Chapter 19
New
- Partners
-
Nori was freaking out.
He only realized the gravity of what had happened when they were leading him through the silent and empty halls. The Demon Nidorina was done for, and maybe him too! Was he going to go to jail? His eyes burned. His ears rang. It felt like his whole body was being stabbed with needles. Each step felt heavy and autonomous. Every time he slowed, even involuntarily, they kept shoving him along. Where were they going? He didn’t want to think about it too much.
They eventually reached an empty room, and they told him to go inside. He could only wait. He paced restlessly for a few minutes. Eventually, he stopped and took some deep breaths. While it helped a bit, no matter what he did, his throat wouldn’t stop aching. Finally, he just sat down and clutched himself. His breath came out in quivering spurts.
There was no way out. The two men who brought him there were posted outside each door. He thought about escaping through the vents, but they were too small to climb into. And the ceiling wasn’t made of those tiles that could be pushed up.
Maybe they held meetings here? There was a long table, a water cooler, and a whiteboard with finances scribbled on it. Probably related to the Game Corner. The fluorescent lights were beating down inertly. Except one of them, which sometimes blinked on and off like it needed to be changed. That plus a ticking clock gnawed away at his nerves. Nori eventually slumped down onto the table, burying his head in his arms. He just wanted to curl up and vanish.
One of the doors opened at some point. He briefly glanced up at the Gym Leader. She walked to the far corner of the room, pulled out her cell phone, and started mumbling about something. Nori didn’t care to focus enough to eavesdrop. He doubted he could focus anyway. It was probably stuff he didn’t want to hear anyway. At least, it helped drown out that clock.
Time dragged on. Seconds felt like minutes, which felt like hours. Then, a different sound. A fingernail tapping against a desk? He looked up.
Gasha was standing over him. She gestured to a small, stylish object on his right. Had she placed it there? A duo of gray cylinders, one big and one small. Each had an ovular pink section emerging from its tip. The four segments were separated and surrounded by a silver outline.
Nori picked it up delicately, pinching it between his left thumb and index finger. He held it up to his eyes. “What’s this?” he asked, turning it around to see if there was anything on the back. It looked like a pin of some kind.
“A Vent Badge,” she said with a faint chuckle. “You did defeat a Gym Leader in an official battle, after all.”
His hands fell to the table, their grip slackening as he did so. The badge clattered down in the process. He slumped back down and sprawled his arms across the length of the table. “If it even means anything.”
Gasha patted him on the shoulder. He’d ordinarily protest at physical contact from someone he didn’t know, but he didn’t have the energy. “With your misconception, you went all out to defeat me. And you beat the odds! Ruined a lot of bets, too.” She outright laughed vindictively. “I already had a feeling when I saw you stand up for her, and now it’s confirmed. You were willing to gamble, to do anything, to face anything to save that Pokemon. Few would do as you did.”
She wasn’t mad? She was even praising him? He sat up to look at the Badge on the table. To many Pokemon owners, something like this represented a milestone and a mark of accomplishment. Yet he was unsure what it meant to him. Especially since she hadn’t responded to his remark.
“But what about your Tentacruel? It’s not hurt too badly, is it?” If it was, this pin would be a reminder of just how badly he’d messed up after coming so close to success.
She shrugged. “Paroli took quite the beating, but not unreasonably so for a Pokemon battle. As far as I’m concerned, you passed with flying colors. The bond you two forged is undeniable. My gut instinct was right.” She chuckled again. “And as far as the Officials are concerned, well.”
As if on cue, the door near them opened.
“Speaking of whom.”
A slim man in a simple beige suit stepped into the room. He had intense green eyes and his hair was shaved to a buzz cut. Behind him were two others that he wasn’t expecting to see. First was his mom, who he should have expected. It made sense that they would have spoken to her. But he absolutely was not expecting to see the Demon, who was stomping along while growling.
“Nidorina! Ma!” He snapped up with a beam. They didn’t put her down! His breath was shaky again, but in a good way! He laughed, putting a hand over his neck as he exhaled. All the aches and pains faded away.
The teal Pokemon peered under the table for a second. She was too big to fit under it. When she was about to go around, he sprang up and jumped over it himself. His Pokemon snorted and shook her head, though with a toothy grin.
“Are you okay, Nori?” his mom asked, taking a step towards him and raising her arms. She briefly flicked a glare in the Gym Leader’s direction.
