The ship's premium restaurant occupied the forward section of the main deck, positioned to take advantage of the floor-to-ceiling windows that provided unobstructed ocean views. White tablecloths covered each table, real candles provided ambient lighting despite being a safety concern that the crew somehow managed, and soft instrumental music played from hidden speakers. The space held maybe thirty tables, spaced far enough apart to allow private conversations without neighboring diners overhearing.
Sasuke had suggested they eat dinner here instead of the cafeteria after spending the afternoon showing the girls around the ship. The tour had taken three hours, training facilities, Pokemon Center, library, entertainment lounges, outer decks. Their Pokemon had gotten along well, which made everything easier. Victini and Shaymin had become inseparable almost immediately, while Gardevoir and Ninetales maintained a more reserved but respectful distance from each other.
Now the four of them sat at a corner table with a particularly good view of the sunset painting the ocean in oranges and golds. Their Pokemon remained in their Pokeballs for the meal except Victini, who'd refused to be contained and currently perched on an empty chair beside Sasuke, eyeing the bread basket with obvious intent.
A waiter approached with menus and water glasses. "Good evening. Can I start you with anything to drink?"
"Water is fine for me," Miyuki said.
"Same," Kiyomi added.
"Actually, could I get a berry smoothie?" Kasumi asked. "Mixed berry if you have it."
"Of course. And for you, sir?"
Sasuke glanced at the menu briefly. "Water. And for dinner..." He closed the menu and looked at each of the girls in turn. "Miyuki, you prefer light proteins and vegetables, minimal seasoning. Kasumi likes bold flavors, sweet and spicy combinations. Kiyomi wants something with substance but appreciates subtle complexity."
All three women stared at him. The waiter waited patiently, stylus poised over his order tablet.
"For Miyuki, the grilled Goldeen with steamed asparagus and rice. Light lemon sauce on the side." Sasuke continued without acknowledging their stares. "Kasumi, the glazed Tauros steak with roasted root vegetables, extra glaze, she likes it sweet. Kiyomi, the herb-crusted Miltank tenderloin with garlic potatoes. Medium rare."
The waiter noted everything. "And for yourself?"
"Whatever the chef recommends. I'm not particular."
"Very good, sir. I'll have your orders prepared shortly." The waiter collected their menus and departed.
Silence stretched for several seconds. Sasuke reached for his water glass to avoid eye contact, suddenly aware he might have overstepped. Maybe ordering for everyone without asking had been presumptuous,
"You remembered," Miyuki said quietly. Her golden eyes held something warm that hadn't been there before. "From when we were children. Our preferences."
"It's been three years," Kiyomi added. Her typical confidence had shifted to something more genuine. "Most people would have forgotten details like that."
"I have a good memory for food-related things," Sasuke shrugged, because admitting he'd specifically tried to remember things about them felt too revealing. "It's part of why I got interested in cooking."
Kasumi beamed at him from across the table. "That's actually really sweet. And impressive. I can barely remember what I ate yesterday, let alone what my friends liked eating three years ago."
"We weren't really friends three years ago," Sasuke pointed out. "Just kids who saw each other at family gatherings occasionally."
"We were friendly," Miyuki corrected. "Maybe not close, but we knew each other. Enough that you noticed our food preferences and remembered them."
She was trying to hide her smile by taking a sip of water, but Sasuke saw it anyway. Beside her, Kasumi made no effort to hide her own delighted grin. Kiyomi just raised one eyebrow in that way she had that somehow conveyed both skepticism and approval simultaneously.
"Okay, point to Sasuke for being unexpectedly observant and considerate," Kiyomi said. "I'm impressed. The bar was low, but you cleared it with room to spare."
"The bar was not low," Miyuki protested.
"It absolutely was. Most guys our age can barely order for themselves without help." Kiyomi leaned back in her chair, studying Sasuke with renewed interest. "You continue to be more interesting than expected."
