The sky above seemed to be roaring. Dark clouds churned as lightning split across the heavens, thunder shaking the air. The wind howled once more, strong and sharp, as though at any moment a torrential downpour could come crashing down.
"Looks like it's about to rain again…"
Logan stood at the edge of a cliff, overlooking a rocky, jagged shore where angry waves of the sea smashed against the stone like the roar of a god of the ocean.
Murmuring quietly to himself, he couldn't help but think—rain seemed to follow him everywhere. No matter where he went, he would always encounter this looming, storm-heavy weather, as though his fate was forever tied to the downpour.
This was the southernmost edge of Kanto, where the territory of Fuchsia City met the open southern seas. Compared to the bustling beaches of Fuchsia, there were hardly any people here. This cliff was practically the end of the world for the region, a lonely corner where the sea stretched endlessly beyond. Normally, tourists would come under the guidance of locals to climb the rocky mountain paths, but with a forecast of storms, not a single soul had dared approach.
Logan was the only one here.
He was preparing to enter the sea from this cliff… and make his way toward Cinnabar Island.
A few drops of rain fell, striking his face. Logan brushed his cheek with his hand, wiping away the cold rainwater with a slight frown.
[Someone's coming, Logan.]
The familiar voice of Mewtwo echoed in his mind. Logan gave a small nod, his lips parting.
"…An enemy?"
[Not an enemy. A familiar face.]
"If it's someone I know, then that's fine. This time, we're going to Cinnabar Island. Blaine said this also concerns you, Mewtwo."
[I look forward to it.]
Inside its Master Ball, Mewtwo smiled faintly.
Despite being known across the world as a Pokémon with a heart of ruthless cruelty, that side only appeared in battle. Normally, Mewtwo was calm, composed, and cautious. It rarely spoke—but whenever there was a development, it always notified Logan immediately.
Eevee rested lazily on Logan's right shoulder, while the graceful Dragonair floated at his side, nudging against his chest affectionately. Beside him, Gabite stood like a vigilant bodyguard, its sharp eyes scanning the surroundings.
Back when it was just a small Gible, it had been clingy and childlike. But since evolving, its demeanor had become far more mature and dependable. It was now the most loyal and trustworthy partner one could imagine.
"…Dragonair."
Logan gently stroked the smooth, polished scales atop Dragonair's head. He had been just about to ask Dragonair to use its unique powers to shield him from the falling rain—when suddenly, a shadow fell over him, shielding him from the droplets.
He turned.
The first thing that caught his eye was a delicate hand gripping the handle of an umbrella. Slender, pale, and graceful. Following the arm upward, his gaze fell on a sleeveless, jade-like shoulder—and then onto a girl's charming, lively face.
"…Green."
Logan whispered her name softly.
"Well, well. Handsome, we meet again. You don't look surprised to see me at all."
Green giggled, her voice light and playful. The tips of her brown hair were damp with raindrops, clinging slightly to her face, yet her beauty still glowed mischievously in the stormlight.
"I noticed you the moment you arrived."
Logan's steady gaze held hers. For the first time, Green was surprised to feel her heartbeat quicken.
It was odd. Ever since she had started wandering the world alone, she had been the one teasing and charming others, rarely—if ever—feeling flustered herself. And yet, here she was, blushing slightly under his unwavering stare.
"…I see. It's because of Mewtwo, isn't it?"
Her pulse raced, but being the natural actress she was, Green's smile never faltered. She had once seen Mewtwo's terrifying power firsthand—a force so catastrophic it could wipe out an entire region singlehandedly.
Logan didn't answer. His silence was enough of an acknowledgment.
"How did you know I was here?" he asked.
"The video of you battling that Gyarados on Fuchsia Beach is everywhere online. Anyone who saw it knows you've been in Fuchsia. Once I knew that, it was child's play to track you down."
Green giggled behind her hand, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Logan had no doubt. Her resourcefulness was undeniable. Among all the peers he had met, Red undoubtedly had the greatest raw talent for battling. Green, on the other hand, wasn't specialized in combat. But when it came to tricks, schemes, and the experience of surviving the real world—no one surpassed her.
She was a con artist, through and through. And one who was never tricked herself.
At that moment, the rain began to fall in earnest. Logan's eyes flicked upward, and he noticed something strange about the umbrella Green held. On the underside of the canopy, a pair of eyes had suddenly opened.
The eyes weren't frightening—in fact, they were almost cute—but realizing the umbrella itself was alive startled Logan nonetheless. For a moment, he thought it was a ghost.
"So this umbrella is actually Ditto, huh? Your Ditto really is versatile."
Logan chuckled softly.
"Of course it is! My little Ditto isn't like all the others. Not only can it transform into any Pokémon, it can also take the shape of smaller objects. The ultimate travel companion!"
Green puffed up proudly. The umbrella-turned Ditto squinted happily, clearly pleased by the compliment.
"Truly versatile. It can even become a skeleton key… for stealing."
Logan smirked.
Green's smile froze for an instant before she huffed, cheeks pink with embarrassment, glaring at him.
"Hmph!"
Logan's tone turned more serious. "So, Green. You're always busy. What's the real reason you came here?"
Logan had no idea what Green spent her days doing, but he knew for certain—she was always occupied.
"…Because I missed you, of course. It feels like forever since we've seen each other. I wanted to catch up."
Her voice was soft, her face lowered shyly.
Logan rolled his eyes. Not for a second did he believe her.
"Ugh, you're no fun!"
Seeing no trace of fluster in him, Green pouted dramatically.
But then, her crystalline Green eyes sparkled mischievously again, and she teased, "Actually, I'm doing this for your sake. Word is, you've been spending the last two months in Celadon with Erika, and now you've suddenly vanished. The rumors are everywhere."
Her lips curled into a sly smile.
"…Erika went back to Celadon not long ago, and now you've turned up in Fuchsia. Oh dear, oh dear. Even if you were dumped, it's no big deal. You're handsome, strong—there will always be girls after you. Still, to have your innocent first romance shattered like that—poor thing! Lucky for you, Green's here to comfort you."
Logan's eye twitched. He remained calm, as he always did now, no matter the situation. His gaze locked on Green's playful expression, studying her.
Did she actually know what had really happened between him and Erika? Or was she just tossing out guesses to test his reaction?
…He quickly decided it didn't matter.
Reading Green's true intentions was harder than battling a Legendary Pokémon.
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