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.

28. Chapter 28

Chapter 27: Out of the Red...Part 2

- - - - - Haru's Office, 8 A.M. - - - - -

- - - - - Steel Gym - - - - -

"I'm just nervous, I guess. Things have been going right for awhile so there shouldn't be a reason for me to feel antsy or anything." Haru says while he sat in his office chair with the cell phone to his ear. On the other side of the line was his mother, Lana. She wasn't able to catch his match live in person, but she would be watching him all day from her home.

"Well I don't think you have anything to worry about. You've done everything you can, and by putting your mind to the grindstone, you're right where you want to be." she says in a cheery tone while sipping on some coffee. While the Munchlax and Lilligant near her helped around the house early that morning, she was taking a break from her own side of the errands. "I'm proud of you, Haru." Haru didn't answer, which prompted his mother to ask in worry. "Haru, are you okay?"

"Yeah...hey Mom...do you think that Hiro would've..." He hesitated and clenched onto one of the arms of the chair hard.

She got worried, frowning. "What is it?"

Haru glanced at a newspaper he brought with him to read during breakfast and spotted an article where the 'Subway bosses' spoke about the train they maintained. Intense Pokemon battles often occurred within it, and in every photo he saw of the infamous Ingo and Emmett, Haru saw what could have been between him and Hiro. "I don't know. I almost said 'been proud' but I know the answer is 'yes he would be', but I also was thinking on whether or not he'd want to be in a competitive double-team group with me. I can't answer for him whether or not he'd be a Gym Leader, but maybe him and I could have knocked heads across other regions like those guys in Unova..."

"I can't say." His mother said after a brief pause to think over her answer. "I know that you're hurting, honey. I still am to this day. Don't compare yourself to others. Maybe you can continue being a team with your fiance? Never know how many people you both could surprise with a Steel/Water team. Aside from that, I don't want you to second guess yourself, anymore, son."

Sinking a little into his seat with the receiver to his ear, Haru frowned. "...yeah. Nessa tells me to do that, too."

Looking to a photo Lana had on one of her bookshelves near the coffee table, she smiled. It was a moment in time where she was much younger, right after her Pokemon League Career, and was hugging her then much smaller child, Haru. He couldn't have been more than two years old. "I know I can't be there today because it's going to be especially cold near that region above Circhester where you're at, and you know how my bones get in the cold, but I WILL be watching your matches. Can you at least smile knowing that much?"

"Hmm." Haru grunted in response.

"What's 'hmm'? I didn't raise you to reply like that." Lana says, trying to get him to reply more courteously.

Giving into her demands, Haru gave a half smile. "Yes ma'am, I can. I'll do my best."

"There you go! Thank you. So what do you have left to do?" she asked, putting the photo back and going to sit back down again.

Glancing at the clock on the wall, Haru thought it through. "They're still letting attendees in, and with that, our concessions and other amenities are doing enough to keep them occupied. I won't be 'needed' until probably an hour or two later when our first registered challenger makes it here. Won't know if they makes it through to me, but I have to be on standby in a bit." His eyes go to the photo on the wall that was taken when he became Champion. "Thanks for everything Mom...I don't know if I say that enough but I'm really happy you've done what you've done for me."

"Then call me more often!" she teased, causing Haru to laugh. "When will you get me some grandkids?!" Haru spittaked his French Vanilla coffee over himself.

With his face stark red, he just bumbles to reply back. "M-MOM! We're g-gonna wait until marriage before having children! E-even then, we don't know at what point!"

Lana grinned widely and snickered. "Uh huh~. Well when Nessa is carrying, you'd better tell me the day it happens! I love you!"

"Love you too Mom..." Haru hung up and huffed before wiping his collar with a napkin. /How she finds a way to catch me offguard with talk of children is an artform in of itself./

- - - - - Steel Gym, the Present - - - - -

- - - - - Battlefield - - - - -

Haru put a hand to his right ear and paused on his walking out to the battlefield: the rise of anticipation had become overbearing. The sounds of cheers coming from an audience that had been eager for his official entrance as a Gym Leader reached its peak. Echoing through every hall and rumbling through the concrete grounds, Haru's audiences, and by extension, his fanbase, had grown with the mountainous choirs they sang. As brief as it was sudden, the redhead's attention shifted when he sensed a sign of encouragement: picking up the familiar scent of a freshly made tuna sandwich. Curious; none of the concessions would be selling something so unique at his stadium. As it was the premiere day for his Gym, there too would not be any 'event' gatherings down the numerous hallways. He took it as a sign that a presence was near him that he had hoped would be there. Gritting his teeth, readjusting the cap and smiling through the tears that shed, Haru exhaled slow. /Become the person that I set myself out to be: The Steel Gym Leader./

With one step forward, his head looked straight at the entrance to the grassy battlefield. /If you ARE here, Hiro, then be sure to get a good seat./ "No point in making the crowd wait any longer." He says to nobody in particular. /Watch me become who I set out to be, brother./

As the soles of the boots hit the ground, Haru's usually composed expression shifts away into a more stern, battle hardened look. The glasses he wore slid a mite further on his nose. His lips straighten out and his eyes go narrowed. In his heart he is dancing to the sudden shriek-like rise of piercing cheers to his ears. "As expected of the former Champion, ladies and gentlemen of Galar, I give you the new Steel Gym Leader: Haru!" announced the hype-man from the speakers that lined the stadium walls. Beacons of light shone down on him and the challenger, with three spotlights following Haru to the middle. Many murmurs from the crowd began as they take in the brand new appearance. It is a striking appearance that sets the precedent to his future. Not satisfied anymore with the simple league uniform and keychains on his hips, Haru bore a large overcoat that looked similar to steel mill workers' gear that shared the same theming required for Gym Leaders. The greys were darker than the league issued Steel uniform, but bore the neon green and navy blue stripes along the side. His league shoes were now replaced by heavier boots of the same color bands. On the back, a peek at history and legacy, as a large assortment of sponsor logos towards the bottom of the jacket danced with the number '001' displayed on it. Finishing it with a neon green stripe to emulate construction workers that hugs the '001', was the new black billed, dark grey cap that showed an embedded logo of his to-be sanctuary. Eagle-eyed viewers would see the logo shown alongside his information on the jumbotron as a silhouette of himself in front of a Pokemon Egg and the words "HiroLana Sanctuary" within the curvature.

The striking visage of a 'Haru reborn' fit him like a Magikarp to lakes.

As he approaches the middle, Haru recognized the challenger. Haru huffed a bit, and looked at the man with a smug expression. "I remember you."

A memory played in his head of being roughhoused by an angry man who saw Haru in the Hammerlocke markets over a Pokemon 'taken' from him at a raid. The altercation was short-lived thanks to his hide being saved by Bea and Nessa. The gentleman across from him nodded. "I've come to have a proper, trainer-to-trainer scuff this time. No fists or underhanded techniques: I've come to challenge you professionally. My name's Ray."

"Mmm." Haru says, humming, now folding his arms. "You've come all the way to my gym...to my home turf. Is this payback for that Lapras, or have you dropped that for a more serious quest?"

Ray nods and held onto a PokeBall that would be his first for the battle: clenching onto it. "Yes I am. I did a lot of soul searching since that day we met back up, and I figured the only way to make up for my past awfulness is to become the next Champion after I defeat you one-on-one."

Haru chuckled, looking to the side. "Gimme a break. Do you think that I'm impressed that you got 7 badges?"

Suddenly the trainer sweat from his forehead. "Wait W-what?"

With both hands going to the side pockets, Haru looked at him directly; the cap's visor shielding most of his face so only his eyes were seen. "Do. you. Think. Yourself. impressive?" The audience is heard quieting down to take in every word of what Haru is saying, and they are surprised by this sudden shift in personality. "You've collected 7 badges, and even defeated my best trainer: Monika. Do you really think victory is assured, simply because of that alone? My gym is meant to put trainers through the ringer and have them come out hardened like steel. Is THAT what you are, Ray?"

Some 'Ooh's were heard from the crowd as Haru looked at the challenger. Those within the crowd that were most hooked were quietly wondering what happened to the person that seemed to flinch if someone flashed a fist at them. Put bluntly on display now, the Steel Gym Leader would show everyone that his past persona of 'energetic', 'boisterous' 'heroic' was gone. He didn't want to come out as a heel, but show he was maturing past the need to rely on his past.

Nessa stared in excited as her thoughts went wild. /Yes that's it darling, keep that tough boss energy going...don't back down and don't show any weakness./

But the challenger stood his ground confidently and stuck his chest outwards. "Yes. Yes I am, and I'll prove to you that I am."

A small side grin forms on Haru's mouth. /Hehe./ "Interesting. Well, it is now my duty to stop you where you stand. You are the first person to arrive at my feet, daring to bring the Foreman out, and much like an enflamed piece of steel..." Haru would pull back the right part of his jacket, revealing a heavy mallet, twirling it in hand before 'pointing' at it to the challenger. "...I'm going to flatten you where you stand." He turned away, keeping the same frown on his face while the challenger walked the other direction. An applause began to rise, and then eclipsed its earlier peak volume when Haru held the mallet to his chest with his dominant hand while the exclusive battle music began to play.

The cries of the audience shook the stadium while excited attendees stamped their feet: a common thing that was done at sports gatherings when music cues hit. Putting his mallet away and using a free hand, Haru reached in and tosses 2 PokeBalls onto the field. Like Raihan, he would go with the Double Battle format and battle Ray using his own Steel Gym team.

For the first time ever, the crowd got to see Haru fight in a much different light with a completely new team. Some had made guesses that he would go 'halfway'; utilizing Steel for part of his team and using his Hall of Fame for the other half. As the tallies of knock outs showcased and the battle music thundered within the dome, the audience watched as Haru introduced...

...Polnareff, the Aegislash.

...Simon the Excadrill.

...Mirukon, the Lucario, the only one returning from his Hall of Fame team.

...Mithril, a Perrserker.

...Jeanne, a Duraludon.

...and finally, his brand new ace up his sleeve was a shiny Metagross named Archimedes. Ray would have half of his team wiped, with supplies thinning for recovery, but ended up pulling through at the last second with a critical hit. The crowd watched as Haru sees his Dynamaxed Metagross dwindled back down in size and withdrew him. Across the jumbotron screens and across the video marquees that circled the stadium dome said the words "CHALLENGER VICTORY!" in bold letters. Haru looked back to the challenger with a half smile, and shrugged at his own loss. The stadium erupted into a unified school of cheers for the very first challenger to defeat Haru. "Heh...Look at that, you melted me down and flattened me where I stand!" he said, before walking to Ray in the middle of the field. As the music faded out, the crowd showered both Haru and his challenger with applause for having such a fun time and iconic first match.

Donna, who didn't look away for a single second, was kicking her feet eagerly. "YAY! Haru it's okay you didn't win, but you can beat the next challenger!" she tries shouting, but of course is drowned out by the sounds of everyone else around her. Near her in the stands, Nessa quietly looked at her fiancé and eyed his composure and body language. She was studying how he was going to respond to this difference of atmosphere. For a second, she thinks back and sees herself in the same position after Haru defeated her during his own challenge.

Even as his first battle was a loss against a challenger, a strange sense of pride started to swell within the pits of Haru's stomach. It was his turn to give a post-gym-challenge speech to someone for the first time. He clicked his tongue. "Well would you look at that...so you really do have the conviction to turn the odds into your favor. I spent the better half of a year wondering what I would feel as I hand out my first Steel Badge. For so long I waited to see what I would feel being a Gym Leader and being on this side of the fights. It's strange to say, but I feel as refreshed as putting on a brand new pair of shoes! Perhaps you're proof that new blood is filled with talents the likes of that I could only dream! Here - the proof of your victory, the Steel Badge!" Reaching within a pocket within the jacket, Haru pulls out the Steel Badge, handing it and awarding 7,680 to Ray simultaneously with a handshake.