Victini chirped from its chair and gestured at the bread basket pointedly. Sasuke sighed and handed the Pokemon a roll, which it immediately began demolishing with enthusiasm that scattered crumbs everywhere.
"So," Kasumi said, redirecting the conversation while Victini made a mess. "We spent the afternoon doing the ship tour, but we haven't really talked about what we've been doing for the last three years. I vote we use dinner to catch up properly."
"That's why I suggested the restaurant," Sasuke admitted. "Figured we should have actual conversation instead of just logistical planning."
"Good thinking." Miyuki folded her hands on the table. "Who wants to go first?"
"I will!" Kasumi volunteered immediately. "My story is probably the least impressive so let's get it out of the way."
"I doubt it's unimpressive," Sasuke said.
"Just wait." But she was smiling as she spoke. "So, I decided I wanted to be a Pokemon Coordinator when I was fourteen. Watched the Grand Festival on television and fell in love with how beautiful and skillful the performances were. My mother supported it even though most people in our clan focus on traditional battling."
She paused while the waiter delivered her smoothie. After taking a sip, she continued.
"I spent two years training under various Coordinators in Johto, learning Appeal techniques, studying Pokemon aesthetics, practicing choreography. It was harder than I expected. A lot of people think Contests are just about making your Pokemon look pretty, but there's real strategy involved. You need to showcase your Pokemon's strengths while making everything look effortless."
"I saw one of your practice sessions earlier," Sasuke mentioned. "When you were working with Gardevoir on the outer deck. The Psychic displays were complex."
Kasumi lit up. "You were watching? I didn't see you."
"I was on the upper deck. Didn't want to interrupt."
"Well, thanks. Gardevoir and I have been working on that routine for months." She took another sip of smoothie. "Anyway, about a year and a half ago, I went to Lilycove City in Hoenn. They have some of the best Contest Halls in the world, and I wanted to learn from the masters there. Spent a full year just observing and practicing and competing in small local contests."
"Did you win any?" Miyuki asked.
"A few. Nothing major, but enough to prove I had potential." Kasumi's expression grew more serious. "The problem is that Contest coordination is still seen as less legitimate than traditional battling. People treat it like a hobby instead of a real competitive field. So my dream is to prove them wrong, become a Top Coordinator, win the Grand Festival, show that Contests require just as much skill and dedication as Gym battles."
"They do require skill," Kiyomi said. "I've watched Contest broadcasts. The top Coordinators are operating at levels that would challenge most standard trainers."
"Thank you." Kasumi smiled at her. "Not everyone sees it that way, though. Which is why traveling with Sasuke makes sense strategically, if I'm collecting Contest Ribbons while he's collecting Gym Badges, and we're clearly both serious competitors, it elevates the perception of what I'm doing."
"Using my reputation as legitimacy by association," Sasuke said.
"Exactly. Is that manipulative?"
"It's practical. I don't mind."
"Good, because I'm also doing berry farming research on the side." Kasumi's enthusiasm returned. "Started working with my mother in Goldenrod about a year ago, learning cultivation techniques and genetic crossbreeding. Berries are essential for Pokemon health and Contest performances, and there's still so much we don't understand about their properties. I want to contribute to that research while also competing."
"Dual specialization," Miyuki observed. "That's ambitious."
"Says the girl who's studying both breeding and medicine," Kasumi shot back, though her tone was affectionate. "Your turn."
Miyuki took a moment to gather her thoughts, her expression settling into something more composed. "I knew from a young age that I wanted to work with Pokemon in a caregiving capacity. My grandmother Tsunade is famous for her battle strength, but she's also an incredible Pokemon doctor. I wanted to follow that path but add my own focus on breeding."
The waiter arrived with their meals, distributing plates with practiced efficiency. Sasuke's dish turned out to be a seafood pasta with Corphish and Krabby meat in a light cream sauce. Everyone's orders looked exactly as he'd described them.
