Pokémon: Master of the Rain Team

”You actually won the whole thing, brat.” Blaine smiled when he saw Reiji walking over with the trophy in his arms.

Reiji was not his student, but he had used rock armor in the finals and used it well. Blaine had been away from the tournament scene for years, and seeing rock armor appear in a major match again made him happier than he wanted to admit. Teaching him had not been a waste.

”Rai-nii, trophy! Trophy!” Amber reached out with her small hands, eyes fixed on the shiny trophy under the lights.

”When you become a Trainer, you’ll win trophies too,” Reiji said, rubbing her short blue hair.

He did not doubt that for a second. With Blaine and Agatha teaching her, Amber would have a hard time not winning trophies in the future. She might end up with more than she knew what to do with.

Tania was the same. If she had not run into Reiji, who already knew every dirty trick around Perish Song, she would not have looked so helpless. If she had been placed in Group A instead, the final against Reggie might have been a very different match.

”Brat, what are you doing next?” Blaine set Amber down and let Elisia take her. Then he walked a few steps with Reiji and brought up the future.

”I’ll go back to the Orange Archipelago first. I haven’t thought much further than that. I’ll probably stay there for a while.” Reiji did not know why Blaine was asking, so he answered honestly. Now that the Indigo Plateau Conference was over, he only needed to go back and collect the Pokémon needed for linked evolution. After that, he had nothing urgent to do.

”I see.” Blaine rubbed his chin.

So Reiji did not know about the League’s plans for the Orange Archipelago.

Blaine had no intention of spelling it out. He could not leak the League’s layout. Still, a warning was fine, so he teased him first.

”You won the championship. You’re the man of the hour now.”

”Not really. I’ve been spending half my time hiding from reporters. It’s annoying.” Reiji shot him a look. Did this old man think he was that easy to fool?

”You won the whole thing and you’re still trying to keep a low profile.” Blaine clicked his tongue, but he looked relieved. At least the boy had not let the win go to his head. His judgment had not been wrong.

Then his tone turned more serious.

”When you get back, don’t agree to anything just because someone comes looking for you.”

”What do you mean?” Reiji caught the smell of trouble. He had only won a youth tournament. Who would bother scheming against him?

”It’s nothing too serious. Just remember this: aside from Mikan Gym, don’t accept offers from strangers.” Blaine warned him again. He needed Reiji to be careful of people offering sweet deals with hooks hidden inside.

Reiji was this year’s Indigo Plateau Conference champion, and the timing was sensitive. The League was preparing to move in the Orange Archipelago, and that made him easy to notice. If certain people connected the dots too quickly, things could get messy.

If Reiji got too involved with forces outside the League, it could damage his future in the League. In the worst case, he might even be removed from the support list.

That would be a real shame. Before the League was ready, Blaine could only hint at it.

As for what Mikan Gym might want from Reiji, there was nothing the League could do about that.

First, Mikan Gym was already a League Gym. The League had no reason to object.

Second, Reiji had only become a certified League Trainer at fifteen. That meant he had been blocked for a long time. Letting a talent like him drift outside the system had been the League’s own mistake.

Now that he had joined Mikan Gym, the League had no grounds to complain. At least he was still a League Trainer. It was late, but not too late.

Third, whatever Mikan Gym could offer him, the League could offer more if Reiji reached the level they expected. When the time came, Blaine believed Reiji would know how to choose.

”I understand.” Reiji had a rough idea now.

Blaine was warning him not to get pulled in by outside forces, especially groups like Team Rocket.

He had probably caught the attention of the League’s higher-ups. Otherwise, Blaine would not be warning him so carefully.

Lance’s words from earlier fit too. They would meet again. Under what circumstances would he meet an Elite Four member, soon to be Champion, again?

There was only one possibility. Reiji might be considered for an Elite Four position in the future. He might become Lance’s colleague. The League was thinking about investing in him. Whether that investment grew would depend on how he performed from here on.

He did not know how badly he would have to mess up to be cut off, but Blaine had drawn the line for him: no strangers, no outside forces, nothing beyond Mikan Gym.

