Confidant Chapter 1; Ryuji
Location; Integration Room
Sae stopped Ren and said to him. "Acting as a phantom thief would've been more efficient alone. You could've gone about it that way… However, you did not. There are merits to having associates… That's what you decided. Am I wrong?"
Location; Shujin Academy, Aoyama-Itchome
At Shujin, Ryuji, Ren, and their Pokemon were doing a little exercise in Ryuji secret training spot. And while it was inside the school, it was big and hidden from people. So they all were able to get faster, stronger and were having fun. On one of those days, a group of men wearing the school gym uniform appeared to them. Zorua hides the Pokemon and himself, as the leader of the group said. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Nakaoka…" Ryuji said, looking at the leader. "Takeishi…" Ryuji said, looking at the guy behind the leader. Nakaoka looked at Ryuji and said. "...Running, huh? I saw you from the window."
"What, you gonna try to come crawling back to the track team?" Takeishi said to Ryuji and Ryuji said to them. "Huh? H-Hell no…"
"Sure…" Nakaoka said in disbelief. "...Speaking of which, this was your secret training spot, wasn't it? Well, it's our spot now. You know, us. The former track team." Nakaoka said before Takeishi said. "We don't even have a locker room anymore, thanks to someone I know." Ryuji didn't say anything, so Ren said to them. "Come on guys, let's not fight."
"We ain't fighting…" Ryuji said to Ren and Nakaoka said to him. "Yeah, this isn't anything like a fight. Not even close. Hold on, aren't you that male transfer student? You're really gonna hang around with this loser?"
"You better watch out. He'll hit you the second he gets pissed off. I heard his dad was the same way. Like father, like son, right? Now that's some scary shit." An Ex-Track Team Member said to Ren and Ryuji said to them. "That doesn't have anything to do with this…"
"Just endure it, Ryuji." Ren said to Ryuji and Ryuji agreed with him. After that Ryuji said to Nakaoka. "Look, back then, I…"
"I don't need to hear your excuses. Everyone was going through the same bullshit with Kamoshida. The beating, the impossible exercises… but we put up with all of it for the track team. But no. You had to go and fuck all of that up! Man, I was stupid for ever thinking you were my teammate. …That's all I have to say to you. I'm outta here." Nakaoka said to Ryuji and they all left. Once they were gone, Zorua broke the illusion and Ryuji Pokemon went over to him. Ryuji then said to Ren. "...I nearly smacked him when he was talking about my dad… I haven't changed at all… But y'know… you actually help me calm down a little. I'm glad you were here with me." Then Luxio then gave Ryuji a shock. Ryuji jumped and then said. "Oh and you and Grimer too, Luxio. Thanks guys." Ryuji then gave everyone a high five and they left for the day, even if they did hear the track team arguing with Nakaoka.
Location; Protein Lovers Gym, Yongen-Jaya
After that day, they thought it would be better to train at a gym called Protein Lovers in Yongen-Jaya. Also Ryuji felt bad for the track team. Because of his actions, they didn't have a place to store their gear and were just running blocks around the school. But things changed after Ryuji and Ren ran into Ikeda, Ryuji track team senpai. "Sakamoto?" Ikeda said and Ryuji said to him. "Ikeda-senpai! Goornin'!"
"Don't you mean "good morning"? Hahaha, you're as eloquent as ever, Sakamoto."
"Heck yeah, man! I've been studying my words and shit!"
"Of course you have, haha. Oh, and you don't need to call me senpai anymore. I've already graduated, remember? Hm? I haven't seen you before… Were you on the track team?" Ikeda said, looking at Ren. Ren then said to Ikeda giving him his right hand. "Hi, I am Ren. Ryuji friend."
"He showed up by the time the track team was already… well, y'know." Ryuji said to Ikeda and Ikeda said to him. "Speaking of which, how's your leg?"
"Eh, I'm managing… How about you, Senpai? Are you still running?"
"I actually joined my university's track team. You'd think I would've quit entirely after what happened…"
"About that, I'm really sorry…"
"No, I should be the one apologizing. I was supposed to be the leader of our team, yet I just resigned myself to Kamoshida's will…"
"That's because you needed him to write your letter of rec, right? You were just looking out for your future… but I still managed to eff it up anyways."
"Kamoshida clearly never intended on writing my letter of recommendation. You were just his excuse not to. And honestly, I enjoy where I am now. The track team isn't anything special, but it's perfect for me. So in truth, I should be thanking you for what you did, Sakamoto."
"Senpai…"
"I've always regretted not doing more to protect you guys… But I heard some good news recently… The Shujin track team's being reinstated!"
"For real!?"
"I mean, Kamoshida confessed all the horrible stuff he did, right? I guess the school got the old team together and told them they wanted to try starting it up again."
"...Nobody told me about that."
"Huh, odd… The rumors got as far as me, and I'm not even a student anymore. Anyway, I heard they're going to get Mr. Yamauchi as their new advisor."
"Yamauchi…? Hold up. THAT Yamauchi!?" Ryuji said and Ren said in response. "Who is Yamauchi?"