Miyuki waited until the waiter left before continuing. "I spent a year studying under Professor Oak in Pallet Town when I was sixteen. He's one of the leading experts on Pokemon evolution and breeding, and his laboratory has resources you can't find anywhere else. I learned theoretical genetics, observed hundreds of different species, and helped with research on evolutionary triggers."
She cut a small piece of Goldeen, examining it with the same analytical attention she'd given Sasuke earlier. "After that, I worked at the Saffron City Pokemon Center for eighteen months. Nurse Joy there specializes in emergency medicine and trauma care. I assisted with everything from routine checkups to life-threatening injuries. Learned which treatments work in the field versus what requires full hospital facilities."
"That sounds intense," Kasumi said.
"It was. I saw Pokemon die despite our best efforts. I also saw Pokemon recover from injuries that should have been fatal because someone knew the right treatment and applied it quickly." Miyuki's voice remained steady but carried weight. "Those experiences taught me that knowledge without application is worthless. You need both the theory and the practical skill."
"You mentioned helping discover a new evolutionary method," Sasuke prompted.
"Right." A small smile crossed her face. "This was about six months ago. I was working with Professor Oak again, and we were studying Eevee evolution patterns. Most people know about the eight standard Eeveelution, Fire, Water, Electric, Psychic, Dark, Grass, Ice, and Fairy. But we found evidence that Eevee might have additional evolutionary paths under specific rare conditions."
She took a bite of her meal before continuing. "We tested various environmental factors and bonding intensities. Eventually discovered that an Eevee exposed to Dragon-type energy while maintaining a deep bond with its trainer could evolve into a Dragon-type variant. We're calling it Draconeon tentatively, though the name might change once the research is published."
"You discovered a new Eevee evolution?" Kiyomi's eyebrows rose. "That's not minor. That's potentially groundbreaking research."
"If we can replicate it reliably. So far, we've only achieved it once." Miyuki's tone remained modest despite the significance of the achievement. "The research paper is under peer review right now. Professor Oak is listed as primary author, but I'm credited as co-researcher. It should be published in the next few months."
"That's incredible," Sasuke said. And it was, discovering a new evolutionary path was the kind of achievement that established careers. Miyuki was nineteen and had already contributed to Pokemon research in a meaningful way.
"My dream is to combine breeding expertise with medical care," Miyuki continued. "Open a practice that handles both Pokemon health and optimization of genetic lines. Most breeders understand reproduction but not medical care, and most doctors understand treatment but not breeding. I want to bridge that gap."
"That's a solid plan," Kiyomi said. "Practical need, clear expertise, and you're building the credentials to back it up. I approve."
"I'm glad I meet your standards," Miyuki replied dryly, but she was smiling.
Kiyomi grinned and started on her own meal. "My turn, I suppose. Fair warning, my story is significantly nerdier than yours."
"I doubt that," Kasumi said. "Miyuki just talked about evolutionary genetics."
"True, but she applied it to real Pokemon. I spend most of my time talking to dead civilizations." Kiyomi cut into her Miltank tenderloin, nodding approval at the preparation. "I got interested in archaeology when I was thirteen. Found some old ruins near my hometown and started wondering about the people who built them. That curiosity turned into an obsession with understanding ancient Pokemon civilizations."
She took a bite and chewed thoughtfully before continuing. "Professor Elm is one of the few researchers who takes Pokemon archaeology seriously. Most academics focus on contemporary Pokemon study and dismiss historical research as less valuable. But Elm believes understanding the past helps us understand present Pokemon behavior and potential future developments. So when I was sixteen, I applied to work as his assistant and somehow got accepted."
"What did the work involve?" Sasuke asked.
"Traveling to ruins across multiple regions, documenting findings, analyzing artifacts, conducting carbon dating on materials, cross-referencing historical records from different cultures." Kiyomi's usual confident tone shifted to something more passionate. "Most people think archaeology is just digging things up, but it's really about piecing together stories from fragments of evidence. Every artifact tells you something about how people and Pokemon interacted in the past."
