Pokémon: Master of the Rain Team

Reiji woke up a little after nine at night. After feeding his Pokémon dinner, he was ready to go out and find something to eat. The moment he opened the door, he saw Cissy crouching outside.

He didn’t call out to her. He simply walked past with Eevee and Poliwhirl as if he hadn’t seen her.

”Jerk. You clearly saw me.” Cissy followed him, furious. The way he ignored her made her want to bite him.

”Yes, yes, I saw you, princess.” Reiji yawned. He was still half-asleep and would probably need another night before he felt normal again. ”Why haven’t you gone home? Your family must be worried.”

”You... Why?” Cissy’s eyes were already turning red. ”Why did you save me and then ignore me?”

No one had ever treated her like this. She was a Gym Leader. A pretty one, too. Couldn’t he at least say something nice instead of acting like a shameless jerk every time?

”I’m talking to you right now, aren’t I? I’m going out to eat. What do you want?”

Reiji’s head hurt. What was she even trying to do? Where was the proud Gym Leader who kept strangers away? Where was the girl who hated evil and wanted to tear him apart?

He honestly preferred the Cissy from before. It didn’t matter if she was flat. Just please, no romance-brain.

Dear heavens, please do not let her cling to him.

He had only just cleared things up with one girl in Kanto, and now another one was showing up. His head hurt.

If they all gathered in one place, they might as well play mahjong. He could forget about being a Trainer entirely.

The two walked and talked like that all the way to the food street. Reiji didn’t know what to eat, but Cissy did. She suggested an outdoor barbecue place she liked.

Reiji was too lazy to choose, so he followed her there. The barbecue place was lively. Everyone sat outside, and the night breeze felt cool. It reminded him of the open-air food stalls from his previous life.

As soon as they sat down, Cissy brought over a crate of cold beer and set it heavily on the table. Then she opened a bottle for him.

”Beer?” Reiji looked at the cold bottle, white mist curling from its mouth. What was she doing? Drinking with him? Was she serious?

”It’s beer.” Cissy took a long drink first and let out a satisfied breath. Then she put the bottle down and said, ”It’s this hot out. Of course you need cold beer.”

”But... aren’t you underage? If your grandpa finds out you’re drinking...” Reiji stopped there.

Had being rescued really changed her this much? She was drinking in front of him now.

”If you don’t tell him and I don’t tell him, Grandpa won’t know.” Cissy started to glare at him, then remembered how she had hugged him in a towel that morning. Her face turned red, and her voice softened. ”You won’t tell, right?”

”I won’t.” Reiji coughed and avoided her heated stare. He picked up the beer and took a sip too, changing the subject. ”Don’t drink too much. If you get drunk, I’m not carrying you back.”

”Tch. Who asked you to carry me? Maybe I’ll be the one carrying you back.”

Cissy blushed again. She remembered him saying he hadn’t felt anything even when she was pressed against him. This jerk really said he felt nothing.

She secretly looked down at herself and fell silent.

Well... she really was flat. When she looked in the hotel mirror, even she had trouble telling the front from the back.

Did this jerk like bigger ones?

The thought made her go quiet. She would remember this forever.

”Fine, fine. The food’s here. Eat and go back to sleep.” Reiji didn’t argue. He had no interest in guessing what a girl was thinking. Tomorrow, he was heading back to Mikan Gym. Whether she went back or not was her problem.

Once the meat arrived, Cissy started grilling. Reiji only had to eat.

According to Cissy, this meal was her thanks for saving her. Tonight was on her, and he could eat as much as he wanted.

Reiji accepted it and quietly ate the barbecue. She needed some way to let out what she was feeling. If he didn’t let her pay him back a little, it would just sit in her chest and make things worse.

While Reiji and Cissy ate barbecue and drank cold beer, Saya arrived at the same food street.

She had reached Mandarin Island North earlier that day. She was here to scout a location for her haunted-house hotel, and this city had the customers she wanted.

The smell of food drifted through the street. Saya brought her young helper into the crowd. Open-air food stalls were everywhere, and diners clinked glasses and laughed around them.

