Defeated, I lay sprawled in a tangled mess of vines and leaves. The sun was still high in the sky, but I felt like I could sleep for an entire month if I were but allowed to escape. To my right, my partner Yeller lay in a bush, equally bushed by our mutual experience.
In front of me, a window displaying my own status hung above my head, informing me of the current situation we both found ourselves in.
[Cyan Hughs
Status:
HP: 3/25
Atk: 8
Sp. Atk: 0
Def: 10
Sp. Def: 5
Spd: 12
Stat Points (10)
Skills:
Eye to Eye
Regression System
Pokemon Status Lv 1
Type Proficiency 6% {Tap to Expand} ]
[Yeller
Rattata* (Lv 8)
Status:
HP: 4/24
Atk: 17
Def: 12
Sp. Atk: 8
Sp. Def: 12
Spd: 18
Skills:
-Empty-
Moves:
Tackle
Tail Whip
Quick Attack
Focus Energy]
How did I get into this mess... I wondered absently, the muscle pains across my entire body quelling any thoughts of getting back up and doing... Anything.
...
Day 1 at Professor Oak's lab:
After Chee had taken me out the back to play games with her, I came back utterly exhausted, so Oak decided to let me get accustomed to staying at the Lab before he told me about the other conditions. He told me 'you'll probably be fine with them anyway', and implied I should rest up.
In the morning, Chee was eagerly waiting at my door by the time I woke up. Instead of my morning jog, Yeller and I spent the entire early half of the day chasing Chee around the laboratory and Pokemon enclosure. By the time lunch rolled around, I was already exhausted.
[Log:
Your dedication to fitness has improved your stamina! +1 Max HP]
I can only barely remember the lunch itself. The food was tasty enough, and I vaguely recall Oak giving some platitudes about how it was 'Good to see Chee in such high spirits', and how he 'Hoped we'd remain friends for a long time.'
The respite for eating was very brief however, as immediately afterwards Chee took me back to the Pokemon enclosure and led me to her 'Secret Home', a secluded spot in the forest that the wild Pokemon tended to ignore. She invited me to stay, and we spent the rest of the day building a makeshift room for me from sticks and various other woodland materials.
[Log:
Your dedication to fitness has improved your dexterity! +1 Spd]
Day 2 at Professor Oak's lab:
On the second day, I was determined to get some battling training done. When I opened the door to my room, I was once again met with Chee, eyes sparkling with excitement. Let's go play!
"I want to do some battle training today." I rejected her. She looked downcast for a moment, but then she nodded, meeting my eyes. Is battling fun?
"Er, it can be?" I scratched my head thoughtfully. "I mean, it depends on who you're battling with. I don't mind if you don't want to battle, but I really want to train..."
Alright, let's do it!
"Eh?" Chee grabbed my arm, and dragged me off to the battlefield outside, where she assumed one side of the field, her eyes meeting mine. Everyone always tells me that battling is fun, but I've always found it boring and unpleasant. She posed dramatically. If you can beat me in this battle, you can do more battle training! Otherwise, you have to play with me!
"...Sure, let's do it."
Chee nodded and pulled out a shiny Pokeball, releasing the green creature stored inside with a flash of white-blue energy. The Bulbasaur shook off some dust, turning to meet the eyes of it's trainer. She stared down at it for a moment, and I saw a flash of something in her eyes.
Alright Bulbasaur, when the battle starts I want you to pretend to be extra lazy, but actually send your Vine Whip attack through the ground and tangle up the Rattata when it charges at you. Once you've caught it, hit it with Leech Seed and we'll drain it's HP until we win~!
I blinked a few times in surprise. There's no way that's actually her plan, right...?
Chee flashed me a thumbs up, indicating that she was ready to fight. I looked down at Yeller, who looked up at me while tilting his head. What's wrong boss, you look confused! We can definitely win if we're strategic!
I leaned over and whispered to the Rattata. "Beware of the ground around Bulbasaur, I think it might be going to try and catch you."
Yeller nodded at me, a glint in his eyes reassuring me that he understood. I stood back up, a little uncertain. Chee was beaming at me with absolute confidence. "Uh, well. Let's start I guess. Yeller, use Quick Attack!"
Chee folded her arms in satisfaction, smiling smugly at me as if she'd already won the match. Yeller leapt forward, white energy flowing from his body as he charged towards the Bulbasaur. I watched Chee's expression, waiting for the moment it reached it's smuggest.