"Thank you, Haru. It was a pleasure...and I'm sorry for what I did before." Ray said.

Haru blinked hearing this and just exhaled through his nose with a smirk. He took a step back and put both hands in his pockets again. "You've collected all of the Gym Badges from the Galar region. What's left is for you to head to Wyndon, register for the Pokemon League Tournament, and blast through the SemiFinals and Finals! Challenge Leon and take his seat!" Turning away and grinning, Haru looked back to Ray one last time and waving. "I expect great things out of you, Ray...and thanks for the 'proper battle' as you put it."

- - - - - Steel Gym - - - - -

- - - - - Faculty Hallway - - - - -

As each foot stomped on the ground with a light 'thud' due to the heavy boots he wore, Haru exhaled slowly as the adrenaline from his first match started lifting. Some staff saw him in the hallway and gave him fist bumps, exclaiming 'Good show, boss!' with Haru giving a silent nod and a smirk while tipping his cap. Coming down to the epilogue of his journey to find his calling, Haru began breaking down each partition of the journey and reevaluated it slowly. Then, as if viewing his memory get played back, he saw himself hunched over looking over video footage from all the other Champions he was studying. The mirage-like view of his hunched back sitting on a couch, in his living room, writing down notes was amusing to think back on. Seeing himself talking to Nessa and the other Gym Leaders during the impromptu party was a memory that stayed pristine in his mind's eye. He still could feel the jitters when he approached Oleana with his change of perspective for what he wanted to pursue with his professional career. /I feel like 'that' Haru is hardly me at all, now.../ he thought, remembering as his Pokemon watched him rant on Steven Stone. As if breaking a spell, his attention is split upon a voice calling to him. His ear twitches upon hearing his name.

"!"

Pivoting his left foot to turn back behind him, a small crowd that was walking in his direction was full of not just the logistics staff and some studio room staff, but his trainers. He recognized an arm reach out in the midst of the crowd: it was Nessa, having come to congratulate him on his first match. But as quick as Haru was to perceive everyone in the instantaneousness of seeing that crowd did he realized everything around him stopped.

It was as if time itself had simply paused, and for a moment Haru felt the pits of his abdomen tense. He didn't know what to make of what was happening. 'Perhaps I just blacked out for a second' he tried to reason within himself, but even the Gym's music that played across the whole building was frozen: its chorus halted entirely. Haru hears his name again in the ceased time, but with a more thunderous boom that ripples throughout the corridors of the hall, through the ground and ceiling, and then his very body. In his confusion, he turns again to try and find the source of the call, and in that, his Steel Gym completely disappeared. Time and Space were in control by something that wanted to isolate Haru alone, but what?

Anxiety swelled up, and he takes a step back to look at the change of scenery. Whereas he felt welcomed within his gym, this baffling change of scenery left him feeling like he was being judged. The Gym Leader was standing in some divine, ethereal location of unknown origin and design. Beneath his feet was a pattern of symbols embedded into the ground he had never seen before, and the skies above were celestial bodies of galaxies he had never seen. Haru had never seen so many stars in the sky at once. He tried to deduce how where he'd be, and how he could see no ground beneath this 'platform'. /Where am I?/

His voice cracked, hoping to call out to whomever was summoning here, but as his voice broke, a bright ball of light emerged in front of him mere meters away. The brightness was more than the sun in Galar's hottest days, so Haru was forced to shield his face with his cap. Seeing this ethereal being of light appearing sent shivers from his head to his toes. A shockwave of energy blows his jacket back like a powerful gust of wind. "Hello...? Did you bring me here?" he calls out to the amorphous shape of light.

- Guardian of Galar, I have called to thee in this time to give a warning. -came the booming voice of unknown origin.

"O-oh? What is it?" He looked around. "Who are you? Did I fail in protecting Galar from another deity-Pokemon? Is there another that's coming?" Haru asked, feeling all of the hairs on his arms raise up suddenly, talking to the light.

- No. Unto you, a great calamity shall be. Soon a new evil approaches you, and you will be challenged like never before. You must take arms with the others to defend Galar once again. -

Haru squinted past his cap to try and look; to see if he could figure out whom he was speaking to with such an otherworldly creature speaking to him. "The 'others'?" He blinked, understanding it. "Zacian has been entrusted to someone she deemed worthy. Do you speak of the others I have fought with before?"

As if complying to Haru's answer, the creature of light shook its head. -There is another, but they are not ready. You must find them, and help them awaken their potential.-

"Another one? So you're not speaking of Hop, are you? He is the one who paired with Zacian before its current wielder."

The ball of light said nothing, and Haru felt a bead of sweat go down his face.

"How will I know how or where to find them? Am I going to be responsible for 'awakening' someone?"

Once more, the deity said nothing back to him.

"Why would I not face this new evil myself? Is this a command from...well, what I mean to ask..." If he didn't ask now, he may not get another chance. "Is this a command coming from..." He shuddered to think of his next words as he hopped from sentence to sentence in anxiety. "Are you Arceus?"

The light spoke back with a commanding raised volume as if it were a commandment handed down from high. Haru felt a much more powerful burst of wind seemingly push against him as if a violent storm of gusty winds was raging. - I am the Alpha, The Original One, and the one you call by that name. For your quest, Her Strength and Your Wisdom are not enough to fight the calamity. Thou must seek the one with Courage, the Progeny of Chiyohana of Hisui, and steel yourself. Thou are the only one capable of doing this.-

Before his eyes, Haru watched as the ball of light dispersed into a trillion balls of light, as if he was watching glowing dandelion tufts float by him. -Your father is pleased...- Arceus said one last time, causing Haru to go fully wide in shock.

"Huh?!"

"Haru, you okay? Hey!" Desmond, one of Haru's Gym Trainers, was waving his hand in front of Haru's face as the Gym Leader shook his head. Without catching the very second that it occurred, Haru was somehow back in his Gym as if the moment prior was merely a drug induced hallucination.

"W-what? Huh? Oh, hey Desmond. Sorry." The Gym Leader looked around him as Monika was standing to his side with her arms folded. His staff looked a little concerned. Nessa poked Haru on the side to get his attention.

"Hey babe, you okay? You sorta just...blanket out and you look stressed." She gestured with her arms by her side with a bit of concern on her face.

"Yeah...apologies. How long was I just staring out into nothing? Is something up?" Haru removed his cap for a moment to massage his forehead with a thumb and forefinger.

Monika didn't know what to make of it at first and just explained. "You stood there for about a few seconds staring off at a random tile on the ceiling. Nessa was the first one here since she was walking with us but I guess I should ask if you're fine after losing your first match. Your face looks oily...did that challenger get in your head?"

/I can't tell them what I just experienced right now. Disregarding that I seemed to have come back to my physical body instantaneously without my realizing it, I don't think they could understand. Nessa I can probably explain it to, but it's not the right time. If the warning is any indication, I should try to figure things out first before taking the first step. But my dad.../ "Course not. I was hoping to defeat my first challenger but it's kind of a relief that it is over: loss or victory be damned!" He said, laughing, before putting his cap back on and then sighing, shifting back to being serious. "Seriously, though, good grief. There's no reason to feel pity on me. Trust me, your Soul of Steel is okay."

He flashed a simple thumbs up and Nessa grinned from ear to ear. It appeared to her he was able to shift back to his game-ready persona. /Thank goodness he's able to shrug it off, otherwise I'd wonder if I would have had to give him some tips on maintaining his persona. I'll probably just ask him more about this later tonight.../ She thinks to herself.

"Is the next challenger ready to go?" Haru asked, looking to his staffers and reaching to hold one of Nessa's hands. The small group of staff looked to each other then their Gym Leader. "...what? Why the silence?"

"Well that's the thing...there is someone here to take you on in a battle but it's not a Challenger, boss." Desmond replied, sounding confused and worried.

Game Face on, Haru looked at them and asked, "I don't remember scheduling an exhibition match, nor is anyone from any sponsor of mine here to challenge me today. Are you telling me someone's invaded on my territory, making light of MY GYM, looking to throw down? Do we have a name? Is it a Gym Leader?"

"We couldn't get any information, since they said you'd know who it was by them showing up. They're being prepped in the locker room right now, so you should heal your team and get ready in the next few minutes." Monika said, as her and Desmoned turned to leave.

"...are you telling me he already defeated you guys?" Haru asked.

"We're saying he skipped right past it all and is demanding to take you on, and that you'd understand." Monika said hastily before going to her and Desmond's break time.

Haru stood there in confusion before turning to look to Nessa, still in his persona. "Day 1 and someone broke into my Gym; challenging me without so much as putting the work in. Who do the hell do they think they are?" /...Milo?/ He clenched one of his hands into a hard fist and felt his anger rise quickly at the possibility of the former Grass Leader wanting to come in and shake things up.

Nessa had one hand on her hip and a pursed lip in irritation. It didn't even involve her but the idea of her planned Gym Leader battles being possibly sabotaged made a vein in her forehead throb. "Just thinking about it pisses me off, too. So what're you going to do?" She looked to him.

To answer his beloved, Haru reached into his jacket and pulled out a small wallet, looking at her through the slightly shaded part of where the bill of the cap covered his eyes. "I'm going to get some supplies at the PokeCenter, and then kick this guy's fucking ass."

- - - - - 10 minutes later...- - - - -

- - - - - Steel Gym, Battlegrounds - - - - -

Returning to her seat, Nessa leaned forward with her elbows propped up on her knees, hands clasped together, while she saw Haru walking towards centerfield on the battleground. The crowd pops off with the usual amount of fanfare while Haru kept his view front-and-center towards where his challenger would appear. Across from him the mysterious person who had come to challenge hadn't yet shown up, but via silhouette was seen inside the tunnel leading out to the grass. Squinting his eyes, Haru wrinkled his nose in irritation. /What gives? You came here wanting to fight, didn't you? You looking for an invitation? Is this a way of getting back at me, Milo?/

The figure would then emerge as the person responded with a hearty laugh, and Haru's eyes widened. He felt a bead of sweat form on his head.

The commentator overlooking the match took to the microphone as the jumbotron cameras picked up who the person was, causing Nessa to gasp in realization. She knew who this was immediately. /No way!/

"HOhohoheyyyyy it looks like we have ourselves one heck of a surprise for you folks of the Steel Gym! Remember where you were sitting, standing, or rolling when you heard THIS announcement! In case you don't know this challenger walking forward, I invite you all to do a bit of history for this fellow man: former Champion, father, and even the younger brother to the former Chairman Rose himself! As if fate itself saw to it, he is, from another time, another age, the former Steel Gym Leader: give it up for STeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeellll Peonyyyyyyyyyyyy!"

/...Ex-Chairman Rose had a brother?/ Haru watched, feeling a slow rise of anxiety and confusion. /Wait, this is the guy who wrote me that letter...! He's THAT Peony!/

Bearing a stuffy, blood orange jacket with a helmet and logo of his own on it, the gentleman looked down to Haru and grinned. "Oi...here you are: of Steel. Sorry that it took so long, but I have been looking forward to this day for quite some time, I'll have you know! Th' name's Peony." His right arm extended, with Haru just looking at him, not necessarily in a handshaking mood: completely on his guard.

"What is this..." Haru felt his constitution feel shaky. He shook his head. "Miss Chairman told me there wasn't a Steel Gym in Galar!" His right hand clenched into a fist and grit his teeth. He felt insulted. All of this time waiting to become a Gym Leader for something he thought was his own, only to find out he is simply a newer version of the same concept rerolled in a new coat of paint. There wasn't anything special about his journey at all, he felt. Was this old veteran coming to mock him now?

