Chapter 2: Motivation
The morning sun peeks out through the blinds in Haru's room as his alarm goes off on his Rotom phone. A tune from a game he played where you control a bug and navigate through a large maze-like apocalyptic world graces his ears and gradually wakes him. Serene and soothing like a fresh cup of coffee, it is his go-to alarm that helped him wake up slowly every morning. Rising from Dream Land, Haru's eyes squint and look below him. He sees Nora, his Glaceon, belly up to his side, and snickered. Holding up the phone, it showed the time at 08:00. He was expected to meet up with his mother within a few hours.
He groaned then lazily swung his feet to the side of the bed and slid off.
*thump*
He lands on his feet but slumps forward. /There's no rush, I'll get to it when I get to it/ He thinks.
Downstairs he'd notice that the other Pokemon were all asleep and did his best not to wake them just yet. /Huh. Loona would be asleep since she's basically a moon, but I expected Mirukon to be awake. Huh. Maybe he had a big night after I passed out, or something./ He hummed in thought, but then dismissed it since it wasn't really a big deal to think on long. The morning routine began! Preparing breakfast for himself and all of the Hall of Fame Pokemon was his priority...and since he got some cash bonuses from becoming Champion, he splurged a little on the portions.
A few cracks of eggs onto a pan here, and a few slabs of bacon strips on another pan, and Haru shook himself to try and wake up faster. "Ah..." He reached into the fridge and pulled out a long can: one of those energy drinks he enjoyed. Just as the top slit opened and the whiff of citrus berries hit his nostrils, Haru leaned onto the countertop before taking a swig.
"Right. Big breakfast for the others." he says to himself, setting the can down and getting the team's meals in check.
One of his hands reaches into a cupboard to grab a bottle of powdered drink mixes. "No reason we can't try to stay on our 'A game'." Haru muttered to himself while making potion-bottle sized mixed drinks for his team. As he glanced around to the sound of bacon strips sizzling on the stovetop, with some sleep still in his eyes, he pursed his lips. "Screw it. I've been good lately, and I worked hard to get here." His cupboard opened again and grinned, taking out the pancake mix and chocolate chips. It was going to be a pancake, bacon, eggs, toast with jam, and hashbrowns kind of morning.
The rest of the morning routine would be mostly uneventful, if not for the one outstanding notion that he had put off laundry still. The basket was full and needed to be addressed. /Whoops. Better at least start that in the wash./ He thought to himself, begrudgingly pushing himself to start it.
In between the meal he prepared for himself and his Pokemon, he kept the television on low volume to get the daily update. Fighting back the urge to run out with nary a meal being ingested, Haru saw that folks were already covering different aspects of the League's end results, what people wanted to see for the next season, and commentating about the new Champion. Nothing truly surprised him from the broadcast. They previewed the day's weather, a news story was previewed on a court hearing for some important figure, and showed snippets of his interview from the other night. "Guess they'll just put on anything these days..."
He was briefly interrupted by comments between the anchors when one had said "It makes you wonder that with us now having seen the end of Leon's reign as Champion, if Haru will be able to measure up to it. I have my own thoughts, but I'd like to see more of the small-town trainer who ended up becoming Number One!"
/Right. It's no longer enough that I just battle people. I have responsibilities and an image to uphold!/ Haru lightly tapped himself on his cheeks while Nora walked into the room, stretched, yawned, and then hopped up to where he was sitting.
"Nora." Haru said, looking to her.
The Glaceon's ears twitch as she looked to him.
"I...don't know if what lay ahead will be mean we'll deal with more morons like Sordward and Shielbert. I also don't know if I can handle them on my own. But I want you to know I trust you to be there for me. You're a 'Hall of Fame' Pokemon now, you know. You know the kind of responsibilities that come with that, right?" He asked her.
As if waking herself up faster to be at-attention, the Eeveelution straightened her back, placing her forepaws in front of her and nodded with a cheerful but tired yip. "veeEee~" She said, with Haru smiling back.
He ran a hand down the back of her forehead then slid down her head to her backside. Giving a small headpat before moving onto his next task.
An hour would pass, and the reigning champion of Galar sets out ready to see the sunlight. While he got his boots on, Haru looks to Goji who is standing in front of him as his trainer is about to leave. "I won't be gone long. Make sure you hold down the fort here, okay?" as he points to the tall rabbit-like Pokemon. Goji gives a confident nod and thumbs up gesture, as the champ gives a grin. "I know you will. If something DOES go awry I know Masako will tell me about it." making Goji's confident expression falter with a bit of sweat forming on his forehead. The rabbit Pokemon peered behind himself as the Gardevoir bore a hole in the back of his head just staring back at him.
Haru gave a weak laugh. "I'm sure it won't come to that though!"
- - Hammerlocke, Outdoor Mall and Shopping District - -
/Then again, with Goji it's never a sure thing./ Haru thought to himself. Getting off the Air Taxi he took to meet his Mom, who had already arrived. Punctuality runs in their blood: sometimes to a fault. He hears her calling out to him not far away, as she could spot him by the bright red hair he had, thick black rimmed glasses, and stature. Plus, being her son of course she'd recognize him anywhere.
"Ah, you're here earlier than I expected. We said 10 right?" Haru said with a half smirk after giving his mom a hug. It was 09:34.