"Jump now!" I exclaimed, and Yeller leapt into the air, barely evading as the long grassy tendrils of the Bulbasaur sought to constrict his movement. Yeller swiftly dove through the vines, slamming headfirst into the Bulbasaur, who went flying out of the battlefield.
Chee stood dumbfounded, her smug expression melting into a confused mess as she wordlessly looked around. Her whole demeanour just exuded How could my plan fail!? energy.
She shot a competitive glare at me. We're going again! That round didn't count! She ran over to her Bulbasaur, helping it to it's feet. She brushed it off, checking for any injuries, then carried it back to the field, placing it down in the same spot as before. She tapped it's face a few times, and it turned to look at her.
Alright, we're gonna go with the same basic strategy again this time, but reach a little higher this time, so it can't escape by jumping!
"What, you're doing the same strategy again...?" I sighed. Chee jolted in surprise. She met my gaze, eyes wide, then she looked at her Bulbasaur, then back to me, then back to the Bulbasaur, then back to me.
And then her mouth opened wide in horrified realisation.
I can't win! Her eyes exclaimed.
I spent the rest of the day polishing battle techniques with Chee, who followed me around whilst sulking the whole time.
Day 3 at Professor Oak's Lab:
On the morning of the third day, Chee met me with a renewed drive. Her eyes gleamed with determination, and she challenged me with a new plan. This time, when she brought out her Bulbasaur, she faced away from me while telling it what to do.
It was a good enough idea, but I was able to carefully test out what it's instructions were with a bit of bait from Yeller, and once I'd figured it out I won the battle once again. When she asked why she couldn't beat me, I told her it was because she couldn't change her Bulbasaur's strategy once the battle started.
She challenged me twice more that day, each time with the instructions to the Bulbasaur being more elaborate, but I managed to win each time. In the evening I had a battle with Blue, who utterly defeated me yet again.
After watching my battle with Blue in great detail, Chee seemed to have some thought and disappeared for the rest of the day.
Day 4 at Professor Oak's Lab:
Chee wasn't around when I got up, so I went around looking for her. I found her at the battlefield, training with her Bulbasaur, so I decided to leave her be for the time being.
Yeller and I fought several wild Pokemon, and Yeller reached Level 6 before I'd realised it.
In the afternoon, Chee came to battle me again, issuing the same challenge as she had for the past three days. If nothing else, her persistence was amazing. I accepted the battle without expecting much to be different...
Chee turned her back to me, shooting me a quick glare as if to say No peaking! when I tried to watch her. She met her eyes to the Bulbasaur, and then she snapped her fingers.
Then she stamped her foot.
Then she clapped once.
Then twice.
Then she made a sharp snort with her nose.
Then, she rubbed the Bulbasaur's head, and shot me a thumbs-up, the sign that she was 'ready to battle'.
"Alright, let's do it!" I called out. "Sorry, but I'll be taking the first move. Yeller, use Quick Attack!"
My Rattata charged up with the now-familiar white energy. But I frowned as I noticed something odd about the Bulbasaur.
Ordinarily it would be eagerly watching a space, or it's trainer, or some other aspect like Chee had instructed it to. But this time, like a normal Pokemon battle, it seemed to only be focussed on aiming it's next attack. Perhaps she'd decided to forgo defence altogether?
"Circle it!" I called, deciding it was dangerous to attack head on.
Yeller leapt in circles around the bewildered Bulbasaur, who sat ready for the attack. Finally, Yeller chose a side and charged in from a blind spot on the Bulbasaur's right-hand side.
And as he did so, Chee snapped her fingers on her right hand, and pointed to the right. She then immediately stamped her foot.
The Bulbasaur's eyes shot to it's right, and it swung thick muscled vines directly into the oncoming attack of my Rattata. Yeller collided with the vines, and was sent reeling backwards from their overwhelming power.
Did she just... Issue a live command to it?
Chee met my gaze with an excited grin. How do you like that!?
...And a few minutes later, I sat in stunned silence as Yeller was handily dismantled by the green creature, despite my best efforts at countermeasures. I asked Chee how she'd managed to get the Bulbasaur to react to commands, and she explained with her trusty notepad and a series of excited stares.