"Gah...th' ol' lady that stuck around my brother Rose, eh? Word came around to me she became Chairman. But it's true...there used to be a Steel Gym in Galar. Mine. But when Rose became Chairman, I chose to dip out of the league." He raised a hand, pointing to Haru with a full, unfolded hand. "Not that you've anything to worry about: look at you! I was excited to hear of your exploits when I wrote that letter, and now I'm here. Gotta say it's a might differen' from what I'd have chosen. Though it took me awhile to get here since I got in the habit of fallin' asleep outsi-"

Haru cut him off by pointing right up to him and getting into a defensive stance. He had to hold back how he was truly feeling deep inside and put on an act. "Who gives a damn about that? I'm not here to play 'member berries with an old coot like yourself, or do you any favors. If you are who you say you are, why show up here?"

Peony chuckled and gave a smirk. Clearly he had rustled Haru to some extent and took a step back. "I told you that I would come and see how you stack up, didn't I? How else am I going to witness the next generation of steel?" He nodded towards the beltline of PokeBalls, insinuating a challenge.

At that point the crowd had started to chant 'Fight!' over and over, with the sounds of them stomping their feet in sync to get the hype up. Haru just stared silently at Peony. It was a mistake coming to his Gym's grounds, and Haru's blood pressure was rising. The newer Gym Leader took a glance and scanned the audience. More than half of them were raising their homemade signs in the air, some shirtless with random words on them, and others just shouting to be included in the hype.

Just as the conversation was hitting off, Nessa felt some worry wash over her. Knowing that everyone in the league knew about Peony's league history may set off Haru. The former Champion-turned-Gym-Leader Peony was simply another case of having a history nearly exact to what Haru did...right down to the raw talent he bore. She could tell with his body language alone that the meeting was not anything he had planned. She closed her eyes and briefly thought about being locked in to fight Milo back in the league days, and looked at Haru.

Deep within his gut, Haru felt a sense of unease like nothing else, and seeing this old man come to his Gym fired him up much more than when Ray came to battle him. He stared down at Peony before making his declaration. "Your time already came and went. In Galar, when it comes to Steel, neither you or your expired legacy will come close to making a dent in mine, and I'm going to prove it!" raising his head, looking to the crowd and then walking back.

The veteran saw him turn and mirrored the same motion as the crowd shot up in excitement and volume of stamping. As excited as she was to watch Haru turn further into his persona, Nessa couldn't help but wonder if something was going to happen afterwards behind the scenes. Opening up his jacket so his uniform proudly showed through, the back of the jacket billowed in the drafts of the wind coming through as Haru stared down at Peony. Both gentlemen having a hand over a pair of PokeBalls where their Pokemon lay within. It was going to be a hell of a Double Battle. Steel vs Steel.

/If Peony is truly not only an Ex-Champion like I am, but an ex-Gym Leader...then this may be tough./ Haru thought with his right hand twitching and locking eyes to Peony. The two gentlemen said nothing as the battlemusic began to play but neither one chose to do anything. As if challenging the other to 'quick draw', it was riling up the crowd to see who would act first and who would end up having the better strategy at the end of the day. The commentator, alongside the staff controlling the timetable of the battle were waiting for Haru and Peony to make the first move but chimed in "Ladies and gentlemen I know that this has happened a few times when Haru is involved in the league, but with two powerful forces meeting, Steel to Steel, let's. get. ready. to. see. historyyyyyyy!"

Haru and Peony suddenly then tossed 2 sets of PokeBalls forward, with Haru crossing up from his usual team.

"Mithrill and Simon! I choose you!"

"Perrserker, Bronzong, Go!"

Both trainers say, with the crowd popping off that both Gym Leaders chose a Perrserker as one of their starting Pokemon for the battle. Haru stared at Peony with fierce eyes and started to think on how exactly he could come out on top. /Steel vs Steel is going to be a rough one to get around because for the most part, you can top a Steel type with Fire, Fighting, or Ground, depending on the Pokemon's stance in the meta. If I'm going to use Mirukon at all in this fight, he has to be a last resort since Lucarios don't normally have good enough defense. I should hold off on him until later. It's a case of the several advantages and disadvantages to having a Steel type: the slower, more notoriously strong ones, don't go down as easily due to their speed disadvantage being outweighed by immense defenses. Mirukon won't have that luxury. He'll have to hit hard, fast, and be withdrawn if I can manage that at all. Peony will probably predict that, and no amount of my training my new team with their abilities will change the fact he is probably thinking of these things too. Since Peony is a former Champion, he knows these facts just as much as I do, and knows what I may do./ He readjusted his cap, pulling it a slight bit more forward to shadow his face, exhaling slowly to focus.

/...but that's not going to help him, since I know what he may do just the same./

Both Gym Leaders then shout out to their Pokemon yet again.

"Mithrill, use U-Turn, Simon use Drill Run!" Haru shouts with a definitive point of his right hand in a sweeping motion.

"Perrserker, use U-Turn! Bronzong, Shadow Ball!" Peony grips his helmet and keeps his eyes to the younger opponent.

Both Perrserkers meet in the middle of the arena at the same time, clashing simultaneously with each other as the damage meters on the jumbotron show a normal amount of damage while both trainers withdraw them back. The Excadrill clashed both of its steeled paws, roaring at the strange, bell-shaped Psychic Pokemon before lunging at Drill Run. Someone in the stands is confused until the commentator comes in, stating that Haru's gamble would not have worked should Peony's Bronzong have the trait of 'Levitate'.

The Bronzong reels back from the attack, but then fires back with the ghostly sphere of energy, slamming into Simon's side.

"Simon, get up. Sorry for that, but I'm glad you got that hit in!" Haru says to his Pokemon, looking to Peony. "Let me guess, you have a few other abilities you could have chosen for that Bronzong. Can I take a guess what you went with?"

The veteran just smirked, then gestured with both arms challengingly. "Be my guest."

Haru smirked and gestured a with his right hand pointing at the Pokemon. "Heatproof. If you gave it the ability of Heavy Metal then you'd be a pretty stupid Steel trainer. It wouldn't suit you if you wanted to go completely Steel based for a team...unless you had multiple other types to make up for it." /But then again, doing that leaves you open to what Simon can do: making up for it by his Ground/Steel coverage./

Letting out a chuckle, Peony grinned. "Oi, not half bad. Choose your replacement for Perrserker."

"Already did. Jeanne!" Haru threw the replacement for Mithrill which would be Jeanne, his Duraludon who roared out victoriously as Peony brings out Aggron, who roared right back. /Bringing out Aggron this early? He must be looking to take me out. Speed is going to be the main reason I get any advantage at this point. If I'm wreckless, I'll lose right here starting from the next attack. It's going to depend on who goes down first, but I don't believe I'll get by well enough if I just spend Max Revives. Much as I'd like to extend the fight by keeping my Pokemon team's health at maximum, it would only delay the results. We'd be playing each other with nothing but who can expend the most recovery supplies the fastest./

"Simon! Buff yourself up with Sword Dance! Jeanne, aim a Flash Cannon to Aggron and get this Pokemon out, stat!" Haru commanded, watching then his Excadrill eagerly sharpen itself to battle as Jeanne began charging for its move to take aim.

Peony set his sights on the Duraludon, trying to think of a counter to gain an edge. "Aggron, use Body Press, and Bronzong, use Calm Mind!" The audience watches as Jeanne and the Aggron meet in the middle with the grey colored beam of Steel energy explodes onto the Aggron's tough skin, dealing some damage. However, the Aggron catches it offguard from the intensity of Body Press, being flung several meters away by the attack. Jeanne topples over behind Haru as the Bronzong quietly charges up its stats, and the screen brings out an animation to show Haru's first Pokemon is taken out.

Sweating it as little as he could, Haru withdraws Jeanne and looks at Peony. "You predicted I was going to deal with that, and simply took out my Duraludon so it couldn't be trouble later, huh?"

"Hit hard, hit fast, no chuff. That's how I'll roll here." Peony replied, grinning.

/That's twice today I haven't been able to utilize Jeanne properly. Shit. I'll make it up to you girl, with some sweets, I promise./ Haru thought to himself, gritting his teeth. The idea hits that if Peony isn't going to wait until later to use big hitters, then neither should he. Reaching into his coat, he brings out an Aegislash who poses within its Shield Forme. "Polnareff! See that Aggron?" He points to the Aggron on Peony's side. "Retaliate for the glory of your friend Jeanne!"

The bladed Pokemon looked back at its Pokemon master trainer, nodded, and as it turned into its Blade Form, much to the delight of the crowd, Haru looked to its trusty Simon. "Simon! Use the power of your Drill Run and show the Bronzong your strength!"

Peony shouted in tandem. "Bronzong, try to dodge it and fire back with Flash Cannon! Aggron, stay alive and if you can, do Body Press and take out Simon!"

The double pairing of Pokemon lashed out into the center. In a flash, the sword Pokemon does a greater amount of damage to the Aggron...but the Pokemon holds back just enough from fainting. Nearly falling over due to its weight and the damage of the move, he gets a look of determination. He watches as the Excadrill uses one claw to point to the sky, then the Bronzong before lashing towards it. Try as it may, the bell shaped Psychic Steel Pokemon stops floating, crashing to the ground beneath it and fainting: withdrawn within a second. The brief victory Haru has over the one Pokemon is shortlived as the large Aggron Body Presses onto 'trusty' Simon, and the mole-like Pokemon flies back. 2 down out of 6 on his side, but Haru grins as he looks to Peony. He's taken down only a single Pokemon currently...but it's enough to shift his thinking.

"Let's keep it turned up to a hundred till we've seen this all the way through, Chief!" Peony teases, who looks at his remainder of his Pokemon team as Haru now has his arms folded. The current Gym Leader was thinking hard. A small moment goes by, and Haru tosses out a PokeBall containing Mirukon. The Lucario flexes once on the field next to Polnareff, who then faces down Scizor, who is Peony's new choice.

Both of the Steel Pokemon on Haru's side look to their master, sensing something rise from within Haru. The man simply looks back, smirking, then raises a right hand to point to the Lucario. Both Pokemon understood, with Peony trying to fight back.

"Scizor, use Wing Attack, and Aggron, another Body Press!" Peony commands, as both Pokemon on his side shiver with excitement. But the Lucario eyed the Aggron. Within the balls, Pokemon are still able to be aware of their surroundings, and to those that are bonded to their Pokemon with a deep connection, can feel what their master wishes. As such, the Lucario reeled its dominant paw back with a ball of Aura Sphere energy, and slammed it hard into the Aggron. The humongous Pokemon tumbles backwards as its HP value hits 0, and Peony retrieves it by withdrawing. The Scizor swipes at Mirukon with a Wing Attack, as the Fighting/Steel Pokemon winces through the pain. "Mirukon, you got this!" Haru says with encouragement. The Lucario grins, giving a 'thumbs up' to Haru.

As per the last time, Polnareff lunges to Scizor using Retaliate, and manages to do some damage...but as Haru sees onscreen via the jumbotron statistics: not enough. He clicked his tongue. /Shit. Not good, but not bad. The tide is turning./ Onscreen both sides of the competition show Haru and Peony having lost 2 Pokemon, and with the excitement of Steel vs Steel every seat was shown to be filled. Those that were on either bathroom breaks or getting concessions had now ran back to their seats to watch the match that was going down: not wanting to miss any second. /I feel the tide turning.../ Haru clenched his gloved hand.

"Mirukon!" Haru calls out to his Lucario, who turns back. The 2 share a glance, as Haru brings out his PokeBall, withdrawing him. This happens as Peony returns his own Perrserker to the field, with many in the audience, and the commentator confused.

"What is this, ladies, gents, and anything in between? Mirukon was key to helping Haru turn the tide but are we seeing a different type of strategy? Is it time for something else?" the Gym Hype-Man said in his usual comically over-the-top tone that was meant to keep people excited.

