[Grey: OK, I'll ping you once I reach Cerulean City.]
[Daisy: Great—see you then, bye~]
After saying goodbye to Daisy, Grey recalled four Pokémon: Primeape, Riolu, Torchic, and Shroomish.
"Sabrina, Bumiao—the dojo is in your hands for the next few days."
While he packed his bag, he spoke to the two girls in the dojo.
"Huh? Wasn't it just two days?"
Bumiao blinked and quickly asked.
"Forgot to tell you. I'm going to head straight to Vermilion City after the survival training. Then on Saturday I'll take the S.S. Anne to the Galar region."
Grey laid it out.
Bumiao: ???
"What? So I'm stuck with her for several days?!"
Bumiao's eyes went wide. Remembering the rumors about Sabrina, she felt goosebumps.
Even after spending the whole morning together, the impression those rumors left was too strong…
She was genuinely afraid Sabrina might get annoyed one day and turn her into a doll.
And then where would she cry about it?
"It'll be fine. Sabrina's a good girl—try to get along with her, okay?"
Grey patted Bumiao's shoulder earnestly and gave her a thumbs-up. Hang in there.
"Who knows—you two might even become close friends!"
Bumiao: _
Close friends, my foot.
I'll be happy if I don't get turned into something creepy!
"Safe travels, Gym Leader!"
At the door, Bumiao dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief and waved.
Grey: …
Why did that feel… ominous?
With that, Grey hugged the doll Sabrina had given him, let Ralts perch on his shoulder, and headed to the Club to ask the supervisor for a ticket first.
—
Silph Pokémon Battle Club Center.
Supervisor's office.
"Supervisor, I'm here for that thing."
Grey rubbed his fingers together and winked at the young supervisor.
"Looks like your mind's made up."
The supervisor stubbed out his cigarette, pulled a wrapped ticket from the drawer, and handed it to Grey. "VIP ticket for the S.S. Anne. Here's hoping this incident wraps up perfectly."
"Yeah—let's hope." Grey nodded, took the ticket, then asked, "By the way, do we have a Club ride heading to Cerulean City? I'd like to catch a lift."
"Cerulean? What for?"
The supervisor shot him a suspicious look.
Grey tapped the Poké Balls at his waist, helpless. "At least give me a little backup. I don't have any Pokémon that can swim or fly."
Reasonable enough.
After all, there are plenty of Water-types around Cerulean.
The supervisor clicked on his phone and nodded. "There actually is a ride in a bit. You lucked out."
"Thanks for setting it up."
He gave Grey a location—
—in the underground parking lot.
Grey left the office and rode the elevator down.
Following the pin the supervisor sent, he reached a secluded spot.
Basically a far corner.
"Excuse me, are you Senior Grey? Senior Tuozhai said you needed a lift. I'm Daisuke from the Club—pleased to meet you."
The voice from behind made Grey turn.
A clean-cut young man walked over.
Grey frowned slightly but kept it off his face, nodding. "Yeah. Thanks for the lift to Cerulean City."
"No trouble at all. Please get in first, Grey. I'll fire it up."
Daisuke opened the door and gestured Grey in.
"Alright."
Grey nodded and took the passenger seat.
Daisuke got in, and a moment later they pulled out from the Club.
—
Route 5—the road you have to take to reach Cerulean City.
In reality "Route 5" covers a stretch with several small towns along the way, so even by car the trip eats time.
On foot, you'd be lucky to make Cerulean in a day.
"Grey."
Eyes on the road, Daisuke suddenly spoke. "What are you doing in Cerulean this time? I'm going to see my girlfriend~ But she's got this quirk—only likes it when I call her 'senior.'"
Grey didn't look up. "Catching a few Water-types."
"Ohh, Water-types, huh? Think you'll swing by the Cerulean Gym~?"
Daisuke stretched out the words, dreamy. "I hear they do water ballet there. If I could see it up close—that'd be a feast for the eyes~"
"Mm. If I have time, I'll drop in."
Grey watched the scenery whip by and stifled a yawn.
Clearly, when it came to Daisuke's questions—
—or better, Daisuke as a person—Grey didn't care to chat much.
From the moment they met, Daisuke gave him a strange feeling.
Hard to put into words.
A gut read.
If not for needing a ride, Grey wouldn't have crossed paths with him.
"Oh right, Grey—Team Rocket's been running wild in Cerulean lately, so be careful!"
Daisuke seemed to have endless energy, chattering on: "I heard someone's house got robbed—they even lost a TM for Dig!"
"Yeah?"
Grey raised an eyebrow and glanced over, reading Daisuke's face. "Rough. But if you don't have the strength, best not to tangle with Team Rocket."
"Right. Without strength, crossing Team Rocket is a death wish."
Daisuke looked timid, almost cowering.
"I'm okay since I'm heading straight to the Club. But you, Grey—when you go out to catch Pokémon, really watch yourself."
"Thanks for the warning. I will."
Grey looked away, gently rubbed the Ralts sitting on his lap, and narrowed his eyes.
Near 9 p.m.
They rolled into Cerulean City.
"Drop me here. Thanks for the lift. Dinner's on me next time."
Grey spotted a Pokémon Center not far away and pointed it out.
"Got it—stay safe, Grey!"
The car pulled up by the Center. Grey climbed out and waved. "You too."
The car eased away.
Ralts climbed onto Grey's shoulder, face serious.
"You felt it too?"
Grey patted Ralts's little head.
"Ralts." (Yeah. Shady.)
Ralts nodded.
Everything was normal—
—but that normal felt off.
"Alright. Let's find Daisy first."
Once Daisuke was well out of sight, Grey took out his phone.
[Grey: Daisy, I'm here.]
[Daisy: photo.jpg]
[Daisy: Gym Leader Grey's pretty handsome. Look to your right~]
Grey pocketed his phone and turned.
A gentle blonde woman sat outside a café, waving him over.
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