The girl looked utterly baffled.
She'd expected to stumble, not rebound so hard she almost hit the ground.
The sudden impact made her rub her aching head.
"Sorry! I'll leave right away."
Head down, she slipped past Grey at a quick trot.
"Your little hand… wasn't very honest."
As she moved by, Grey frowned and spoke up.
"And about bumping into me just now—my apologies as well."
The girl's fingers tightened a little on her shoulder bag. She gave an awkward smile. "But you can't slander me for no reason~"
She stayed right where she was, eyes narrowed to slits, staring straight at Grey.
"Then say it: 'Kanto folks don't scam Kanto folks.'"
Grey narrowed his eyes too and drifted closer.
"…"
She put on a helpless act. "Sir, if you won't trust me, then there's nothing I can do."
She lifted her chin, those narrow eyes fluttering with a sly, impish look.
It made Grey's fists itch.
Aura rippled out from him.
"Come to think of it, this is my first time seeing a girl who wears a Ditto on her face."
Sensing the two aura signatures clinging to her face, he leaned to her ear and murmured.
"?!"
She jolted, though her face stayed cool. "I don't know what you're talking about…"
"Whatever. I've only got business cards in my pocket. If that's what you were after, take one."
Grey waved a hand, then, noting how she still wasn't moving, added quietly, "You've got hands and feet. Don't make a living like this. Lucky for you it was me. If it had been someone else, who knows what they'd do."
"I hear Team Rocket shows up around here."
He winked on purpose, hands in his pockets, voice light. "If they catch you pulling a stunt like this… what do you think would happen?"
"You!"
She stamped her foot, furious.
Grey straightened and studied the Ditto on her face for a while.
Ditto. Pickpocketing. A girl.
Put those together and it rang a very specific bell.
A silhouette popped into Grey's mind. A possibility took shape.
"If you really need cash in a pinch, call me tonight."
Grey patted her shoulder and headed for the Pokémon Center. "But—I'll need to see some sincerity."
She was left standing alone in the breeze, replaying his words.
The Ditto slid off her face and plopped onto the ground.
"How did he even notice…"
Watching Grey's back recede, the girl squared her small shoulder bag and pulled out the card tucked inside.
[Owner of the Fighting Dojo: Grey]
[Contact: 152...]
"Even if I, Green, starve to death, even if I jump into the river out past Cerulean's suburbs—I still won't do anything for that guy!"
…
"Yo, you came?"
Grey grinned, giving the girl in his doorway a once-over.
"Asked you to drop by and you actually did? Get in here!"
He pulled her inside without ceremony and locked the door behind them.
"W-what are you doing? I'm telling you now, anything illegal—I'm out…"
Green tipped her chin up. Where Grey had grabbed her wrist, the skin had flushed red, and a few tears had gathered.
"Save the act. Not bad, though. Oh—turn off the voice recorder. Can't have this getting around before it's handed to Officer Jenny."
Grey's gaze swept her bag. "The pen mic's sticking out of the cap. Next time, hide it better."
"You… Forget it. I'll be the bigger person and not argue."
Green slid down the wall to sit, wanting to hear what money-making scheme Grey had in mind.
"Still a snot-nosed brat."
Grey chuckled, leaned in, and lowered his voice. "Quit messing with you. I do need a favor tomorrow—lend me your Ditto for a bit, yeah?"
"Eh?"
Green blanked out again.
Calling a delicate young lady over late at night, locking the door—and it was to borrow a Ditto?!
For a second her brain blue-screened.
"That's it?"
"…?"
Grey snorted. "What else? Aside from the Ditto, what would I be after—you being good with your hands?"
"What do you mean, 'good with my hands'?!"
She stared at her own fingers, then realized what he meant.
"I've mended my ways, okay? I absolutely won't lift your stuff."
She puckered her lips and shot back, firm and loud.
At the same time, she felt a quiet wave of relief.
If he really had been after her "skills," calling her over wouldn't have been to borrow Ditto.
"Oh—at least tell me your name. If we work together later, I should know what to call you."
Grey eyed the girl who'd been wearing Ditto, curious.
He had a hunch, but confirmation was better.
"Green. And don't bother prying for anything else."
She patted her cheeks.
In an instant, the skin of her face seemed to wake up, twisting and squirming.
A lumpy, pinkish-purple blob with dot-eyes dropped into her hands.
[Pokémon: Ditto]
[Type: Normal]
[Level: 30]
[Ability: Imposter]
[Move: Transform]
After a glance at the panel his system surfaced, Grey looked back to the real Green, now unmasked.
Innocent face. Chestnut hair.
She looked delicate, but her nature was sly and quick; she liked to lift things from people.
Give her a few more years—she'd be a knockout.
Thinking of Ash and Red…
Grey wondered whether there hovered over Green's head a "Blue" big shot—or maybe Green herself was meant to stand in for two roles.
"Hey, why are you staring at me?"
Hands on her hips, Green waved a hand in front of Grey's face.
Grey rubbed his chin, thoughtful. "I was thinking—you stole something. Shouldn't you pay a price?"
"?"
Green shivered. "W-what are you going to do? I'll scream my head off!"
"…"
—
Early the next morning.
"Uuuuu~"
Green rubbed her reddened cheeks, glaring with watery eyes at Grey, who looked fresh as a daisy after a good night's sleep.
"Glad you slept well. My face hurt the whole night, you know."
Grey mused. "It's fine. It wasn't my face."
"???"
Green's mouth fell open. She wanted to argue, but no words came.
Who knew what Grey would pull next…
With that, she shook her head and refocused. "Grey, don't forget the money!"
"Of course," Grey nodded. "But given you pinched my business card earlier, you'll get paid after this job is done."
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