Sabrina noticed Erika's fingers tightening around her teacup, the tips faintly paling.
The Gym Leader who was usually so gentle now wore a rare edge of anger between her brows.
"Erika… are you okay?" Sabrina asked softly. A psychic's keen intuition let her catch the faint surge of emotion.
"Ah, that was improper of me."
Erika snapped back to herself, her teacup trembling slightly in her hand.
She drew a deep breath, trying to steady her mood, but the anger in her eyes still hadn't fully faded. "It's just… when I think about how some people dare to profane life in the name of 'science'—and even used Blastoise from our Kanto starter trio as an example—I can't help but feel furious."
Clack!
Erika set the tea bowl down hard on the low table, the celadon porcelain striking the bamboo mat with a crisp sound.
Colress's Blastoise example made her chest feel tight.
Natural evolution and mechanical modification—how could those possibly be compared?
One is chosen. The other is forced.
And Colress had the nerve to use that as "proof." The twisted logic was almost laughable.
"I agree." Grey nodded lightly, then finished off his tea in one go.
It had cooled a bit, wasn't too hot anymore, and the taste was genuinely good.
The four of them chatted about everyday things for a while. During the conversation, Erika glanced at her phone.
Once they were about done, Erika looked to Grey and asked, "Gym Leader Grey, could I trouble you with something later?"
"What is it? If you're asking, I'll help with anything I can. No need to call it 'trouble'—as long as it doesn't take too long." Grey waved and gave an awkward little laugh, not treating it as a big deal.
Hearing that, Erika tapped on her phone and pulled up a chat log. "It's like this. I have an apprentice at my Gym who wants to take a Polaroid with Articuno. Would that be convenient?"
Even as she asked, Erika didn't sound fully confident.
If it were Erika herself who wanted a photo with Articuno, that would be one thing.
But she was asking on behalf of a younger apprentice, which made it feel a little more… forward.
"I thought it was going to be something serious. That's it?" Grey waved again, completely unconcerned.
It was just a photo. It wasn't like he was giving Articuno away.
He could spare the time for a snapshot.
"Where do we take it? Let's go now. We can grab lunch after—there's time." Grey stood up, and a Great Ball appeared in his hand.
"Don't eat too much. Be careful you won't be able to finish lunch later."
Seeing Riolu still snacking, Grey teased it.
"Ryo." (What do you know? Snacks and meals go in different stomachs. This is my snack stomach. My meal stomach is separate.)
Riolu planted its hands on its hips, its big black ears swaying as it spoke with absolute confidence.
"Alright, alright. Eat all you want." Grey couldn't win against it, so he left Riolu there and went with Erika deeper into the Gym to find the apprentice and take the photo.
…
…
"Linglan, Gym Leader Grey is here. You can come take your Polaroid now."
"I'm coming, I'm coming! Where is Gym Leader Grey?"
Footsteps came racing in from the distance. A girl in a school uniform skirt dashed over—then the moment she saw Grey standing beside Erika, her eyes practically sparkled.
Back then, she'd seen Grey send out Articuno in person, and the sight had almost stolen her soul.
After that, Linglan started watching Grey's streams.
She'd even tipped a bit of money to trade for a close-up photo of Articuno.
Now that she could meet him in person, her heart began pounding.
Linglan nervously smoothed her skirt, took a deep breath, then bowed to Grey with solemn sincerity.
When she lifted her head, a faint blush had already spread across her cheeks. "H-Hello, Gym Leader Grey! I'm Linglan. My ID is 'Suzuran.'"
She reached out with a slightly trembling hand, but her eyes shone like stars.
"Of course I remember you." Grey gently shook her hand, smiling. "You're the loyal viewer who always shows up on time and floods the chat with little flower emojis, right?"
Linglan nodded hard. She couldn't believe that something as small as sending a few little gifts had actually been enough for Grey to remember her.
"I remember every fan. Alright—let's take the picture."
Grey tossed the Great Ball to the ground. Articuno unfurled its body, and ice crystals scattered as its wings spread, snowlike shards glittering as they drifted down.
The temperature inside the Celadon Gym dropped instantly.
Linglan, already dressed lightly, shivered.
"Articuno, rein it in. Don't freeze her."
Grey shot Articuno a sideways look. "Don't tell me a Legendary can't even control its own temperature."
"Kree!" (As if! I'm the best at controlling temperature!)
Articuno took the bait immediately. The cold in the air pulled back at once, and the temperature shifted to a comfortably cool level.
What had been biting frost became refreshing chill, and even the visible breath in the air disappeared.
After that, Articuno lifted its head, proud as can be, like it was waiting for praise.
"Whoa! Articuno, you're amazing! Your temperature control is insane! You're the strongest Legendary I've ever seen!"
Linglan praised it without missing a beat.
"Kree!" (Naturally! Do you even know who I am?!)
Articuno held its beak high, clearly enjoying the compliment.
"Alright, take the photo."
Erika came over holding the Polaroid camera, her pale fingers already poised over the shutter.
Linglan immediately pressed in close to Articuno and threw up a double peace sign.
"Three, two, one—cheese!"
"Yeah!"
Click.
The shutter snapped, and the photo slid out.
Erika handed it to Linglan—then, almost instinctively, she picked up her phone.
The very next second, Erika's expression changed.
"What is it?"
Noticing the subtle shift in her face, both Grey and Sabrina instantly sensed something was wrong.
For Erika to look like that… did something happen in the group chat?
"Gym Leader Grey, Gym Leader Sabrina—check the group, now!"
Erika lowered her phone and urged them urgently.
"Okay. I'm looking."
Grey's face turned serious as he immediately opened his pinned chat.
Kanto Gym Leaders Group Chat
[Dragon Master Lance: Emergency notice. During the escort of Colress, we were ambushed by Team Rocket. Gym Leader Giovanni was seriously injured while protecting the transport vehicle. The suspect has been taken. All Gyms are to increase vigilance.]
Sabrina moved a beat slower, her fingertip hovering above the screen for a moment.
As a psychic, she caught Grey's pupils tightening almost imperceptibly.
The air in the tea room seemed to freeze solid—so still that even the lily-of-the-valley swaying outside the window appeared to stop…
Giovanni—ambushed by Team Rocket?!
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