A boy of about six years old stood in a spacious backyard that was filled with rocks and trees. His mother stood nearby, holding a Popplio that seemed eager to leave her grip.
Perhaps they'd played in this place recently, whether alone or together. Currently, however, the mood didn't seem so playful. In fact, the mother seemed rather serious, and the boy curious as to... well, everything.
"...Don't we start playing by now? That's what's happened the last few days."
The mother sighed and continued to hold the Popplio, whose eager flailing was suppressed from succeeding thereby, and then responded in a tone rather unlike herself... normally, anyway. "Are we not a family of gym leaders, dear?"
The boy had a confused look, because of course. Seemed strange. "That's what you told me. Why?"
"We have historically been water trainers. Is Foccai a water Pokémon?"
"That's what Misty said—"
"Why is he one?" There seemed to be a cautionary undertone in that injection.
"...Because he swims and makes bubbles?"
"Very good. Your new friend is a water Pokémon. We are a family of water trainers who become gym leaders, and we have led Cerulean since before my grandmother's birth. What does that mean for you, Hogoki?"
"...Misty's family?" The six year old's flawless logic shined in his own head.
The mother wasn't sure whether to smile or be angry, so there was some strange mixture of both. "Absolutely not. In fact, Misty is not even from Cerulean. I meant our bloodline and what that means for you. You are destined by tradition to succeed me as gym leader. But you are not a Pokémon Trainer, much less one that would right the imbalance caused by Misty's appearance! That is why you have met Foccai, dear. Starting today, you will learn to become a proper Pokémon Trainer under my wing, and it will be very useful in four years. You will be stronger than others your age with my expertise." Foccai was held so tightly that it was rather painful, but he was released, and immediately hurried over to the boy, who immediately took the seal in his own arms with a comparably non-existent grip. "We will begin with learning what Foccai can use for attacking."
...
Within weeks, that sort of training had of course helped them, though they were tired every day by more and more from how often they practiced their attacks. It was apparently supposed to be that way, or else they wouldn't be able to be full of energy as trainer and trained Pokémon later on. They liked being full of energy. They'd take being tired sometimes.
However, a curious incident occurred soon after this training began. On an ordinary morning, when Hogoki had gone into the yard to prepare for the training, he'd found Foccai in a rather strange mood. The seal seemed to be growling at nothing in particular, but when it noticed the boy, it turned to do the same at him.
...Of course, the boy assumed Foccai just wanted to play. He hadn't seen the Popplio do this kind of thing before, exactly, but surely it was just playful, right?
When he ran to the seal, it seemed to have a flash of terror in its eyes before it lunged at him in a manner that was very much not friendly. He barely dodged, but had to dive out of the way of another attack.
This continued for about thirty seconds before the seal landed a hit, and it was with enough force that Hogoki was launched across a few stones' worth of distance. He noticed a tree approaching him, and then he only knew the void that was like sleep but also not like sleep, because there weren't any dreams.
...
"I'm telling ya, Izumi, Popplio don't just do that! We all know he wasn't gonna hurt Foccai, so why did the thing just go and attack him?!"
"Clearly Foccai was too restless. That is ordinary for a Pokémon that needs more exertion in its daily life."
"Ordinary? Honey... I lived in Iki Town for, what, most of my life? I've seen plenty of Popplio, and none of them attack their trainers or human friends unless they're afraid!"
A sigh. "You believe in that theory too, do you? Misty claimed it herself. She believed that Foccai had undergone some bizarre event that instilled an aggressive terror in himself, but strangely was not predictable. It's simple restlessness — that is predictable."
"...He knocked our son out. When do restless Pokémon do that to people they like? I've got to find some kind of Pokémon therapist or whatever it would be in Kanto for him..."
"Is the Popplio not calm now, and even lying at the boy's side? Surely it was carelessness from being too excited. He'll have to face wild Pokémon like he faced his own regardless, so perhaps this could be part of the training routine so he can avoid attacks, too..."
