Haru took a deep breath in through his nose, blowing out through his mouth. "Okay... this is it. We're ready to do this right?"
"Vee!" Shiyu squeaked, eyes bright.
"Arf!" Shirou barked, teeth bared in a challenging grin, tongue lolling out.
"R-ralts!" Shizu agreed.
Haru looked over his three Pokémon before nodding decisively. "Okay! So here's what I know so far... the second Pokémon is the trickiest, so Shiyu I'll be saving you for that one provided the first match goes well. Shizu you're going up first—you should do fine if you keep your wits about you. Remember what we practiced; be light on your feet! Shirou you're last, but certainly not least. This is going to be tough guys, but I have the utmost faith in you. We trained, we worked hard... now let's go win a badge!"
Haru recalled Shirou and Shizu, and Shiyu hopped up onto his shoulder from the bed. Haru straightened up and left the room he'd been assigned in the Pokémon Center. With a greeting to Nurse Joy, Haru walked out the Center and took the directions given to him by Kaoru last night to the Gym.
The group he'd battled with yesterday had left before he'd woken up, though they'd all said their goodbyes the night before. Kin and Zasu would continue on to the next city while Kaoru was hoping to hit the coast, and Kiki would go back to her family for a little bit to show off her Pokémon and her newly printed photos before continuing her journey. He briefly wondered what happened to his father, but figured the man must have left home already now that Haru had received the gifts from his parents.
The gym wasn't a big, grand building like some he'd seen before. A one story, traditional building not unlike a dojo. Haru stepped forward and knocked politely on the door.
"Excuse me? Is anyone here at the moment?" he called out. It took a couple minutes, but the paper screen door was eventually opened by a woman with reddish brown hair and amethyst eyes. She looked down to Haru and her red painted lips quirked up in a friendly smile.
"Well hello there young man! Come in, what can I do for you?" she invited, stepping aside to let Haru enter. Haru thanked her and walked in, looking around. Yes, this place was very much like a dojo for training.
"Ma'am I'm here to request a gym battle from the leader." Haru answered, turning to look at the woman.
"So you'll want my husband then!" she said cheerfully. "My name is Mitsuko, nice to meet you! Just follow me this way, and I'll lead you to the battle area while I go and fetch my husband."
"Okay!" Haru agreed, and followed the woman. She opened another screen door and told him to wait as she walked away to find her husband. Haru looked around the room, noting the large size, the dirt battle field in the middle and the two screen door on either side.
"Young man, I hear you're looking to battle me?" Haru turned around, and smiled challengingly at the taller man. He had navy blue hair that lied flat against his skull and trailed into long sideburns, and wore a long-sleeved red shirt and blue pants with boots. Senn's eyes widened as he saw the kid's face. "Ah, you're Minato Namikaze 's youngest boy aren't you?"
"Yes sir, do you know my father?" Haru asked.
"I've worked with him a couple times in the past. I've got a daughter about your age, so we had lots to talk about." Senn laughed. "So, you're thinking of making his your first badge? Just to let you know, it's a requirement that you have at least three Pokémon. Now I see your Eevee, but do you have two more?"
"I do, and they're ready to battle." Haru said with confidence. Shiyu barked an affirmative from his shoulder, and Senn grinned at the energetic duo. A referee made his way into the room, and Senn took that as his cue.
"Well then I can't deny a request for battle, so let's do this." Senn agreed, walking toward his side of the gym. Walking past the right side paper screen he shot a sly glance towards it. And you'll be watching this won't you... Minato?
"The Petalburg City Gym battle will now begin! Each trainer will use three Pokemon... If the challenger's or the gym leader's Pokémon are unable to battle, this match will be over. During the battle only the challenger will be allowed to substitute Pokémon." The referee laid down the rules.
"Okay then, ready Haru?" Senn asked.
"You bet!" Haru grinned.
"Then I choose... Slakoth!" with a beam if white light from the Pokéball, a brown and pink primate-like Pokémon appeared.
"Slakoth." It slurred, though it sounded garbled to Haru's ears.
"Okay, then... let's go Shizu!" Haru sent forth his Ralts, while Shiyu jumped down and settled by the boy's feet.
"A Ralts, how cute!" Mitsuko cheered. "And you give your Pokémon nicknames?"
"Well, I just like to give them something to differentiate." Haru admitted sheepishly.
"Well this is an interesting choice..." Senn mused.
"Shizu, go in close and double team." Haru supplied calmly.
