"Satoshi…"
Kagura Hikari stared straight at him.
So different from her cold exterior, her gaze burned hot, unblinking, fixed only on him.
Not on the Pokémon facing off in the arena—only on Satoshi.
"It's been five years and 214 days since we last spoke… and you really haven't changed at all."
She murmured to herself, satisfied, her eyes dropping to the Beartic-shaped wallet at her waist, then back to the boy not far away. A small, nearly imperceptible smile touched her lips.
On the battlefield stood Raichu and Beartic. Both fully evolved. This was a fight far fiercer than the usual baby Pokémon skirmishes.
Maybe because of his lost memories, Satoshi couldn't shake the déjà vu. Something about Kagura Hikari felt familiar. Or maybe… intimate.
Don't tell me the "Hikari" who travels with me in the future… is this Hikari?
He'd heard she was from the Performance Department. Could it be she's going to enter Contests?
But Satoshi didn't linger on that. What he wanted to know was what, exactly, their relationship was.
Hopefully not one of those "fiancée" stories. He'd heard rumors his family had arranged one.
Damn it! If I've got a fiancée, how am I supposed to travel? What about Gym battles?!
First and foremost—the journey. Challenge Gyms. Collect eight Badges. Enter the Conference. Challenge the Elite Four, then the Champion. Become Kanto Champion.
Only after that could you talk about things like the "Masters Eight" or being a "Legendary Guy."
In truth, Satoshi had always harbored thoughts of becoming the "Legendary Guy." After all, Scarlet & Violet battles always seemed to spiral into Legendary fights (legendaries allowed)—lineups packed full of gods.
But since this was the real world, defeating Legendaries with the power of bonds… that was the truly exciting thing.
Right now, though, the best he could do was defeat "legendary Pokémon," not "Pokémon of legend."
Satoshi raised his eyes to the Beartic towering at 2.6 meters. His Raichu, only 0.8 meters, looked like a baby Pokémon in comparison.
"Satoshi do your best!"
"Ninf! (Cheer up~)"
"Red-Hooded Devil versus the Ice-Cold Witch, I'm shipping this already!"
"Shhh, be careful. I heard she's like a three-year-old—if you talk too loud, she'll come for revenge."
"Yeah, I once just muttered a bad word about her, and she solo'd me in a 1v3. Totally musou'd me."
"Both of them have the potential to become Elite Four candidates. You can't not watch this one."
Anon and Sylveon's cheers mingled with classmates' whispers.
[Satodear, be careful—don't let that woman's black stockings cloud your eyes! They look great, yeah, and her silk-wrapped jade feet probably smell strong, but we have to resist!]
[Then again… maybe they smell like Sitrus Berry. One sniff and you recover 1/4 of max HP. Ohoho Satodear, go on, try it. Sniff once and you'll live a hundred extra years]
[Mission: Defeat Kagura Hikari thoroughly! Reward: TM—U-turn!]
And of course, Furiko's voice joined the chaos.
Didn't you just say to resist?! Now you want me to sniff them?!
…Used to it. He was used to how perverted this "system" was.
Satoshi exhaled.
Black stockings—are they really that important? Beartic comes with natural white stockings!
"Raichu, [Thunderbolt]!"
At his shout, Raichu leapt, static ripping through the air, scattering gold sparks.
"Rai——!"
"Mr. White Bear, [Protect]."
"Roooar——!"
Green light cloaked Beartic's massive frame. Raichu's [Thunderbolt] smashed into it, detonating with a deafening crack.
"[Electroweb] to wrap around [Protect]!"
Of course Satoshi already had counters ready. In his mind, [Protect] was the very foundation of Pokémon battling. No [Protect], no battle. And for such a great move—of course he had thought ahead!
Raichu's eyes narrowed like blades. Electricity surged, weaving into golden strands. The net spread wide, lacing around Beartic.
"Roar…"
As [Protect] faded, Beartic was left bare—caught in the web, unable to dodge.
The damage wasn't lethal. But enough to slow its movements.
[Uwahhh~ As expected of Satoshi! He had the counter ready! Now take her black stockings and white stockings both!]
Ride the momentum!
"[Quick Attack]!"
Satoshi's lips curved upward. From the start, his plan was to go all-in with speed.
"Mr. White Bear, [Icicle Crash] to shatter the net—target Raichu."
Hikari's cold face didn't change a fraction. That was why she was called the Ice-Cold Witch.
Ice and electricity clashed. The air itself froze. Dozens of jagged icicles formed out of nowhere, lancing toward Raichu and slicing through the web.
But not a single one hit. Raichu's agility carried it past every shard.
The [Electroweb] had thrown Beartic's aim off.
"Use [Nuzzle]." Since they were in close—time for the dirtiest move.
"Rai——!"
Raichu darted right up, furry cheeks crackling, rubbing against Beartic.
A jolt. Paralysis swept the great bear. Its whole body stiffened, shuddering, movements slowing to a crawl.
"Mr. White Bear, grab it—[Ice Punch]!"
Hikari's voice was calm as frost. Beartic's right paw glowed icy blue, swinging down. But its paralyzed body dragged.
Raichu slipped away from every strike, speed leaving Beartic helpless.
It could only take hits.
Seeing his chance, Satoshi pressed forward—
"…Raichu, [Iron Tail]!"
"Rai~~!" Raichu's tail blazed white, like a steel blade, slashing down.
"Return, Mr. White Bear. Ceruledge, prepare for battle!"
At the last instant, Hikari recalled Beartic and hurled another ball.
Out strode Ceruledge.
"Rai?!"
Raichu's [Iron Tail] smashed down—right onto Ceruledge's armor. Sparks burst in all directions.
"Subo!"
With its Fire/Ghost typing resisting Steel, Ceruledge stood its ground, taking the blow without much damage.
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T/N: I DONT THINK ANY OF YOU READS THE THOUGHTS SECTION SO IM GONNA JUST TRY POSTING IT HERE
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say thank you to Girantina for that thoughtful message