Chapter 23: Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
"You'd better have a good explanation for this Milo, because I don't picture you to be the type to prank your boss." Oleana said curtly, as she looked down to a small formal letter from behind her desk across to Milo. He had approached her the evening the Olympic Tournament had concluded, and the Grass-based Gym Leader was smiling all the while.
He tipped his head downwards slightly and nodded, readjusting his posture to that of one more straightened. "Yes, ma'am. Originally I had figured I would go through this Gym Challenge one more time to enjoy the atmosphere and give trainers something new to look forward to in the future. But ever since today's events I considered that perhaps it would be best to leave on a high note."
Pursing her lips and flaring her nostrils in annoyance, Oleana narrowed both eyes. "Elaborate, please."
The Gym Leader laughed weakly and sighed. "Nessa putting an endcap on our rivalry by defeating me has brought a lot of attentive eyes to not only her, but Galar's Pokemon League. I was always meant to be seen as a teaser for what trainers would be dealing with, but never the end-all-be-all. If it's okay with you, Miss Chairman, I'd like to retire formally with the high note that I was defeated by such a good Gym Leader despite her type disadvantage. The way I see it? People will see it as a challenge that even by the 2nd Gym Leader in our challenge, new trainers can be given a trial that may make them re-think their strategies. Which would ultimately have a positive affect on the statistics of everything else that involves the League itself here."
She wasn't convinced, and Oleana crossed her legs as she sat. "You're not holding it against her and Haru for the battle by quitting in shame, are you?"
A part of him felt a ping of stress being reminded of what he went through. "Honestly? A part of me is still pained by the loss of not only the battle, but what occurred between the three of us. I don't plan on moving out of Turffield, but I do have to consider where my strengths lay. Considering Galar will need crop managers, and labor is in high demand for my type of expertise, I'd like to try and re-focus until I can see myself even attempting to come back to the league...if it's even a thought in my mind when the time comes. While I know something like this isn't enough to pull out, there's an issue with the family business that may require my fulltime commitment to it."
Once again, the Chairman was trying to fish for a true reason for his departure. "Hmm. You sure this isn't tied to the weird report you were trying to push out via post-game?"
He inhaled sharply. "What do you mean, 'weird report', ma'am?" Milo asked nervously.
Oleana rolled her eyes and sighed. "I heard it all when I was off taking care of personal matters. Honestly, Milo. Accusing the two of doing such indecent acts? Publicly? For thousands of people to see? Do you really think Nessa would threaten her own career with doing such a thing, and Haru, without even becoming a Gym Leader at all? What sort of a fool do you take them for? Do you take me for someone to accept such tomfoolery?" She leaned on a hand that balled up into a fist. In that moment of questioning, she saw Milo tense up.
She clicked her tongue and sat up straight. "I saw the tapes and even spoke to people who were there as staff. There was a small period where broadcast equipment had lost signal, and to make sure live broadcasts were uninterrupted, the broadcast studio in the stadium was able to air re-run footage of previous career battles and even highlights of not only yourself, but Kabu, Nessa, and the previous Pokemon League tournament. They even were able to re-cut a nice, pocket-sized, digest version of the very amazing Double Battle you two pairs did together. By my reports, people were seen in an increase of ordering concessions due to the excitement of Haru and Nessa's match against you, merchandise sales skyrocketed, Haru's Steel Gym had ticket pre-orders see a huge surge, and the social media mentions of our region blew through the roof!"
Looking to Milo and flattening her right hand, Oleana would gesture waving it up and down like a teacher chastising a student. "Not. A. Single. One. mentioned anything at all about something so ludicrous as having sex in the middle of the stadium! When I asked staff and personal friends who were here, there was not a soul that could line up their alibi or story or reports of the events post-match to what you said."
The events flashed back in Milo's mind. He knew what he experienced: watching Haru and Nessa's bodies writhing on the field in front of his eyes as she defiantly let him take her sexually on the ground in a 'victory fuck'. /What did they do to get away with something like this? Did I get taken to another universe where this didn't happen, but all the other events occurred just the same? At this point, there's absolutely no explanation for what I saw!/ "I...I don't get it...it's not like what you think at all, ma'am..."
The Chairman seemed pissed off. One of her hands balled up and then slammed on the table like a gavel; a vein in her forehead throbbing in irritation. This whole fiasco surrounding him and Haru had pushed her last button. "Honestly, Milo? I don't know off the top of my head what exactly our standards for in the league are for libel and slander, but I'll tell you this straight on: I won't tolerate it. For your words here and prior to my coming back home, I'll grant you your exit from the League...but unless you can come up with a suggestion of who to replace you within a short amount of time it's going to be extremely hard to make this year's challenge work."
"...I...I may have someone in mind. It will require the Turffield Gym to be changed in its type, and admittedly the pre-Leader Challenge can still work for now, but as long as you're fine with it, I can supply someone." Milo would respond, doing his best to apologize profusely for his actions.
/Okay Oleana, bre~athe.../ The woman spoke to herself internally, before leaning back into her office chair. "Okay then, tell me. Who's it going to be?"
Milo brought out a league card from a breast pocket in his jacket, and some contact information before handing it to the Chairman.
Her eyebrows looked at the card and phone number, gasping when she recognized the name. "Where are they now?"
Milo had to think on it, and hummed to himself. "Last I heard, the Isle of Armor."
In a flash, Oleana grabbed her office phone and began dialing. "Consider it done. I'm contacting them now." Her eyes looked from the phone contact information back to Milo. "Milo, you are dismissed."
He bowed, took his straw-hat off and turned to walk out. "Thank you for the opportunities, ma'am. It was a pleasure to work with you." Milo shut the door without looking back and she leaned into her chair as the dial tone on the other end of the phone rang several times. It clicks upon being picked up.
"Hello? Master Mustard's Dojo, this is Honey speaking."
She smirked, looking out the window of her own office. "Hello, Honey? This is Oleana, the Chairman of the Galar Pokemon League? I was hoping you could help me in something of a business matter. It's urgent."
- - - - - A day after the Pokemon Olympic Tournament in Wyndon. - - - - -
- - - - - 9 AM - - - - -
Haru had phoned , Nessa's father, to see if him and the misses had any free time. While he was home de-boning some fish he caught, Armstrong's schedule was free, and the wife was merely doing things around the house. "Hmm, it seemed he was a little anxious to come here on the phone. Are you thinking what I'm thinking, dear?" The burly man said with a raised brow to Tilia. Both could sense there was a reason Haru called them beyond simply wanting to catch up, but with no mention of Nessa visiting with him, the two knew that would narrow down the reasons for the visit.
An hour passes. Haru shows up and is happily greeted by a bear hug from the father as him and the wife talk briefly about the victory their daughter pulled off at the stadium's olympic fight. The topic gave Armstrong an excuse to wax nostalgic on his daughter's older days of the challenge.
"Even when she was doing the Gym Challenge, I remember several phone calls that she made telling me 'Dad I don't care how long it takes, I'm going to defeat Milo and show the strength behind water types!'. Back then I didn't really know what to say: I'm no trainer, but I had some knowledge to know her imposed challenge would take a long time. She wouldn't become Champion, but I was a little worried she'd get so obsessed on trying to outdo him it would steer her off course."
Laughing a little weakly as he sipped some of the coffee Tilia made for him, Haru just smiled a little weakly "Is that so..? I wonder what made her change her mind from that and becoming a Gym Leader."
nodded as she placed down a plate of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and brownies. " So how are you and Nessa doing dear? Was she too busy to come for a visit with you?" the woman asked while taking a seat beside her husband. They both see as Haru dodged looking them straight in the eyes initially.