Shizu teleported to behind the Slakoth, and soon copies of itself form a ring around the lazy slakoth, who turns its head slowly from side to side with a dopey almost smile on its face. They start to move around in a spinning circle around Slakoth, whose had moves faster to see them.
"Don't let them get you dizzy Slakoth, Scratch and find the real one!" Senn commanded.
"Sla..." the Slakoth almost seemed to sigh, and raised its arms up slowly, spinning around once to dispel the copies. It stopped when it had turned a full one-eighty degrees, and blinked in surprise when it saw the Ralts in front of it without a scratch.
"Nice ducking, Shizu, now Confusion!" Haru ordered.
"Flail Slakoth!" Senn countered.
Slakoth immediately started waving his long arms around, the sharp claws catching Shizu on the helmet and knocking her back. Shizu got back up and backed away from the flailing Slakoth, body lightly trembling from the hit.
"It's okay Shizu, you're doing great." Haru soothed the Ralts once it saw her shaking. Just feel my emotions and you'll be fine—full confidence okay!"
"R-ralts!" Shizu yelped, slowly stopping her trembling.
"Now, try going in for a Confusion but don't get too close if you think you can't handle it." Haru ordered. Shizu started to trot forward, intent on getting an attack to hit the Slakoth.
"Now Slakoth, hidden power!" Senn ordered.
"Slakoth!" The little Pokémon drawled, and raised his arms, palms facing each other and a bout a hand width apart. In that space, a ball of white energy started to glow and separated into smaller pieces in a ring, and once Slakoth was done he threw it out towards Shizu. The balls of light grew and formed a circle around the Ralts, who squeaked.
"Lucky Chant girl!" Haru called out.
Shizu calmed down and performed her defensive move, and tentacle-like projections of her power appeared from her, smacking out at the balls of hidden power. Each hit created a small explosion, smoke starting to cover the area Ralts was in.
"Shizu!" Haru shouted.
From out of the smoke came an answer—the tentacles shout out to hit Slakoth. The lazy Pokémon made good use of his lethargic movements to just miss some of the tentacles, there were too many for him to avoid, so he was slapped three times and thrown down with a harsh grunt.
Shizu came out of the smoke with scratches of her own, indicating her still unsure footing with Lucky Chant. "You alright girl?" Haru asked in concern.
"R-ralts..." Shizu piped up, panting. Haru nodded—if she wanted to keep going, no sense in stopping her flow.
"Slakoth, you alright?" Senn called. Slakoth slowly rose up into a sitting position and scratched at his head, swaying from side to side.
"Ok, he's good." Senn muttered with a sweat drop. "Shadow Ball Slakoth!"
"Get out of the way Shizu!" Haru shouted. Shizu wasn't fast enough to move, and was too startled by the ball of dark energy hurtling towards her to even consider Teleport, as it hadn't been in Haru's orders. That lack of forethought cost her, and she was hit with the Shadow Ball, the full brunt of the damage sending her flying back to Haru's feet with a cry of pain.
"Shizu!" Haru cried, dropping to his feet to look at his Pokémon. "Are you alright?"
"R..." Shizu struggled up, panting harshly as she slowly moved forward again. "Ralts!"
"Shizu if it's too much..." Haru warned.
"Ralts!"
Haru looked at his Ralts closely, before grinning. "Okay, fight on! Let's keep this going Senn-san!"
"Slakoth, use Blizzard!"
"Shizu, get out of range!" Haru cried.
Slakoth's range as it turned out, was just about the entire field in front of him as icy winds and snowy pellets blew out of his mouth, and just kept going. Senn shook his head with a grin and said, "Just where is she going to go? She's freezing—what the!"
Shizu had indeed gotten out of range just before being hit by the ice attack, and had teleported right behind Slakoth who was still busy spewing a freezing cold attack.
"Knock him over Shizu!" Haru cheered, and watched with glee as Shizu jumped forward and hit the back of Slakoth's head with her helmet-like hair. Typically, Ralts had very little power so he wasn't looking to cause any real damage, just stun Slakoth into freezing up.
"Ralts can't learn Headbutt, can they?" Senn gasped.
"Nope, that's just a little something we practiced—my Ralts is full of surprises Senn-san!" Haru declared.
Slakoth's Blizzard attack was cut short by the head butt, and so he got up with a slow shake of his head, looking side to side to find Shizu.
"R-Ralts!" Shizu called the opponent's attention, just like Haru had instructed her to do.
