Tuesday evening turned out to be uneventful as far as making progress with Qwilfish was concerned. Nori was able to feed his assignment at home without much incident, thanks to some residual puddles in the area. The good news was that nothing happened to screw things up even worse than they already were.
But the Pokemon Rehabilitator refused to be deterred. It hadn't even been a week since he had gotten her. These sorts of things could take time, and any little step forward counted. And a lot of little steps were equal to a few big ones.
As he was walking into school on Wednesday morning, he found an auburn-haired teenager wearing black jeans, a black shirt, and a black-sleeved cyan jumper waiting for him. Compared to the last time this happened, her light blue eyes were like a still winter day and her expression just as chilly. She briefly turned away after catching sight of him, yet her eyebrows and lips twitched as she forced a scowl; Nori could tell so because she stomped towards him with an exaggerated swagger.
"Nori Carino," was all she said at first, sternly and sharply.
He exhaled. "What is it this time?" he asked, putting his right hand on his hip.
Nori instinctively stepped back and got his guard up as Emi's arm came flying out at him, but it stopped way short. The fact that she didn't so much as smile or mock him told Nori that something was really up. She only held out her palm. "Give me the waiver."
He stared at it incredulously. His left hand found its way to the hip as well. "You're really still going on about this?" he asked with complete astonishment, leaning in and throwing his right hand up. He took stock of their surroundings. All around them, their peers were stopping in their tracks and watching this go down.
Emi remained blissfully unaware, or if not, uncaring about them. She had her eyes locked squarely on him as she gave an explanation. "The way I see it, the legal agreement doesn't just exist for you to train your Pokemon. It exists for people like me who want…" Like a hiccup, she stopped. Her eyes darted away, she squinted them, and she swallowed hard. "Have to have a battle with a Pokemon, in my case."
Have to? Had she lost her mind?! She didn't have to fight anything. It was all in her head! He glanced around. People were just watching. Even some teachers had stopped to see this.
When it looked like a guy with short, silvery hair was about to approach, Emi suddenly took notice. She fired off a leer so harsh that he stumbled away. When she turned back, her expression became blank save for vaguely watery eyes. Her words came out quick and desperate.
"People can call me irresponsible all they want. I talked to my Pokemon about it, and they were all on board. That's all the validation I care about." Then she bowed at him. Nori did a small double take. She bowed, he saw that right. "Please," she begged.
At this point, they'd attracted the attention of everyone around them, and several more were gathering. It was so quiet that you could've heard a Joltik scuttling. If the eyes of the onlookers weren't on each other as they whispered amongst themselves, they were on Nori. All waiting for his answer.
He took a good look at Emi. There were dark bags under her eyelids, she probably lost some sleep over this. Her hair was scraggly, like she was in a rush this morning. She had her lips pursued and her body pointed toward him. She was waiting with as much anticipation as the rest of them. But was she thinking clearly?
Nori leveled at her. His body ached with tension. "You're serious about this, aren't you?" he asked. "Do you know what you're getting into? And I don't mean the risks to your Pokemon."
"I am." The side of her mouth crooked upwards slightly.
Nori had been to that place too many times before. Especially when he became a total pariah when Kallisto Keravnos had condemned him back in June. If it wasn't for Prema's encouragement and Arumi's help, he might still be one to the point of where he'd have to leave Japan. He wouldn't wish it on anyone, not even his worst enemies. People were hopping around like pissed off Primeapes over what the former YAMS said about the ethics of the agreement. And she didn't care? She said her Pokemon didn't care either.
There was something in her eyes and her posture. She was resolved. He felt a strange connection to her at that moment that pulled his shoulders downward. "I can respect that," he said, closing his eyes and feeling himself smile. "You want to fight Qwilfish no matter what people think because of those jerks, and I'm going to keep on helping her no matter what people think."
Emi laughed and leaned in, smirking at him. "We found some common ground after all."
