"And don't be so quick to refuse... because if you do, can't I take that as a sign you're guilty?"
The smile on Grey's face only deepened. His confrontation with Giallo made the two girls turn their heads to watch.
"What gorgeous flames!"
"They'd be perfect as free special effects!"
Bianca and Hilda had completely different first impressions.
Especially Hilda. If she could poach Grey to do special effects work for her company, wouldn't the quality of her films skyrocket?
In an instant, a story idea burst into her head.
Once upon a time, the genius Tepig had reached an unprecedented level of strength at the age of ten, only to suffer a catastrophic decline after wearing a ring gifted by his mother, Emboar. Later, when his fiancée Pidove came to break off their engagement, Tepig went to the backyard and discovered that the real culprit stealing his strength was actually the legendary dragon Pokémon, Reshiram...
What a perfect story of a young underdog rising through hardship. Trainers in Unova would definitely love a grassroots comeback tale like that.
But right now, this guy had stepped up to help, and she could not just stand there watching like an idiot.
"I know who you are... you're Grey, the Gym Leader of the Fighting Dojo in Kanto. What, do the things you're doing represent the will of the Kanto League too...?"
Giallo let out a cold snort and even spread his arms, acting like he was completely at their mercy.
"Go ahead! If you've got the guts, hit me! I'd love to see what people think of you once today's events get out!"
Giallo excelled at using public opinion to crush people.
After all, an outsider had no business trying to bully a local snake. As someone rooted here, Giallo believed he had the advantage over Grey, who had come from Kanto.
"Why are you talking so much? Let me punch you once and see if you keep yapping."
Grey could not have cared less. He raised his fist and slammed it forward.
Aura surged around it together with Blue Flare-like fire, and the force of the blow alone sent the nearby tables and chairs toppling over.
"You dare?!"
Giallo shouted, instantly dragging Munna in front of himself as a human shield.
"Munna!"
Bianca cried out on the spot, fat tears spilling down her face as she imagined Grey punching her Munna half to death.
Seriously, was this the kind of power a human being was supposed to have?
Sure, the world had martial artists and psychics.
But a human who could literally gather flames around his fist and throw what looked like a Fire Punch?
That was not exactly common.
Bang!
Grey's fist landed on Munna.
But the pitiful cry Bianca had been bracing for never came.
Instead, light returned to Munna's dull eyes.
The moment she recovered, she noticed Bianca and floated straight back to her.
"So, Mr. Giallo, what do you have to say for yourself now?"
Grey wore a faint smile as he rested one hand on Giallo's shoulder, amusement gleaming in his eyes.
For a pitch-black villain like this, Grey had absolutely no goodwill to spare.
"Men, get them!"
Giallo chose to blow things up immediately. With so many Team Plasma grunts on his side, surely they could win through sheer numbers—
Wait, why was nobody moving?!
Giallo's eyes flew open. He had expected the others to rush in and help.
Instead, when he looked around, he found every Team Plasma member he had brought with him already sprawled on the floor.
"When did that happen?!"
He could not believe that someone could take down his people without making a sound.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Sabrina and Caitlin appeared behind him.
The pressure brought by two psychics at once was enormous.
Giallo passed out on the spot.
Not long after, Officer Jenny—called in by Grey—arrived and hauled him away.
"That was so weak. He went down before he even sent out a Pokémon. I thought I was about to get a fight that lasted two whole days."
Grey had originally thought that not using Pokémon himself would only make Team Plasma get more aggressive, but Giallo had collapsed first.
Sigh. Another day of winning without even using Pokémon.
Grey felt he had done a great job.
Once Giallo and the rest of Team Plasma were taken away, the balance in his bank account swelled again.
A very happy outcome.
"Thank you so much for helping us! If it weren't for you, there's no way I would've gotten Munna back this easily!"
Just before he left, Bianca hurried over to stop Grey and the others and thank them.
"No problem. Helping when I see injustice is part of my duty as a Gym Leader. Keep it up."
Grey did not turn back. He just raised a thumbs-up toward Bianca as he spoke.
