Day 6 back in the Orange Archipelago. Overcast.
Reiji woke early, prepped breakfast for the team, and they ate together under the morning sky. The weather felt promising, good enough for a trip to the hot spring district.
He let the Pokémon stretch and train at their own pace. Nothing intense. Just enough movement to stay loose.
"Pelipper, let's go." He called it over, planning to fly south while the rest stayed behind.
If anyone wandered too close, he had already briefed Toxicroak and the others. They would vanish into the treeline and stay hidden. No strangers getting a look at the team.
He had Gengar in his shadow and Lokoko at his side. Two Elite Four-tier Pokémon. That was more than enough to handle most threats. On Mikan Island, he was safe. Unless, of course, an outside Elite Four-tier Trainer decided to pick a fight.
From the lakeside cabin to the southern shore took just over half an hour by air. The construction site was already bustling when they arrived.
He did not interrupt the workers. Landing near the water, he pulled out his land deed and the matching plot map, scanning the numbered foundations laid out for the hot spring street.
His plot sat at the estuary. Each parcel had clear boundaries and an ID. He found his quickly. It was the very channel they had dug to divert lava into the sea. The flow had cooled into a crescent-shaped spit of new land offshore.
The original bay had been expanded by that lava flow. His plot covered the eastern curve of the crescent, roughly five hundred square meters. The front faced a small harbor under construction. The back opened to beach and ocean. The northern edge bordered the forest.
Standing there, salt breeze in his face, he had to admit. Not bad.
Want energy. The harbor-side hot spring street would be lively. Want peace. The beach and ocean view had him covered. Want adventure. The woods to the north were right there.
Once the district opened, most wild Pokémon in the area would be relocated. Especially aggressive species. Only gentle, herbivorous types would likely remain.
After surveying the five-hundred-square-meter plot, he flew back to the lakeside cabin on Pelipper. Next step. Find a contractor and a designer. On this land, he would build a guest-facing hot spring inn.
First floor. Hot baths, dining, massage services. The backyard beach could host sunbathing, evening bonfires, and grills. There was potential here.
Second floor. Ocean-view rooms and guest suites, with a central lounge and recreation area.
Third floor. More guest rooms, all suites.
And the roof. Maybe a fourth level, depending on how well coastal structures handled the wind.
But he was no architect. In his past life, sure, he had visited plenty of spas and wellness centers, but that did not make him qualified to design one. He would need a professional owner-operator to help model the numbers. Daily guest capacity, projected revenue, operating costs.
Only then could he estimate the payback period on upfront investment. The land itself was free, so costs would be construction, finishing, and staffing. As one of the first developers on the hot spring strip, he would be taking the first risk.
Back at the lakeside cabin, he realized he did not know anyone locally with that expertise. He was stuck.
If push came to shove, he could bring the Gym on as a minority partner. He would put up the bulk. Maybe a hundred million Pokédollars in seed funding, until the inn opened. Then they would settle accounts. Sixty percent equity for him, forty for the Gym.
The Gym would get dividends, but he would retain operational control. The land was his, after all. He could hire a professional manager to run day-to-day operations, then split the annual net profit with the Gym.
Partnering with the Gym had clear advantages. Fewer headaches, less micromanaging. He could focus on getting the building ready, then step back and collect returns.
If the Gym declined to invest, he could still pay them a consulting fee for the legwork. Even if it was just a phone call for them, he was not about to take that help for granted.
As for getting swindled?
Please. He could count. He knew how markups and kickbacks worked. As long as they stayed reasonable, he was not blind.
If someone tried to charge two thousand Pokédollars for a single landscaping brick or guardrail, he would ask what kind of miracle engineering justified that price.
If they could not explain, well, in a world of Pokémon, people sometimes vanished in their sleep. No traces. No leads.
That was why, in those old superhero movies from his past life, powerful officials hated dealing with superhumans. Too unpredictable. Too hard to control. And deep down, they knew how dirty their own hands were. They lived in fear of heroes with too much zeal, or villains with too little mercy. Just human nature.
