There was no sense in hesitating. Nori left the school five minutes later, then he skated straight to the Kannagi Shrine. He knew that he was taking something of a risk by coming here despite what Mr. Kannagi had decreed. There was a chance this would backfire horribly and make things even worse. Worst case, he would never see Prema again. He winced and clutched at his heart. Just the thought of that almost made him turn back. He kept moving, even if it felt like he was treading through deep snow.

Pachi was on his left shoulder as he marched up the steps to the shrine. Nori thought about coming incognito, but it was simply a silly passing thought. Better to be up front and not hide anything.

And as he reached the top of the steps, he stopped as he saw someone in the familiar violet robes of the shrine posted near the torii. "We thought you might try to sneak in here," Acolyte Jirou said, crossing his arms and obstructing his path.

"I wasn't sneaking!" he snapped. "I came because I really need Prema, the Lady Kannagi's help!"

He harrumphed. "Master Haruto Kannagi was quite clear. You are not to be allowed on shrine grounds. You should be thankful he had the respect to send Priestess Satomi to inform you. And yet, you refused to listen."

"Well, nothing says Prema can't come see me, right?" he argued. It was a long shot, sure, especially with this guy, but still.

The man scratched his chin. "Don't try to get technical." But Nori got the expected response.

This was stupid. Prema's dad was so bad that he actually sent this jerk to make sure he never even made it past the gate?! Nori felt his chest tighten. He wasn't discouraged. It was just the opposite. Pachi hopped off his shoulder and growled. Nori glanced down at the squirrel and spoke a different kind of threat.

"I work in the news, you know," he slowly explained to the man. "I work on my school's newsletter. And my best friend is Arumi Schrader."

"Your best friend?" Jirou asked with incredulity. His brows shot right up.

"Exactly," Nori said, unable to contain the twisted grin that was spreading across his face. "I can see it now. Kannagi Shrine cruelty! Refuses to help Pokemon in need!"

The acolyte rolled his eyes and snarled at him. "You wouldn't," he stood tall and stated, as if it were some sort of fact.

"You really don't know me," he boasted, his posture equally confident. He met the man's glare with a tight smirk. "If something's wrong, it's wrong. Doesn't matter who it is. And I know enough about your shrine to know this isn't right!" His heart panged at the thought of catching Prema in it, but then he thought: he would be writing it. He could make it clear it was just her dad and others.

With this, the man turned away. A hard and heavy sigh rang out of his chest. "It is…" He trailed off and put a hand on his head. "Not my decision to make."

That was weird. It almost felt like shame. Did Jirou not agree with the decision? Well, if he wasn't doing anything about it…no. Maybe it wasn't fair to judge that. Even Mrs. Kurusu couldn't do much.

Still, it wouldn't change facts. He sighed heavily. "I thought your shrine of all places would be accepting. Guess I was wrong. Most of you think I'm a horrible jackass for harboring this Qwilfish like most of the rest of them." He paused at the realization of what he had just said. Everyone else was wrong while he was right. He basically just said that. With a tap of his right foot, he looked up at the sky. "And maybe I am," he flippantly admitted. "Maybe I am in the wrong."

When so many people were saying the same thing, and he knew there were a lot who weren't actively confronting him like Emi or Mitsu were, it was hard to dismiss it entirely. Sometimes the whole world goes crazy. That he was well aware of. It still put that bit of doubt in him then, and it did now too. He was going on and on, but Nori was kind of just trying to ignore everyone who disagreed. But what else could he do with so few willing to stand by his side?! There had to be some who wanted to, but were afraid of the same consequences. Right?

And then something in the expression of the acolyte before him changed. His eyebrows furled and he pinched his lips, but there wasn't hostility in his eyes.

"Do not ever think that," he said.

"Huh?"

Jirou flew into a tirade, gesticulating angrily at points throughout. "A Pokemon Rehabilitator is one who gives salvation to those no one else will. They are sentient beings like us, and they all deserve a chance to belong, to reform, to repent. This Qwilfish is a perfect example of what you stand for. She is a Pokemon already condemned by many. There are few in the world who would have the ability, the heart, and the courage to give her a chance. And yet you are choosing to endure ostracization to do so. You are doing the right thing, no matter what people say about it. So stand proud."

Even Pachi was stunned, looking between them in confusion. Acolyte Jirou was saying all this? Him of all people was giving him a pep talk?!

"That's not the response I was expecting from you," the young official openly admitted. "I thought you hated me."

Jirou harrumphed and crossed his arms. "I don't like you, Nori Carino. But I have the utmost respect for you."

"Well, thank you?" He spoke hesitantly. The acolyte nodded coolly.

Nori glanced down at his feet. There was a weird tingly feeling in his arms and legs. Being honest with himself, Nori would rather be hated yet respected than the other way around. But well. If this guy was helping, he would take him up on the offer.

If anyone would have a unique perspective, it'd be those of the Kannagi Shrine, right? He voiced the issue that had been plaguing him. "A lot of people don't like or respect me as of late. I have waivers people sign accepting the risks of battling my Pokemon, but they're saying the other Pokemon don't sign them."

Jirou rolled his eyes. "How we see it, Pokemon always accept the risks in battle. Whether it is for sport or for other reasons. They know they might get hurt, but they also know that we will care for them in turn, no matter the injury. They would not have agreed to partner with us otherwise."

"I see." That was what he wanted. It had a religious bend, sure. But he couldn't deny the truth in it. "That actually makes sense. Thanks for that, Mr…" Wait, he didn't know this guy's surname.