"He is basically Kamoshida's lapdog. Apparently he volunteered. He's really enthusiastic about pulling the track team up from the ashes." Ikeda said and Ryuji was confused. Ikeda said to Ryuji. "You know, now that the team is being reinstated, there's no need for any bad blood, right? Why don't you go talk to them? I'm sure they could use someone with your passion."
"...Yeah." Ryuji said before Ikeda had to go. "So the track team's coming back… Good for them." Ryuji said with a worried look. Ren noticed that and said. "What's wrong?"
"It's Yamauchi. I am glad the team is coming back. It's sweet that Nakaoka and them can start training again."
"But?"
"But Yamauchi is basically a mini-Kamoshida."
"So he's an asshole?"
"Basically. He'd always yell at us at practice, but then be a huge kiss-ass when our parents were around. Ugh, I can't believe a moron like that's gonna be advising the track team. He doesn't even teach PE! …He's gotta be up to something. I'll do some research… There's a chance I'm gonna need your help too, okay? You'd be free to lend me a hand if I need it, yeah?"
"Of course."
"I'll be counting on you!" Ryuji said before they finished up and went home.
Location; Shujin Academy, Aoyama-Itchome
At Shujin, Ren and Ryuji were looking for a place where they could train with their Pokemon. And during the search, they found the track team ganging up on Nakaoka. Ryuji and Ren run up to them and Ryuji said to Takeishi. "Takeishi? The hell are you guys doing…?"
"We just have a few questions for Nakaoka here. It's none of your business."
"So what, you gonna ask him questions with your fists? And anyway, ain't this kind of cowardly?"
"The only coward here is Nakaoka! All the shit Kamoshida put us through is his fault… He was telling that bastard secret about us the whole time…!"
"Huh? That's a load of bull!"
"So. It's in the past and the track team is coming back, so why are you guys fighting!" Ren said to the track team and Ryuji agreed with Ren. Takeishi got mad and said. "I'm telling you, this piece of shit sold us out! How do you think Kamoshida found out about your parents, Sakamoto?" That surprised everyone and that explains why they were mad at Nakaoka. He was the cause of Ryuji and Kamoshida's fight that ended with the track team's destruction. "H-Hold up!" Ryuji said, stopping anyone from hitting Nakaoka. They all looked at Ryuji and Takeishi said to Ryuji. "Out of the way, Sakamoto. We'll beat the shit outta you too if we need to."
"If you think that's gonna make you feel better, go for it. …But you're gonna wish you didn't." Ryuji said hold onto Luxio and Grimer Pokeballs, so they wouldn't jump out and scare the track team away, because he had a message to give them. "Trust me, it feels really bad looking back on shitty stuff you've done. Look… Even if Nakaoka was working with Kamoshida… ain't it fine now? The bastard's gone, so you guys can just put this crap behind you. There's no reason to fight, yeah…?"
"We can't keep people around who're gonna try and undermine our team." Takeishi said before Nakaoka said. "But… I didn't do anything. I wasn't working with Kamoshida. No matter how much you hit me, my answer is gonna stay the same."
"Oh yeah…? We've got proof. Yamauchi told us all about it."
"...Yamauchi?" Ryuji said and time was up. The track team had to leave before anyone saw them. But Nakaoka wasn't allowed to join the new track team. Once they were gone, Ryuji said to Nakaoka. "...You OK? What the hell was all that?"
"Just stay out of this, Sakamoto. It has nothing to do with you."
"But…"
"When you hit Kamoshida, you were really hitting all of us who tried so hard to endure his bullshit. You might've felt relieved, but it only made life harder for us… Because of you, we lost the one place we could vent out our frustrations… the one place we could really belong. Tensions got pretty high after that… and things've just been kind of rough from then on. …You really think it's all fine now, huh? Well what if I told you they're right about me…? Would you still think it's "fine" if I was the one who told Kamoshida about your parents?"
"...Yeah. If you told him, you told him. I'm over all that stuff with my parents anyways. Besides… I've realized something, Nakaoka. I might've messed up with Kamoshida back then, but hanging on to the past ain't gonna help anything. I'm just gonna focus on being myself now… on being free."
"What're you talking about…? Free, huh? Haha…" Nakaoka said before leaving. "Ren… You get what I'm trying to say, yeah?" Ryuji said to Ren and Ren nodded yes. They then got back to training and after that they went to a ramen shop.
Location; Shujin Academy, Aoyama-Itchome
A few days later, Ryuji and Ren followed Yamauchi to a ramen shop. They were going to eavesdrop on Yamauchi to learn what his plan was for the track team. And at the shop, Ryuji had to hide in the bathroom, because a teacher who Yamauchi was talking to, had dirt on Ryuji. Ren took a seat and started recording the conversation Yamauchi had with the teacher. Yamauchi's plan was to use the track team, the team who went through the most hardship under Kamoshida, in a sports movie plot with him as the protagonist. He didn't care about the team or that he had almost no knowledge about track and field. All he wanted was the praise for reviving them. And unlike Kamoshida, he would brainwatch the team into thinking they had a bond. And to make the plan easy, he would hire a coach to do all of the legwork for him. The fellow teacher thought it was amazing, more so after Yamauchi told the teacher how he would use it as a start to his own fame. Also he was using Takeishi to get rid of Nakaoka, who was trying to get the coach they had before Kamoshida back. And the reason he was after Takeishi was because Takeishi's family was rich and his mother was on the PTA. So while Takeishi was useless in Yamauchi's eyes, he was a great pawn for his master plan. And if Takeishi was proving to be more of a problem then he could handle, then he would hurt Takeishi during practice and make it look like an accident.