”Saya, what should we eat? It’s been so long since I’ve seen somewhere this lively.”

”Mina, what do you want?”

”Gulp.” Mina looked at the food around them, her small nose twitching. There was so much that looked good, she couldn’t decide.

”Haha, someone’s hungry.” Saya smiled at her.

Mina was a neighbor’s daughter. Ever since the haunted-house hotel had become popular, she had been helping Saya run it.

Saya had brought her along on this trip so she could see more of the outside world. Safety wasn’t an issue. Saya was a decent Trainer now. She also accepted Trainer challenges at the hotel, so she had gotten plenty of practice.

”Saya, don’t laugh at me. You’re mean.” Mina covered her face, embarrassed that Saya had caught her being greedy again.

”Come on. Let’s buy a few skewers first. Then we’ll see what else looks good.” Saya hid a laugh behind her hand and led Mina deeper into the food street.

There were so many things she hadn’t seen before.

They bought food wherever they stopped, and before long, both of them were carrying armfuls of snacks. After walking until they were tired, they decided to sit down and eat properly. They ordered barbecue and found an empty table.

By pure bad luck, they sat right across from Reiji.

Saya had her back to him. Mina was facing him.

After tearing through a long skewer of meat, Mina noticed Reiji. Saya had watched the Indigo Plateau Conference every day, so Mina had ended up watching it too. That was how she recognized him.

”Saya, guess who I saw?” Mina took a magazine from her bag. On the cover was a photo of Reiji after winning the championship. Since Saya looked at it often, Mina had bought a copy too. After comparing the photo several times, she couldn’t hold back anymore.

”Who?” Saya didn’t think much of it. Mina was always playful. Nothing she did would surprise Saya.

”I saw the Indigo Plateau Conference champion. Should we go ask for an autograph?” Mina had seen Saya stare at the champion’s photo many times, so she assumed Saya was a fan. This was the perfect chance to get a photo and signature.

”Who?” Saya’s voice rose.

This time, she had heard something that made her heart jump.

”The Indigo Plateau Conference champion. He’s at the table next to us.” Mina pouted. Why was Saya so loud? It was only a champion.

”Rai?” Saya finally heard her clearly.

She turned around and saw Reiji drinking. Cissy had her back to her and was ignored completely. Saya stood at once and walked toward him.

”Saya, where are you going?” Mina froze for a second, then hurried after her.

Reiji had no idea Saya was nearby.

While drinking, he had noticed a little girl staring at him from the corner of his eye. He even touched his face without thinking. Was there something on it? Or was there a piece of red chili stuck in his teeth?

Otherwise, why would a girl that young keep staring at him for so long?

Then he saw a familiar long-haired girl turn around, and his stomach sank.

Why was she here?

Her twin tails were gone. Her hair had been straightened and parted down the middle, making her look much more mature.

But that wasn’t the problem.

The problem was that she was walking over.

What was she planning to do?

Reiji pretended not to look, but she still stopped in front of him.

”Rai...” Saya called softly.

”Long time no see, Saya.” Reiji gave her an awkward but polite smile and raised a hand in greeting.

”It has been about half a year.” Saya nervously rubbed the edge of her clothes. ”Congratulations on winning the championship.”

She had imagined many ways they might meet again. She had never imagined running into him like this, without warning. She wasn’t ready at all, yet her feet had already brought her over.

”Are you here for dinner too? Sit down and eat with us.” Reiji stood and pulled out a chair for her.

She had already come over. He couldn’t just leave her standing there.

”Thank you.” Saya sat down happily, her eyes staying on Reiji the whole time. She barely noticed Cissy beside him.

”Rai, is she your friend? Why haven’t I heard about her?” Cissy couldn’t keep quiet anymore.

This girl was pretty. Gentle, polite, and worse—bigger than her.

Ahem.

More importantly, Cissy understood the way Saya was looking at Reiji. This girl clearly liked him.

She had thought Reiji was just some orphan, but he had a pretty girl like this interested in him. Cissy suddenly felt threatened. Compared with Saya, she felt like some loud tomboy.

