Pokémon: Master of the Rain Team

Day 6, Orange Archipelago. Light rain.

Reiji woke up the next morning, washed up, and fed his Pokémon while Cissy was still sleeping in.

After everything that had happened, things should stay quiet for a while. He would finally have time to train his Pokémon, sort through what he had gained, and start preparing them for the push toward Elite Four tier.

Breaking into Elite Four tier would not be as simple as the stages before it. From what he had read, Pokémon usually broke through in one of three ways: enough long-term buildup, a breakthrough in battle, or some kind of major shock.

The books never explained it clearly. They all used vague language and avoided saying exactly how a Pokémon was supposed to reach Elite Four tier.

The short version was: if a Pokémon had the potential, and if it had built up enough strength, then it might break through naturally, during battle, or under pressure. That was all the researchers had really observed.

Gengar matched the first type. With the Spooky Plate fragment, it had already built up more than enough. Once it woke up, it should reach Elite Four tier. The only question was when that would happen.

But Gengar had the Spooky Plate fragment. Was Reiji supposed to go looking for a Splash Plate fragment next? And then more Plate fragments after that? How was that supposed to happen? Luck didn’t favor one person eighteen times in a row.

Plate fragments were out. He needed another way, and that was a headache. In the end, he might have to wait again. Who knew how long that would take?

After feeding his Pokémon, Reiji packed up and prepared to leave for the Gym. Only then did Cissy wake up on the couch with a yawn. The first thing she saw was Reiji closing the door behind him.

”Jerk. You didn’t even wake me up before going home.” Cissy grabbed her bag in a hurry, rushed into the bathroom, splashed water on her face, wiped it dry with the towel in her bag, and chased after him.

She caught up to him at the elevator. Reiji had his eyes closed inside, and Cissy was too angry to speak.

She wanted to ask why he hadn’t waited for her. But the moment she thought about how shameless he could be, she got angry all over again.

She had no way to deal with him. He didn’t care what she felt, and he didn’t care what other people thought of him. He acted like a complete rascal, and people like that were the hardest to handle.

No matter what she did, he didn’t care.

Was there really nothing he cared about?

Cissy studied him carefully. He was teasing the Eevee on his shoulder.

Then it hit her. Of course there was something he cared about: his Pokémon.

He treated Pokémon so well, yet treated her like this. Even if he was a good Trainer, he was still an awful man.

Damn it.

”Why are you spacing out? You slept in, then blamed me for not waking you up. I told you to sleep early last night.” Reiji had already stepped out of the elevator and turned back to see Cissy still standing there.

Princess, please just go home and inherit the Gym.

After reminding her, Reiji opened the door of a taxi and headed for the harbor.

”Wait for me!” Cissy hurried after him, cheeks puffed out in anger. She looked kind of cute, but Reiji had no interest in appreciating it.

They got into the taxi together and went to the harbor ticket office. Reiji bought two tickets to Mikan Island, gave one to Cissy, and they boarded separately.

The trip would only take the morning. After getting on the ship, Reiji sat by the railing, ordered a cold drink, and quietly watched the sea as the passenger ship set off.

Cissy had left in a rush and hadn’t eaten breakfast, so she ordered something after boarding. At first, she hadn’t planned to get anything for Reiji. Let that jerk starve.

But then she remembered that, aside from his terrible personality, he had treated her well enough. He had saved her from her cousin too.

So why wouldn’t he even look at her properly?

Was she not attractive enough? Sure, she was a little flat, but her cousin had drugged her because he wanted her that badly. Reiji, on the other hand, barely looked at her at all. It made her wonder if she was ugly.

”That jerk really does like bigger girls,” Cissy muttered over breakfast.

Reiji had put on sunglasses and was quietly checking out the women on deck. He especially liked looking at the ones with fuller figures. He clearly liked pretty girls, so why didn’t he look at her?

Wait.

Why did she want him to look at her?

Wasn’t this exactly the kind of man she hated?

Cissy’s thoughts tangled into a knot. She hated it when creeps stared at her, just like her cousin had. It made her sick.

So why did she want Reiji to notice her? Why was she mad that he was looking at other women instead?