Instead he just scratches his chin before looking to Tilia "Ah...actually I think she had an interview: the whole process of me going over and over telling people that the strategies used in the fight was 100% her doing has people wanting to know more. We were barely out of refreshing our Pokemon post-battle when we got swamped near the locker rooms inside the stadium. Water Pokemon and Steel aren't exactly a great pairing if you go 2-on-2...but with a lot of prep and thinking we still did it. It makes sense that people would wanna know about what went on in her mind."
"Tch...that girl never seems to rest..!" Her father huffed a bit before stroking some beard hairs
Tilia sighed but giggled as it was Nessa they were talking about. "Water and Steel may become a new power type thanks to you both. That battle was INSANE with how well you both worked together." She sips her coffee with a happy hum. "So is this a social visit my dear boy?"
/I...is this a social visit? It's not business...but then again.../ Haru sweat a little. The very reason he came was something that had been building up for months and months on end. Just then Haru envisioned his purpose, and saw a glimpse of Nessa smiling at him, adorned and bathing in light as if a goddess from the sea. Rays of sunlight piercing past her visage while the widest of smiles spread upon her cheeks. No other time than now was perfect. His hands raised to his cheeks and slapped them lightly as he sighed before putting the coffee cup down. "Ah...uhm...forgive me. It is a social visit but with a LOT on my mind. This is something I have to talk to Nessa about later, but I had to run it by you two first. If I stumble over myself, then please forgive me as I've never done this or spoken about it to anyone."
Armstrong raised an eyebrow and leaned forward on his part on the couch "...Go on."
They both saw as Haru placed both hands on his knees and leaned forward until his head faced the carpet flooring: bowing respectfully. His voice cracked a little at first. "..I...I would like to request your blessing..." He inhaled before exhaling the rest of the sentence "...to marry your daughter!".
"Oh, about fucking time!" Tilia shouted. She stood from her side of the couch and walked around the table to sit beside Haru to hug him. "You kept us both waiting a little too long you know!"
Haru blinked in disbelief. This was NOT how he pictured this conversation happening. "Eh? M..Mrs Tilia...?" He was completely confused at this reaction as Armstrong laughed a little. She took the wind out of his sails.
"Hoo boy...here I thought something was seriously wrong, but here you were merely working up the courage to ask us that simple question? Hah..." the bearded man said quietly to himself and chuckling at his wife's reaction.
"Mmm! We were discussing last night if you and Nessa were ever going to get married. You really had us worried my dear." The woman replied as she hugs him. "We already think of you as part of this family so of course you have our blessing!"
Feeling a bead of sweat go to his forehead, Haru insisted, if only weakly. "You know, I've heard some couples stay together longer before getting engaged...!" Tilia suddenly eyed him with a frown as Haru's blood ran cold. "O-of course, that's not the case with me! I just thought that was an interesting fact to point out..!" /Just like Nessa...!/
The young man faced both parents as his nervousness on this was melting away. "Back to the subject at hand, you said I was worrying you two?" He blinked again and readjusted his glasses as his upcoming mom #2 hugged onto him. Armstrong nodded.
"It's been a topic for a bit between us...though I kept telling her to not read too much into it since we took awhile ourselves as well." He replied, showing that he wasn't nearly as worried as her.
Tilia pouted cutely at her husband. "Only because you kept overthinking about if I'll say yes or no!" She turned to Haru with a smile. "Damn idiot here is as bad as you Haru." she joked.
That makes Armstrong laugh "As my wife said...we both think of you as family as it is, so you have our blessing to marry her. I'm honored you wanted to ask us that, Haru. Thank you."
Haru hugged her back as Armstrong then walked over and gave his own bear hug. Haru inhaled from the strength of him, plus the height difference "Ghgak...okay..you're welcome. I already bought the ring and know what I'm going to say, but I wanted to go through the proper steps first. Pokemon are one thing, but Nessa is someone I want to commit to for the rest of my life, and I've never done this before. Not out of cold feet, but you two can understand why it took me a bit to rustle up the courage. A part of me was under the impression it's something you do as a sign of respect."
"Please tell us you have a spot chosen though. This big idiot totally forgot to pick one and ended up proposing on the boat while we were in the middle of fishing." The dark skinned woman snorted at the memory...she had been in the middle of reeling in a VERY pissed off Sharpedo.
Armstrong laughed thinking back to it as Haru nods "…My Steel Gym. I chose it because it would be a kind of throwback to the start of our connection together. Miss Chairman says it'll be fine to walk around in today but…I haven't gone there yet. So by the time we walk in together, I'll be seeing it for the first time."
Tilia then got up and helped Haru get off his feet, semi-pushing him towards the front door. "Then hurry up and go there now. The sooner you're engaged, the sooner we can plan the wedding…and then look forward to our grandkids~" hummed Tilia in excitement.
His face went red "…Ye…yes ma'am. I'll let you two know how it goes. I'm grateful for the blessing! I won't let you both down as your future son-in-law…" He bowed again.
"Always so formal despite us telling you that you don't need to be…" Armstrong comments as Haru looks on a little sheepish.
Tilia pinches his cheeks before kissing his cheek. "Stop being so formal my dear. Now go on, I can't wait to officially call you son~".
- - - - - Outside - - - - -
The first major hurdle of the day was tackled, and as he recalled where he had to go next, Haru was reminded of something else. /Right. I was going to ask Sevan and Sam if they could witness me asking Nessa to marry me, but I am unsure if he's awake./ He checked his phone and the time. It was almost brunch time. He had to take a gamble on whether or not the insomnia would be ruling over the blonde streaked fighter. /...couldn't hurt to at least text him./
[Haru: Hey man are you awake? I need to come by to talk to you in person.]
[Sevan: It must be big if you need to see me in person.]
[Haru: So...no?]
[Sevan: Shit just come here already then.]
/Okay then, looks like it's a go for us./ A bead of sweat forms on his head as Haru walks down the road to an Air Taxi cab as he sees some drink vending machines. One of the cans on display is the flavor of drinks he had that was thrown into the oceans at the Isle of Armor. /Don't do it. You know the kind of shit you'll be in if Sevan or Nessa catch you with one of those...be strong Haru...you need to get off that stuff for good./
- - - - - Sevan's Home, off of Route 09 - - - - -
*Knock Knock Knock*
Haru leans forward slightly and hears the familiar cawwing of a Pidgeot from behind the doors. The home sounds about as lively as he would expect. There's another voice coming in that doesn't sound like Sevan at all. His eyes squint, as if trying to listen more closely. In seconds, the door swings open.
"Morning Sev-" Haru began to speak formally as if greeting his friend but was met with a completely different sight. A tall brunette stood in the doorway in an oversized shirt with a graphic of Reshiram on it, blue eyes, and some shorts.
"Morning Haru." She said, stepping aside to let him in as Haru's face stood there in shock.
"HILDA?!" He nearly shrieked, as Fen, the large Ninetails that often caused mischief, cackled in response; some spurts of flame coming from its fanged mouth.
"Fuck sake Haru, volume. It's still early..." Sevan said coming from around the corner holding a small mug of freshly brewed coffe as a Leafeon was propped on his shoulders, both of them looking at Haru. The man was looking to Hilda and Sevan, pointing and voicelessly sputtering.
"Buh..." Haru could only wildly gesture in Hilda's direction, who blushed a little in embarrassment.
All Sevan did was blink nonchalantly back at his friend. "I didn't tell you?" /It's too early for this shit.../ He thought to himself.
Hilda turned to him with an eyebrow raised as she raised her chin. The tone was one of both disappointment and lack of surprise. "You didn't tell him?"
