From there, he and Keiko slowly got closer. He could tell she still had her guard up, though. She liked him more than before, but not enough for him to cross that last line.
So he changed targets and started with the children at her shop. Once he heard they were all orphans, he brought snacks and small gifts every time he visited. It did not take long for the kids to decide he was a good guy.
By now, he felt he had done enough groundwork. The children liked him. Keiko had softened toward him as much as she was going to for the moment. All he needed was one more push.
That part was easy. They lived next door to each other. He only needed to wait for a stormy night, cut the power to Keiko's room, shut off the water and internet, then add a few strange knocks at the door.
Girls got scared. That was normal. And he would be right next door. He could show up at the perfect moment, bring out a few old photos to stir up the past, say his place had lost power too because of the storm, and let things move on their own.
Ren's memorial photo was still in Keiko's room. After everything was done, he could even burn incense for his old friend and make a proper promise.
"Don't worry. I'll take care of your wife and kids for you."
After that, he could collect wedding gifts, and the baby would call him Dad. What a bargain. He had finally become a coach, so he absolutely could not get carried away. He also could not go out to sea. No, he would just work, go home, and live honestly.
If pirates came again, his wife might become someone else's wife, and his kid might end up calling someone else Dad. Just thinking about it hurt.
As for Ren… well, Ren was dead. He did not get a say.
His imagination was already running wild. He had even started thinking up names for the baby.
He chatted with Keiko for a while, brought up dinner that night, and lit up when she agreed. Then he went off to play with the children.
"Do you like Keiko-nee?"
"Uh…"
The question hit him right in the face. He scratched his head, too embarrassed to look at Keiko directly, though his eyes still kept drifting toward her.
That little girl had perfect timing. He secretly gave her a thumbs-up. Good. Keep talking. The snacks were not free. It was time for everyone to help.
Keiko was an adult. Of course she knew what he wanted. The problem was that Ren had only been gone for a few months, not even half a year. If she started something new this soon, it felt like she would be betraying him.
"Ahaha, you are blushing!"
"Wait, Keiko-nee is blushing too!"
The child exposed them both. The two adults glanced at each other, then quickly looked away.
"Kinnow Island midday news. Thunderstorms are expected tonight. Residents, remember to bring your laundry inside…"
At the same time, inside the Electric Club, the three pay-to-win brothers were watching Reiji and Shun's match.
"Those two are really strong. We didn't actually offend them before, right?" Jiro, the chubby third brother, was getting nervous. The family had already told them to build a good relationship with Shun once he came back.
"Of course not. We didn't do anything underhanded," Taro said. "That match back then was just kids getting annoyed with each other. It's been too long to matter."
When Shun returned, they could invite him over by offering to help his Electabuzz evolve. If he still cared about what happened back then, they would apologize and make it up to him.
Or rather, Jiro would apologize.
"Whew. Good." Jiro finally relaxed. Who could have guessed that the poor orphanage kid they once looked down on would become Bruno's student? He really had been afraid Shun would come back for revenge.
That was what made status so scary. Before, they were all still stuck on Kinnow Island, playing in the same mud pit. Now Shun had suddenly become an Elite Four student. The gap was so huge that Jiro's title as one of the club family's three young masters looked like a joke.
"Remember how your lackeys act when they suck up to you. Learn from them," Taro said. "If you upset Shun, getting grounded will be the least of your problems. Any apology gift will come out of your allowance."
"No, brother!" Jiro almost cried. He had done nothing and still got hit. If his money got cut off, how was he supposed to face his followers? Without money, who would hang around him? Who would flatter him?
"Brother, shouldn't we be more worried about that guy?" The second brother pointed at Reiji. Back then, Reiji had left a much stronger impression on him than Shun had.
"Leave him alone unless we get clear orders," Taro said.
He did not know what the higher-ups were thinking either. Reiji was obviously stronger than Shun, so why had the League not focused on him?
Back when Reiji heard rumors that the tournament was rigged and chose to withdraw, Taro had been furious. But that was old news. It had only been a small tournament. If Reiji did not bring it up, Taro was not going to embarrass himself by digging it back up.