What was wrong with her?

Cissy didn’t know it yet, but this was the famous double standard. Just like some people in Reiji’s previous life: with rich people, they talked about love; with poor people, they talked about money.

Reiji hated that kind of person. He had suffered from it himself in his previous life. He was sworn enemies with double standards—unless he was the one being double-standard, of course.

”Heh.”

”I’m curious,” Reiji said, looking at Cissy as she ate with her cheeks puffed out. She really was cute like this. ”Weren’t you going out to collect badges? Why sneak away? Did your grandfather refuse to let you go?”

Even the usually fierce Cissy had a softer side. Too bad she was flat. Every time he thought of that, he sighed.

He’s talking to me.

Cissy froze when she heard him speak. Her heart suddenly jumped, but she couldn’t let it show. She took a sip of water to calm herself and said, ”My family wants me to marry someone for their benefit, so I ran. I was going to hide in Kanto for a while. Then... well, you know what happened.”

Pfft.

Reiji had been drinking juice and nearly sprayed it out.

So it was that kind of rich-family marriage drama. Why did he keep running into this stuff?

”Are you okay?” Cissy stared at him. Was the marriage thing really that shocking?

”I’m fine. Fine.” Reiji waved quickly and shut up.

He did not want to get dragged into this mess.

When he went quiet, Cissy refused to just sit there staring all the way back to Mikan Island. She followed the topic and said, ”Help me. I don’t want to marry someone like that.”

”Princess, I’m just a small-time Trainer working at your family’s Gym. What exactly do you think I can do?”

Reiji spread his hands.

If it had been her cousin, maybe he could have helped. He had a family and resources behind him.

Reiji was alone. At most, he counted as a decent hired fighter. Asking him to take the hit for Cissy was a joke. He couldn’t take it. She needed someone stronger.

He hadn’t rejected her outright, but his answer left Cissy stuck.

Only then did she realize the problem. Reiji was an orphan. Her grandfather already disliked him over the fishing incident, always calling him a brat who didn’t respect his elders.

With a relationship like that, Reiji really couldn’t help her. Her father and grandfather were both Elite Four-tier Trainers. If Reiji tried to stand in their way, he would probably get flattened.

Once she understood that, her face turned red with embarrassment. She had panicked and grabbed at anything nearby without thinking about whether he could actually handle it.

”Don’t worry,” Reiji said. ”Your family runs a Gym. Anyone they arrange for you will be talented, probably at least an Elite Four-tier Trainer. Maybe he’ll even be handsome.”

”You...” Cissy almost snapped at him for enjoying her misery, though the sunglasses made it hard to tell what expression he was making.

Then she sighed and held it in.

The marriage was the real problem. If she went back this time, she would definitely be grounded. Sneaking out again would be impossible.

Yelling at him now wouldn’t solve anything. Sometimes she envied orphans like him. Alone, free, no family marriage hanging over their heads.

The rest of the trip went quiet. Cissy stayed silent, still trying to think of a way out. Reiji saw her anger fade into defeat and stopped provoking her.

He had no plans to get involved in some family marriage drama. Naoki was already a perfect warning. Sorry, Naoki. Dragging you out as the bad example again.

The girl Naoki liked would probably end up in a family marriage too. If she really wanted him, she would have run away with him long ago.

Since she hadn’t, then the ending was obvious. She probably didn’t like him that way. Poor Naoki had been played and still didn’t realize it.

To big families, anything could become a resource.

Even their children.

Naoki’s crush was never going anywhere.

At noon, the passenger ship docked at Mikan Island. Its next stop was Pinkan Island, but that had nothing to do with Reiji and Cissy.

After they got off the ship, a Mikan Gym car was already waiting. Reiji had asked Senta to send a driver. He didn’t want to ride Pelipper all the way back.

”Miss, you’re finally back. Thank goodness you’re all right. Your parents were very worried. Please come back with me at once.”

Cissy didn’t react much to the driver’s anxiety. She opened the passenger door with a pained look and got in. In the end, she still didn’t do anything stupid and let the driver take her home.