"Yeah well...I was bored at home after having woken up early. Didn't feel like waiting. I miss my kid, and he's been so busy ever since becoming Champion!" she replied happily. Haru's mother had decided to wear something more outgoing for the day since weather was permitting: simple jeans and shirt with some happy faces on it, a pin with Haru's face on it from when he won the Pokemon League Championship, and a hat she bought while at the Wyndon Stadium.
"Sorry about that, Ma. I'm still learning how to do this new change of lifestyle..."
"You going to be okay? Is there anything you want to get off your mind while you're here today?" Lana asked, hoping that even as an accomplished adult, that Haru would still have a need for her.
He pursed his lips then flattened them while exhaling slow. "Maybe girls? Haha...I joke. Can we walk now? Think I'll get antsy if we don't at least 'start' our visit soon."
"Women, hmm?" His mother raised an eyebrow at him. He quickly dismissed it with a handwave.
"No no, I swear I was only joking!" He'd say with a flustered expression.
Lana looked at the boy pensively then began striding next to him while Haru began to spill to her the current line of thoughts he was having. How he felt a bigger high in finally accomplishing one of his life goals, but how he was finding himself sad and complacent at the same time. Telling her how he went to talk to Nessa for her personal point of view, and where he was currently was starting either a new crazy hobby or completing his Pokedex. "I would have to touch trade Hop for Zacian to be registered in my Pokedex, but it works out since I'd do the same for Zamazenta."
Having listened to so much of what he said, Lana tried to think of something else to bring up. "Did you want to do something special this year, by the way?" She asked, turning her head to him.
Looking back with confusion, Haru asked her, "'This year'?" But the answer came just as fast before ruminating on it. "Right. His anniversary. Hmmm. I don't know, yet." He moved his hands to his pants pockets.
Taking a deep breath, Haru looked back to his mom. "I'll figure something out for him soon. For now, I think I'm just having trouble trying to think up of what to do for my next 'big thing'. So many people are going to be watching me from now on."
"Well if that's so why don't we put a pause on you helping me shop?" Lana gestured to one of the outdoor cafes nearby. "Let's get you something to eat."
Giving a light shrug, Haru felt he couldn't get out of being bought lunch. "Okay, sure. I guess I'll have a cuppa, or something."
"Do you think I'll have some sort of epiphany like you did?" Haru would ask her, as his Mom had her notepad out and was making checks in her note on the things 'to do' that were done.
"Epiphany?" her glance met his with a quizzical look, putting the pen back to settle on top of her right ear.
"When you decided you wanted to take care of Pokemon long-term. Why you then decided you'd become a Pokemon veterinarian. Like..." he sighed a bit and gestured with his hands in thought. "Do I have to experience something significant in order to have a higher chance of getting one? How will I know it's the right call?"
His mother smiled and put down her pen, thinking back. "Well the decision to pursue that avenue just sorta 'came'. There wasn't any big reason for my choice...I just 'did it'. It's one of many great decisions I made over the course of my life, though not my 'best'!"
"What was the best one you made?"
"Being your mom." she said with a full smile.
Haru, in feeling as if he was dealt psychic damage would twitch his body away from the woman sitting across from him and groaned. "Mum that's incredibly cheesy, even for you to say that."
"It's true. Would a face like this lie to you?" Lana said, pointing to the smiling face thermos she brought with her. Laughing with him at her dry humor, Haru's mother stood up then tapped on his shoulders. "I'll be back ok? No grown adult son wants to have to stick with their Mom while she gets clothes, am I right?" she teased.
Haru gave an almost dismissive wave as she disappeared into one of the nearby shops and repeated to himself the thought put in his head. /Should I tell the others, or would that just make me out like some whiny idiot?/
In the time that his mother walked off, Haru made the occasional gesture to fans walking by that excitedly waved to him or wanted to speak casually.
Twenty minutes pass and he gets a text from his mother saying she's almost done. Haru reads it, then sets his phone back down. He ended up sitting on the edge of a bench where he'd do some people watching. Someone 'bumps' into Haru while he's sitting causing Haru to turn immediately to the offender. "Oy, watch it!" he says to the person without realizing it was intentional, as the person simply stood there in place.
No apology. The person squints with disdain. He was a semi tall gentleman, about 6 foot, moderately built with a cut physique, short buzz cut red hair and militaristic camouflage shirt with bland brown pants. "Haru, I'm glad I caught you by yourself, because I'm such a fan of Galar's new Champion." He'd say.
"Oh yeah?." he said. Out of the corner of his eyes he notices a few people stop in their tracks noticing the boisterous fellow. Him saying he was the Galar Champion was pretty loud to attract at least a few passing glances.
"Well of course, after all you helped me in The Wild Area a few days ago during a Max Raid. I'd say aside from saving our region from calamity, sticking out for us smaller, normal folks is real humble of you champ." giving a thumbs up.
"Oh it's no fus-!" Haru began to say before the gentlemen grabbed him by the collar, reflexively having Haru reach for his own shirt.
"So remind me why I don't feel so bad wanting to pummel your face in for snatching a Lapras that had a special mark on it when you WEREN'T a champion. You may not give a piss about the Pokedex, but some of us actually care more about who we have than you. Furthermore, I haven't seen that one reappear yet since!"
Haru sweat a little and was amiss at what to do. "C'mon. You really want to do this here? Look, let me make amends. I can trade a Luc-!" he's shut up by the man's growing irritation pressing him against a lamppost that had a Pidove asleep on top. The impact of him being pushed against it startled the bird Pokemon and caused it to fly away frantically.
