----
WHAM!
Umbreon tumbled through the air, twisting mid-spin before crashing into the dirt. It skidded to a halt near the edge of the battle ring.
Across from it, Jolteon stood tall, panting, its fur bristling with static as it kept its eyes locked on the fallen opponent.
The match had been fast and brutal. Both sides had taken damage, but in the end, the outcome was clear.
Umbreon had put up a fierce fight. With its naturally tough hide and the strength it drew from the rising moon, it had held its ground early on.
The dark, shadowy conditions had made it nearly invisible at times, allowing it to strike from the darkness. Jolteon had struggled, unable to fully track its opponent in the growing night.
Tamao's strategy had almost worked.
But then Kai changed the rhythm.
Using a blinding Flash, he lit up the battlefield, exposing Umbreon's position mid-attack. Jolteon countered in an instant, chaining its attacks to break Umbreon's momentum.
And now…
Umbreon stirred weakly, trying to push itself up.
Kai gave a small nod.
"Finish it."
Jolteon stepped forward and released a controlled electric pulse point-blank enough to knock Umbreon out cleanly, but not harmfully.
The battle was over.
Tamao watched silently. She didn't speak. Just reached for her Poké Ball and returned Umbreon without a word.
Her furrowed brow gave her away, she wasn't just disappointed. She was bitter.
She'd wanted to prove something. Wanted to humble him.
But she'd lost.
The other sisters exchanged glances. They'd seen the whole match, and while it had been close at points, the final sequence made the difference clear.
Kai hadn't used tricks or brute force. He'd just… read the battle better.
And he still had a whole team of Pokémon; this was just one of them.
Tamao had put everything into her ace and still couldn't win.
She didn't speak. Just turned away and walked off into the night without looking back.
Seeing her retreat, Sakura stepped in quickly to smooth things over.
"I'm so sorry, Kai. Tamao can be… headstrong. She means well, but sometimes she lets her pride get the better of her. She treats everyone like that, not just guests. We've told her more times than I can count, but she's always been like this."
Kai shook his head. "It's okay. Honestly… I was the one who misspoke earlier. I didn't mean to belittle her. I'll apologize next time I see her."
His tone was sincere, and the sisters could tell. It only made them feel more embarrassed on Tamao's behalf.
A little further away, Tamao slowed her step for just a moment, hearing his words, but didn't turn back. Then, within seconds, she vanished into the shadows of the estate.
"It's getting late," Satsuki said gently. "Let's all head inside."
Kai checked the time, almost 8 PM. She was right.
He and Erika started to excuse themselves, thinking it was best not to overstay their welcome.
But Koume and the others insisted.
They knew Tamao's challenge had been out of line, and this was their way of smoothing things over, bridging the gap. After some hesitation, Kai and Erika accepted.
After all, the hospitality had been genuine. And aside from one sister, the rest had welcomed them with open arms.
Back in the main room, the dinner they had barely touched before the battle was warmed and brought out again.
Kai ate in silence for a while, until the soft chatter of the girls returned, as if nothing unpleasant had happened. Laughter filled the space. Only Tamao's absence remained noticeable.
Then came a sudden question from Koume.
"Wait—Erika and Kai aren't a couple?"
Kai froze, almost dropping his chopsticks. He turned to see Erika frantically waving her hands.
"No! We're just traveling companions. That's all."
"Ohhh…" the sisters said in unison, clearly not buying it.
"You two do look good together, though," Sakura added with a teasing smile.
Kai didn't even bother responding. He'd lost count of how many times they'd been mistaken for a couple. Erika looked equally exasperated.
But they didn't correct them further. At this point, it just wasn't worth it.
—
The next morning, the two didn't leave Ecruteak right away. With Koume as their guide, they visited the iconic Bell Tower and the Burned Tower.
Bell Tower offered a spectacular view of the city from its peak, but despite its legendary status, there was no sign of Ho-Oh or any real mysteries—just old architecture and local myths.
Burned Tower was… well, mostly rubble.
"A bit disappointing," Kai muttered.
Their sightseeing complete, it was finally time to leave.
But just as they were saying goodbye, Koume stepped forward hesitantly.
"Kai… there's something I'd like to ask."
She gestured to a small Eevee by her side, the same clumsy, energetic one that had nearly toppled their dinner table the night before.
"Would you… Be willing to take her with you?"
Kai blinked. "Wait. What? Eevee? Why?"
Koume looked down, brushing the Eevee's fur.
"I'm a performer. Between rehearsals and shows, I barely have time to take care of her. She gets scared easily, and I worry she'll wander off if I'm not watching. And… I already have an Espeon as my main partner."
She paused.
"But I don't want to give her away forever. I just want her to experience the world. Battle, travel—see life outside these walls."
Kai hesitated.
"You do know I'm a traveling Trainer, right? I'm constantly rotating my lineup. I might not be able to keep her with me all the time."
"I understand," Koume smiled. "If there's ever a time she needs a break, bring her back. This will always be her home."
Her sincerity was unmistakable.
Kai knelt down, meeting Eevee at eye level. "What about you? Want to come with me?"
The little Eevee looked back at Koume, saw the encouragement in her eyes, then turned to Kai and gave a cheerful bark.
That was her answer.
Kai ruffled her fur, smiling. "Alright then. Welcome to the team."
His sixteenth Pokémon… acquired.
----
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