"Um! Gym Leader Grey, would you have any interest in joining BW Entertainment as a special effects artist? I'll pay you really well! I've got a script here, and your effects would be absolutely perfect for it!"
Hilda hurried after them and enthusiastically pitched her idea.
"A ring-grandpa cheat! What do you think, Gym Leader Grey? And the old cheat inside the ring is Reshiram, the legendary dragon Pokémon everyone in Unova knows!"
Hilda kept selling the concept harder and harder.
She did not notice that Grey was struggling more and more to keep a straight face.
Good lord, it was the Tepig version of one of those ring-grandpa underdog stories.
He really could not hold it in.
"Ahem. Miss Hilda, your script is honestly excellent. I'd even say it has masterwork potential. But I'm the type of person who aims for the horizon. A life spent tucked away inside a studio doing special effects just isn't for me."
Grey turned Hilda down.
With Reshiram's power in him now, going off to do visual effects would honestly have been a waste.
Even underground black market battles would have more future than that.
Of course, he was not going back to underground fights either.
After all, he was a Gym Leader now. He had to be mindful of his identity.
Still, Grey would always face his own past honestly.
The road you took to get where you are mattered. A person should never forget where they came from.
"I see... all right then. Sorry for bothering you, Gym Leader Grey! I hope you have a great time in Unova. If you ever need business support, feel free to come to me."
Then Hilda started counting on her fingers like she was listing treasures.
"Movie warm-up campaigns, creator incubation and IP development, full-network marketing and platform resource coordination, data analysis and fan management... that sort of thing is all in my wheelhouse."
Compared to Pokémon battling, this version of Hilda was clearly much better suited to being a behind-the-scenes boss who could stir up momentum.
"Huh. I actually do have an idea."
The more Grey listened, the more interested he became.
"Gym Leader Grey, are you trying to blow up your stream even more?"
Hilda quickly kept pitching.
"Gym Leader Raihan from Galar and Gym Leader Iono from Paldea have both worked with me, and now they're both huge online celebrities with audiences in the millions!"
"No, not for me. For her."
Grey took Sabrina's hand and pulled her to his side.
"She's about to film a movie, and I figured that since it's her debut, some promo would be a good thing."
"Huh? Oh!"
Hilda was stunned.
She had not expected it to be Sabrina looking for her services.
"No problem, no problem at all! We'll talk on LINE later!"
Hilda's face immediately filled with smiles.
Only after watching Grey and the others leave did she suddenly slap her thigh and cry out, "Crap! I forgot to ask for a group photo with them and Meloetta!"
"Wah... then Hilda, stop slapping my leg..."
Off to the side, Bianca rubbed the thigh wrapped in orange stockings and complained tearfully.
"Ahem. Your leg just feels more satisfying to slap."
Hilda coughed lightly, then immediately straightened up again.
"All right, time to do real work! This is a huge deal. If I handle it right, I might even help create a movie star on the level of Kalos Champion Diantha!"
"Really?"
Bianca blinked.
"Of course. My eye for talent is razor-sharp. Gym Leader Sabrina blowing up is inevitable. As long as we handle this promo right, there'll be no shortage of work in the future."
Hilda had already elevated this matter to top priority and immediately dragged Bianca back to the room to get started.
At long last, after that little detour, the three of them finally made it back to the Castelia Hotel.
Their rooms were close together.
Grey's was the one in the middle.
Caitlin went into her room first, carrying Meloetta in her arms.
Grey had just opened his own door when he sensed someone still standing behind him. When he turned around, he saw Sabrina there.
"Why aren't you going to your own room?"
Grey was a little confused.
"I'm staying with you."
Sabrina stepped into Grey's room first.
It was a king room.
But the bed was only about four feet wide.
Technically enough for two people.
If they slept together, though, they would have to sleep pressed close to each other.
Sabrina sat down on the bed with practiced ease. After taking off her boots, she drew up her legs and curled herself into a small, quiet ball.
"Sabrina, you..."
Grey stepped into the room and locked the door behind him.
"...Thank you. You even went out of your way to ask about movie promotion for me. I'm happy that you pay so much attention to the things that matter to me."
