabriel, who had woken up minutes ago. "Sis, if you are serious about becoming a Champion, then I want to pursue my own old goals as well."

The ex-Gym Challenger was shocked hearing those words, but would be further shocked by the next one. Gabriel clenched one of his hands into a fist and looked at his mother. "Mom, with your permission, I want to not just do this Gym Challenge, but knowing that sis is doing her best to move past herself...I'd like to explore other regions. If I train enough here, can you allow me to become a Pokemon trainer?" He leaned forward with his head bowed slightly. Syra was happy to hear that her own brother got a fire lit under him again like he used to, but was unsure of how Amiri would react to such a declaration.

Amiri got up from the table quietly and walked over to her son, knelt down to his level and embraced him with open arms. Squeezing him gently in her arms, the woman smiled and had tears built up on the edges of her eyes. "Gabe...it would be my honor to help you achieve your dream; to pursue your passion. I'll support you no matter what it takes."

Their mom stood up and let go of her son while she went to get him breakfast made. Meanwhile, he joined his sister at the table while she looked at him across from it. "Hey Gabe. If you're serious, then you're going to need some pointers first, okay?" Syra said, taking another spoonfull of her cereal, though her brother would just smugly reply. "Pointers from a flunked Gym Challenger? How desperate do you see me, sis?" She threw her spoon at him across the table as it fell on the carpet past him. "YOU LITTLE PRICK DO YOU REALLY THINK SO LITTLE OF ME?!"

Amiri turned to them and shouted. "NO FIGHTING at the table you two!" It didn't do anything to stop the siblings from bickering as Gabe started with the jabs.

"Bleh!You couldn't even make it as a Team Rocket Grunt so I don't wanna hear it!"

"You little shit I did that for YOUR SAKE! Plus, ALL of the Grunts are smalltime: I took them all on by myself just by stealing one of Dad, er, Ritsu's Pokemon!"

"THAT doesn't mean anything: a light wind could knock them all down! Them OR the redhead and blue haired idiot with the talking Meowth!"

"I only know one idiot and it's the one I'm looking at right now!"

"Shortstack!"

"Wench!"

"Jerkface!"

"Titty monster!"

"You know I was thinking about gifting you a Scorbunny but now I may as well just gift you a Ditto!"

Both of them stuck their tongues out at each other blowing raspberries.

The rest of the morning went relatively well with exception of the eventual separation Amiri had to do when Syra had pinned him to the floor with a sleep-inducing grapple. Asking both of them to just have the morning not start off with a fight wasn't too much, Amiri hoped, but at least it was better than starting any actual fights. Syra promised him that once he got a Pokemon and was strong enough that they would do a battle together.

It wasn't until later in the day that Syra got a surprise message while putting Gabriel into a headlock when Amiri wasn't around. With no parent to chastise her action, she figured she'd try to get in one 'last hit' on him but had stopped all of it when her phone went off. Almost out of character for herself, Syra nearly dropped the phone when reading the message. It came from Nessa, who had simply texted

[Nessa: So I had something that's going to be coming up soon and wanna know if you're down to hang? It'll be a few days from now, but come excited and open minded.]

Her eyes squinted at the words 'open minded' and was a little nervous. This would be the first time that she was invited to actually socialize with someone else, much less the girlfriend of someone she was a rival to for a good bit. There would be no way that this would be a trap. Nessa was not that kind of person to do that, but the way Syra's mind worked was poisononous. Holly was the only one she knew she could socialize with easily, and with her safely away from Giovanni, the two could also hang out together easily. But Nessa? Would it be okay?

She sat there on the couch in the living room and stared at the text for a minute before responding nervously.

[Syra: You do know you sent this text to ME, right? You actually wanna hang out with me? Really?]

The text came back soon after her own, and Syra felt herself stepping out of her comfort zone for the first time in a long while.

[Nessa: I won't do anything that's going to put you in a bad light, and you'll be among others that won't judge you okay? We can talk about this later if that's okay. I have to check up on Haru and see how he's doing.]

[Syra: I uh...okay. Sure.]

Anxiety started to fog Syra's mind, but she tried to keep it pressed down. Any negativity after today's events would have to reside for more important things and the 'bigger picture' at hand. /Maybe it'll be okay../

- - - - - 3 days later... - - - - -

- - - - - Haru & Nessa's Home - - - - -

- - - Early morning, 5 A.M.- - -

The fever had long since overstayed its welcome, and Haru was all the more thankful for it considering he didn't like spending so much time doing nothing but waking up with bed sores. Planning for this 'boy day out' meant having to wake up early and grab a quick bite if he were to meet up with the others at the Isle of Armor station in time. The other Pokemon Haru had normally walking around the home were still asleep, so he had yet to find Goji and prep him to get in his PokeBall.

/Looks like Nessa is awake, from the sounds of it./ He thinks to himself when stepping out of the shower and drying his hair while looking in the mirror; brushing his teeth. Stepping out of the shower with just the damp towel around his shoulders and looking for some proper shorts for a beach outing, another idea came to Haru. /Goji may not be enough. I don't know that much about the Isle of Armor, but I also don't want to take another one of the guys from here with me. Maybe I can fetch my Gengar from the box; he could be of help./ He found a pair of shorts and nodded, humming in self-affirmation. /Two will do fine. I'll only be gone for the day./

He headed downstairs quietly with the shorts on with the intention to make something light for himself that would be good enough to eat, but not heavy that it would slow his energy. Noticing the living room and kitchen lights were on, he assumed that his lovely lady was making something. A bottle of chocolate syrup had been idly placed on the counter and looked over next to it. The toaster didn't have any pre-made waffles toasting, so the visual was confusing. That is, until he stood upright from taking a protein shake out of the fridge and was greeted by two dark arms reaching behind him and a warm breath in his right ear. "Good morning, sugar." said Nessa in the lowest, most sexual tone she could conjure up at the break of dawn. The volume and manner of her voice alone caused Haru to freeze while he halfly looked behind himself to greet her back with a smile.

"Good morning Ne-" he was cut off by her turning his head and body more towards her as she full-mouth kissed him. For several days he couldn't do anything but lay in bed while his body recovered from illness, and now that he had been given a 'Full Restore' from rest alone it appeared she wanted some loving. The occasional check up on him as she could only take care of him made her feel lonely, so being able to so much as snuggle up to her 'Ruby' was fulfilling.

She pulls away and smirks down at him, using a finger to tilt his glasses down by just a slight bit and grinned. "Catch you off guard? Looking for some breakfast?"

His cheeks were red. Being kissed or embraced by her was something that was sorely missed thanks to the flu's interjection. "Y-yeah...I was fixing to make myself something before heading out. You seem already set for the day. Did you not sleep well or something?" He looked her up and down, noticing how she still had her shorts and long sleeve top on.

"No, nothing of the sort. I slept just fine, but...I was going to help you have some breakfast instead." Nessa had leaned forward a bit, almost cornering Haru against the counter as she put one hand on the cabinet behind his head. Whispering into his ear. "Though I need you to follow me for a second, darling."

There was no tangible understanding of where this early morning greeting was going, and the internal monologue inside Haru's mind was full of questions. The only thing he focused on was how the way she sashayed her hips guiding him away from the kitchen seemed to have an extra wiggle in every step. Taking him by the hand and leading him to the couch in the adjacent living room, Haru was set down on the couch. Nessa simply turned as if to walk away from him before sitting down, still facing away, so he could feel the curve of her rump against the crotch in his shorts and started to gyrate her hips at an agonizingly slow rhythm.

/O-okay it HAS been a hot minute..!/ His mind went nearly blank: unable to comprehend the overstimulation this tiny action gave him. Letting out a near breathless gasp, Nessa leaned back while continuing to rub her ass against him and grinned. "Love, you're going to have to forgive me for acting up, but you have been recovering in bed and I've made sure to take care of you. We both know I've been doing all I can to make sure you're okay, but I'm going to be straight. You're not leaving until you get served a new custom 'breakfast'." She reached behind herself to clasp onto one of his hands as her rump grinded harder against him. A growing tent in his shorts thanks to her rubbing against him was becoming more prevalent.

One of his eyes squinted while feeling the model rub herself slowly against him as their eyes met. "You doing okay sweetie?" she asked, giggling and full of pride at his very submissive reactions. "Define 'okay'." He replied weakly, which only got her to let out a proud laugh.

Knowing exactly what tone of voice to illicit right back at him, Nessa couldn't help herself while both eyes went half lidded. The bright blue eyes of hers that bore a ring of yellow near the irises locked on like a predator having cornered her prey. "Tell me, Haru...do you like eating chocolate in the morning?"

The Ex-Champion exhaled as a response while clenching his hand around her own, biting his lip. Staring at her ass grind against him was screwing with his ability to speak properly. While his head laid to the side as she had him pinned on the couch, she hears him moan. "I...uh..don't do it often, but I'm not opposed to it. Why do you ask..?"

Hearing him speak in a weak tone at the behest of her grinding her ass against him was too pleasurable for her to let up now. She leaned forward so he could get another angle of her backside while continuing to grind against him. "Never considered having dessert for breakfast huh? Well then, why don't we change that?"

Burying her head in the nape of his neck, Nessa let out small kisses alongside around his chin-line. The waves of pleasure rise and fall as they both rest on the couch and moan in each others' ears. The two ended up getting caught in their own heated, naked morning workout routine that involved making the couch's suspension get tested and rising temperatures between the two lovers. As Haru was brought back to reality, he feels her teeth nibble on an earlobe and whisper. "That's exactly what I wanted, darling. Thank you." in the sultriest voice she was able to muster on a post-heavy-sex romp.

Feeling as if he had expended all his energy before even being able to leave, the two didn't disconnect from each other as she stayed straddled to him on his bare lap. "Nessa that was amazing. YOU are amazing.." Haru manages to say clearly while leaning up to kiss her once again.

"Thank you, dear. I know you just showered, but I couldn't hold back any longer." She giggled and kissed him again with a much more cheerful tone. The honesty in her voice made him let out a weak laugh. Looking at her with a little sweat coming from his forehead, Haru rolled with their shared 'high'. "That's fine. It's not imperative I be on time so I don't think it'll be that big of a deal if I'm not there on the exact minute I'm expected to be...hehe.."

Combing a hand through her hair to prevent it from falling over her face, she smiled. "Just be safe out there okay? I'm also going to be having a day out myself, but I think we can both agree this was the best way to start it off. Don't you?" Nessa teased, once again resting her head on his shoulder and sighed contently. Still inside her, but starting to feel his lower half waver slightly, her boyfriend nods. "Yeah. But let met just stay like this for a little longer before I properly get ready to leave, okay?"

She flashed a wide smile and kissed his collar before patting on it lightly. "That's fine. You fucked me good so I don't feel like getting off just yet..."

The two had gone at it rather fiercely as if both tried to outdo each other, and although the it was still early, Haru would, for the first time in a long time, end up being 'late' to an appointment. He'd have to tell the others what happened but think of a way to curb the fact it was due to a morning 'alarm clock wakeup' that he couldn't escape. They stayed there for a short while to relax on the couch in silence before the two got up together, joked on how much they may have made a mess of the couch, and then unanimously decided it would be cleaned up before doing anything else. Haru had to take another shower, with Nessa joining him and the two ate a proper breakfast. He informed her that he would only be taking a few Pokemon with him and spoke of the only thing that was making him nervous for the day.

Haru took a sip of some hot chocolate that Nessa made for him and chewed on a marshmallow before making a point. "Sam is a very sociable guy who you have gotten to know pretty well, but my other friend, Sevan, I hope he'll be okay. In my time getting to know him I've taken note that he appears a little..."

An eyebrow raised from her, as she stirred her cup of tea. "Guarded?"

"'Guarded' is the perfect way to describe him." He sipped his drink before looking to the sun slowly rising from the nearby window. "I can't really figure out for what reason that may be. There's been a time or two I've caught him almost slipping up. When it happens, it's as if he's correcting his own speech to hide something. Maybe I'm overthinking it, but it's just a hunch." His eyes look back to Nessa from across the table and pursed his lips. "Like a part of him can't focus on something or is trying to 'course correct'. Hopefully today will be the day I see more shades of what has yet to come forth from him."