Kai muttered something under his breath about finding a human therapist, too. "Anyway, I've gotta go freeze those old bottles of lemonade. Watch the kid for me, yeah?"
"Of course. ...Freeze the what?"
That was why Hogoki had to dodge a panicking seal's full-strength attacks for multiple minutes every weekend from then on.
The healing machine, as usual, was wonderfully fast about restoring Hogoki's Pokémon to perfect condition. The nurse had even commented that Erika was in a rather merciless mood today, which eased some of his troubles... he thought.
Even so, he found himself deep in thought again as they ate, and Foccai and Kwaru both seemed rather upset by their loss. He didn't blame them — Erika had been brutal about defeating them, especially Kwaru.
What she'd said afterward, however, did not leave his mind. A dull style that didn't adapt well? Everything needed to be improved about being a trainer? He thought he'd been taught a style that could defeat any opponent, one that would make him a stronger trainer than the others! ...Maybe he still needed to grow up more to understand it right.
Still... If he just wasn't good at gym battles, he didn't need to finish the gym challenge, right? He wasn't really sure what else he'd do, but there was something that fit him better, surely... or not. He'd find out eventually.
But now what? He wasn't going to train after an afternoon that brutal, and it would be ridiculous to challenge a gym twice in one day. ...Maybe he could visit that Pokémon he saw earlie—
Why did the Center doors just open so quickly—
"Everyone, I'm BAAAAAACK...!"
...Oh no. Someone that loud upon entering usually meant trouble, especially upon the whole Center staring at the source with faces that startled.
Strange how the Center suddenly went about their business or started smiling after that, though. He'd take a look at the source.
Wait, why was Tenshou in this Pokémon Center, and why was she acting like someone who'd had about a dozen cups of coffee?! (Don't ask how he knew what that was like, his father was a little crazy)
She was just casually greeting the entire Center while running the whole place and ohnoshewasapproaching PLEASE BECOME TIRED—
"Hogoki! You're visiting Celadon too?!" ...He didn't understand how Tenshou of all people could be so intimidating while so cheerful. It scared him, so he responded accordingly.
"I-I only just arrived this morning—"
"I've been here the whole day! How'd we not meet while I was visiting everywhe—"
Quack.
The table suddenly went silent as Tenshou paled, almost as if Kwaru's quacking meant something terrifying to her. Kwaru even had a suspicious look as always, though it seemed more intense than usual.
"Th-That Ducklett... It's yours?"
"Kwaru? ...I think he is. Why?"
"...I-It's nothing." She managed to relax like a human not on crack would, then had a calm smile as she stopped staring at the duck. "Were you staying the evening here?"
"Maybe, but I was trying to find somewhe—"
"I can take you where I'm staying! It has everything, and you'll love the people there! C'mon, follow me!"
She decided to practically drag him out of the Center, though it wasn't as if he could stop someone with this much energy right now, and take him to wherever she was taking him to. Foccai and Kwaru followed, of course.
They saw some strange duo putting up posters, but didn't really care too much.
...
"Here we are!"
"...Is this a mansion?"
"Why would it be?"
To be fair, it looked like one. Just disregarding the size for a moment, it was filled with windows, decorated ornately, and he suspected the design was old or very much accurate. All in all, it at least would make you think it was a mansion.
"...Some kind of ancient apartment building?"
"No, no! ...Well, not really. But come see for yourself!"
Tenshou opened the doors and ran in as Hogoki just stood there staring at the sight. ...Was it really okay to just go in? He didn't know anyone there, and he wasn't sure this had been arranged considering how spontaneous she seemed right now.
Even so, he couldn't help but want to enter it, which gave him a reason to do so. Therefore, he went to the doors, opened them with a bit more force than he thought he would need, and walked in to the sight of a lobby that was both very large and very busy.
Children and Pokémon (and potted plants) were everywhere. It was difficult to even gain one's bearings in the sea of life that he'd decided to swim in the center of. The one constant? Tenshou was somehow perfectly navigating the crowd while casually glomping people she seemed to recognize.