Fen couldn't stop laughing as Chorui hopped from his perch to laugh at Haru. He was wearing Hilda's cap and had some of his headfeathers sticking out the back. Both of Haru's arms spread out downwards to the floor open palmed. "Tell me WHAT?"
"We used to date." Sevan replies, taking a sip of his coffee and sitting at the table.
"YOU used to date?!" Haru had walked over to him, then looked back to Hilda, who waved back smiling.
"Yeah...uh..we did. Case you're wondering why I'm here, we caught up after meeting at the tournament and I had a few too many drinks chitchatting." She said cheerfully. "Which reminds me! I didn't get a chance to say it in person: congrats once again on that amazing win at the tournament! You and Nessa did great!"
There was an awkward moment of silence between the trio with Haru putting both hands on his forehead. He was hit with a revelation he was not prepared for at all and just took some deep breaths. "...Right. Thank you."
His friend looked at him snorting at the overreaction. Sevan chuckled. "Haru. Relax. I slept on the fucking couch while she took my very comfortable bed. I'm not entirely a prick, you know."
Haru glanced up back to Sevan just barely above his hands. "Do I get to know how this happened or...?"
The girl from Unova took to sitting across from Haru at the opposite side of the table. "I know we've only met at the Olympic Tournament, but basically the gist is that after some very challenging turn of events of my life in Unova, and becoming a Champion for some time, I went to Hoenn to visit. You know: explore other regions for some time. I met Sevan, and another one of his friends at the same time, and well, it was a thing for a bit." She turned her head towards Sevan. "Not that I want to get into anything currently, but I guess I'm not surprised you didn't tell him about that little fact so he wouldn't have a mini freakout upon coming here."
"There's a lot he hasn't told me." Haru joined in on the twoway stare-off at Sevan, who seemed nonplussed at this and only took another drink from his morning brew. He looked to Fen, who had the most smug expression to add to the group, and scoffed. "Look Haru, you had a reason for coming here right? What was it?"
/Right, don't lose sight of why I came here./ Thinking to himself, Haru shook off the vibes he was feeling and looked at Sevan straight on. "Sevan, tonight, I'd like you to come join me, Sam, and Hop to see the Steel Gym. Miss Chairman says I can come visit it anytime, but I'd like you guys to be the first one to see it in person."
With almost no delay to hearing the proposition, both Hilda and Sevan asked. "What about Nessa?"
The near simultaneous comment causes Haru to lean back in his seat and put up both hands defensively. "Hey, I'm getting there! She's going to be there too!"
"Have you asked her to join you? Did you ask her?" Hilda asked, one eye squinting at the ruby haired man.
His voice went uncharacteristically quiet and looked to the side. "Well no, not yet."
"Why the hell not?" Sevan asked.
Looking back at both trainers, Haru exhaled with a sheepish grin. "...because tonight I'm going to propose to her to marry me."
The two of them gasped, though Sevan added. "Holy fucking shit dude. You'd better believe it that I'll go."
Taking off his glasses and holding onto them with just his right hand's thumb and forefinger, 'Ruby' looked downward to the carpet. "Yeah man. Tonight's the night I'm going to ask her to marry me. I'm going to ask Sam to join because I want my friends to see it. I found out that it's a tradition to have a witness when you do this, or so I've come to find. I don't really know the whole detail behind it but for Nessa, everything has to be perfect."
"Why the Steel Gym, then? Is such a location special to you two?" asked Hilda, who leaned on her hand as it was propped up by an elbow.
Placing his glasses back on after taking a cloth to clean the lenses, Haru smiled. "The event that I'm recalling feels like it happened forever ago, but it does tie into our history. One day she wanted to have a rematch, one-on-one, at her Gym. I accepted. We had developed crushes on each other at one point but didn't want to admit it so directly and on that evening, she kissed me after the battle. The day afterwards, I asked her out on a date. Ergo, me proposing to her at my own Gym feels like a good fit."
"Heh." Sevan stood up and then walked away. Haru watches as the man reaches into a cabinet and pulls out another mug. "Just for hearing that and knowing your conviction, I'm pouring you a cup of what I'm having."
"Are you giving me a toast...with no alcohol?" Haru winced in confusion as Sevan came back holding both mugs, who looked at him squinting both eyes in disapproval.
"The fuck did you just say? Haru. Alcohol at this time of day? At this time of year? Isolated entirely in MY home?"
"Uh...yes?"
"Fuck no."
Haru looked at the floor. "Okay."
Returning to the table and handing Haru a cup o' joe, Haru took a precautionary whiff with his nose. "So what's this one then?"
"It's my own blend I got from Kalos. I don't know what you're going to get into so I only gave you a little bit of a medium roast."
Lifting the cup slowly to his mouth, Haru took a very slow sip. His mouth puckers and he reels once again into his seat before smacking his lips as the warm liquid goes down his throat. Hilda snorts at the face expression that Haru's had contorted from it. "Well? What do you think, Haru?"
"Gotta say Sevan, I'm not sure I understand your love of coffee but maybe-" his brain shut off mid-sentence as the fullness of the flavor hit him finally. Each nerve ending in his brain had just been stimulated with the multifaceted layer of taste of coffee. It punched him right in the throat and made him without want of energy drinks. His pupils widened. "Holy fucking shit, I totally get it now Sevan."
"Yup. It's coffee." Sevan said blankly, looking at Haru with a muted expression.
As the two gentlemen shared their coffee together, and Haru was further away from caring about energy drinks as his go-to caffeine fix, he remembered that he couldn't stay for long. He had to shrug off the sudden knowledge of finding out Sevan had a relationship at one point with Hilda, due to it not being currently important. /It's not important to dwell on this for now. I'm just glad he will be able to witness it all happen./
Watching Haru exit the door while in the door frame, Sevan waved his friend off while Hilda stayed inside. As her arms had crossed she leaned against the wall in an unapproving way. He closed the door and turned to find her looking at him with a pout and crossed arms. "What?"
Her voice was bereft of her usual chippy attitude. "It's a good thing to know that here in Galar you got some new friends...including one of Galar's best trainers, Haru. But to know that you're keeping mum from him..." Hilda frowned. "How much have you not told Haru, Sevan? Told anyone? How much longer are you going to keep running away?"
A pair of dead looking eyes met hers as Sevan only put his hands into his pockets, and even the usually perky noises of his fellow Pokemon had quieted down. Shinrin whined while looking on to him as she sat on the couch; her leafy looking ears flattening. "Hilda...it's nobody's business of what happened to me before. I'm glad that we were able to reconvene, but you should know I'm not up to reminiscing on why I left Hoenn." He began to walk past her in an attempt to get a shower, but she turned to grab him by the arm and halted his pacing.
"I'm not done talking to you." Her face turned to him. He didn't meet her gaze.
"...and I'm not starting to talk about it at all."
"Like what, like you did when you disappeared on me and everyone back home without a trace? Changing your appearance, isolating yourself from everything and then getting mixed up in..." Her grip tightened on his arm, feeling his muscles from the workouts he did. Her eyes catch a glimpse of the leftover bruises on his hand as it made her grit her teeth.
Sevan turned to her but did not shrug her off of him. "Yeah? Say it."
"You're going to get yourself killed, asshole! Do you think th-" She bit her lip as his face filled with anxiety and irritation.
"Yeah? YEAH? Go on, say it! I dare you!" he grumbled. Past his feet, Shinrin is seen running so she's closer in case he needed comfort. The two stood there staring at each other as the brunette huffed. The morning was going so well, so why were they fighting as if they had any beef?