"Confusion Shizu!"
"Don't look Slakoth!" Senn cried—but too late! The already lazy and lethargic Slakoth had no vigor or real motivation with which it could have thrown off Confusion, and so it was hit with the full force. Injured yet still wanting to fight for his trainer, Slakoth stood up unsteadily and tried to scratch Shizu, but only ended up hurting himself instead.
"Don't try anything Slakoth, just wait for the confusion to pass." Senn ordered his Pokémon.
"Shizu, you're doing great girl! Hit him with another Confusion!" Haru rejoiced.
Shizu dodged out of the way of a swinging claw, but instead of jumping away further she got right up to Slakoth's face and hit him with a full frontal Confusion. Confused and dazed, Slakoth could only think of one option to stop the madness.
He fainted.
"Slakoth is unable to battle! Ralts is the winner!" The referee made his judgment.
"Shizu you were awesome—Shizu!" Haru's congratulations turned into a worried shout as his Ralts fell over, unconscious herself. Sighing, but a smile still tugging at his lips, Haru recalled her back into the Pokéball and rubbed his thumb tenderly across the capsule. "You were great Shizu, I'm really proud of you."
"Shizu is unable to battle—both parties now only have two Pokémon to battle!" The referee kept stock.
"I must say Haru, that was a great display of tactics with your Ralts. I usually only see higher level Ralts show such competence, and mainly because they have a greater arsenal of psychic attacks among other things." Senn commented, also recalling his knocked out Slakoth.
"Shizu trained really hard to gain some confidence in coming to this fight. I'm glad to see it paid off." Haru explained with a smile. "Then, next up—Shiyu, you ready for this?"
Haru's Eevee bounded out front, tail wagging energetically. "Vee!"
"That Eevee looks strong... then, I'll have to send out my Vigoroth!" Senn tossed out another Pokéball, and from it came the evolved form of Slakoth. Big and bad, it was definitely a different look from its pre-evolution stage. It was twice as big as Slakoth, with a more alert and thuggish look about it, white with a red tuft at the top of its head.
It pounded its chest and shouted, "Vigoroth!"
"Ooh boy." Haru whistled. "Shiyu, let's keep sharp okay? Try a Quick Attack!"
Shiyu shot forward, a trail like starlight following him as he headed straight for the Vigoroth. Vigoroth easily jumped over, and while in midair Senn gave his command.
"Vigoroth, Scratch attack!"
Vigoroth twisted his body and headed straight for Shiyu who had stopped his Quick Attack once he saw Vigoroth go airborne. Still, Shiyu was quick enough to dance away from the Scratch attack.
"Your Eevee is fast." Senn commented with a smile.
"So is your Vigoroth. Good thing I heard some rumors about that Vigoroth of yours." Haru returned. His face smoothed into a determined mask and he directed his Eevee.
"Shiyu, let's play chase!" Haru directed, and his Eevee shot forward without question.
Senn watched with intrigue as he tried to figure out the meaning behind the order to "play chase". It appeared to him that Haru's Pokémon were all full of surprises, and that the boy trained them in unconventional ways that would catch any trainer off guard. And apparentl, to some extent, even Gym Leaders. The Eevee Haru called Shiyu darted around the field with his Vigoroth. The little Eevee would either give chase and tail Vigoroth, until the larger Pokémon got angry with its shadow and started to chase it. It was a testament to Haru's ability as a trainer that his Vigoroth had yet to land a hit on the quick, nimble little Eevee.
"Vigorith, use Flame Thrower!" Senn called, and Haru countered with a "Go over!"
As a jet of flame erupted from Vigoroth's mouth, Eevee utilized some supreme leg power to jump over it—if he'd gone under or tried to dart to the side there was a good chance he'd still have been licked from the flames.
Still, it left the Eevee airborne even as Vigoroth quit with his Flame Thrower. "Scratch him Vigoroth!"
"No Shiyu!" Haru cried as his Eevee was cut by the Vigoroth and sent hurtling back to the ground. Luckily Shiyu landed on all fours, though he crouched in pain as he considered his injured flank.
"Shiyu, he's fast but so are you!" Haru mulled over his own words as he tried to figure out a game— oh hell, of course!
"Shiyu, Quick Attack!" Haru commanded. Shiyu shot forward again, doe brown eyes glinting in determination.
"Flame thrower Vigoroth!" Senn ordered.
