I… Taki, just need to walk my own path.
"Ah…" In that moment, Taki felt lighter than she ever had.
Because she had an excellent older sister, the label everyone slapped on her was always:
Ace Trainer Shiina Maki's little sister.
"Hey, that's Shiina Maki's sister… she's gotta be strong, right…?"
"Yeah yeah, she's Maki's sister, after all."
Huh? My sister isn't the same as me. Can you stop comparing me to her?
I never thought… comparing myself to my sister… was interesting.
Taki had honestly believed that tag would stick to her all the way until graduation.
But it felt like the tag had finally been torn off.
"Even if you're not as strong as me, it doesn't matter. You're Taki—just walk your own path. Your own path."
My heart—my heart—
How can this man say something like that with a straight face?!
It's basically like he used Attract and put me into infatuation.
"Can I really walk my own path?"
Taki couldn't stop herself from asking.
"Yeah… I believe in you. Honestly, I saw you in a new light today too. That battle just now was really cool—you're really amazing."
Satoshi held nothing back. He said it all, wholeheartedly. And right then, his EQ was completely spent—his brain had stopped thinking—and what came out was the most honest thing he had.
Even though, deep down, he also had a thought:
Dealing with girls is seriously such a hassle… can we just keep Pokémon battling?
My Pokémon battle addiction is acting up. I really wanna battle…
"Huh?… Cool or whatever, no way… but thanks, Satoshi-kun…"
Taki's cheeks bloomed red like a flower. She lowered her head, shy.
Inside, though, she was already a mess—fully in the infatuation state.
Now she kind of understood how Soyo and Anon got so hooked on him… to the point even Tomori got pulled in.
What an interesting man!
"Let's go. I want to see you in the Cinnabar Tournament finals. We can't stop here."
Satoshi took Taki's hand first, ready to head to the Cinnabar Training Facility.
And this time, Taki didn't struggle at all—she tightened her grip instead. She almost went for interlaced fingers on instinct, but embarrassment reined her in.
No matter what, you don't just… fall for someone and immediately start ten-finger-locking. That was too much. Taki couldn't do it—not with that kind of heart. She was hot-tempered by nature, but weirdly… she was passive when it came to this.
Still, it was going to be a problem. Because this was basically, by accident, stealing a man from Soyo and Anon and Tomori—especially Soyo. That girl would 100% throw a punch.
Soyo: "Why is my boyfriend over with you?"
Taki: "Is he your boyfriend?"
And that Tauros behavior? Nagasaki Soyo, you and Satoshi aren't even a couple. What Tauros are you pulling?
…Yeah. Better see what Tomori thinks first. Then I'll decide whether I should do this.
Taki frowned slightly, making up her mind.
...
"Typhlosion, full-power [ERUPTION]!"
After breaking through her own mental block, Taki's win count kept climbing. With a fully evolved Typhlosion, she could basically fight some of the adult trainers out in society now.
Three wins… five wins… ten wins…
Chasing after Satoshi's pace, she reached thirty wins.
"I'm definitely meeting Satoshi-kun in the finals—and I'm going to let all my feelings out." Taki took a few deep breaths, her gaze burning hotter and hotter.
"Combusken, [THUNDER PUNCH]!"
Satoshi's side was going smoothly too. With Thunder Punch learned, Combusken wasn't just strong in the legs anymore—its hands had caught up. And over these days, Combusken had already been ready to evolve, but it forcibly held it back, suppressing the evolution.
If it was going to evolve, it had to be on the best stage.
The Cinnabar Tournament finals!
Evolving in some boring ass fight? That didn't fit their aura farming spirit at all!
These past few days were basically: battle two hours at the Cinnabar Training Facility, then go to MYGO's training room to raise Tomori's level. Recently, Marshadow had started following Tomori's commands, the two syncing up and getting stronger and stronger.
First off, he'd basically already secured the top-32 condition for the Cinnabar Tournament—actually, he was sitting in second place. First place was Aijo Karen. With Libero, her Cinderace was basically slaughtering everyone.