Besides, Reiji's younger brother was now an Elite Four student. That made things even harder.
What Taro did not understand was why Reiji had not drawn the League's attention too.
His family had sent some information over. Reiji was now a Trainer from Mikan Gym. Somehow, he had even gotten himself tied to a Gym. These two brothers were not simple.
Taro was also a Gym Trainer, but that was only because his family had arranged a name for him at a Gym. Reiji and Shun were orphans who had made their way in by themselves. There was no comparison.
One was an Elite Four student. One was a Gym Trainer. Both would be League Trainers in the future. At the very least, the League would trust them far more than it trusted family-backed Trainers like the three brothers.
"Jiro, Ejiro, go to the Orphanage when you have time. Shun came from there, so he must care about it. Bring donations, show your faces, and make sure the kids remember you. Focus on the children close to Shun, especially the ones who can talk to him. If any of them have potential, bring them into the club and train them."
"And Jiro, be polite. If your hands get dirty, wash them later. Do not act disgusted in front of the kids. They're orphans. They notice things like that. Even if you have to fake it, fake it properly."
"I know, brother." Jiro had no energy left to complain. Acting warm and friendly with a bunch of little kids went completely against his spoiled personality. This was hard. Really hard.
"Ejiro, pick the smart ones. You'll teach them. They can even study with you. The family will cover their living costs and help them become Trainers."
"Remember, we are sponsors, not owners. Don't control them too tightly. Let them keep going back to the orphanage. That way, our influence will settle in naturally. Later, if we tie them to the family through marriage, they won't be able to leave so easily."
It was only a spare move for now. Maybe they would never need it. But if they did, it would be worth having.
"I understand, brother." The second brother nodded.
Taro had already started working in the family business. Once the second brother graduated, he would join too, most likely as Taro's assistant.
As for Taro's position, he did not dare think about it. He could not think about it.
He was just someone meant to follow orders.
That was why Jiro was being sent to approach Shun, while he was being told to train some newcomer. Jiro had been spoiled useless. He would never become a real threat.
But if the second brother ever had the wrong idea, even his title as second young master could be taken away. Taro's place was untouchable.
Unless…
No. He did not dare think that far...
Orange Archipelago, Mikan Gym.
After Reiji won his first knockout match, Cissy's father and grandfather were both watching closely.
"Old man, where did you find this kid? He's good." Cissy's father was fishing with his father by the lake. A TV sat beside them, and both of them were watching Reiji's match instead of their rods.
"I didn't find him. He came to us." Cissy's grandfather was also impressed by Poliwhirl's performance. Who would have thought that kid had this much strength hidden away?
"With his talent, a little proper training would be enough to make him Elite Four material. Since when did kids like this just fall into our laps?" Cissy's father rubbed his chin, his attention fully on Reiji.
At first, Reiji had only been the Trainer with a Mythical Pokémon. Then the old man had mentioned him as a possible marriage candidate. Now Cissy's father was starting to take him seriously. An orphan making it this far alone was not easy.
"You don't know the best part. When this kid first came to the Gym, he wasn't even a certified League Trainer. He joined Mikan Gym just so he could apply for League certification. Cissy was his guarantor."
Cissy's grandfather smiled helplessly. Back then, he had almost laughed when he heard why Reiji wanted to join. A fifteen-year-old Trainer with real strength, still wandering around without League papers, joining a Gym just to get certified.
"I checked him two days ago. He's an orphan. No wonder certification was hard for him. And that Shun kid is an orphan too, yet now he's Bruno's student. These brothers are something else."
"You're worried we won't be able to keep him?" Cissy's grandfather had already read Shun's file. Anyone who cared enough to look could find out the two were brothers.
"You were going to give him a top-grade Water Stone, right? I don't think that's enough anymore. If he becomes an Elite Four Trainer, a top-grade Water Stone won't be hard for him to get." Cissy's father shook his head. Every time Reiji showed more strength, he had to rethink his value.