She pulled out her phone and scrolled through photos, then showed them an image of a stone tablet covered in ancient script and carved Pokemon figures. "This is from a ruin in western Johto, dated to approximately two thousand years ago. The inscriptions describe a bond between humans and Pokemon that existed before Pokeballs were invented. They had ceremonies where Pokemon would choose human partners based on spiritual compatibility."
"Pre-Pokeball bonds," Miyuki said, leaning closer to examine the photo. "That's fascinating. How did they maintain control?"
"They didn't. That's the point." Kiyomi's eyes lit up with enthusiasm that made her look younger. "These ancient partnerships were based on mutual respect and choice. Pokemon stayed with humans because they wanted to, not because they were captured. The relationship was genuinely symbiotic, humans provided protection and resources, Pokemon provided their natural abilities and companionship."
"That sounds similar to how Legendary Pokemon bonds work now," Sasuke observed.
"Exactly! Which is why studying these ancient methods might help modern trainers form stronger bonds with powerful Pokemon." Kiyomi scrolled to another photo. "This is from a dig site in Hoenn. We found evidence of a civilization that built entire cities in cooperation with Dragon-type Pokemon. The architecture incorporates features that only make sense if humans and Dragons were working together on the design."
She showed them several more photos while explaining her findings. Kasumi asked questions about the civilizations' cultures, Miyuki wanted to know about Pokemon species that had gone extinct, and Sasuke found himself genuinely interested in the historical context of human-Pokemon relationships.
"I've published three research papers so far," Kiyomi concluded. "Two on ruins in Johto, one on comparative analysis of bonding methods across different ancient civilizations. My dream is to become a Professor specializing in Pokemon archaeology, establish it as a legitimate field of study, train other researchers, and ultimately help modern trainers learn from ancient wisdom."
"That's actually beautiful," Kasumi said. "Taking forgotten knowledge and making it relevant again."
"See? I told you it was nerdy."
"Nerdy and beautiful aren't mutually exclusive."
Kiyomi smiled and turned her attention to Sasuke. "Your turn. Tell us about the Crown Tundra. And don't leave out the interesting parts, we want real stories, not sanitized summaries."
Sasuke had known this was coming but still felt unprepared. Talking about the last three years meant revealing things he typically kept private, the failures alongside the successes, the moments of genuine fear, the slow realization that he'd been fundamentally alone in ways that changed him.
"The Crown Tundra is one of the harshest environments in the world," he started. "Year-round snow, temperatures that drop below freezing regularly, wild Pokemon that are powerful and territorial. My father took me there specifically because it would push me beyond what comfortable training could achieve."
He paused to eat some of his pasta, buying time to organize his thoughts. "The first six months, I wasn't allowed to use my Pokemon team for anything except emergencies. Father wanted me to develop physical conditioning and survival instincts without relying on Pokemon to solve every problem. So I learned to hunt, forage, build shelter, defend myself against wild Pokemon using improvised weapons and evasion tactics."
"That sounds terrifying," Kasumi said.
"It was. I got hurt a lot early on, nothing fatal, but enough to teach me to be more careful." Sasuke touched his left shoulder unconsciously, where a Beartic's claws had left scars. "The Ursaring incident wasn't even the worst one. I once spent three days trapped in a cave system because a Froslass had decided the area was her territory and was actively hunting me."
"How did you get out?" Miyuki asked.
"Waited until she left to hunt elsewhere, then used Victini to scout a safe exit path. Learned patience that week." He smiled slightly. "Father said I passed the physical conditioning phase when I stopped getting injured from preventable mistakes. That took seven months instead of six."
"What came after?" Kiyomi prompted.
"Strategic battle training. Father has a philosophy about Pokemon battles, it's not about having the strongest Pokemon, it's about understanding your Pokemon's strengths and your opponent's weaknesses, then exploiting the matchups. We spent a year just drilling scenarios. He'd send out his Pokemon and I'd have to analyze the situation and choose the optimal counter from my team."