"Get straight to him Shiyu!" Haru encouraged his Eevee to keep going. Shiyu dodged all the flame throwers sent his way with ease, using his small body to his advantage. Once he was close enough Haru gave his command.
"Skull Bash!" Shiyu jumped up into the air and bashed his head against Vigoroth. To Shiyu's surprise the bigger Pokémon didn't go down, though he was stumbling from the hit. However, Haru had his game plan and continued with it as soon as Shiyu had landed from sailing over the Vigoroth's shoulders.
"Get his feet Shiyu!" Haru shouted.
"Vigoroth, dodg—" Senn tried to tell his Pokémon, but Shiyu had executed a well-placed Quick Attack to the back of Vigoroth's knees and sent the larger Pokémon tumbling down with a heavy thud.
"Vigo... roth!" Vigoroth grunted, struggling back up, reeling from the double hits.
"The bigger they are the harder they fall." Haru quipped with a grin. He had to end this quick though—Shiyu was wincing from his own Skull Bash! "Shiyu, tackle!"
"Get him away Vigoroth!" Senn ordered, and Vigoroth batted the charging Eevee away with a heavy palm. Shiyu didn't land on his feet this time, and instead tumbled to the ground.
"Fury Swipes, go!" Senn cried out, and Vigoroth shot forward with a loud cry.
"Reflect Shiyu!" Haru called out, a tinge of desperation appearing in his voice. Shiyu braced himself and put up his shield. Once, twice, thrice—that was all Vigoroth did and it ended not a moment too soon—the damage may have been halved but it still sent Shiyu tumbling back with a cry of pain.
"Shiyu! Can you stand buddy?" Haru asked frantically.
"Vee..." Shiyu breathed out, rising to all fours and glaring at the Vigoroth.
"Scratch attack Vigoroth, he doesn't have much left." Senn declared. Vigoroth jumped forward with a cry, arm swinging back for a hit.
"Wait." Haru commanded his Eevee, who only glanced back before doing as told.
Vigoroth was coming towards him now, and his arm was starting to swing forward— "Bite him Shiyu!" Haru cried.
"Vee!" Shiyu slid under the attacking arm and hopped up to deliver a nasty Bite attack to Vigoroth. Vigoroth howled in pain and started stumbling about, trying to get the clinging Eevee off.
"Vigoroth, shake him!" Senn cried.
Vigoroth shook, and viciously. But Shiyu continued to hold on, even as he felt his strength drain from the energy it took.
"Shiyu, jump down and Quick Attack!" Haru ordered. Shiyu finally let go just as Vigoroth was performing a harried sort of pirouette, and as the Vigoroth's back faced him, he performed his Quick Attack. Vigoroth fell down with a thump, and tried once more to get up, before finally knocking out.
"Vigoroth is unable to battle, Eevee is the winner!" The referee was starting to sound incredulous now, and Haru shot him a dirty look before returning his attention to Shiyu. Shiyu dragged himself to Haru's side, sending a triumphant look to his owner before slumping down by Haru's feet and falling asleep.
"Hey you earned it pally." Haru chuckled, stooping down to ruffle Shiyu's fur. He straightened up and regarded Senn, who was looking at him with a mix of eagerness and interest.
"I suppose your Eevee also won't be able to battle?" Senn asked knowingly.
"Last one." Haru called out, successfully keeping his nerves out of his voice.
"Indeed." Senn agreed slowly, a smile nearly splitting his face in half as it slowly widened. "I haven't had a battle like this in ages... good job Haru!"
"Heh. Thanks." Haru rubbed the back of his head with a blush on his cheeks. "My Pokémon are all just awesome."
"Hmm... my last Pokémon then—Slaking!" To Haru, Death might as well have tolled a bell. No one told him about a Slaking, come on! Haru shook his head, dislodging such discouraging thoughts. His spitfire Poochyena had trained hard, he wasn't going to disgrace the pup by doubting everything now.
"Let's go Shirou!" Haru shouted, sending out his Poochyena who was already crouching in anticipation. "Okay big guy... your opponent's an even bigger guy. Fire up!"
Poochyena barked, it was almost a growl, and the Slaking looked down at him with an intense expression before smirking. Haru wondered if perhaps the Slaking was acknowledging Shirou's abilities, or if he was merely being condescending.
"Haru it's been some great battles, but I think your luck has ran out here." Senn noted, before giving a command to his Slaking. "Slaking, Focus Punch!"
"Slaking!" The big ape roared before it shot off towards Shirou.
