"Let's just do it the usual way."
"Hey, hey, Taki—how about this pose?"
"Huh?"
"Raana... come a little closer too."
"Mm, thanks~ Tomori~"
Once everyone had gathered, it was time to wrangle their Pokémon—twenty-two in total. Fortunately, the living room was just large enough to fit everyone comfortably within the camera's frame.
As for the photographer, naturally, it was the legendary guardian of the skies, Ho-Oh—
Just kidding. It was Whimsicott.
Whimsicott: "Fufu~ (No problem! I'm used to having a trainer who's pure chaos!)"
Luckily, the camera had a timed shutter function, so Whimsicott wasn't at a disadvantage—just mildly inconvenienced. Using Tailwind and its ridiculously light 6.6 kg body, it could zip over, hit the shutter, and flutter back into place in seconds.
Grass- and Fairy-type, yet capable of flying.
Satoshi suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for that poor Ground-type legendary.
As for which one—he dared not say. If he mentioned the name, Groudon would curse him, and every Precipice Blades from now on would miss.
"Fufu~ (Alright, picture time~)"
Whimsicott waved its tiny hand, and everyone struck their poses.
Click—!
The crisp sound echoed as the camera captured the scene perfectly.
"Yeah, looks great."
Satoshi smiled in satisfaction at the photo.
Six trainers and twenty-two Pokémon. They might be green now—trainers inexperienced, Pokémon still young—but one day, they'd all grow stronger. By the time the High School Pokémon League rolled around, they'd be formidable rivals.
"Anon-chan, your smile looks a little stiff. Feels like your fake customer-service one again."
"Uu… Soyo-san, it's not that bad, right, Satoshi?"
The two traded icy looks before Anon turned to Satoshi hopefully.
"Hm? To me, it's perfect," he said, sincere as ever.
Someday, he wanted to face every one of them in a full-on battle.
Six-on-six matches, Mega Evolution, Z-Moves, Dynamax—all three systems unleashed at once.
Just imagining it sent a thrill through his chest.
But as his excitement peaked, Taki gently touched his shoulder.
"What's up, Taki?"
Feeling her hand, Satoshi turned curiously.
Taki met his eyes squarely, ignoring the murderous aura leaking from Soyo beside him.
"Tomorrow… will you come somewhere with me? I want you to enter the Cinnabar Tournament with me."
"Cinnabar Tournament? Little Taki, what's that about?" Soyo's expression softened instantly into her practiced gentle smile.
"The Cinnabar Tournament is…"
Taki began to explain.
It was being held at the newly completed Cinnabar Training Facility in Rainbow Wing City. To promote all eighteen Pokémon types across Kanto, new specialized facilities had been built in each city—Rainbow Wing's focused on Fire-types.
Honestly, it was a bit cruel. Rainbow Wing already had a Grass-type Gym—Tamaki Rainbow Gym. Strengthening Fire-type trainers here would put serious pressure on Gym Leader Wakaba Mutsumi.
Satoshi offered a moment of silence for Wakaba-san in his heart.
The tournament was set for next week, with Blaine, the Cinnabar Gym Leader, appearing as a special guest. The champion would receive TM Fire Blast, a Volcano Badge, a Fire Stone, and a Fire Gem.
Participants could even earn bonus class points.
Unlike previous point-based events, this one was single-elimination.
A one-day local tournament, with the finals to be held at Tamaki Rainbow Gym—sure to draw a big crowd eager to see the battles.
"I want to beat you—so you'll join, won't you?" Taki murmured, cheeks slightly pink.
Ever since seeing Satoshi rescue Garchomp, a strange heat had been stirring inside her.
It was becoming unbearable—sometimes leaving her short of breath, a little like Soyo's infamous "modes."
The not-so-subtle Taki finally reached a conclusion:
This feeling must mean I want to battle him!
So if she entered the Cinnabar Tournament and let it all out in a match, everything would make sense.
[Wow~ Those prizes are amazing~ And a Gym Leader's coming—Sato-baby, you've got to join~]
"No problem! I'll join with Combusken!" Satoshi replied without hesitation.
"I see~ Then do your best, Satoshi~ I'll be cheering you on," Soyo said sweetly. She wasn't too worried—Taki didn't have romantic feelings for him, so there was no need for countermeasures.
Her boyfriend entering a competition with another girl wasn't an issue.
Wait… since when was Satoshi her boyfriend?
Well, a future boyfriend still counted!
Worst-case scenario, she'd just use Hypnosis and Sleep Powder—cook the raw rice into porridge!
Then Anon or anyone else wouldn't matter.
Chihaya Anon—you'll meet your end soon enough!
Soyo clenched her fists, resolve blazing.
"Alright—see you in the Cinnabar Tournament finals," Taki said with quiet determination, ready to face Satoshi and finally understand the restless heat inside her.
...
"Ne, ne~ Mahiru~ Isn't Satoshi sooo cool~? Saving that Garchomp like that—he's amazing!"
Under the gentle lamplight, Karen hugged a fluffy pillow, rolling gleefully across her bed.
Her roommate, Tsuyuzaki Mahiru, sighed softly and reached over to switch off the lamp.
"K-Karen-chan… you've said that ten times already. Don't you think it's time to sleep?"
"Uu… okay. Just one more peek at Satoshi's messages before bed~"
Karen stopped rolling, turning toward her phone—already covered in kiss marks.
She opened her chat with Satoshi again, rereading his texts. He was planning to enter the "Cinnabar Tournament." As a fellow Fire-type trainer, Karen of course knew the event.
She'd meant to join solo—but now her boyfriend would be there too.
Wait, since when was Satoshi her boyfriend?
Well, a future boyfriend was still a boyfriend!
Satoshi—a future-type, boyfriend-species Pokémon!
"Fire-type… the Cinnabar Tournament… if I meet Satoshi in the finals, I can finally fulfill our promise."
Karen took out a Fast Ball etched with a lightning-bolt pattern from beside her bed, smiling dreamily.
"Fufu~ Cinderace, I choose you—for my battle with Satoshi!"
"This is one match I have to win—no matter what! In this promised battle against Satoshi… I absolutely cannot lose!"