Reaching a hand across the table, Nessa clasped onto one of Haru's and smirked. "He won't be there alone at least. Hop, Milo, Sam, Allister, Raihan, Kabu, Leon, Gordie, Bede, and Piers will be there too right?"

"Oh, Sonia didn't tell you?" Haru began to ask, catching Nessa off her guard and causing her to side-eye him. "Tell me what?"

"Leon's staying in place of Hop to help Sonia with the lab for the day, so he won't be joining us after all."

The couple quietly stared at each other for a moment until the eventual smirk that was growing on Haru's lips as he took another sip of his drink clued Nessa in. "Oh. OH. Sneaky Sonia throwing Leon a curveball like that."

Haru appeared proud of himself and only gave a smug grin back to her. "Not like he has any idea that THAT is the reason why she invited him over though."

"Nnnnn~nope!" Nessa chimed.

The day had only just begun yet breakfast and dessert were served in one go.

- - - - - Hulbury Train Station - - - - -

- - - - - 8 A.M. - - - - -

As the morning started to roll in with a light fog and overcast skies, Haru was seen from inside the train station by his fellow men sprinting as if trying to be on time. He was not, however, and Milo was the first to joke at his arrival. Coming up to the entrance with his friend Sevan by his side, the ex-Champion waved.

"Morning, Haru. What kept you?" Milo registers mentally that the other guest Haru planned to bring was by his side. "Oh, I assume this is one of your guests you told me about?" Milo asked, looking back over to Sam, who had already arrived there beforehand. Holding up a hand as if to give him a moment to catch his breath, Sevan looked nonplussed about the situation but was going to be coming along anyway. It was a matter of luck whether he would pass out later, though with his Leafeon nearby maybe it wouldn't have been all bad. She looked up at him near his ankles and pawed at him before halfly hiding behind one of his legs to look at the group.

Haru wiped his forehead with his right hand and threw a little fib "I uh...got a little held up at home before I could pick up my buddy here and bring him with us to the station here."

Jumping in for the sake of conversation and a mutual interest in throwing light jabs at Haru, Sevan smugly replied. "Let me guess, cuz of your lady huh?" It got the other guys to laugh as Haru hung his head and just lightly kicked some dirt.

"You found me out. Sorry. I was previously stuck to my bed for a good while with a fever. Nessa's been doing her best to take care of me but it's a little hard when the only thing you should be doing is just sleeping and hydrating with water." He laughed weakly, being unable to fib his way out of a plastic bag and blushing a little pink. "Hey look, I DIDN'T MEAN to be a little late, but you know how things can be with a lady, right?" Haru tried albeit poorly to defend his position, since the other men just shook their heads going "Nah" near unanimously. All but Milo and Allister chimed in. Shinrin only blinked and tilted her head to the side while the other humans laughed at the one clad in red hair and glasses.

The tall, burly Grass Gym Leader couldn't help but think back to his own thoughts and skepticisms he held onto previously while folding his arms. /Haru talks about that like it's just something he can openly admit to others. The two of them are incredibly private about their romantic lives but he just casually comments about bedding with her like that? Makes me wonder if the other things I had pondered on were just...no no. I'm being too presumptuous./

Piers had to hold back from joining in but pointed to the blonde streaked newbie. "I already like him, Haru." Side-eyeing Sevan for the jab, Haru sighed but gave a smirk anyway; the joke being taken in stride. "Everyone, this is my friend Sevan, and this is his Leafeon, Shinrin. He's a real cool person I met while doing some Max Raids in the area. Has a love of Pecha Berries and the Hoenn region, too."

Sevan stayed his distance to the others but was at the very least playing it up that he was Haru's friend and did his best to socialize. Shinrin stayed her distance, keeping right to his side. "Hey guys. Nice to meet you all." One couldn't have helped but notice that in the crowd of the men there was a smaller one amongst them all poking their head around Gordie. Sam stepped forward and shook Sevan's hand, making Shinrin retreat until her head poked out in between Sevan's ankles and look upwards at the new human.

"I'm Sam from Johto, and I'm also an ex-Champion. Nice to meet you. Having been to Hoenn myself, I can say it's understandable why you like that place as you do!" Haru stepped aside as he let Sam shake hands with Sevan, who looked to the others as they gestured with hands and stepped forward. Milo stayed behind if only to look at Haru from the comment he made earlier in complete silence. One by one they introduced themselves, with Piers waving to him, Kabu and Hop also shaking hands and Gordie saluting him before eyeing Haru. "Ey Haru, I brought the stuff this time."

One of Haru's eyebrows raised. "The stuff? What do you mea-OH! GOTCHA~. Is this because I brought drinks last time?" He asked, snapping his fingers when the realization hit him.

The taller blonde tilted his usual glasses to the bridge edge of his nose and looked down to his fellow and flashing an iconic smirk. "Well yeah. Plus I owe you and Piers for the recent help with my mom. Things have been getting better."

Ignoring the brief introduction spurt at the moment, Sevan tapped on Haru's shoulder. "Hey, who's the kid?"

"That's Bede, he's the Fairy Gym Leader." Haru replied without so much as thinking.

"I can HEAR YOU, you know, and I'm not some little kid!" Bede replied, shouting to a volume that made Piers cover his ears. Being amused at the jab, but altogether not following Haru, Sevan shook his head. "Nah, not him. HIM." Pointing to the masked boy that was amongst them.

"Oh him? That's Allister. He shares the Gym with the Fighting Gym Leader as its Ghost Gym Leader in Stow-in-Side." Haru explained, and looked to the shy looking kid who stepped forward slowly. Shinrin finally stepped out a few paces and looked at the approaching boy. "Hey Allister, don't worry. Sevan's good people."

The kid prodigy who was a Gym Leader stepped forward. He hadn't been quite comfortable yet to remove his mask amongst friends this early, much less at a public train station. The latter may change however if the day got better. "I...uhm, what I mean is, h-hello."

Nudging an elbow into Sevan's side, Haru calmly explained. "Don't let him fool you with his mannerisms: he's a beast of a Gym Leader. Gave me trouble in my run when I was challenging him."

It was already eating away at his curiosity, so Sevan asked. "What was that with you and Bede?"

Chucking the bag he brought with him over his shoulder and giving a hearty laugh, Haru handwaved dismissively. "Oh, he was a rival I fought when I was doing the Galar Gym Challenge here. No big deal."

Sam stepped in between them, shrugging all the while looking to the new man he met. "Don't worry, Bede's always like this."

"I'm not worried." Sevan replied plainly.

"But that does remind me, where's Leon?" Piers inquired, stepping forward and looking to the group. Haru raised a finger, being one of the few that knew.

"Leon had to bail and fill in for Hop at Sonia's lab since he's here with us. She got a lot going on today and needed some help."

Piers made a half hearted shrug and looked to the side, though it did strike him odd how Leon wasn't able to tell them about it. "Eh, makes sense I guess. His loss."

A few claps were heard from within the group as Milo gestured to them all. "Allright guys I think that'll do for the introductions. Let's head out and make sure we're set so we can get to the Isle of Armor at a decent time. The place where we'll be exiting has a private bunker cab for us to ride in. Guarantee you guys will get a kick out of it." He turned to his fellow Gym Leaders and the 'plus two' that were with them.

Waving his hand for the group to follow him, Haru looked to Hop, Sevan, Sam and Allister and nodded to follow Milo. "No time like the present, men."

The group got on the Hulbury Train together and rode to a stop in Hammerlocke where they would exit, then follow Milo to a private landing strip not far away. There, the whole of them would come to a more square shaped, stout Air Taxi cab that gave room to have seats for 10 people instead of the usual pair-only seating. The interior was still shaped as the smaller Air Taxis were, but had interior L-shaped seating with both groups of the seats facing the other side. That there was enough room still for everyone to breathe and feel comfortable was the big surprise feature.

"Holy crap! I wasn't aware that Galar had Air Taxis like this!" Haru exclaimed, as Sam, Sevan and him were the first ones to happen upon the strip behind Milo. The farmer that was Milo looked to Haru and snickered whilst tilting his strawhat downward. "These aren't exactly used that much via commercially, but ours is reserved for just us today. Once we leave it won't be more than a few hours before we reach the Isle."

Sevan had hung towards the back of their small group but made sure once inside, he was more near Haru and the others than the Gym Leaders. The second he sat down, Shinrin made herself comfortable and circled on his lap before sitting: her leafy tail absentmindedly wagging. Scanning back and forth while the luggage was being put down, his mind was at unrest. /I can't seem to shake this funny feeling I've been getting since seeing that tall guy with the strawhat. Not sure why just yet, but my gut feeling has never let me down. If anything, Shin will clue me in./

As the horizon of Hammerlocke greeted them, Hop pulled out a notepad and began scribbling. Eyeing it immediately, Haru stares down his friend. "Hey hey...no quizzing me on things like the Pokedex, or natures or whatever. This is just a trip for us all to relax together okay?"

"I still don't know why I'm here, but since it was you that invited me I trust your judgment." Sevan said, speaking up after popping open a thermos from within his bag making the smell of freshly brewed coffee air out. The intense, familiar scent of coffee wafted through the corner of the Air Taxi, with Sam, Haru, Allister and Hop taking note. "Okay, I HAVE to know what you brought because that smells amazing." Haru asked.

Being mere inches before the thermos touched his lips a second time, Sevan looked at the group with a hesitant glance. "Is it that interesting to know?"

Hop looked confused and tried to make the air feel a little less awkward. "Ahhh...well I know it'll bug me if I personally don't find out. Doesn't smell like any coffee I've smelled Professor Sonia have at her lab."

Both of Sevan's eyes closed as if to pay respect for the background behind every single bean that was ground and turned into the beverage he held in his hands. "Mount Pyre, a semi sweet bean, coarse grind, medium boiled, double passed with some Vanilla and very little sugar."

None of the boys said anything, causing Sevan to shift in his seat as Sam whistled. "What? I make coffee. It's better for me than an energy drink, and this'll last me for a good bit of the day."

Almost getting a flashback to the few times he was chastised for drinking them himself, Haru only let out a weak laugh and settled onto his seat. "Y-yeah, energy drinks can be pretty bad for you longterm."

The manner of which Haru addressed that caught Sevan's attention, making him squint before taking another sip. "You know if I find out that you brought any I'm chucking that shit."

Internally Haru was screaming at himself. /Fuck. Let's hope he doesn't get a hold of my bag, then./ "No worries, man. Seriously. 'sides. Mixing alcohol that Gordie brought with caffeine? What kind of man do you take me for?"

Leaning forward, Haru smirked as if he were a Meowth from ear to ear. "Back to what you said earlier though: 'Not sure why I'm here'? Look, it was only proper I invite two of my besties along for the ride."

Sam removed his cap to comb through his hair before putting it back on his head and looked to Sevan. "Haru said you were from Hoenn, so what brought you here? I settled on Galar after traveling through other regions for a few years when I became Johto's Champion. Ehh...it seems a little naive to say I just wanted to travel everywhere I could but I had a bit of wanderlust."

Eyeing Haru while sipping his coffee and then to the newbie he had yet to feel comfortable enough to divulge personal info, Sevan danced around his answer. "Galar just seemed like an interesting place to head to: the type of region where you can start over if need be." Shinrin looked up at her master and the two shared a quiet glance for a moment.

"Uhm...S-Sevan, is it nice there?" Allister spoke up, though winced when the other boys looked at him. "I-I'm sorry! I'll wait my turn.."

It was hard to be critical towards the kid for trying to socialize. Sevan could see that he was doing his best in a difficulty situation where he felt uncomfortable but was pushing forward to try anyways. Smiling, Sevan lowered the coffee onto his lap. "Hoenn is a beautiful place with a lot of ocean water so there's several port cities to help folks get around. It's especially useful if you're a Pokemon trainer hoping for easy fast travel, though I guess it's no replacement for what you guys have here."

Hop looked to him and Sam, after putting away his notepad. "Is it true that there is a city that has perpetual ash coming from the skies as if it were snow? I haven't studied up on the region as much as others currently, but from a brief glance I wasn't able to confirm it myself."

