Schooled
Yuko and Trace were having a great time playing in the school's jungle gym when Trace's sister rushed up, panting and exclaiming, "Did you guys hear?!"
"What's up?" Yuko asked.
"The Viridian Gym leader is back!" his sister yelled.
Yuko and Trace were taken aback. "What?!" they cried out in unison.
"Yeah, he's finally back!" she confirmed.
Yuko was thrilled. "This is perfect! Now I can get my badge!" she exclaimed.
But Trace seemed worried. "Maybe you should take it easy," he said.
"Trace, you're being weird."
"You almost freaking died!" he choked. "I'm allowed to be weird! Just don't push yourself; remember that Rocket boss is around-"
"I'm not going to stop until Giovanni's defeated," Yuko declared.
Trace had an idea. "Why don't you ask the gym leader to help find Team Rocket?"
"Do you think he'd help?" Yuko asked incredulously.
Trace nodded confidently. "Yeah, he was the one who was sending bouquets to your mother."
"What? Really?" Yuko was stunned.
It turned out that the gym leader had requested to meet Tsukiko, Yuko's mother, and had put them up in a hotel. Today was the day her mother would be released from the hospital, and the gym leader was on his way to the academy to bring her- Yuko was ecstatic.
Tsukiko Sky was eager to leave the hospital, which she called an Arceus-forsaken place. She was signing her discharge papers when one of the nurses asked if she had someone to take her home.
Tsukiko started to respond, but her doctor interrupted and announced that the Viridian Gym leader would pick her up. She looked up at him in surprise. Despite being able to walk a little, they had put her in a wheelchair.
"What's going on?" she asked.
The wheelchair made her feel small and vulnerable. The doctor looked down at her and explained that the gym leader wanted to meet her and her daughter and was on his way to the hospital.
Tsukiko was puzzled. "No one told me about this," she said.
"He thought you would appreciate the surprise," the doctor replied.
However, Tsukiko was starting to feel uneasy about the gym leader.
How did he know about her favorite flower, her penicillin allergy, and her preference for mashed potatoes when she was sick?
It made her feel uncomfortable that a stranger knew so much about her.
She wondered if the gym leader was a stalker; she knew everyone in Pallet and Viridian except for the gym leader. Maybe he had just done a simple background check when Yuko had achieved many badges.
She tried to convince herself that there was nothing to worry about.
But then, a troubling thought occurred to her: what if the gym leader was part of Team Rocket?
"Mrs. Swan?" the doctor called, interrupting her thoughts.
"Yes?" Tsukiko turned to face him.
He was tall, good-looking, and had blonde hair. "The gym leader is waiting for you in front of the hospital," he informed her.
"Thank you," Tsukiko replied.
"If you need anything, don't hesitate to let me know," the doctor added, jotting something down.
"Yes, sir," Tsukiko nodded.
The doctor blushed and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Even if you don't need anything," he added with a flirtatious smile.
Tsukiko blushed, too, embarrassed that she had overlooked his advances. She forced a smile and replied, "I'll remember that."
Tsukiko was wheeled to the front of the hospital by a nurse; she was wringing her skirts. 'What do you know about this gym leader?'
'Not much, only that people say he's rich and handsome.'
That's all people say about him, or more accurately, they've been telling her.
Oh, the gym leader is coming to meet you; he's rich and handsome.
Tsukiko, that mysterious gym leader is coming to see you; I heard he's single and rich. Try to make a good impression; you've got a daughter to feed.
Tsukiko, make sure to wear makeup when you meet the gym leader. Hook that rich and handsome man.
Some women even brought some of their clothes; most were outdated or too revealing.
She settled on a red polka-dot dress and sandals; her hair was tied back with a hair tie with a red flower on it.
Yuko made it for her.
'Has he ever dropped by to see me?'
'I haven't seen anyone; you should put on some lipstick.'
The nurse was a girl who went to high school with her.
'I ain't in the mood for a man.'
'You've been without one since that good-for-nothing husband of yours up and left. You deserve to have your Skitty Skittled.'
Why was her sex life the talk of the town?
And speaking of the town...
'Why are these people here?'
'To see the gym leader, you know he's-'
'I've heard!'
Yuko must have paced around the school a hundred times, waiting.
'What do you think is taking so long?' Trace asked.
'Maybe the gym leader is battling a trainer.' Yuko whispered.
'Are you okay?'
'Yes, Trace.' Yuko groaned. 'I'm fine.'
Trace looked sad. 'Yuko, I need to talk to you about something.'
'What?'
'Well, I... you... I was terrified that you were going to die.'
'I know, you told me.'
'Well,' he turned red and away, 'I thought I'd never see you again. I didn't like it.'
'Me neither.'
'I don't want to lose you.'
'You don't have to worry about that.'
Trace looked at Yuko, threw his arms around her neck, and sobbed.
'Trace...'
He wiped his eyes and looked at her. 'I just don't want to lose you.'
'As soon as we defeat that Rocket boss-'
A black limousine pulled up, and all the other children ran up to it.
'Yuko.' Tsukiko's voice called.
'Mama!' Yuko screamed joyfully as she and Trace rushed to Tsukiko.
Yuko stopped dead in her tracks when she saw her mother sitting in a wheelchair with the Rocket boss standing behind her.
'Yuko.' Tsukiko tried to wheel over her, but he pulled her back. 'C-Come to me, darling.'