Back on the field, Haru grinned, reeled his right arm back to show a Heavy Ball. The crowd gets excited as, upon Haru tossing it, a shiny Metagross appears next to Polnareff and lets out its own deafening cry. Calling into action as Haru switched up on party member, Peony shouts "Scizor, X-Scissor on his Metagross, and Perrserker, Throat Chop on Polnareff!"

"Polnareff, avoid the attack by Peony!" Haru says, but it is to no avail. As the Metagross takes the brunt of Scizor's attack, shaking its lofty silver-and-gold body, its sword-shaped companion is unable to keep fighting. The Aegislash takes the Throat Chop attack and faints.

Holding the ball close, Haru speaks to it. "I promise I'll make it up to you guys, don't you worry." Putting it back into his coat and reaching for another, Haru considers the options remaining. /Mirukon, Archimedes, and Mithrill are left. Peony has this Scizor, Perrserker, and whatever one afterwards. Sheesh, did he really only bring 5 with him? Well, I guess not everybody likes to carry a full team if they represent a league. Hmm./ His right foot taps on the grass a little before reaching inside, then tossing out Mirukon onto the field once again. The Lucario and Metagross flex and cry with a challenging roar to the other team as Haru looks to Peony.

"So you are going back with Lucario? Hmm. I hope you can continue to make this interesting for me, mate: keep it all steady, right?" The older man said, looking to Haru who just exhales through the nose with a small smirk.

For a moment both men look at each other while the crowd goes wild for the fight. Before going on the offense, Haru takes a moment and spreads his arms wide: outwards as if to fish for the yelps, hollars and shouts of his fans. They respond in kind. Nessa herself merely joins in amongst a few thousand people adding their own whistling to the chorus. The focus shoots back into Haru's mind as he points with his right hand again to the opposing team. "Mirukon, Aura Sphere his Perrserker and get that jerk off my battlefield! Archimedes, Hammer Arm his Scizor!"

"Scizor, dodge it and use Wing Attack again on Mirukon! Perrserker, use Throat Chop to Mirukon as well: make sure he's dow-gah!" The gentleman is aghast then as the clash of Pokemon is cut short. Both of Haru's Pokemon dodge the attacks thrown their way, on top of reacting faster based purely on speed. As quickly as the Aura Sphere energy collides into Perrserker, and the Hammer Arm move into Scizor, both Pokemon fly back to Peony's side of the grass as they're knocked out. The impact from the attacks hitting his own team at the same time forces Peony to shield his vision, if only for a moment. /This kid is really good like I was told.../ He thinks to himself.

BRZZT!

Display for Peony's team changes to the updated statistics. He only has a lone Pokemon remaining, and both of Haru's are in good shape. Keeping a poker face, Haru continues to look on.

Holding one ball in hand, Peony looks to Haru. "Steel's tough as they come! The more hits it takes, the more ultra-mega-determined it gets!" Landing in front of Haru was a Copperajah, who lets out a bellowing call. Haru spots a certain glow on the wristband Peony carries.

/...Is he going to Gigantimax and go all out?/

"My darlin' Nia said she'd come watch, and even if she's not here right now, I've gotta make sure she sees her papa at his best!" With no further hesitation, the Copperajah withdraws back into the ball, and Peony Gigantimaxes it for his final play. The titantic sized elephant-like creature crashes onto the ground as Haru relaxes both hands into his pockets. Several people start to take guesses on whom Haru will Gigantimax to combat, only for Haru to raise his right arm, extend it and then remove the wristband entirely. It's then stashed into one of his pockets before he glares back at his opponent.

The commentator speaks again over the speakers. "WHAT IS THIS?! For the first time ever Haru has removed his band that allows him to Dynamax at will! Ladies and gentleman I don't know what play he's going for but whatever comes of it will be sure to SHOCK you to the core!"

Nessa focuses harder due to the battle's tension. She watches Haru play to the crowd. Seeing her fiancé' play up the persona for the crowd's reaction, only to toss his Dynamax band had her wondering what he could possibly be cooking up. /I believe in you, Haru./

Giving Mirukon a X-Attack, he trusts his Archimedes enough to know what move to use against the Gigantimaxed Copperajah. A Hammer Arm is seen clashing against the side of the giant Pokemon, eliciting some damage, but not enough to guarantee anything. Then it comes quick: Peony shouting "Max Ground!". The Earth underneath the Metagross explodes and the whole audience gasps as a small cloud of sand and dirt appears near Haru's Metagross.

...only to be revealed still on all of its legs when cleared by a single health point. The Metagross looks back to its owner, shaky, as Haru grinned. The crowd explodes in excitement from this twist in the fight.

"What?! It survived?!"

"Holy shit let's go!"

"Yo Haru let's do this!" call out multiple people in the crowd.

Haru looks to Peony and then gestures to his Lucario, Mirukon. "Mirukon, now do it! Finish this off now!" The Lucario needed no further instruction, disappearing and reappearing in front of the Copperajah with a flurry of rapidfire punches. 'Close Combat' collided onto the large Steel Pokemon with the Lucario exhaling with an 'ora ora' like flurry. The final punch causes the zero-HP explosion upon Dynamax/Gigantimax phenomena to fail, as the ground shakes. Losing its balance and being knocked out, the Copperajah is quickly withdrawn as Haru huffs.

Ear piercing shouts of excitement from Haru's win of the day coming from fighting another Steel-based user of legendary proportions echoed back and forth while the commentator fills in the gaps. "In a grand turnover of events, with a pair of legendary Steel Gym Leaders facing each other in combat: One came out the victor! It may not be related to any challenger earning a badge, but mark your calendars: remember where you were when Haru defeated Peony! Let's give these gentleman a round of applause for their strength and wits!"

Peony had briefly hid his face by taking his helmet off and then looked back. "Guess it's not my place to be braggin'!"

Choosing not to respond, Haru just looked back confidently: he was the man of the household, and he did his duty in protecting the reputation of himself and the new Steel Gym. His eyes close as he listens to the audience shower heaps of cheers to the battle's conclusion, and gave a wry smirk of satisfaction.

Walking to meet Haru in the middle, Peony just chuckled. "Gahahaaa! Look at me, takin' a thrashin' from a youngster like you! I had expected you to show me up, but I didn't think our generational strength was that far apart! Hmm.." He put a hand to his chin in thought. "Yes. You're just the right choice for what I was looking for, not only to pass the torch on, but to help me in the future. I wrote to you about a special something in the letter: expedition in Crown Tundra, do you recall?"

Once more, Haru stayed silent...it was as if he turned back into his former self when doing the league and chose not to speak often. The new 'Soul of Steel' merely nods in affirmation. Peony responded, saying "Come see me when you have time. I've off to give your staff my information, but I know you'll be in touch sooner or later. We are on the cusp of somethin' amazing, and I've chosen you to be our big arm for our efforts." Peony readjusted his helmet and tipped it forward in an act of professionalism. "I'll be seein' you, then, lad! Take care of those strong Pokémon of yours!" Walking past Haru, Peony made his exit while the current Gym Leader looked on.

As the commentator once more ran over the statistics of the battle, Nessa kept watch over Haru's body language. Him having a victory over the former superpower Steel user should be making him appear much happier. It may have been a persona he was putting on with the cap and outfit he now possessed, but she spotted something beneath. She studied him as he turned to wave one final time to placate fans of his own before disappearing back into the hallways of the Gym.

"Hmmmm..." The woman squinted her eyes in worry, excusing herself between excited fans who were in their seats to go on her way to meet him.

- - - - - Haru's Office - - - - -

- - - - - Steel Gym - - - - -

Haru doesn't speak to anyone upon conclusion of the match. He ended up winning through a difference of sheer wit and strength in a Steel vs Steel battle, but realized after victory that he didn't feel any better for it. Going to his office door, he halfheartedly waves to a passersby staff-man before going into the office space, sitting down in his chair and looking for the letter that Peony talked about. It took some digging, but he came to it and felt the realization come back to hit him. Revealed in that letter, Peony said he was a Gym Leader. Confusion swelled; were it due to being forgetful in his haste to put the letter away since it was early morning, or was it pride? The role that he went to study, plan, and earn now felt hollow.

He laughed weakly and idly tossed the letter to the side of his desk before looking out the window with a pensive stare. /...right there in black n' white. He told me straight up he was the former Gym Leader, and I didn't even commit any of it to memory. On top of that, making my decision for me on being part of some expedition? What sort of person does that...?/ Sighing, the Gym Leader leaned into his chair, now looking up at the ceiling.

His brows furrowed in irritation. How could he be left to think all this time that he was pushing something unique for the Galar League, or spicing things professionally amongst those that believed in him when even his new identity is just someone else's old job? Did it even mean anything if his role was just borrowed from someone else but with a new outfit, stadium, and team to go with it? Oleana and the rest of the others never told him about Peony, and Haru just leaned on a hand that was propped up on an elbow on his desk in thought. /What the fuck have I been doing for this past year and a half?/

"...dear?" Came the sound of Nessa's voice as she entered his office and closed the door behind her. The sound of her heeled shoes were heard as she approaches the desk then around to kneel and take the man's hands into her own. As their eyes met it pained her to see him like this, so lost: humiliated in a sense. "Hey...what's wrong? I can tell with how your brows crease and frown that something's left with you on that fight, hasn't it?" She whispered softly while pressing gentle kisses to his knuckles. "I thought I'd come to see you excited. You showed that Peony how much more there is to learn from Steel since he was around."

Haru spoke with a tone that mirrored when she saw him worried on what he'll do after becoming Champion. "...he put me right on the spot in front of untold numbers of people. I came here to welcome any challenger to THE Steel Gym, but Peony's entrance may as well have been just an old manager checking up on how 'things have been' since he left. That stupid grin he had pissed me off. How fucking dare he show up."

She thought over her next words before speaking. "It doesn't matter if Peony was the first Steel Leader or not, what matters is the imprint; the impression you've left exceeds his on the Pokemon League. YOU became the man of steel with your steeled soul and heart. I watched you take each step to form the foundation of something far greater then Oleana and Peony could ever hope to build."

His eyes shifted to the side, looking away from Nessa dismissively. ""...and yet everyone stayed quiet on him." he said coldly "Was it so everyone could humor me because I was so enthusiastic? Was this all done to satiate the 'little eager hero' so I feel more important when my role in this..." One hand clenched into a fist, and he shook it. "...this stage play came to its curtain call?" He frowned as Nessa saw his eyes wander around unfocused. "...and then he just decides for me what I'm going to do after this as if I have any choice. If I go and do what he wants, it's like I'm back where I was before, but if I don't, who knows?"

There was going to be some back-and-forth between them before the wall of Haru's stubborn nature went down, but luckily for him, she knew how to fire back. "Mmmmmmm I don't think it's going to be so simple. Your audience was left stunned by you already. You should also know it's been over 20 years since Peony was a leader. He left so suddenly that not many recall him, and whatever influence he could have put into Galar did not last." She spoke, using a thumb to turn his face by the chin to look at her hypnotizing blue eyes. "When I was in the stands, I caught some folks chatting each other up about you more than Peony. They asked 'who the old man was' and 'why was he trying to make you look like a fool.' Don't ignore what you felt the audience give back to you."

She made a compelling point, and Haru's expression lightened up a little. "Well, to be fair, I guess it is hard to make out some things in 'the moment'. Now that I'm a Gym Leader I know what the weight of curating my own Gym is like." trying to exhale deep and slow to let the tension go.

Nessa hummed to herself. "If you ask me, I'd say there's going to be more than a few niche discussions about that very match, darling."