That did not include the League or Gym Leaders like Blaine. Otherwise, Blaine would not have gone out of his way to warn him.

”As long as you understand.” Blaine nodded inwardly.

He had made that warning vague on purpose, yet Reiji still picked up on it. The boy really was sharp.

Then again, that was the same boy who had charged into a Team Rocket base, stood in front of the Legendary Pokémon Ho-Oh, escaped from Vicious, and still managed to cause trouble on a ship before calling Blaine in to clean up the mess.

Blaine was satisfied with him.

It was just a shame. If he had met Reiji earlier, he might have taken him as a student. Instead, the boy had grown wild on his own and ended up on the path of a Water-type Trainer. Their types simply did not match.

”Blaine, did you bring the location of Blastoise Island?” Reiji asked.

Seeing Blaine reminded him of Squirtle. The League had disgusted him with those prizes, but there was nothing he could do about it. He was not about to complain to the League over award Pokémon. He liked being alive.

”Blastoise Island?” Blaine looked at him oddly. ”Wasn’t the tournament prize a Kanto starter? You didn’t choose one?”

”Ahem.” Reiji had to explain. ”The starters they put out as prizes were worse than the Pokémon in your lab. If I hadn’t seen them, fine, but they put all three right in front of me. Did you really think I’d choose one?”

Blaine was not sure where this year’s prizes had come from, but knowing the League, they were probably Pokémon left over after research labs finished their own selection.

He had lived long enough to know what kind of Pokémon the League usually gave out as rewards. He did not know what to say. He only hoped Reiji would not take it too hard. It would be a waste if someone like him became disappointed in the League over this.

He was also a little surprised Reiji could tell, but after thinking about Reiji’s Pokémon, it made sense. Kingler with its huge claw, Forretress with its dark shell, that brutal Poliwhirl, the golden-lightning Accelgor—each of them had clearly been raised with a specific direction in mind.

Anyone who could train Pokémon like that would have a good eye. Of course he would notice something wrong with the starters.

”I didn’t bring the location. I forgot last time.” Blaine scratched his head awkwardly. ”How about this? I’ll have the lab send you a Squirtle later.”

”No need. I’d rather catch one myself.” Reiji turned him down.

He did not want a Pokémon from Blaine’s lab. If Blaine sent over a Squirtle with terrible potential, Reiji would not be able to refuse it without making things awkward. He would have to swallow the loss.

If that was the case, it was better to choose one himself.

”Fair enough. When I get back to the Gym, I’ll send you the location.” Blaine thought for a moment and came up with another idea, but he did not try to force a Squirtle on him.

Reiji was not a child. If he had clearly refused, pushing the matter would only turn a good intention into a problem. Young people had their own plans. Old men like him did not need to get in the way.

”You’re leaving already?” Reiji looked at Amber. They had only been here for a few days.

”Yeah. Agatha found something good in the ruins and keeps rushing us over. Besides, I’ve been away from the Gym for a week. I should go back before an inspector visits and finds the Gym Leader missing.” Blaine admitted to skipping work with no shame at all.

Getting paid by the League while traveling around. Honestly, Reiji was jealous.

He wanted that too. A title, a salary, benefits, and some temporary workers to do the actual work.

He had wanted it in his previous life too. Why else would so many people fight for stable government jobs? The work was slow, the efficiency was awful, and who knew how many people only had their names on the roster. Reiji had always been jealous of that.

If he could not enjoy that kind of life in his previous world, he would absolutely become a useless parasite in this one. No one could stop him.

As for being a good person?

Screw that.

Good people had guns pointed at them. Bad people ruled the world. If someone had to be the bad guy, why should it be someone else?

Anyone who wanted to be good could do it themselves. Reiji was not interested. Not even if someone beat him to death. That was what more than twenty years of avoiding the workplace had taught him.

Either keep yourself clean and stay out of trouble, or join the bad guys and become one of them. Good people bled, suffered, and still got blamed. Only an idiot would choose that.