"Nico! You're back from Paldea already?!" ...He supposed those outside of Kanto had less need for personal space. But she was Kantonian, right? "Alani? Nope, not getting away this time!" Even though they seemed to be fine with all this, he had the feeling that there was something to be concerned about regarding her antics. "Oh! I almost forgot again!" She was approaching. Rapidly. Almost midair. "It's great to see you again, Hogoki...!"
So this was what he had feared: Whatever demonic breed of hug this was.
"Do you do this with everyone?!"
"Sorry for forgetting last time!"
...Okay, maybe it wasn't as bad as he thought at first.
After about 20 to 30 hugs (that he could count) given to the room by Tenshou, the two finally left the lobby and went into a nearby large hallway that was slightly less packed with humans.
Since Hogoki didn't want to just remember whatever that insanity was there, he tried to resume an earlier conversation. "This... definitely isn't an apartment. Is it a daycare for people?"
Tenshou was understandably confused by that sort of logic. "...Daycare? We're not just being watched, you know. It's an orphanage! Well, also a shelter if there's free rooms."
...Orphanage? No wonder there were so many kids here.
He thought someone had told him about it recently, but had an urge to push that thought away for now. Instead, he looked into the nearby rooms because he thought he heard people.
The first one was just a kitchen. Nothing strange about that. ...It did make him slightly hungry from the smell of food, though.
The second one was someone sitting at a desk and working furiously. ...Alright. That seemed strange.
And then the third room was... very strange. A crowd of kids, almost all of them older than him, had crowded around a computer monitor and was staring at it without even noticing anyone coming in. He decided to investigate, because what could be so interesting?
He went into the room, going to the shorter edges of the crowd and barely managing to look at the monitor, seeing...
Oh. So that what was those evolved Nidoran had been doing yesterday.
...Maybe growing up was more horrible than he thought.
He heard Tenshou shouting down the hall. "Hogoki, don't fall behind like this...! You disappeared enough in Mount Moon!"
Good reason for him to hurry back before she walked in there, or at least for him to get out.
He ran back to the other sane person in this place, and they continued on as they had been.
...
Plenty of walking later, they arrived in another large hallway that seemed to contain a lot of bedrooms. Any number he could guess at would probably be too few, so he didn't even try.
"...I found this strange Pokémon walking in the city this afternoon. It ran into an alley and hid before I could tell what kind it was."
Her face lit up in recognition because this is apparently someone from Celadon. "Do you mean Hanako? We found her here last year! A lot of people try to catch her, but she almost always gets away, and she's really timid..."
"Hanako? That's a nickname, right?"
"Yep! We don't know what she actually is. Sometimes people visit to try to find her, and," with a complete change of topic, "here we are! This is my room. Just knock if you wanna ask me something, but if it can wait after 10, I'll be sleeping!"
...She sleeps?
"Oh, right, right! You don't know where to find your room, do you? Let's see, everything up to 223 is full... 224's better, anyway... and 225 to something like 238! Just go there and find a room that doesn't have a sign with a name, and it'll be free for you!"
He could only stare a little at how much enthusiasm someone could show listing room numbers. Then he could only react with a rather disorganized smile and nod as the usual chaotic compass that was his mind led him in that direction for some reason. ...He hoped that showed his appreciation.
...
Room 239... Occupied. Room 240... Occupied by a name he couldn't pronounce. Never mind, he found the reading aid. Samakami Ailona? ...Strange name, but not like he had a common one either.
Room 241... Occupied by Crack in Stereo. He heard loud music barely being contained by the walls, and he was definitely not opening that door. He wouldn't have anyway, but even more so with that.
Room 242 had no sign, so apparently it was free! ...He was really tired. His Pokémon seemed tired, too.
Y'know what, he was just gonna open the door, close the door, recall his Pokémon, and get in the bed as he just successfully did.
Even though that music was loud, he was falling asleep quickly. This felt comfortable. Sort of like home, even though home had only been comfortable a long time ago.
—
We return to that boy and his mother, at least two years ago. They were in that same backyard, filled with trees and rocks and all manner of other landscape decorations.