"I guess so." Who would've thought? Nothing he wasn't used to after the Gym Trainers at Sunyshore, though. "All right. Happy to," he officially confirmed what the crowd had been suspecting was coming. That made them burst into chatter which they both ignored. "But give me a day. I didn't bring the waiver with me."
Emi's expression became a full-on grin. He felt so light in the chest he was compelled to return it. It was funny, Nori thought at that moment. They were suddenly getting along! If they met under better circumstances, could things have turned out differently?
He stuck out his arm on a whim. She gladly accepted the handshake.
"Appreciate it. And for the record?" She pulled him in and glowered. She spoke lowly, right in his face, "Get over your fear. I want her at her best, so there's no excuses when I beat her."
Nori yanked back and took a step away. "Stupid!" he muttered to himself. It was too good to be true. A tightness welled in his throat and chest as the ramifications of what she had just said started to sink…ugh! Don't think that word! "But…water," he squeaked out. "I won't be at my best."
"Well it can't be helped unless you train her to be out of it in the next couple days." She crossed her arms and gave a predator's smirk. It faded after a few seconds of looking down on him. "We'll have a rubber match to settle this once and for all if we have to," she assured, more soothingly.
Nori blinked. "Wait, next couple days?" He threw his hands back and stomped a foot.
"If Friday after school doesn't work for you."
Nori grumbled. "I guess we can get it out of the way then. But we," He winced at his misspeaking. He breathed in and out before continuing. "That won't give me much time to train. Maybe not."
He couldn't help but slap himself. What did he just agree to do?! The plan had been to gradually ease Qwilfish into things. But he couldn't afford little steps anymore! Sure, she tolerated him, the keyword being 'tolerated.' What about listening to him in a battle? Or just battling in general?
"You're good enough to handle this," she assumed. Her next words were both condescending and genuine at the same time, somehow. "Worst case, just have her fight on her own like you like to."
"I still think it'd be best if we wait."
Emi turned away all of a sudden, as if something had caught her eye. "Let's get it out of the way, and once you train her out of water, we'll fight again." She grumbled. "And there goes Angel, running off to narc."
"A snitch?" Nori just saw what she was looking at; that same guy who tried to approach her running into the hall. Come to think of it, "I saw that guy the other day."
Emi waved it off. "Oh, don't worry about it. That's just something I'll have to deal with back in the clubroom. You just get things sorted out from your end. So we good?"
He was guessing that guy was on the battling team too. And certainly not too happy she wanted to fight him. So like she said, nothing for him to worry about. "I guess we're good," he conceded, knees trembling. Maybe the sooner this was over, the better off he would be.
"Thanks." She nodded with calm appreciation before turning to leave. Her shoulders were back, her chin was high, and she was swinging her arms naturally.
It took a bit of processing until he reached a conclusion. She knew she was going to get a lot of hate for wanting this. So she wanted it out of the way as soon as possible. That's why she wanted it on Friday. And…this. Him. Maybe the sooner it was over, the less he would have to dread it. He already was. Was it too late to back out?
"No, no," he said to himself, clapping his ears. "It's done, Nori. Maybe it'll work out." It was a battle that worked with the Demon, after all. Maybe that would be the key here. "You just gotta let Mr. Martins know, just in case."
He wasn't cursing his decision at least. His instincts were telling him deep down that this could work out. At least, it'd let him know a few things. It looked like he'd be going to his clubroom today after all, albeit for an unexpected reason.
Nori ate his lunch out in the halls before heading to his club. When he arrived, there were only three people in the small computer lab. They were scattered about and not the ones he was expecting. Terrance was sitting at a desk with what looked like some of his homework in front of him. Saqid was at another table, loitering and looking at his cell phone. He was notably wearing a white face mask. Mitsu was at his usual spot, and yet he was the first to look over.
"Oh, look at what the Snorlax puked up," Mitsu sardonically stated, holding his head high and scrunching his nose.