“I am now!” No sense in being too mad about it, even though he wanted to yell at those stupid guards! He turned to the man. “And you are…?”
“Captain Jimmy Mackenburg of the International Police, head of the Officials’ Special Trainers division,” the man introduced. He flashed an identification card. It had orange borders, and a regal golden shield design embroidered on it. He forcibly grabbed Nori’s hand and gave it a firm shake. The boy barely had time to return it before the man retracted. “I’ll cut straight to the chase, kid. How’d you like to become an official?”
“Hold on, what?” he blurted. “Me, an official? But I’m just twelve! And I haven’t even studied to be one! I don’t even know Pokemon! And why me?!”
The man did not miss a beat, as if expecting that salvo of questions. “Age doesn’t matter in our ranks, only talent. Sure, there’s those types who go through school for it. But we’re always keeping our eyes out for promising folks like you. The kinds of people who think different from everyone else. If you accept, we’ll make sure you learn what you need to be a proper official.”
Mackenburg stopped and beamed with pride. He looked at Nori expectantly. This was happening so fast, and so out of nowhere! He tried to look at everyone else for help or a better explanation, but they were simply watching and listening.
For now, Nori could only ask, “What kind of learning?”
“Well, you’re gonna have your legal studies and your physical ones,” the man explained. “Since you’ll be working with Pokemon, you’ll need to know how to train’em like the pros. So from the start of next year, you’ll be training with one of the top official trainers in the region. He’ll teach you everything you need to know.”
He. They must have already decided on someone. That meant it wouldn’t be Gasha Qian. It also meant that it wasn’t going to be the Champion either, and he breathed a small sigh at that. The guy said the start of next year, right? That would mean sometime in January, probably so it wasn’t in the middle of a school term. He’d have to finish the last few months of sixth grade somewhere else, but he didn’t have much attachment to his school. Presently, at least. It could be a chance at a fresh start with a new set of peers.
Never mind those thoughts, though. He had a more pressing one. “But, why me? I’ve only had Pokemon for a week. I have no experience with them besides this!”
This got Mackenburg to let out a, “Heh.” He tried to ruffle the boy’s hair, but Nori jerked away before he could. “You’re either real modest or real slow on the pickup. You did a bang-up job with that Demon Nidorina. None of the facilities for Pokemon with mental issues wanted to touch that thing.”
Nori’s mind went blank. He glared as he processed the words. “Oh, really? That’s disgusting if it’s true.”
Mackenburg sighed. “Afraid it is. There’s Pokemon out there who’ve had to be put down ‘cause no one wants to deal with ‘em. Bad apples, stubborn beasts, those who’ve been warped by Teams and other gangs, and worse still.”
The man paused for a few moments, as if reflecting on something. He continued with poignancy. “It’s a tricky subject. These Pokemon are a danger to society, yet they are who they are. Is it ethical to do away with ‘em anyway? A lot don’t think so. Big names too, like the Kannagi Shrine. We were weighing our options. Someone like you might be the answer we’ve been looking for.” The man smirked, his swagger returning. “A kid with a knack for training, the nerve to stand up for them, and a never-say-die attitude. You already showed you can rope one of ‘em in, and I’m sure you can do it again. So what do you say, kid?”
Nori slowly blinked. He wanted to be acknowledged for it, sure. But wasn't this taking it too far? He took a step back. “Aren’t there better people than me to do this?” he had to ask. “Sure, I somehow did it this time, but wouldn’t a more experienced trainer be better than me?”
His mom curled her lip and looked at him with an odd frown. “They’re offering this to you because they believe you’re good enough, Nori.”
He tilted his head. “I’m not good, Ma. I barely know what I’m doing, really.”
“Unconventional is a better descriptor,” Gasha elaborated. “I would say: untainted by gains and the standard lines. Thereby giving you a fresh take on matters. If that makes sense.”
So were they basically saying that his disinterest in training gave him a different perspective? That did make sense. Though how was he supposed to know what was totally wrong? Maybe that was what sending him to train was for, but still!
His mom opened her mouth and hesitated briefly before speaking again. “In any case, officials get paid very well.”
“That they do!” chimed in Mackenburg.
“I think you should agree to this, Nori,” his mom continued. “You’ll still be able to finish any schooling you want along the way. And you could have a much better life by doing so.”
“But…” He averted his gaze. The school part was a nice clarification, but he never minded having little money. Having a lot might be overwhelming.