"It's real but the truth is a little complicated than that." Sevan's eyes dart to Sam, who he felt was looking at him as if to be fed more information.

"Hey, I don't know any more about it than you do, man." Sam had said, raising his hands up defensively.

Bede had folded his arms around each other while he looked to Sevan with a neutral but studious expression. "Such a place sounds dreadful, but if people were able to live there I wonder what's stopping them from trying to change it for the better. Our own climate can be rough as it is, but we never have something as horrible as snowing ash."

A moment of silence occurred between the two before Sevan broke it. "...who are you again?"

That set off a throbbing blood vessel in his forehead. "You already forgot me?! It's Bede! Remember it when you face me at my Fairy Gym!"

Hop snickered and jumped in just for the comment Bede made. "That was the least intimidating thing you could have said, Bede."

Haru leaned into the cab seat and pointed to Hop with his left hand. "So do the people there just not have clean air? Here in Galar, we were dealing with an energy crisis. Hop and I took care of that, and the next one we're dealing with is our current National Dex issues."

Those last words struck a nerve to Sevan for some reason, as he eyed the floor. "I know..." Shinrin looked back at him and frowned.

A few awkward moments pass by without much talk as everyone 'checked in' on their phones. Haru messaged Nessa to let her know that he was now riding on an Air Taxi to the Isle of Armor and that he'll have pictures when he comes back. The silence was broken when Allister poked Haru's side and whispered something in his ear as Haru leaned towards the boy. "Oh? Seriously?" Haru whispered back, with Allister nodding. His head stayed stationary and used only his eyes to glance at Sevan without giving himself away. While he trusted Allister's intuition, the strange comment was a hard pill to swallow that would lead to more questions. "Are you sure? Two of them?"

The boy nodded his head twice, then quietly placed both his hands on his lap trying to ignore what he saw. Having been told this, Haru was trying to process just what sort of day he was in for if this is how things began. Hop looked over to his friend whispering with Allister with a curious expression, who just dismissed his purple haired scholar-in-training. "Never you mind."

Putting aside that dismissal was an easy task in speech, but it had already put Haru at an alert status. A single bead of sweat forms on his forehead while looking to his Pecha Berry obsessed friend. /Sevan...what aren't you telling me man?/

- - - - - Isle of Armor, Fields of Honor - - - - -

- - - - - 11 A.M. - - - - -

The Gym Leaders, Hop, Sam, Shinrin and Sevan got off their private ride and relished in the sights of the place that was a welcome change of pace to the mainland. They had little time to start commenting on how beautiful the isle itself was however, when Haru spotted something shocking. As the other Gym Leaders Floating alongside the shoreline was a Magneton and a Slowpoke with a yellow hued forehead. His jaw drops as Sevan walked by, carrying his bag over his shoulder. "Yo Haru, you doing okay?" His Leafeon seemed entranced by the vibrant sunlight the Isle itself was getting and stuck her chest out to bask in it.

"THAT! What is THAT doing here?! That's..." he turned to his group of Sam, Sevan, Allister, and Hop while pointing to the sluggish pink Pokemon. "That's a SLOWPOKE! I...I wasn't aware they were even in Galar! On top of that, it's got a birthmark that's different than one I've seen elsewhere in Kanto or anywhere else I've seen!"

Bede had turned his head semi sideways with an air of snark and cynicism. "THAT'S what's shocking to you? Not the Magneton that we all can see? Or the Wartotles further up the hill to our left? Or the Wailord out in the distance?"

"A WAILORD?!" Hop shouted, himself now discovering it once Bede pointed it out.

"Hey Haru? We're going to find a place to camp for the day so we can rendezvous later. There's supposed to also be a dojo here so we may hit up that for information." Kabu called out, while waving to the group. Him and the others were trying to make their way out while Milo looked onward.

It was a comment that made Haru instantly dismissive: something to be logged in the further recesses of his mind. "Yeah yeah, Kabu gotcha! We're going to figure out what the heck is going on with this Isle and possibly go exploring! Hop, anything you're finding out?"

Milo called out. "Don't forget we're doing some games together too okay?" Once again, Haru waved dismissively as if wanting to be left to his devices with his friends.

The purple haired scholar took a step back. "Why're you asking me, Haru?" He said while tying the jacket he brought around his waist.

"Ugh, so you don't know either?" Haru put a thumb to his chin and looked at Sam. "Hey Sam, bring out your Pokedex. This couldn't be something from any of the other regions could it? Actually, let's ALL bring ours out." Once the group agreed they would all receive another shock mere few seconds later. On the screens they would all be greeted by an extended Pokedex log that would increase the number. The only person who barely reacted was Sam, who huffed once with a smirk that grew on his face.

Raising an eyebrow, he was inquired by Haru, who pointed one finger in his direction. "You're acting suspicious, Sam. Why do you look so satisfied all of the sudden?"

He thought nothing of it and gestured with one hand in a 'matter of fact' fashion. "Just remembering that Oleana told me our laws have begun to allow for more Pokemon overseas, so seeing this update live is interesting. Since there's several found here already-"

"YOU KNEW AND YOU DIDN'T EVEN SAY ANYTHING?!" Sevan, Haru, and Hop yelled at the same time to Sam, who took a few steps back while progressively sweating. Shinrin even took a shot by seemingly barking at Sam, too with her green tail sticking upwards.

Sam had to readjust his glasses and press them up to the top of his nose. "Well it's not like I couldn't NOT say anything?! I...okay. Listen."

"I can't believe you! Keeping secrets like that away from me man! What kind of brother are you to me?!" Haru yelled in a half comedic yet irritated manner. Him, Sevan, and Hop started to look over just how many blank entries there were to be discovered there while Milo walked by the group and stared quietly.

Tilting his strawhat down while carrying several of the other guys' luggage with one of his arms, a hypothetical quandary hit him. /Tch, just relax, farm boy. You've been able to mingle with him like this for a good while now. Go with the flow and relax: like always. Don't even say anything. Don't judge./

The group didn't move from the spot they had their quarrel at, and had barely been on the isle for more than a few minutes but were already refocusing plans. "Okay well now that I KNOW for a fact we have new Pokemon here it's time I perhaps look into catching some. You guys wanna help? We can cover some new ground together and if I don't have something to combat a Pokemon either Sevan or Sam can help." He knelt down to zip his bag open and looked at Sevan. "...right?"

Sighing, Sevan gave a half smile before putting the thermos back into his bag and taking out a Pecha Berry with his right hand. "I guess? The only thing I really care about is if this place has Mudkips, or if Galar has allowed transportation of Mudkips and its family line here. Tell me, Sam, did Oleana tell you about that much at least?"

Answering once Sam checked his own waistline to see whom he brought with him, he looked at Sevan with a frown. "Unfortunately I don't think she did. We'll have to find out ourselves." Joining Haru on the ground, he started to look through his own supplies while Hop brought out his resources which were a few books Sonia told him he could borrow.

Haru froze the second he opened his bag and felt as if the gears in his head rewound to a minute or two earlier before he looked to Sam. "Wait a minute. Sam?" Both of his eyes narrowed to a squint. "What do you mean Oleana TOLD you about the Pokemon here are being allowed cuz of the laws here have changed? Why would she tell YOU about that? Why would she tell YOU specifically anything at all about shit that not even I would know? Granted, I'm no longer Champion, but I figured she would have at least clued ME in on this."

Allister, Hop and Sevan followed Haru's glance back to Sam, though Allister was the last one to catch on. Sam looked over to all the guys who were staring at him whilst kneeling and sighed before readjusting his cap to open his bag. /The jig is up, huh.../ "Oh...well...that's because her and I are...a thing."

Haru just stares blankly and gasps, while Sevan stares for a bit before starting to laugh a little, followed by Hop placing both hands on his cheeks. Allister remained still, so it was hard to tell if he made any sort of facial reaction.

" .. ...gh...ah..." Haru's mind flashes back to the Pokemon Championship Tournament Finals when he ran into the two of them, and stood up "AS..s...so...s.s..s...SO WHEN I SAW YOU TWO IN THE HALLWAY...!"

/"Uh...I was..-" Haru began to say before Oleana walked over to where he stood with an incredibly overwhelming aura of intimidation and muttered. "Not a word to anyone else, Champion. Not. A. Word."

As several beads of sweat formed on his forehead, Haru simply nodded in affirmation. "Yy-yes ma'am. Duly noted. /

The entirety of Haru's red hair was combed back slowly like his whole world had turned upside down. To a degree this now made a lot of Sam's decisions make more sense in retrospect. "I can't believe it. All this time, too, it was right under my nose..."

Shinrin had walked over to where Haru was acting aghast and tried to calm him down, bringing her paws up to his knees. Trying to relax from his secret coming out to the group, Sam eyed the sand as if it were the most important thing. It was a necessary step to at least try and continue his explanation and lower his current anxiety. "Yeah so...way back in the day we met in Johto. Her and I have been dating for little over 3 years actually."

/It all makes sense. Why he wanted to come to Galar and would try to avoid talking about her too much to give himself away. If I or anyone else near him heard, it would have spelled trouble at the wrong point./ "Right, well uhm...how did...okay." Haru shook his head and then thrust both hands forward in a 'stop' gesture. "WE CAN FOCUS on that a bit later but holy shit dude. Forget the target I have on my back dating a super model like Nessa. You're dating the most politically important person that we know in the entire Galar League."

They tried to go back to the original focus as Sam opened his case. "Yeah. I remember Rose had brought me out to Galar after meeting me in Johto a few times. Wanted me to join him for something but I turned him down."

"!" That last line hit Sevan as if he were brought back to a moment from his own past. The visage of a businessman dressed in a grey suit looking like the kindest man on the surface but having an odor of someone shady. It never sat right how Rose seemed to conduct himself, much less the few times he saw Rose around Oleana, so seeing that another person also had a hunch on the man was refreshing.

Allister raised a finger to try and interject. "W-Well either w-wway let's get back to the topic at hand: the new Pokemon that are here..."

Haru looked over to his cap wearing buddy and agreed with the Ghost Gym Leader. "Allister's right. What're you carrying, man?"

Peering for a moment down into his backpack, Sam noted audibly. "About 2 Great Balls, 7 Ultra Balls, 10 Dusk Balls, some potions, herbs, a boxed lunch from Oleana, my Johto Badges, my-" Sam replied with his hat shielding some of the daylight sun form his eyes.

Haru cut him off just so they would be able to start journeying soon. "Just the Pokemon trainer gear, Sam."

Zipping up his own bag and standing up to stretch, Sam shook his head. "Oh. Well there you go: the balls and aforementioned herbs and potions."

Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Haru looks up from his bag that appeared less prepared. "Shit. I'm okay for capturing but not so much battle today. I'm only carrying maybe 20 Ultra Balls, 12 Dusk Balls, a pair of Heavy Balls, 31 Premiere Balls, 3 Hyper Potions, 3 Full Restores, and 1 Max Revive. Unless this Isle has a Pokemon Center or somewhere else they can rest up for combat, I'll have to play it carefully here."

"Hey I don't mind sharing some of my potions. I also have some snacks that can help with it, too." Sam offered.

The group of guys all looked at Haru quietly. Allister tilted his head. "W-why do you have so many uhm...Premiere Balls?"

Almost like his hand was caught in a cookie jar, Haru only grunted before replying. "Look, they give them away for free if you buy a lot from Pokemon Centers and shops. I feel bad if I just sell the balls back to them..."

There was a gleam in Sevan's eyes when Haru was disclosing what was in his bag as he walked over. "So that's all the equipment you brought with you, hmm?"

It didn't bother him to talk about his own gear, so Haru saw no reason to deny it. "Well, not everything. I have Goji and a Gengar on my belt in case we come across something strong to take on an-HEY!" The Gym Leader was interrupted as Sevan leaned down into his bag and pulled out a long silver can that was still cold. He held it up as Hop, Allister, and Sam gasped.

