Reiji headed to the Pokémon Center. He didn't see the three pay-to-win brothers—clearly they had their own treatment channels and hadn't come here.
At the counter he presented his ID and handed over the Poké Balls for Kingler and Poliwhirl to Nurse Joy for treatment.
Then he waited in the lounge, quietly listening to trainers gossip about the battles.
"Did you see those three type-disadvantaged matches just now?"
"I did. You?"
"Don't mention it—by the time I got there, it was over…"
"That mystery trainer was crazy strong. Both the Poliwhirl and the Kingler!"
"How strong? I didn't catch it. Tell me—"
"Haha, all I can say is it was slick and satisfying. And in the last bet, Taro actually lost five million. Haven't seen a brawl that hype in ages…"
"Must be too much money at home and nowhere to stash it."
"Anyway, Poliwhirl won straight up against Electabuzz. I wonder how that Poliwhirl was trained…"
"That's his secret. What are you thinking?"
"True. Lots of folks couldn't parse it on the spot. If there'd been another round, we might've dissected the combo technique…"
"By your logic, Poliwag prices are about to spike. But the real key's the method—gotta find that guy and learn from him."
"I heard him say he lives at the Sailor's Bar. Might try my luck later…"
"Plenty of people will. Luck's all you've got."
Reiji listened a while to the tall tales. When the treatment finished, he picked up Poliwhirl and Kingler, paid the 15,000 fee, and left the Center.
Instead of returning to the villa, he stopped at Keiko, the breeder's Pokémon massage shop near the Center. The place was a tiny, tucked-away storefront in an alley—easy to miss.
As he stepped in, Keiko—blue work smock on—was nodding off at the counter. Business was clearly slow; maybe the hidden location didn't help.
Since she was free, Reiji gently woke her. "Miss Keiko, could you give Poliwhirl a full massage? He needs to relax."
"Mr. Reiji—you're here?" Keiko startled awake, wiping the corner of her mouth. She usually did house calls; this was the first time she'd seen him come in. Mortified at being caught dozing, she scrambled to set out a chair. "I'm sorry—please, sit!"
Reiji had simply been passing by and figured he'd let her work on Poliwhirl fresh from treatment—his right arm was still bandaged. Aside from that arm, nothing else was badly hurt; he and Electabuzz had mostly traded straight punches.
They chatted briefly, then Keiko and her Meowth started a two-hour session. Poliwhirl had every part worked over except the right arm—and dozed off in bliss.
Partway through, a surprised male voice sounded at the door. "You're the trainer with that Poliwhirl, right?"
"And you are?" Reiji didn't answer—he asked back.
"Arin? What are you doing here?" Keiko blurted, startled again to see her boyfriend.
"I was watching the match and thought I'd drop by," the young man said to Keiko, then looked at Reiji—the mystery trainer who'd beaten the trio, standing right here? "Keiko, introduce us?"
"This is Mr. Reiji—my client," Keiko said. "Mr. Reiji, this is Arin, my boyfriend. He works at the Electric-type Club."
"Nice to meet you. Arin's fine," he said, extending a hand.
"You're the Poliwhirl trainer, aren't you?" Arin probed again.
"Is that important?" Reiji's eyes went to the neat, club-logoed uniform—very similar to Taro's. Keiko had just said Electric Club; odds were he and Taro were colleagues.
"Fair enough, not important. Your Poliwhirl is strong, though—even Taro lost." With no confirmation forthcoming—but the timing, the all-black outfit with twin black packs, and a Poliwhirl whose right arm was wrapped—it wasn't hard for Arin to connect the dots.
Seeing Reiji wouldn't bite, Arin let it go, traded a few words with his girlfriend, and took his leave. Keiko walked him out.
By the time the massage ended, dusk had fallen. Reiji recalled the slumbering Poliwhirl and paid the 10,000 fee before heading back to the villa.
He started on dinner for the team. While he was prepping his own meal, Skinny came in.
"Big bro Reiji, cooking already? I'll help!"
"I thought you might skip tonight," Reiji said, a little surprised—they'd split up that afternoon and he didn't know where Skinny had gone.
"After you left, I went to Grandpa. Asked him to buy evolution stones," Skinny said, filling him in.
…
After Reiji departed, Chubbs and Skinny stared at each other in the alley. After a beat, Chubbs exploded: "Daaang, Skinny—Reiji's Poliwhirl is busted! Even beat Club-coach Taro, and with a type disadvantage!"