“Nori,” she pleaded with faint urgency. “I know it might not be what you had in mind, but you will be able to make a difference by doing this, like you always wanted. And you already know how tight our finances are. This may be the solution.”
She said that. Maybe it was serious. But still. “I don't know…” He was still unsure. He put a hand on his chest. Usually, when his mom wanted him to do something, she’d be stern and assertive. Not like this. He turned to Gasha for her thoughts.
The Gym Leader flashed a thumbs-up. “Roll the dice. It’s the only way to get ahead.”
Taking a chance? He would be taking a chance by doing this. He looked over at Mr. Mackenburg, who grinned wildly.
“You’ll be able to help all sorts of Pokemon no one else will.”
Reiterating that point. He was saying he was different from trainers. It was hard to argue with that. Finally, he turned to the Demon Nidorina. If he was going to go through with this, he’d need her opinion as well. After all, she’d be coming along for the ride.
The Demon simply nodded and grunted at him.
Everyone here wanted him to do this. To help Pokemon no one else would. Nori wanted to do something with his life that meant something. He thought maybe he could make a famous scientific discovery. Or perhaps he could work to build future landmarks. Maybe he could train hard and be a sports star. At one point, he even thought he could be like Claris and act. But helping Pokemon?
It would mean something. But even so.
“So if I do this…” he slowly asked, each word forcing itself out. “What happens if I do this?”
The man in the suit grinned profusely and started explaining. “Once you’re certified as a Special Trainer, you’ll have all the rank and privileges that come with it. You can work with police, access restricted areas of regions, and so on. Your job will be to sort out the problem Pokemon we send you and reel in the more feisty sides of their personalities. You can keep’em after if you’d like.” Mackenburg paused briefly. “That’s it.”
So just what he was doing the past week. Except he would be making a career of it. He never dreamed it would come to this. When he thought about people who made a living with Pokemon, he thought of competition like battling or contests. Or maybe manual labor. He didn’t want anything to do with those! But something like this? This was different. He didn’t hate the idea.
Nori closed his eyes. This was a life-changing decision. He took a deep breath and gave his answer.
“All right. I guess I can give it a try.”
It would be a lie to say he hadn’t enjoyed the past week, in spite of the turmoil that came with it. What was the harm in trying? You never know unless you do!
“Fantastic!” Mackenburg clapped his hands. “I’ll get the papers to you by tonight. Just sign’em, and you’ll be on your way to changing the world. You’re going to be the world’s first Pokemon Rehabilitator.”
With this, the captain of the International Police turned to leave. Gasha chuckled and started to follow him. She stopped before him with a hand on the door. “That’s that. We simply need to sort some matters out, but it will be done. Do you have any other questions?“
He glanced over. “Um, those guards…” Were probably just doing their job. “Never mind.”
“I see what I can do about them.” Gasha frowned, seeming to understand. She paused in the doorway and looked back over her shoulder. “You’re free to cash out when you want. And if you ever need advice, simply stop by my Gym and ask.”
“Thank you,” he said, bowing a little.
The door closed. That left him alone with his Pokemon and his mom. The latter came over and rubbed his shoulders. “You’re making the right choice, sweetie.”
“I hope I am.” He sighed. “I think…” he started, before sighing again. Exhaustion was starting to weigh on his back and neck. “That I want to go home and get some rest.”
His mom nodded. “I have a few things I need to take care of while I’m still out.” She reached into her pocket and held out her hand. “Here. I know you’ll only be using it for a few months, but I got you your own key.”
His own key to the trailer? She never even humored that in the past, and now here it was. As she said, he would only be able to get so much use out of it. But the sentiment meant the world to him. She was acknowledging his responsibility.
“Thanks, Ma.” He gave her a hug, which she returned.
A Pokemon Rehabilitator. Someone who helps Pokemon that no one else is willing to. Nori had done just that. And he enjoyed it. Time would tell if he would enjoy doing it long term. But it meant something. If he did not enjoy it, he could always find something else. Or do stuff alongside. That would be the best case. He just hoped his whole life didn’t end up dedicated to Pokemon. As entwined in society as they were, that wasn’t something he wanted.
For now, he turned to Nidorina. He still had her ball in his pocket. “Well, let’s go home. I think even you want to relax sometimes.”
She gave him a funny look, but didn’t protest or disapprove as he brought her back to the comfort of her capsule. They’d both had a long week.