He looked at her through the lens of his more serious persona before removing his hat. As it laid on the desk, his face softened up and his mind began to clear. "You were asleep when I got that letter and looked at it. Over time I had all but forgotten the details of what was written." Haru grumbled. "Something about the way he showed up today brought forth so many conflicting thoughts. Like 'How did Oleana allow me to believe I'm unique or even praiseworthy for getting a Steel Gym?' or 'Is this another stupid fucking test?'."

"If it even was, which I don't think was the point of him showing up, you DID pass it, Haru! Didn't you see how fired up and proud he got? Peony looked like he felt at peace being able to pass not just the legacy, but the iconography of 'Steel Leader' to you. Think of it less of a Champion watching his usurper taking over and instead more of a master martial artist witnessing another one just as talented, if not more, reach greater heights. We're watching you grasp the world tightly and molding it into what suits you." Nessa urged to get through, to get the man who captured her heart and open his eyes. "Well...molding the league as a Gym Leader, anyway. You're no politician."

She had a point. Haru laughed with Nessa at the way she phrased it, then squeezed one of the hands that was holding onto his own and sighed. "All of it is just a jumble of confusing thoughts, but I should be able to get past it. I hope."

The dark skinned woman frowns as she looks down at him. "Haru…this wasn't the only thing on your mind, was it? Are you still on about whatever happened to you in the hallway?"

He had the deer-in-headlights look show up on his face.

"You have till the count of 3 to tell me more or I'm taking very drastic matters to lift your spirits..." Her eyes squint at him. "...and we both know how you love when I top you~"

Haru blinked, but laughed weakly. /Would now be a good time to tell her what happened in the hallway...? I don't have a new challenger yet, and nobody has paged me./

He looks to her, the window, then the door. Reaching to a button under his desk, he presses it and locks the office door "You're right. There's more to what happened in the hallway before the Peony match."

"!" Her eyes widen, fully on alert. "...and that you still haven't told me what happened is mean! I thought you trusted me~" Nessa pretends to whine cutely before winking.

"I am certain this will sound crazy, but I'm certain yours truly was scouted by Arceus." He says plainly.

"Eh...?" Nessa blinked.

Listening to her fiancé speak frankly on the unusual situation, Nessa sat on Haru's desk. She never met anyone personally that had supernatural encounters with legendary or mythical Pokemon: only read about them. Herself living in Galar when Haru and Hop were in the Challenge meant she bore witness to several strange occurrences, but this alone surpassed anything else. "Sounds like you've been called to a higher purpose, but far more directly than before."

When he had finished explaining everything, Haru had stood up from his chair and walked over to a set of photos on a bookshelf nearby where his entire pre-Champion league was laid out like a timeline. Picking up a photo of him and Hiro, he looks back to her. "When Hop and I met up with Leon and I looked at Eteneratus face to face, I wasn't scared until I saw it Gigantimax. Feeling the same dread that Rose threatened our land with, feeling the same dread that Galarians over 3,000 years ago witnessed chilled me to the bone. It was only thanks to a chance meeting with Zamazenta, Zacian, and with Hop by my side, that I was able to defeat and capture that chilling, powerful Dragon legendary Pokemon. It was thanks to that, that I didn't just collapse from fear."

/"Charizard and the rest of my champion team members have really worn Eternatus down."/

Haru chuckled and shook his head. "Right...Leon was braver than I was for facing it alone. Had it not been for him, maybe it wouldn't have been so easy. But I made my peace. Eternatus should have been the end of it. I feel bad, but I've yet taken it out of the ball since capturing it because I'm so scared of the creature. Fast forward to a bit past that: I thought 'Operation Critical Hit' was the end of it. The scariest thing during that whole trip was meeting up with Giovanni of Team Rocket personally, and seeing to what ends a man like that would go to see his ambition succeed. But this? All I had happen was Arceus appearing to me directly. Yet being within its presence: my bones quake thinking on it. If Arceus has ever done this to anyone else, then I'll be thankful for once I'm not that 'unique.'" He set the photo down and looked to the woman on his desk. "Do you know anyone who can help?"

"Cynthia from Sinnoh has a fascination with history. You can probably start by asking if she knows anything about the names or location he told you. 'Hisui' sounds like a name lost to time, so it's not ringing any bells to me. If nothing comes from Cynthia, we can go to Sonia or Hop." Crossing her legs, Nessa would lean against his desk.

The calling to him meant that Haru would truly not find any real moment to rest, but he did his best to not overthink it for the time being. Returning to the desk, Haru reached next to her and put on his cap as his mood 'shifts' back to the other one and sighed contently. "One last thing..." Nessa saw Haru bite his lip. "It's so weird to have heard this, but it came from Arceus so it has to be true: my father, whom I never met, is proud of me."

Opening up her arms to him, Nessa brought Haru in and wrapped herself around him. "Knowing that you had wondered about your father for all these years, it must feel good to hear that, right?"

With his head nestled into her chest, Haru shrugged. "It's definitely some sort of feeling. I didn't even have the weight of guilt about not knowing him before that was said to me." He squints his eyes in thought. "...or perhaps I didn't think I did, until I was told that very thing. Him and Hiro? Proud of me?"

"See? Now you can go the rest of the day of your debut kicking ass, right?" She asked, patting him on the head lightly.

She heard Haru snicker in response, and nod in agreement.

The pair would leave the office soon thereafter. Turning to Nessa, he'd tip his cap. "Let's see how many others are going to be worthy of the Steel Gym badge today..."

- That evening -

The Steel Gym, up to that point, was making trending headlines on the basis alone that Haru would be the one to head the gym. Anticipation had been building up and was carefully curated from the updates that he and others within the League over the past year plus revealed. Today's events had seen an overwhelmingly positive response, with the outpouring of comments on public review sites and social media talking about 'The rebirth of Haru's spirit'. Biting her thumb and huffing after seeing a video-on-demand recording of several battles, Syra would send him a text message that said [Okay you look kind of badass. Good work. Shame I couldn't beat you myself.] and laid back on her hotel bed in wait for a response. The games were the one thing Haru had to get used to being a Gym Leader himself. Staying isolated to one location and giving the audience a show over the course of several hours was exhausting. He found, though, that the payoff from a game day ending was giving the end-game day speech. Taking off his cap while he and the other Gym Trainers walked onto the field, Haru looked to his fans and smiled proudly. "I would like to thank everyone for coming to my Gym today to see me and my staff perform on the first day. I would also like to thank those of you watching on the livestreams. To my sponsors, to the Chairman, to my fans, friends, my mother, and my fiancé, I cannot thank you enough for the love and support you've shown to me. I hope that this mere taste of what fun things the Steel Gym can bring you will be enough to carry on for all time, and that you'll continue to watch us take on many challengers in the future." He took a bow with his staff as the leftover audience that had stuck around applauded him with cheers, whistles, and happy faces.

Donna, the little girl who had waited a long time since Haru was a Champion, had long since passed out in the arms of her parents. She had now possessed a few new items that were being sold in the gift shop, so no doubt this would not be the end of running into said bundle of high end energy. Nessa knew Haru had post-gym-day logistics to run through before coming home, so she left after his farewell message to the crowd.

Before meeting up with the other staffers, and setting foot back into his office, Haru had brought out a bottle of wine and poured a glass for himself. /Hiro, it's finished. I'm probably going to complain and get a little more anxious from here on out since I'll be managing so many more things, but I did it. I accomplished exactly what I set out to do, as I told you I would. If you were here, I'd ask you for a toast./ His hand raised the glass higher, and turned around as if facing to an invisible person near the front of his office door. /Hiro, I'll drink this in your honor, as I shall do my best to not dwell on the past anymore. You've helped me as my brother when you were around. When I was confused about my life and where to go, even now, you helped me see that the circumstances of my own life are irrelevant. It is what I choose to do with the gift of life that determines who I am. So I'll move forward from now on. Thank you./ Quietly, he drank the wine, and went to go meet with the rest of the staff to close out the first day.

- - - - - Hulbury - - - - -

- - - - - Haru and Nessa's Home, 7pm - - - - -

The front door swung open as a tired Haru waltzed into his abode after the long day of fulfilled dreams. Taking off his cap and hanging both it and his jacket, he let out his team of Pokemon to stretch their legs. Mirukon would be nearly tackled hugged by his and Masako's daughter, Ruby, with Haru nodding to the Ralts' mother. "Don't worry Masako, I made sure to treat his and everyone else's wounds before coming home." He said, assuring her of it. Nora would find her corner where she would take naps in the living room as Haru took a gander around for Nessa. He knew she had been home before his arrival, but knew little of where she was currently. /A moment to relax, at least before dinner.../ Finding the couch, turning and then letting gravity take him to paradise.

"Babe, you're home!" Nessa says, coming from the hallway in time to see Haru fall backwards, miss the couch entirely, and leave a loud 'thud' as his body hit the carpet. She gasped, halfway sprinting over as even the sound of him hitting the floor caused Nora to become alarmed. Both of them saw Haru, straight faced, looking upwards at the ceiling as if nothing had occurred at all: arms down to his sides. "...Haru?" she asked, concerned when he didn't say anything.

"No no. I know. I'm aware that I'm on the floor." He said while gritting his teeth lightly.

His reply made Nessa snort; catching her off guard. "...and what are you going to do about that?"

Staying still and dealing with the pain of falling flat to the floor, Haru responded, "My pride will not allow me to acknowledge that I completely fucked up laying on the couch, and hurt and I'm too lazy to move."

Nessa used one of her feet to move the coffee table to the side and then stood over him, leaned over. "If you don't get up I'll sit on you."

"Yes please." Keeping to his neutral expression.

"I meant your face, not your lap." Nessa said dryly.

Haru's eyes light up. "YES PLEASE."

The reply was met with a cheeky nudge of her feet to his shoulders, telling him to 'get the fuck up'. Moments later, he was laying down with his head softly nestled on top of her thighs. Feeling her fingers course through his hair, she replied "I'm proud of you."

Letting his body finally rest and reset to 'neutral', his eyes glance absentmindedly to his phone. "What?" Nessa asks.

"I got texted by Sam and Sevan: both probably giving me thanks for what happened today but I didn't reply yet. Been too damn preoccupied in between all the matches I did. I gott-" Haru reached out across his torso to grab at his phone before Nessa reached for his hand first and held onto it. "Eh?"

"Don't feel pressured to reply, darling. Wait until you've had some time to settle down at least from the long day okay? We still have to get you fed." There was an awkward silence between the two, and Nessa felt a bead of sweat form on her forehead. "Oh. W...was that too controlling of me?"

"No, you're right. There's no point in me feeling glued to my phone. My comrades aren't going anywhere." Once more his eyes shut and Haru sighed contently. "...so you do this every single day when the League is in full swing, huh? This shit's exhausting."

"Yep!" Nessa said before continuing. "I think back to the times when I have to put the Gym on hold. It's always because I'm double booked for a photoshoot or commercial. You making yourself get more 'serious' when you put on your cap is not too different than when I'm in and out of the battlefield." She bit her lip, thinking on it now that the two of them had a lot more in common than before.

"I'm just not nearly as sexy." Haru insisted, as Nessa just sighed, shaking her head.

She pinched one of his hairs on his eyebrows, making Haru squint. "Sir, I will yell at you for not giving yourself more self love, damn it."

It was Haru's turn to feel a bead of sweat form as he chuckled. "Right, of course."

He saw that Nessa was looking off to the side while patting his head. "There was an interview where I was able to talk about my modeling career, and it got me to think about us, and our future."

She had Haru's attention heighten. "...what about us?"

"Being able to marry you is going to be a new, big step. I can see myself being with you for the rest of my life like a clear picture, but when it comes to my modeling and Pokemon career...that picture gets a little fuzzy."

"Huh...that's a first."