"Do you think that this is what your parents would want? No! They would want you to live and move on with your life!" Hilda yelled. The whole house went silent while her hands balled into fists. Sevan had no response but only stared at the floor with a huff. She continued. "Look, I can't relate to what happened to you, but I saw you go down that path myself firsthand. Knowing that you not only haven't healed even a little, but have gotten worse is scaring me. You should tell someone else other than me about it."
Sevan clicked his tongue and side-eyed her, having his head turned to the side as if needing to hear her from a 'good' ear. "Like who, Haru? The guy's getting his life back together after dealing with a truckload of shit, and he doesn't need some washed up, ex-Hoenn League competitor to bring him down with his own woes. The guy's a damn hero who befriended me here like a brother, but he has plenty to deal with aside from me packing on more. I can't tell Hop because I don't know him well enough, and Sam? Heh. He seems to be doing fine for himself: if Haru and I can't keep him straight, his girlfriend certainly will."
"So what, you'll just run away like always?"
"...AND WHAT IF I AM, HUH?! You want to act all high and mighty because you came out of your past nearly unscathed, asking me 'Are you running away again?'. Of course I'm fucking running, and I will be for the foreseeable future! What's wrong with that, Hilda?! I've been able to make it out here on a new region by my own hands: forgetting my past is the only way I can manage!" Sevan snapped, looking at her with tired eyes.
Sighing and raising her tone, Hilda wasn't having any of his excuses. "On top of boxing in underground rings in multiple locations, you're barely the same guy I fell for in Hoenn! I mean...from a glance over it appears you've damaged your left knee and right shoulder via the last run-in you had: how many broken bones have you had now? Your hands look like they're been punching steel columns for hours, and your eyes tell me you have run on less than 4 hour sleep per day for who knows how long. Are the police still holding a record of you, or did you actually stop trying to 'lone-wolf' gangs for once?"
He huffed. "Because it's so easy for you to say all this: your parents didn't die in a car crash."
"And you weren't the cause of it, so you should stop trying to hide behind some guilt that came from it okay? You sulking like this and refusing any help is why..." Hilda withdrew her anger for a moment and frowned at the carpet. "...this is why I couldn't stay with you before."
As the two stood there in an increasingly tense silence, Sevan looked down to see Shinrin leaning her whole bodyweight against his legs. The Eeveelution pouted worryingly at her master as Hilda then turned away to grab her things. Putting on her boots and then finally her cap, she sighed one last time. "Sevan, I loved you dearly, but I refused to stick around while you destroy yourself from the inside out. All I'm asking now is to let someone else in someday soon, because I couldn't."
It took those specific words for him to be reminded of what was once lost between them, and he sighed. "Right. I'm sorry Hilda. It's been a few years and I'm still blaming myself. If you were in my position, I doubt you would disagree."
The front door of his opened and she put on a brave face, turning back to him. "No, it's fine. Don't be sorry. The breakfast and morning coffee was good." She smiled with a tear coming down her left cheek. "Hey Sevan? I..."
The ex-couple looked at each other while Sevan looked more forlorn with the advent of his past being brought up. The trauma of losing his parents caused him to continuously fall down into a spiral of sadness, guilt, and defensive mechanisms. Hilda saw it was still eating away from the inside out even after all this time.
Hilda sighed, biting her tongue. "It was good to catch up."
The door shut and the lack of upbeat energy left Sevan with more to think about. /Someone to be let in because you couldn't, huh?/ He gets the sensation of a small nip: Shinrin had bit onto his pantleg and began to whine audibly. Looking down, he sighs, then kneels down to the floor before petting her. "Thanks, Shin...but who knows if such a person like that exists. If anything, I'd probably have to get hit real hard again just to realize they're the right type of gal for me you know?"
- - - - - Stow-In-Side Gym - - - - -
- - - - - 2pm - - - - -
Bea shouts loudly as her right fist collides against a punching bag as Syra held onto it from the other side: decked out in a Fighting Gym sweatshirt and shorts. "So...with the Gym Challenge starting up soon, does that mean we'll be having a rematch?" the silver haired girl said as her focused stayed on the bag and on her own form.
"I'm hoping I'll be able to start over from scratch on the exact same challenge, yes. Don't expect things to go as easily as they did before, okay?" Said Syra, grinning while her friend repeatedly attacked the training equiment. Her Intelleon, Josef, waved over to his mistress as his gesture catches her attention. At that moment, Haru had walked in and knocked on the open frame of the training.
"Hey, you two. Busy?" said the small man with glasses whilst grinning ear to ear.
Walking over and giving him a big hug, Syra smiled and then pat him on the head. "Hey there, Haru. What's up with you today: what brings you to the Gym?"
Bea nods over to Haru and waves, then comes to a stop in her workout to cooldown. Looking up to his rival-turned-friend, Haru put his hands behind himself and locked the fingers together. "Well pretty soon, you'll be starting over the Gym Challenge. On the day the opening ceremony starts, people will watch as you and many others walk onto the field and present yourself. Telling the world 'Here I am, everyone! I'm going to be the next Champion of Galar!' and all that, right? Well, I came to say that I've been put officially as the designated 8th Gym Leader...of the Shield division."
She reeled backwards as if struck by a sucker punch. "What the fuck? Wait...so does that...Haru." Syra put both hands on his shoulders as him and Bea both near simultaneously had a bead of sweat on their foreheads due to her reaction. "...does that mean we won't have our rematch?!"
He looked to the side in disappointment. "It sure seems that way. The only way we'd end up having a rematch is if you somehow made a convincing argument to switch your submission of the 'Sword' challenge to the 'Shield' one by a lengthy process, get it to Leon, who would bring it up to Oleana, who would then bring it to the board. But with the start of it being so close, I don't know if that would be possible. She's getting ready to welcome a lot of new people that may be arriving on Galar shores to challenge everyone."
"Lots of new people? Like, more than before?" Syra looked at him confused, as Haru sat down with her and Bea on the mats in the dojo.
"Yeah. Alongside with my exhibition match I had with Nessa as my teammate, a lot of the trainers from other regions really brought in the ratings across the board. Globally, strong legacy trainers like Red, Silver, Steven, and Cynthia got a lot of eyes through just mention alone. People from Sinnoh tended to be popular people pleasers, in fact. However, a spike of popularity of the tournament occurred thanks to several of those competing that people didn't expect to put up such good fights. Mysterious, up-and-coming great fighters like Zinnia, Kalos talents such as Korrina, or crowd pleasers like Karen got the networks buzzing with even more attention than anyone calculated. So with that in mind, Miss Chairman is estimating that the combatants will be in higher numbers than when even I was competing." Haru gestured by shrugging.
Looking disappointed herself, frowning, Syra huffed. "I see...damn."
"There's nothing you can do about it yourself Haru? You're an ex-Champion yourself." Bea suggested, trying to give an idea.
"Unfortunately that's out of my ability to do. If Rose were still around, then maybe he'd be able to pull some strings for me. He's very charismatic, if not misguided and was power hungry, but he would probably be able to bend some arms for such a thing. Oleana is someone I get along with far more, and I think we all agree is better for the league as its chairman, but I don't believe she'd let me get away with such a thing. Either way you slice it, I may be handing out quite a number of Steel badges for my first year." Haru explained.
/...yeah, so it's a good thing she never found out about what you and Nessa did at the stadium./ Syra thought to herself, blushing as she remembered vividly. Her thought process was distracted when Haru took off his backpack and dug into it. "Okay so you didn't come by just to crush my hopes of a rematch, right? What did you come for then?"
He looked up to her and gave a half hearted smile. "Trust me Syra, I wish the info weren't so, but the purpose of my visit should put a smile back on that face." he said, pulling out a PokeBall and extending his hand to Syra while holding it.
