[Third Person Pov]
The next few days passed in a blur to Tony and the others, blending together in a way that made it hard to tell one from the next as the start of the new semester at their new school steadily approached for Tony, Melissa, and Momo. There was a constant sense of movement and preparation in the background of everything they did, but none of it felt overwhelming.
Eric kept coming over almost every day, to the point where no one really questioned it anymore. What started as occasional visits turned into a routine, and little by little he integrated himself into Tony's group until his presence felt natural, like he had always been a part of it rather than someone new being added in.
The two of them grew closer during that time, not just as cousins but as friends, finding common ground in ways they hadn't expected at first. Conversations that started off simple would stretch longer, turning into discussions where they realized they had more in common than they initially thought.
They both held a specific kind of appreciation for the era before quirks. For Tony, it came from his reincarnation and the memories and perspective that came with it, while for Eric it came from his interest in history and the amount of time he spent studying it. It gave them something unique to connect over, something that not many people around them could fully relate to.
It wasn't just their shared interest in Pokémon that brought them closer either, but also their different tastes in music and films. Those differences didn't create distance between them, instead they gave them more to talk about, comparing opinions, recommending things to each other, and sometimes debating over what was better.
Tony would usually be in his lab working on one of his projects, focused but still listening, while Eric would sit nearby and talk, the two of them going back and forth about whatever topic came up that day. The conversations filled the space naturally, making the time pass without either of them really noticing.
At the same time, Eric spent a large portion of his days training. He pushed himself consistently, working to deepen his understanding of his quirk and expand what he could do with it. Over time, he refined it enough that he decided to rebrand it, settling on the name [Psychic Enforcement], a title that better matched how he intended to use it moving forward.
He approached his quirk with a level of focus that bordered on methodical, breaking it down into parts so he could improve each aspect individually. He practiced precision first, lifting small objects and holding them perfectly still in midair for extended periods, then gradually increasing their number while maintaining control over all of them at once. After that came force output, where he would apply pressure in short bursts, testing how much power he could safely exert without losing stability.
He also worked on reaction speed, setting up drills where objects would be launched toward him at unpredictable angles, forcing him to catch or redirect them mid-flight using only his quirk. At times he trained endurance, holding constructs in place for as long as possible until the strain forced him to stop.
Other times he experimented with shaping his energy more efficiently, compressing it into tighter forms to increase density and impact.
At the same time, Tony, Melissa, and Momo made sure not to lose contact with their friends from UA. It took a bit of coordination, but they eventually managed to line up a video call that worked for everyone. What started as a simple check-in turned into a full tour of the dorms, with their friends walking them around, showing off their rooms, the shared spaces, and the small personal touches everyone had added to make the place feel like home.
There were laughs, a few jokes about who had the best setup, and some light teasing thrown back and forth. It helped close the distance a bit, making it easier to remember that even though they weren't physically there, they were still connected. By the end of the call, the conversation had drifted into promises to keep in touch more often, something all of them actually intended to follow through on.
Outside of that, Tony kept himself busy with his own work. His focus on Baymax hadn't slowed down, if anything it had picked up pace. He had managed to get into contact with The Armstrong Agency and, after a series of discussions and negotiations, convinced them to sign on for handling the advertisement side of the project. It was a significant step forward, one that validated the effort he had been putting in.
Between refining the design, preparing for its release, and now coordinating with an agency, Tony's days were filled from morning to night. It wasn't overwhelming though, just progressive.
When Tony and Eric did take breaks, they usually gravitated toward something a bit more entertaining. The simulation training room became their go-to, especially when they decided to run mock Pokémon battles.
The environment would shift the moment the program activated, transforming into a full stadium packed with a simulated crowd. The noise filled the air, cheers and anticipation blending together as the two of them stood across from each other on opposite ends of the field.
They stared each other down from a distance, both holding that intense glare for a moment longer than necessary before, almost in sync, they whipped their sweaters back to reveal the belts at their waists, each with a single Poké Ball attached.
They moved at the same time, snatching the balls free and pressing the center button, the compact spheres expanding in their hands.
Tony didn't hold back on the theatrics. He stepped forward and threw his Poké Ball with exaggerated energy. "Gible, let's go! Show them why you're the best!" he called out as the ball burst open in a flash of light, releasing Gible onto the field with a sharp cry as it landed and immediately looked ready to fight.
Eric, on the other hand, stayed composed. He adjusted his glasses with one hand, the lenses catching the light with a brief glare before he made his move. With a smooth, controlled motion, he threw his own Poké Ball. "Beldum, it's time for our psychic potential to shine…" he said simply, his tone calm as the steel-blue Pokémon emerged, hovering slightly above the ground as it faced its opponent.
The battle started soon after, commands being called out, movements exchanged, and the simulated crowd reacting to every action.
Off to the side, Melissa and Momo weren't any different when it came to enjoying themselves. They had their own matches going, though theirs carried a much lighter tone. The two Eevees darted around the field, playful but still competitive, as the two of them laughed and called out instructions, more focused on the fun of it than anything else.
********************************************
+31 advance Chapters on: patreon.com/Shadow_D_Monarch3