Hogoki simply stood in waiting as usual as Izumi sat on a nearby rock, holding Foccai while giving instructions.
"Before we begin your training, I must note that your progress in unleashing and avoiding attacks has been much faster than planned. Very commendable of you two. The daily training regimen has served you both well." ...They didn't seem so cheerful as expected. She supposed they were simply tired, or perhaps not satisfied with their present progress. Nothing to fret about. "However, this means that I must accordingly advance you two to a higher level of training." She stood up, then pointed to the rock she had been sitting on. "You are lacking in raw strength, which is a severe limit to both your abilities. Therefore, I will allow you to train by lifting these rocks for as long as possible. You will be assisted only if you are unable to continue. Hogoki, you will begin with yours."
He simply walked to the rock, then hesitated upon noticing its size. "This looks too heavy—"
"Am I not allowing you to lift it?"
"Yes, but—"
"Then it is not too heavy."
"...How do I hold it? My arms won't—"
"Your back will be much stronger. Carry with it."
He nodded, then continued to hesitate, as if he simply did not trust himself here.
"...Are you unable to begin?"
"I don't think I can lift something this big—"
"Nonsense, child, nonsense. Perhaps not for long, but you may certainly find the strength to lift this rock. Now, will you proceed, or must I remind you of your destiny and how it must be fulfilled?"
"...I'll try it."
"Very good."
He gave one last look at the rock before he used about all his strength in simply lifting it onto his back.
Well, turns out a child about eight years old can't lift a rock that large before collapsing with it still on their back. What a shock.
...Wait, he couldn't breathe. Why couldn't he breathe? Why was air not getting in?!
He could feel himself being crushed a little under the rock's weight, and desperately gasping in hopes that even a little air would get in him, and maybe he could get this off of him...
Unfortunately, it wasn't working right now, and his breathing was only getting more forceful, fail as it may. He felt like he wasn't as aware of things right now, but he had a feeling that his mother was still there, maybe watching to see if he'd somehow still succeed. He could hear Foccai panicking — that was about all he could hear right now, actually, and louder than it really could be. He couldn't hear himself breathing with how strong his heartbeat was.
...He couldn't see now. That wasn't good. He also couldn't feel the rock very well, and...
...and...
...Of all the times to be so sleepy, so tired that he couldn't even use his terror to fight it back...
Maybe he'd dream this time...
...
...
...
He found himself disoriented but lunging forward into a sitting position with a startled sound, breathing heavily and sweating as if he'd ran for a while. Foccai had been jolted awake and was trying to figure out what was going on, then went to Hogoki to curl up closely against him.
He was awake, alive... Where was he, though? This didn't look like home, but it looked familiar...
He was in a bed with a side table that had drawers, a lamp...
Oh, right. He was staying at an orphanage. He was ten years old. He was on a journey to... to do something. He really wished those kinds of dreams would just go away by now. It had been years! It shouldn't have stayed in his head for this long...
...Even so, it was already morning, was it? He had a whole day, and nothing had to be done unless they were challenging Erika again.
Maybe Tenshou wouldn't be so hyper today and she'd have some ideas during breakfast? It was probably time for breakfast.
In fact, that was their next stop, actually. He let out Kwaru and hoped the groggy duck wouldn't start trying to eat everyone's food this time, checked the egg, and then all set off to look for some kind of cafeteria.
...
It, uh, took a while. Foccai couldn't navigate the place without directions or a map, and we already know how Hogoki is in that regard.
Luckily, the cafeteria always had a food surplus, so they easily supplied breakfast for Pokémon and trainer alike, and the three looked amidst the crowd to find Tenshou. It wasn't that difficult to notice a blonde girl eating with such haste that it reminded Hogoki and the Ducklett of themselves, and they immediately went to the table where somehow she was too busy eating to pay them any mind.
Foccai ate, and the other two had to watch self-consciously this mirror of a spectacle. She took but a few minutes to finish — at least she didn't consume ridiculous amounts of food — and then finally noticed the human and guard duck staring, to her embarrassment.