Inspired by the tricks I'd used against Blue, Chee had spent the last night training her Bulbasaur to react to different claps, clicks, stomps and snorts with whatever she wanted. The Bulbasaur had been trained to be given a 'Loadout' of moves and commands, which she would assign to each of the sounds at the start of the battle.
Because of that, she was able to react actively to my changes in strategy, which had been her biggest weakness so far.
Naturally, seeing as she won, we spent the rest of the day playing instead of training-Although I did manage to sneak in the occasional wild Pokemon battle while we were playing hide and seek in the wild area.
Chee took me to the depths of the forest area and challenged me to a game she called 'Forest Ball', where we'd have to fight as 'Forest Warriors' by throwing Rubber balls at each other. At first I thought I'd be pretty good at the game, but it turned out that she was exceptionally good at using the trees and grass to her advantage, and the power of her throws were completely unreasonable for an 11 year old girl.
I went to bed covered in bruises that night.
[Log:
Your dedication to fitness has improved your endurance! +1 Def
Your dedication to fitness has improved your stamina! +1 Max HP]
Day 5 at Professor Oak's Lab:
I once again challenged Chee to a battle in the morning, and was easily defeated.
I tried to battle her again but she refused, saying that 'her winning rule was that we played today'.
And so I spent another day being dragged around by Chee. Today she took me to our secret hideout again, and we spent a while crafting various fake amenities for our 'house'. I'll admit, I was already starting to get a bit too attached to the place.
As a result, we cut down some vines from nearby trees with the help of her Bulbasaur, and used them to cordon off an area to turn into the full secret base, since our initial stick hut was too small for anything other than a single room. It took quite a bit of effort to stretch and tie all the vines into place, but it was a fun and different exercise.
[Log:
Your dedication to fitness has improved your strength! +1 Atk
Your dedication to fitness has improved your endurance! +1 Def]
I had to admit, I found it a bit disconcerting how quickly my stats had started going up.
Day 6 at Professor Oak's Lab:
I met Chee in the morning with a plan of action, and once again challenged her to our daily battle. She agreed somewhat half-heartedly, and we fought again.
This time I came up with a counter-strategy overnight. I took a more careful approach to the battle, and felt out what commands she'd given to the Bulbasaur, then I started feeding it false information as Yeller went in to attack.
When Chee stomped to tell it to use Vine whip to the left, I clapped twice to redirect it to the right. When she snapped her fingers to get it to use Leech Seed, I made it change to Vine Whip by stomping urgently, and so on.
As a result I was able to win the battle again, and I could see the flame burning in Chee's eyes as she puffed out her cheeks with indignation. I could tell that by tomorrow, she would already have thought up a counter-strategy to my counter-strategy.
I spent the rest of the day training with Yeller, who had now reached Level 7 according to the Pokemon Status. He'd also finally figured out how to use 'Focus Energy', a move that opened up many more powerful strategies for me to practice with.
I also tried talking to Oak in the evening about the other conditions for the Gym Challenge, but he was very busy and I couldn't find a moment to get his full attention. Blue got annoyed at me for distracting his Grandfather, and after another harrowing battle, I was left with the post-battle command of 'Leave my grandpa alone for today.'
Day 7 at Professor Oak's Lab:
Chee once again met me bright and early, her eyes screaming TODAY I WILL WIN! with an unmatchable enthusiasm.
Her strategy was something so absolutely ludicrous that only Chee could have pulled it off. Instead of telling her Bulbasaur what to do beforehand, she instead kept making eye contact with it for the entire battle. In order to do this, she had to run around like a headless Pidgey across the entire field, sending it commands by meeting it's gaze wherever it happened to be looking.
By doing this however, she was able to send it incredibly detailed and intricate commands, in fact she was able to send commands faster than I was, and her Bulbasaur was still more powerful than Yeller despite our rigorous training.
It was a total defeat for the two of us but I could tell that even for Chee with her incredible physique, running around that much was difficult. It might actually have been the first time I'd ever seen her break a sweat.
Regardless, she won and therefore got to decide what we did for the rest of the day.
We spent the rest of the day playing 'Forest Ball' again, but I felt like I did a better job of aiming at her this time. I was still absolutely aching, but I actually managed to win one round of the game.