Sasuke took another bite before continuing. "That's also when I started catching new Pokemon. Victini and Latios were with me from the start, but the others came during the Tundra training. Raikou first, found it during an electrical storm. Then Zekrom in the deepest frozen regions. Tyranitar from a mountain cave system. The others followed over time as I proved I could handle them."
"How do you prove that to a Legendary Pokemon?" Kasumi asked. "I've always wondered."
"Depends on the Pokemon. Raikou wanted a battle, fought it for three hours until we were both exhausted and it acknowledged my strength. Zekrom tested my truth and conviction through some kind of psychic evaluation. Groudon just seemed amused by the fact that I survived being near it and decided following me would be more interesting than sleeping in lava."
All three women laughed at that. Victini chirped agreement from its chair, having finished its roll and moved on to stealing bits of Sasuke's pasta.
"The cooking started as pure survival," Sasuke admitted. "When you're hunting your own food in the wilderness, you learn quickly that preparation matters. Bad cooking can make you sick, waste precious resources, or just make miserable meals even worse. So I started experimenting, trying different techniques, testing combinations of wild ingredients, learning how heat and seasoning affected different proteins."
"And it became a passion instead of just survival," Miyuki said.
"Yeah. There was something meditative about it. After spending all day in brutal training or fighting wild Pokemon, cooking became this calm activity where I could focus on creation instead of destruction. Father noticed and started teaching me more advanced techniques during our rest periods." Sasuke glanced at each of them. "He gave me a professional knife set before I left. Said cooking was something I'd chosen for myself instead of inheriting from family expectations."
"That's a good father," Kiyomi observed.
"He is." Sasuke finished his pasta and set down his fork. "As for my dream... I want to aim to become Champion. Prove myself outside of Itachi's shadow, show that I'm strong for my own reasons instead of just being 'the Champion's little brother.' But more than that, " He paused, choosing words carefully. "I want to understand what it means to be strong beyond just battle power. The Crown Tundra made me physically capable and strategically skilled. This journey is supposed to teach me the rest."
"The interpersonal skills you're awkward about," Kasumi supplied helpfully.
"Yes, thank you for that summary."
"You're welcome."
Miyuki had been listening with that analytical intensity she brought to everything. "Your brother mentioned something similar when I met him last year. He said becoming Champion taught him that strength without connection is just isolation with a title."
"He told me the same thing right before I left." Sasuke met her eyes. "I'm hoping traveling with people who have their own goals and perspectives will help me figure out what he meant."
"So we're all using this journey to prove something," Kiyomi said. "Miyuki wants to establish her expertise beyond her grandmother's reputation. Kasumi wants to legitimize Contest coordination as a serious competitive field. I want to make Pokemon archaeology a respected academic discipline. And Sasuke wants to step out of his brother's shadow while learning to actually connect with people."
"When you phrase it like that, we all sound kind of insecure," Kasumi observed.
"We are insecure. We're nineteen-year-olds with ambitious goals and famous family connections that make people doubt we've earned anything ourselves." Kiyomi raised her water glass. "To proving the doubters wrong and figuring out who we are beyond our family names."
They all raised their glasses, Kasumi with her smoothie, and clinked them together in agreement. It felt ceremonial, like they were formally acknowledging the journey's real purpose beyond just collecting badges and ribbons.
"Our mothers did this thirty years ago," Miyuki said after they'd all taken a drink. "Traveled together across Kanto and Johto, supported each other's goals, formed bonds that lasted their entire lives."
"Do you know their story?" Sasuke asked. "Mother mentioned they journeyed together but never gave details."
"My mother shared some of it." Miyuki set down her glass carefully. "The four of them met in Pallet Town when they were all starting their journeys. They weren't friends initially, came from different clans with some historical tensions. But Professor Oak suggested they travel together because their skills complemented each other."
"What were their specializations?" Kiyomi asked.
"Your mother Yuki was the researcher, similar to your role. Kasumi's mother Kaori was a Coordinator who also studied Berry cultivation, basically exactly what you're doing. My mother Hanako focused on medical care and breeding. And Sasuke's mother Mikoto was the primary battler who collected gym badges."