"...eh?"
Bea blinked at the two. "You trading with Syra for something?"
"Nope. Syra, I believe I owe you something that I told you would be coming. You do remember, right...?" Haru tried to prod her brain to get her memory to recall.
/"I'm flattered Miss Amiri, but I'm loyal to my dear Nessa. Actually, I should be seeing to Nessa right about now. I'm sure she'll want to know that I'm fine and home finally."
Haru bent down to pick up his backpack from the ground and nodded to Syra and Amiri, looking at his new 'rival' he had obtained. "Hey Syra. One Shiny Pokemon. I'll let you know when I get one." tapping onto his Rotom Phone and letting it form into a bicycle. Immediately Syra held a hand out with her face still blushing from what her mother was saying outright in front of him and took a step forward.
"Wait you don't have to do that, I loved the movie we watched earlier remember?! The deal was if I hated it, you'd get me one shiny, remember?!" stretching a hand outwards.
Putting on the helmet that he took from his backpack, Haru snickered and got onto the seat before nodding to Syra one final time. "I know, but screw it. I still feel like gifting you one. I'll have someone help me out okay? I think I know a girl who specializes in breeding. For now I have to head to the Air Taxi station and head to Hulbury!"/
She blinked, then gasped. "Wait...you mean..?!" looking at the PokeBall in her hand, Syra's eyes lit up.
Haru only smiled as she stood up to her feet. "Every new trainer needs a starter Pokemon, right? You got Josef, but both Hestia and I figured you could use something that also pairs with your personality. You told me that you want to start fresh in re-challenging everyone, yes? Well..." Haru raised his eyebrows and eyed to the PokeBall in question.
Tossing the ball forward, Syra watched in glee as a small rabbit-like Pokemon with yellow tips to its ears and a shine to its fur popped out, looked at her and curiously wiggled its nose. She knelt down to him so he wouldn't be afraid of the height difference as Haru commented. "As I promised, Syra, your shiny Pokemon: he's a strong Scorbunny with a good ability in battle. A little taller than some Scorbunnies his age, and a little rambunctious in personality, but he can be a great asset to you."
"He~y little guy...I'm Syra. Do you want to be my partner?" she responded, as Bea looked on, and had to admit the fire bunny was adorable as all get out.
"I guess it's true what Nessa told me a bit ago. You really do have a habit of spoiling your friends, don't you Haru?" Bea replied, making Haru laugh a little.
The shiny Scorbunny leaned close and sniffed Syra cautiously before rubbing its forehead against her palm of her hand, wanting to be pet. Syra let out an uncharacteristically adorable squee and gave his head a soft petting. "I have my own Scorbunny...and him and I will be in the next Hall of Fame together!" she declared, as he hopped a little on his feet and then did a pose as if to grandstand the declaration with her. "I'm going to name you Cyrus." The bunny gasped. Now that she had named him, he felt his bond with her growing, and felt they were going to have a wonderful kinship as Mistress and Pokemon partner. Hopping happily and running around in a circle, little spurts of flames sparked from the heels.
As the shiny Scorbunny celebrated his new life, Syra turned to Haru with a determined face. "Haru."
He looked back with the same type of determined look. "Yes?"
"I'm going to defeat all 8 Gym Leaders with Pokemon I catch fair and square. I'll defeat all of them, and work my way up to the top spot as Champion. One way or another, you will witness me become Champion. But whether it's after, or before that matter, we WILL have our rematch, and I WILL defeat you! You've been treating me real kindly, and I appreciate that, but from here on out, it's purely business. I have to focus on getting stronger and finding out what my true potential is, okay?" she spoke coldly. There was, however, no malice in her tone. Sheer determination. The Syra that stood before him and Bea was a completely different one than when she first took the Challenge for the sake of enacting revenge on him and his loved ones. Now she only wanted to become the best that there ever would be in Galar, and prove to herself and others what good she can do for the region. "I'm going to make this region shine and stand out above the rest. Got it?"
"Got it." He grinned back at her, and the two stood in complete understanding for the throwdown that was just placed. "Well...do what you can to prepare, Syra. Bea, I'll see you later in Wyndon." Haru gestures to her with a point.
"Oh, right, I remember!" Bea clenched her fist and nodded. She looked up to Syra. "Today the Gym Leaders are going to do the annual challenge pre-ceremony meetup."
Syra blinked. She had no clue as to what sort of things could be discussed between the fellow leaders on such matters, and such a thing meant her time at the Stow-in-Side Gym would be limited for the day. "Heh, allrighty then. I guess that gives Cyrus and I time to visit some places in Galar. What do you think, my fiery, furry dude?" she asks the shiny Scorbunny, who jumps up into the air and flails his tiny legs as flames followed. "Good to know you're down for it."
Finding herself in a new place in her life, Syra would now prepare to take on the Gym Challenge of Galar once again with the support of her friends that she had begun to gain.
- - - - - Wyndon, Pokemon League HQ - - - - -
- - - - - Conference Room, an hour later... - - - - -
As the day moved onwards, Haru's anxiety about his future plans for that day only climbed upwards, and was not helped by having to hold back from letting any hints slip when the other Gym Leaders met up. At the roundtable, a new seat was added so Haru could join in on the discussion, and Milo was absent. It would not be spoken of immediately, but Oleana gave the idea that it wasn't necessary for him to be there at that specific meeting 'due to a situation coming up'. After a brief headcount, the meeting was promptly underway. Aside from the inclusion of Haru as the newest Gym Leader, the discussion was about the upcoming year and started with slides from the powerpoint presentation with promotional images. New sponsors that would accompany several of the Gyms were introduced, new types of merchandise for the gyms were previewed, and the slideshow ended on photos of Haru's Steel Gym. These too, would be used in promotions of Galar's Pokemon League as well as tourism. The Gym had been finished, and Haru was given the proverbial 'keys' to visit it whenever he saw fit. Interiors of the pre-Gym-Leader challenge were shown off, as well. The idea was that challengers would have to face the Gym Trainers whilst navigating a through a series of yet-to-be-connected bridges that led them to the main arena. As the presentation went on, Haru himself could only chuckle quietly to himself while his face rested on the palms of his hands. It gave him the biggest grin to even hear the sentence 'used for upcoming promotions of Galar', and the other things shown were merely icing on the cake.
Of course, the boring part of the meeting had come, which meant he was also subjected to the part of Gym Leader statistics he had yet to familiarize with: sales. This encompassed everything from as little as attendee ticket numbers to the matches, merchandise bought, concessions, donations, popularity between the Gym Leaders overall, and the aforementioned sponsors.
A comically timed jerk of sitting up straight as Haru forces himself to stay awake as Oleana called to him during the meeting, he was then visibly jittery through the rest of the meeting. /I have to think of a way to ask Nessa to join me to the gym without sounding too conspicuous. I'm sure it'll be easier than I'm making it out to be, but damn it. I gotta make it sound organic like I usually do./
The Chairman called the meeting to an end after 2 arduous hours of discussion and planning, with Oleana then looking to Haru. "At some point today I'll be receiving the molds for the Steel Badge for you to hand to competitors who are strong enough to defeat you, Haru. From there, I'll have someone instruct you through everything else we discussed here today. Do you have any questions before we dismiss?"
Nothing came to his mind, so Haru merely shook his head. "No ma'am, nothing."
Oleana closed her folder and looked to Haru. "Tomorrow is when you'll start going through training on how to do what you saw here. If you have any questions, ask any of the other Gym Leaders. Time is 10am, sharp, your Gym, and I'll be attending to see to it you're ready via chaperone. It's not that I don't trust you, it's only a formality. Monika and the others will also be there as well. Don't be late, because I have some business to do shortly afterwards."
