"Huff huff"
Anon ran all the way to a nearby park, her heart pounding like a drum, sweat dripping down her forehead as she gasped for breath.
"Saying 'I'm not running away' while running away with all my might. I really am..." She bent over, her hands on her knees, trying to calm herself down.
"Hm? Isn't that Chihaya?"
A voice from not far away made Anon look up.
"It really is."
"It's really Chihaya. We haven't seen you in a long time."
"How's Galar?"
"Is it already break time over there?"
Two girls, her former middle school classmates, came up to her, chattering away.
But Anon instinctively took a step back, flustered.
For someone so vain, failing at studying abroad was like a public execution.
"Hm? That uniform... it's from Niji-no-Hane, right..."
"What about Galar?"
"Weren't you studying abroad?"
The two classmates noticed this and kept questioning her.
"Um... well..."
Anon's grey eyes widened. She didn't know what to say, taking another step back, and then another.
"Chihaya?" "What's wrong?"
It's no good. It's all over...
Anon's legs gave out, and she sank to the ground.
Satoru rushed through the park, chasing after her. Fortunately, Anon was a girl, and he was a Super-Masaran, so even though she had a head start, she hadn't gotten far.
But when he saw her again, she was kneeling on the ground in a posture similar to a Kingambit's Kowtow Cleave, though not fully kneeling, more like a duck-sit. Two girls stood in front of her.
[Is she practicing her kowtow?]
Kowtow Cleave: The user kowtows to lull the foe into a false sense of security, and then attacks. This attack never misses.
Kingambit's signature move. It uses the feigned surrender tactic from military strategy, using the kowtow motion to fake surrender and assassinate the opposing general when their guard is down.
"I don't think so..." Satoru broke out in a cold sweat, noticing that something was wrong with Anon's state. He quickly called out her name, trying to snap her out of it.
"Anon."
Hearing his voice, Anon frowned and turned her head dejectedly. Looking up, she saw Satoru behind her. She had no intention of making excuses.
"Um... I..."
She didn't know what to say and froze.
Always losing in battles, running away, not having the courage to participate in the High School League. I'm just the worst.
To be honest, Satoru didn't care about such things. He just wanted Anon to find her courage.
Because even if the team lost a certain number of matches and couldn't participate in the High School League, he could still participate as an individual. It didn't really affect him.
But saving one Anon = gaining a friend for a lifetime of Pokémon battles = being able to rub Eevee's cheeks!
Who doesn't like a cute little squirrel? Any Eevee would do. He wanted to be friends with all the Pokémon in the world!
And he didn't like seeing Anon so down.
I have to save her! Whether it's Pokémon or humans, I have to save them!
I want them all!
"It's okay. Come with me."
Satoru bent down slightly and took Anon's hand, pulling her up from the ground.
His lips curved into a sunny smile, and his cheerful expression brought a faint blush to Anon's cheeks, her heart couldn't help but beat faster.
"Huh? Sa... Satoru?"
And so, she was pulled away, only stopping when they reached a battlefield in the park.
It was afternoon. The setting sun shone on their faces. The park was surprisingly empty, so there was a free space to battle.
"..."
Anon didn't know what to say. Taki's words had completely messed her up.
The most fatal part was that she couldn't refute them. She had run away from studying abroad, and now she was about to run away from the team.
In Galar, she had run away not just because of her skill, but also, absurdly, because she had trouble with the dialect.
Having such a great opportunity to study abroad, only to give it up because of dialect and skill...
If she told anyone, they would surely laugh her to death!
"Are you okay? You don't have to be ashamed of what was said earlier. It's normal to feel that your skills are lacking. I've been there too."
Satoru spoke nonsense with a straight face, buying a drink from a vending machine for Anon.
Originally, he had wanted to say, "Anon, you don't need to be ashamed of being weak. In fact, you should be proud."
Because it means you have more room for improvement!
But he really didn't dare say that, afraid that Anon would run away again the next second.
Seeing the drink offered to her, Anon took it, lowered her head, and started to shut down.
"Thanks. But what... what Taki said was right. I started school at a weird time, didn't I?... That's because I ran away from Galar."
So you're a transfer student? I didn't even notice~
A 'returnee' from Galar, at that. Wait... then why are you so much weaker than Hikari (Kagura Hikari)~
Hearing this, Satoru was slightly stunned. Although he had many sarcastic thoughts, he managed to hold them back.
[Satoru-baby, you have to comfort her properly here. Let me teach you. First, you have to hold her hand.]
"Let's have a Pokémon battle."
[Hey!]
Ignoring Furiko, Satoru took a sip of his drink. At the same time, Anon's face darkened. She took a Poké Ball from her pocket, a look of dejection in her eyes.
"I can't do it. Both Eevee and I are too weak... I can't keep up with you guys, just like in Galar. I always run away."
"That's not right. How far you can go depends on how much you believe in Eevee."
Hearing this, Satoru put his drink on the park bench and said with a firm tone.
Eevee's evolutions into Espeon, Umbreon, and Sylveon all require friendship. Eevee's evolution never required a huge increase in strength; it was either external forces or the bond with its trainer.
If you don't cultivate a bond with Eevee, how can it respond?
Not enough bond!
Satoru, who currently had a Froakie with a blank ability, couldn't help but think so.
As long as he chose to believe, one day Froakie would become Greninja and respond to him.
Become the strongest Greninja!
"It's okay to run away or get lost. As long as you work hard with your Pokémon to find a way, you will definitely succeed."
Of course, belief requires conditions. Satoru didn't think that unconditional belief would lead to success.
"It's okay to run away... believe in Eevee..." Anon's expression gradually changed. She couldn't hear any lies in Satoru's words. So, she went to the battlefield.
"Then, Satoru, will you have a Pokémon battle with me? I have to believe in Eevee."
This is what I was waiting for!
"No problem!" Satoru wasn't a fan of talk therapy. He immediately took out his Poké Ball.
To be honest, after talking for so long, not letting him have a Pokémon battle was a bit frustrating.
A lifetime of Pokémon battles. He would never abandon Anon.
Anon's nervousness gradually dissipated. But even at this moment, she was still afraid, feeling that she would lose before the battle even began.
But Satoru's words just now had pried open her heart.
Right now, she...
"There's nothing to be afraid of anymore..."
"Eevee, I choose you!"
Giving herself immense comfort internally, Anon resolutely threw the Poké Ball. In that instant, a power filled the air. When Eevee appeared on the field, it seemed to sense Anon's determination and let out a spirited cry.
"VUI!"
"In that case, I'll use my newest member. Thwackey, prepare for battle!"
Satoru laughed cheerfully, a confident smile on his face. He held the Poké Ball tightly, tossed it in his hand, and it streaked across the battlefield like a meteor, Thwackey leaping out from it.
"PACHI!"
Satoru is so cool when he's confident...
No, no, what am I thinking...
Anon's cheeks flushed slightly. She shook her head, focusing her attention on the battle.
But for some reason, her heart just wouldn't calm down.
-------
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