"Before, now, and... in the future."
Sabrina buried her face in her knees, saying all of that to Grey directly, as if nothing about this bothered her at all.
"So... did you see something in the future?"
Grey could only think of that possibility.
Truthfully, he had not done all that much for Sabrina, aside from helping stabilize her psychic powers and the like.
"No. Not that. ...I saw it with my own eyes."
Sabrina shook her head, then patted the bed beside her, silently asking Grey to come closer.
Grey walked over and sat down beside her. It was the first time the two of them had ever consciously been this close and this alone together.
The atmosphere in the room turned awkward.
Sabrina clearly had a lot she wanted to say to Grey.
But the closer he got, the more her feelings turned into nervousness.
Her usual cool detachment melted away, replaced by a faint blush on her cheeks.
"How about I sleep on the couch?"
Seeing how flustered she was, Grey took the initiative and offered to sleep on the couch instead.
"...No."
"Why not?"
"Because if I'm alone... I'll be scared."
Sabrina tucked her face even deeper into her knees, her voice muffled.
No matter how you looked at her, she absolutely did not want Grey to leave.
Just saying those words already represented Sabrina summoning every bit of courage she had.
No matter how dense Grey might be, even he understood what Sabrina meant right now.
"Are you sure you're ready?"
"...Mm."
The next morning, Grey opened his eyes and looked at the sleeping beauty beside him, a quiet, happy smile tugging at his lips.
Sabrina opened her eyes too, still holding Grey's hand, as if she were confirming his warmth.
"Caitlin's probably awake already. Let's get cleaned up and head out."
Grey stretched. He had just started to say something to Sabrina when she Teleported away.
"Sigh. Such an impatient woman."
After muttering that, Grey went to wash up.
Once he had changed clothes, he packed up his luggage and prepared to leave.
"Morning, Caitlin. Sleep okay last night?"
Grey greeted her and then teased Meloetta a little on her shoulder.
"F-fine."
Caitlin gave a slight start before answering quickly.
Today she was dressed a little more modestly than usual. She wore a black long-sleeved top with lace trim around the collar, a white skirt, and a small shoulder bag meant specifically for carrying Meloetta.
It was an outfit Grey had praised before, and Caitlin had chosen it on purpose today.
Still, she was acting a little fidgety and distracted.
Click.
Sabrina stepped out of her room, her expression as blank as usual.
Of course, when her eyes met Grey's, they shifted away just a little.
Noticing that both girls seemed off, Grey put an arm around each of them and pulled them a little closer.
"Come on. We came to Unova to have fun, didn't we? Why are you both acting so gloomy? We're heading to Nimbasa City today. Maybe we'll even get to see the Ferris wheel tonight."
Of course, Sabrina would not actually have a chance to ride it.
She was leaving for Virbank City today with Rosa to film her movie.
That was fine, though. There would be plenty of chances to ride a Ferris wheel in the future, and Sabrina was already completely satisfied. A Ferris wheel no longer mattered all that much.
Downstairs, Rosa had already been waiting for a while.
After finishing up with a few fan interactions, she happened to notice Grey and the others coming down in the elevator.
"Grey! Miss Sabrina! Miss Caitlin! Good morning!"
Rosa was as energetic as ever. She hurried over in cheerful steps and took Sabrina by the hand.
"Miss Sabrina, the ship to Virbank City is about to leave! We should go!"
"Okay."
Sabrina gave a slight nod.
For the sake of ceremony, the four of them walked from the hotel all the way to the docks.
Along the way, Grey drew by far the most attention.
He was the only man in the group.
The other three were all beautiful girls with totally different vibes: a noble rich girl, an energetic sweetheart, and an icy beauty.
Any one of them would be a goddess in her own right.
A whole crowd of thirsty guys looked on with endless envy, to the point that if Grey ever wound up alone for even a second, they would probably run over immediately to ask what they had to do to become as impressive as he was.
At last, they reached Castelia Pier.
Rosa left with Sabrina. They stood at the back of the ship and waved goodbye until the vessel was far away and vanished from sight.