He nodded in agreement. "Yes ma'am"
Nessa eyed Oleana as she would move onto the next topic before ultimately wrapping up the meeting; squinting in thought. /Miss Chairman has been making exits like that more and more lately. I wonder if everything is okay or perhaps she's planning for something else that has yet to be announced?/
As the meeting concluded, the Gym Leaders dispersed. Haru would make his exit, but not before asking Nessa to hang with him for a little afterwards. She would meet him momentarily in the hallway, but had to discuss something with Oleana first before making her exit altogether. As a result, Haru would go to the lobby floor of the building to wait for his beloved to meet up. The question on her mind was what she led with as Oleana turned to the dark woman. "Yes, what was it you wanted to say, Nessa?"
The Raging Wave folded her arms over the other. "Honestly the initial question I wanted to ask was where the heck Milo ran off to, since that was the first thing on my mind. However another question has been stewing in my mind for a moment. What was the reason you left the tournament so quickly? You're usually gung-ho on policies, rules, and had put in so much time into making sure it went off without a hitch, that I don't know of any reason why you'd head out so quickly. It's the first time I can recall in my entire career that you've actually left Wyndon Stadium during an official Pokemon League Event."
"!" Oleana squinted her eyes. /Shit. I can't discuss it with anyone else as to the reasons why I left, but she probably is thinking it's not dissimilar from Rose.../
Nessa kept her eyes straight onto the dirty blonde woman. "You'll have to pardon my directness, ma'am, but I'm just trying to make sure we don't have another 'Rose' incident, where he kept mum on his true intentions until it was too late for all of us. Don't get me wrong, I don't think you're the type of person at all, but if I kept quiet you would have pointed it out yourself."
/Hmm. She's not budging until I give her something satisfactory to chew on, but as it stands now I can't blow my cover on what's happening.../ Oleana leaned a bit against the conference table and sighed. "Hmph. Well to answer the first proposed question...Milo has retired."
Nessa's eyes widened in shock. /Wh...that bastard! He chose to leave earlier than intended! That wasn't the deal...! Gods damn it..! Then again, maybe it's for the best?/ "Well in that case, do we have someone coming to fill in the role of the first Gym Leader on such short notice?"
Oleana nods and sighed. "I have already spoken to the person in question and soon I will be introducing them to the world at the opening ceremony. You'll have a chance to meet them in person." She reversed the direction her legs were crossed and continued. "You have every reason to question why I would leave suddenly, Nessa, but I assure you that all is okay. Someone close to me that I know was recently in a bad accident. Ordinarily, I'd be fine with simply being kept updated on their condition from afar, but this required a personal visit. Time was not on my side, and if I hadn't come at all, I'd most likely come to regret it." She hung her head, and Nessa's guard disappeared entirely.
"O-oh, I'm sorry ma'am! How insensitive of me!" She began to apologize while waving her hands apart before Oleana laughed softly.
"Don't be sorry, Nessa. I understand your perspective. The Chairman before me wasn't very kind to people behind closed doors, least of all you. You've plenty reason to call into question something like my exit-stage-left of the Olympic Tournament. Anyways, I won't keep you waiting: it appears Haru wants to see you out so I won't keep you any longer."
Taking a moment to recollect herself, she teased. "Heh. You know, it was a little surreal having that meeting today, I'll admit."
Oleana was unsure what she meant. "Hmm?"
Letting out a sigh, Nessa smiled. "I've gotten so used to having Haru around that the notion of him going out to his own Gym, and eventually a sanctuary is both riveting to hear and a little frightening. I got used to being around him so often but I'd be lying if I didn't admit to enjoying the idea of some privacy. I love him a lot, like nothing else, but it'll be great to see him on his own with this because I know he's worked hard for it. It's complicated, you know? He's going to be great as a Gym Leader..."
The nuanced comment from Nessa had Oleana looking at her with a smug expression, and took on the offensive. "Heheh, you amuse me Nessa, but I suppose I had to expect such commentary eventually from you."
Nessa tilted her head to the side. "Pardon?"
Waving her right hand dismissively, Oleana smiled. "You two have been together and are so tightly woven together that the way you speak makes you sound like a wife."
The comment shot right through Nessa's hardened exterior through her psyche as she froze in place. The two women stayed in the room, silent altogether, as Oleana blinked. "...Nessa?"
Her cheeks had turned multiple shades darker as blush spread across both her cheeks. /W-w-w-wi..wife...?! Do...do I really sound like one..?!/ she thought to herself. " ..wi...uhm...I mean...wife is..I mean it's not a bad thing...uhm...I gotta go. Har-Haru is waiting for me! Excuse me!" She bowed briefly with her head nodding before nearly jogging out of the room, running past anyone in the hallway and rushing to the elevator.
Her heart was beating twice as fast. The subject of her becoming betrothed to Haru wasn't something that was new to conversation, but it was previously only between herself, him, and her own parents. If other people started to have the notion that they were like a wedded couple, then the idea only felt more likely to become a reality. /What is happening to me? Why am I so flustered? These aren't bad thoughts at all: far from it.../ She leaned against a bit of the handlebars inside the elevator and looked upwards to let her eyes get lost in the fluorescent light in thought. /...but if other people like Oleana hold that same idea, then it almost feels like we're getting closer to that actually happening. It has been such a cute idea to think about spending my life with him, but if he were to ask me...I...how would I react..?/
The elevator doors opened slowly and she stepped out quietly. A single step out onto the marble floors, and Nessa felt her legs turn into jelly. /Why do I feel so weird thinking about this? Is this what they call cold feet? Gah! Relax, Nessa! It's fine! Everything is fine! I just...thought about Haru wearing a tux, smiling, holding my hands as I had a nice dress and.../
Getting lost in her thoughts she forgot about meeting back up with Haru, who greeted her. "Hey babe? You there?" he teased. Nessa got so lost she had somehow zoned out and not heard Haru calling to her, and upon looking at him the thoughts came rushing twicefold. There was no reasonable way to describe what occurred, though it were as if the whole of the building fell to the wayside and all she saw was a piercing light illuminating Haru's figure. The way he stood there confidently just simply greeting her made her heart flutter.
/Perhaps it's irony that I feel it's hard to speak for some reason right now just like when Haru first met me. Heh./ Nessa thought to herself before shaking her head a few times cutely. "Yes, sorry. Got lost in thought about something. So what is it you wanted to do?"
He put his hands into his pockets, putting his phone into one of them. "Well...I have yet to see the Steel Gym, but since it's finally finished the idea came to me: I want you to be the first one to walk on it with me. The Staffers and I have to get together to talk about how we'll assemble teams soon, but this is a bit of a personal visit you know?"
"Personal, how?" She began to walk with him outside and reached to clasp one of his hands, as he squeezed it.
"Well...it almost seems fitting you know? I met you as a Gym Challenger outside your Gym and love going to your games to support you. Now? I'm dating you and, well, you were one of the first people to support me when I tried to figure out what to do with my life post Championship. I'd like you to see the place with me, and any reaction I have to it as well." He turned to her, looking up and smiling with a smirk.
Nessa exhaled through her nose as her cheeks went a little pink. "Sure thing, lovely. It would be an honor to be there with you."
"Then it's settled." He raised his other hand above his head and made a fist. "To my very own Gym!"
- - - - - Elsewhere at that same time - - - - -
- - - - - Wedgehurst - - - - -
"She's...gone?" Syra asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity at Hop. He was cleaning the laboratory and leaning over a counter with a feather-duster.