The god-tier ability Libero. What a pity… in Scarlet/Violet it got nerfed to only changing once, just to highlight Terastallization. But here, it wasn't nerfed at all—so it could still go on a rampage.
"Come back, Combusken."
After the battle ended, Satoshi recalled Combusken and turned his attention toward Karen. At that moment, Karen seemed to notice something and waved this way.
"Satoshi-kun~"
"How did you notice me looking?"
[The power of love?]
Satoshi tilted his head slightly, puzzled, but still raised his thumb in encouragement.
"Do your best~~!"
"I will~~" Karen's lips curved up into a sunny smile.
But at that moment, the trainer facing her didn't let the opening go. They let their Scovillain absorb enough sunlight.
"Is it really okay to be looking around? Scovillain, fire off [SOLAR BEAM]!"
Yet Karen turned back calmly, not flustered at all.
"Hehe~ With Satoshi-kun cheering me on, Cinderace and I are invincible! Cinderace—[PYRO BALL]l!"
"Ace!"
Cinderace instantly gathered a ball of fire, pouring "fire energy" into a small stone. It lifted one foot and flicked the stone up like a soccer ball—turning it into a blazing flaming football in an instant.
The deep yellow part on its head glowed faintly, shifting into a crimson light.
From Smack Down to Pyro Ball.
Solar Beam and Pyro Ball collided in midair—but Pyro Ball blasted straight through, smashing into Scovillain and sending it flying, losing the ability to battle.
"Yes! I won~!" Brimming with energy, Karen returned Cinderace to its Poké Ball and skipped over to Satoshi.
"Mm. Good work."
"Hehe… that means we're one step closer to our promise."
Karen was lively as ever—yet the moment she said "that promise," a blush rose to her face, giving her a uniquely shy look.
But…
"…" Satoshi went silent.
What promise?
[Satocchi, say something!]
Can't. You think I'm going to expose my lack of memory?
But based on past patterns, it's probably about Pokémon battles, right?!
Then I definitely have to respond!
Battle-brain Satoshi's emotions surged instantly.
"I know!" Satoshi answered without hesitation.
[Eh… Satocchi, you're really not afraid of what Karen might do to you?]
No way. Karen's still pure and kind.
"Ah… um. Once the promise is fulfilled, after I win… I'll do my best, as best as I can. If you want, I can move out of the dorm and… come to your place."
Aijo Karen turned her head away shyly, not daring to meet Satoshi's eyes. Her eyelashes trembled softly.
Their breaths tangled together, and the air filled with sweetness.
Which only made Satoshi even more confused.
So what is the promise, exactly?
Aren't we supposed to battle Pokémon?
Why are you saying these…☆unclear☆ things?
"That's great."
Satoshi nodded lightly, forcing a smile.
[Satocchi, what if the promise is dragging you straight into the bridal chamber or something?]
Then…
I have no choice but to win!
In Pokémon battles, how could I ever hold back?!
Victory achieved together with Pokémon is everything!
No matter what the promise is, the ones who win will be us!
"Then see you tomorrow at the Cinnabar Tournament."
Satoshi's fighting spirit boiled hot. He thrust his fist forward, heart surging higher and higher.
In that moment, Karen's lips curled up too, and she thrust her fist out—their fists bumped together.
"Yeah. I want to battle you at full strength in the finals!"
Both of them had earned their spot in the Cinnabar Tournament—and tomorrow was the opening.
A tournament finished in a single day, with the hottest, fastest finals!
…Hey. Are you two done talking yet?
Watching their interaction from not far away, Taki felt jealousy rise from the deepest part of her chest, for no reason at all.
The current situation was Satoshi and Karen, with Taki stuck between them at a short distance.
Taki had already crushed several small stones to dust from sheer jealousy.
You're that close with her.
Then what about me?
---
T/N: its okay pokemon battles first girls last
bonus chaps
100 stones -> 1 chapter
200 stones -> 2 chapters
300 stones -> 3 chapters
and so on
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