There was no words said. Sevan reeled back his strong arm and threw the can as hard as he could. The can flew through the air more than 30 yards from where they stood on the beach as Haru just stared in defeat. None of them can hear it, but within his soul Haru hears the 'plop' as the can sinks into the ocean. "WHAT THE HECK IS YOUR PROBLEM SEVAN?! IT WAS ONLY ONE CAN!"

Today did not seem to be the day to be messed with, as the purple-and-white sweater wearing trainer walked up to Haru looking irritated. "One can is too many. You told me awhile back you were going to cut that shit out of your diet. Would you rather me find out and cut you off here and now, or NESSA find out that you lied and snuck that here?"

Dealing with Sevan or any of his other friends being irritated, mad, pissed off, or anything else did not frighten or move Haru in the slightest. Pissing off or making Nessa disappointed, however, would make him buckle in an instant. A cold sweat came over his face as Haru sank a little while standing and calmed down. "I...i...uh.."

Hop whistled as he, Sam, and Allister were all standing beside each other while Allister whispered. "I-I've never se-seen Haru that rattled before. H-have you guys?" Both Hop and Sam shook their heads.

"The fear of another man isn't something that Haru would feel, but Nessa? That's most likely another story. Heard she out-wrestled him for a sandwich once..." Sam noted.

Haru's face turned behind himself to look at Sam. "OH SCREW OFF! Why even bring that up here?!"

Sevan brought Haru's attention back to the matter by poking his chest lightly and placing a hand on one of his shoulders. "Look. You are NOT going to touch another shiny, silver can anymore. You just recovered from having a fever and we're NOT going to be playing with your health like that anymore so callously, got it? This is for YOUR benefit."

Shinrin only had a single confidant nod with her own hard stare to look at Haru: standing by her master. A few fake tears budded at Haru's eyes' corners while he bit his lip as if to play to Sevan's favor. "You couldn't at least have let me had a single sip before you did that?"

"Oh SPARE ME your Fake Tears." he turned from Haru, grunting in disapproval.

Huffing before thumbing his own nose, the whole situation would roll off Haru's metaphorical shoulders. "Shit. Not effective at all, huh. Well at least I have a bottle of water with me..."

- - - Forest of Focus - - -

- - - 12:35 P.M. - - -

The guys were all grouped up together combing through portions of the island together and exploring it slowly. Several new types of Pokemon that were previously not known to be native to Galar were roaming freely here, as Haru was now happily logging new entries into his Pokedex. Him and the friends all stood by as Haru tossed an Ultra Ball onto an Azurill's forehead. The ball wiggles once it hits the ground. Three shakes. It snaps, making Haru elicit into leaping up and pumping an arm with victory. "HECK YES! That's a new one for the dex boys!"

Walking over to pick the ball up, Haru looked at the dex with him and Hop viewing the tablet recording the information. "Hmm I see...'Although Azurill are normally docile, an angry one will swing around the big ball on its tail and try to smash its opponents'. Interesting. I'll take a look at you in depth later, little guy and see how viable you are: maybe Hestia can tell me all about you that I need to know."

"Hestia? Who's that?" Hop asked, as Haru put the ball into his backpack.

"Huh? Oh right, I suppose I haven't introduced you to her, huh. She's someone I met at one of the Battle Cafes here in Galar. She was a good sport to talk to after the match, and we exchanged numbers afterwards. She specializes in breeding Pokemon, and when I have some confusion on typing or battling I go to her for advice since she's pretty well versed on that as well." He looked over to the other guys with a half shrug. "Her and Nessa, anyway."

Sam gave a thumbs up to Haru on his new capture while turning to Sevan, who had stuck back a few meters. "Sevan you wanna try catching any of the new Pokemon around here?"

Nearby, Shinrin was bathing in a sunbeam that poked through the forest. Looking up from his grass-based friend, Sevan was quick to reply on the prompt of collecting new Pokemon. "Ehhh, I think I'll pass on it for now. There's nothing here that's catching my eye. You guys go ahead, I'm just doing what Shin is: enjoying the scenery. However I do kind of wish it was cooler out here."

Hop, Sam and Haru looked at him with confusion while Hop looked at his phone then held it up. "...but it's 25 degrees."

Sevan chuckled and looked to them confidently with an impassive shrug as both hands were in his pockets. "I reinstate my wish that it could be cooler here. For me."

Allister ducked and knelt down slightly dodging something that was flying above him, to which Sevan took a step towards as if to shield him. Looking at the same direction the boy tried to kneel away from, he spotted an Emolga. "'skay Allister, man. Looks like it's just one of those Emolga we saw earlier. You're safe here among us."

The boy peeked out from behind the much taller trainer, trying to locate where the small Pokemon had latched onto on the trees around them. "OH! So that's its name huh? Sam you want it?" Haru glanced to it with both of his eyes sparkling with excitement and reaching down to grab the ball that had Goji on it.

Looking over to where Sevan was standing near Allister and caught sight of the small Electric/Flying Pokemon. His face winced. "Meh. Emolgas aren't really something I'm looking for while I'm here, you go ahead, man. Are you going for the complete Pokedex after all?"

Examining his own belt for the Pokemon he could use in battle, Haru snapped it off of it and held it in his right hand. "Yep."

Hop looked at him with a side eyed glanced as if Haru were a changed person. "Huh, that's interesting: awhile back you didn't care much to even bother. What changed?"

Taking a few steps confidently towards it, Haru grinned in an almost villainous-like way. "A lot of things happened, but one thing that's certain is that I want to pursue the goal now, and I got Nessa's encouragement when I told her about it. Knowing she has my back is enough to bring the fire in my heart for such an undertaking! As for this Emolga? Well I'm thinking my Goji is at a slight disadvantage here since it's a Fire type." Haru raised a finger with his mirrored hand. "HOWEVER! I'd also like to think he's more than strong and quick enough to subdue it into capture." Tossing the ball into his hand and readying a throw with his right arm.

"HALT!"

A new voice came from the sides making Haru nearly drop the ball out of his hand and catching everyone off guard. The loud voice even caused Shin to spring up off the grass onto all four of her legs and follow the sound's source. The shout caused the Emolga to glide away, as Haru spots it leaving when turning to where it was at and sweats. Sevan put up a hand as if to shield his eyes when the newcomer stepped out from the bushes, who pointed at Haru. "You."

"Me?" Haru points to himself, confused.

"Good Gods, I'm freaking blind..." Sevan grumbled to himself, with Allister halfway hiding behind him. Standing before the group was an effeminate man with a bright magenta colored uniform brandishing colors of cyan, yellow, orange, purple and magenta swirls on the shirt and sleeves. His collar with a dark grey cravat, tall black top hat and long blonde hair, gloves and thin rimmed glasses, he stood pointing to Haru as several PokeBalls floated around his hat.

"Yes, you there. You're the traveler I'm supposed to guide, am I right? Exactly when we agreed to meet, too. Quite the commendable punctuality. Hm? I've got the strangest feeling we've met before... But I can't recall. Here I thought Amnesia was Slowpoke's move. My name is Avery. I'm a senior member of the dojo you are to join."

Everyone stood quiet as Haru looked to Hop, who just shrugged. "Beats me man, he's talking to you."

Haru coughed as if to clear his throat and looked back at Avery with a pensive stare. "I don't don't know who you THINK I am but this punctual visitor you were expecting isn't me. I came here from the Galar mainland with some friends of mine, and we're just catching some Pokemon together. ONE OF WHICH!" He threw a pointed finger to the brazingly dressed man. "You scared off, prick! Don't you know how skittish wild Pokemon can be?"

It seemed like some of the words Haru spoke went over Avery's head, who turned to the side with a thumb to his lips. "My goodness, this is a thick one. Like a poor, lost Wooloo... It's up to me- as an elegant adult- to make sure they get the message."

Haru's face got flustered, turning a little red. /Does he seriously not know I was the Champion of this whole region?/ "I CAN HEAR YOU, YOU KNOW! Also, how old do you think I am anyway?! Just cuz I'm short doesn't mean I'm a kid!"

Sevan chipped in. "I don't know Haru, you look young to me. You sure you're not a kid?" almost in a too smug of a manner, but only teasing his friend.

Flaring his nose then huffing, Haru looked back to Avery. "So first of all, I'm in my 20s, and SECONDLY, I'll take it as a compliment. Meanwhile, you, with the loudly dressed outfit: what business do you have telling someone you just met that they're slow, huh? Are you that willing to make enemies out here?"

Hop held up a hand with an attempt to mediate the situation while stepping in between the gentlemen. "Whoa whoa okay now. Let's just calm down you two okay? I'm sure we can reach a reasonable conclusion here."

Wrinkling his nose and looking at the several men and one kid amongst them, Avery gave that intense air of a superiority complex. "You're correct there is a way we can reach a conclusion. The only way two people could in these times: a Pokemon Battle."

The air grew quiet between the two with Haru and Avery only staring at each other. Haru had yet to let go of the ball that held Goji within it; it originally being the plan to subdue another Pokemon for capture. The day had only been a few hours into their Isle of Armor adventure and Haru may have created a new rival. "So, let me guess then, Avery was it? Psychic must be your type that you use then, hmm?"

"Right you are, my dear boy. Avery, the man who would come to have his own Psychic Gym in Galar: that's my goal for the future!" He bowed as if performing on a stage for an audience. This only made Haru chuckle. The undertone of which made Sam sweat a little, seeing a competitive spark come into Haru's eyes while he stepped forward.

"Sorry friend, but this isn't going to be a contest for me. I'll only give you one warning." Grinning from ear to ear. It was a face that made Allister shiver if only due to never having seen Haru look this way even in the matches the two faced together. "You get one, and only one chance at me to make an impression."

"Why would I care about making an impression on you, exactly? Just who ARE you?" Avery looked confused and all too unimpressed with the aura Haru gave off.

"Well, you want to have your own Gym right? Perhaps I could help with that eh? You seem capable, but I don't know if you're..." Haru walked up to Avery and tapped on his chest lightly with the back of his fist: knocking on it lightly like it were a door. "..Gym Leader material."

"You little upstart...!" The adult shouted.

Haru walked away and hissed in a mocking tone before turning to face him. "Oooh, that sting huh? Consider that the tone we'll go with then, Avery, but don't feel too bad when you're downed: I'll go easy on you."

Both trainers then threw Pokeballs letting their Pokemon out and the battle begun immediately in the forest.

- 2 minutes later -

Goji had leaped into the air and fist bumped Haru. Avery withdrew his second PokeBall, defeated, and slumped forward as Haru just snickered. "Are you serious, man? Tell me that wasn't your best. C'mon. You HAD to be holding back just a little bit, right?"

All the while Haru was goading Avery, Allister looked up to Sevan, who looked back. "Is he like this when he fights the battles?". The little boy shook his head. "Nn-nn. Well, maybe a little with Syra..."

After being the one who challenged Haru in the first place, Avery knelt on the ground as if being dealt the most heinous act of shame via losing a Pokemon battle. He was muttering to himself as if having no inner monologue. "Improbable... No impossible! What kind of trick did this kid use? If a trainer of this talent arrives at the Dojo, then the people there very well may suffer Amnesia about my very existence! If only I could get rid of him... But I've been tasked with escorting her to the dojo..."

The Cinderace walked over and leaned down as if curious about the trainer whose Pokemon he fought while Haru folded both of his arms; unimpressed. "Hey buddy. I can still hear you."

Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Avery stood up and balled a hand into a fist. "You have potential. Why, you made me use a whole three percent of my strength!"

"Uh huh. Cope with your loss with more dignity, please." Haru said flatly.

Sam leaned towards Hop as if whispering. The two were sitting on a log watching the battle unfold with Hop recording it with his phone, as Shinrin decided to join them too. "Who the heck actually says that stuff out loud? It's weird, right?" Sam asked while Hop shrugged.

Haru looked up as Avery walked forward, handing Haru a League Card. "...uh...thanks I guess?" flipping it over to the back to look at his information while Avery continued to exposit.

Biting his thumb, Avery looked over Haru as if judging his outfit. The green and silver stripes, red hair and glasses seemed to be either too plain or something that was setting off his judgmental personality. "Still... How should I put this...our dojo is a respected place, where even the famous Champion Leon trained. What I'm trying to say is, I don't think you're quite up to snuff..."