"Man I can't believe you! Tryin' to buy my sympathy?! You think cuz you're rich and a Champion now that you can just MAKE this problem go away like that?! Not possible." the man said then pushing him against a nearby wall, causing a few people to panic and make space as Haru was cornered against the brick wall.
"What's your name, huh? At least tell me that so I know who to try and amend this with: wouldn't it be rude if I didn't know at least that much but trie-" Haru was thrown against the wall again, making him instinctively gasp. He was short, without Pokemon, and of no self defense training, so what was he to do?
"You afraid, little man? Don't wanna harm a random passersby with your Pokemon for self defense?" the man said.
Haru says nothing and just looks at him, never breaking eye contact.
"...heh. In any case I suppose just flattening your face and ruining those glasses will work as repayment for now!" as the man looked ready to throw a punch before the situation took a surprise turn. The assailant was immediately cut away from his assault when seemingly out of nowhere he was thrust away by a hard kick to the side and a loud yell.
"HIYAH!" Comes the voice of a girl who had kicked the man off of Haru, who almost didn't land on his feet. Another person quickly comes up and makes sure he was back on his feet. "Holy Arceus are you okay Haru?" It was Nessa, sporting her own long sleeved sweat-jacket of white and blue stripes, slight mid-drift, white sports shorts, and white tennis shoes with blue accents. Haru nodded in response. Nessa was looking at his face, collar and his head when he was slammed against the wall.
Haru noticed he had some unfortunate spittle from the loudmouth jerk, and was looking at Nessa while rubbing his face a bit. With her being so close and suddenly at his rescue, his cheeks flushed red. He turns away. "Y-yeah I am..."he would say. The girl who gave the biggest dynamic entry to the scene then goes to pin Haru's assailant to the ground in a sleeper hold.
"Hey chump! You should know better than to start a fight completely unprovoked! Combat against trainers and especially Gym Leaders and our Champion should always be in a Pokemon match, not in fisticuffs!" She fired off at the bully. Haru recognized that fiery personality anywhere: Bea. The fiery silver haired Gym Leader of Fighting Type Pokemon was wearing a black and gold sweat-jacket, pants, her usual black/gold headband, and black tennis shoes, putting the man in a fierce submission hold.
The man is yelling in pain. "OWowowowow yes alright I won't do it again! Shit! Let go already woman!"
Bea would tighten the grip on him and shook her head. "Apologize to him! Now!"
The bully felt his ligaments move and he yelled in pain. "Allright, damn it all! I'm sorry! Yyyiahhhhggghh!"
"C'mon Bea he's had enough." Nessa insisted, looking to her companion, having helped straighten Haru's shirt after looking for any bruises. She was looking at the side of his head having pushed Haru's face down a bit.
"What? I'm fine..." he insisted. The blue eyed water trainer raised an eyebrow, and after confirming that he was fine, looked back at the ground where Bea was finally letting the man go. Bea gives a huff, and gestures like she's going to chase him when he gets on his feet which prompts him to go off running.
"Yeah that's right, get stuffed you daft cow! I'll report it the next time I see you doing that!" she shouts. The people who had stopped to look seem much more calm now and thankful she came in when she did, as Bea's usual hardened look softens up when she sees Haru standing, with no harm done to him. "It is unforgivable what he did, but I am glad to have run into you, Haru. Are you okay?"
"Heck yeah I am. You're as quick as expected. Can't thank you enough, Bea. If it weren't for you two, I wouldn't have known what I was going to do." he admitted.
Bea nods confidently, while Nessa cuts in. "Why are you here out without any of your Pokemon? Or security? You could have been seriously hurt or worse!"
Haru looks at her and sweats a bit, looking to the ground without a clever answer. "Well honestly I didn't think I'd need it today cuz...I'm on an errand run at the moment with my mother."
Nessa puts her hands on her hips. "Well I'm glad she didn't see this, but your point was proven wrong now wasn't it?"
Haru laughs a bit nervously but she was right. "Aye...I suppose, yeah. So what are you both doing?"
Bea responded in kind. "Training! All Pokemon Gym Leaders should be able to say that not only are their Pokemon in tiptop shape but they are too! So we're jogging." Bea says, smacking her hands together and flexing both into fists.
"Well don't let me hold you up. I'm grateful that you lot showed up." Haru would go on to say, and then looked at the direction the man fled. There's a slight pause before he looks at them.
"Haru." Nessa began to say.
"Yes?" He'd reply, with the two of them sharing a somewhat awkward pause before the Water Gym Leader shook her head.
"Look, just don't go getting yourself ruffled up, okay? I can't guarantee I'll be around next time to clean your appearance up. I'm a model, I'm no magician." She'd say, wagging a finger.
Rubbing the back of his head, Haru felt sheepish. "Is it a bother to say I wouldn't mind more random visits from you, then?"
Nessa blinked. "Wha-huh?"
Haru would over-correct and gestured with his hands waving in opposite directions of each other. "I-i mean like, I mean not always having to show up in need of helping each other or...or like a favor like when I..uhm..." He turned away for a second and huffed. "Nevermind. My brain worked faster than my mouth did."
Bea would give a double take as she saw Nessa laugh gently with a light tint of pink to her cheeks. "I think I got what you mean."
Bea's glance darted between the two, hummed, then spotted a nearby staircase. "Last one up those stairs is an Alolan Muk!" she says to Nessa before bolting it. Nessa gives a soft smile to him as she walks off and waves to him, joining Bea. "It was nice to see you again at least Haru! Glad you're okay!"