For the first time there was hesitation in her voice. "I...erm. Yeah. This sorta thinking happens to everyone eventually, right? I love doing it, but I don't know when that stopping point will come for me. I have too much fun dressing up and being able to express myself when on the catwalk, or posing on a set. It could be for a double page spread in the newest issue of Galarian Home, or showing myself off in a Pokemon battle. Modeling is my way to feel 'free'. Heck, I like the cute cavalcade of noises you make when I do show up in cosplay just for your eyes only. It's something I never want to lose the love of doing."

"You should at least never forget the part of you that claims its love of the waters." He reached up to her chin and stroked it a bit, with the dark beauty nuzzling his hand in kind. "Now that we'll both be busier, I guess it'll be harder for us to spend as much time together until the season ends." Haru said with a tone of yearning. Her left hand rested on top of his chest and lightly stroked it. "...and then when that's over, I'll have to do my bidding at the sanctuary that's being made."

"Well before any of that happens, we have to do our wedding, and that's already stressing me out as it is." Nessa points out with a huff.

"Wait...you started already?" Haru blinked in disbelief.

"I didn't get much done, but I'm already in need of a break. Between all this with you, the league, the pre-preparations, it's a miracle I've not lost my cool." Nessa admitted, briefly looking over to the dining room table that had several pamphlets, a stationary with some loose papers, and her closed laptop.

"Nessa, let me take the load off of you for awhile. This is something that involves both of us, and you don't need the whole work load on yourself."

"No. Not now. It was important to me that you accomplished everything you set out to do today, so I had to start this on my own." She pouted, looking to the side. "Over a week ago." Haru looked a little defeated and squinted.

"We're supposed to be a team, though, hon." The woman looked to him as he now sat upright on the couch.

"That's true but this isn't something you should think about now: your gym comes first."

His eyebrows furrowed. "Nessa."

"Do you want to start discussing budgets? Venues for the ceremony and reception? Who will cater us? Who will our florist be? Who we invite? What type of wedding we do? I'm already on that last one, but I think my eyes are going to bulge if I have to decide between us going traditional Galarian or the beauty in going with an Alolan wedding...except that will have to involve-" Nessa had to take a breath before she set herself off, gesturing with both arms forward and wafting towards herself. "Serenity now."

Haru raised a hand, then clasping onto the one that had the engagement ring on her hand, and looked at her.

Her face softened up immediately. "I'm sorry..."

"No apologizing. We talked about if ya gotta let it out, to go ahead and let it out, darling. I will help you, but we can do this at our own pace, okay? For now, I should tell you what I learned on my sanctuary's pre-progress."

Appearing like she was saved from a self-inflicted panic attack, Nessa looked at her fiancé with relief. "...oh?"

The former Raging Wave nodded studiously as Haru told her what went on during the conversation pertaining to his sanctuary, and leaned onto the couch cushion when he finished. "So after all that talk with this 'Doctor Grace' that may or may not meet you, and Oleana offering to help out, you're going to have your hands full trying to get a lot of Pokemon caretakers."

"Well, that's the thing. I was thinking of putting Holly in charge: the woman we rescued in Kanto that is Syra's friend. She was put into a high ranking position for her mind for a reason: Team Rocket be damned. I already offered her a position at my sanctuary before this conversation happened. She's accepted, but I'm thinking of letting her run the place while I'm more so the..." Haru squinted his eyes trying to think of the words. "...figurehead, I guess. CEOs and those who sit at the very very top of a business or company tend to barely have any time to spare for their family."

She had figured they spoke enough about the what if's, could-be's, and if-only's, as Nessa walked over to the kitchen/dining area and pulled out a menu they had of a family-run restaurant. "Well for now, that's enough talk on all our dumb plans! Let's put all that aside and celebrate. My treat. I'm going to order us some dinner from your favorite curry joint, and we can put on a movie of your choosing!"

Nessa turned to see the redhead peer his face over the couch, eyeing her and squint. "You're ordering from Chef Kadabra's? Oh! Is ANY movie cool? EVEN if it's one of the ones you're not a fan of?"

Haru saw her grind her teeth a little and thought of the ones she wasn't a fan of: the one where a cop chased a convict in the dystopian future where even cursing nets you a fine. It could be the found footage film that took place on someone's computer, insisting a ghost haunted it and killed other people, or the intentionally poorly dubbed kung fu movie, along with several others. The pair had a stare off of slowly growing intensity as Haru's cheshire-like grin only kept widening.

She gave up. "Fine~, it can be anything you want..."

Throwing a fist pump into the air, Haru hissed "Yes" as he began thinking of what to watch while the pair discussed first what they'd have to eat.

As the dinner arrived they would enjoy it in 'celebration of Haru's longterm goal being fulfilled'. They'd decided to not rush onwards for their movie part of the 'date', but as with everything else that day, Haru was nothing short of grinning from ear to ear. In the course of enjoying their meal, Haru broke through one of the periods of silence by positing a question on his mind that had come in recent times; it had only laid in the back of his mind until now. "Babe? Been thinking of something I've been meaning to ask."

"Oh yeah?" Nessa replied in between chewing a mouthful of rice and briefly looking to her social mentions on her phone.

"So far we have managed to basically get away with what we did at the stadium, but a part of me wonders how it got to that point." Haru sounded lightly deflated, thinking back to the turnaround in opinion he had of Milo up to that point. The sound of a spoon hitting the plate rang out loudly as Nessa looked at Haru with a studious glare.

"...I'd do it again if I could."

Haru gulped a bit at the seriousness in Nessa's tone while her glare remained unwavering, feeling a bead of sweat on his forehead. "O-oh yeah?"

Without blinking, Nessa added onto her original thought. "Hell yes. Know what? Maybe I didn't go far enough! I'll be honest with you and say the execution of that 'act' we did felt fucking cathartic. I'd livestream it if I could have a second chance to re-enact it. " The model took a longer swig of her tea.

Haru folded his hands over the other as he set his plate aside momentarily. "Whether in the past, present, or future, I trust you. In my head I agreed that it was the perfect, simplest way to 'get back' at him for what he did, but I haven't known him as long as you did, and I wasn't sure if that degree was 'pushing it'. Then again..." He glances back to her. "It surely wasn't isolated to all the events that went down while I've dated you, was it?"

At that point in time, Haru saw Nessa wince as if she were calculating on a series of points to bring up. "It took its time to spill over, but Milo reached my 'boiling point' quite a bit ago. He got 'too' friendly for me to handle." She looked away to the side at a random spot on the wall, recalling the memories to her fiancé. "I'm a little competitive to a fault. I know it's one of my weaker points, so you and I having our means of approaching our 'zen' just sorta works for me. There is a bit of an initial confusion in which someone goes 'But how is Nessa the weaker rival to Milo when he's the very first Gym?'. That question perpetuates in conversations among many anonymous fans and non-fans. For me, I had to always fight against the notion I was 'weak'. I've never enjoyed being compared to anyone, and I've worked hard to make my own name stand out. Milo? He would end up being a bit..." Nessa let out a sigh and then grumbled; her fingers tapping a bit on the tablecloth in irritation. "The word I'd start him with is 'patronizing'. That's the baseline. He'd just...show up during matches. Approach me outside the Gym. But then he wouldn't get social cues and I'd have to just act professional. He'd place himself into a conversation if I was speaking to someone else."

Haru was heard audibly humming in surprise. She lowered her head.

"Look, it is more than just one or a couple of situations, but I never really felt safe around him. He had this air all the time that whatever face he had on was either an act or like it was put on to get through to someone else. Both you and I know now that this came from a different place we hoped wasn't the case, but before then I had to follow my gut feeling."

Frowning, Haru lowered his head. "I suppose that is something only a woman could experience more likely than a guy like me. Being pressured in ways when someone like him is being creepy or pushy would put me on edge, or even anger me if I were in your shoes."

The finger tapping stopped, and Nessa straightened her back as she looked at Haru. "That's why when all those little events piled up over time and I found out it was due to Milo I had no trouble thinking up of some intense revenge. For Milo, the one thing that could emasculate him the hardest and fastest was to simply bare witness as I give my whole body, heart, and soul to you. Forcing him to see every detail as untold numbers of thousands of fans watch would show what kind of support we have in droves. It may not have been the nicest thing I'd done..."

"I mean I don't thin-eh?" Haru had tried to comment as Nessa stood up and suddenly had the same combative energy she did during her own Pokemon battles; her hair seemingly on end with electricity as she glared back at Haru. "B-babe?"

"...but I don't care if it wasn't a nice thing to do. He has to now live with that memory and those images burned into his mind, and that's exactly what I want flooding his thoughts if he were to ever attempt coming back at us again!" She clenched a fist and huffed. Shivering a little from the animosity emanating from her, Haru just blushed and bit his lip.

"Y-yeah, exactly." /When Nessa gets like this, it's hard to find an easy moment to speak. But that side of her turns me on./ He thought.

"Haru!" She shouts.

"Y-yes ma'am!" He immediately replies.

A devilish smile spreads on Nessa's face as she just chuckled. Her face softened, walked over to his seat, leaned over and kissed him with a small peck on the lips. The couple held hands for a moment, and then she returned to her seat, happy to have gotten that off her chest. "I hope that explains it all."

"By quite a large margin, yes." He replied through rosey cheeks and a light chuckle.

"There's no correlation, but talking about that did remind me of something I had meant to ask you, Haru. After all the interviews and the times we've spoken on it, I don't think I know why you ended up on this route. Why you are who and what you are: the reason for 'Haru'." She looked at a semi-confused redhead who wiped his chin from the curry sauce and rice that were present.

"W-What do you mean? Have I really not told you?" He asked, to which Nessa countered.

"Thinking back to when we were just hanging out together in Hulbury near my Gym. To the party the other Gym Leaders, Leon and I threw when we were trying to help you out. I know what led to your eventual decision to become a Gym Leader, and why it meant so much for you to find a purpose so you don't grow complacent." She pointed a fork at his direction at the table. "Because you were: I hadn't placed you for a person who would end up kinda complaining when he became Champion, but you were exactly that type."

Haru laughed a little nervously and nodded, downing some of his tea. "Yeah, I sure was, huh?"

"Mmm. So I wanna know Haru, what made you become that way?" She didn't want him to think she was judging, so the fork went down and she let her voice soften up a little. "Most people would have probably taken your position and stayed a celebrity. Few have ever been in that position, and most dream about the financial reward of being one, and nothing else. What led you to become this man who tries so hard to upend himself: never satisfied with being on top?"

Across the table, Haru had a hand on the back of his neck. Never one to waste her wording, he knew what Nessa meant. "It's because of my mom."

"...oh!" Nessa says, surprised. She saw Haru look off to the side like he was thinking back and putting himself in time where his origins had lay.

"You already know that my Mom and I have a good relationship, but a lot of that came through sacrifices she made for my sake. Because I grew up without a dad, Mom had to put in a bit of extra time into raising me alone. I have vague memories where she would stress a lot near the holidays, and I felt bad that all I could do was just simply smile and not be a 'problem child'. In order to make sure I went to the academies I did, both learning about academics and Pokemon alike, she spent long hours working." He seemed sad, looking at his plate of food, as he imagined long-since-passed times. "I felt bad seeing her so tired after school, but home life would be fine as long as we both kept at the 'grind'. Yet because she spent so much time trying to make sure I even had a childhood, Mom didn't get a chance to do much of what she wanted."

Haru took a moment to eat some more of his food before continuing, sighing. He wondered if he ended up becoming a workaholic because of the example he saw growing up, and worried on his own future repeating other things he had seen. "You know her as a veterinarian that helped teach me about Pokemon growing up, but she didn't want to always do that, you know. She was really competitive as a challenger in the Pokemon League, and saw a rival in Amiri, who then, I didn't know as anything more than just a name of someone she spoke of from time to time. Now? I know that she was Syra's Mom. But because she had given birth to me, and didn't know how to get past a certain threshold in the Gym Challenge, I guess she just stopped. 'My son is all that matters' is probably something she'd say."