He only realized the gravity of what had happened when they were leading him through the silent and empty halls. The Demon Nidorina was done for, and maybe him too! Was he going to go to jail? His eyes burned. His ears rang. It felt like his whole body was being stabbed with needles. Each step felt heavy and autonomous. Every time he slowed, even involuntarily, they kept shoving him along. Where were they going? He didn’t want to think about it too much.
They eventually reached an empty room, and they told him to go inside. He could only wait. He paced restlessly for a few minutes. Eventually, he stopped and took some deep breaths. While it helped a bit, no matter what he did, his throat wouldn’t stop aching. Finally, he just sat down and clutched himself. His breath came out in quivering spurts.
There was no way out. The two men who brought him there were posted outside each door. He thought about escaping through the vents, but they were too small to climb into. And the ceiling wasn’t made of those tiles that could be pushed up.
Maybe they held meetings here? There was a long table, a water cooler, and a whiteboard with finances scribbled on it. Probably related to the Game Corner. The fluorescent lights were beating down inertly. Except one of them, which sometimes blinked on and off like it needed to be changed. That plus a ticking clock gnawed away at his nerves. Nori eventually slumped down onto the table, burying his head in his arms. He just wanted to curl up and vanish.
One of the doors opened at some point. He briefly glanced up at the Gym Leader. She walked to the far corner of the room, pulled out her cell phone, and started mumbling about something. Nori didn’t care to focus enough to eavesdrop. He doubted he could focus anyway. It was probably stuff he didn’t want to hear anyway. At least, it helped drown out that clock.
Time dragged on. Seconds felt like minutes, which felt like hours. Then, a different sound. A fingernail tapping against a desk? He looked up.
Gasha was standing over him. She gestured to a small, stylish object on his right. Had she placed it there? A duo of gray cylinders, one big and one small. Each had an ovular pink section emerging from its tip. The four segments were separated and surrounded by a silver outline.
Nori picked it up delicately, pinching it between his left thumb and index finger. He held it up to his eyes. “What’s this?” he asked, turning it around to see if there was anything on the back. It looked like a pin of some kind.
“A Vent Badge,” she said with a faint chuckle. “You did defeat a Gym Leader in an official battle, after all.”
His hands fell to the table, their grip slackening as he did so. The badge clattered down in the process. He slumped back down and sprawled his arms across the length of the table. “If it even means anything.”
Gasha patted him on the shoulder. He’d ordinarily protest at physical contact from someone he didn’t know, but he didn’t have the energy. “With your misconception, you went all out to defeat me. And you beat the odds! Ruined a lot of bets, too.” She outright laughed vindictively. “I already had a feeling when I saw you stand up for her, and now it’s confirmed. You were willing to gamble, to do anything, to face anything to save that Pokemon. Few would do as you did.”
She wasn’t mad? She was even praising him? He sat up to look at the Badge on the table. To many Pokemon owners, something like this represented a milestone and a mark of accomplishment. Yet he was unsure what it meant to him. Especially since she hadn’t responded to his remark.
“But what about your Tentacruel? It’s not hurt too badly, is it?” If it was, this pin would be a reminder of just how badly he’d messed up after coming so close to success.
She shrugged. “Paroli took quite the beating, but not unreasonably so for a Pokemon battle. As far as I’m concerned, you passed with flying colors. The bond you two forged is undeniable. My gut instinct was right.” She chuckled again. “And as far as the Officials are concerned, well.”
As if on cue, the door near them opened.
“Speaking of whom.”
A slim man in a simple beige suit stepped into the room. He had intense green eyes and his hair was shaved to a buzz cut. Behind him were two others that he wasn’t expecting to see. First was his mom, who he should have expected. It made sense that they would have spoken to her. But he absolutely was not expecting to see the Demon, who was stomping along while growling.
“Nidorina! Ma!” He snapped up with a beam. They didn’t put her down! His breath was shaky again, but in a good way! He laughed, putting a hand over his neck as he exhaled. All the aches and pains faded away.
The teal Pokemon peered under the table for a second. She was too big to fit under it. When she was about to go around, he sprang up and jumped over it himself. His Pokemon snorted and shook her head, though with a toothy grin.
“Are you okay, Nori?” his mom asked, taking a step towards him and raising her arms. She briefly flicked a glare in the Gym Leader’s direction.