The parallels were unmistakable. Sasuke felt something click into place. "They arranged this hoping we'd follow the same pattern."
"Probably," Miyuki agreed. "They've stayed close friends for thirty years despite living in different cities and having different careers. Those bonds shaped their lives in fundamental ways. They want us to have the same opportunity."
"That's actually kind of sweet," Kasumi said. "Manipulative, but sweet."
"Most parenting is manipulative when you think about it," Kiyomi pointed out. "At least this manipulation is aimed at something potentially beneficial."
"Did their journey have a happy ending?" Sasuke asked.
Miyuki paused. "Happy but complicated. They all achieved their goals, became respected in their fields, formed the family connections that eventually led to us existing. But my mother said the journey itself was the best part. Not the destinations or accomplishments, but the actual traveling together."
"That's encouraging and ominous simultaneously," Kiyomi said.
"Welcome to life advice from our parents' generation."
They talked for another hour, moving from their mothers' story to more casual topics, favorite Pokemon types, embarrassing academy memories, speculation about what gym leaders they'd face first. The conversation flowed easier now that they'd shared their backgrounds and goals. Sasuke found himself actually enjoying the social interaction instead of enduring it.
Victini had fallen asleep on its chair, full of stolen food and satisfied with the evening. The restaurant had mostly emptied out as other diners finished their meals and departed. Through the windows, the ocean was dark except for moonlight reflecting off the waves.
Finally, Kasumi yawned. "We should probably get some sleep. Long day tomorrow, the ship docks at another port for supplies, and I want to explore the town."
"Agreed." Miyuki stood and stretched. "Thank you for dinner, Sasuke. And for remembering our preferences. That was thoughtful."
"It was just food orders," he said, but he felt heat creeping into his face again.
"It was more than that." She smiled at him, genuine warmth instead of polite courtesy. "It showed you paid attention when we were kids even though we weren't close. That matters."
Kiyomi stood as well, grabbing her leather jacket from where she'd draped it over her chair. "Same time tomorrow for breakfast? We can make it a regular thing if this first dinner went well."
"It went well," Kasumi said immediately. "At least from my perspective. Everyone else good?"
Sasuke nodded. Miyuki agreed. Kiyomi looked satisfied with the consensus.
"Breakfast at eight, then," she decided. "In the premium lounge instead of the cafeteria, better food and fewer crowds."
They left the restaurant together, walking through now-quiet corridors back toward the cabin section. Sasuke carried the sleeping Victini, who somehow managed to snore despite being a relatively small Pokemon.
At the junction where his cabin diverged from theirs, they paused.
"This was nice," Kasumi said. "I was nervous about tonight, but it worked out."
"We were all nervous," Miyuki admitted.
"Speak for yourselves," Kiyomi said, though her slight smile undermined the claim.
Sasuke looked at the three of them, silver hair and golden eyes, crimson hair and violet eyes, auburn hair and golden eyes. Three completely different people with different dreams and personalities. And for some reason, he'd be spending the next year traveling with them.
"See you tomorrow," he said.
"Tomorrow," they echoed in slightly different tones and cadences.
Then they split off to their respective cabins. Sasuke entered his room, closed the door, and carefully set Victini on the couch where the Pokemon immediately curled into a tighter ball without waking.
He got ready for bed mechanically, changing clothes, brushing teeth, setting his Pokeballs on their charging station. But his mind was still processing the evening. The easy conversation once they'd gotten past initial awkwardness. The way their goals aligned in complementary ways. The feeling that maybe, possibly, this arrangement could work.
When he finally lay down in bed, Sasuke stared at the ceiling and thought about what Miyuki had said. The journey itself is the best part. Not the destinations or accomplishments, but the actual traveling together.
He wasn't sure he believed that yet. But he was willing to find out.
Outside his porthole, the ocean stretched into darkness while the ship sailed steadily toward morning and whatever came next.