----
The Eevee was clearly spooked, eyes wide, ears flat, sprinting without direction. It bolted down the hallway, completely unaware of the two people in its path.
Thump!
It crashed directly into Kai's leg.
The impact wasn't hard, but sudden enough to make him stagger. He nearly lost his balance, only catching himself thanks to Erika's steady hand at his side.
As for the Eevee, it spun backward from the recoil and flopped onto its side. Dizzy and dazed, it lay there with cartoonish stars spinning above its head.
A second later, a girl in a pink kimono rushed over, concern etched across her face.
"I'm so sorry!" she exclaid, bowing quickly. "Are you alright?"
Kai blinked, then recognized her instantly.
This girl was one of the Kimono Sisters. Specifically, the one who'd danced with Espeon during the performance's finale. And more than that, she was the girl he'd seen peeking from behind the curtain before the show.
She recognized him, too. Her expression faltered with embarrassed realization.
Without saying another word, she scooped up the dazed Eevee into her arms, gently stroking its head.
Kai shook his head with a small smile. "No harm done. Is Eevee okay?"
She nodded, still looking flustered. "Yes, just startled. One of the Fearow backstage got aggressive and scared it. It bolted before I could stop it."
Kai crouched slightly to check on the little Pokémon. "Makes sense. Poor thing probably thought it was under attack."
Now that he could see her clearly, the girl looked to be around sixteen or seventeen. Her kimono was elegantly patterned in soft pink tones, and her hair was styled with ticulous care, decorated with floral clips, silky ribbons, and a small, ornantal Sweet Ball perched delicately near her crown.
Kai raised a brow.
"A Poké Ball accessory? That's new…"
She flushed slightly under his gaze.
"Ah—right!" she suddenly rembered. "I'm Sumomo, the youngest of the Kimono Sisters."
Kai gave a small bow. "Nice to et you. I'm Kai, a Pokémon Trainer passing through. Your performance tonight was incredible, by the way, really impressive work."
Sumomo's eyes lit up. "R-Really? Thank you! I was so nervous before it started… I kept worrying I might ss everything up."
Erika stepped in with a reassuring tone. "You didn't at all. It was beautifully done. Even though we already knew the story, you and your sisters completely drew us in."
Hearing that, Sumomo smiled brightly, genuinely, and relieved.
"Oh! That reminds ," she said, reaching into her sleeve.
She pulled out a small envelope and handed it to Kai. "Here, this is for you. Consider it both an apology and a thank-you."
Kai opened it and found an elegantly embossed invitation card inside.
"The Kimono Sisters are holding a private tea gathering tomorrow morning at ten," Sumomo explained. "If you're free, we'd love for you and your friend to join us."
Kai checked the ti on the card.
"If I challenge the Gym early enough, we should be able to make it."
Sumomo clasped her hands together. "Perfect! I'll tell the others to expect you."
With another grateful bow and her Eevee in tow, she turned and jogged lightly back toward the theater's backstage corridor.
Kai and Erika exited the building soon after.
It was already close to midnight. The streets of Ecruteak had quieted under the silver moonlight, the shops closed, and not a single soul left wandering the stone-paved roads.
This was a city that slept early.
Kai yawned as they reached the inn. "Today was... a lot."
"Sleep well," Erika said with a knowing smile.
---
The Next Morning
After breakfast, Kai suggested that Erika go ahead to the tea gathering while he took on the Gym challenge. She shook her head.
"Nope. We're a team. I'm not letting you go into battle alone. We'll handle the Gym first, then tea."
Kai didn't argue.
They followed the northern road until the Ecruteak Gym ca into view.
It stood elevated on a wide stone platform—an ancient-looking building of polished wood and green-tiled rooftops, modeled after traditional Johto temples.
Completely in harmony with the city around it.
Kai pushed open the heavy doors.
Inside, the air was still. No crowd. No fanfare. Just one man, seated on a cushion in the center of the room, eyes closed in quiet ditation.
Hearing the footsteps, he opened his eyes.
"Can I help you?" he asked, calm and clear.
"I'm here to challenge the Ecruteak Gym," Kai replied. "Is Morty available?"
The man stood, walking forward.
"I'm Morty," he said. "Welco."
Kai imdiately noticed that Morty was about his height, and maybe around the sa age. He wore a simple athletic outfit, with an orange headband and shaggy golden hair. Casual in style, but sharp in focus.
Once Kai introduced himself, Morty didn't waste ti.
He nodded once and walked to the challenger's end of the battlefield.
The arena itself was minimalist, a flat wood-paneled floor, no frills. Morty didn't need tricks. He was a master of Ghost-type Pokémon. That was challenge enough.
A Gym staff mber stepped up as a referee.
Erika found a seat in the modest viewing gallery.
"You've got this," she said with a soft smile.
The referee raised his flags.
"This will be a standard three-on-three Gym Battle! The challenger may switch Pokémon during the match Gym Leader Morty may not. The battle will conclude when one side has no Pokémon left able to fight. Challenger moves first!"
Kai nodded.
He'd used this format before, but instead of steamrolling through, he decided today would be about training. It was a chance to test his secondary team, rotate out the usual powerhouses, and give others a mont to shine.
He stepped forward.
The battle was about to begin.
----
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