“I am now!” No sense in being too mad about it, even though he wanted to yell at those stupid guards! He turned to the man. “And you are…?”
“Captain Jimmy Mackenburg of the International Police, head of the Officials’ Special Trainers division,” the man introduced. He flashed an identification card. It had orange borders, and a regal golden shield design embroidered on it. He forcibly grabbed Nori’s hand and gave it a firm shake. The boy barely had time to return it before the man retracted. “I’ll cut straight to the chase, kid. How’d you like to become an official?”
“Hold on, what?” he blurted. “Me, an official? But I’m just twelve! And I haven’t even studied to be one! I don’t even know Pokemon! And why me?!”
The man did not miss a beat, as if expecting that salvo of questions. “Age doesn’t matter in our ranks, only talent. Sure, there’s those types who go through school for it. But we’re always keeping our eyes out for promising folks like you. The kinds of people who think different from everyone else. If you accept, we’ll make sure you learn what you need to be a proper official.”
Mackenburg stopped and beamed with pride. He looked at Nori expectantly. This was happening so fast, and so out of nowhere! He tried to look at everyone else for help or a better explanation, but they were simply watching and listening.
For now, Nori could only ask, “What kind of learning?”
“Well, you’re gonna have your legal studies and your physical ones,” the man explained. “Since you’ll be working with Pokemon, you’ll need to know how to train’em like the pros. So from the start of next year, you’ll be training with one of the top official trainers in the region. He’ll teach you everything you need to know.”
He. They must have already decided on someone. That meant it wouldn’t be Gasha Qian. It also meant that it wasn’t going to be the Champion either, and he breathed a small sigh at that. The guy said the start of next year, right? That would mean sometime in January, probably so it wasn’t in the middle of a school term. He’d have to finish the last few months of sixth grade somewhere else, but he didn’t have much attachment to his school. Presently, at least. It could be a chance at a fresh start with a new set of peers.
Never mind those thoughts, though. He had a more pressing one. “But, why me? I’ve only had Pokemon for a week. I have no experience with them besides this!”
This got Mackenburg to let out a, “Heh.” He tried to ruffle the boy’s hair, but Nori jerked away before he could. “You’re either real modest or real slow on the pickup. You did a bang-up job with that Demon Nidorina. None of the facilities for Pokemon with mental issues wanted to touch that thing.”
Nori’s mind went blank. He glared as he processed the words. “Oh, really? That’s disgusting if it’s true.”
Mackenburg sighed. “Afraid it is. There’s Pokemon out there who’ve had to be put down ‘cause no one wants to deal with ‘em. Bad apples, stubborn beasts, those who’ve been warped by Teams and other gangs, and worse still.”
The man paused for a few moments, as if reflecting on something. He continued with poignancy. “It’s a tricky subject. These Pokemon are a danger to society, yet they are who they are. Is it ethical to do away with ‘em anyway? A lot don’t think so. Big names too, like the Kannagi Shrine. We were weighing our options. Someone like you might be the answer we’ve been looking for.” The man smirked, his swagger returning. “A kid with a knack for training, the nerve to stand up for them, and a never-say-die attitude. You already showed you can rope one of ‘em in, and I’m sure you can do it again. So what do you say, kid?”
Nori slowly blinked. He wanted to be acknowledged for it, sure. But wasn't this taking it too far? He took a step back. “Aren’t there better people than me to do this?” he had to ask. “Sure, I somehow did it this time, but wouldn’t a more experienced trainer be better than me?”
His mom curled her lip and looked at him with an odd frown. “They’re offering this to you because they believe you’re good enough, Nori.”
He tilted his head. “I’m not good, Ma. I barely know what I’m doing, really.”
“Unconventional is a better descriptor,” Gasha elaborated. “I would say: untainted by gains and the standard lines. Thereby giving you a fresh take on matters. If that makes sense.”
So were they basically saying that his disinterest in training gave him a different perspective? That did make sense. Though how was he supposed to know what was totally wrong? Maybe that was what sending him to train was for, but still!
His mom opened her mouth and hesitated briefly before speaking again. “In any case, officials get paid very well.”
“That they do!” chimed in Mackenburg.
“I think you should agree to this, Nori,” his mom continued. “You’ll still be able to finish any schooling you want along the way. And you could have a much better life by doing so.”
“But…” He averted his gaze. The school part was a nice clarification, but he never minded having little money. Having a lot might be overwhelming.