The man grumbled and tugged at his robe. "Jinnai, if you must." He took a glance at the shrine. When he turned back, he had narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms again. "How important is it that you meet with Lady Kannagi? What are your intentions?"

"Very…no, it's critically important." He wasn't going to mince words. "I need her specific brand of advice to help with Qwilfish's rehabilitation. I might not be able to save her without her assistance."

Jirou nodded. "I will pass that along. For now, I'll have to ask you to leave."

"I wanted it today, but…" But that was way more than he could've asked for. Nori wasn't about to push his luck when he'd gotten so far. "All right. It can't be helped. Thanks again, Mr. Jinnai."

The man didn't answer. When he turned around and started walking back, it was clear there wasn't going to be an answer. Nori picked Pachi up and made his way down the stairs.

There was a weight on his back, different from before. That was not what he was expecting. It wasn't the best case scenario, but that was wishful thinking. There was no chance that he would be able to talk with Prema before the battle tomorrow. The good news was that if he was reading Jirou right, there was hope yet of talking with her at all. As for Qwilfish, he would just have to explain the situation to her on his own the best he could. And try to get some practice in.

Prema Kannagi was lying down in her quarters. The lights were off and the curtains were closed. She was starting to physically feel her mental fatigue.

The fact that she had passed out not twice when using her abilities recently was not a good sign. Had she been neglecting her training too much as of late? Or was this a sign of something more insidious? If her performance now was the norm when under pressure, could she truly be counted on to act as the Master of the shrine when the time came?

A sudden knock jostled her out of those thoughts. "Yes?" Prema sharply blurted, snapping upright. She pulled herself off her futon and fumbled over to her door. As the heir to the shrine opened it, she was welcomed by someone she had expected to be standing on front door duties.

"Sorry, did I wake you?" Priestess Satomi asked while bowing at her. She put a hand on the door to hold it.

She motioned in the negative. "No. I was simply lying down." Perhaps it was good that Priestess Satomi had come by, as it interrupted her anguishing. Prema turned back. The covers were haphazardly strewn, still where she had thrown them when getting up. Thankfully, it was just Priestess Satomi here to witness that. She turned back, feeling a sudden pressure on her neck. "What did you wish to see me about?"

From her prior tone, how tall she stood, and then the way her mentor grinned, Prema could at least tell that it was not grave news. "Oh, I just heard something from a melodious man I figured you might want to hear. It seems he had a little chat with a righteous friend of yours."

"I assume you are saying Acolyte Jirou met Nori?" she questioned for the sake of clarity. There was the off chance that it could be Nariya, although she assumed it was referencing the kanji in their respective names.

The elderly woman winked. "And she gets it in one!" she applauded.

Prema felt her jaw drop slightly. Nori had come by. In defiance of what Father had asked. What was he thinking? Even if the situation was desperate–

"Oh, don't look so glum," Priestess Satomi sighed with exasperation. She leaned towards her and spoke more quietly. "It's all good news. Acolyte Jirou passed along that Nori wants to see you and have a chat about his latest assignment. Is that acceptable?"

Prema felt a rush of something welling up inside her chest. It started to leak out as quickly as it came when reality set in. "Yes," she stated, rubbing an eye. "But Father will not approve of this."

"Just leave the logistics to me," her elderly mentor promised with a wink before she could so much as muse about it. "You just get yourself ready."

That was the last thing she said before she turned and left. The door shut on its own behind her, leaving Prema with many thoughts and questions. Yet there was one that had been bothering her for a few days, now reignited by the preparedness of her mentor. While it was nothing more than simple curiosity, Prema opened the door once more and checked outside.

"Priestess Satomi," she called.

The elderly woman had not made it very far down the hall, as though she were walking idly rather than with any purpose. She twirled around gracefully on a single foot. "Yesss, Lady Kannagi?" the woman asked, while tilting her head and grinning.

"Did you know that this would happen?" After a brief pause, she stepped forward and clarified, "Did you know that Nori would come to ask for my help?"

The elderly priestess smiled mysteriously, placing a finger on her lips. "When you live to be as old as I have, you end up getting a good sense of how people act and what they're going to do."

"I will take that as a yes, then." She must have also expected her to ask that question.

"I think after this, it'll be smooth sailing for us from here on out," her mentor assured. "Anyway, I'll leave you to get back to your rest." With that, she set off at a more natural pace.

Prema shut the door and sat at her desk, retrieving a notepad from the top drawer. She used it to write down her thoughts from time to time. There was much to go over.

From what she had seen and heard about his behavior, Acolyte Jirou did not mask his dislike for Nori. Prema could not say why he had such a predisposition towards him. A smile came to Prema as she considered his motivation. Jirou could easily have refused to listen or not heed his plea, yet he did. That said much about his character, and her only conclusion was that he felt it was the right thing to do in spite of what Father had to say on the matter. She would have to thank him later. He had given them the opportunity to set this right.

At present, she had to consider the meeting. It was likely going to be soon, perhaps as early as tonight, and away from the shrine. By helping Nori succeed, she would be helping Father and the shrine put this behind them. Fortunately, there was little to prepare for. Public speaking was something her teachers had trained her in, and while she considered herself bad at speaking with people one-on-one, her friends were the exception. She was prepared to give Nori the right advice. Failing or alongside that, well-placed words of support. Prema was certain that their troubles were nearly at an end.