We haven't even been on the road a full week and Kai already walks like the route belongs to him.
Not in an arrogant way. Worse. In the way people do when they've decided things are going fine and stop checking whether that's actually true.
Shinx trots ahead of us, tail flicking, ears twitching at everything that moves, clearly convinced that this is just another park with worse paths and better smells. Kai watches him like a proud parent who's already rehearsing the story he's going to tell later.
"You saw that back there, right?" Kai says without looking at me. "That dodge was clean."
"It was a Pidgey," I say. "And it wasn't aiming for him."
Kai waves a hand. "Still. Reflexes."
Shinx puffs up a little, electricity crackling faintly along his fur like he agrees with the assessment.
I let out a short breath through my nose. "You're counting near-misses as victories now?"
"They count," Kai says immediately. "They absolutely count. You don't learn anything if everything's perfect."
"That's not what I said."
He finally looks back at me, eyebrows raised. "You're really going to tell me Shinx isn't doing great?"
"I'm saying he's doing well," I reply, keeping my tone light because I know exactly how this goes if I don't. "Which is not the same thing as being ready for whatever's next."
Kai grins. "You always say that."
"And I'm usually right."
"Debatable."
Shinx suddenly skids to a stop and hops up onto a low rock beside the path, chest out, chin high, looking down at us like we're late to catch up. A pair of other trainers farther down the route glance over, one of them slowing a little as if deciding whether to stop.
Kai notices too. His grin widens. "See? Even they're impressed."
"They're curious," I say. "That's different."
One of the trainers older than us by a couple of years, maybe raises a hand in a casual greeting. Kai lifts his own in return without hesitation.
"Oh no," I mutter.
Kai hears me anyway. "What?"
"Nothing," I say. "Just… remember you don't have to accept every"
"Hey!" Kai calls out, already stepping forward. "You guys traveling through too?"
The other trainer nods. "Yeah. Headed toward Oreburgh. You?"
"Same," Kai says easily. "First gym and all that."
The trainer's gaze flicks to Shinx, then back to Kai. "Nice. He looks fired up."
Shinx sparks again, like he's taking that personally.
Kai beams. "He always is."
I step closer, lowering my voice. "You don't know them."
Kai shrugs. "They don't know us either. That's kind of the point."
The trainer tilts their head. "You battling, or just passing through?"
Kai doesn't even hesitate. "Battling."
Of course.
I study the other trainer more carefully now. Their stance is relaxed, sure, but there's nothing sloppy about it. Their bag is worn in the way gear gets when it's actually used, not just carried. They don't look excited. They look… comfortable.
"Friendly match?" the trainer asks.
"Friendly," Kai says. "Shinx has been itching for one."
Shinx hops down from the rock and pads forward, tail lashing, electricity flaring brighter than before.
I exhale slowly. "Kai."
He glances at me. "What?"
"You're confident," I say. "That's good. Just don't confuse that with "
"With what?" he asks, still smiling.
"With being done learning."
For a second, something flickers across his face uncertainty, maybe but it vanishes just as fast.
He laughs. "You sound like my dad."
"Then maybe listen."
He doesn't answer that. Instead, he turns back to the other trainer. "One-on-one?"
"Sure," they say, unclipping a Poké Ball from their belt. "Hope you don't mind if I don't hold back."
Kai's grin sharpens. "I'd be disappointed if you did."
Shinx crackles, pacing in a tight circle now, clearly keyed up, muscles coiled like this is exactly what he's been waiting for.
I step back, giving them space, but I don't take my eyes off Kai.
This is the part people skip over when they talk about starting a journey. Not the badges or the victories, but the moment when confidence quietly outpaces experience and nobody notices until it's too late.
"Hey," I say, just before things fully lock in. Kai looks over again, impatience creeping in around the edges. "Whatever happens, don't push him past what he can handle just to prove a point."
Kai scoffs gently. "Relax. I've got this."
The other trainer releases their Pokémon.
I don't react out loud, but my stomach drops all the same.
Shinx stiffens, sparks stuttering for half a second before flaring again, posture shifting in a way I don't like at all.
