Today was their last day in the villa. They slept in and didn't get up until after ten. The Pokémon, though, had been up for a while, splashing around in the pool.
"Reiji, are we heading out to buy supplies later?" Shun had gotten up earlier and put together a simple breakfast.
"No rush on the supplies. I want to ask your grandpa about ferry tickets first." Reiji waved and went to wash up.
When he came back, he sat down to eat.
"You made this? Not bad." A glass of milk, two eggs, two slices of bread with different spreads—simple, but it showed Shun had learned to look after himself. Kids without parents grow up fast; they learn to be thoughtful and to pay attention to others, even if it means life is harder on them.
In this world, Reiji had no parents; in his last life he did, with plenty of brothers. He didn't worry that no one would look after his folks. Disappearing after a fishing trip wasn't exactly unheard of, and the insurance payout would take care of things. Anglers love vanishing into the backwoods; one more missing fisherman is barely news.
"Come on, it's not that good," Shun laughed, a little embarrassed.
They ate, fed the Pokémon, and started packing.
While they packed, he reminded Shun, "I rented the villa for three months. We've used just over twenty days. You can keep training here."
"Got it," Shun said, rinsing dishes. He'd be around for a while anyway; if he got bored, he could visit Grandpa, the orphanage, and the kids there.
Reiji finished gathering things—daily items, bowls, the throw blanket, even the jar of Croagunk's toxin in the fridge.
He recalled twelve Pokémon to their balls and left Ditto on his face—no need to return that one.
Ditto shifted into a face scarf: handy for disguise, and ready to pop Protect to block a surprise hit.
He stuffed everything into two storage backpacks, locked up, handed Shun the key, and the two of them grabbed a cab to the Sailors' Bar.
They headed straight up to the second floor, where the old man was enjoying a shoulder massage and fruit service.
Now that's a proper lay-flat life, Reiji thought. Guess I'm just built to hustle.
"Got any way to get me a ticket to Mandarin Island? Today if possible."
"You're leaving?" Grandpa waved the server out and looked at him.
"I want to try for a Gym apprenticeship," Reiji said. The old man already knew.
"You going to the Trovita Gym?" Grandpa asked—there's a Gym on the island next to Mandarin.
"I'm going to try all of them." Reiji didn't deny it. Before signing on anywhere, he wanted to visit the biggest island, then look for the Crystal Onix, and catch a strong Magikarp at the waterfall—so the plan was west, then north.
"I figured you might eye Navel as well, about the same distance from here." Seeing Reiji didn't want to get into details, the old man just picked up his phone and made a call.
After a short exchange, he hung up.
"Tsk. You should've said earlier. The ferry to Navel Island runs every three days—today's already gone; next one's in two days. The ferry to Mandarin Island is daily, but tickets sold out yesterday and this morning's already sailed."
"No Mandarin ferry this afternoon. Earliest is tomorrow morning. Want me to book that?"
"That works." One night was better than waiting two days. The route was set anyway: Sunburst Island for the Crystal Onix, up to Rind Island for the Magikarp falls, then Kumquat Island for the Gym, and finally Navel.
If Kumquat said no, try Navel; if neither worked, he'd leave the Orange Islands and try Gyms in other regions.
The Cerulean Gym in Kanto should be easy—the Sensational Sisters were gorgeous, but not exactly terror on the battlefield.
Join Cerulean, though, and the workload might get dumped on him. Tiring. Better think it through.
He only needed a Gym to get League certification. He wasn't trying to be anyone's full-time battle mule—unless…
Forget it. Daydreaming about being a live-in son-in-law won't help. He shook it off.
"Twenty thousand for first class," Grandpa said. "Nice sea view."
"Deal. Here you go." Reiji passed over the cash and headed out to buy supplies.
Shun moved to follow, but Grandpa stopped him. "Don't you need a ticket?"
"Grandpa, I'm not going. Why would I need one?" Shun knew what Grandpa was worried about. They'd already said their goodbyes; he wasn't going to sneak after Reiji. Reiji wouldn't allow it—and he'd just get chewed out and sent back. Why bother?
"Good." Grandpa exhaled a thin ribbon of smoke. He had worried that too much time with Reiji might make Shun run off with him.
If Shun could think for himself, then he was truly growing up—forming his own views, making his own choices, not swayed by others. That was reassuring.
