Erika spoke softly, her voice calm as she gracefully stepped toward Logan.
In this world, there was no such thing as "Japan," and with every city having its own distinct culture, this traditional style of hers was rare indeed. The only person Logan had encountered before with anything similar was Koga, the Fuchsia Gym Leader, whose ninja aesthetics somewhat echoed this.
"That's fine. In fact, I rather like it," Logan replied.
Before being brought to this world, Logan had traveled across many countries. To him, adapting to different cultures was nothing new.
"I'm glad to hear that. This tea is infused with natural extracts made by Grass-type Pokémon. It has the fragrance of fresh bamboo, refreshing the mind. Whenever I feel weary during the day yet still must work, this tea helps me carry on."
With those words, Erika gently lifted her sleeve, revealing a pair of slender, fair wrists. Gracefully, she raised the teapot and refilled Logan's empty cup without spilling even a drop.
Every gesture was elegant, harmonious, and refined. Even the simple act of pouring tea was pleasing to the eye—an art in itself. Though Logan wasn't trained in such practices, he could still sense that this was a kind of discipline, a philosophy of living.
"Those flowers outside the door, did you arrange them yourself, Miss Erika?"
"Yes," she answered with a soft nod. "Tea ceremony, flower arranging, and archery have been my disciplines since childhood. Over the years they have become habits of life. Whether arranging flowers, pouring tea, or drawing a bow, my heart naturally becomes calm. Only in such a state can one truly resonate with Grass-type Pokémon."
Erika smiled with serene beauty as she spoke.
Logan considered this. Grass Pokémon were indeed the closest to nature—fighting in harmony with them required a trainer to embody that same peace and unity with the natural world. Inner calm was essential. This was completely different from Logan's own way of fighting, which thrived on brutality and relentless force.
The thought made Logan sigh inwardly. The woman before him was a true noble lady. Everything she studied only added to her grace. Compared to her, Caitlin seemed like nothing more than a spoiled heiress.
"If sitting like this is uncomfortable for you, please feel free to change your posture," Erika said warmly. She had noticed Logan fidgeting and shifting often. "Without proper training, sitting in seiza for too long is very difficult."
"That's a relief. My legs are already numb from kneeling like this," Logan admitted.
At once, he shifted from kneeling to a cross-legged position, tapping his legs to chase away the tingling ache of poor circulation.
His eyes fell downward, and he noticed Erika's long kimono draping over her legs. Only her bare feet peeked out from beneath the fabric. To his surprise, she wasn't wearing any socks.
Her feet were small and delicate, pale with a faint rosy hue. The toes were elegant, the skin fair enough to reveal light blue veins beneath.
Erika noticed his gaze. A faint blush colored her cheeks, her toes curling slightly as she murmured shyly:
"…Forgive me. A lady should wear proper socks for formality, but I prefer the cool sensation of tatami under my feet. It has become my habit. Please excuse this unseemly appearance."
"It's nothing. I actually think it's quite nice," Logan replied casually.
Truthfully, socks could be cute—but bare feet were far more alluring.
"This is your Eevee," Erika said, diverting the moment. She raised one sleeve with grace and handed him a Poké Ball. This was the same Eevee Logan had entrusted to her earlier to heal with her recovery machines—he had injured it heavily in order to capture it.
Logan accepted the Poké Ball and immediately released the Pokémon.
"Eevee! Eevee~~"
The little creature, looking like a cross between a fox and a squirrel, emerged from the light. First, it nuzzled against Erika as if to thank her for saving it from the Rocket research lab. Then, without hesitation, it leapt into Logan's arms, its previous hostility gone completely.
"Hah, what a simple little thing," Logan said with a soft chuckle.
With one hand, he stroked Eevee's sleek fur. With the other, he gently scratched its chin as though it were a kitten or puppy. Eevee closed its eyes and tilted its head upward, utterly relaxed and content.
"Pokémon are such pure and simple creatures," Erika said, smiling gently. "They win our affection so easily. Because you rescued it, this Eevee has already chosen to trust you completely."
"…You came to Celadon for the Rainbow Badge, did you not?" she asked then.
"Perhaps."
Logan's voice was deliberately vague. Truthfully, he no longer cared much about Gym Badges. Having them was little more than a collection at this point. His current count was already more than enough to qualify for the Indigo Plateau Conference.
Seeing his indifference, Erika faltered slightly, her expression showing mild surprise. She bit her lip lightly, then continued with determination:
"…Given your current number of badges, the official challenge should be a 2-on-2 battle. But, if possible, I would like to ask you to battle me in a one-on-one match—with your Eevee. Could we do it half a month from now?"
"Half a month?"
Logan's hand froze where it was scratching Eevee's chin. He frowned. "Half a month is far too short. Training this Eevee to defeat your Pokémon in just two weeks is almost impossible."
Even if the Gym challenge rules allowed him to win a badge through defeat, Logan had no desire to lose. And he certainly didn't underestimate Erika. To think he could turn a freshly captured Eevee into a winner against her in such a short time was foolish. Not even an Elite Four or Champion could achieve that.
"I won't be using my strongest partners," Erika said earnestly, almost pleading.
Her tone carried an unspoken weight. Logan understood. She wanted him to take responsibility for Eevee's training quickly, to help the creature heal and grow strong.
But still—
"Why the rush?" he asked.
"You may not know," Erika sighed softly, worry shadowing her expression. "Team Rocket grows bolder with every passing day. Within months, they may launch a full-scale assault. I don't expect this Eevee to become a powerhouse so soon, but I want it to at least learn to protect itself. Because Eevee was created through their research, they won't let it go so easily."
Her sigh lingered with exhaustion. Clearly, Rocket's shadow had weighed heavily upon her. The League was faltering—half the Gym Leaders in Kanto were already on the verge of betrayal. And the Elite Four? They turned a blind eye, chasing their own ambitions instead of protecting the region.
In truth, this problem wasn't unique to Kanto. Across many regions, the Elite Four served the League only in name. In a world where personal power outweighed any political institution, true loyalty was rare.
Even the Gym Leaders were no different. To gain their loyalty, one either needed overwhelming strength and vision, as Giovanni had gathered his executives, or the fragile hold of moral duty.
Erika chose the latter. Her defiance against Team Rocket was born entirely of personal principle, a burden she willingly bore despite knowing she didn't have to. Even if Rocket seized Kanto, trainers of her caliber would be courted, not crushed. She didn't need to endanger herself. And yet she did.
"…Very well," Logan said at last, after a long silence. His hand stroked his chin in thought. Erika's words had given him pause. Team Rocket would not ignore him either—after all the times he had wrecked their schemes, they surely hungered for his head. Perhaps he too needed to prepare for the battles to come.
"Let's make it one month. Give me that long to train Eevee."
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