Everybody went quiet, with Sevan coughing to break up the silence. "What? What is it that has you all caught with the tongue by a Meowth? Is it something I said?"

At this point Haru's tolerance of Avery's act, whether it was genuine or a facade, and looked at him as flatly as possible. "I beat Leon."

Avery took a step back like he had been dealt the biggest shock of his life: dealt with damage and losing real health points. "I...IMPOSSIBLE! You are to say that you-"

"Yes. I am..or...WAS...Galar's Champion. I took the Champion title from Leon, and recently due to some circumstances I don't feel privy to explain: he's back to being Champion-in-title-only." Both of Haru's eyes squinted back to Avery, with Hop pointing at Haru with his thumb. "He's telling the truth. I was there, and I'm Leon's younger brother."

Again, Avery took a step back as if dealt more damage, then slumped forward. "Curses. Well I won't take this laying down. I await to have another match with you in the future." Before anyone could say anything, Avery walked off until the whole group saw him disappear out of sight.

It was then that Haru broke the silence."...okay who the FUCK was that guy?"

"My eyes hurt and I'm pretty sure I have a headache from that man's outfit alone..." Sevan grumbled while pinching his thumbs to his forehead as both eyes squinted shut. Hop looked to them and Sam, who tapped on Haru's shoulder.

"Hey, language, man." gesturing to Allister, who looked back. He panicked."O-oh...! Don't mind me. I-I'm not mad o...or anything!"

Haru rolled his eyes and withdrew Goji into his PokeBall before starting to walk, hoping to catch another Emolga. "Right, sorry. 'Who the FRICK was that guy' is what I meant to say. The pompous jerk didn't even hand over much prize money, but then again: beggars can't be choosers."

- - - - - Soothing Wetlands - - - - -

- - - - - 3:30 PM - - - - -

"Hop is there anything else that you can bring up that we haven't found out yet about the island?" Haru asked sitting on a log and trading with Sam a few Pokemon that the two had caught. Sam had half of a piece of Tauros jerky in his mouth, handing one piece to Haru as they both log their new dex entries.

"If there's more to be found it will probably be at the labrator-" Hop was interrupted as Haru shot up from his log and pointed to a tall walking pink blob that had an egg seemingly embedded into its stomach. Having recognized it from his own at-home rapping of the Kanto Pokedex, Haru ignored where Hop was taking the conversation next and proceeded to attempt capture of the wild Chansey. Leaning against a nearby tree, Shinrin seemed to be having a conversation with Sevan, who had his arms folded over each other.

"Look, it was just a kiss, it's nothing I should get worked up over, okay? I just.." He started to speak to the Leafeon, only for her to seemingly pout up at him. "HEY. I gotta focus on what's making ME work out well as I'm here." She didn't seem to accept his answer and turned away from him. The peripheral of his vision caught that Allister was quietly near his side. The man looked over to the child, who looked back up through the mask.

"One can guess that this trip is a lot for you for one day, right?" He asked Allister, whom only nodded slowly.

"I...I don't go out much. Th...this is something M-Milo wanted to do but with everybody else going, I didn't...uhm.." The boy prodded the pointer fingers on both hands together nervously and looked at the grass. An attempt of an explanation for his perspective was leaving him, and Sevan tried to levy his anxiety.

Sevan lowered his tone to one trying to appear less guarded. "You didn't want to let them down, and have them think less of you, huh?"

Allister looked up to him and nodded nigh immediately. "H-Haru has such a fiery personality that it's...it's hard to match, but ever since meeting him I feel like maybe I..I can be better. I trust his judgment on things, and i-it was nice to be included." The boy stepped back a little nervously when Sevan moved from leaning against the tree to sitting on the grass with both legs crossed.

"Trust me, I understand that sense of not wanting to fail others more than anyone. There's expectations of you and you can not care what others think, but you also don't want to be seen as weak by other people too, right?" One hand goes to prop up his chin before looking back to Haru, Hop, and Sam. Haru was yelling now that the Chansey broke out of his ball before getting a chance to use another one as Sam was trying to calm him down. The trio insisted they'd find more soon, and the conversation catching Shin's attention: herself watching those events play out.

Allister was heard taking a deep breath before joining Sevan on the grass. The boy could barely keep his masked face composed looking at Sevan, much less the group directly, but he was trying hard to get past that for the day. "H-hey Sevan? Uhm...I u-uh..heard a good way to know people and make friends...is to ask them on things they like..so wh-what do you like?"

Reaching into his bag and pulling out a pair of Pecha Berries, Sevan handed one to Allister. The boy quietly looked at him and then hand, before nervously and slowly taking it. "Swampert is my favorite starter. Do you know that one?"

"The Water/Ground Ho-Hoenn starter! I...I like Mimikyu!" The boy excitedly answered. Hearing such elation caught Sevan off guard, who took a bite of said berry and grinned. He let Allister continue before responding. "I-it's like me, sorta. We...we both hide our true selves, but when we put our minds to it, we're v-very strong!"

"I hear Mimikyu has a crazy ability called Decoy: first hit doesn't do anything to damage it, meaning you, the Gym Leader, could get an upperhand if a trainer isn't prepared enough right?" This was something Sevan knew, but seeing the boy become gradually more talkative was a positive he wanted to encourage.

Laying the Pecha Berry onto his lap, Allister pumped one arm weakly towards himself in an effort to psyche himself up. "Y-yes! E..er..I remember i...it caused Haru some trouble too! Even though he ended up defeating me, I feel proud knowing I s-s..still got it, because he told me after the match what a great trainer I was!"

"It's okay if you don't want the Pecha Berry, Allister, I won't take offense to it." Sevan said lightly, trying to ease the tension between them further. The boy looked up at him, noticing he had yet to take a bite with those around him watching. If he attempted to eat, it may show a bit of his face to them, and Allister wasn't even comfortable enough to do that to the other Gym Leaders, much less the group he was in. "Just take your time okay? You're doing great out here."

It was uncertain whether a face could be 'felt' to be smiling, frowning, or anything else under a basic but effective mask such as Allister's. However hearing those words, the boy looked back and was heard sighing contently as if a large weight was beginning to lift off of him. "T-thank you for your understanding. I...I will try my best to be more s-sociable!"

"Hey you two, how're you holding up?" Haru said, coming over to where Sevan and Allister were while tossing a Timer Ball into his backpack: a newly caught Chansey inside it.

"Just talking with Allister here and getting to know him a little. We're vibing, aren't we, Allister?" Sevan looked to Allister with a cheeky grin.

The boy looked at both of them, gasping, but then pumped both of his arms. "Y-yes! 'Vibing'..a...as he says!"

"That's awesome, Allister. Hop informed me that he thinks some Zorua may be nearby. It's not a Ghost Pokemon, but maybe it could be something you can use for a future Gym battle? I could help you capture it. Also, after this we're going to break and maybe you can run me down some ideas for my Gengar."

A light seemed to turn on above Allister's head when Haru was speaking about Pokemon he was specialized, or very familiar in and nodded. Standing up and dusting himself off from the grass, he put the berry that Sevan handed him into the small bag that was brought with him and looked to Haru. "Y-yes! Let's go then..!"

Everyone decided to move along to the nearby Courageous Cavern and hope that they could spot something else new along. As Sevan saw the team head for yet another goal of Pokemon collecting his mind wandered back to the topic at hand with the Ghost Gym Leader and got lost in thought. /Huh...I'm actually starting to have fun around here../

- - - - - Challenge Beach - - - - -

- - - - - 7 PM - - - - -

The conclusion to the day's events would end with a hefty bag of newly caught Pokemon for Haru and Sam while their mutual friends now sat around one of two campfires that were burning bright. Having missed a few of the activities that the Gym Leaders were doing, the motley crue came back to witness Raihan bringing out 'the goods'. Him and Gordie brought supplies for s'mores, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, some tea bags for the cups and fire they had, water bottles, bread, hotdogs, and their camaraderie.

Haru had finished a hotdog while carrying one of the beverages that Gordie suggested he try out, wincing initially at the high percentage of alcoholic content but downing it well after the first sip. Sam smirked while chewing on a hotdog and readjusted his cap. "Dang Haru I had no idea you were the comedic or funny type when you drink." Allister had sat on the log near Hop with a bottle of flavored water while the two passed filled plates to the other. "Does...alcohol do stuff to you when you down it?"

"Uh huh, don't ever become like that, Allister. You'll become stupid like he's being right now." Sevan replied in a deadpan manner from across the campfire, as he was joining the group with a Pecha Berry in hand and newly acquired stick for s'mores creating. Shinrin joined his side and sat down on the ground as Sevan placed some food for her on a plate. The Leafeon then quietly and happily started munching away. Hearing his jab alone made Haru chuckle.

Pointing back with a lean to his side, Haru replied with a smirk and reddened cheeks. "Yeah yeah, Sev. It's whatever man. But he's right, Allister. IF you ever do when you're older, make sure it's only around friends and family."

Allister just blinked and seemed a little confused. "Ah...uhm...I get it. Kinda. Uhm..what about you, then?" He looked up to the tall blonde streaked trainer whom appeared to be friendly to him throughout the trip. Before retreating to his seat, Sevan merely gave the boy Gym Leader a pat on the head.

"I can choose to join Haru in drinking, but I won't. I like having as much control over myself as possible." flashing a simple thumbs up before going to sit down: taking a bite of the pink berry in hand. Shinrin looked up at her master and gave a nod of approval. She was happy he chose not to drink. Hop sighed but admitted that the whole day had gone by as quickly as it did due to the chemistry they all shared.

"You know, even though several of us are new to each other I'd call this a success right? We found some new Pokemon, met a new weird guy that may be a rival to Haru..." The statement sat only moderately well with Haru as a hand rose up and his palm flattened towards the ground. He gestured by shaking the palm from side to side.

"Eh, I guess so. Avery may become a problem for me when I decide to come back here and proceed to train at this dojo that he was talking about. You didn't find anything else about it did you, Hop?" Through the buzz, Haru was able to at least form this much of a proper question.

Bringing up the topic of the dojo brought Hop's attention back to the message he was sent earlier on his phone and sighed. "Well, I managed to get a little bit from Sonia as she replied to my messages earlier. This place holds a dojo ran by a Honey and Master Mustard: a former Galar Champion who also trained Leon." Straight to the point and concise, it left Hop feeling a little hollow.

Sam finished chewing his s'more down and looked to his fellow buzzed buddy. "Hmm, that's it? Guess that means your next journey will also have to involve some training here, man."

Looking into the fire, the imagery of his newly realized goals came forth to Haru's mind. To stay away from any major 'hero' business, become a Gym Leader, and study hard enough to lead a new Pokemon sanctuary in Galar. Taking time out of his daily life would already be a micro management in of itself once the careers would take off. /Can I pull it off if I do this? I'd probably need to be paired with someone else just as focused on this then to have my back./

He took another long swig of his drink, with Gordie noticing from his side that Haru's head was tilted back and shouting 'Chug! Chug! Chug!'. Haru let out a hiss, crushed the can in his hand. "IF I decide to do this, I don't suppose you'll want to join me then? Because the ticket for this location isn't just for here, it's for the southern region of Galar that nearly trails off the map: the Crown Tundra."

Scanning his group of friends, they were all quiet. Normally he would have said nothing, but the high of his drinks had caused him to laugh a little from how comical it appeared. "Right. You gentlemen have all your goals just like I have mine. In any case, I think I have someone in mind who could help me: make sure I do the training right if they can also do it. Consider it a mutually beneficial opportunity."

Hop sighed and lowered his chin to look at the fire. "Right. I'm still Sonia's understudy so I can't exactly go out and pretend I can just go on another journey like the ol' times Haru. Sorry, mate."

Sam shrugged and rubbed the back of his neck. "I...retired. Once I came here, I put aside the Pokemon League as a whole in terms of being serious about it. If I ever do come back, it won't be as a career, and it won't be in pursuit of your old title. Plus.."