"Yeah, I'm glad you're okay too!" he shook his head. "I mean seeing you again was great!" His head shook, waving back. He sees Nessa almost trip over herself, but then regain her footing and catch up to her partner. /Highlight of my day at least./ He thought to himself.
"Well well...that was something, wasn't it?" came a smug sounding voice from the side. Haru's mother returned and was looking at him like she caught his hand in a cookie jar.
"What? Oh, you're done? That's good, I was beginning to wonder if you'd come back. You missed a whole fuss out here." noticing she came with just one bag this time and wondered what took her so long.
"..."
"...what? Why are you staring, Mom?"
"Oh sweetie, I'm talking about those ladies you were just speaking to: they're beautiful. When were you planning on introducing me to them?" as she gave a grin, causing Haru to blush rather fiercely. "Especially the one with the long hair! Your face completely changed when she showed up! Ha! You should have seen how you were acting!"
He insisted. "Mom it's not like that! They're friends; basically business partners cuz I'm Champ and they're Gym Leaders! That's how it is!"
"Ohohohoho~ you say that, but I don't know. I think one of them would be a good fit for you as a girlfriend." she insisted, reaching up to pinch one of his cheeks.
Ignoring the heat in his red cheeks, Haru huffed. "Mum please, not this right after I nearly got beat up..." he sighed. "Besides, I don't know Bea that well, and Nessa is a special case. She's been key in helping me manage as a Champ lately. She's pretty intelligent on micromanaging, but that's to be expected from a professional like her!"
His mother gave another side glance. "...and have you asked Leon for advice like her as well?"
/Shit./ A sweatdrop formed on his forehead. "A few times."
"That so?" she asked with a coy smile.
"Okay, only once. But it's only because he was the previous Champion too and because he is probably just as busy as I am, I didn't want to bother him! Look, if I need to reach out to him or anyone else, I have the league on my phone. I call them anytime..." Haru realized eventually that his mom wasn't buying the explanations and just exhaled. Deciding then and there not to push the point further.
"Well whenever you're ready to ask me for advice on how to ask out women you know I'm all ears." His mom said with complete innocence to the point it felt she was emanating the same energy as her shirt itself. Haru just grumbles a bit in response.
The thought came to him, however, that if it weren't for Bea and Nessa, he probably would have been completely snookered. Deciding to not worry about that, nor report it to any authorities, he went about the rest of his outing with his mom with little care.
- - - Motostoke, Home - - -
Returning home from the eventful morning he had, Haru went back to his home carrying a few bags of groceries and one bag of clothes.
"I'm home everyone~" he calls out when he gets inside. He doesn't hear anyone coming immediately to greet him. He also notes the distinct lack of any chaos or misplaced smells that don't belong. "Hmmm..." He squints, sets his bags down and calls again. "Guys? Nora? Goji? Masako?" He makes it to the living room den. Nobody.
"Miruk-!" he starts to call out but is surprised by something he didn't count on. Both his Lucario and Gardevoir are napping on the couch, as on the floor there's a few of his movies nearby. Both of them were completely and soundly asleep in embrace. In the entire time he had been their trainer not once did he notice the pair were close like this, and it made Haru ponder. /Well shit. If these two are becoming an item, what does that say about me who couldn't pick up the signs earlier? Have I been too busy focusing on battles?/ The thought only stuck momentarily before he put away what groceries that was brought home.
Outside, Haru went to the Pokemon of his that weren't already preoccupied out to the backyard where he'd be accompanied by Nora. As he came outside Running up to his side and sitting down, the Glaceon yipped for his attention. Glancing to her, then sitting on the cool grass with her, Haru reached over to give her some pats on the head. "You see Mirukon and Masako on the couch? I wonder how long that's been going..."
Just as Goji and Leafa were chatting each other up, so was Nora to Haru in her own way by thumping one of her forepaws twice. The pair had known each other longer than the other Pokemon he caught so seeing her tap twice was a simple way of her answering. "Two months?" He'd ask. Nora nodded. He thought back to what he was doing a few months prior, and then laughs weakly. "Ah. So it was during my time getting swept up by my new Championship title. That would explain it."
As he folded his arms around his knees, Haru glanced off absentmindedly. Suddenly, anxiety found him, and he grew in mild panic. "Wait, that's just one of the only things I've missed right? Nora, I'm not becoming a bad trainer and missing more am I? Tell me I've paid good attention, Nora, please! What if I start slacking off too much and I end up acting too dismissive or give the wrong impression?" Haru asked while gesturing with his hands.
She'd answer by hopping up and giving him headbutts and nuzzling. One of her ways she'd show she cared as a cold, icy Pokemon, was try to literally 'cool' him down. Being given the sudden physical affection made Haru do a double take then he took a deep breath. Eventually he ran a hand down her back and laughed while her flat tail waved. "Okay, okay. Thanks, buddy." The adorable Glaceon gave a cute, happy yap.
A few hours had since passed and the Pokemon couple still laid asleep. It wasn't until Haru was in the kitchen preparing dinner for everyone when the sounds of him cutting up vegetables caught their ears. Masako slowly came to and realized in horror that her Master was looking right at her as she, for one reason or another, embraced Mirukon tightly as she appeared embarrassed. It was a weak attempt at a hide from Haru that he couldn't help but squint and purse his lips. "Good evening. Have a good nap?"
The poor girl popped her head past the couch cushions to look back at him, then used her hands to hidee her face; a deep red blush forming.
