The moment Arata stepped out of the train, the air felt… different.
Vermillion was a port city, always drenched in the smell of saltwater, fish, and engine oil. You could practically hear the gulls fighting with Machop dockhands over scraps even from blocks away. It was alive in a noisy, rowdy kind of way, like every corner was filled with motion sailors, merchants, kids running half-wild.
Saffron, though was different. The first thing he noticed was the width of the streets, the way tall buildings stacked in gleaming rows, glass windows reflecting the afternoon sun. Neon signs hummed above arcades and cafés, and somewhere distant he could hear the faint hum of magnet trains gliding through the city. It wasn't rowdy like Vermillion it was busy, organized, like the whole place marched to a steady rhythm.
He adjusted the strap of his duffle bag and kept walking, boots clacking against the polished stone of the pavement. His outfit wasn't anything flashy dark jeans, a grey button-up rolled at the sleeves, and his favorite black jacket. Hailey had teased him endlessly before he left, saying he looked like he was "trying to smolder his way into Saffron society." But he'd stuck with it. It was clean, simple, presentable not bad for a first impression in a new city.
The weight at his hip felt unfamiliar still: a dagger she'd gifted him. Not for fighting trainers or Pokémon that wasn't how Rangers worked but as a safeguard, a reminder that he had someone waiting for him back home. The knife wasn't ornate, but solid: polished steel with a leather-wrapped hilt, the kind of thing meant to last. She'd also shoved his identification papers at him before he boarded, insisting he "not embarrass the family by losing them."
Her voice still echoed in his head. He smirked to himself, shaking it off.
The Pokémon Centre wasn't far a tall, pristine building marked by the iconic red dome, a beacon of familiarity in the middle of Saffron's city sprawl. For a second, Arata slowed his steps, just… looking at it. He hadn't realized how nervous he was until now.
The last week had been filled with little text conversations Mira sending half-finished jokes at midnight, Rin answering with short, formal sentences that still managed to have warmth tucked between the words. Those messages had filled the gaps between his nervous thoughts, making this feel less like a giant leap into the unknown and more like a reunion.
He pushed through the glass doors.
The Centre was busier than Vermillion's lines of people queuing for treatment, others checking boards for job postings, a group of kids huddled around the snack machines. He scanned the crowd, searching…
"Arata!"
The voice cut sharp and bright through the noise. He turned just in time to see Mira practically bounding toward him, her long hair swishing as she moved. She'd always been energetic, but now she carried herself with more confidence, more… presence. She wasn't the small, fiery girl he remembered from months ago. Her shoulders had broadened a little, her frame filled out still lean but stronger. And, yeah, he noticed other things too, heat prickling the back of his neck before he shoved those thoughts down.
Behind her walked Rin, calm and collected as ever. She wasn't as loud as Mira, but there was no mistaking the difference in her either. Where Mira was sun, Rin was moonlight tall, composed, with her long dark hair tucked neatly behind her ears. She'd grown too, not just in height but in quiet elegance. Her blouse and skirt were simple but perfectly fitted, and her sharp eyes softened only when they landed on him.
Arata raised a hand, "Hey."
Mira skidded to a stop right in front of him and immediately punched his shoulder lightly, but enough to jolt him. "Finally! Do you know how boring it was waiting around here? Rin wouldn't let me drag you out of the station myself."
Rin gave her a patient look. "Because you would have caused a scene, Mira."
"Worth it," Mira shot back before grinning at Arata. "Glad you made it."
He smiled, tension easing. "Glad I did too."
They caught up briefly Mira rattling off things about the city she wanted to show him, Rin gently keeping her in check. It felt good. Easy. Like slipping into a rhythm they hadn't lost despite the weeks apart.
Soon enough, a sleek black car pulled up outside, the kind Arata had only ever seen from a distance back in Vermillion. A driver in a neat uniform stepped out and opened the door. Mira whistled low.
"Fancy, huh?" she teased, nudging him.
Arata chuckled awkwardly and slid in after Rin.
The ride was smooth, the city blurring past in streaks of neon and glass. Mira pressed her face against the window, pointing out random places, while Rin sat neatly, legs crossed, hands folded on her lap.
At some point, Rin turned her head slightly, her voice even as always. "My grandmother asked about you."
Arata blinked. "Me?"
"Yes. I mentioned my thesis, and naturally, I had to explain where some of the battle data came from." Her lips curved just slightly. "She was intrigued."
Heat crawled up his neck. He had no idea how to respond to that, so he just muttered something unintelligible while Mira snorted, clearly enjoying his discomfort.
The mansion came into view soon after and "mansion" didn't even feel like the right word. It was sprawling, easily larger than any building he'd ever set foot in, with wide gardens, stone fountains, and tall gates that creaked open to let the car through. Lights glittered along the windows, and staff hurried across the grounds, setting up tables and decorations.
Inside, the grandeur only deepened. High ceilings with chandeliers, walls lined with old paintings and polished wood. Every corner seemed to whisper history and wealth.
At the top of a wide staircase stood a woman tall, silver-haired, her gaze sharp despite her age. She carried herself with the weight of authority, dressed in a flowing gown that was more dignified than flashy.
"Arata," Rin said softly, "this is my grandmother Lady Kasumi Arisawa."
Arata bowed slightly, awkward but earnest. "It's…nice to meet you, ma'am."
Her eyes lingered on him warm but, assessing in a way that made his skin prickle, but then she nodded. "It is indeed."
He wasn't sure if that was approval or something else.
A servant soon guided him to a guest room spacious, with a wide bed, its own balcony, and a view of the preparations outside. He dropped his duffle by the bed and sank onto the mattress, exhaling. This was… a lot.
A knock came, and before he could answer, Mira and Rin slipped inside.
"Nice Place isn't it ?," Mira said, plopping onto a chair. "Bet it's worth millions"
"Probably," Arata admitted.
They didn't waste much time Mira was already unclipping her Poké Balls. "Come on, let's see them!"
One flash of light after another, and soon the room filled with life: Rin's Abra stretched lazily, eyes half-closed, while her Ledyba fluttered up to perch on the curtain rod. Mira's Machop flexed instinctively, looking around with alert curiosity, while her Eevee bounded onto the bed, tail wagging.
Arata smiled and released his own. His Pokémon appeared, taller and broader than most of their kind, their presence immediately filling the room with weight. Mira's eyes widened.
"Whoa. They're huge." She reached out, letting Eevee sniff at them for comparison.
Rin nodded quietly, eyes sharp, as though cataloguing every detail.
The conversation turned, inevitably, to the party. Rin explained first: "It will begin formally. My grandparents' associates will be in attendance business partners, Local politicians. We'll make our appearances, speak politely, and then…"
"Then we ditch," Mira interrupted, grinning. "Because I already planned something better. A side party, with people our age, way more fun. We just have to smile through the boring part first."
Arata blinked, then laughed, shaking his head. "You two already have this figured out, huh?"
Mira leaned forward, smirking. "Welcome to high-class parties, Arata. There's always the 'official' one, and then the real one."