After that they had to tell Takeishi and Nakaoka what Yamauchi's plan was. They could do a change of heart, but that might hurt the track team more than help them. So they waited for the hidden training spot, with Ren being Ryuji back up. "What do you want, Sakamoto?" Takeishi said as he appeared. "...Takeishi?" Nakaoka said as he appeared. Takeishi turned to Nakaoka and said. "Nakaoka!? Wh-What the hell!? Are you guys gonna gang up on me!?"
"Dude. chill. I just wanna talk." Ryuji said and they both looked at him. Ryuji then continued to speak. "Listen. This here is what's really going on with the track team." Ren then played the recording. After it was done, Takeishi said in disbelief. "This has to be a joke… Yamauchi said he'd make me the captain…"
"Is this real…?" Nakaoka said to Ryuji and Ryuji said. "It's Yamauchi's ain't it? And on top of that, shit's gone down just like he said."
"... Yamauchi's right. I don't have talent… I'm not like you guys. I ran so damn hard, but you two were always so far ahead… How's a guy like me supposed to succeed? How am I supposed to be proud of myself!?" Takeishi said and Ryuji said. "Proud…?"
"My dad always talks about how proud he is of his son… He told everyone I'd get a track scholarship like he did… That I'd follow in his footsteps as a second-generation Taisei grad… That's why I listened to Yamauchi. He said if I was captain, he'd write me a great letter of rec…"
"...So you trusted what he was saying about Nakaoka because of stupid crap like that?"
"Sh-Shut up! What does a thug like you know!? You couldn't know how I feel… Nobody does!"
"Like hell I don't know! How long were we running together, huh!? I went through all sorts of shit with you!"
"Sakamoto…"
"Who're you living your life for? Your parents? Teachers? Society? Maybe you should stop trying to live for them, and just try living for yourself. You think you gotta betray people to be proud?"
"W-Well, I…"
"If that's seriously what you think, you're wrong! Nakaoka. You knew something was up with Yamauchi too, didn't you? I mean, that bastard's never been interested in track before… But you kept quiet. You knew he was walking all over you and you just let him do it." Ryuji said to Nakaoka and Nakaoka said. "...Yeah. I was afraid… Without Yamauchi, we still wouldn't have a team… or place to belong."
"...You missed running that bad? Y'know… it ain't so scary not having a place you belong. You can kinda free that way. If anything, I'm more scared of being a crappy person. I mean, I used to be like you guys… afraid, lying to myself… That is, before I met my new friends. I don't wanna insult you guys or nothing, but I know you're prolly real pissed about all this… So… if you wanna hit me or something, go ahead. I'm ready." Ryuji said and they did give him a few punches. After that Takeishi and Nakaoka were able to not only feel better, but were able to patch things up. Ryuji was surprised with their level of violence, but was happy that they were on good terms.
A few days later, in the ramen shop, Ryuji and Ren were having fun. Mr. Shita not only saw the whole thing, but heard it too. So he was not only able to stop Yamauchi's plan with the help of the track team, but they were able to get back their old coach. Ryuji was asked to join, but he turned them down. The reason, he felt like he belonged more with his new team than with this old track team. "Here you go, Ryuji." A lady said, standing next to Ryuji and Ren. "What? Whoa!" Ryuji said as they both turned and saw the Person in Red, holding a Rock and Ground Z-Crystals and a Pokeball. The whole area was red and Ren said. "What are you doing here?"
"Do you want to fight?!" Ryuji said as he and Ren stood up and got ready to call out their Pokemon. The Person in Red stopped them and said. "No. I am just here to give you these and this new Pokemon." The Person in Red then let out a small green rock Pokemon that came out of the Pokeball and landed in front of Ryuji. The Person in Red then said to Ryuji as she gave him the Z-Crystals and Pokeball. "This is Larvitar, The Rock Skin Pokemon. Larvitar is born deep under the ground. To come up to the surface, this Pokémon must eat its way through the soil above. Until it does so, Larvitar cannot see its parents. Now I would love for you two to get to know one another, but I have to go." The Person in Red said as she disappeared and the area returned to normal. Ryuji then in a panic returned Larvitar to his Pokeball before anyone saw it.
After that they would all train and while Larvitar wouldn't really listen to Ryuji. They were having fun training and eating ramen together. And watching them was the Person in Red. "Well done, Joker. I wonder how many more you will give me?" The Person in Red said holding cards for the Fool, the Strength and the Chariot Arcanas.