He snickered a bit. "I'm not here to shame or berate, Masako. I'm not mad either."
One of her eyes pokes out visibly between her fingers. Her master continued. "I didn't want to disturb you because you two looked so comfortable." Masako slightly taps on Mirukon's face then his shoulder, causing him to wake up slowly too and sit up. The Gardevoir looks, for the first time the entire time she's been under Haru's care, speechless. She says nothing but looks thankful for his reaction.
The Lucario realizes they've being seen and has his reaction in a similar way to Masako. Haru pauses his food preparation to walk over and then squat next to the couch with his hands on his knees. "Look. Just make sure it doesn't interfere with your abilities to work in battle, ok? That's all I ask." he would say, as both were looking at him from their spot on the couch, and nodded.
Later still, Haru would be putting the dishes up when his Rotom phone rings, and he answers the call while on 'speaker'. It was Hop. "Hey man!"
He gave a gentle smile. "Hey Hop. I hope you're not overdoing your new gig with Sonia. You and Zacian and co. doing okay?"
Hop would chuckle, albeit with fatigue in his tone. "Aye. A part of me is pining to just go out and journey like you did oh so long ago. Then I usually shake that thought off and remind myself how I don't miss how tunnel-visioned I got."
He glanced to the phone with a slight frown as Yuri, his Hatterene, arrived to assist with the food prep. "Hey, mate, don't sell yourself short. It's not like you could have known your interests and goals would change." He thought back to Leon for a moment. "Your brother had his early, and yours came when you thought you wanted to pursue his same goals."
The brother-like friends had gone through a lot together, but Haru always tried to reel Hop back in when he thought his friend was being too hard on himself. "Look, a lot happened, you know? But you know who didn't quit in the middle of it? Both you and I."
Haru heard Hop laugh on his end, then sigh contently. "Aye, you're right. So what's with you?"
"Ah, well I had an interesting day today but lately I've been fine. Did some errands with my mom, ran into a dissenter who nearly beat me up, but was saved by Bea and Nessa. Heh. You know it was really nice to meet them again, but Nessa was taking extra care after that guy left to readjust my outfit." For some reason he felt the need to clear his throat, embarrassed. "It's not like I didn't think I looked all that bad. I just didn't want to mess with her do-. Ahem. Anyways, it was nice to see her again." Haru stifled a cough to hide himself laughing out of being flustered and changed the subject. "So uhm...tell me what you're researching, bud. What's it like being a nerd now?"
"...Haru are you sure you're fine?"
"Yeah, why?" Haru shook his head, trying to shake off the random bout of anxiety.
"Heh, well to answer your questionI spend more time with my nose in a book than I used to in the past. As a result in doing so it has helped me appreciate our world a lot better!" Hop is heard putting away something like a notebook as the sound of papers ruffling is heard.
"Oh yeah? How so?"
"Well for one thing I've been looking at what sorts of things go on in other regions and their Pokemon. Anything relating to their leagues or forms-of-leagues I'm avoiding looking into, but I've found a lot of intrigue in things surrounding them. Did you know that since other regions don't have the Dynamax phenomenon like we do, some regions introduce their own unique quirks into battle? Take for example, 'Mega Evolution'." Hop would say, causing Haru to blink like he couldn't believe it.
"Sorry, did you say 'Mega' Evolution?" he asked.
"I did! It's a special kind of evolution that can occur in the middle of battle. Think of how your Pokemon transforms in battle here in Galar, except they don't always grow bigger. Instead think of it as if furthering the evolution past normal means; for the pure sake of the battle. Like Dynamaxing, these Pokemon get improved statistics...though I have come across some harrowing information in doing so." Hop would say as it sounded like he was reading from some notes he took down recently.
"Like?"
"...I apologize in advance for the detail I'm about to read, but take 'Mega' Tyranitar for example. I read 'Due to the colossal power poured into it, this Pokémon's back is split right open. Its destructive instincts are the only thing keeping it moving.' Take 'Mega' Kangaskhan, which is especially screwed up. 'The explosive energy the child is bathed in causes temporary growth. The mother is beside herself with worry about it.'" Hop is only heard filing through another page.
On the other end of the call, however, Haru and his Hatterene were left aghast and staring at the phone. "Hey uh Hop, can we lighten up just a little? Maybe change the subject?"
Hop gave another weak chuckle. "Ah...yeah okay. Uhhh...hmm. Alola has some Pokemon learning something called 'Z-Moves' after doing a dance. You can gain a real sense of respect trainers have with their Pokemon when they learn these!"
"So you're telling me not only do other regions understand the importance of bonds with these beautiful creatures, but they even battle differently, huh? I think that's pretty neat~" He said, crossing his arms and pausing his dinner preparation altogether to mull on that ideal.
"Y'know, we should go see a game together when everything starts back up. Just you and I, man." Throwing out the suggestion, Haru hoped Hop would pick it up.
"Only if I bring Dubloo and Inteleon."
"Done!"
- - - - The Next Morning, Wyndon Pokemon League HQ of Galar - - - -
- - - - Gym Leader Staff & Faculty Wing - - - -
'One more day' Haru told himself as a simple mantra of encouragement. Being Champion brought many new things with it that he'd have to get used to, and one of them was attending meetings involving himself and the Gym Leaders of the Sword and Shield trainer programs. The annual review of the Gym Leaders came on the heels of an interim chairman's brief period of tenure. Nobody knew what to expect, but nobody really cared all that much for him either. As the one named Ryoma went over the statistics of the past year, he highlighted the shift in priorities thanks to all of the events from ex-Chairman Rose's meddling with Galar's power supply and the subsequent chaos of Sordward and Shielbert unleashing Dynamaxed Pokemon on several provinces, towns, and cities.