What Shun lacked now was raw team strength. Time and steady work would fix it.
He was only eleven. There was time. Build the foundation and burst later.
"Don't worry, Grandpa. I won't go. Reiji has his road; I have mine. We agreed to meet again at a regional conference—when that day comes, I'll go all out and beat him."
With that, Shun waved and hurried after Reiji.
Watching the door close, the old man looked down through the window at Shun leaving the lobby. He said nothing. Too much restraint backfires when kids are growing up.
Half a month of lessons, and he was satisfied. Reiji hadn't tried to imprint his worldview on the boy; instead, he'd helped Shun build a positive compass. How to repay that?
Too big a gift—he couldn't manage it. Too small—insulting.
Then he remembered something, rummaged around, and pulled out a bottle he'd been hoarding for years.
"Old friend… you've been hidden long enough. Time to see the sun."
He stroked the glass. These bottles were precious to him; he never gave them away. If it weren't to thank that young man, he wouldn't part with one.
But better he give it than foist the duty onto Shun.
Gritting his teeth, he boxed the bottle so Shun could deliver it with the ticket.
—
Outside, Reiji looked back for Shun. Not seeing him, he figured the two needed a private word and headed for the discount mart by the Department Store to buy instant meals. The ferry would have a cafeteria or restaurant anyway.
He could eat there once or twice; in towns or the wild he'd use heat-and-eat, and cook properly whenever he could.
He'd only gone a few steps when Shun caught up, and they hit the store together. Shun grabbed ingredients and his own instant meals.
Reiji stocked two months of food and water—about 250,000. Plenty; he wasn't living outdoors every day.
Even when he washed up on that island, he'd only "eaten dirt" for a month and a half. Two months' rations was more than enough to get back to civilization.
They headed to the outdoor shop in the Department Store for survival gear.
Today the place was packed—head to head, shoulder to shoulder. Most of the crowd was streaming to the fourth floor to gawk at Elekid and Electabuzz babies at the Breeding House.
Reiji hadn't expected one new evolution to spike demand this hard. The whole building was jammed.
Buying Elekid now was just paying the hype tax.
If you're going to buy, wait out the craze. The nursery stock isn't going to sprout legs and run.
What if they sell out? Heh. Ask the owner if he wants money.
If he does, the main branch will be hatching nonstop. They can sell Elekid eggs too. Money is money.
Ignoring the swarm heading to the breeder, Reiji and Shun pushed with the tide until they reached the outdoor shop—also crammed. The counterfeit-peddling old man was there too, with a girl working the till.
Reiji didn't bother them. He picked what he needed, handed it over, and left like any other customer.
Haul: waterproof fire-starters, a few flashlights and headlamps, multiple Orange Archipelago maps (spares for when one got lost), a sleeping bag, puncture-resistant gloves, several binoculars, foam pads, extra compasses, spare incubator batteries, and a little wood stove…
Another 200,000 gone. They headed back to the Sailors' Bar for lunch—one last chef-cooked meal before it became instant noodles and camp stoves again. Toiletries, they'd use what they already had.
They ate while watching the Youth Tournament on TV.
Reiji had no idea someone waiting for him was already about to lose it…
—
At the Water Club, the hallway board flashed Reiji's number. He still didn't show.
By rule, five minutes late is a forfeit. The orphanage kids who'd come to cheer felt deflated.
So did Keiko and Ren, the long-haired Water-Club recruiter, the pay-to-win trio, a bunch of spectators—and the bettors. Everyone was going nuts waiting. No Reiji.
Minutes ticked by. The referee finally awarded the win to Taro.
The stands erupted. People shouted the bracket was rigged and that #3333 only forfeited because of a fix.
One hothead chucked a drink at the field and yelled for refunds. The anger spread fast; organizers couldn't hold it. In the end they had to hand out freebies and day-pass vouchers until the crowd cooled off.
Fans had come to see Electivire clash with that buzz-worthy Poliwhirl. A real fight. Then the other guy disappeared. What was there to watch?
No one was angrier than Taro. He'd prepped for days. For what? A walkover? The boos and "fix!" catcalls made it worse. All that buildup—and nothing to hit. Like punching cotton. Like swallowing something vile.
It didn't feel like a win. It wasn't redemption.
He felt played.
(End of chapter)
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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