"Hey, don't just stay silent!"
Seeing herself as the only one carrying the conversation, Green pouted in dissatisfaction—this wasn't her style at all.
"What do you want me to say? I've been the one asking questions, and now you're turning it back on me?"
"Shouldn't boys be extra considerate to girls? Ladies first~ So come on, answer my question—what's really going on between you and Erika?"
Green pressed on, relentless, her tone a mix of coquettishness and willfulness. Her voice was soft, like the delicate teasing of a girl from the southern riverside, enough to make one's bones melt. That little bit of willfulness made it impossible not to forgive her.
"No comment. That's private."
Ryuuske's response was firm.
"Pfft—!"
Green stuck out her tongue and pulled down her eyelid in a playful taunt. "...How boring. But judging from your reaction, I know something's up."
"You think you've got me all figured out?"
Ryuuske was both exasperated and amused.
"Of course! I've got a sharp eye for people. You're the type who'd openly admit it if there wasn't anything going on—maybe even pretend there was—but if something did happen, you'd clam up tight."
Green spoke as if she had Ryuuske completely pegged. Her words left him momentarily speechless—this girl was scarily perceptive. Their interactions hadn't been that frequent, yet she'd already deciphered his behavioral patterns. In a way, that was impressive.
"What a shame~ I was the one who found you first, and yet someone else got ahead of me."
Her tone was ambiguous—half-teasing, half-serious. Ryuuske didn't bother dissecting it. There was no point.
"Aren't your arms tired holding that umbrella up, Green?"
Green wasn't particularly tall—just around 160 cm. Meanwhile, Ryuuske, after nearly nine months in this world, had grown significantly from his original 170 cm frame. To keep the umbrella over his head, she had to stand on her tiptoes, straining a little.
As he spoke, Ryuuske took the Ditto-umbrella from her, instantly relieving her.
"Well, at least you've got some manners. What have you been eating these past few months? You've shot up like a weed."
Green flexed her slender wrists, working out the stiffness.
"You, on the other hand, haven't changed a bit. Those are still the same size as before."
Ryuuske smirked, his gaze drifting pointedly to her chest.
Her cheeks flushed—whether from his stare or the overly familiar way he addressed her, it wasn't clear. "Speaking of which, I remember back on the S.S. Anne, you had your Poké Ball sizing down just right—enough to make your figure look balanced, not awkward."
Ryuuske arched an eyebrow, reminiscing.
"You're really going to talk about a girl's chest to her face? Is this how you talked to Erika?"
Green, never one to back down, fired back immediately.
"Hah! So you can get flustered. Guess even you care about your figure."
Ryuuske burst out laughing. He was certain she wasn't hiding any Poké Balls in her chest now—the "assets" had clearly shrunk by two cup sizes compared to their first meeting, and one size since the S.S. Anne.
"Anyway, let's cut the small talk. What did you really come here for? Since you saved me once, I'll help you with whatever you need."
After some back-and-forth, Ryuuske finally steered the conversation back on track.
"Nothing major. I've been investigating Team Rocket's plans, but I've hit a dead end. My gut tells me sticking with you will lead me to the next clue, so here I am~"
Ryuuske took her words with a grain of salt—truth or lie, he couldn't be bothered to guess. But his instincts suggested she was being mostly honest this time.
"Stick with me? Suit yourself... I'm heading to Cinnabar Island next. If you're fine tagging along, then come."
Ryuuske shrugged. He hadn't planned on traveling with a companion, but if different journeys brought different girls into his life, maybe his luck with women wasn't so bad.
"Cinnabar Island? Perfect! I've never been there."
Green perked up, though whether her excitement was genuine or for some ulterior motive was unclear.
"Got a Flying-type?"
Ryuuske asked, though he already knew the answer.
Green shook her head awkwardly.
"Well, I don't have one suited for long-distance flights either. At least got something that can cross the ocean?"
"Obviously. You've met this one before—come on out, Squirt!"
Green tossed a Poké Ball with a wink. Instead of the Wartortle Ryuuske had seen before, what emerged was its evolved form—Blastoise.
The massive Pokémon stood around three to four meters tall. Judging by its physique and energy aura, Green had trained it well.
Even if she wasn't the best at head-on battles, she was still a skilled trainer.
"Ah, the one you stole from Professor Oak."
Ryuuske nodded.
"Stole? Trainers don't steal! I just felt bad for the little guy, all alone in the lab with no friends. So I rescued him."
Green declared righteously.
She wasn't entirely wrong. By then, Charmander had been taken by Blue(Gary), and Bulbasaur had left with Ash. Squirtle had been the last of the trio left behind, probably moping in solitude.
"Fair enough. Didn't expect your Pokémon to evolve this fast, though."
"Hehe~ I might not be good at much, but when it comes to evolution, I'm an expert."
Green grinned, but Ryuuske caught a flicker of shadow in her eyes. Whatever knowledge she had about evolution likely stemmed from memories she'd rather forget.
Not one to pry into old wounds, Ryuuske pretended not to notice and changed the subject.
"...With Blastoise, we're set. Let's get moving. Even nonstop, it'll take days to reach Cinnabar."
Instead of ordering Blastoise into the sea as Ryuuske expected, Green recalled it.
"What now?"
"You do know Dragonair is considered the most comfortable Pokémon for long ocean journeys, right? Yours is big enough to carry both of us."
She clasped her hands behind her back, tilting her head with a smile.
"Hah, you really..."
Ryuuske chuckled and hopped onto Dragonair's back, extending a hand. "...After you, Miss Green."
With a graceful smile, Green placed her delicate hand in his. Her skin was smooth and fair. Ryuuske pulled her up effortlessly.
A faint, elegant fragrance wafted into his nose—but before he could savor it, Green leaned in, sniffing him like a curious Growlithe. Her brows furrowed.
"...That's one persistent floral scent. Definitely something only the Flower-themed Gym Leader of Celadon could leave behind."
Ryuuske had no intention of entertaining this line of questioning. Less said, better.
"Let's go, Dragonair!"
A dragon's cry split the sky. Raindrops slid harmlessly off an invisible barrier around Dragonair—for a Pokémon that controlled weather, no storm could hinder its path.
With an elegant undulation, Dragonair surged forward, leaping off the hundred-meter cliff and plunging into the sea below.
——
Above Indigo Plateau, a colossal firebird soared through the sky. On its back, Sabrina held a communicator, her voice icy as she addressed the screen.
"...Ready, Blaine? Traitors always pay the price."
"...You seem to have forgotten something, Sabrina. I am the master of flames!"
Blaine's retort was equally fierce.
To be continued…
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