At first, Cissy's father only wanted to stop his daughter from becoming a marriage tool. Then he decided to test Reiji and see whether Mikan Gym should invest in him, maybe even have him represent the Gym in the upcoming Orange Archipelago tournament.
The League would host that tournament, with the four Gyms helping. The format would be similar to the Indigo Plateau Conference. Trainers had to collect all four badges before entering.
He had planned to give Cissy and Senta special training, but after watching them, he realized the two were hopeless. Even with rushed training, Cissy would at most reach Advanced tier. She was still short of quasi–Elite Four level.
If she entered the tournament like that, the heirs from the other Gyms would beat her into the ground. It would embarrass Mikan Gym.
Then Reiji appeared. He only needed a bit of support. They would not even have to push him through harsh last-minute training. He could enter the Orange Archipelago tournament right away. Quasi–Elite Four strength was already enough to fight for the championship.
A while ago, Cissy's father had gathered information on the other Gyms so he would know what to expect when he visited them.
From what he found, Danny of Navel Gym was the strongest among the younger generation. Rudy from Trovita Gym came next, then Cissy. Travis, who had not even made it into the knockouts, was last.
For now, Mikan Gym was not at the bottom. Cissy had raised her Blastoise decently. But decent was all it was. Travis had awakened Psychic powers, and he would catch up fast. Cissy's father knew how valuable Psychic power was.
"Oh? What are you thinking? You want him as a son-in-law now?" Cissy's grandfather looked at his son with a mix of irritation and amusement. Wasn't this the same man who had acted so righteous before, saying they could not use his daughter for marriage politics?
Now his son was willing to stay and manage the Gym, so the old man had given up on finding a husband to marry into the family. And now the son was thinking about it himself.
"Ahem. He's rare talent, and he's an orphan." Cissy's father had to admit that Reiji's background was almost perfect. No family baggage. No in-laws to deal with.
If Reiji married into Mikan Gym, the Gym would hold the stronger position. They could back Cissy up, and they would gain an Elite Four-level fighter for free. Why wouldn't they want that?
Where else could they find a young, handsome, strong orphan Trainer like this? You could search everywhere and still come up empty.
"Besides, didn't you say the Orange Archipelago situation is getting tense? The League wants tighter control over the islands. Mikan Gym needs more strong Trainers too…"
The more he talked, the less confident he sounded. By the end, he could not even look at his father. He realized he was starting to think exactly like the old man. In the end, he had become the kind of person he used to hate.
"Handle it yourself. She's your daughter, not mine." Cissy's grandfather refused to take the blame. He was enjoying his quiet life now, so he tossed the whole problem back to his son.
"Fine. We'll talk after Reiji comes back. We'll give him the top-grade Water Stone and have him represent Mikan Gym in the tournament. If he gets a good result, that helps us. Cissy can go with him too. They can spend time together."
As for the older cousin who had been hovering around Cissy all this time, sorry. He had already been ignored. Mikan Gym wanted someone who would marry in, not someone who would take Cissy away. He had no chance.
If he knew all that effort was useless, he would probably cry in the bathroom.
Right now, that cousin had gone to Mikan Island again to haul citrus fruit, and he had invited Cissy out shopping too.
Cissy had been dropping hints to him lately because she would need his help if she wanted to run away. She could sneak off on his cargo ship.
The cousin completely misunderstood. He thought Cissy wanted to elope with him, and he was so excited he could barely sit still. He thought his chance had finally come.
With his spy inside the Gym telling him that the family wanted to marry Cissy off for political gain, he immediately sided with her. What kind of outdated arranged marriage nonsense was this? He had already started secretly planning their honeymoon.
They would leave for a trip. By the time they came back, it would be too late for her family to object. Maybe there would even be a baby on the way. Then the two old men would have no choice but to accept a grandchild.
Heh heh heh.
Only Senta had no idea how strange the mood in the Gym had become. His father's brutal training was still making him suffer every day. The demands on him were even harsher than on his sister. If he failed to get a good result in the tournament, his training would be doubled.
The training was so harsh that Senta had thought more than once about giving up on being a Trainer.
Being trained by his father was just too hard.
[End of chapter]
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