"Yeah, gone this morning. She wanted to take some time away with Leon and feels confident in my being able to 'hold the fort' that I'm here by my ol' lonesome. Leon has to be back for the opening ceremony when the Gym Challenge starts up again, but you know what? Big bro and Sonia do so much work that they deserved to get away from everyone." He said, grinning from ear to ear.
Folding her arms, Syra looked back as Hop was delivering the report so candidly. /Huh...I guess he's got a point. Leon is a very hard worker, and Sonia helps to keep him in line. I guess Hop's become quite dependable if she left him here!/
Syra face would turn smug as a new thought had come across. "Well, can't be all bad unless Marnie comes to visit you right? She'll probably make things at least a little more interesting for you, right?"
He stuck his head into a crevice where some cobwebs were, and spoke from the shelves. "Well it's not all bad, exactly. I get to study in peace without the chipper Yamper in the same building, but as far as I know, Marnie is getting ready to prepare for the Gym Challenge. Can't exactly ask someone of her importance to come and see me, now can I?" As he pulled himself all the way out from the shelves, he only saw Syra with her arms folded over each other. "...what?"
Her face looked one of annoyance. "Gods, Hop, you really are as dense as your brother."
"What do you mean?! And hey, that's no way to speak to the man who'll be in charge of helping you get your new starter Pokemon!" the purple head protege spoke out in protest.
She laughed a bit to herself and put a hand on her hips. "That's already taken care of, Hop. Honestly! Do you not pick up on what Marnie's putting down when it comes to you? Sure. You have a point that she'll be busy, and so will you, but are you really not considering at least...?" Syra would gesture with her arms as Hop tilted his head.
"...considering what?" His questioning of her only made Syra's pupils shrink in irritation.
"You can have some private time with her before Sonia comes back! She's going to be gone for awhile right? If Marnie's the type of girl who's into a smart guy like yourself, and I mean why wouldn't she, why not capitalize on that?" She would insist in a teasing manner.
There was an awkward, quiet, thick silence between the two as Hop looked to the floor studiously and hummed. "You're right."
Happy with herself, Syra stuck her chin up and grinned widely. "Of course I am!"
"With Marnie here before the Challenge, I can do twice the work as if Sonia were here!" He exclaimed, going to go find where his personal belongings were. He went to go look for his phone as Syra was seen gaining a throbbing vein in her forehead.
/I swear to Goat Yahweh Arceus that he's as dense as a Sudowoodo! Does he not really understand what I was trying to say all this time? I shouldn't push him and her, but fuck sake he's making it hard to just see this shit from the sidelines!/ As Syra had considered her options during that point in time on what to do, she looked to her phone for a message.
[It'll be good to see you soon as the Challenge starts off. I've gotten stronger since then, so don't think I'll be as easy as last time! - K]
Syra blinked several times reading the message as it came from someone with bright pink hair, wearing puffy white arm sleeves, a hairbow that looked like a Pokemon, and a Poison-colored uniform. "I said all that Syra, but I have to meet up with Haru soon. He's expecting me somewhere for something." Hop called out as he returned to the lobby. He noticed Syra was staring at her own phone in confusion.
[Syra: ...sorry, who is this?]
Mere seconds after Syra sent that text, her phone got blown up with replies as both her and Hop leaned away as if being able to sense someone yelling at her.
[OH WHAT THE HELL A RE YOu SERAOIUS?!]
[D: How could you forget me?!]
[We met at the Wedgehurst station when you resolve the situation about a Slowpoke!]
[We dualed before, and you completely wasted my team in mere minutes, making ME have to do twice the work later for the Dojo I was going to!]
[D: Even talked about how I was acting too vain for my own good?!]
Sweatdrops formed on Syra's forehead as she typed up a meager reply after being assaulted by emojis paired with the texts.
[Syra: oh. I think I do?]
The response was not met in kind, as she had to turn her phone to its 'Quiet' mode. "Someone you know?" Hop asked, with Syra nervously laughing.
"I guess? I've battled so many people it's hard to recall everyone whom I've gathered around, battled, traded with, and tried to amend after I became better as a person." Hop's eyes narrowed at her as Syra could only act flustered then playfully swatted him. "Look! It's been a long fucking year, okay? I can't be bothered to remember everyone I've met!"
At that moment, Hop got his own message from Sam on his phone and gasped. "Right. I'll be seeing you, Syra. I can't have you here since you're not authorized to be here without me or Sonia here, so c'mon."
"H-hey, wait! Where are you going anyways?" She asked, being semi-pushed out of the door as Hop would turn to lock it.
He would turn back with a grin, putting his phone away and replied with "It's a secret, but one that you'll find out soon enough: trust me!"
As he jogged off to find a nearby Air Taxi, Hop would look once again at the phone and sent a reply to Sam that he would be there to meet him and Sevan at the meet-up as soon as possible. /So Haru's finally going to pop the question, huh? Well let's hope it goes as well as he planned!/
- - - - - North Circhester, Haru's Steel Gym - - - - -
The moment had finally arrived for Haru to bear witness to his dream come true. As Nessa and him rode on the Air Taxi over to the Circhester area in Galar, he saw how they had managed to make a road to get to his gym. It would be off to the north east direction from Gordie and Melony's Gym, with the walkway for both attendee and challenger to get to easily. The weather would be extra foggy at Circhester that moment, but when he spotted it in the window of the Air Taxi, Haru started gasping. "Honey?"
"Babe. Nessa...it's REAL!" he said, all giddy with youthful excitement. The giant circular structure that had the logo of the Steel type was front and center, hanging above of the doorway, and tears slowly came to Haru's eyes. "I...I can't believe it's real.."
They landed on a strip of road, and got out to walk. There were construction cones and fences to bar normal people not associated with the Gym or its construction away on the outside, but Nessa and Haru were able to walk right in. Inside one of the many halls, Haru would see what would be barren: many walls that would yet to become decorated with photos of many games to come in the future. Announcements. Merchandise. A map of where every hall would lead you to, be it a restroom, stairs, staff rooms, break rooms, faculty, etc. The bios of every Gym Staff and its Leader lay on a wall, with photos of all of them. Haru took a few steps to find where a picture of himself hung and went quiet. His enthusiasm was there, still, but he went mute.
It was adorable to see Haru exploring his Gym for the first time, and Nessa couldn't help but giggle each time he found something new, turned back to her and went 'Look! Look!'.They've been through so much together, and not long ago they had been able to take down Milo and Kabu in a double team fight. But with the announcement to him that his Gym was done...Haru was as if he were in his own paradise. After a substantial browsing of the areas that normal attendees would walk through, he decided they walk through the 'puzzle' section that leads challengers to the leader if they succeed. The pre-leader challenge room was domed, with faux decorated steel plates adorning the walls. Levers would have to be pulled to retract and extend the bridges that challengers would be going through. That the constructors executed the idea behind his poorly conveyed challenge so well brought some fist pumps to Haru.
There would only be one last place he wanted to see in order to truly appreciate the scale of his Gym. His new 'world'. Going through a hallway where faculty would be the only ones allowed, Nessa followed him to eventually come out onto the arena. Along the stadium walls multiple sponsors had their logos plastered, and Haru's Steel Gym was written along with them. The whole place is empty, of course. Thousands of seats, and when Haru walks out onto the field with Nessa right beside him..he breaks away from holding her hand to just...run around.
He's laughing. It finally happened. He's accomplished his goal.
"I can't fucking believe it! Can you see this?! Look how fucking large it is! And it's mine! HAHAHAHA!" He shouts from about a hundred meters away from her as his voice echoes in the stadium. Nessa was overjoyed as she watches her loving boyfriend run around from the over whlming anount of happiness that filled him. She had stood by his side every step of the way.