Before he could finish Haru just waved a hand and stuck his tongue out. "Right right, Oleana. I get it." Everybody looked at Sevan who was halfway chewing on his snack. He stared back hard at everyone before swallowing the piece and spoke. Shin seemed to protest on Sevan's behalf first but he held out a hand, looking down to his four legged friend.

"It's okay Shin, I'll tell 'em." His eyes met up with the group. "I'm not doin' it. I'll help you do stuff like paint your house or give you a reason to stay on good terms with your lady friend, but don't expect me to tag along for this. I've still yet to figure out if I'll bother with the league, much less a Gym Challenge at that." His mind flashed back to earlier events and winced.

Grinning like a Meowth who found a pile of PokeDollars, Haru took another swig of a second can of the same drink. "You're just mad we didn't find any Sudowoodo here in the Isle of Armor."

Of all the things to see on the Isle, much less in the time that he knew Sevan, only this tiny mention and topic change would cause Sevan to suddenly break out with a throbbing vein in his forehead. Gritting his teeth, he shouted. "I AM NOT MAD we found no Sudowoodo I'm FREAKING GLAD we never did!"

Haru nearly fell off the log laughing while pointing as Sam and Hop looked over to Sevan in confusion. "Your freaking face hahahahaahh!"

Of all of them, Sam looked the most confused as his eyes squinted towards the Hoenn trainer parallel to himself. "Wait, why do you hate Sudowoodo? It's not a great Pokemon but it's not awful..."

Immediately readjusting his own stature so he could sit up straight and hear this oncoming rant, Haru pointed with a finger as the rest held onto the can. His voice was a little more slurred as the cheeks got redder. "YEAH~ Sevan: what IS your deal with hating Sudowoodo? I don't get it. Sure you don't want a drink by the way?"

Grumbling to himself that he was having a perfectly okay time until this moment, Sevan yanked out his Pokedex he carried with him from Hoenn and showed the entry for Sudowoodo. "Okay I get the joke, I really do. Some professor, maybe Hoenn's, maybe not, decided to call a rock tree 'Fake Wood'. But fuck! Finding that out when you're 10 and dont know what the word 'pseudo' means." He was the most animated as he ever was since the start of the trip, now flailing both hands around like a crazed scientist trying to piece together a conspiracy on a whiteboard. Hop and Allister couldn't stop from either visibly smiling or chuckling a little at his tone change.

"You see a tree, you think 'Grass type'. Not 'Rock'. Do you have any idea how fucking livid i was learning it was a Rock type tree? That the Professor that named it set it up for young kids to fail when they use a Fire type to fight it?"

The group went quiet. Sam bit his lip trying not to laugh where Milo and Piers were heard chuckling at the outburst since their conversations stopped when hearing Sevan's volume rise to the level it currently got to be. Tilting the can once again, Haru had a smug look on his mug. "...so it's personal, then?"

Sevan leaned forward as if he were twitching from pure, unbridled irritation and rage about such a Pokemon and looked at Haru. His eyes widened like dinner plates. " 'Personal' does not even BEGIN to describe it!"

Chiming in from the other group, Milo looked over to Sevan and couldn't help but laugh. He himself also was partaking in the adult beverages, so his own mannerisms had dwindled to a more relaxed state. "You doing okay over there new guy?"

Without missing a beat, more venom came from Sevan's lips on the matter. "I'd punch it if I saw one, but that's also cruel to do. So I just seethe at it." He sighed and exhaled slowly before sitting back down. Closing his eyes and doing his best to obtain a state of zen, Sevan just muttered. "I'm okay. I'll be okay."

Clapping his hands once, Sam looked over to his side of the group as a whole. "Well then: do NOT mention 'that' Pokemon around him ever again then. Got it. Let's switch gears then. Hop, how've things been with you and Marnie?"

"Huh? What about Marnie and I?" He asked plainly. Hearing the way Hop addressed her so casually caused Haru to start choking on his drink, turning to the side and sputtering a little. Sam and Sevan looked at him, but Sevan had more curiosity. They heard Haru mutter to himself 'Are you actually serious' in mid-choke.

"She's the current Dark Gym Leader if I recall right." Sevan quipped. From the other side of the campfires, Piers was squinting his eyes in Hop's direction and turned to face Haru's group.

Wiping the spittle from his chin, Haru looked over across to his best friend. "Hop, you're joking, right?"

A bead of sweat came from Hop's forehead as he looked back at everyone. His hands go up in surrender. "I...I don't like confrontations! What's the big deal and why bri-bring her up now?"

"Hop, you told us earlier that you're wearing her jacket. That's what you have around your waist right now. Have you taken her anywhere nice at least?" Sevan asked, as Haru squinted. Sipping his can slowly, he was wondering the exact same. The silence was strong, loud yet quiet. Allister cleared his throat and got up: he may not have understood relations amongst older people but he could read the situation.

"P-pardon me everyone. I-I'm going to use the loo..."

The prodigy Ghost Gym Leader walked away as Haru took another slow sip, but was completely unprepared for what came out of Hop's mouth next. "Okay look mate, worry about your own dates okay? I saw you with Syra the other day."

Once again Haru projected spittle to the side in pure shock. The blush from his alcohol he was downing now mixed with the adrenaline of disbelief. "I'm fucking sorry WHAT did he just say?!"

/God I'm so tired right now, and this isn't helping me.../ Sevan thought to himself with a groan. Leaning forward, he pressed his forefinger and thumb from his right hand to his forehead. "We are not dating Hop. I paid for a meal when she couldn't find her wallet and that's it. There's nothing more to it, just hanging out. Like a babe like her could bring herself to date a Garbodor fire like me."

The alcohol content currently within his own bloodstream meant that even as this news was a double whammy of shocking, he was not prepared to deal with this situation now. Haru scratches his chin and then gestures his confusion. /What in Arceus' green Earth am I hearing tonight?/ " Sorry...'babe'?"

"What? I don't wanna hear it from Mr 'I'm dating a super model'. Syra doesn't check ALL my boxes but she's got great abs, looks hot and...well yes she's attractive. So what?" Sevan fired back. The other group seemed to have become more invested in what this group was discussing, and this comment elicited Raihan to raise his own bottle and say "Hell yeah buddy" as if toasting to that comment.

Hop tried to poke a hole and distract further from the topic of him and Marnie. "How does someone lose their wallet? She doesn't strike me as the type to be so careless."

"I don't know Hop, but I had the ability to share some good karma so I did." Sevan replied, to which Haru waved both hands around to interrupt them both.

"Okay shut up though: you're hanging out with Syra?" he did not appear fully convinced.

Shin hopped up onto the log Sevan was sitting at and eyed him while her tail flattened parallel to the Earth. "For the last time, yes. We've done a few raids, had some snacks. Shin doesn't like her very much." Shin bit his side, with Sevan reeling himself a bit away.

The gentlemen all went quiet and Sam let out a laugh that broke the intense air of awkwardness. "Boy, and to think my revelation earlier was a shock huh? I no longer feel as bad anymore."

"Meh. You'll get yours, man." Haru grumbled and got up, putting down a third can before opening it.

Sevan looked over to his drunken friend and decided to go for the jugular on a recent event. "You were talking to me a short bit ago about some issues you had while with her, so have you two ironed things out?"

"Huh..?" There was some initial confusion, until the memory came to him. Quietly from across the other campfire, Milo decided to perk his ears up and listen further: ignoring what his other Gym Leaders were discussing.

/"But you'd be happier, no doubt, if I was better as a trainer right? Otherwise I'm just a stupid girl who likes Water Pokemon."/

Staring into the can, Haru recalled the pain and agony that finally broke Nessa. Sam, Sevan, and Hop went quiet as all the 'comedy' evaporated from Haru: the excitement gone. Having went morose and recollecting her self-imposed challenges in the dailies of her life, both eyes closed. Despite her accomplished dual careers, she had been hiding what truly bothered her daily. The classism she fought, the constant comparisons, the dumbing down of her image in sects within the league and outside of it, her familial upbringings. That fateful night, it came crashing down after the encounter with Milo. The consideration came that this wasn't just her run in with the Grass Gym Leader but also her life up to it: the man was simply just the hole that sank the ship.

Haru sighed softly and looked up to Sevan with no air of drunkenness or 'buzzed' behavior. "Right. Now I know what you meant. I recall now. In regards to that, Nessa is doing much better now. The uh..." He tried to not have Milo catch that he looked over towards their direction, and shrugged. "The things she's been dealing with over the past bit of her own life came to an apex one evening where the 'weight of the world' as it were pushed her down. I don't want to say that it was an argument that we had but..."

He took a sip of his drink, and Sam leaned forward. "...but?" Sevan eyed him studiously while Haru sat up straight and let out a small burp that had a tinge of Nanab berries.

"Nessa deals with a lot more than I could ever imagine. I remember when we went on our first date how I got a little peak into her mind and what she thinks. Life birthed us from completely different upbringings and even though I manage to pull through and work my way to the position I'm in, I'm no better at fully comprehending her struggle. When I did my best to console her, it didn't work out...initially. It took some time, but she came back a stronger person for it." As much of a sound mind as he could muster, Haru looked to his companions as his brown eyes scanned Sam and Sevan.

"I apologize for bringing the conversation down, my guys." It seemed that despite being a few cans in, his perception was crystal clear when discussing the love of his life. Sevan, Hop and Sam waved their arms, understanding him completely where he came from.

"Hey, it's okay. It's refreshing to hear she's doing okay and you two are on much better terms. It's my coffee, sure, but.." Sevan grabbed the thermos from earlier and raised it. "Cheers to that, man."

Haru, Sevan, Hop, and Sam toasted to the moment as Milo studied what he heard and took on another hard swig. His fellow Gym Leaders looked onto him as Piers winced. "Hey big guy, you doin' good? That's your fifth can."

The friendly Grass Gym Leader tilted his strawhat and took it off, setting it to the side as Kabu looked on from across the blazing fire. "It's fine, I've worked hard enough and put on more muscle lately so I can handle it. It's one evening, you know? Not like things will suddenly turn out of nowhere."

- - - - - Challenge Beach, near the Tower of Waters - - - - -

- - - - - 8:52 PM - - - - -

"Haru, you're a little buzzed, man. You should just be sitting..." Hop tried to say, as he was wary of Haru walking, albeit slowly, with him on the sand. Sam had joined them and seemed to be hoping for a red Gyrados to appear, if only for old times' sake.

Having none of it, Haru leaned towards Hop and put a hand on his shoulder. "NO it's fine. I've had a few drinks, but I'm not incapable of walking. If I were driving it'd be another thing but I'm not as many drinks in as Milo or the others are...but enough of that for the moment. Look...Hop. My brother. My fellow legendary dog owner."

"...what? Where are you going with this, Haru?" he blinked, unsure of the conversation that was about to happen.

Haru leaned towards Hop this time and pressed a pointer finger to Hop's nose as the two men stared at each other. "You and Marnie. Seriously. Ask her out. She's into you. Otherwise if I find out you haven't when we meet again, I'm taking your phone and forcing you to call her and ask her out."

"Oh...okay..?" There was a quiet air about them, and Hop appeared to suddenly be distracted by someone coming in their direction. "Hey, Sevan, what's up?"

Haru couldn't turn around before he felt the back of his collar get pulled upwards and his whole body was dragged in reverse. "HEY I KNOW I'M SHORT YOU ASSHOLE PRICK BUT WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA YANKING ME AROU-"

Cutting him off and showing there was no joking matter to be had, Sevan spoke. "Hush for a second Haru and listen. Some unwarranted things are being said and I'm not standing for it." Haru managed to look down to the Leafeon near him, who looked up with her own worried expression.

It wasn't like Haru could move out of the grasp so he simply let his body go limp and allowed the much stronger friend drag him back to the camps. "I mean...we all had a little tonight, you know? It couldn't be that bad, right?"

Stopping in his tracks for a moment, Sevan looked back at the friend he was yanking along. "When it's questioning you and Nessa? Not letting it slide."

Hop and Sam see Haru get dragged off before looking at each other with a confused expression. "You think everything's okay?" asked Hop, having no idea what could be going on that would cause Haru's immediate attention like this.

