Azalea Gym, after lunch.
The old Gym Leader and Sato sat across from each other. Mark sat beside Sato, just half a step behind. Bugsy quietly moved around the table, boiling water and preparing tea.
Azalea Gym had a long-standing history and still followed certain old traditions, such as remaining silent during meals and rest.
Only when Bugsy presented the hot tea to both Sato and the old Gym Leader did it signify the formal start of their conversation.
"You know what happened last night?" Sato asked directly, wasting no time on pleasantries.
With his current status, he had no need to feign courtesy.
The old Gym Leader, who had just taken a sip of tea, remained calm. Only after setting down his cup did he slowly speak.
"Eliter Four Sato, young and accomplished, idol and role model to countless children… what do you think of my Bugsy?"
At that, the old Gym Leader clearly paused, ignoring Bugsy's panicked and confused expression. He continued, "Could he perhaps bear the responsibility of becoming the next Azalea Gym Leader?"
Sato's expression remained cold. He didn't even glance at Bugsy, who was equal parts nervous and hopeful.
"Whether a Gym Leader is qualified or not will be decided by the League's assessments. I only ask if the old Gym Leader knew what happened last night."
The old Gym Leader shook his head, still refusing to answer directly. His expression grew more desolate.
"Seems it still wasn't enough…" he murmured, gently patting the disappointed Bugsy on the head.
"If he can't be a Gym Leader, could Bugsy at least be accepted into the Shadownight Gym for training?"
Sato fell silent. This evasive, slippery old fox wasn't worth arguing with.
"If you won't talk, then I'll investigate and handle things strictly by the rules," Sato said, rising to leave.
"…Would Elite Four Sato be willing to hear this old man out for a few more words?"
The old Gym Leader did not get up. He simply raised his voice slightly, his tone suddenly much more sincere.
Sato stopped and turned back, but he didn't sit. He only lowered his head and looked at the weathered face before him.
"I know what happened last night. And I admit, it was from Azalea Gym that your whereabouts were leaked…"
With that confession, Sato didn't react much, but Mark was instantly furious, barely restraining himself from charging over to beat the old man down.
The old Gym Leader ignored Mark's seething glare and continued, "You can probably guess the rest. Azalea Gym has been declining. We've had to scrape by, surviving in the cracks.
I don't expect you, the DarKnight Elite Four, to forgive me, but Bugsy and the other members of Azalea Gym had nothing to do with it.
If you're willing to show mercy, the entire Azalea Gym will follow your lead in the future… becoming your most loyal supporters."
Behind Sato, Sina and Sosuke exchanged glances, their hearts full of conflicting emotions.
One nod from their Leader could earn resources and loyalty. They felt proud.
…But seeing the aging old Gym Leader, they also felt a bit of sorrow.
Yet Sato replied plainly and bluntly, "I'm not short on money. And I'm definitely not short on people."
The old Gym Leader froze. He looked closely at Sato's calm expression, trying to detect even a trace of calculation.
"Azalea Gym may have declined, but its heritage runs deep. Its methods for training Bug-type Pokémon are the best in all of Johto!
And Bugsy, while still immature, is the best Gym Trainer Azalea has produced in recent years. He's the only heir to the Gym. I can let him join the Shadownight Gym and become part of your foundation…
A-And there's more…"
The old Gym Leader was gradually losing his composure. Sato's gaze was far too calm, showing not even the slightest hint of desire, making it impossible to negotiate.
How could there be someone who didn't value Azalea Gym, something he had taken pride in for a lifetime?
He couldn't understand it!
"…Are you finished?"
Seeing the old Gym Leader still frozen in place, Sato no longer wasted time. He turned and walked away.
After they left, the old Leader remained seated cross-legged in the same spot. The tea in his hand had long gone cold…
---◓---
Azalea Gym, Pokémon Center, VIP Lounge.
Sato fully reorganized his lineup and, with the help of Nurse Joy, treated several of the external wounds on his body.
The situation in Azalea Town had more or less settled. If Zoroark hadn't "broken through" at the last moment, who knew how things might have turned out?
But now that he had returned safely, it was time to settle the score properly…
Just then, the doorbell rang.
"Leader, someone wants to see you."
Sosuke stood at the door, speaking softly. Behind him, the small purple-haired Bugsy stood nervously, looking at Sato.
Sato glanced at Sosuke, who lowered his head and avoided eye contact.
"Come in."
Shaking his head, Sato didn't hold Sosuke accountable for making decisions on his own. After all, Bugsy showing up alone had piqued his curiosity.
"E-Elite Four Sato, I… I have something to discuss with you!" Bugsy was very nervous, but still did his best to speak clearly.
Sato nodded and restrained his own aura a bit, trying not to come across as too intimidating.
Poor kid looked terrified…
"Mmh. Go ahead. I'm listening."
Seeing that Sato wasn't as impatient as he'd feared, Bugsy felt a little more at ease.
"El-Elite Four Sato, my sensei didn't leak your whereabouts to Team Rocket on purpose…
He's gotten old, and his strength has declined… When Team Rocket came to the gym, they threatened to target all of Azalea Gym's trainees unless he tracked your movements within the town."
"…He tracked me? How?"
Sato was genuinely curious. Had he made some kind of visible mistake?
"It was jiji… Gym Leader's Parasect. It can scatter microscopic spores across all of Azalea Town, ones that are invisible to the naked eye. By sensing the activity of these spores, it can analyze envir… e-environmental changes.
No matter how perfect your Invisibility is, once you've been in the area, you can't escape detection by the spores."
After saying that, Bugsy's eyes lit up with admiration. His sensei's skill in raising Bug-type Pokémon left him in awe.
Sato was also surprised. It was his first time encountering something that even a Spatial Barrier couldn't block.
No wonder Team Rocket had specifically approached the old Gym Leader -whose strength barely held at the Ace level- just to track his position.
"If that's the case, why didn't your sensei explain everything himself?" Sato pressed further.
Bugsy looked a little embarrassed. After hesitating for a moment, he finally said, "Jij… maybe it's because sensei couldn't get over his p-pride."
"..."
After a brief silence, Sato no longer treated Bugsy like a child.
To have the courage to come forward and explain things alone meant he also understood that some actions, once done, couldn't be undone.
"I've heard everything you wanted to say. If there's nothing else, you should head back."
"What about my sensei…" Bugsy asked cautiously.
"Someone will decide whether he was right or wrong. I won't go out of my way to target him."
"Okay… Thank you, Elite Four Sato… for being willing to listen to me."
Although he didn't get the answer he'd hoped for, Bugsy still offered a polite thank-you.
Watching Bugsy leave, Sato sighed inwardly.
'He's still just a kid. What bad intentions could he possibly have?'