"Feels a little empty now."
Grey stood there with his hands in his pockets, watching Sabrina disappear into the distance and finding himself unexpectedly thoughtful.
"So... from here on out, I'm the one accompanying you, right? Is it just going to be the two of us?"
Caitlin was suddenly nervous.
The road ahead meant the two of them would be traveling together, from Nimbasa City all the way to Dragonspiral Tower, seeing all sorts of things along the way.
And during that stretch of time, Grey would only be alone with her...
The more Caitlin thought about it, the redder her face became.
"Nope."
Grey shook his head.
"Huh?"
Caitlin covered her mouth. It was as if she had suddenly realized something, and her eyes widened.
Oh no. That Governor-tier supporter called Natural Black was coming to see Grey.
As a fellow Governor-tier supporter, Caitlin considered N a serious threat.
Grey and N were both men.
And since men did not have the same awkward boundaries around each other, if Grey ended up chatting with N the whole way, maybe the Ferris wheel ride would even become the three of them together...
No.
Worse than that.
Given Grey's track record, maybe he would just leave her out entirely and ride the Ferris wheel with N while she ended up stuck riding it with Meloetta.
For the first time, Caitlin suddenly felt that Meloetta was no longer quite as adorable.
Every single one of her hopes crumbled before that unseen Governor-tier supporter.
"G-Grey... there's something I need you to promise me first..."
Caitlin looked on the verge of tears. She was genuinely afraid Grey would leave her behind to go hang out with some other male Governor-tier supporter.
"The Ferris wheel? I'm only riding it with you."
Grey lifted one finger and stopped it about an inch from Caitlin's lips. With his aura, he had naturally already guessed exactly what she was thinking.
And besides, Caitlin had been looking forward to that Ferris wheel ride forever.
There was no way he was suddenly going to ditch her and go ride it with N instead.
Did Caitlin really distrust him that much?
Sabrina had this part over her, at least—she trusted him completely.
In every sense.
"Ahh—! Mm-hm!"
Caitlin immediately brightened up.
The moment Grey reassured her, all her gloom vanished.
As for that other Governor-tier supporter, he was barely even a problem at all.
Hmph. He was not going to steal Grey away from her anyway, so what was there to be afraid of?
She, Caitlin, had already become invincible.
"Natural Black said he'd probably arrive here at the docks, but it shouldn't be right away. It's getting kind of hot now. Do you want me to have Gallade buy you something cold to drink?"
Grey held a sun umbrella over Caitlin, a tiny gesture that warmed her heart far more than it had any right to.
"N-no, I'm not that thirsty right now. What about you? If you want something, I can have Gardevoir buy it for you."
Caitlin edged a little closer to Grey. Her mood was much lighter now, and she had relaxed considerably.
"Mio!" (Why didn't either of you ask me! I'm dying of thirst! I want Casteliacones! Especially you, Grey! Go buy me a dozen!)
Little Riolu popped his head out indignantly. Last night, he had gone back to the room intending to sleep right away, only for Grey to kick him straight into Sabrina's room. He had not even been able to order late-night delivery.
His stomach had growled the whole night, and Grey had not noticed even a little bit.
Little Riolu lodged a fierce protest over this injustice.
"All right, all right. I'll have Gallade take you."
Grey sent out Gallade and had him take Little Riolu to go buy Casteliacones. Then he added, "Bring plenty back!"
Clearly, he, Caitlin, and the others all wanted some too.
Rumble...
Not long after Gallade left, dark clouds gathered overhead. Blue lightning brewed within them, as though divine punishment could fall at any moment.
The moment Grey saw that, he knew N was coming.
But...
"Move aside, move aside, all of you! Keldeo is here!"
A loud boyish voice rolled in from across the sea.
Grey lifted his eyes, his expression changing slightly.
Was this really to say that Keldeo, the Water- and Fighting-type Mythical Pokémon of Unova, had just delivered himself right to his doorstep?
//Check out my P@tre0n for 30 extra chapters on all my fanfics //[email protected]/Razeil0810.