Haru's grin didn't waver as we reached him.

  He looked different now, sharper somehow. His hair was longer and styled with an ample amount of gel, and the jacket he wore was now scuffed, despite it screaming designer brand. He stood with a confidence that wasn't quite arrogance anymore, but it was close

  "Long time, huh?" he said, his tone casual as ever, that same smug tone under his words.

  Nope… still the same

  "Yeah," I replied evenly. "Been a while."

  He turned, nodding to the two standing behind him. "This is Ryo and Ayane. We've been traveling together. They're trainers too, their parents work at one of those big research places near Celadon."

  Then he glanced back at me, "And this is Arata. Old acquaintance of mine."

  Ryo looked me over like he was sizing up a wild Pokémon. Blond, tall, wearing spotless hiking gear that probably cost more than everything I own. Ayane's gaze was half-bored and half curious.

  Mira shifted beside me, her hand brushing Taro's shoulders just as Haru glanced their way.

  "Oh, right," he said, snapping his fingers. "Arata, Mira, and Taro. Their parents run that big talent agency Starworks here in Vermillion."

  Ryo's eyebrows went up. "Wait, that Starworks?"

  Ayane smiled politely. "My mom loves their music lineup."

  Mira gave a small nod. "Yeah. That's them." Her tone was polite, nothing more.

  We started toward the nearby couches. Haru led the way, while the rest of us trailed behind. Ayane ended up walking beside me.

  Her eyes flicked toward my shoulder, catching the patch on my jacket.

  "You're a Ranger, right?" she asked.

  "Yeah. Junior Ranger," I said, offering a small nod. "Arata."

  She smiled, more genuinely. "You don't see that every day," she said. "That's pretty cool."

  We found seats near the back, the kind with a view of the battlefields through the glass.

  Taro leaned forward, eyes bright. "So, how's the journey been, Haru? Heard you've been all over lately."

  Haru grinned, leaning back a little like he'd been waiting for that question. "Not bad. I'm actually wrapping up for the season six badges down. Gonna stay here for a while before starting the next circuit."

  Mira's smile looked polite, but her eyes didn't match it. "That's great, Haru," she said evenly.

  I gave a short nod. "Good for you."

  Haru's gaze slid over to me at that, and for a second, something flickered behind his eye, half smug and dismissive.

  "And you?" he said. "Junior Ranger, huh? How's that working out? Paperwork and forest patrols?"

  He laughed lightly, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Man, I couldn't do it. Following orders, living by the book… not really my style. But hey, we need people to fight and follow orders too, right?"

  It doesn't work like that, but ok…

  I nodded and said nothing

  Taro, oblivious to the tension, talked animatedly about his Elekid and our battle, for which we humored him with polite nods.

  When the conversation finally dipped, Ayane tilted her head, resting her chin on her hand.

  "That Teddiursa of yours," she said smoothly. "They're pretty rare for young trainers to have. You wanna trade?"

  I stiffened. "No. He's mine."

  Ryo leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "Didn't look like he's trained properly," he said, a little too casually.

  My frown deepened. "He's new. Just needs time."

  Ryo's smile edged into something sharper. "And.. he looked a little... malnourished?"

  "Ryo," Ayane said quickly, her tone warning.

  Something in me went cold. "He's not mistreated," I said, voice low. "He's a rescue. My official records are clean, and if you still think otherwise, feel free to file a report with the authorities."

  Ryo blinked, thrown off by how calm I sounded.

  Haru gave a slow smirk, clearly entertained.

  Before anyone else could jump in, Mira stepped forward. "You can't just accuse someone of neglecting their Pokémon without cause," she said, sharp and clear.

  The air went still.

  Taro's grin faded, his wide eyes darting between all of us.

  Haru raised his hands with a nervous laugh. "Hey, hey, calm down, babe. We're just talking. No need to get all defensive."

  Mira froze. Her face drained of color, eyes going hard. "Don't call me that."

  Haru blinked, still smiling, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Come on, Mira. It's just a word."

  "I said don't call me that," she said flatly.

  Something ugly flickered across his face before he forced the grin back on.

  The air felt heavier, tighter.

  That was enough for me.

