"This kid can't use Psychic normally."
Sabrina's tone was light as she simply stroked Ralts's head.
As if she were mentioning something trivial.
"What do you mean?"
Grey tested the waters.
"The literal meaning."
Sabrina shook her head. "But for it, that may not actually be a bad thing."
"Hm?"
Grey frowned at that, then used the system to check this Ralts's specifics.
[Pokémon: Ralts]
[Type: Psychic/Fairy]
[Level: 10]
[Sex: Male]
[Ability: Trace]
[Moves: Teleport, Growl, Disarming Voice, Double Team, Confusion, Hypnosis, Knock Off, Shadow Sneak, Zen Headbutt]
[Notes: An exceptionally unusual Ralts. Due to being trafficked, its Psychic power surged to an extreme, but it can scarcely project it outward. It can nearly only be used to reinforce itself.]
"?"
When I type a "?", it's not that I've got a problem—it's that I think you do!
"Only for self-buffs," what the heck?!
What, it can't project Psychic outward, so all that power just stays inside and reinforces the body?
Grey pictured what might come of that—future versions of Ralts, Kirlia, and even Gardevoir, all corded with muscle…
The image was… a lot.
Ahem. Since he's a boy, let's plan for Gallade anyway.
"As a fellow psychic, you should see it."
Sabrina phrased it like a question, but her tone was fully certain.
"This Ralts… really is singular."
Grey's mouth twisted. No wonder Sabrina told him to come by after the stream—she'd been waiting for this.
"For that reason, I want to ask you to look after this child."
With a nudge of Psychic, Sabrina slid Ralts over to Grey. "Please."
"Ral…ts?"
Ralts tilted its head; its fringe swayed, revealing the red eyes underneath as it met Grey's gaze.
Bathed in that gentle, kind Aura, Ralts's whole body relaxed a little.
Compared to the lightless truck bed and the cramped iron cage, this dojo felt warm in a way it had never known.
As for the human in front of it…
Even knowing Grey was a good person, all the things that had happened made Ralts instinctively shrink back.
Seeing that, Grey could only smile helplessly.
"Ralts, want to go play with the others?"
He asked—and sent out Primeape and the three Tyrogue.
"Prime!"
"Baar!" *3
The four Pokémon invited Ralts along, eager to pull it into the Fighting Dojo's little family.
"Ral— Ralts!"
Before Ralts could answer, Primeape simply took its white hand, plopped the little guy on its head, and hopped out of the room.
The room held only Grey and Sabrina again.
Sitting with an ice-queen beauty like her didn't fluster Grey at all.
After all, it was his house.
"So, what's your plan from here?"
Grey sat down across from her.
"I don't know."
Sabrina shook her head. It had all happened too fast; even she didn't know what to do for the moment.
"But one thing is certain: rebuilding Saffron Gym. It might take some time, so I'll be in your care these next few days, Master Grey."
"No problem—just remember to pay rent."
Grey waved it off, then added, "And if you need manpower for the rebuild, call me. Pay a labor fee and I'll have it done in a week. Oh, and you cover materials."
"…"
Sabrina said nothing; she just fixed Grey with those calm eyes.
Under that stare, Grey refused to blink—he stared right back.
Big eyes versus small eyes—their Defense stats were about to fall to outrageous depths.
Beep-beep-beep…
An alarm chirped through the room.
Grey lifted his phone. Eight p.m.—time to work.
"Table this for now. I'm stepping out. If anyone knocks, don't open."
He stood to leave.
Sabrina frowned. "Where are you going?"
"To earn a living."
Grey flicked out a club card and let it land at Sabrina's feet.
[Silph Pokémon Battle Club Center]
[Special Guest: Grey]
"Special guest," huh? It was really just hired sparring—underground fighting.
With the Pokémon doing the actual fighting, of course.
That was also how Grey had ramped up his strength so fast in so little time.
"Humans and Pokémon both break their limits only under the hammer and the fire."
He didn't just say that for show.
Sabrina looked down at the gilt-edged card.
After a long beat, she lifted it with Psychic, handed it back, and said, "Be careful with Silph."
"Mm. I know."
Grey waved, recalled the Pokémon playing in the hall, then scooped Ralts up and set it atop his head. "I'm taking you out to see the world tonight."
"Ral—ts?!"
Ralts was bewildered, but the guiding warmth of Aura kept it compliant.
—
Half an hour later, Silph Co.…
Down a side alley.
This was where the Club Center really hid.
From outside, it looked like a turf spot where small-time punks loitered. Inside, it was opulent—luxury dripping off the walls.
Grey flashed his card for the doorman and followed him in like he'd done it a hundred times.
"Ralts!"
The moment they stepped in, Ralts was overwhelmed.
Everywhere it looked—the walls, the floor—gleamed like hammered gold. A massive mural of the three Legendary birds hung front and center: Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres—stunning at first glance.
"No matter how many times I come, that mural still hits."
Grey chuckled, tipping his Ralts-topped head up to study it more closely.
"Ral—ts!"
Ralts waved its little arms, wanting to greet the birds in the mural.
No response, of course.
If it had responded, Grey would've been sprinting for the exit.
"Nelly, do you have anything for me tonight?"
After a moment with the mural, Grey drifted to the front desk, leaned an elbow on it, and greeted the girl there.
"Mr. Grey! I thought you weren't coming!"
The twin-tail in the micro-miniskirt snapped her head up; seeing him, she went full fangirl. "Your stream today was eye-opening—the whole club's talking about you!"
"Yeah? Think you can tell your manager to bump my appearance fee?"
Grey teased.
"Ral—!"
Out of nowhere, Ralts yelped—and slipped right off Grey's head!
Good thing he was quick. He snatched Ralts out of the air and tucked it into his arms before disaster struck.
"Well, well. Isn't that the Ralts I tossed in the trash? Looks like some garbage picker took that little piece of junk home like a treasure, huh?"
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