”I’ll see you off.” Reiji ruffled Amber’s hair again and pinched her soft cheek. She really was adorable.

”Rai-nii, it hurts.” Amber raised a clumsy hand to swat him, but Reiji dodged instantly. Her cheeks puffed up in anger, which only made her look even cuter.

In his previous life, Reiji had a little niece too. Making her cry had been one of his few hobbies.

”Amber, can you give the trophy back to Rai-nii?” Elisia saw Blaine’s look and gently asked Amber to put it down.

”Elisia, let her hold it a little longer if she likes it. She can even sleep with it tonight.” Reiji waved it off. It was only a trophy. To many people, it was an honor. To him, it was just a thing. Fishing made him happier.

”We can’t do that.” Elisia looked embarrassed when she saw how little he cared.

”If Amber likes it, let her hold it,” Blaine said, accepting Reiji’s kindness.

It was only a championship trophy, and Reiji clearly did not value it that much. Blaine could see that now. Ho-Oh’s Rainbow Wing and the three starter Pokémon Ho-Oh had blessed for Amber were far more valuable than a trophy, and Reiji had not been greedy over those either.

”Rai-nii, play Pokémon with me,” Amber said, no longer upset. She reached out, wanting Reiji to play a Pokémon battle game with her.

”Sure, sure. Pokémon battle.” Reiji carried Amber and left the stadium with Blaine.

Outside the venue, a car was already waiting.

”You can stop here. We’ll take a boat at the foot of the mountain and get off at Pallet Town. I want to visit Professor Oak’s lab while we’re there.” Blaine took Amber from Reiji. Amber seemed to realize they were leaving.

”Grandpa Blaine, are we going?” Amber held onto Reiji, her mouth trembling as she looked pitifully at Blaine.

”Yeah, Amber. Rai-nii still has things to do. Let’s go back and wait for him, all right?” Blaine patted her hair. ”You’re a Trainer now too. Train hard, then beat Rai-nii, the champion. How does that sound?”

”I’ll train Pikachu hard and beat Rai-nii’s champion.” Amber still looked unwilling, but she slowly let go of Reiji. She clutched the trophy tightly and shouted, ”Amber will beat Rai-nii! Then the trophy will be Amber’s!”

”Of course. It’s Amber’s.” Reiji reached through the car window and rubbed her hair. He and Blaine coaxed her for a while before she finally agreed to leave with Blaine and Elisia.

”Rai, thank you for everything with Amber,” Elisia said through the car window. ”Come visit us on Cinnabar Island when you have time. I’ll cook something nice for you.”

After spending these days together, Elisia could tell Reiji truly treated Amber well. He had filled the role of a big brother for her, and that made Elisia happy. This boy had helped them far too much.

She did not have much money and could not do much for him. She still had Amber to look after. All she could offer was a meal.

”I’ll remember that, Elisia.” Reiji nodded and waved goodbye, watching the car carry Amber and Blaine away.

His championship trophy left with Amber too.

Only after the taillights disappeared did he lower his hand. There was a bench under a streetlamp nearby, so he sat down, took out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter, and lit one.

For some reason, he really wanted one right now.

Maybe because Amber and Blaine had left.

Maybe because the Indigo Plateau Conference was over.

”Reiji-nii?”

Shun had followed him out. As soon as he came outside, he saw Reiji sitting by the road, smoking.

”Shun.” Reiji looked up, crushed the cigarette under his shoe, and patted the seat beside him.

”Reiji-nii, you won the championship. You were amazing.” Shun sat down and went straight to the tournament.

”Haha. Work hard, and you can win it next year too. Don’t let one loss get to you.” Reiji smiled and encouraged him. Nothing in his expression showed the mood he had been in a moment ago.

”I will.” Shun nodded seriously.

He did not doubt that he could win. If he passed Bruno’s training, he would be able to take the Indigo Plateau Conference.

After all, the tournament’s level was around where Reiji was now. Shun believed he could catch up.