"...so because your mom put so much effort into seeing you succeed, you feel like you have to keep that image up?" Nessa asked, curious if that's where he was going with the flashback.

"No. Yes. It's complicated. I figured if I kept working towards the goals I wanted to, that one day I too would be a great Pokemon trainer, and that all of my mom's sacrifices for me would be worth it. But if I ever became strong or a Champion, then I could help pay back all that lost time she spent just raising me." He smiled gently and let out a soft laugh.

Nessa catches that slight mood change. "What, hon?"

"Thinking about Hiro, I remember fondly that we both wanted to do this together. We imagined our 'time in the spotlight' as Pokemon trainers before it actually happened and had many talks with Hop. Hop, Hiro, and I, had hung out at Hop's house either trading Pokemon cards, pretending to have Pokemon battles ourselves, or watching battles and talking a lot about how the 3 of us were going to go at it together one day. Because I was so enthralled in the idea of seeing the world as a Pokemon trainer, I took that inspiration alongside what my mom instilled in me and figured one day 'What the heck'. After Hiro passed, that idea went to me to fulfill it for them both." As Haru spoke on his past, he came to a realization just mere inches before the fork had put another portion of his dinner in his mouth. He set it down and smiled, looking to Nessa.

"Hmm?"

"Sorry Nessa. Compared to you, I've been pontificating just for the sake of answering your question." He apologized, as both of them ended up laughing.

Nessa handwaves it and shakes her head. "It's okay. I'm glad you feel safe enough to tell me about your past."

"I smiled just now because I realized that in spite of all that of which I've told you now, that this is all due to the Pokemon League and meeting everyone. At the beginning, there was only my Mom and Hiro on my mind. Hop I knew well enough that I could support him but never forgot that he too was a competitor. Then there was Bede, Marnie, and all you Gym Leaders who came through for me." Haru eyed Nessa and sighed contently. "As I learned more about you guys, I didn't want you guys to think any less of me." He thought of the few times where in recent memory he had his patience completely broken, or the time he yelled at a journalist in public. Shrugging it off, he set his utensils down and stepped away from his table to head to the fridge.

She looked on in worry that they had gone too deep. Getting up, she walked over to him, as Haru quietly turned and simply laid his forehead against her torso. They embraced, arm in arm, and Haru took a deep breath. "It's been hard keeping up appearances knowing I am the reason you and I are able to have this lovely dinner, but I truly am grateful for all of you. You, most of all, have had the most heart-fulfilling impact on my life."

As the bottom of her chin rested on top of his head, Nessa hummed. "Same."

"I uh...came in here to get some root beer, but now you're here and I kinda just wanna cuddle like this for a bit." Haru admitted, causing both of them to chuckle.

"My my, so spoiled for attention, ..." Nessa teased.

- - - - - The Next Morning - - - - -

Rising up to the beat of his own drum, Haru awoke to the dark morning skies of Galar whilst humming a joyful tune in his head. The sleep may have been in his eyes, and hair messy from the previous evening's activities, but his spirits were high. He took his time rising to meet the morning; remembering he wouldn't have to be at his Steel Gym unless a brand new slew of challengers began piling to his Gym that very day. Quietly nodding to Mirukon, who was feeding his daughter Ruby in the living room, Haru silently made himself a small breakfast. /Yesterday was a big accomplishment for me. Mom texted me to let me know she watched the whole day's worth of matches on TV, Sam sent me congrats messages, and Hop called later last night. That leaves Sevan being the outlier on whom I didn't hear from./

He winced at that thought and sighed, thinking he was being too discourteous. /Knowing him he may either be awake thanks to insomnia or only recently having passed out. He hasn't been responding to me as much since Oleana chewed him out...is he okay?/ After pouring himself a small bowl of cereal and eyeing the clock on the wall, Haru hummed in thought at his friend's condition. /Maybe if I just call him and come by, it'll get him out of that rut./

"Say, Mirukon, I've a question" He asked. The Lucario looked over idly while nursing the shiny Ralts in his beefy arms to his master.

"You know I'm not quite the fighter, but it's not as if I can ask you to teach me, and getting a pair of fighting Pokemon to act as partners wouldn't help me since I'm not built like Bea. But after running into the same man who nearly beat me up yesterday, it did get me thinking on how not everyone is as lucky as me to avoid fighting. Do you think I should find a mentor who could help me get more fit and learn to defend myself?" He asked. The Lucario seemed to mutter to himself in thought, then looked at Ruby with some visible endearment to the small Pokemon, then to his master again with a more visibly proud expression. It seemed to convey the father-like instinct to want to protect others they care about, and Haru nodded, smiling.

"It's good that I got a chance to make up with that jerk who roughhoused me, but I'd have to be daft to think every situation will resolve itself like that and not like when those jerks invaded my Mom's home..." His face lowered a bit upon recalling the memory, then shook off the negativity that the memory brought back. His eyes scan around the living space around him before falling onto a photo he had of Hiro, and got an idea from it. /Yeah. Good idea/ "I think I got the thing, Mirukon. But first, breakfast."

The sun peered across the horizon, only to be whisked away by a blanket of clouds as Haru and Nessa stepped off the morning Air Taxi cab. Waving to the cabbie, the two arrived to Stow-In-Side, and in short order, its Gym. The logo of the Fighting type was hung on the entrance: it appeared to be a day off for Allister. "Do you think Bea will train you? It'll be a lot to undergo in between your Gym matches..." Nessa asked, idly waving to some staff that noticed her and Haru walking down the hallways inside the Gym.

"She did for a small bit of time before Syra and I fought for the Championship title, but it was on short notice and I wasn't doing very good. Turns out the 'meditation' part was a step I was struggling with the most." He stopped short of opening the sliding door to the training dojo as Haru looked to Nessa seriously. "I know that you'll love me no matter how I look, but you were there on the time I nearly got dusted by a nonce in broad daylight, so I want to erase such a possibility."

She handwaved it and shook her head. "You're worrying too much, love. Just do what you want, and I'll support it: just like your quest to complete the Galar Pokedex!"

"!" /Right, I still have to aim towards that goal as well. Perhaps after the challenge is over this year.../ Thinking to himself, Haru took note. Sliding the door open, Haru saw the dojo was with only one person training in the corner. Bea was equipped with finger-cut gloves and shadowboxing a mannequin. As Haru took breath to speak, he was kneecapped in speaking with an arm coiling around his neck and yanking him to the side. Much to Nessa's brief spike in panic, the surprise catches her and Haru off guard.

It was merely Syra giving Haru a noogie, having made the hat fly off. "Good morning, of Steel!"

"Syra...for fuck's sake...!" The redhead's face went pink with blush, causing Bea to take note of the new guests, and only giving the lightest of smirks to acknowledge their entrance. Letting him go after a brief respite, Syra grinned from ear to ear and sighed. Near her feet, a grey furred Eevee was yipping at them with his tail wagging.

Clenching a fist, Syra looked to Haru and Nessa with more energy than either of them had to spare this early in the morning. "I watched the whole thing last night before going to bed, so I'm still just as excitable. You really tore the house apart with your matches, Haru! It makes me yearn for our matc-"

"Yes yes, thank you." The Gym Leader said, while dusting his cap and coughing from the air coming back to him more easily. He looks down and sees the happy looking Eevee smiling wide at him, with Haru smirking back to it. "Is this the one you messaged me about?"

'Vee!' the Eevee yips.

"Hey! I was complimenting you, ya bellend!" Syra huffed, crossing her arms then sitting on one of the many mats in the dojo, looking to the Eevee who then ran to her side. "This is Tsukiyomi, the Eevee I rescued."

"Lucky you to run into a shiny Pokemon like him in the wild. Have you decided what you'll evolve him into?" Haru asked, kneeling down as Tsukiyomi hopped over, detecting the friendliness and lack of danger, sniffing his hand.

Shaking her head, Syra looked to Nessa and Haru both with an impassive sigh. "I don't know, honestly. A part of me just wants to...see if I can decide later. I'll continue training him and loving on him, but for now I can't decide on a stone to evolve him with yet."

Just as Tsukiyomi was licking and leaning into Haru's petting, their conversation was joined by the master in the room. Throwing another punch and then exhaling slowly as if to break from her routine, Bea bowed to the mannequin then walked to meet her other friends. "Morning Haru, Nessa. What brings you both to Stow-In-Side?"

Pointing with her thumb, Nessa gestured to her lover. "He's come with a request of you."

"I've no real proper way to say it, so I'll be frank, Bea. If at all possible I want to continue my tutelag-" He was cut off as Bea crossed her arms into a 'X' formation.

"No deal, Haru."

Tsukiyomi yipped confidently as if talking with Bea towards Haru. He felt a bead of sweat form between his brows, but took a breath so he wouldn't just reply without thinking. Readjusting his cap, he sighed. "Ok. Sudden, but succinct answer. I'm certain you have your reasons, but if I may: it's known among our group of leaders and friends that you train with Syra often."

As her silver eyes scanned him quietly, Bea walked past Haru to fetch a bottle of water and opened it. "You speak the truth, but there are some caveats. The first is that I cannot properly follow up your training we did together. That was to help you focus for your then-defending of the Championship title: a thing you no longer are privy to as of this moment. The second, is that Syra herself is already proficient in combat. I do not need to spend extra time explaining simple concepts or give tutorials for what she needs to improve herself: she merely 'does'."

Off to the corner, Syra was seen chuckling like a Meowth and held up a 'V' with both hands. Tsukiyomi stood by her and puffed his chest outwards. Bea looked to the couple after drinking some water to rehydrate herself and frowned. "As much as I would love to help you become a fighter, I do not believe it would benefit myself or you to attempt this with you as a student once more. I am no teacher. I cannot become anyone's sensei until I myself have mastered my disciplines. I can, however, seek to refine." Bea's arm juts outwards to point to Syra. "Syra herself helps me to refine it, to which I am thankful for...so I apologize. As your friend, I have failed you in this respect..."

Bea bows to him as Haru, in his slight moment of uneasiness, looks away. "Good grief, okay. So I guess I have to find someone else, then."

"It's not like you could ever catch up even if you trained for 100 years, !"

"Syra, please, it feels weird hearing you call me that insipid nickname!" Haru said, feeling a vein in his forehead throb looking at her, as she stuck her tongue out to him.

Nessa sighed, and not wanting to feel like she wasted a trip, was trying to think of other alternatives. "Bea, with you being a student of Galarian Karate, is there a chance of someone else like you that could take Haru as a student? He has the stamina to handle it, since he and I do morning exercises in The Wild Area whenever we can."

Nodding in agreement, Haru supported her statement. "Been at it for a good while now. It's fun to see the morning sun come in with her."

"No. Nobody I know of has the knowhow or seniority to-" Bea's eyes look to the side. For a passing moment she's reminded of the fight she had in Stow-In-Side with that one trainer.

"...Bea?"

"Bea?" Both Haru and Syra called to the fighting expert, who appeared to zone out momentarily.

She was caught unguarded, and shook her head before combing her hair back with a hand. "Apologies. Nothing but a distraction. Suffice it to say, I've not the confidence to comment whether or not it would work. Sorry, you guys." Speaking frankly, she had deduced how Sevan threw his punches and reacted at a fraction of a second, but that being their only encounter so far she could not say one way or another. Him being a comrade to Haru would help things greatly, and it may benefit Sevan as well. The air of silence was broken as Bea's stomach growled. "Sorry: how unkempt of me."

Nessa felt she had to apologize, having known Bea the longest of them in the room. "It's okay Bea, I understand. This is a lot to ask someone out of the blue."

"You're right...so it pains me to turn you down." Bea replied, before eyeing Syra, who looked back with a wiggle of eyebrows.