Looking pensive and having not heard what the two were saying when Sevan dragged Haru off, his guess was as good as any. "I uh...I'm not sure. I've only met Sevan so I can't tell if something like this is considered normal."

- - - - - Challenge Beach, the camps - - - -

- - - - - Moments before, 8:43 pm - - - - -

The other group had long since dispersed to go explore the isle at their leisure once again before calling it a night and heading back to the Galar mainland. Allister had left since he was growing tired, waving goodbye to Sevan and happily saying he hopes to see him again soon. Haru, Hop and Sam went to go explore the area surrounding the towers they saw while Sevan went to take a leak. He would be on his way back to the camp to retrieve something out of his bag with Shin tailing near him when they both picked up some chatter that seemed agitated and loud.

Kabu leaned forward as he held a sparkling firework stick in his hand. The eyes of him and the other men were in disbelief, all of them looking at Milo who held a single, near empty seventh can in hand. "Sorry, did you wanna repeat that?" Piers asked.

"Well, tell me I'm wrong then. I'm open to any suggestion or evidence that I would be. Do you honestly want me to just be okay with what a fellow Gym Leader is becoming when you see the actions happen live? Are we all just simply okay with it?" His speech sounded slurred, but the conviction behind them were real. His usually friendly persona had withered away to someone more serious and vindictive.

Gordie looked like he was seconds away from throwing a fist in Milo's direction. "Are you actually speaking like this from the alcohol or is this genuine? I can't be bothered to believe you've actually been thinking like this after all this time. For Haru of all people!"

"And what of it? Since the pair-up, let's consider what's happened in that time. The imagery behind the Gym Leaders has become a little more or less like an extended act of...of some 'play'. As if we are merely its audience, except when I see the Nessa I see now, it's like she's become more and more unhinged."

Taking off his vest, Gordie was shirtless and eyed Milo from above the glasses that normally donned on his face. "What gawl do you have to say that?! She's one of our friends! Just because you've known her the longest doesn't make you some sort of authority figure: you're not her father or anything! What does this say about you as you're going on pretending to care but judging her quietly from the sidelines? Have you even once bothered to attempt to talk to her about any of this?"

"Like you think she'll listen? She still views me as a mountain to surpass. When it came to Haru's involvement with her, she's gotten a lot more outspoken, turning down many more interviews and creating an air that, well, I wonder if the naive nature around Haru's brash nature has influenced her. After hearing him talk as he did earlier, it makes me wonder what the heck he even did." Milo got cut off as Raihan leaned forward with both hands folding over each other.

"This isn't like you Milo, so I'll chalk it up to the juice. Just put it down now, and we can all forget this. I'm sure by tomorrow you'll think this was just 'not you' talking."

The buff man just shrugged off the comment from the fellow 'celebrity' Dragon trainer. "Hmf. You ask me honestly, I think if it were up to me she'd be paired up with someone that didn't have as much structural fractures."

- - - - - Challenge Beach, the camps - - - - -

- - - - - 8:52 PM - - - - -

Bringing Haru back to the area where the two camps were at, he had Haru hide behind a boulder. Letting go of his friend, Haru dusted himself and looked to Shin and then Sevan again. "Okay seriously wha-" he was shushed immediately.

"Listen. Look..Haru..you're not going to like what's being said but for now, you have to hear it with your own ears." Sevan whispered to him in a tone that was more serious than the entire outing had been. Both men and the Leafeon stayed quiet and then snuck further closer to the camp until voices were heard. It appeared to be a heated conversation.

Piers sighed loudly and tossed his s'mores stick into the fire as if he wanted nothing more to do with the outing. "Look, Milo, stop taking the piss. Don't you think you're going a little too far?" looking at his fellow Gym Leader, who sighed in response.

"All I'm saying is that nothing about it makes sense." Milo began to respond, but for the first time in the whole conversation, Bede rose up to defend Haru. It may have been a golden moment for all the others to see.

"Are you trying to intentionally be daft? Is this bringing you a chuckle, mate? Nothing about it has to make sense! That's how it works for everyone! Look at Sonia and Leon! Too pure of a couple. You want to talk about non-romantic things that don't make sense?" He grabbed his uniform and stretched it outward. "I'm the Fairy Gym Leader! I was bred for greatness by Ex-Chairman Rose himself, sworn to become the next Champion, yet thrown out of the Gym Challenge! By circumstance, Haru and I are going to basically be the same AFTER he became the Champion! THAT doesn't make sense, and I don't have to like it..." his finger pointed at Milo definitively. "...but you don't hear me bringing up his past about it."

Everyone in the group went quiet, with Gordie looking to Bede. "Well that was unusual for you, Bede. You sobering up?"

Shaking his head and sticking his chin up, Bede huffed. "Nah. I usually only reserve curt commentary for Haru. He knows it's only in jest, but if I'm saying it's too much isn't that enough to tell you to back off?"

The group blinked, with Raihan patting Bede on the back. "So you DO care for Haru after all, my man. That's good. You'll be a decent Gym Leader after all."

The prim and proper boy huffed once again. "I have some standards, you know.."

Milo was having none of this still and shook his head. "Okay but just think: with all the stuff she goes through she needs to sit back and see if the stage she's in is because of...circumstances."

Hearing this, Haru physically reels back a little and gasps quietly. /Circumstances?! The heck does THAT even mean?/

Appearing as if he had had enough audible foreplay, Piers ruffled one of his long black-and-white striped lockes of hair and retorted. "Look, it's not as if I act like I owe the man anything Milo, but you don't see me complaining that he 'ruined' the Dark Gym or the 'honor' of my career by fighting me with a team that was at a type disadvantage and winning. Methinks that you're just jealous it wasn't you she's with, and not him. This is fucked, and you know it."

Some loud knuckle popping was heard as Sevan stepped out onto the crowd. The entire group of Gym Leaders looked as he walked towards and was eyeing Milo like a predator had found prey. Bede started to sweat. For an unspoken reason he felt as if some new dread had begun to brew finally. "Please Milo, do elaborate so I can understand why you're talking about my friends that way."

"Hey uh, Milo perhaps we-" Kabu started to speak, being the senior, but was halted when Milo held up a hand to stop him and eyed Sevan with a frown.

He took his strawhat from the ground and put it back on slowly. "No no. The newcomer asked nicely, so I'll oblige." Eyeing the new trainer that had been staring him down, Milo rolled his shoulders. "If one were to say, consider her daily struggle, it don't make any sense to pair her up with something...less stable. Steel don't mix with water types, you know. Don't consider myself rightly a suspicious person, nor do I follow horoscopes, but I think they're complete opposites to the point of incompatible."

Sevan only stood there as more blood flowed to his fists as both clenched. "The fuck does Pokemon typing have anything to do with two people romantically involved with each other?"

"Let me finish and I'll get there, todger. Haru decided to talk to her once, maybe give some more attention and sweet talk than the average trainer. There's also...the height. The difference is almost kind of comical right? You know what they say about those who are short right? Awful spitfires: sure he keeps everything nice on the outside, but you don't figure he'd be one who's constantly going against her wishes be it his health or otherwise."

The words spoken before him were of the highest betrayal. Of all those he had met and gotten to know over the course of his career and post-Champion career, Haru never felt a sharper pain in his chest than hearing these words. How could the nicest person he was introduced on the Gym Challenge speak these words and think these thoughts? Why would they secretly feel this way, and for what purpose or goal did they set out to achieve? As these questions hit him within fractions of a second, did they too also leave. All that mattered was that Sevan was doing the right thing by letting him hear this himself, and that something had to be done. Stepping out from the boulder, Shinrin turned around as she saw Haru come out from the boulder. Tugging on Sevan's pantleg, he turned and saw Haru marching up to Milo in the group. Kneeling down to a nearby cooler that the group brought, he decided to grab a beer bottle and held it by the neck.

Kabu had spotted Haru, but Milo had decided to take another swig to finish his drink. "Hey look, Milo. that's enough. Haru's right-"

" 'Right' what? For HER?!"

There was red in Haru's eyes as a loud shattering of broken glass and alcohol broke up the conversation. As the liquid splattered on the boulder behind Milo, everybody saw the man who was the topic of Milo's angst come forth.

"Oh, hey-"

Within a second Haru has run up to Milo, tackling him off the log and is throwing punches. Raihan, Bede, Gordie, Piers, and Sevan all try to intervene before Haru gets in a few hits. Loud punches are heard as Haru's knuckles start bruising, crashing across Milo's face. "YOU SON OF A BITCH! YOU STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM NESSA DO YOU HEAR ME?!"

Gordie manages to be the sole person who pushes Milo back once the others pulled Haru off, who is trying to leap off the ground as if like a pissed off Electrode about to use 'Explosion'. Sevan looks to Haru and holds him back. "Hey hey..Haru...let me do this okay?"

"No Sevan...this is about making it right. This piece of shit talks trash about me and Nessa behind BOTH of our backs?! I'm putting him down myself." Haru pointed at Milo and shouted. "No Pokemon battles: singles or doubles. Just you and I in a ring, asshole!"

Rubbing his chin, Milo smirks at Haru as the two stand face to face. "You want to try that again, kid?"

It was as if the glasses were mere goggles projecting the light of fueled rage behind them. "Trust me, I've never felt more crystal clear in anything than I am right now."

Sam and Hop are seen running due to hearing the noises and manage to catch Sevan holding Haru back as the other Gym Leaders are near Haru's side: only mirrored by Gordie holding Milo back. "Hey what the heck is happening?!" Sam asks, shouting as Milo and Haru are in a standoff. Spotting that Haru was an '11' on the scale out of '10' for adrenaline, Hop winced after seeing the fresh cuts and bruises.

Turning to Sam, Sevan explained. "Milo decided to say some shit, and it didn't go well." He then circled his face back to Milo. "Be glad it was Haru that decided to throw fists here Milo. If it was me, nobody here would be able to stop me."

Breaking free from the tugging that Bede, Piers, Kabu, Raihan, and Sevan are doing, Haru huffs while trying very hard to calm down. Milo dusts himself before wiping a smear of blood from his nose and shrugs. "My reflexes are dulled anyway. Wouldn't be fair to you all."

Haru had not broken away for one second in glaring at Milo. The second those words left Milo's lips and entered Haru's ears was the second they became enemies. Gordie walked over, letting go of Milo and patted Haru a bit, looking at him from head to toe. "Hey man, did he get you bad?"

"Nah. It's just sand from the beach is all.."

Sevan just death staring at Milo; fighting the urge to bring his hands up. "Milo. Fucking apologize before I come over there. 'Senses dulled' or not, if you don't we have a fucking problem. I don't give a Pokemon's shit behind your reasoning, you crossed a line."

Gordie whispers to Haru "So dude, you fucking vouched for him but who is this guy?"

Haru smiles at Gordie and chuckled. If anything was going to begin to calm him down it'd be knowing that someone else has his back like this and could prove it. "He's a good friend of mine." A second at looking at Sevan's backside and it reminded him of someone from his youth. He gets flashes of a taller man who he used to grow up and play games with who was no longer around. Shaking his head, Haru corrected himself and looked at Gordie again. "Well, actually, he's a brother of mine."

Milo just looks down at Haru, who's still mid-huffing at him and has a disappointed look on himself. "I'm sorry...that you couldn't take it."

"The Galarian Olympic Tournament." Haru says plainly, the fire starting to rise up from within his chest.

"Huh?" Him, and Gordie AND Raihan all say at around the same time. Tilting his head up, Milo put a quizzical expression. "Go on."

"Nessa and I have grouped up together to be in the exhibition match for the big tournament that Miss Chairman Oleana is arranging. When that day comes, we're taking you down." Eyes narrow at him "In front of thousands, and possibly untold millions of people, Nessa is going to lead us both to victory. Over you."

Whether it was due to the high of the buzz or a new brewing rivalry, Milo found it funny. "OH, and what, because of you?" he laughed.

Haru confidently puffed his chest forward and grinned. "Nope, because of her. Let's just say that I see a lot more in her than you've been able to, which tonight proved."