"Told you already." Skinny kept his face straight; he'd been shocked earlier, but showing it now would just make him look as goofy as Chubbs.
"But still! A senior coach, and he lost—on a bad matchup!" Chubbs huffed at Skinny's calm. "Come on, give me something—if you're this chill, I look like the idiot here…"
Skinny had been stunned—just earlier. Now the heat had cooled. What mattered more was the combo technique Poliwhirl used. He had to learn it. Reiji had promised to teach it to his own Poliwhirl—he'd ask tonight.
"Let's go. I'm seeing Grandpa. If you're free, head home first," Skinny said. They'd both seen it up close from the platform; there wasn't much more to say. The blast effect, though—could he learn that? He'd ask Reiji.
"Wait up!" Chubbs chased him, babbling about Kingler's performance—he was already jealous, dreaming of raising his Krabby into that kind of Kingler.
They walked a ways before parting. Skinny grabbed a cab to the Sailor's Bar's back door—the front was jammed solid.
A server let him in. At the counter, Grandpa nursed a gloomy drink.
"Grandpa, why aren't you open?" Skinny asked.
"it 's you." The old man took a sip and sighed. "Too many people. I'm worried someone will cause trouble and smash my tables and chairs."
"Just have the staff explain: anyone who wants to challenge Big Bro Reiji leaves a name—and deposits the fee. I'll tell him later."
"Not like every trainer can afford a ₵1,000,000 challenge fee," Skinny added.
"You've got a point." The old man had been spooked by the crowd. Most weren't challengers anyway—many just wanted to meet Reiji, ask training tips for Poliwhirl, or simply drink. And Skinny was right: a million per challenge thinned the herd. Let the waitresses register names and money; Reiji could sort it out later. Meanwhile, the bar could ride the wave.
Before opening up, Grandpa asked, "Weren't you with him? What did you need?"
"I wanted to ask the price of a Water Stone. I want one for Wingull's evolution."
"Water Stone, huh? Last I checked, forty to fifty thousand apiece," Grandpa said. "I'm not sure about current prices—I'll ask around."
"So expensive?" Skinny blinked.
"Of course. They're stones imbued with elemental energy," Grandpa said. "Good evolution stones cost more. High-grade ones—money can't always buy them."
"No wonder Grandpa's Poliwhirl still hasn't evolved…"
"Hey, I'm old—and my Poliwhirl is, too," the old man said, patting his grandson's shoulder. Then he smiled, conspiratorial. "Don't worry about your Poliwhirl. I've already set aside the Water Stone you'll need."
"Really?" Skinny lit up. Grandpa had deeper pockets than most—who knew what he'd stashed away.
"There's no rush. Come to me when your Poliwhirl's ready." He took another drink. He'd long ago prepared a Water Stone—originally for his son. After his son passed, it was for his grandson's Poliwhirl instead. And not just any stone: a high-grade Water Stone he'd treasured for over a decade.
"Also—buy more stones when you can. Electric, Grass, Water—I'll need them. And if you see held items, pick those up, too," Skinny said. "In today's fight, both Poliwhirl and Electabuzz used items to boost power."
He'd been eyeing the bracer on Reiji's Poliwhirl's arm; he wanted one too—just needed the gear. A mere 20% wasn't huge, but better than running "whiteboard," as he now understood all too well.
"Got it. That kid's battling was excellent—learn from him, especially about that Poliwhirl," Grandpa urged.
"I know." If Skinny hadn't grasped Reiji's true value before, he did now. Not just Poliwhirl—each of Reiji's partners had its own training path. A treasure trove of a teacher—he couldn't waste this chance.
"Ask him about your other Pokémon, too—Breloom, Elekid. Even if it costs a little, learn it. Don't miss this window," Grandpa said.
"I will." Poliwhirl was only in its second stage. Once it reached its third—and learned that combo suite—what kind of monster would it be? Skinny could hardly wait.
He hopped off the barstool; business at the bar settled, it was time to go.
"Grandpa, I'm going to the Center to pick up my team. I'm off—and don't forget the items and stones!"
"Relax, I won't forget. Pick them up tomorrow." The old man walked him to the door, then called two waitresses to the front to explain the rules. He'd open from the inside, leverage the fresh hype, and pack the place—time to claw back some revenue.
After all, he sold real liquor here…
(End of chapter)
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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