Hell of a lot faster than Slakoth of course, but not as fast as that Vigoroth of his, Haru took a quick mental note of this even as he issued an order to Shirou. "Jump on him Shirou!"
Shirou, instead of quailing from the glowing fist like any normal Pokémon, instead runs straight towards it—jumping on the arm, and then moving to the Slaking's shoulders.
"Hold on with Bite Shirou!"
Shirou obliges and delivers what Haru considers to be the little pooch's specialty—the hardest Bite this side of Hoenn. Slaking shouts out, and grabs on to the little Dark type Pokémon. To Haru's dismay, Slaking pulls Shirou off like's he's plucking a grape from a vine, and tosses Shirou harshly.
Shirou bounces upon impact with the ground and rolls but secures himself on his feet with a snort. "That's good Shirou!" Haru encouraged, then he noticed the way Slaking's head was tilted down. "Uh... what's up with Slaking?"
Slaking obliged him with an answer. Jerking his head up the powerful primate roared out, "Slaking!" and started to beat his chest.
"Ooh, looks like Slaking is angry." Haru heard Mistuko mutter from the sidelines. Oh crap... uh, let's just keep to evasive maneuvers for now!
"Slaking, Earthquake!" Senn cried. Slaking lifted his feet and stomped down hard, creating waves that rocked through the ground. Haru yelped as he almost fell over, struggling to keep steady. "Just keep crouched Shirou, lower your center of gravity!" Haru called out, voice warbling as the ground and himself continued to shake.
"Shirou... try a Shadow Ball!" Haru gambled on this move, as Shirou had trouble with offensive attack, but perhaps in the heat of battle.
Shirou barked, and opened up his maw, a ball of dark energy growing. Once it had grown somewhat it jettisoned towards Slaking, who looked at it in disdain. Haru tsked, knowing that the attack would be weak.
"Hyper Beam Slaking!" Senn ordered the counter. From Slaking's open mouth came a stream of bright, concentrated energy that completely obliterated the puny Shadow Ball and headed straight for a startled Shirou.
"Dodge boy!" Haru ordered, and as Shirou jumped to the side he hurriedly put his arms up as the attack made contact with the ground and had him trying to avoid flying debris.
"Are you alright Haru?" Senn shouted worriedly, thinking he might have overdone it as the Earthquake started to fade.
"Yeah, I'm good!" Haru reassured with a bright grin and a thumbs up. "Only a scratch." He chuckled. "Shirou, make a note of this—whatever you do, do not get hit by that Hyper Beam!"
Shirou barked nervously, clearly in agreement with his trainer.
"Just dodging isn't going to win this battle for you," Senn lectured. "Slaking, give me another Focus Punch!"
"Dodge it Shirou!" Haru called absentmindedly, mind racing through possible attacks that could hurt the hulking Slaking. That thing wasn't even all that bothered by Shirou's bite... it's big, heavily muscled, and fast... if I don't think of something quick Shirou's in trouble!
The Focus Punch was so hard, it created a crater from where it hit as Shirou dodged—but Slaking was still fast enough to slap Shirou away, the Poochyena howling as it flew to the other side of the battlefield.
"Ah!" Haru cringed, almost feeling that hit for himself. "Come on Shirou, show him some guts!"
Shirou got back up, barking heatedly, covered in scratches from his tumbles.
Haru knew another hit would spell trouble from those heavy hands, if not failure, so he either had to stay out of range... or get in range. "Shirou, let's go close quarters with this one!"
"Haru, you really want to get your Poochyena in line with my Slaking's hits?" Senn called. "Slaking Scratch attack!"
"Sand Attack Shirou!" Haru shouted. Shirou barked, and once Slaking was within range, kicked up a large enough dirt cloud to irritate and blind the Slaking.
"Slaking move away, don't let him get you!" Senn said.
"Go for eye-level Shirou!" Haru cheered, grinning wildly as a dark blur shot out of the sand cloud and darted for the retreating Slaking. Shirou put on a burst of speed and landed a vicious Bite attack to Slaking's calf, getting a grunt of pain and even more irritation from the larger Pokémon.
"Alright buddy, let's test out his footwork!" Haru rallied his Poochyena.
"Earthquake Slaking!" Senn cried out, but Slaking was too busy trying to swat away the tiny blur that used very sharp teeth to nip and bite at his ankles and feet, calves and knees. But he'd most certainly get to it if he could just... stomp... this damn Poochyena!