As the lack of apology was clear, Sevan started to shift into a more aggressive stance. Shinrin backs off as she can tell there wasn't any stopping what may have come soon. Milo and Haru stared at each other quietly, with all the other Gym Leaders hoping the two would leave it at that and just depart for the evening. The punches were thrown again, but this time with words as Milo threw the first insult.

"Shortstack."

Haru frowned and kept his glare. "Sheep boy."

"Pavement pizza eating todger."

"Daft Miltank"

"Shite Quarter Alolan Chav."

"YOU PIECE OF SHIT!" Haru lunged forward but is then knocked back. The group sees Haru's glasses fly off his face as one of Milo's fists collides across it. It was the only one he'd be able to get in, as Haru's nose started to bleed and is unable to speak well. He's dizzied, as Milo looked to Sevan.

"HARU!" Hop runs to his side while Sam tries to keep him level. Milo looks to Sevan who's been quietly sizing him up the whole time.

"Oh what, does the blonde streaked Houndoom from his companion squad want some too?"

Pulling tight on his gloves, Sevan grinned. "'Blonde streaked Houndoom huh? That's a new one. Should I show how such a Houndoom uses 'Bite' then?" an overwhelming aura of danger emanating from him.

"Milo wait-!" Hop shouted back.

The larger man took the first swing, but was to no avail. Sevan may have just been a blur to his vision but retaliated with a right haymaker. The speed of Sevan with Milo's weight meant the second the fist collided to his jaw would knock him down. He hits the ground with a hard thud and through his loud grumbling, tries to get another swing into the new assailant. A lazy, unprotected swing towards Sevan. It's dodged, but resulted in the larger man grappling onto Sevan, only for him to kick out of it. Kabu and Gordie blink, seeing the fight happen with someone who appears to know how they're handling themselves, yet a few punches land on Sevan. The air grows quiet between them briefly before Sevan comments with a snicker. "Even with your size, your strikes lack impact. How disappointing."

An even angrier Milo, high off of his drunken stupor, rushes in to try and catch him off guard: throwing sand. A temporary upperhand causing Sevan to shield himself, but it backfires onto Milo as he's incapable of capitalizing on it. He countered with a left jab into a right stepping hook: knocking him down. This time the beast from the Grass Gym appears to be down while Sevan mounts.

"Sevan...hey...wait...!" Haru is heard muttering. The combatant from Hoenn turns behind himself while Milo is in a very dazed state. "H...help me. I need to get home..."

The group looks stunned. Hearing Haru turns Sevan's head slightly Looking to his side then back to Milo pulling his gloves off and in a very aggressive tone with a brow bump "Catch you, Milo. Do this again in case you want me to beat those skeletons out of you."

Whether or not it could be considered a 'success', the day at the Isle of Armor brought with it many things. It was supposed to be a relaxing, yet adventurous romp through new unexplored lands for them, but had ended up with a little more than what anyone bargained for. On the Air Taxi ride back to the Galar mainland, Sam and Sevan told Hop they'd help get him back home and carry his things back in. Since none of them held any first aid kits, Sam had volunteered a handkerchief to help with the one wound Haru had on his nose. She was Sevan's Pokemon, but since the ride had begun, Shinrin tried to lend some comfort by snuggling against Haru on the seat. Scanning through the skies and along the horizon, Haru began to doubt whether or not it was worth even coming out at all. "What I gained with you two at my side, I lost someone else who I thought I could trust."

It may have been his first time seeing most of them in person, but Sevan tried to offer a different view. "Look, I may not know you Sam, but I could at least see that you're ready to throw down and help Haru at any second. You're one of the good ones. Haru, this should NOT have happened tonight, but for what it's worth...you got us."

"I agree with him. If not for Sevan stepping in, I would have decked Milo myself." Sam replied.

Sevan gave a smirk. "Trust me, with me around nobody else would have even moved before I got one in on him...but the feeling is mutual, Johto man."

Despite being reassured he was surrounded by brothers, Haru still felt bad. "Thank you. I'll try to look at this in a positive light. My only fear is how this will affect things from now on, and how it'll affect our approach to the oncoming match. For now, please don't tell anyone about what happened tonight. I or Nessa or someone will report this to Oleana when we can. In writing."

- - - - - Hulbury, Haru and Nessa's Home - - - - -

- - - - - 11:03 PM - - - - -

[Sam: Nessa can you open the door?]

That was the text that sent Nessa into a confused, worried state while she had finished helping gently lay down the egg that Masako and Mirukon had been caring for; a few beads of sweat forming.

[Nessa: Uh okay why? What, did Haru bring a lot back that he needs help and you can't open the door?]

The front door got a rapping of three knocks on it that sounded as if haste was necessary. Looking down to her Drednaw, and joined by Nora, the 3 of them went to the door as Nessa undid the locks and opened the door. "Hey guys what's th-tha..?!" Her voice stopped to inhale sharp with shock. She saw Sam and Sevan helping Haru stay standing on his feet with his nose plugged up, as Sevan had been carrying his own bag and Haru's. He looked to Nessa. "I apologize, but can you get the first aid kit?". Trying to keep her own composure, Nessa could only start asking in a semi-hyperventilated state.

"H-Haru what...what the fuck-..?!"

He lazily looked at her with a weak smile through the glasses that now had one broken lens within the frame. "He~y babe. I'm home." A simple wave is made from him.

They helped get Haru into the front room as his friends laid Haru down on the couch with his face sitting up straight. Hearing her mutter to herself in outer monologue, the boys looked at each other as they helped their friend get comfortable. There was no time for talk. /He was out for a single day after getting better from his fever and THIS is the condition I find him return home in?/ She thought, hurriedly having Nora run and help carry a first aid kit. Shinrin was happy to bump into Nora despite the visit, so the two Eeveelutions stayed by the other's side as Sevan went to sit on one of the chairs. Leaning against the wall, Sam crossed his arms and sighed. "There was a problem tonight, but we feel it's not proper for either of us to tell you. It'd be best if Haru explained everything...because this involves the League."

/The league..?!/ The Raging Wave looked up to Sam with grit teeth. "W..what?!"

"All you need to know going into this Nessa, is that you're not going to be happy. Sam and I did what we could." Sevan grumbled, looking to his fists and clenching both. "Well, I say that but I could have gone further if I wanted to. Haru stopped me."

This did nothing to make her any calmer. As her eyes swelled up and she bit her lip, Nessa appeared frustrated. Perhaps it was a bad idea for her to let him go to the trip at all, despite having no context currently. Before she began to apply some aid to his face, Haru looked at her with swollen cheeks and said "You're not going to like where this goes."

"Right. You two? Thank you for getting Haru here safely, but I can handle the rest."

The gentlemen were seen out after many thanks from the dark beauty of the Hulbury waters, and she knelt down to him on the couch. "Haru, I let you go after we both find out you're back to being fully recovered and you're in a case where it's...". Her mind flashed back to many months before when her and Bea ran into Haru at Hammerlocke. They were seconds away from being too late to save Haru from being assaulted in public.

/"Not so tough huh? Why aren't you bringing out your Pokemon to save you from this, champ?"/

Having been dealt the hands that he was to this stage in his life, Haru felt that telling her the reason behind his own assault would have been far more dire than the actual wounds he got inflicted on his person. Looking from the couch cushions and then to her, his eyes went half lidded with dejection. "Nessa...someone who you know very well doesn't want us together, and tonight, I had to defend your honor like I never did before."

As the gravity of the oncoming situation settled in, she got up to the other end of the couch, gently sitting where his feet where, raising them so they were propped on her lap and looked at him. "Tell me who did this to you, Haru. I'll make them pay."

"Milo."

If the combat of Pokemon battle weighs in favor of a type advantage, it's referred to as 'striking the weakness'. At times you can even turn the tide more in one's favor if you guarantee critical hits or status effects. What Nessa just endured hearing the name uttered to her struck all the chords of these simultaneously as her pupils shrank. Her right fist clenched tightly. "Go on."

She saw Haru speak like it damaged him on the actualization of said truth. "He thinks I'm not good for you. That my relationship to you, and every bit of my influence on you as a person, with your own mind as an adult female, is toxic. I heard things tonight spoken about me that he truly thought about me. They may have passed through the veil of cans of alcohol, but the conviction in those words reigned with truth, and malevolence. He called me unstable. Fractured." Haru's own left fist started to clench and shake a little while he sat there, but never removed his eyes from Nessa's locked glance to his own. "Awful spitfire. Shortstack. Not right for you...joked my height just because of our difference in stature; how it could be 'comical' how we even make love. 'Quarter..."

Haru scrunched his face as a tear finally went down his left cheek and exhaled through the grit teeth he bore. "...'Shite Quarter Alolan Chav'..."

"Haru, honey your hand.." Nessa had to try and lean over to clasp onto his left hand, noticing that it was starting to bleed. The animosity that stung deep from Milo's words and assault were having a negative, ill conceived effect.

"I told him to never come near you or talk to you ever again as I pinned him to the ground and got a few hits in. Granted, I threw the first punch, but we both calmed down, and then more words exchanged. Told him that we'll settle it in the ring at the upcoming tournament. One second before I knew it, I couldn't see and my glasses were gone. I was on the ground and...well...I now can see how good Sevan is of a fighter." Haru's chin was raised back up as Nessa gently pushed herself in between the couch and him to create space for the both of them to lay on their backs together. Planting herself next to his body and making sure not to disturb the wounds he got inflicted, she leaned forward and kissed him. Canoodling with him momentarily, the couple went silent.

Pulling herself away and staring him with her bright aquamarine eyes looking back, vigor filling herself up. "I am so sorry that happened to you. It pains me greatly to know this is the kind of person Milo is, but it will only strengthen our resolve to defeat him then at this tournament Oleana will be setting up for us. In the meantime...Haru. Thank you."

"Am I bad for you Nessa? Is it a mistake that I fell for you?" Self doubt came to Haru despite this, as she felt Haru's hand shaking. The tightness in his fist clenching was absent, but it was filled with fear.

"...hon?" she did her best to resist knowing where he was going, but put her other hand around him. "Let's not even talk about what you've ALREADY done for a moment and consider tonight on its own merits. Knowing you went so far to shed blood in your display of loyalty EVEN as I asked you not to be a 'hero'...how can I walk away from someone like this in my life?"

Cracks within Haru's doubts that were birthed by his past started to form as a word from the past came back again in a much more positive light. His mind reverted back to his talk with Mathias, his dance instructor/mentor.

/ "-a form of want beyond simply wanting to be with her is bubbling up."/

/ "She may very well be your 'one', then. Have you considered that?"/

Some life came into his cheeks, but hissed in pain when the smile went too wide. "Well...why wouldn't I? You're the love of my life." Nessa went quiet. Conflicts seemed to not be slowing down and it had become slowly evident that this is the type of life they'd lead together. Her, shutting down anyone trying to barge their way into her career and slander her namesake via yellow journalism or manufactured drama. Coming to a new wind and living through the colors of the sea in her own soul thanks to what they helped see in each other. Him, realizing his past does not define him and wanting to do whatever he could to uphold not only her legacy but build new ones for other people. If she had to take priority, so be it.

"I think...you just made my heart skip a beat..." Nessa buried her face into his chest, causing Haru to wince and let out a pained gasp. "Ohmigosh I'm sorry does that-?!"

He shook his head and paced his breathing. "Y-yeah just...be gentle with me." Haru laughed weakly, while Nessa cuddled up to his side.

Holding onto him as gently as she could without causing any pain to spike through his nerves, Nessa hummed. "This is something that concerns both of us now, but thank you for not keeping this from me. We'll talk more on this later okay?"

As the pair shared a moment, she could not help herself but do one thing to make him blush. "That's probably the only time you have asked me to be gentle with you."

Pinkness spreading across both cheeks, Haru huffed and whimpered as she started to laugh: satisfied with her own jab. Intentions to leave the couch sooner than later for the bedroom went all to nought as they only snuggled further. She took pride in herself that despite coming back damaged, his armor from the isle came back without a dent. "Oh come on now, that's not even fair: I can't do anything in my condition." They slept well on the couch as the rains outside of Hulbury pitterpatted on the windows, lulling the two to sleep.

- - - - - END CHAPTER 20 - - - - -