Lost in thought about the inn's next steps, he headed for the Gym to discuss terms with Cissy's father. He did not notice Cissy waiting by the door. Did not register that several Pokémon were missing. He just walked straight into the cabin.
"Damn it." Cissy watched him pass right by, head down, and her fist clenched. That jerk had ignored her again. Even the Pokémon had spotted her. He was pretending not to see. She stomped hard on the wooden floor.
*Thud.*
"Huh? Something drop?" Reiji paused mid-step. The sound came from behind. He turned, and found Cissy standing outside the door. "Oh. Hey. When did you get here? You alone?"
"You ignored me again?" Her voice wavered. She had even brought breakfast. To be brushed off like that, anyone would be hurt. Maybe she should have just let him starve.
"Ignored? I did not." Reiji blinked, glancing at the Pokémon on the lawn. "Did I miss something? Guys?"
"Rrr." Electivire started to speak, but Rhydon yanked it away.
"Gurk." Magmar got pulled off too.
"Bwee." Pelipper and the other fliers took off abruptly.
Dugtrio dove underground. Lucario was escorted away by Farfetch'd. Slowking teleported itself and nearby Pokémon to safety. Tauros pretended to graze. Water-types sank beneath the lake. Umbreon had already slipped off.
"Uh, what is going on?" Reiji watched his team scatter, confused. Then he noticed Cissy's knuckles cracking as she tightened her fist, and she was advancing, backing him into the cabin.
*Slam.*
The door shut behind her with a kick. Reiji kept stepping back, bumped the coffee table, and stumbled onto the sofa. Cissy closed in fast, driving one fist into the cushion just behind his shoulder.
"Whoa. Did you just pin me against the wall? Seriously?" First time a girl had ever done that to him. His palms were sweating. Forehead too. Classic nerves.
He had not expected Cissy to be this bold today. Not in this life, not in the last. If he had had a partner back then, maybe he would not have turned into such a cynical office survivor.
"I really did not ignore you. I was zoning out. Thinking about the hot spring district. Scouted the plot, started sketching ideas for the inn," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. Cissy's face was closer now. He could see her lashes flutter. She was not stopping. She was climbing into his lap.
He hurried to add. "I was going to propose a partnership with your family. Was about to find your dad. That is why I did not."
"Mmph. I. Mmph."
His words died as her lips met his.
After a while, Reiji gently tapped Cissy's shoulder and pointed toward the window. She followed his gaze, saw the Pokémon peeking in, and immediately scrambled off his lap.
They were not human, but they were not clueless either. Especially the smart ones. They definitely knew what they were watching.
Realizing how long they had been spectating, Cissy's face burned crimson. She buried her face in her knees, mortified. No facing people now. No facing Pokémon. Where had that boldness even come from? So embarrassing.
What would he think of her now? Would he see her as easy? That had been her first kiss.
"Here. Water." Reiji shooed the onlookers away, poured a glass, and set it in front of her.
"Thanks." She lifted her head. Met his eyes. He looked away instantly. She ducked back down, unsure how to face him.
"Ahem. So, um." His own thoughts were tangled. He shrugged off his jacket. Suddenly too warm. No idea what to say. Being pinned and kissed first? Brand-new experience. And honestly? Not bad. He licked his lips, replaying the moment.
A line from his future self popped into his head. *Yeah, that was smooth.*
"Get out of my head," he muttered, shaking it off. He did not need commentary from that spoiler-happy future version. That one had burned bridges with the Mikan Gym and gotten tangled with Matori. Clearly never got to enjoy moments like this.
If that future self were here, Reiji could at least fire back. *Nice taste. We really do share the same weird humor.*
"How long are you planning to stay down there? You came for a reason, right? Wanna talk about it?"
"You. You?!" Cissy lifted her head. Seeing him act so casual ignited fresh frustration. That had been her first kiss. How could he be so. So.
"What? You are the one who kissed me. Not the other way around. If you feel like you lost out, I can return the favor," he said, spreading his hands. He genuinely was not overthinking it. Not his fault. Everyone saw. They were all witnesses.
"You are impossible!" She snapped, anger flaring again. He was enjoying this. Acting innocent after getting exactly what he wanted.
