Chapter 142: Kenji's Resolve
It was deep into the night.
Giovanni sat on the platform, sipping tea from a set in the guest room. In the yard, Machoke was still diligently practicing the motions for Mega Punch, while Hitmonchan was already fast asleep.
To avoid disturbing the others, Machoke performed the movements in slow motion, focusing entirely on sensing the trajectory and flow of power.
"That is enough," Giovanni said softly. "Too much can be detrimental. If you do not rest, how will you have the energy to continue tomorrow?"
Sweating profusely, Machoke finally lowered its fists and walked over to Giovanni's side. Giovanni placed a hand on its shoulder, using the power of Viridian to help it recover its stamina. "Even with my power to aid you, you cannot push yourself like this. I know you are pained by what you see in Kenji, but that is the way of the world."
Machoke was confused. In its view, effort should always lead to reward— but listening to Giovanni, and observing the complexities of the human world, it was beginning to understand that things were not so simple.
"Do not overthink it," Giovanni explained patiently. "Focus on what you must do. Master the move. I will handle what needs to be done before I leave."
Machoke finally nodded in agreement.
"Go and rest," Giovanni urged gently. He then looked over at the sleeping Kenji, his face bruised and swollen from their sparring session. He placed a hand on the boy's forehead— a faint green light shone in the night as he activated the power of Viridian.
Healing the boy did not consume much of his stamina; Kenji was still young, his body not yet hardened by years of battle.
As Giovanni rose to leave, Kenji's hand shot out and clutched his arm. The boy murmured a single word, a tear tracing a path from the corner of his eye. "Brother..."
His heart was not as strong as he pretended.
A gentle breeze blew through the open door, ruffling Giovanni's hair. He sighed. He did not have the heart to pull his hand away.
The next morning, Kenji awoke from a deep, comfortable sleep, the likes of which he hadn't experienced in a long time. When he realized he was still clutching Giovanni's arm, his face flushed a deep red. He hastily released his grip, a wave of embarrassment washing over him, quickly followed by a feeling of profound gratitude.
He gently placed the blanket over the still-sleeping Giovanni, then looked at Machoke, who was already awake and training with a bleary-eyed Hitmonchan. Kenji quickly slipped out to begin his own morning exercises.
What he didn't know was that Giovanni had opened his eyes the moment he had stirred. He had only feigned sleep to avoid embarrassing the boy. After a few moments, he slowly stood up, stretching as if just waking, and walked out into the yard.
To his surprise, Kenji did not pretend nothing had happened. He approached Giovanni, his expression sheepish. "I am truly sorry, Master Giovanni. I do not know what came over me last night."
"It is fine," Giovanni reassured him. "But if you truly feel you must make amends, then from now on, you will call me Brother Giovanni. Then we will be even."
"How can I do that?" Kenji waved his hands frantically.
"Otherwise," Giovanni pressed, "this will continue to weigh on you."
Kenji struggled with it for a long time before finally, shyly, acquiescing. "Alright then... Brother Giovanni."
A faint smile touched Giovanni's lips. "Good. And since you have called me brother, I will give you a gift."
"Ah, no, no!" Kenji said, flustered.
Giovanni gently patted his shoulder. "Do not worry. It is not something expensive. In fact, I will need you to accompany me out for a bit to acquire it." Seeing the boy was about to refuse again, he tapped him on the head. "Your performance yesterday was poor. If you wish to become stronger, you must continue to work. Come, let us continue our training."
The brutal sparring began again. By the time Giovanni called a halt around noon, Kenji was covered in new bruises.
After a quick wash, Giovanni spoke. "There will be no training this afternoon. You will accompany me out. Machoke and Hitmonchan will remain here."
"Mmm-hmm," Kenji nodded.
Because Kenji had been specially assigned by Kaito, the apprentices guarding the dojo entrance did not stop them. The guard did, however, give Giovanni a disdainful look. To him, a true Fighting-type trainer should always be diligent. This was a critical time for Machoke to be learning Mega Punch, yet its trainer had the leisure to go out.
Giovanni felt his gaze but couldn't be bothered to acknowledge it. The guard was insignificant.
"Brother... where are we going?" Kenji asked.
Giovanni's lips curved slightly. "Saffron City is a city of fighters. Surely there are places that specialize in selling high-quality Fighting-type Pokémon, or even Pokémon Eggs?"
Kenji's eyes filled with a familiar longing. He had been to such stores before, but the exorbitant prices had always been a barrier. He forced a smile. "Yes. I know of many such stores."
Kenji was still just a child. His thoughts were transparent; Giovanni didn't even need the power of Viridian to read them. He ruffled the boy's hair. "Then I will trouble you to lead the way."
Kenji paused for a moment, then nodded. He considered it a task—repayment for the kindness shown to him the night before. "This way."
After only two steps, Giovanni suddenly looked up. Following his gaze, Kenji saw a young man wearing a baseball cap, a Kadabra at his side, standing on a nearby rooftop. Naru's eager and concerned gaze was palpable even from this distance.
Giovanni smiled faintly and nodded in that direction. In the blink of an eye, the rooftop was empty.
"What is it, Brother Giovanni?" Kenji asked, turning his head in confusion.
"Nothing," Giovanni shook his head. "Just a friend."
"A friend? You have other friends in Saffron City?"
Giovanni patted his head and strode forward. "Of course."
Kenji quickly caught up. Along the way, they encountered some of the dojo recruiters from the day before, but when they saw the Saffron Dojo's apprentice uniform on Kenji, they immediately backed down, sparing Giovanni further trouble.