"It's no skin off our backs, Haru, but we're both a little on edge so that's probably why she's super apologetic this morning." Syra said with a bit of annoyance in her tone.

"...what happened? You having a shortage of staff, Bea? I can get you some of my guys to fill in, if need be." Nessa asked, with Bea just shaking her head.

The fighter expert rubbed one of her wrists as she removed a glove. "It's something much simpler and, if I'm honest with you, frankly silly. Our break room has run very low on morning amenities...including all the things I like putting in coffee. So I'm admittedly feeling off-centered."

As if a gear turned in his mind, Haru's eyebrows raised. "Let me guess...things like marshmallows, chocolate chips or the multiple types of sugar packets?"

Bea sighed, not wanting to admit it even to a group such as them. "As I said, 'silly'. I need to train my mind better and not rely on it but...it's too good to just let go!"

Haru felt a particularly clever idea course through his mind and gave a wide grin. "As much as I would help you restock for something your Gym clearly needs myself, I have a better idea." He raised a finger, and Syra felt her alertness skyrocket; sensing where his mind had already gone. "There is such a particular source of coffee I can fetch for you, that I hope it surpasses whatever you've had before. We need only visit one man who makes his own. Getting a cuppa out of him is almost a religious experience."

In a flash of a second Syra was standing up. She picked up Tsukiyomi to hold in her arms: knowing a certain blonde streaked man who would get a special visit very soon. "I can vouch: Haru's telling the truth. Yours truly has sipped it herself."

Almost left in a corner to her confusion, Nessa made a quizzical expression to Haru, who looked back at her in a nod of 'trust me'. Bea crossed her arms. She wasn't certain.

Syra laid a hand on one of Bea's shoulders and looked her in the face. "Bea. Imagine it: the creamiest brew that could be chocolate milk with foam on top and whipped cream...and you'd never know it was actually just coffee."

The usually neutral expression that Bea wore stayed there as if processing slowly the words Syra spoke, and then cleared her throat as her cheeks got rosey. "I suppose that does sound lovely..."

It took 10 minutes straight of knocking and a moment shouting through the door before it opened. Peering through the crack, a dry eyed, sleepy looking Sevan eyed Haru. "Th' fuck? Morning Haru." He saw Syra behind him with an Eevee in her arms, and Nessa off to the side. "Oh, hey Nessa, Syra. What brings you guys here?"

"Coffee run. C'mon bro, open up." Nodding a little, Haru said hoping he could hurry and just let them inside.

Sevan groaned slowly and turned to eye the clock, then looked back at them. "You're getting too comfortable arriving at random." He leaned forward back through the crack in the door and froze up when he saw Bea looking back. All the blood came rushing to his face and his voice raised multiple octaves higher. "F-f-f..Ah! Actually, gimme a second to open up." He shut the door as the sound of locks jostling around and a Leafeon talking to him were heard.

Syra just giggled mischievously as Bea looked on in confusion. "Had a feeling he'd wake right up once he saw who visited." the velvet haired girl said, with Nessa looking to Bea when the girl innocently asked "Is he okay?".

"Oh he is, trust me. I've seen this sort of reaction before." Nessa confidently said to Bea.

"You have?"

The former Raging Wave snickered, looking to Haru. "Several times, actually."

An hour later passes. In-between the incoherent half-sentences and waking up, Sevan managed to host his friends for what initially appeared as a simple coffee run. It was instead a disguised ruse on Haru's behalf to get Bea and Sevan talking more. It succeeded...even if it ended up being only a few words and half-stammering from the host himself. /I can talk to him after this about working out under his watchful eye. For now, this is nice enough to have us all here./ Haru thought to himself. Everybody's gaze synchronized with each other when the Fighting Gym Leader took a sip of the brew he had concocted: awaiting a response. It must have felt like a whole minute had passed, but she was wholeheartedly sold head to toe and declared 'Whatever it is you have, I need more of this for the Gym!'. Bea pointed to Sevan. His command from her was that she have him come to the Gym every morning to make it for her and the others, because she can't live without it.

/Oh no.../ Sevan thinks to himself, feeling his cheeks redden while gripping onto his shins. It took all of Sevan's energy to keep himself held together, but he accepted. From tomorrow onward, he'd show up early morning for his task.

Having little time to spend chewing the scenery together, Bea and Syra made their leave early. Nessa let Haru know she was going to go back to her Gym to prepare for the few challengers she got, and Haru waved to her.

He folded his arms together and looked to Sevan, who yawned, but looked back. "You look like you're resting on something to say."

Nodding in agreement, Haru took a few steps forward from the entrance and turned to his friend. "Want to go on a walk with me? I feel like catching up with you, man."

"Give me a moment to wake up the others, and I'll be back." Sevan said, closing the door.

- - - - - Wyndon - - - - -

Walking alongside his friend, Haru watched as a groggy Pidgeot, Ninetales and Leafeon trailed Sevan. Both hands in his pockets, and his posture slightly leaned forward, the two had already been deep in discussion. It wasn't quite a city that doesn't sleep, but even the morning sun wasn't as bright as some of the lights in Wyndon. Haru halted in his steps, looking at the ground in sadness when he heard his friend say something. "...feeling lost and without purpose is a special kind of purgatory I don't wish on anyone. I'm sorry that what happened is what you're dealing with right now."

Sevan stood there and took a deep breath. "Haru. You should know that I've kept my guard up to you even now, so if I sound hesitant to have told you all this...it's because I am."

The Steel Leader nodded. "I understand. You won't be pressured by me, any."

"There's a lot inside me that I'm struggling with right now, and it followed me from Ho-..from Home." His current bundle of anxiety wasn't only thinking about how he botched the Gym Challenge to Bea, but how stupid he was to not see how tired his Pokemon were. He had been nonstop cursing it, and wondered if his decision to come here was even the right one considering he left his others back home.

"There's nothing I can do to take any of that pain away, Sev." Haru found a light post to lean against. "Hiro has been gone for a couple of years, but I still have really bad episodes where I just don't want to exist." He gestured with his arms outstretched, as Sevan appeared alarmed. "Not that I want to 'die', but that I just don't want to exist in the current time." Haru tensed the muscles in his forearms trying to think of how to elaborate. "There's so many things that I'm experiencing and enjoying that I want to tell him. He should be here teasing me about my relationship with Nessa, bugging me on my phone about wanting to go camping or just take a day trip where we do nothing but hop on an Air Taxi and chill." The light gusts of Wyndon's morning blew through as Haru had to clench his jawline to hold the sorrow back. He simply can't be falling apart at every single mention of Hiro, it wasn't healthy. Exhaling slowly and slapping his cheeks lightly, Haru tried to shake it off. "UGHHHHhhhh~. Sorry!"

Haru laughed weakly as a sign of coping. "Even if my mind and soul are at ease knowing he's okay where he went, that doesn't mean I can't feel bad that his physical presence isn't here, you know? Because he's not around, I have trouble sometimes simply staying in 'the moment', and think it's not fair for me to live like he's not around."

Bringing both hands out of his pockets, Sevan listened to Haru exposit on his own trauma, and sighed. "Appears that we both have trouble moving forward from our past."

"Yeah. Life is fucked sometimes." Haru said, but held up a hand. "On that note, Sev, I understand that I can't stop you or drag you by the arm to stop doing what you're doing."

"!"

Haru shifted his body to Sevan as a hand laid to his side. "Syra told me the gist of what happened when she 'found you'...I've just not got a real chance to address it to you until now."

"Wouldn't have mattered if you were in her place: you couldn't stop me." feigning some confidence for a moment, Sevan smirked. It may have been a front, but he wasn't going to let old habits lay.

Across one of the animated marquee advertisements, Haru saw an upcoming special of mixed martial arts combatants using Pokemon as their partners in the ring. Fighters had their partners 'tag in' and perform moves in mere hundredths of a second. It appeared to be part of a larger special running about different types of Pokemon combat, as the screen shifted to showcase a small arena as a wrestler-inspired Pikachu fought a Lucario within it. Looking from the ad back to Sevan, Haru worked the courage to ask. "Hey Sev? This may be the most off-the-cuff coming from me, but I was hoping you'd be willing to help me also do what you do. Could you...can you teach me to fight like you do?"

Surprised, Sevan flattened his lips: needing a moment to think on it.

Hoping that his friend would see where he was coming from, Haru continued. "If I had a 100 Pokedollars for situations where my inability to properly defend myself without my Pokemon, using hand-to-hand combat worked in my favor, I'd have 200 Pokedollars. That's not a lot, but that it happened twice is really weird."

"Twice?" Sevan squinted.

"The first was when I was manhandled in the streets in Hammerlocke, only to be saved by Bea doing a flying kick. Nessa was there, too. The second...you're aware of." Haru eyed Sevan just slightly under the shade of his own cap.

"Did you try asking Bea? She's the karate expert." Sevan replied, feeling hesitant to be anyone's teacher.

"Already did that: she has Syra, who is far less trouble to teach than me, who is a beginner." Haru said, shrugging his shoulders.

"Right. Bea would probably be dealing with a lot if she had you as a student, and Syra. Training. Getting all sweaty in that training room..." His mind wandered for a second, thinking about the black bodysuit Bea had with the defined abs underneath.

Squinting back, Haru looked at him. "Sev?"

Standing there and thinking it over, Sevan had to pull his attention back from his daydream. "Understand this much. If I'm to put you under my watch then it'll mean more than the stamina training you have so casually gotten used to with Nessa."

Erupting on his brow, Haru felt a bead of sweat form with Sevan's change of tone. "A...ah. Is that so?"

Sevan smirked.

"Hey wait, the fuck does THAT mean?!"

"I imagine you're not just stamina training with her via morning laps, right? I know you two have done it multiple times by now." Stating plainly, Sevan pointed out to him.

Haru just cleared his throat.

"But I know you saw my home gym. Did you think it was for decoration? Give me a time to work with you, and I'll put some fucking meat on those arms." He said, lifting up one of Haru's sleeved arms, causing Haru to do a double-take.

"Hey man, it's not like I'm some noodle man! I just need to beef up and learn to defend myself!" The sweat had increased as Sevan, the clearly taller of the two gentlemen, leaned forward to Haru in a judging manner.

"We're going to un-bitch that figure you have. Together." Sevan dropped the 'act' he put on and tapped Haru on the back, smirking. "I'll whip you into shape, bitch."

Haru laughed lightly due to the light ribbing they were sharing with each other, and saw as Fen was cackling in her usual fox-like way with spittle of fire coming out of her muzzle. It may have been only a temporary shift in the air, but seeing her master appear happy made her also feel at ease...and less like wanting to cause trouble. For now.

Nearby, Shin was pawing a little at Sevan's leg before running off as she spotted Chorui flapping his wings to a yelling man that tossed someone else out of a building. It was a man wearing a Johto-inspired jacket with a red cap, though that had flown clean off his face before planting onto the sidewalk. Following his Pokemon, Sevan arrives with Haru, who sees near the gentleman a case and some loose coin. Presumably, it belongs to him.

Both of them look to the bouncer that tossed the man out of the building. "Beat it, you git! The house doesn't need nonces like yourself ruining the fun for everyone else!" He walked back inside with the manager behind him giving the stink eye, with Haru looking up and noticing this person was kicked out of a casino: the large lettering that spelled 'UBER CASINO'.

"Hey, you okay sir? Did you scratch yoursel-!"

"!" Both Haru and Sevan gasp. As the man stood up, he fumbled to pick up his heavy case of coins and looked to the two. As the 3 of their eyes met, he let out a weak laugh.

"SAM?!"

"haha...oh man, this is embarrassing..." Caught red-handed, it seemed time was not on his side that day.

- - - - - CHAPTER 27 END - - - - -