”I’ll head back to the Orange Archipelago tomorrow or the day after. Are you coming with me?”

”No. Teacher Bruno wants me to stay in Kanto and train with him. Next time we meet, Reiji-nii, I’ll surprise you.” Shun had that much confidence. By the time they met again, he would have changed enough to make Reiji see him differently.

”Oh?” Reiji was not surprised. With a proper teacher, Shun would improve much faster. He was happy for him. ”Shun, learn properly from Bruno. Next time…”

”Shun! Shun!”

”That’s Teacher Bruno.” Shun turned toward the voice and saw Bruno calling him from a car. He looked back at Reiji, hesitant.

”Go on. Don’t make your teacher wait.” Reiji patted him and smiled, encouraging him to be braver. He was still waiting for Shun to get stronger so he could help him later.

”Then… I’m going.” Shun hesitated for one second, so Reiji stood up and kicked him in the butt.

”Get moving already,” Reiji said with a laugh.

”Hehe. I’m going, then. Teacher Bruno said the Orange Archipelago will hold a tournament. I’ll be back before it starts.” Shun scratched his head awkwardly.

Reiji was still Reiji. Even the way he cared about people had not changed.

”Go, go.” Reiji waved him off and watched him run through the night and get into the car.

Then he took out another cigarette and lit it.

He leaned back against the bench, drained, and let out a long sigh.

”They’re all leaving…”

Click.

While Reiji was sighing, someone in a white uniform with short blue hair sat beside him, picked up his cigarette pack and lighter without asking, and lit one.

”Phew…”

”Well, that’s rare. You guys haven’t left yet?” Reiji glanced over and recognized him at once.

James from Team Rocket.

”Ash leaves tomorrow,” James said.

That explained everything.

After that, neither of them spoke. There was not much to say anyway.

James could have lived as the young master of a wealthy family, but instead he had run off to mess around with Team Rocket. All to avoid an arranged marriage, or maybe to run away from something else.

Reiji never really understood him. If he became strong enough, would those problems not solve themselves?

”Jessie, what are those two guys doing, meow?”

”How should I know? Don’t ask me.” Jessie rolled her eyes. She really did not understand what had gotten into them. Both of them were sitting there acting all gloomy.

”I get it, meow. Only a lonely man can understand another lonely man.”

”Meowth, where did you even learn that? You’re a Pokémon!”

”Meow. You wouldn’t understand.” Meowth gave her a knowing look and remembered its own painful past.

Whether Jessie understood or not, Meowth had already left the grass and walked over to James. It picked up the cigarette pack and lit one for itself too.

Then—

”Cough! Cough, cough!”

Meowth had never smoked before. The moment it put the cigarette in its mouth, it choked. So much for acting cool.

”Ahahaha!”

Seeing Meowth cough, Reiji quickly patted its back to help it spit the cigarette out. Then he and James burst into shameless laughter.

”I told you Meowth wouldn’t be able to resist. You lost.”

”Hahaha, you really called it. You understand Meowth way too well.”

After laughing, both of them suddenly stopped.

James slowly stood, dropped the burned-out cigarette on the ground, and called Meowth along.

”Meowth, let’s go.”

”James, you two bet on me? Damn it, meow!”

”Hahaha, don’t take it so seriously, Meowth. We’re partners, aren’t we?”

”And me! Don’t leave me behind, idiots!” Jessie jumped out of the grass and ran after the man and the Meowth ahead of her.

”What a fun bunch.” Reiji stood up too, taking his cigarettes and lighter with him.

Only then did he notice a slip of paper under the pack.

James and Meowth had both touched it.

He picked it up.

Be careful of Team Rocket.

The words made his pupils shrink.

He acted like nothing had happened, took another cigarette from the pack, and put it to his lips. As he lit the cigarette, he burned the note too.

The paper turned to ash in the flame and scattered into the wind.

A faint smile touched the corner of his mouth. Then he stepped out of the streetlamp’s glow and disappeared into the night.

”Cute and charming villains, huh? Thanks.”

[End of chapter]

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