Kai doesn't notice. He's already focused forward, already committed.
"Ready?" the other trainer asks.
Kai nods, voice confident, clear, loud enough for the route to hear. "Shinx"
The other trainer steps forward without any hurry, thumb already resting on the Poké Ball like this isn't their first stop of the day. "Geodude," they say calmly, and the ball opens with a muted flash.
The Pokémon hits the ground with a solid thud, stone grinding against stone as it straightens. It doesn't roar or posture. It just turns its head slightly, eyes locking onto Shinx, heavy and unreadable.
Shinx's sparks falter for half a second.
Kai doesn't notice. He's already smiling, already leaning into the moment like this is exactly what he wanted. "Alright," he says, rolling his shoulders once. "We've got this."
I don't say anything. I keep my hands off my belt, keep my voice to myself, and watch the way Shinx shifts his stance, weight moving back instead of forward without Kai realizing why.
"Spark!" Kai calls.
Shinx lunges, electricity flaring bright and fast as it slams into Geodude's side. The impact looks clean flash, crackle, recoil but when the light fades, Geodude is still there. It barely moves. Stone scrapes as it adjusts its footing, unfazed.
The other trainer doesn't raise their voice. "Tackle."
Geodude surges forward like a rolling boulder, slamming into Shinx head-on. The hit knocks the air out of him, sending him skidding backward across the dirt. He scrambles up, fur bristling, sparks uneven now instead of sharp.
Kai's grin tightens. "Shake it off. Again Spark!"
Shinx obeys, but this time the electricity sputters on contact, crawling uselessly across rock before grounding out. Geodude doesn't even flinch. It barrels through the attack, ramming Shinx again and driving him into the edge of the path.
I feel it in my chest before Kai does. The shift from excitement to urgency, the moment where confidence starts pushing instead of supporting.
"Shinx, move!" Kai snaps, trying to correct after the fact. "Dodge and"
"Rock Throw," the other trainer says.
Geodude scoops up a chunk of stone and hurls it without hesitation. The rock clips Shinx's shoulder mid-turn, sending him tumbling hard. He hits the ground and stays there for a beat too long.
Kai's breath catches. "Shinx!"
Shinx pushes himself up, shaking, sparks flickering weakly now. He looks back at Kai, waiting. Trusting.
Kai swallows. "One more. We can still Spark!"
The electricity barely makes it halfway this time.
Geodude charges straight through it and slams Shinx into the dirt again, harder than before. The impact knocks a startled cry out of him, claws scrabbling uselessly against stone as he tries to get his footing back.
"Enough," the other trainer says, sharp but not cruel. "Geodude, stop."
The rock Pokémon halts immediately, backing off without protest.
Kai stares for half a second like he hasn't processed what just happened. Then he drops to his knees beside Shinx, hands hovering before settling carefully against his sides. "Hey hey, you're okay. You're okay. I've got you."
Shinx breathes hard, pride stinging worse than the hit. He tries to stand, fails, then stills when Kai gently presses him back down.
"I'm sorry," Kai mutters, the words tumbling out too fast. "I shouldn't have I thought"
The other trainer recalls Geodude and steps back. I stay where I am. I don't step in. I don't offer advice. This part isn't mine to fix.
After a few long seconds, Shinx's breathing steadies. He nudges Kai's knee, embarrassed more than hurt.
Kai laughs weakly, wiping his face with the back of his hand. "Yeah," he says quietly. "Okay. Message received."
The other trainer gives a short nod. "Take care of him," they say, already turning back toward the path. "And don't confuse momentum with readiness."
They leave without waiting for a response.
Kai sits there for a while longer, one hand resting on Shinx's back, the route suddenly a lot quieter than it was five minutes ago. Finally, he exhales and looks up at me.
"…You were going to warn me, weren't you."
"I tried," I say gently.
He huffs a laugh that doesn't quite land. "Yeah. Guess I wasn't listening."
Shinx presses closer to him, sparks gone, pride bruised but intact.
We don't rush after that. We just breathe, let the forest settle, and then only when Kai stands on his own we move on.