Cerulean City: A seaside town famous for Pokémon water ballets and its unusually strong gym leader, it's considered the publicly-known hub of the Rocket Liberation Committee.

It's also the hometown of Hogoki, and yet he's going around like he's never even been here before. He's either lost as usual or genuinely not familiar with his own hometown. He did seem lost in thought, however.

He passed by a bike shop with the name "Miracle Cycle" displayed above the door as he muttered to himself, Foccai following behind him.

"Brock wasn't that hard to fight, but Misty's gotta be stronger, and we won't have a type advantage, and I'll only have one Pokémon, too..." He hoped they'd still have an advantage, given the training they'd done, but it wasn't a given. "Foccai, can you go to your limit today if you need to?" A confused bark. "Just in case we're not strong enough to win. Maybe you could get lucky with a few hits or something." More barking. "I know you're strong, but this is Misty, remember? If she beat Mom four years ago, we've gotta do everything we can to win! Actually, now that I think about it... I'll call Mom and ask. This city's too big for me to find home in time..." Foccai just silently watched him take out a flip phone and dial home.

...

...

.."Taki household, Izumi speaki- Ah, my apologies dear, I've been saying that much more often lately. What progress have you made from your last call onward?"

"I've made it home again, and I have one badge now. I wanted advice on fighting Misty-"

"Home? Dear, how could you be home without being at home? You've never been much of a city boy despite growing up in a city. Come home sometime in a slow period of your journey. But I digress... I believe my support from the past while should be all you'll require to defeat her, particularly if you've still trained with Foccai. You have continued to train with it outside of my oversight, yes?"

"I have. Not much progress, but he's still getting stronger, at least."

"Little progress is progress, but I do suggest you treat it as none and seek methods to increase your training's yield. Its strength as of now is likely enough to defeat Misty's second-badge team, but I highly question its ability to succeed afterwards. I suppose you've also failed to obtain a second Pokémon, or else this conversation would not be about your worries."

"...Throwing balls isn't easy. Especially when Pokémon run away if you don't get it the first time."

"Nonsense, dear. You simply must improve your aim. Now, do you have any other concerns, or should I end the call now to curtail your father's bizarre cooking attempts?"

"I only need to know this... What if I do lose?"

"Then you'll simply return home, and I will make you strong again so you may set off and fulfill your purpose. Your doubt begs the question of whether that will be inevitable. Now, I must hang up. Your father is attempting to melt apples for the second time this month. We'll talk next upon your gym battle's conclusion." The call was ended without time for Hogoki to say goodbye.

...He really didn't want to return home right now, especially given what it would mean. He was already the trainer who couldn't throw a Poké Ball at a giant target, and he didn't want to be the weak trainer who lost to a gym leader after years of preparation too. His adventure had only just begun too, as far as he was concerned. He didn't want to delay that more than he did by getting lost!

Foccai made a concerned sound while looking at him similarly, snapping him out of his worrying to address that, rubbing the seal's head.

"We'll be fine. Just do your best today, alright? A lot's on the line here." He barked reassuringly in reply, and then the boy looked around... and found himself on a bridge.

The two quickly ran back into the city after realizing they'd wandered off.

"Look, can't you be at least a little easier on the kid, Izumi? I know you have high hopes for him, but he only has my badge and a Popplio. He's not gonna wipe through her team, and his Pokémon need training in more than just your battle style. If Misty could just take him in-"

"Nonsense. I have trained my son for four years, Harrison. He has an excellent foundation in battling, and most trainers would envy his position. Any defeat he has is a matter of his commitment to the goal faltering, or of his simply being weak."

"...Still, surely it wouldn't hurt for Misty to also teach him her-"

"Are you implying that my support was lacking? Harrison, I was a gym leader for twice the length of time Misty's lucky reign has lasted, and I have taught him a battle style passed down by my family of predecessors. Misty simply defeated me by chance or by illegitimate tactics — which, I do not know — and that of course entitles a member of the Taki bloodline to a return to power. Her idea of training would discourage his attempts to conquer the gym, and cast me as a weak relic of those times before him. He knows this very well, and as such, he will refuse to be taken in as an apprentice."

"I'll discuss it with Misty later, but I really doubt what you're saying. As Pewter's gym leader, I've spoken with Misty my fair share of times, and she seems to be a very industrious, savvy-"

"She tricked you as well, did she?"

"Excuse me?"

"I will not, but I will correct you, however. She's a cunning girl, you see — tries to seem friendly and helpful, but slowly breaks your resolve and resistance until you're but another pawn in her little game. She seeks power due to her fragile hold on it, and anybody with a clear grasp of a person's true nature could notice that. I'm quite surprised you hadn't — you seem a perceptive man, Harrison."

"...Hey, one of my siblings is calling me. Probably needs help getting home or something like that. We can talk later if you want."

"Gladly. Good day to you."

"Enjoy your afternoon." Brock pressed a button to hang up, then sighed while leaning against a wall. "Dear Helix, that lady is like a Venusaur using Giga Drain on my head... Glad she married before I had the chance to meet her. Poor guy."

"Brock told me you were coming here. How's your journey been so far?"

In the Cerulean City Pokémon Gym, Hogoki found himself face-to-face with an old acquaintance: The current Gym Leader, Misty Williams. After four years of not seeing each other, they didn't seem to be in a rush to just start the battle. Misty held Foccai for once, the seal seeming pleased with this.

Hogoki seemed to emote slightly more than usual around her, oddly. "It's been great, if a little slow... Foccai's gotten a lot stronger the last few years, so battling hasn't been too hard yet."

"He still seems happy with you. I can tell you've cared for him well." The Popplio barked happily in agreement as she laughed. "And he seems to think so, too!"

The boy actually seemed surprised by that, but reverted to an embarrassed rubbing of his neck with a smile. "Really? I just helped train him and tried to be kind to him..."

"And that's exactly what a good trainer does. You've done well the first few months on your own, and that's a sign of great things to come."

"...Enough about me though. How've you done as a gym leader since last time?"

"I'm still trying to grow stronger, even though I'm much better than I was years ago. There's also my other duties, but I'm handling them just fine. I only need to keep getting stronger and pushing new trainers to grow as much as I can! So don't think your gym battle with me will be easy just 'cause you beat Brock. You and Foccai will need every ounce of strength you have to win!" Foccai started squirming in her arms, apparently roused by her words. Once she let go, the seal hopped back to his trainer who had a determined expression.

"If that's you making my challenge for me, I already accept! Let's start the fight right now while we're fired up and ready for you!" Foccai's ensuing battle cry punctuated his statement as the Popplio went to the arena platform before the fight even started.

The tomboyish mermaid nodded and hurried to the other side of the arena, reaching the trainer's box and taking out a Poké Ball. "I don't have to introduce myself, do I? I'll just skip it. Just know that you'd better be ready for an all-out offensive from my water Pokémon!"

Two trainers from Cerulean City. Friendly yet opposed to each other, they were fated to battle someday. Both have something to lose here — one more than the other, perhaps, and not in the same time periods.

One trainer will prevail. Next time, let's eagerly await the outcome and aftermath as the battle unfolds.