[Pokémon: Snivy]
[Gender: Female]
[Ability: Contrary]
[Aptitude: Red]
[Individual Values: HP 24 / Atk 21 / Sp. Atk 26 / Def 25 / Sp. Def 24 / Spd 31]
[Level: 19]
[Moves: Leaf Blade, Leaf Tornado (Triple), Glare, Vine Whip, Leech Seed, Grassy Terrain]
[Friendship: 85 (It trusts you very much)]
[Mood: 75 (I'm battling today—will I meet strong Pokémon?)]
July 15th – Early Morning at Aogiri Town Bus Stop
Hayashi Kaede rose before dawn and fed Snivy the final Rare Candy. With that single bite, Snivy's level—once wavering between 18 and 19—firmly cemented at 19, and she closed her eyes in contentment as the first stirring of evolution rippled across her scales.
After a brief inspection confirmed the plantation was in perfect order, Hayashi Kaede shouldered Snivy and strolled toward the small bus shelter on the edge of Aogiri Town. Even at this hour, a line of hopeful Trainers waited in quiet anticipation, their Pokémon by their sides.
A cheerful beep marked the arrival of the shuttle to Aogiri City. Hayashi Kaede stepped forward—until a breathless shout halted him.
"Wait—hold on!"
He turned to find Takagi Megumi racing down the path, her uniform fluttering, cheeks flushed with exertion.
Hayashi Kaede gave the driver a nod. "Just a moment, please."
Takagi Megumi skidded to a stop, hands on her knees as she caught her breath. "Hayashi Kaede?"
"Get on. You're heading to the Baby Cup too, right?" Hayashi Kaede invited, pointing toward an empty seat.
With a relieved laugh, Takagi Megumi climbed aboard and settled next to him. "Hayashi Kaede, how did you know it was today?"
Hayashi Kaede cracked open the window, letting in the cool, dawn-scented breeze. "Because I enrolled, too."
Takagi Megumi's eyes went wide, and her face paled. "You're… you're competing?"
Hayashi Kaede smiled. "Of course. Do I look like someone who jokes about this?"
Takagi Megumi's shoulders slumped. "Then… I'll lose my first place…" she whispered, staring at her lap. After witnessing Snivy's spectacular Leaf Tornado and Grassy Terrain, her earlier confidence had evaporated.
Arrival at HappyMart
Once they disembarked, Takagi Megumi straightened her back. "Well… second place isn't bad either…"
Hayashi Kaede offered her a reassuring smile. A touch of innocence was just what a fledgling Trainer needed; that very simplicity often endeared them most to their Pokémon.
Before them, the plaza outside HappyMart buzzed with chatter. New Trainers clustered in excited groups, their partner Pokémon dozing in the summer warmth or playing among the crowd: Bellsprout, Rattata, Pidgey, Psyduck, Caterpie…
"Hayashi Kaede?!" A familiar voice cut through the hum.
Hayashi Kaede turned to see Arai Haruki striding forward—denim overalls, basketball sneakers, and all.
"Arai Haruki," Hayashi Kaede greeted.
Arai Haruki laughed. "You're here too? I thought you were staying home to manage the plantation."
Hayashi Kaede shook his head. "The prize money's too good to pass up."
Arai Haruki glanced at Snivy. "Your Snivy looks amazing. And my Torchic—he's about to evolve, don't you think?"
[Pokémon: Torchic]
[Gender: Male]
[Ability: Blaze]
[Aptitude: Blue]
[Individual Values: HP 15 / Atk 21 / Sp. Atk 24 / Def 17 / Sp. Def 19 / Spd 24]
[Level: 17]
[Moves: Ember, Peck, Quick Attack, Flame Charge, Sand Attack]
[Friendship: 15 (I kinda remember you…)]
[Mood: 50 (When does the Torchic Bakery open?)]
Arai Haruki puffed up with pride and then sighed. "I thought I had first place nailed—until I heard HappyMart's owner gave his kid a peak-level Lapras!"
Hayashi Kaede raised an eyebrow. "Lapras is overkill for this tournament."
Arai Haruki chuckled. "Tell me about it."
Hayashi Kaede glanced at Snivy, whose eyes sparked with determination. Over the past days, he'd fed her special energy blocks made from Prism Scales and Life Fruits. She'd mastered the double Leaf Tornado—and even experimented with the Triple Leaf Tornado, though it still needed refinement.
Kaede squared his shoulders. "Ready to show everyone what we can do?"
Snivy nodded, her vines quivering in excitement.
Arai Haruki grinned and turned to check his match schedule, while Takagi Megumi watched with renewed confidence.
Together, they moved into the cheering crowd—Sunrise at their backs, and the promise of their first battle before them.