She leaned forward and cupped her hands around her mouth to act as a megaphone since he had ran off so far away."Better believe it darling, you're now offically a Gym Leader!" She shouted before laughing. /Look at that handsome goofball celebrating. Waking up to him stressing about this worried me sick, but I'm so fucking happy he never gave up. That he continued to fight and push forward like Steel against everything in it's way made it all the worthwhile./
After circling around in the freshly grown grass, Haru falls down onto his back and laughs, then gets back up, runs to her and then holds her hand before he stood by her side "I've got chills...I got chills..." Pointing to his arms. "Do you see that? Is that..." He looks to her. "Is THIS what it's like? Every day for you? To just walk out onto THIS knowing THIS is...that people essentially are coming to see YOU?"
His mind flashes back briefly to 2 days ago where he was at Nessa's parents' home on his knees bowing. For a second, Haru looked off into the blank audience seats. /Where could they be? I told the guys to get here...but...I can't wait much longer./
Smiling at him, Nessa brought his hands to her lips. "Yes. This is exactly what it's like, but it's even better when you have an audience cheering you on from the stands. Feeling the lights shining down on you as you stand there in your signature look, looking good and waving." She kisses his knuckles.
For a moment, seeing Nessa brought Haru back to the memory of when he was leaving her parents' home and her father spoke to him.
/ "You have my permission Haru. I see no one better suited to stand beside my little girl as her rock and heart. I look forward to calling you son" /
Haru just looked around himself before meeting her gaze. The tension was growing by the second, and soon Nessa would no doubt catch the growing blush on his cheeks originating from more than just his dream becoming reality. "Nessa...you were here with me the whole time. From the start, all the way until now...it's crazy."
Nessa followed along, gently squeezing his hand. "This is true. I'll always be here for you Haru. We are the steel wave that stands tall in the face of adversities. No matter what, I'm here."
His eyebrows furrowed "The thing I keep thinking back to, though, is that there were several times where you could have left me. You could have chosen to leave. But you didn't. You have no idea how much it means knowing that this snowballed after I had a simple few conversations with you along my journey. You have no idea how much it matters that despite what went on with us, you're still standing here." Trying his best to stay calm, Haru exhaled but masked it with a weak laugh. /C'mon Haru just work up to it...stop stalling./
He looked up at her and then held her hands together. "Honestly? Being Champion for a short time was fun, but this kind of eclipses that you know? Here I have my own unique identity. Futures can be shaped here. I'll be a Gym Leader that gets to watch potential champions of the future be birthed."
She nods while looking down into his eyes lovingly: the lights from the stadium interior reflecting and illuminating her beautiful blues. "You're being cute again, Haru. But tell me: why would I ever walk away? You should remember I was hoping that there was more to life then being a model and Gym Leader. It goes without saying that I don't regret meeting you. You're the Sun I had been looking for my entire life." Her fingers gently rubbed his hands as they stood there.
"...yeah..." His eyebrows furrowed and squeezed her hands.
A whole 10 seconds goes by without either one of them saying anything, and to Haru it felt like a whole minute. He inhales deep and exhales "Nessa...I've...been meaning to tell you something."
"Mmm?" Her eyes seemed to give him courage to continue.
"..." He got lost looking back at her eyes for a moment. Unbeknownst to him, Sam, Hop, and Sevan would be watching as witnesses in one of the nearer rows of seats. Close enough to hear and make out what was said. They stayed perfectly quiet so that Nessa would not catch their presence, and Haru looked back. He had rehearsed in his head what he wanted to say many many times, but the words began to slowly fade away.
His heart would then begin to guide him. "...I can't live without you."
Nessa looked at him, blinking a little from how frank he spoke it. She stayed silent.
"..I..." He mentally grumbled at himself. /C'mon...just...SAY IT.../ He shakes his head briefly, trying to shake off the jitters. He's been thinking about this for a long time.
Leaning in to kiss his forehead, Nessa silently signaled him to breath deep and relax.
"...Nessa I...I want to continue surfing the seas of this planet with the same sturdiness of steel I've gained from being with you in my life. Since we've been together I have seen so many unforgettable events, and accomplished so many things that far exceed what I thought possible in my own lifetime. The Haru you see before you could only pervade through it all because you're there."
His eyes stay laser focused to her own. "I'm aware that our partnership may not be 'perfect', but I believe you are the closest living definition of that word. Nessa, I'm absolutely crazy about you. I...I can't live without you in my life. I want everyone else to know how much you mean to me. Not an atto-second goes by that I'm not having my heart beat for you. You are the reason I still feel like a Champion..."
A gut feeling rises in Nessa's psyche as her heart begins to beat a little faster. Her cheeks begin blushing. She begins to realize where he may be going with this speech.
His eyes begin to intensify, as Haru's voice strengthened in tone. "Nessa. You're the only thing in my life that makes sense in a world where creatures can create black holes. In a world where I can encounter hundreds of Pokemon and other creatures we've yet to document, and knowing the SEA FLOOR ITSELF is over 125 Million years old...I'm fortunate and blessed to be alive in the same timeline that you exist."
He lets go of her hand and briefly reaches into his right pocket before he gets down on one knee. Nessa immediately gasps and puts both hands to cover her mouth. Nessa sees that Haru pulls out a small box with a ring inside it, then looking up at her when it's opened. "I ask you...oh absolute beautiful Wave Master, owner of my heart, Nessa of Hulbury...will you marry me?"
Tears begun to well up in her sea blue eyes while her head nodded quickly. "Gods Haru, yes I'll marry you!" Nessa shouted as tears fell while she reached out to allow him to place the ring on her finger.
"Yo...YOU WILL?!" He slides the ring on her finger, then gets up and kisses her as he sees her shedding tears and both embracing tightly together. Both lovers start kissing each other passionately as tears begin to shed freely. Haru can hardly believe his own senses.
She laughed against his lips while kissing him back passionately. "Of course I will! I've dreamt of this moment Haru...to be proposed to by you..to feel your gaze and touch as we celebrate." She replied while kissing once more then looking at the simple but beautiful design. "This is perfect. An ocean protected by steel that glitters beautifully."
Nearby, they hear some hooting and hollering. Haru was thankful and felt his heart rise up into his throat as Sam, Sevan, and Hop were leaping in the empty seats of the stadium. "FUCK YEAH MAN!" Sevan shouts.
"HARU YOU DID IT MY DUDE! LET'S GOOOOO!" Sam hollers. Hop just whistles, and Nessa laughs, wiping a tear from her eye.
"You got them to see me bawl? Damn it.." Nessa laughs, before hugging tigthly onto Haru, who clings to her.
He nods in agreement. "I wanted my best friends to see that I proposed to you. They were very excited when I told them about it...hehe. Also I uh...gotta be honest I spent about 4 hours trying to find the right ring, so I hope you like it." he laughs weakly.
She snorted into laughing. "Four hours? Arceus darling...but it's one of your quirks I love~"
"Look okay..." he laughed "There's a LOT of gaudy rings that exist that are marine-based and I wanted to get you one that's subtle. Look, those are Magikarp scales with the diamonds on there...hehe..." being kissed a lot he was blushing from that alone, as well as her accepting to marry him
Nessa hummed as she held on and rested her head on his shoulder. Being tightly hugged onto her, the curvy, slender woman embraced him as tears kept going down his own face. "You're the Alpha Sapphire to this Omega Ruby. My heart chooses you, Nessa. It always has..."
- - - - - CHAPTER 23 END - - - - -