[Log:
Your dedication to fitness has improved your dexterity! +1 Spd
Your dedication to fitness has improved your endurance! +1 Def
Your dedication to fitness has improved your stamina! +1 Max HP]
Day 8 at Professor Oak's Lab:
I was prepared for Chee's insane strategy this time, and I tried desperately to use my own body to block line of sight between her and the Bulbasaur. Unfortunately, I overestimated my own physical capabilities. Although I was occasionally able to get in-between the two and slow her down, she still overpowered me anytime I got in the way and won the battle.
We went into the forest and practiced running through the trees together. It had been a long time since I'd done cross-country practice in the army, so I actually welcomed the change of pace. I lost track of how many races we'd done by the end of the day, but it was very good practice for building stamina, which I would need for my next strategy.
[Log:
Your dedication to fitness has improved your stamina! +1 Max HP
Your dedication to fitness has improved your stamina! +1 Max HP]
Day 9 at Professor Oak's Lab:
Chee's eyes met mine a bit awkwardly, her gaze was disapproving. I'm pretty sure this is cheating. She pouted. I'm telling Oak.
"I think we were already leaving the realms of regular rules by the time you were running ON to the battlefield. I doubt Oak would be very happy to hear about that either." I responded, as I held Chee tight within an army-taught submission hold.
I'd already confirmed that she was physically stronger than me, but I was still able to restrain her enough that she couldn't meet the gaze of her Bulbasaur.
Needless to say, I won the battle that day, although her physical strength made restraining her very difficult.
[Log:
Your dedication to fitness has improved your strength! +1 Atk]
Day 10 at Professor Oak's Lab:
In the battle today, Chee paid much closer attention to my proximity to her, and didn't allow me to get close enough to grab hold of her. Despite how disapproving she had been yesterday, I could tell that the added game of avoiding me was actually something she enjoyed.
Since I was unable to restrain her, she once again won the battle.
Chee then took me to the hideout, apparently even she was worn out after entirely evading me for the duration of the battle. Instead, we went exploring through the wooded area for any cool supplies. Diving deep into the forest we encountered a lot of thorny and prickly plants, and by the time we got home I was covered in miniature punctures.
[Log:
Your dedication to fitness has improved your endurance! +1 Def]
Day 11 at Professor Oak's Lab:
I snuck a blanket into the battle today and managed to snag an opportunity where Chee was momentarily distracted to throw it over her. The time it took for her to dig herself out of the blanket was long enough for me to turn the tides of battle and win the fight.
After the battle was over, we realised that Blue had been watching us. He looked at us both like we were insane, and called us both idiots.
Later that day, I got to witness the satisfying sight of Chee completely destroying him in a Pokemon battle, and forcing him to apologise to us. He wasn't even remotely prepared for all the new tactics Chee had developed for battling with me
I spent the rest of the day training-With Chee's help even, as she started to get excited by the idea of making the battles more interesting. We both went and fought wild Pokemon together, and she had an enormous smile on her face as she danced around the trees while controlling her Bulbasaur.
Vaguely, I wondered if I was creating a monster even more fearsome than Red.
[Log:
Your dedication to fitness has improved your stamina! +1 Max HP
Yeller reached Level 8!]
Day 12 at Professor Oak's Lab:
I once again repeated the Blanket strategy, however as had been the case with most of our arms-race of concocting battle strategies, Chee had come up with a counter-measure overnight. As soon as she was no longer able to make eye contact with the Bulbasaur, she returned to using stomps, claps, and other noises to instruct it as she dug herself out from the cloth.
When I tried countering those by making noises myself, she returned to instructing the Bulbasaur with eye contact, and whenever I tried to get close enough to grasp her she would return to battling with sound whilst running from me.
By the end of the battle we were both exhausted, but she had won once again.
That meant another rousing round of 'Forest Ball', or as I was beginning to think of it: Cyan gets pelted with rubber balls, the game.
[Log:
Your dedication to fitness has increased your stamina! +1 Max HP
Your dedication to fitness has increased your endurance! +1 Def]
Day 13 at Professor Oak's Lab:
I was unable to defeat Chee today either, the battles were interesting enough practice for both me and Yeller that I wasn't too upset, but I really did want to train more.
Today Chee and I collected a variety of interesting rocks from near the lake area of the Pokemon Enclosure and carried them over to our secret hideout to build a pebbled path, which was exhausting. Some of them were very heavy, but the final path looked very pretty which made it worthwhile.
After we were done Chee and I played house, pretending that we were cooking a meal for a visiting dignitary, 'Mayor Brown Rock'.