“Nori,” she pleaded with faint urgency. “I know it might not be what you had in mind, but you will be able to make a difference by doing this, like you always wanted. And you already know how tight our finances are. This may be the solution.”
She said that. Maybe it was serious. But still. “I don't know…” He was still unsure. He put a hand on his chest. Usually, when his mom wanted him to do something, she’d be stern and assertive. Not like this. He turned to Gasha for her thoughts.
The Gym Leader flashed a thumbs-up. “Roll the dice. It’s the only way to get ahead.”
Taking a chance? He would be taking a chance by doing this. He looked over at Mr. Mackenburg, who grinned wildly.
“You’ll be able to help all sorts of Pokemon no one else will.”
Reiterating that point. He was saying he was different from trainers. It was hard to argue with that. Finally, he turned to the Demon Nidorina. If he was going to go through with this, he’d need her opinion as well. After all, she’d be coming along for the ride.
The Demon simply nodded and grunted at him.
Everyone here wanted him to do this. To help Pokemon no one else would. Nori wanted to do something with his life that meant something. He thought maybe he could make a famous scientific discovery. Or perhaps he could work to build future landmarks. Maybe he could train hard and be a sports star. At one point, he even thought he could be like Claris and act. But helping Pokemon?
It would mean something. But even so.
“So if I do this…” he slowly asked, each word forcing itself out. “What happens if I do this?”
The man in the suit grinned profusely and started explaining. “Once you’re certified as a Special Trainer, you’ll have all the rank and privileges that come with it. You can work with police, access restricted areas of regions, and so on. Your job will be to sort out the problem Pokemon we send you and reel in the more feisty sides of their personalities. You can keep’em after if you’d like.” Mackenburg paused briefly. “That’s it.”
So just what he was doing the past week. Except he would be making a career of it. He never dreamed it would come to this. When he thought about people who made a living with Pokemon, he thought of competition like battling or contests. Or maybe manual labor. He didn’t want anything to do with those! But something like this? This was different. He didn’t hate the idea.
Nori closed his eyes. This was a life-changing decision. He took a deep breath and gave his answer.
“All right. I guess I can give it a try.”
It would be a lie to say he hadn’t enjoyed the past week, in spite of the turmoil that came with it. What was the harm in trying? You never know unless you do!
“Fantastic!” Mackenburg clapped his hands. “I’ll get the papers to you by tonight. Just sign’em, and you’ll be on your way to changing the world. You’re going to be the world’s first Pokemon Rehabilitator.”
With this, the captain of the International Police turned to leave. Gasha chuckled and started to follow him. She stopped before him with a hand on the door. “That’s that. We simply need to sort some matters out, but it will be done. Do you have any other questions?“
He glanced over. “Um, those guards…” Were probably just doing their job. “Never mind.”
“I see what I can do about them.” Gasha frowned, seeming to understand. She paused in the doorway and looked back over her shoulder. “You’re free to cash out when you want. And if you ever need advice, simply stop by my Gym and ask.”
“Thank you,” he said, bowing a little.
The door closed. That left him alone with his Pokemon and his mom. The latter came over and rubbed his shoulders. “You’re making the right choice, sweetie.”
“I hope I am.” He sighed. “I think…” he started, before sighing again. Exhaustion was starting to weigh on his back and neck. “That I want to go home and get some rest.”
His mom nodded. “I have a few things I need to take care of while I’m still out.” She reached into her pocket and held out her hand. “Here. I know you’ll only be using it for a few months, but I got you your own key.”
His own key to the trailer? She never even humored that in the past, and now here it was. As she said, he would only be able to get so much use out of it. But the sentiment meant the world to him. She was acknowledging his responsibility.
“Thanks, Ma.” He gave her a hug, which she returned.
A Pokemon Rehabilitator. Someone who helps Pokemon that no one else is willing to. Nori had done just that. And he enjoyed it. Time would tell if he would enjoy doing it long term. But it meant something. If he did not enjoy it, he could always find something else. Or do stuff alongside. That would be the best case. He just hoped his whole life didn’t end up dedicated to Pokemon. As entwined in society as they were, that wasn’t something he wanted.
For now, he turned to Nidorina. He still had her ball in his pocket. “Well, let’s go home. I think even you want to relax sometimes.”
She gave him a funny look, but didn’t protest or disapprove as he brought her back to the comfort of her capsule. They’d both had a long week.