"Don't let him go airborne Shirou, give him the run around, and then go around!" Haru called out.
Senn saw this trick for what it was—a last-ditch ploy... Haru was getting desperate. Still, while his Slaking was being thoroughly distracted he could hardly perform his Earthquake.
"Slaking, Scratch him once he's in range!" Senn ordered. Slaking grunted in assent, and once the puppy darted back to his feet he dove in for a scratch.
"Slide Shirou!" Haru shouted. Shirou dropped as low as he could and slid under the Slaking to avoid the hit, scrabbling back up once he faced Slaking's back. "Now, get ready with Shadow Ball!"
Shirou took in so much air he nearly puffed up to twice his size, and called forth as much of his strength as he could muster. He held it, letting it grow as he waited for the say-so.
"Slaking Earthquake now!" Senn shouted.
"Slaking!" Slaking roared and jumped into the air.
"Now Shirou, back of his head." Haru rushed to say, already watching Slaking's descent. Shirou came through fantastically, his bigger and stronger second Shadow Ball hitting directly at the back of the head—Slaking caused an earthquake alright, just through a full on body slam to the ground rather than with his feet as intended. Slaking groaned in pain, rising to all fours as he shook his head.
"That was totally awesome Shirou!" Haru whooped, jumping up before getting himself under control. "Okay, Bite!"
"What's that going to do, you saw already the results of the last one? Dodge it Slaking!" Senn called. Slaking jumped up pretty quickly alright, but Shirou had since learned the value of really digging in, and he clung onto Slaking's shoulder with tenacity as he bit down hard. Slaking cried out, having a harder time getting Shirou off from behind him. As Slaking stumbled around arms reaching around wildly to grab the Poochyena, Haru frantically searched through his mind for anything to pull off his win before his poor Poochyena just fell out.
"Poochyena, get a good grip and then howl into his ear." Haru ordered cautiously, not really knowing himself where this was going.
Shirou shot him a strange look, but complied. Adjusting himself, stretching up his upper body to wiggle up onto the Slaking's shoulders more—and wishing exasperatedly that this form had claws — Poochyena let go, and howled long and high into Slaking's right ear.
"Sla!" Slaking cried out, ears ringing from the high sound.
"Oh no." Senn muttered, seeing his Slaking now—vulnerable after such an attack that knocked his equilibrium off, and showing signs of exhaustion. "Slaking, pull yourself together for a Focus Punch!"
Slaking shook his head, trying to escape the ringing from his ears. He was disoriented! Haru capitalized on this.
"Shirou, I know you have it in you... give him a Shadow Ball right in the kisser!" Haru shouted out, hoping beyond hope this would be the last attack.
Shirou barked, and readied up another Shadow Ball. He had a clear target, the Slaking still shaking his head to try and escape the ringing of the howl. Shirou's eyes narrowed. Aim... set... fire!
"Slaking!" Slaking cried out in pain before falling to the ground heavily.
"Ah, Slaking!" Senn cried.
"Sla... king." Slaking mumbled before he fell out.
"Slaking is unable to battle, Poochyena is the winner!" The referee called the battle. "The battle goes to Haru Namikaze!"
Senn sighed, recalling his Pokémon with a small smile. "That was a great battle wasn't it, Slaking?" he murmured to his ball. He looked up, and outright laughed at the gob smacked expression on Haru's face.
"Don't look so shocked—you earned this badge!" Senn laughed good naturedly. Haru blinked slowly, shaking his head.
"Yeah... we won." He gasped, coming alive with a dazzling grin and a whoop. "Oh we won, Shirou—oh no, Shirou!" he had just realized his Pokémon was now on the ground panting heavily. As a matter of fact, his Pokémon needed attention stat. Recalling Shirou quickly, and scooping up Shiyu, Haru bolted out the room.
"Be right back, Pokémon Center!" Haru exclaimed hurriedly, and they only heard the snap of a door closing before all was silent.
Senn scratched his head and huffed in amusement. "He didn't even think to grab the badge beforehand..." he shrugged. "Well, he'll just come back for it."
"Honey that was a fantastic fight!" Mitsuko enthused, clapping her hands together once. She turned to the partially opened screen door on the right.
Senn turned towards it too with a smirk. "He just might turn out to be a regular old chip off the old block..."
The door opened further, revealing Minato who glowed with pride as a smug curl of his lips tinted his expression with pure wickedness.
"... Eh, Minato?"