[Log:
Your dedication to fitness has increased your stamina! +1 Max HP
Your dedication to fitness has increased your strength! +1 Atk]
...
Day 14 at Professor Oak's Lab:
I peaked out the window carefully as the sun's rays began to light the world. It was about two hours earlier than I usually got up, but I was on a losing streak with Chee and I had no idea how to combat her current strategy. My best option was to try and strengthen Yeller and try again later, but as long as I was forced to play with Chee all day I had no time to train him.
So here I was, sneaking out while it was still dark in order to do Pokemon battling. It was reminiscent of exactly what I'd gotten in trouble with my mother for.
I carefully opened the door to my room, keeping it as quiet as possible. I glanced both ways down the corridor, making sure nobody would see me. I stepped out of the room and closed the door behind me a quietly as possible. Then I turned back to the corridor-
And was met with the annoyed face of a young black-haired girl, who was wearing thick white gloves and holding a Pikachu plushie to her chest. She stared at me accusingly, mincing no words in her internal thoughts.
I knew it! When I saw the way you were acting last night, I just knew you were gonna try and escape our battle today!
I felt a cold sweat forming at the back of my neck. "Uh... Am I in trouble...?"
As she answered, Chee pulled her Bulbasaur's Pokeball up and pushed it right in front of my face.
Big trouble mister! Don't think you can escape me so easily! We're going to have our daily battle as always, and after I kick your butt you can bet we're gonna be playing extra hard!
I sat in silence with her for a moment, clearing my throat as I registered what she'd just said.
"I thought you didn't like battling...?"
Chee recoiled slightly, her eyes widening. She looked down at her Pokeball, then her plushie, then the Pokeball again. After a moment of being seemingly lost in thought, she met my gaze again, now with an element of uncertainty.
A-anyway! We're doing this, okay?!
"Alright alright," I sighed. "Thanks for training with me Chee."
...
Unsurprisingly, Chee completely and utterly wiped the floor with me.
"CHEE! I don't know about this one!?" I screamed over the loud wind. Chee rolled her eyes at me, her hair suspended over her head like a Linoone dangling from a ledge. It's fine, we'll be fine.
Light flittered through the leaves, illuminating the tree branches we were currently hanging by-As well as the deep chasm we were suspended over. The bottom was filled with bushes and plant life, just as the top was, but it was a good 10-15 meters from where we were to the ground, and I didn't fancy the sensation of falling from that height.
My palms felt sweaty as I grasped onto the hanging tree branches for dear life, but the girl in front of me didn't seem to think it was a big deal. hanging by her knees upside-down, she munched away on an apple she'd picked from the tree she was currently hanging from. Her black hair fell to the open chasm, suspended by the top of her head.
"Chee! We could die!" I exclaimed, trying as hard as I could not to look down at the pit of doom hanging beneath my feet. Chee just rolled her eyes, taking another bite from her apple. Drama queen.
"I'm not being dramatic, YOU'RE being reckless!"
Oh please, you're doing just fine. Worry if your hands start to slip. She paused for a moment, a hint of concern flashing across her face. Your hands aren't slipping, are they? You'd tell me if they were.
I retorted with a dull stare, not feeling the need to justify her question with an answer. She took a few more bites from her apple, then discarded the core, letting it fall into the chasm below.
Good.
In a sudden graceful movement, Chee vaulted herself upright by her legs, grabbing onto the branches with her hands again. She pointed to the other side of the 10 meter fall, where a large pear tree rested on a cliffside.
Remember, we're here to get these pear seeds. Once we have them we can plant a pear tree in our hideout.
Her eyes sparkled. Fresh juicy pears, right at our doorstep!
Without another thought, she started swinging across the canopy with the agility of a Mankey. I carefully followed after her. She'd already been waiting for a few minutes by the time I reached the other side.
"Oh solid ground, how I have missed you." I cried, as I pressed myself against the clifftop we'd finally reached. I felt the grass reassuringly pressing into my cheek, returning my affectionate embrace.
Chee made her squeaky laughing noise, then gave me a gentle rub on the back.
Well done, well done, you made it safely. She smiled at me. Let's get some seeds and take the long way home.
We spent a few minutes letting me catch my breath before picking out some pears. Once we had some nicely ripe ones, Chee cut out the cores and seeds using a sharp rock she'd left nearby and we ate the pears themselves along with our Partners. They were succulent and juicy-Although I felt they weren't quite worth the effort we had gone to in order to get here.