”We met while I was traveling. Her name is Saya.” Reiji could already feel the battlefield forming, but he had no choice but to introduce them.

Why did these two have to meet here? He was not ready for this.

Wait. No.

He hadn’t done anything wrong. These two were just female friends at most. It wasn’t like his girlfriend had caught him cheating. Why was he feeling guilty? Why was he nervous?

”Rai, who is she?” Saya only noticed Cissy after hearing her speak. She had been too happy to see Reiji and really hadn’t paid attention to her before.

”She’s...” Reiji had just started to introduce her when Cissy cut in.

”I’m his girlfriend.”

Even Cissy didn’t know how she managed to say it. She had no idea how much courage it took, but the words came out anyway.

”Girlfriend...?” Saya’s voice rose in shock.

The excitement from seeing him slowly dropped into confusion.

If Reiji had a girlfriend, why had she come over? Maybe they were on a trip together, celebrating his Indigo Plateau Conference win.

”Uh...” Reiji didn’t deny it.

He had actually wanted Cissy to pretend for him. Since she had said it herself, he went along with it. It was just a little cruel to Saya.

”Sorry for bothering you. I hope you two enjoy your night.”

Saya turned and left as if she had made up her mind, never looking back.

Reiji opened his mouth, then closed it again.

This had been what he wanted. What else was there to say?

The Smiling Spider situation would only get bigger. Both the law and the underworld would probably come after him. He didn’t want to drag Saya into it, and he didn’t have the strength to protect her.

This was not the time for romance. It was better like this. Better for everyone.

Let time bury it.

Let her forget him.

Mina followed Saya, not really understanding what had happened. She hadn’t dared speak just now.

But when Saya heard that Reiji had a girlfriend, her face changed. Mina understood then.

”Saya, I’ll help you teach that bad guy a lesson.”

”Mina, we shouldn’t bother him.” Saya shook her head. Her mood had fallen hard.

Was her little crush really ending like this?

Thinking back, she remembered where she had seen that woman before. She was Cissy, the Gym Leader of Mikan Gym.

Saya was doing well now because of the haunted-house hotel, and she could be considered a small rich woman. But compared with a Gym Leader?

She suddenly felt she couldn’t compare at all.

No wonder Reiji had chosen Cissy.

If Cissy could hear Saya’s thoughts, she would definitely complain. She was the one who couldn’t compare. No wonder Reiji liked bigger girls.

But a woman caught up in feelings wouldn’t stop to check whether any of this made sense. Reiji was an orphan. How could he possibly get together with a Gym Leader? Even if he wanted to marry into the Gym, the Gym would have to accept him first.

Saya was upset and not thinking that far.

She and Reiji had only met once. It had been a chance encounter from the start. He helped her protect the castle, and she helped him catch Gastly. Maybe everything had already ended the moment that deal was done.

So this was what it felt like to like someone and lose them. For a moment, it really did hurt.

Time would help her forget him.

Probably.

Reiji was the same. He didn’t dare touch this kind of thing right now. For a good girl like Saya, all he could do was feel sorry.

Better for them to forget each other.

Back on the food street, Cissy watched Reiji look after Saya as she left. She was so angry her teeth itched.

”Oh? The pretty girl left. Can’t bear to see her go? Then chase her.”

Didn’t he see her leaving? If he missed her that much, go after her. If he liked big girls, go after her.

In Cissy’s mind, two tiny versions of herself were already beating Reiji up.

In truth, she didn’t want him to chase after Saya. If he did, that would mean she would be giving wedding money instead of receiving it.

She didn’t know when it started, but she seemed to like this jerk a little.

Why?

He was awful. Why would she like a jerk like this?

”No. I’m going back to the hotel.” Reiji waved it off with a bitter smile and stood. ”Thanks for earlier.”

He had eaten enough and wanted to go back to sleep.

”Wait for me.” Cissy paid behind him and hurried after him.

Neither of them spoke on the way back. Cissy kept thinking about why he had thanked her. Did that mean he didn’t mind her saying she was his girlfriend?

That thought made her a little happy.

Then she frowned.