"We all owe everything to Haru's efforts" and "We all could afford to focus more on ourselves" were comments that came, as well as an extra grade of grilling certain Gym Leaders. While those noticeably stronger were able to hold their own, such as Raihan and Piers, a criticism did get aimed at the Gym Leaders Milo, Nessa, and Kabu to 'choose a new means of unity or choose a new career.'
"I'm sorry did you just tell me to get in line or get out? Is THAT the sort of rhetoric I'm hearing?" Nessa said, standing up from her seat in protest to what the interim was saying.
He refused to budge from his point and looked back. "Miss Nessa, if I recall, this was already a point of contention with you and . If I have to worry about something like these events happening again, I'd better be able to count on you as a Gym Leader and representative of Galar to defend." He made a gesture of a hand to Haru, who just dismissed it, not wanting to be included in this argument.
"Hey look, , I don't think using my own accomplishments here as a competing ruler of strength is fair..." Haru began to protest.
"Our jobs as Gym Leaders is to guide the next group of trainers so they can find their passions as Pokemon Trainers. If you're telling me that I have to once again, out of everyone here, be put on a small line-" Nessa would start to say before Ryoma slammed his hands palm side down onto the table and glared at her.
"YOUR JOB IS TO LOSE, MISS NESSA! IT ALWAYS HAS AND ALWAYS WILL BE!" He shouted, causing Nessa to freeze in place and clench her hands into fists. She sat down slowly and looked at the table. A few of the others exchanged glances with each other, with Milo, Haru, and Bea making eye contact to each other.
"Hey...sir...that was uncalled for." Milo would say, raising his hand.
"What the heck was that for? Do you not think we understand our positions? Why single her out?!" Marnie said, having her arms folded while the interim sighed; a pair of his fingers pressed against his forehead in irritation.
"Absolute bull that of everyone here we're narrowed down like this...and since you supposedly know so much about my personal history you have the audacity to use that against me. Do you know what sort of life I have to lead in order to make both of my careers work? Have you even done anything of note other than micromanagement, ?" Nessa said with venom in her voice while squinting her eyes at him.
He took a breath and tried to retrace his thoughts.
"Understand this: we all have our roles to play at hand. All of you are to hold back and stick to your typing so that trainers can learn how to effectively teach themselves how to be better. Play the 'part' of the big strong Gym Leader so that the trainer can defeat you: be the 'bad guy' that is set up to fail. If everyone simply went the route of 'passion as Pokemon trainers', we wouldn't get anywhere. With exception to Haru, as he is the final obstacle, I expect everyone here to take what was noted about your areas of weakness and strengths and take them to heart. Any questions?" He looked to the group of Gym Leaders, who all went quiet. Nessa stood back up, unable to look anyone in the eye and then stormed out.
"Right. You're all dismissed. We'll meet once more when the season starts beginning preparation. Have a good-" Ryoma started saying whilst adjusting his glasses as someone else slammed a fist on the table. It was Haru, glaring at the interim to a point as if he was on fire due to the intensity of his emotions. "Something to add, Champion?"
"People are more than numbers, sir. As this is my only interaction with you thus far I can say with confidence that Rose had far more character."
The interim chairman just got up, nodded once to Haru then walked out. Milo put a hand on Haru's shoulder. "Hey. You should go talk to her. I don't think she'll wanna hear anything from her corporate rival y'know?"
"Yeah? You sure about that?" Haru asked, then looked to the others, who nodded.
"M-me thinks that you always know w-what to say..." Allister said quietly from across the table.
"See?" Milo pointed to the others, giving Haru enough encouragement to have the Champion stand up from his chair.
"Thank you..." Haru said, leaving the room as he put the stacks of paper from the meeting into the tote backpack he brought with him and jogged out of the hallway to look for Nessa.
It wouldn't take long before Haru found Nessa leaning over a railing white knuckling it with her head hung low. As he half sprinted to her, her face turned away. "Oh, hey."
"Hey. Figured you could use a shoulder to lean on." Haru said while going up to the railing with her and glancing to the large Quagsire-shaped fountain in the lobby. "What that guy said was out of pocket."
He would see that Nessa went from having a death grip on the railing to holding her own hands. She'd scoff at his comment then stood up straight, still not looking to Haru just yet. "You know Haru, it's bad enough I still have Rose's comments cycling in my head ever since that day. I have asked myself sometimes whether it's still worth it to stick to what I've been doing. I've also wondered whether or not it's worth it. Like who gives a shit, right? Me doing something I love and having it be a part of who I am? Who gives a piss if it means being seen 'weaker" in the end?!" She throws a shadow punch in front of her and exhales, flaring her nose. "Fuck! As if I don't have enough problems putting myself out there in magazines in double-page spreads where I'm most vulnerable! Where people can look at me and...ngh! But no, let's not even talk about shit like that! Cuz NOBODY wants to!"
Nessa hung her head again and gripped onto the railing. She took slow, deep breaths. Haru frowned and waited for a moment before he spoke up. "...but you love it, right? I know it'd be easy for me to just say 'Who cares what so-and-so thinks', but I know it hurt. You've been no doubt most likely dealing with this sort of thing for a long time."