I shot Yeller a dirty glare, indicating that he should be grateful for the effort I had to put in to get him. With a twinkle in his eye, he gave me the same thumbs up that he always did.
...I could never stay grumpy at Yeller.
Chee gathered up the seeds, placing them in her Pockets. She then flashed me a cheeky smile, retrieving her Bulbasaur into it's ball. Catch me if you can!
With a sudden jump, she left me behind and dove into the bushes. "W-Hey that's not fair!" I exclaimed, chasing after her. "I don't know the way off this rock!"
Yeller and I chased after her through the woods, but it felt like every few steps we'd get hit by a vine, or a bush, or a rubber ball. I even tried sending Yeller off with Quick Attack, but it was to no avail. Then, all of a sudden, I felt the ground slip out beneath my feet.
"Ahhh!" I called out as I fell, tumbling down the grassy hill through the vines and branches of the tree. It didn't take long for Yeller to get caught up in my clumsy fall, as we both went careening down the hill faster and faster-
Only to find ourselves flung off into the jungle cavern from earlier.
I landed with a painful crunch into thick bush, and Yeller fell directly on top of me. Defeated, I lay in the tangled vines and broken branches of the plants I'd passed on my way down.
...Status.
[Cyan Hughs
Status:
HP: 3/25
Atk: 8
Sp. Atk: 0
Def: 10
Sp. Def: 5
Spd: 12
Stat Points (10)
Skills:
Eye to Eye
Regression System
Pokemon Status Lv 1
Type Proficiency 6% {Tap to Expand} ]
[Yeller
Rattata* (Lv 8)
Status:
HP: 4/24
Atk: 17
Def: 12
Sp. Atk: 8
Sp. Def: 12
Spd: 18
Skills:
-Empty-
Moves:
Tackle
Tail Whip
Quick Attack
Focus Energy]
I let out a low groan. Despite how long my HP looked to be, I knew that I'd gotten this low just from playing forest ball with Chee before. HP seemed to be more an indicator of energy than actual health. How did I get into this mess...
I lay there for a few minutes in silence, before the rustling of the bushes nearby gave way to an apologetic girl, sheepishly propping into view. She held her hands together in front of her chest, and had a sorry look on her face.
I-I'm sorry, I might have gone too far... Are you okay?
She hesitantly got closer, gently poking me with a gloved finger. The concern on her face was evident, and I could feel the animosity I had towards her fading away. In the end she'd just gotten a bit carried away, she didn't mean me any actual harm.
I reached up and placed a hand on her head.
"Somehow I can't stay mad at you, either."
...What?
"Nothing. I wanna go home now."
...
We arrived back home at the Lab just in time to eat dinner, after which Chee once again apologised for being too rough when playing with me.
I'm sorry! I really didn't mean to hurt you, I just thought I could push my luck after this morning-But I should've been more careful! Please don't stop being my friend!
She gushed desperately, her hands still clasped together. I could tell she was concerned, but I wasn't going to abandon her just because of a small incident like this.
"It's alright," I reassured her. "We're still friends. Just try to keep it a bit more under control next time, okay? And I won't try to dodge our daily battles, I promise."
She stared into my eyes for a few moments, then let out a sigh of relief, finally unclasping her hands. Yeller looked up to her as well, giving her a reassuring thumbs-up as he so often did. Chee chuckled and reached down to give him a pat, and as she did so, I noticed a hole in the palm of one of the gloves.
"Ah-" I pointed to her right hand. "Look out Chee, you've got a hole in your gloves."
Chee made a desperate squeak and her eyes immediately filled with panic. She pulled away from Yeller rapidly, and turned her hands to look for the hole. Suddenly she began to breathe heavily, her eyes filling with more emotions than I could read as she rapidly bounced her gaze back and forth between her hands and Yeller.
Fear, Guilt, Sadness, Hatred, and more washed over her like the rapids of a creek washing away layers of dust, only to replace them with thicker layers of grime. I thought for a moment that I saw tears begin to form at the corner of her eyes as her gaze ever so briefly met mine, and I caught just a tiny glimpse of what she was thinking.
...Please don't hate me. I'll do anything you want just please don't hate me.
And she turned and ran as fast as I'd ever seen her run. Once she'd vanished from my sight, I heard a loud slam as she closed the door to her room behind her.
"...Chee?"