"What the hell?" Nori went through the doorway and shut it behind him with his foot. "You're still mad?"
"Of course I am!" The teal-haired teenager spun his chair around and rested his arm on the side. "A couple of days isn't going to change facts! How much of an asshole do you have to be–"
"That is enough!" Saqid stood and shouted, his voice cracking. "Do not welcome back the chief with that."
Mitsu scowled. "You still respect him?"
"He is our chief, is he not?" His eyebrows went up. He was probably smiling behind the mask. "And he is good at it. And a good man besides."
Terrance peeked up. "Y-yeah," he stammered. "Nori is…" While he trailed off, Nori saw his hands ball into fists and his muscles tense. He suddenly shouted, "Stop it, Mitsu! Leave him alone!"
Nori blinked slowly. He couldn't help but beam a little. He expected Saqid, but he wasn't expecting Terrance to stand up for him like that. Another surprise like yesterday. He was still welcome here! Except maybe by one person.
Nori turned to him. He understood where Mitsu was coming from. He just needed to rein it in. "Just calm down," he advised. He was starting to get mad, but he knew that yelling back at Mitsu wasn't going to do anyone any good. "Take a deep breath and hold it. If you want to vent at me, fine. Let it out. But at least try to be rational about it." He didn't want to hear it if it was just a bitter and nonsensical rant.
The response was not one he was expecting. Mitsu let out a wail of frustration. He got up, snatched his bag and green metallic water bottle, and stomped away. The technogeek deliberately bumped into Nori as he passed by. Nori almost spun around and shoved him through the door in retaliation, and would have if Mitsu had not already left before he could think about it.
He grumbled and shook his head. What was Mitsu's problem? He would hate to lose him from the club, but maybe it would just take some reflection. Helping bad Pokemon didn't make him a bad person. And Qwilfish wasn't even bad!
Saqid swung an arm over his head. "Welcome back, chief!" the tan-skinned teenager greeted.
"It's only for a bit," Nori stated. That took a bit of air out of Saqid, who sat back down at his table. "I'm guessing Yumi and Reiko are out doing distribution? Or are the older girls back?"
"It is the younger girls." He sagely nodded. "The older girls are still sick. We're catching it too, I'm afraid."
"Jeez." His hand went to his face. They'd been away since Friday. They had to be extremely careful, getting it really bad, or using it as an excuse to skip school – and he didn't think it was the last of them. It was one thing to keep one of them down for a while, but both of them? "Hope it doesn't hit you two as bad."
The two guys agreed with him there. Nori at least, didn't think he was going to get it. He hadn't felt sick yet. He rarely noticed colds anyway. And he didn't think it was luck; his was usually awful.
"Anyway, I guess I should tell you two first." It might've already spread given how many people saw them, but he wanted to tell them personally anyway. "I'm going to be battling Emi Pikaru on Friday."
They both snapped to attention. Terrance touched his lips and shrunk into his seat, stammering a 'wh' repeatedly. He didn't get a chance to speak, since Saqid did.
"But chief!" he protested, his voice straining as it rose in pitch. "That Qwilfish is dangerous! This could end up like it did with Pawniard and Anthony Morris!"
"She doesn't care," he plainly told them with a shrug. He waved a foot. "Her Pokemon don't, either."
"N-Nori," Terrance strained. He squinted and groaned, and almost seemed to shudder. "It's…no disrespect. Isn't it irresponsible to let this happen?"
He frowned and slumped, though his arms did not go slack. It was a good thing Mitsu left, because he would certainly fly into hysterics over this. But it wasn't like he didn't think this through or got pressured into it.
He stood taller and moved between their two tables. His eyes were half closed as he did so, but he didn't feel tense or uneasy. He looked at Terrance and spoke unhurriedly. "Emi understands the risks. So do her Pokemon. She wanted it in spite of what people would think." He switched his gaze to Saqid. "That's enough for me."
Terrance looked down and shuffled his feet. Saqid rubbed his chin and hummed. Neither was really buying it.