"Mmph."
Before she could launch another retort, Reiji gently guided her back onto the sofa. Words became unnecessary.
The room seemed to spin. The rest of the world fell away.
...
When it was finally over, Reiji slumped back against the cushions and reached for a glass of water. His throat was parched. A few sips helped, but didn't quite cut it.
He set the glass down. "Now we are even."
"Hmph." Cissy pulled a small mirror from her bag, fixing her hair. She also pulled out the breakfast she had brought.
"You brought food?" Reiji reached for a bun. Cold. "Let me heat these up. You have not eaten yet, right?"
"Hmph." Still no words. Just a sharp glance. She kept arranging her hair. As if you don't know whether I have eaten, you jerk.
"Ahem." That look sent him scrambling toward the kitchen. He had not expected their relationship to solidify quite like that.
He only felt sure because Cissy had not resisted. Had even cooperated. That threw him. If she had pushed back even a little, he would have stopped immediately and given her space.
How do you tell if someone likes you? If they are open to closeness? Usually comes down to a few possibilities.
They actually like you.
The payment is high enough.
They are chasing a thrill.
Or they are stressed, anxious, seeking comfort.
Option two was out. No money changed hands.
Option three did not fit either. This was not a one-off secret encounter. It was broad daylight. No hiding.
Option four? Unlikely. The Gym leader's daughter had little to stress about. Her father was in his prime. She was barely fifteen. High-school age in his old world. Inheriting the family business was years away.
Plus, she had her grandfather's and father's Pokémon to inherit someday. Reaching Elite Four tier would be easy. Not ambitious, perhaps, but more than capable of self-defense.
So, eliminate the last three. That left only the first.
Who would have thought? The office-worn, dating-market-rejected, nearly lifelong singleton from his past life. Finding a second chance here.
Truthfully, marriage had not been high on his list. Fishing brought more joy. Ask any seasoned angler the same question. They would pick their rod over a ring, no hesitation.
Once you get hooked on fishing, there is no coming back. He finally understood that saying. He was hooked. Deep. The poison had reached his bones.
"How long does steaming take?" Cissy's voice pulled him back. She had followed him to the kitchen and found him staring blankly out the window, seemingly deaf to her question.
"Hey." She stepped closer, studying his distant expression. She lightly tapped his shoulder and leaned in to murmur near his ear.
"Huh?" Reiji jolted from his thoughts. Seeing her so close startled him. He instinctively stepped back.
"What were you thinking about?" She noticed his reaction. Whatever had him so absorbed, she was curious.
"It's the inn. I need to sort out the layout, source materials, hire staff, handle design and finishing… There's a lot to juggle, and I don't have the time to manage it all alone. Is your family interested in partnering up?"
He carried the warmed buns into the living room. There was no way he was admitting he'd already been mentally picking out baby names.
Relationships always did that to people. Before you had someone, your mind stayed quiet. Once you actually got them, the doubts crept in. That was where the anxiety lived. Honestly, it was easier being alone. No one to impress, no expectations to manage. Just living comfortably on your own terms.
"That part's easy." Cissy didn't seem to notice his zoning out. She pulled out her phone. "I'll just call Dad. We can have a few design drafts drawn up. You tell us what you want, and we'll pick the one you like best."
They'd just made things official, and she was genuinely glad she could help. Finally, that jerk was actually looking at her.
"Free of charge?" Reiji couldn't help asking.
"Dream on." She shot him a look. Why did he always assume everything was free? Was he that used to mooching? "We've got a few rejected drafts from earlier rounds. If you like one, it'll be cheaper. Custom work isn't that expensive either."
"Fair enough." He offered a sheepish smile, then sighed. "You guys finished yours ages ago. I'm just getting started. Who knows how long it'll take."
"Well, maybe if you hadn't disappeared for two months," she said, popping a bun into her mouth. She dialed, her voice noticeably lighter.
Reiji didn't push it. Since she hadn't brought up the partnership details, he wouldn't either. Rushing into a business deal was the quickest way to ruin it.
[End of chapter]
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