  I pushed my chair back, the legs scraping against the floor. "Good seeing you again, Haru," I said evenly. "You too, Ryo. Ayane."

  Ayane tilted her head, still smiling despite the tension. "Pleasure."

  Ryo muttered something under his breath I didn't bother catching.

  Mira hesitated a moment, then sighed and grabbed Taro's wrist. "We're leaving."

  Taro opened his mouth to protest, but one look at her face shut him up..

  Outside, the late afternoon sun hit my face, warm and heavy after the air-conditioned chill inside. The street noise swallowed whatever was said behind us, horns, chatter, and the sea wind mixing with the smell of salt and roasted chestnuts from a nearby stall.

  Mira didn't speak right away. She just walked, her grip still tight on Taro's hand, shoulders stiff.

  After a few steps, she exhaled sharply and brushed her red bangs back. "God, I forgot how much Haru talks about himself," she muttered. "If he loved his reflection any more, he'd probably propose to it."

  Taro snorted. "You dated him, though."

  Her head snapped toward him, glare sharp enough to make him stumble. "You were not supposed to say that out loud."

  I blinked, keeping my tone neutral. "You and Haru?"

  "Briefly," she said, shoving her hands into her pockets. "Before he left on his journey. It didn't last. Turns out arrogance and romance don't mix well."

  I nodded. "Makes sense."

  She glanced at me like she was expecting something more, but I just gave a small shrug.. People dated, people moved on. It wasn't my business.

  She shook her head, muttering, "He was always jealous, though. Especially about Caesar."

  That one caught me off guard. "Caesar?"

  "He couldn't stand the fact that you have a dragon when his father denied him one," she said, giving a faint smile.

  I huffed a small laugh. "Figures."

  We crossed the street as the light changed, weaving between pedestrians. I turned the conversation to something easier.

  "I was planning to stop by the Pokémon Center," I said. "Get Orin checked out. Maybe see if the shops have any good TMs."

  Mira's mood brightened immediately. "Perfect. A shopping trip. I need to restock anyway. Maybe we can grab something to eat after."

  "Can we get curry?" Taro piped up, jogging to keep pace. "And Arata, you should train more! Those guys earlier were looking down on you. You gotta show them who's boss!"

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Mira reached over and smacked the back of his head. "Taro."

  He rubbed it, glaring at her. "What? It's true!"

  "If Arata actually battled seriously," she said, arching an eyebrow, "you'd be the one getting flattened."

  Taro puffed up like a proud Pidgey. "I'd still put up a fight!"

  "Sure," she said dryly. "For about ten seconds."

  He grinned, undeterred. "Then I'll just get stronger!"

  Mira sighed. "You're insufferable."

  "Correction, I'm Motivated," he corrected, flashing a grin.

  I couldn't help it, I laughed.

  The tension from earlier started to fade as we kept walking, the city stretching out ahead of us.

  By the time I reached home, the sun was low and the light through the windows had turned gold.

  The door gave its usual quiet creak as I pushed it open, the faint smell of coffee and detergent lingering in the air. I kicked off my shoes, shrugged out of my jacket, and made my way to the backyard. I unclipped the three Poké Balls from my belt, weighing them for a second before letting them fly.

  Livia emerged first, wings spreading with a rustle of feathers, the late sunlight giving her a bronze sheen. Caesar followed, his heavy steps shaking loose bits of dirt as he landed, tusks gleaming like twin blades.

  Orin came last, the small Teddiursa appearing in a flash of white light, his fur ruffled, and eyes dark and stormy.

  He glared at the ground, small claws curling into fists. Still brooding about the battle earlier.

  "Hey," I said quietly, crouching to his level. His ears flicked, but he didn't look up. "You did good today, Orin."

  A low growl rumbled from him, not directed at me, just his simmering frustration. I could feel it through the bond: anger at himself, the sting of failure and the fatigue beneath it all.

  "Listen," I went on, voice steady. "You've been with us what... three days? For that, you fought incredibly well... You'll get stronger, I promise. Alright?

  His eyes flicked up at me, still skeptical,

  Caesar rumbled approvingly from behind, and Livia hopped closer, nudging Orin gently with her wing. The little bear flinched, then huffed in acceptance.