Nori bit his lip. The food in his gut tossed and turned. He was under no illusions about the situation. He cleared his throat and tried to stand tall as he explained further, "It…it isn't going to be easy for me, since she wants to fight it in an ar…" He gently clapped against his head. "One suited for a Qwilfish. But I respect her stance. Maybe that's why I accepted. I know what I'm getting into here. I hope you guys can understand."
"If you say…I mean, I guess so." Terrance almost said something different. He avoided eye contact with Nori. At least he accepted it.
"I know people are going to disagree. But any battle has a risk of injury," he argued to him. Then he realized. He groaned as he rubbed the nape of his neck. "That sounds weak, doesn't it?"
"No, I see what you are getting at!" Saqid stated. Nori smiled a little at that. He was glad Saqid did so, because he sure didn't see it. There was something off about the former YAMS' argument! He just didn't know exactly what or how to articulate it right!
He changed the subject. Better get to business. "Anyway, sorry I've been away. But I came here to call my handler – as Reiko put it – and do some research and check my emails."
"But of course!" the eighth-year boomed. Terrance also nodded and smiled faintly. "And again, welcome back!"
"I missed being here," he admitted with a laugh. It was good to be around his friends and acquaintances. "Just gotta do this quick," he said as he stepped into the back room.
Why the Officials didn't get him a cellphone or something instead of his weird radio was something beyond Nori. He could still be called by others, but he couldn't make calls. So he had to come to places like this all the time in order to use the phone!
The boy pulled out his notepad and flipped to the page where he kept his numbers. He picked up the receiver, sat down in the office chair, dialed in the number for the agent's cell phone, and waited. He only had to wait for about five seconds.
"Hello, hola, konnichiwa, and oi!" the man boomed into the receiver. It was a greeting unlike any Nori had heard, even from him before.
"Hi, Mr. Martins?" he started.
"S-sir!" the agent stammered at the use of his real name. "Call me my codename!"
"Sorry. Just politeness." He wanted to be formal, and it was a force of habit with that sort of thing. That and he was starting to see just how ridiculous Studd was as a codename, especially out loud. "But I need to arrange a meeting with you tomorrow. I have to ask you some questions. Is that all right?"
"Why can we not ask the questions now?"
Nori tapped a finger on the receiver. "I'm busy right now, and I'm sure you are too." They had way more to talk about than the battle with Emi.
"Erk!" Agent Studd let out a gurgled choke. He could basically see the man cringing and collapsing in disappointment. "So much for that break."
Nori had no idea what the agent did with the Officials besides overseeing him. Probably just a desk job, actually.
"After school and same place as always, then," the agent declared.
Nori curled his lip. It wasn't the worst idea considering it was outside of their scheduled time, but he would still rather have more privacy. "I guess for a lack of ideas, but we'll try to see if we can get into the school this time." It was a weekday, so they should be able to get in.
"Leave it to me, sir! I will make sure the office lady understands!"
Nori sat upright in the chair, as if a jolt of electricity shot through his spine. "No, leave it to me," he ordered, trying to sound as stern and serious as possible. "Just sit there and wait until I get there, and I'll do the talking. Bye."
He hung up without giving him a chance to protest. Nori was absolutely sure nothing good would come of Studd marching in there and introducing himself as usual. Except maybe forcing them to move away from using the playground near the school, but the side effects of that weren't ideal. Everything was set. He just had to get ready with his questions.
For now, it was time to research Sinnohian Qwilfish. He stepped back out into the clubroom to do just that.
"Reiko."
She turned to the other girl. "We can't do anything, Takao." Carino had made a crazy decision. Part of why she was out delivering the papers was to give herself time to cool off, just in case he did stop by.
The beige-haired teenager shook her head. "No, it's about Touya."
Reiko curled her lip. This again? "Yeah, what about him?"
Her friend's mouth simply hung open. "I…I emailed him, and…"