"...Have you been here for long?"
Kwaru resisted the urge to facepalm, and Hogoki actually replied. "If I said no, would you believe it...?"
She stared back for a moment, giving a concerned look to Kwaru now giving a warning stare as he ate his food comically slowly, before abruptly returning to a cheerful demeanor. "Doesn't matter now! You wanted to talk, right?"
The boy gave a confused look mid-riceball and quickly swallowed it to respond. "How did you know?"
She gave him the confused look herself, as if he should have known. "You came here to sit. People talk while sitting together, right?"
...Oh. Right. That was a thing. He blinked, then gave a sheepish smile while nodding. "Suppose so... Where's a good place to spend time around here? I can't just train all day, so if there's anything to do—"
"You challenge gyms, don't you? You could go to this city's and fight Erika!" Kwaru choked for a moment after that enthusiastic suggestion.
"...Maybe later. We haven't prepared for that kinda day." He decided instead to start thinking of places, his expression changing accordingly for a few moments. "We're already eating, so that won't work... Already got a tour of this place... Don't think we need to train this early in the morning..." He ignored that perplexed look from her. "...If I can remember where that place was... Have you ever found where Hanako stays?"
"How could you find it? This is a large city—"
"Maybe I can find it again!" He quickly started eating like a shōnen protagonist, and his Pokémon knew it was a good idea to act accordingly now as they quickly finished. The boy stood up with similar energy to Tenshou earlier. "I've just gotta figure out where to go, and then we get there! We'll have time for lunch once we're done, c'mon!" And then Hogoki ran in a random direction, Foccai and Kwaru in tow.
Tenshou stared dumbfounded at his newfound energy, then ran in the same direction in hopes that she would quickly catch up.
...
When two children go into the city streets without a plan, it's not uncommon for them to both get rather lost, particularly if one has no sense of direction and neither has a map.
Strangely, this doesn't appear to be the case. It appears that Hogoki is following his original course fairly accurately, and Foccai has only had to redirect him about 40% of the time instead of 80%, though Tenshou is still understandably skeptical of whether they're actually going the right way.
"Just a turn to the right... then a few more buildings... Alright, now right again— Wait, no, left, thanks Foccai." Bwark. "There should be an alley to the left of here..." He walked to the left, and then only saw wall. Then Tenshou pointed to the alley only a few meters away, and then Hogoki of course went into it, slightly quickly to hide his embarrassment. "Alright, we're here! Maybe we'll see her..." He gave a look to Foccai to ensure the seal wouldn't be so... outgoing about the approach this time. Kwaru had mostly just sat on the incubator, occasionally quacking.
Tenshou walked in and proceeded to be very obviously in awe at the sheer complexity of this nest or whatever it was. "...How could one Pokémon that small... Do you think she did this by herself?"
"...Could she?"
"I dunno! But this..."
A head poked out of the nest. Everyone but a mostly curious Kwaru recognized the Pokémon, and Foccai made sure to hold back from being completely insane this time around. Both humans got on their knees to not seem as imposing, and the hedgehog or whatever chose to exit a bit sooner this time, having half of her body out and trying to move the other half, before—
"Hey hey hey! If it isn't two Pokémon trainers out in the city on this fine morning!" ...Before Hanako fell out from being startled, then promptly dived back in upon the strange voice. Wonderful. And the source of the voice was none other than a bizarrely dressed man with a briefcase and forms, who then hopped into the alley and got uncomfortably close to the two humans. "Are you two just happening upon each other here, or do you know each other? I'm here to make an offer you won't regret, you... traveling companions? Friends? Siblings? Lov—"
"Friends."
"Friends."
"Friends then, alright, nice, hard to tell nowadays. Anyway! I'd like to interest you two in a little event we're holding this week."
"Event?" Welp. They got Hogoki interested.
"Indeed, my boy! The Mystery Flower Catching Contest is being held this week! I'm here from Viridian, but I know you Celadon folk have heard of that mystery Pokémon around here, grass-type yet lurking in the shadows when the streets are busy—"
"Viridian?"