On the way, she had thought about asking Reiji to sneak off the ship with her, run away together, and never go back.

But Reiji wasn’t that stupid. Running away with her was out of the question. He’d have to lose his mind before agreeing to something like that.

When she failed to convince him, Cissy was so angry she nearly ground her teeth flat. A beautiful girl had invited him to run away with her, and he had looked at her like she was crazy.

Her looks, her identity, everything that usually worked on people meant nothing to this jerk.

She had never felt so defeated in front of a man. Even if not everyone fawned over her like her cousin, they at least treated her politely.

If she had asked her cousin, he would have agreed at once and arranged everything so she wouldn’t have to worry.

But she didn’t want him.

Now that she had taken the initiative, she looked like an idiot in someone else’s eyes. The reversal hit her hard.

Only Reiji treated her like this. He ignored her when she came close, pushed her away when she leaned in, and even called her flat.

Was she really that bad?

Cissy spent the whole ride doubting herself, doubting life, and doubting Reiji. Her worldview felt like it was cracking.

If she had known she was dealing with a man in his thirties who had little interest in women and only loved fishing, she might have understood.

Fishermen were like that. What woman could be more fun than fishing? Real fishermen didn’t waste time with shallow people. Fake fishermen liked women. Real fishermen only had fish in their hearts.

Reiji sat in the back seat, thinking only about getting back, explaining what happened, and handing over the evidence.

If he couldn’t get the top-quality Water Stone, he wouldn’t stay at Mikan Gym for long. He would take back all his Pokémon and leave. He would have to give up the lakeside cabin too, no matter how much it hurt.

The Orange Archipelago still had many undeveloped areas, and most had good natural environments. Finding a similar place wouldn’t be impossible.

But he had only just settled down, and now he might have to wander again.

Where was home, anyway?

Cissy was anxious and lost.

So was he.

This world had no place that truly belonged to him. Maybe home was wherever his Pokémon were.

Before long, the car drove into the back courtyard of Mikan Gym. Cissy’s parents, her grandfather, and Senta were all waiting there.

The moment Cissy got out, her mother rushed over and hugged her, sobbing hard.

”Mom, I’m fine. Don’t cry.” Cissy hugged her back helplessly.

Making her mother worry was her fault. But she really didn’t want that arranged marriage.

Reiji felt awkward. The only people here he knew were Senta and Cissy’s grandfather. He didn’t know the middle-aged man. Why was the man looking at him? Was there something on his face?

”Rai-nii! Tell me how you won the championship! Poliwhirl, Rhydon, Accelgor, they were all amazing. Hurry, show me!” Senta was more excited to see Reiji than his own sister. He ran over, hugged Reiji, and started firing off questions.

”Senta, calm down.” Reiji wanted to refuse, but he was alone here and needed whatever goodwill he could get. He could only say they would talk later.

This kid didn’t even care about his own sister. He was definitely getting smacked soon.

”Senta, Rai must be exhausted after traveling so much. Ask him tomorrow.” Cissy’s father pulled Senta away and slapped him on the backside. ”Did you finish today’s training? If not, go train your Pokémon.”

”Dad, I know, I know!” Seeing another slap coming, Senta ran before his father could land it. He had no idea why he was being hit again.

”Kid, come with me,” Cissy’s grandfather said.

After watching his son chase Senta off, the old man wanted to know how Reiji had saved his granddaughter. That was a merchant ship. This kid had some nerve.

Officer Jenny had come to see him last night and brought evidence of the cousin’s crime. She also said the person who rescued Cissy was probably someone she knew. Otherwise, who would attack an armed merchant ship for her?

The method had been clever too. If the fire had not been put out so quickly, the air-conditioning pipe might have melted, and Officer Jenny would not have figured out how Reiji did it.

Of course, that was only her guess. This involved a scandal at Mikan Gym, and the old man’s anger was not something most people could bear.

Officer Jenny would keep investigating, but this was tied to a Gym Leader, a Kanto family, and a local Orange Islands family. The League was trying to tighten its control over the Orange Archipelago, and if this was handled badly, it would damage the League’s image.

[End of chapter]

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