  I smiled. "That's more like it."

  We moved toward the old oak near the back fence, the one with roots thick enough to serve as makeshift seats. Caesar lay down with a heavy sigh, Livia settled next to him, and Orin settled between my knees.

  "Alright," I murmured. "Huddle"

  The familiar hum started in my chest steadily, a slow warmth rising through my ribs, pulsing in time with my heartbeat.

  As I exhaled, it spread outward, a faint current threading through the air between us and towards my Pokémon.

  It found them easily, and I started enhancing

  The world faded to a soft blur.

  The rustle of leaves, the distant cry of Wingull, all of it melted into a steady hum that filled the space between us. Warmth circled through us, looping from one to the next and back again, building strength and patience.

  The sound of the gate creaking open pulled me out of the trance.

  Hailey stepped into the yard, the evening light catching on the silver Ranger insignia stitched across her half-zipped jacket. Her hair was pulled into a loose braid, and even after a full shift, she carried that same alert, ready-for-anything posture.

  "Thought I'd find you here," she called, spotting the three Pokémon gathered near the oak. "Looks like you've been busy."

  I stood, brushing grass off my sleeves. "Just a routine session."

  "Uh-huh." A smirk tugged at her mouth. "You've been out here for hours, haven't you?"

  Before I could reply, she unclipped her Poké Balls. One by one, her team appeared in flashes of light.

  Stripe, her Arcanine, stretched and yawned before padding toward Caesar with an easy, confident bark. Spike, the Nidorina, stamped a hoof and snorted. Her Hypno blinked drowsily, while Glimmer, her Beautifly, circled once and settled near Livia, wings shimmering faintly in the dusk.

  The sudden burst of movement made Orin hesitate. Stripe caught it immediately and lowered his head, rumbling softly a low, friendly greeting.

  Orin blinked up at him, unsure, then shuffled forward to sniff his muzzle.

  Hailey crossed her arms, smiling. "Glad to see Orin's doing better."

  "Yeah," I said, watching as Arcanine gave the cub an affectionate lick on the ear. Orin squeaked and tried to growl back, earning a huff from Caesar that sounded suspiciously like a laugh.

  Hailey chuckled. "Come on. Let's head in before it gets cold."

  We left the Pokémon to their own and went inside.

  Later, after a long shower, I towel-dried my hair, pulled on a clean shirt, and sat down at my desk.

  My Poké Balls sat in their case, three faintly glowing dots lined up in a perfect row. Everything that mattered, right there.

  I powered on the monitor. The screen flickered to life, bathing the room in pale blue light.

  A single new message blinked in my inbox.

  Sender: Oak Research Division

  Subject: Invitation – Pallet Town Research Center

  I leaned closer, frowning as I opened it.

  Dear Arata,

  Your recent submission, "Aura as a Proto-Elemental Force," has been reviewed and brought to Professor Oak's attention.

  Professor Oak would like to personally discuss your findings and their possible application toward the next-generation Pokédex initiative. In recognition of your submission, your Pokédex License application will also be reviewed during this visit.

  We would like to invite you to the Pallet Research Center for a formal discussion and evaluation. Pending review, your application for a Pokédex License will also be considered.

  Please confirm your availability at your earliest convenience

  — Oak Research Division

  Pallet Town

  For a moment, I just stared. My chest tightened with disbelief. I'd been expecting a polite rejection, maybe a follow-up. Not… this.

  "Arata!" Hailey's voice carried up the stairs. "What do you want for dinner tomorrow? I'm thinking noodles..."

  I didn't answer.

  "Arata?" Her footsteps climbed closer, firm and quick. "Don't tell me you're ignoring... "

  She stopped in the doorway. "What's with that face?"

  Wordlessly, I turned the monitor toward her.

  She leaned in, eyes scanning the message. For a long second, she didn't say anything. Then she looked at me and her expression softened, the edge fading into quiet pride.

  "Pallet Town," she said, almost under her breath. Then, with a small smile: "I'm proud of you, kid."

  Before I could respond, she stepped forward and pulled me into a brief, firm hug. "You earned this."

  I let out a slow breath, the tension finally breaking into a grin.

  "Guess I'm going to Pallet."