"Er, why, yes. Why?"
"Is the gym leader back yet?"
"...Giovanni? Sorry to say he's still out. I'm one of his... er, staff, public relations, yes. But enough of that! I'm here to make a deal with you two! For the low, low price of ¥599, you two can each enter a contest to catch this mystery Pokémon, and we will give you a substantial reward if you show it to us afterwa– OW, WHAT THE FUCK KID?!"
Tenshou kicked him in the crotch with an annoyed expression as Hogoki seemed startled and a little sympathetic from the sudden assault.
The man cringed for a while before slowly rising up, letting out slightly deranged laughter. "Fuck you, little girl, you got a good kick, but it only hit my bad nut anyway! My good nut is completely fine, and I only need to leave with a little pai–"
Hogokick.
"HOLY SHIT MAN THAT WAS MY GOOD NUT...!"
The man slowly left while fighting back extreme pain and muttering about that guy not helping him with the advertising.
Tenshou sighed in frustration. "All these shady people here who just wanna sell you something... They really don't learn, do they?"
"...Shady? I just didn't like what he was saying."
"...That too. Still, did he think we'd just pay to catch a Pokémon, then show it to him? I don't even want to catch another one yet! Not after..." She shuddered as she found herself unable to finish that sentence.
Hogoki didn't remark on that. There just wasn't a need. He looked at the nest Hanako had hidden in again. "Even so, I don't think she's gonna come out right now anyway. Not after that guy did what he did..." He thought for a moment as Kwaru quacked at the nest for no apparent reason. "I think I'll train at the edge of the city, and maybe catch something if I can. Not much else I can think of."
"I'll join you! There's nothing I need to do today, anyway."
He didn't object to her inviting herself, and instead began to walk, her following.
They were trailed by a certain curious green hedgehog, although they couldn't have noticed.
...
"Why's your Ducklett still staring at me like that?"
Quack.
"Kwaru just... does that. Dunno why. Maybe he wants to keep the egg safe."
Quack.
"...It's creepy. He's so calm, yet if I made the wrong move..."
"Wha–? He wouldn't attack ya. He only attacks me."
.
"...Sure."
"Oh, here we are! Plenty of Pokémon to see— Wait, a Vulpix! I'm fighting that first! Foccai!"
...Quack.
It's strange to see your friend with so much energy regarding a Pokémon battle, or regarding anything, really. Hogoki seemed to be fighting with a completely different style to before, intentionally calling attacks that made no sense and then immediately switching at the last second to ones that made a lot of sense. Meanwhile, the Vulpix was genuinely confused by the entire situation, not expecting a sudden attack or the bizarre tactics.
And... wait, Tenshou heard something. Sounded like footsteps, so she turned around, and then tried to suppress a very surprised sound upon seeing Hanako in the open day, directly in front of her, not running.
The girl hesitated. Strongly. Then Hanako outright approached, and she decided to sit down instead of doing much else, petting the hedgehog from the side. This was a little too awkward, if enjoyable.
Oh. Seems Hogoki defeated that Vulpix. He took a ball off his belt. "...Let's see if it works this time."
He gripped the ball firmly, looked between his hand and the Vulpix, swung his arm to practice it, then hurled the ball at the fox... and then it flew to the left during the final meter.
A sweatdrop. "That... didn't work out. Gonna try again."
He went to the ball, picked it up, then threw it again.
It hit a tree, then bounced back at him, causing him to jump out of the way.
With a frustrated face, he picked it up again then threw it one last time, and the ball inexplicably shot directly upwards as if its people needed it, never to be seen again.
The two trainers, their Pokémon, Hanako, and the Vulpix blankly stared at each other with faces of what the fuck, then the Vulpix realized it was supposed to get away now, so it ran away.
"...This is why I only have these two. Happens every time."
"How does THAT happen every time?!"
"It just does..." He shrugged before looking around. The chaos of that battle caused most of the wild Pokémon to flee. "Gonna need to train, at least, but what would I battle?"