The Water Gym Leader huffed and shook her head slowly. "You know that people write into magazine columns, yeah? Fan mail of all kinds makes it to them, and they send the letters to me when it's all been sorted. At first it made me self conscious, but then I grew to feed off of it all. I thrive off of it in more ways than I'd like to think than the others." She turned to Haru, then blushed, thinking about how open she was being. "More than anything I would like to not be made to feel like someone is going to cut me off for being who I am."
"Shifting from a fisherwoman to a dual Gym Leader/SuperModel; lesser people have quit from doing not even a fraction of either." Haru would go on to reply while looking up to Nessa. Their eyes met and her face softened. "I'm...usually better at making speeches like that if I have longer to think about it. Sorry." He looked away and didn't catch himself before his cheeks go red.
"You practice? What, you having trouble giving advice now?" Nessa asked, sounding a little irritable at what she initially thought was a repeat compliment.
Without thinking on it, Haru's gut spoke for him as a reply. "For some reason I am, but it's because it's you."
Only afterwards did he realize what he sounded like. He gasped and then waved his arms about to try and save face. "H-hey! U-u-uhm. What I mean is...!" He cleared his throat and coughed to the side. "There's a very real fear that if, you know, you keep doing something in repetition you start to hate it after awhile. You start to loathe it if it's tied to your career, but you can't stop yourself because it's your career. It's a 'catch 22'." Haru tapped a little on the railing and took a deep breath. "I almost worried I was going to end up like that when I was facing you and the others in my Pokemon journey."
The Water Gym Leader blinked with a double-take of disbelief. "Really?"
"I mean...sure; the companionship of Pokemon is something I won't ever give up. However back then I started to worry if I was going to ever not be fascinated by battling other trainers after a certain point. But then I got to a new Gym in my career, and once you guys' theme music started playing..." Haru went silent and leaned back with a smile as his eyes closed. Mentally he was transported back to the arenas and remembered hearing the speakers of each stadium blasting the EDM. "...staring at you when that music started lit my heart on fire. I don't care whether or not you were 'playing a role' for me when I was a trainer back then. All I remember is that sensation of locking in and dueling my heart out."
He didn't notice that Nessa had finally started smiling when his eyes opened. "Look, I'm just one person, but I at least want you to know that you guys changed my life for the better. The fact you still want to keep being a model and a Gym Leader is a commendable strength of your willpower. When people think about me in a decade, I hope they look at me with a similar reverence that they give you." Haru rubbed the back of his head as Nessa nodded, letting out a small chuckle. "For what it's worth, I don't think you have a shred of fakeness in you. So I also think you'll be able to prove that jerk interim chairman wrong soon."
Her expression softened up. "That's really sweet of you to say."
"I wish I could elaborate more on how it is I feel so I could-" He was interrupted by Nessa leaning over to him giving him a tight hug. "O-...oh!" /She smells really nice.../ His mind wandered briefly.
She had smiled through his reaction and embraced him. "You know...something tells me you don't get hugged enough. I've only done this to you a handful of times and you've frozen when they happen."
At that second, Haru's strong outer shell crumbled. Her stabbing right to the heart of his reaction caught him off-guard and made him blush. "H-..huh? No I haven't! I mean..." He laughed it off and poorly excused it in a way nobody would be convinced. "Look, I get hugs all the time! Don't tease me, I'm a Champion after all!" Crossing his arms, Haru tried to reassert himself.
Nessa chortled, causing Haru to exclaim, "Hey, come on!"
"I'm sorry Haru, I don't mean to demean. You just look cute reacting that way that it makes me want to mess with you a little. It's not a reaction I get often." She grinned confidently with her teeth showing.
Flaring his nostrils and keeping his arms crossed, Haru turned away. "Anyways! I'm thankful that I was able to help. Should you require anything more of me, know that I'm more than willing to bat for you." He turned back and pointed to himself with a thumb. "It didn't feel right to see you leave like that without having any comfort. I want you to know you don't have to be alone if you're stressed, okay?"
"Thank you. It's enough." She said, now holding onto him with another hug. The two let go and Nessa turned away after pulling a strand of hair to the side. "I think I'm going to go to Hulbury and speak to my team. I feel a lot better now."
She turned away to sprint then turned back to Haru, waving to him with a wider smile. "Talk to you soon!"
Outside, Nessa did a doubletake back towards the building she just left. Intrusive thoughts started hitting her all at once. As her mind wanders and wafts through the noise of data processing all sorts of conflicting feelings, sensations, and emotions, she found herself running until she could hide around a corner of the building. Finding an open crevice like an alleyway between it and another League-branded structure, she leaned against it and made a fist with her left hand. It pressed against her chest and she took deep breaths. /That wasn't like me at all to just.../ She bit her lip.
"...what's happening? I'm never that forward."
The Gym Leader mulled over her thoughts for a bit and huffed. "No. I'm not about to get flustered over this! Not me, not now!" She walked off and made her journey back to Hulbury without anymore interruptions.
Two Days Pass...
- - - Water Gym, Hulbury - - -
In the middle of a seemingly normal day, Haru received a text from Nessa. It only asked that he come chat with her when he had time, but 'asap' at her gym. There was no precedent for emergency, so Haru henceforth made a visit during lunch hours. After showing up to the surprise of the Gym Staff that was on shift, he made his way to the faculty wing, knocked twice, and was greeted by a smiling Nessa who was eager to see him.