Why thank her?

Had she helped him somehow? What had she helped with?

Back at the hotel, Reiji showered, dropped onto the bed, and lay still.

Poliwhirl could tell he was in a bad mood and called softly from beside the bed. ”Poli, Poli.”

”I’m fine, Poliwhirl. Rest up. We’re going back tomorrow.” Reiji reached out and patted its head.

”Vee.” Eevee rubbed against him too, trying to cheer him up.

”Yeah, yeah. You too.” Reiji patted Eevee’s head. It made a decent pillow.

As for Saya, ending things here was fine.

That was what he told himself as he closed his eyes and slowly fell asleep.

Click.

Just as Reiji was about to sleep, the door opened from outside.

Poliwhirl got up and went to the door. When it saw Cissy, it relaxed.

”Princess, why are you coming into my room at night instead of sleeping?” Reiji turned on the light and saw her standing there. He rubbed his forehead. What was she trying to do now?

”I’m scared. Sorry. I’ll sleep on the couch.” Cissy knew this wasn’t proper, but she hadn’t slept all day. At night, she was too afraid to be alone, so she quietly came over.

”Do what you want.” Reiji turned off the light and lay back down.

She could sleep wherever she wanted. He wasn’t going to stop her. But if she thought he was giving up the bed, she could forget it.

The room went quiet again, except for Cissy’s breathing. She wrapped herself in the blanket, curled up on the couch, and stared at the lights outside the window. She had too much on her mind to sleep.

”You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” she asked after a long silence.

Reiji didn’t answer.

Cissy knew he was awake. He was just pretending.

”That girl liked you. I could tell.”

”I don’t want someone using her to get to me.”

Cissy froze for a moment. Then she understood.

That was why he hadn’t denied it when she called herself his girlfriend. That was why he hadn’t gone after Saya. He had used Cissy to make Saya give up.

Not because he didn’t care, but because he didn’t want Saya dragged into his mess.

Was he afraid of her cousin’s family coming after him? Or the League? Or both?

He was awful whenever he opened his mouth, but he wasn’t heartless. That was the annoying part. Somewhere under all that attitude, he actually thought about other people.

”Go to sleep. We’re going back to Mikan Island tomorrow.”

Reiji didn’t want to explain more than that. Cissy had grown up with a Gym behind her. She wouldn’t understand what it meant to live like him.

Until he reached his goal, he had to watch every step. He was still just a nobody trying to survive, and one bad move could ruin everything.

Love, romance, all of that could wait. Right now, he couldn’t afford it. Even if it hurt, he had to let it go.

He was scared.

Scared he wouldn’t make it to the end.

Scared the Pokémon who had stayed with him would be torn apart because of him.

Scared that one day he would close his eyes and never see Poliwhirl and the others again.

The more he cared, the more he had to lose. He wasn’t living only for himself anymore.

He was already standing in front of one hard choice: keep investing in Poliwhirl, or let it fall behind. Once he chose, there might be no going back.

Naoki was proof of what one bad choice could do to a person. In his previous life, Reiji had seen enough people wreck themselves, their families, and their friends over bad relationships.

So he had to hold back.

One mistake, and everything he had built could fall apart.

In the end, being alone was safer.

For everyone.

He was an outsider anyway. A selfish one.

”I’m going back tomorrow too,” Cissy said.

After what happened, she had learned that even familiar people could be dangerous. Reiji was different. She had never imagined her cousin would go that far. She had trusted the wrong person.

”Do what you want. You’re weak, but you still love running around. Next time, no one might be there to save you.”

”Jerk.” Cissy bit her lip.

She had just been thinking he was considerate, and then he opened his mouth again.

He looked fine, so why did everything he said make her want to hit him?

Forget it. She wasn’t going to bother with him anymore.

Jerk.

Jerk.

Jerk.

”If you kick off the blanket and get sick tomorrow, that’s your problem. I’m not waiting around for you.”

”Aaah, you jerk!” Cissy gritted her teeth.

He was impossible.

Who would ever like someone like that?

Not her.

Definitely not her.

[End of chapter]

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