Meanwhile, Foccai noticed Hanako finally and, seeing how she seemed relaxed, decided on the usual routine of being a complete ham about his introduction, giving theatrical gestures resembling batshit insanity you'd see in a romantic drama. He approached further, and then promptly got hit with a Razor Leaf from the hedgehog.
Because Hogoki can be the densest motherfucker in history, he interpreted that as a challenge. "...So you're next, then? Needed practice against grass types, anyway." Foccai got into a battle position, and then Hanako seemed to just... go with it. "Start with Bubble!"
Bubbles bubbled bubbily as the grass-type then dove into them, her quills being fully up to pop them all without a single bit of damage.
"...See if you can land a hit some other way, then!"
Did Erika make him that uncertain– Anyway, we now have the seal chasing her while she appears to be running very quickly — probably Quick Attack. Strangely, she doesn't seem to be using it to attack, instead opting to tire out the Popplio, and it's working. Foccai simply slowed down more and more until he was exhausted, then just sitting there to recover as Kwaru laughed hysterically at the entire situation. The duck's pleasure increased further once Hanako returned to Foccai, bounced off him, then ran off with a cheeky smile before the seal could even ready a Pound.
Seems Foccai had lost this one, too.
Meanwhile, Tenshou is... running off to pursue Hanako. "Wait, wait up! We only just saw you...! Hogoki, I'll be back soon, don't get lost again!"
A very confused trainer and Popplio had no time to object, and do you think Kwaru would've tried to stop this hilarity?
...
So, anyway, they got lost again. How unexpected.
It took a few hours, but they did get to a Pokémon Center, at least.
Something during that battle had given Hogoki a strange excitement. He was clearly outmatched by Hanako, yet instead of crushing him like Erika's victory had, he'd only gotten more motivated to overcome that defeat.
Therefore, he found a book on Pokémon training. Yes, he knew how to read, somehow. There weren't maps, so he was fine.
He wasn't reading in order, though, too much time wasted that way.
...The best battle strategy when brute force has you losing is to observe your opponent and adapt your strategy to surprise and overwhelm them...
...When reasonable, pick the strongest move at key opportunities...
...Chain attacks to quickly gain the upper hand, and avoid falling victim to the same...
Press buttons quickly to avoid leaving an opening...
...Wait. What buttons?
...Oh. Video game guide. Still applied well to his situation.
Use ranged attacks when dodging, and when an opponent is trying to dodge or get close...
...Press A to jump...
Nah, he'd learned all he could from this now.
It was time to practice.
They all ate quickly, then Hogoki stood up and walked to the practice arena, the Pokémon following.
...
"Alright, everyone. We're gonna be doing the usual training now. This time, we're getting ready to fight Erika again... So Kwaru, listen this time. Nobody liked watching you get thrown around like that." Quack.
Pokémon training: Honing your Pokémon's battle abilities is a complex task. You have to predict what your future opponent would do, what your Pokémon would do, and what the best option would be.
Here we see a trainer properly train for the first time in years. Whatever the outcome may be, this water trainer will soon overcome many a weakness, given enough time and effort.
The fruits of their labor will be tested tomorrow in many a way.
Next time: The final part of Confluence!
"Got enough entered for tomorrow night?"
"Indeed I did... Orphanage got me plenty of entries. You recruit the Game Corner's agents? They have to have plenty of fire Pokémon for this."
"All the Charmander and the like are ready. ...Say, why were you late by a few hours getting here?"
"Couple of jackass kids kneed me in the balls, so I got 'em checked. Thankfully my good nut's fine."
"...Good nut?"
"Yeah? We all got a good and bad nut, don't we? One's fucked already, so they can kick it as much as they want, and—"
"You know what, I don't wanna know more. Coffee Powder, make sure the Shaymin didn't go anywhere."
"I just got back, thou— Coffee Powder?! Dude, I will bite your—"
"Do you eat stuff that can't be eaten, too?!"
"Fuck nah, only a little paper when I was curious!"
"...What?"
We'll just end it there.