"Oh hey! You're quick to arrive! C'mon on in. We were just discussing possible change-ups of teams for the next season of the league." She motioned him in while gesturing to him as the others looked on.
"So you wanted to talk to me?" Haru asked.
"Yep. I wanted to ask that you clear your schedule tomorrow completely." Nessa said in a decisive manner, gesturing to a hanging calendar.
He made a double take. " ...huh? What for?"
He'd follow her thereafter to a corner of the room that would then lead to her office. "Well I ended up thinking about our conversations we were having not that long ago. You remember: me seeing you outside with your Pokemon team? One of the things that kept coming back to me was that we as a collective never really gave you a 'Thank you Haru' for everything you've done. Well...outside of us merely saying that to you in person. I spoke with the others about your issue on struggling where next to go as a Pokemon trainer. We all agreed that if Galar is going to stay a shining beacon, our Champion should be able to stand as an example with a clear head. So..." Nessa would go to her desk and lean against it, facing him as her hands gripped onto the edge to steady herself.
"You're going to have a party with us and all of your friends and that's that."
"W-wha...? Seriously?" Finding himself lost for words, Haru just gave a weak laugh and turned around: pacing back and forth a few times.
"Come tomorrow to Stow-On-Side. We have a special slice of space usually set aside for conferences and conventions for our group to get together and, for a lack of a better term, finally pay our respects to you and Hop. Leon is insisting we give the focus to you and him since he is calling himself 'old talent'. You know how he is." She turned to her purse and pulled out her Rotom Phone, tapped on the screen and hummed. "Allister and Bea helped get a big place so you should remember to thank them. Milo's bringing some fresh vegetables and fruit, Bede's in charge of drinks, Gordie and Melony are bringing some of their family favorites, Raihan's gonna be bringing his special barbecue and I think Kabu his own custom curry."
Haru felt his strength wane a little hearing about Kabu and 'custom curry'. "I imagine since he's the Fire Gym Leader, his curry is a special kind of 'hot'."
Nessa raised an eye smugly. "From what I hear he wants YOU to try some of his hottest. Think you're up to task, Champ?"
He wasn't someone who was capable of handling extraordinarily spicy food. Even as someone who created curry for himself and his Pokemon throughout his career, he always decided to err for more flavor than outright heat. Yet he pumped his fist and nodded. "I wasn't thinking that hard on it before, but now I'm motivated! How hot could it be?"
"Ever heard of the Duskull Reaper?" she asks.
Haru's face blanked out and felt a sting of fear. "Those are not words I like seeing used together..."
Nessa laughs loudly and fetches in a purse she had, handing him the notes she wrote down. "Here's the address to meet us all there." The card read 7 PM for the time, and Haru puts it in a pocket.
"Whatever will happen, will happen I guess." Haru says while shrugging.
Hopping off the Air Taxi cab when he arrived to his home, Haru looked to his companion Pokemon, Nora. She walked up alongside him as the rest of the afternoon and evening was spent doing the more mundane part of being a 'Champion'. Reading fanmail and tossing away the troll letters, Haru got reminded once again that he was an anomaly inspiring untold hundreds and hundreds of other trainers. While giving a wash to his entire team outside, he looked to his Tsareena, Leafa, who was overjoyed at the time he was spending with them. She seemed happy with his extended time after winning against Leon. "Yeah yeah, girl, I know. Even when I'm busy, I'm going to try doing my best and remembering to take care of you guys."
He looked to see his Lucario, Mirukon, with Masako and watched as they were chatting intimately. He was unable to understand their spoken word but could tell with body language they appeared to be remembering previous battles. "Time's gone by too quickly. I hope by the time the league starts back up I've figured myself out..."
The Tsareena poked Haru's cheeks together and pulled his grimace into a wide smile. He snorted, then laughed with her. That night, Haru stared aat himself in the mirror and reviewed the recent events. /One thing I absolutely must not do is lose my motivation. I must remind myself that I worked hard to get here. If Hiro were here, he would be able to say something that would undoubtedly rid me of any confusion I had up to this point./
"Heh." He hung his head after putting away his toothbrush. "Easy to make promises when only one of us is agreeing to it, huh?" He glanced back to the mirror, and then felt his heart leap out of his chest. In the reflection, if only for a fraction of a second, he swore he could see a visage of someone else taller standing behind him. The realization of such a hallucination causes Haru to wince, grit his teeth and squint. "What...? Is it so bad that I chose to live when...?"
He growled, walked out of the bathroom to his bedroom. Nora saw that he appeared terse and watched as Haru about-face'd to someone that wasn't around. "Can you not forgive me for moving on? For trying? Is that it?! We were supposed to do this together and you had to..." He threw a punch towards the air and hung his head as tears budded to the edge of his eyes. "...you then had to go and die on me."
Flashbacks hit him of innumerable conversations he had with the one he considered a brother. Falling to the floor, a panicked Nora sprinted over to his side as she saw Haru staring at the carpet. Lifting his head, Haru's eyes glazed over before streams of tears started flowing. "I'm sorry, girl. You must think me weak. I just...miss him."
She leaned against him and would, to the best that a four-legged Pokemon could, give Haru an embrace while also intentionally leaning her weight against him. The heaviness of her body helped Haru's mental state eventually return to normal. While holding onto his Glaceon, Haru just cried quietly. "I'll get better Nora. Thank you. I..." He sniffled. "I would have wanted him to see this."
...and thus Haru would fall asleep that night reminding himself to stay determined for the good of himself and a better tomorrow.