Saffron City, Fighting Dojo.
Grey had no idea just how in-demand he was over in Unova.
He also hadn't expected both the Unova League and Team Plasma to want to invite him.
But even if he did know, Grey wouldn't be surprised.
After all, here in Kanto, he was already in that situation where both the League and Team Rocket wanted to pull him to their side.
That's just how it is once you get famous.
Even if you don't go out looking for anything, people will come looking for you.
Ding-dong~
At that moment, Grey saw a new private message.
[Steven Stone: Hello, Gym Leader Grey. I'm Steven Stone.]
Short and to the point—and it was a real person.
Grey even went to check the other party's profile. After confirming it really was Steven himself, he followed back and replied.
[Dojo Annihilape: If it's convenient, Mr. Steven, you can add my private LINE. When you're about to arrive in Saffron City, just send me a message—I'll come pick you up at the airport.]
After sending that, Grey also sent over his LINE ID.
Very quickly, his LINE received a friend request.
["Steven Stone" wants to add you as a friend.]
[Source: Account search]
[Accept][Decline]
Grey hit Accept, and the two of them successfully added each other.
However, Grey didn't immediately ask Steven if he wanted to join his group chat.
They'd barely spoken—since they were still at the "just met" stage, asking right away would feel a bit awkward.
He'd wait until they talked more.
Besides, Steven's personality was genuinely great.
He was generous, and even as the Devon Corporation heir, he wasn't some spoiled rich kid throwing his weight around.
Especially when it came to Trainers with real potential—if Steven ran into someone like that, he'd often be willing to give a small gift.
Like a Mega Stone, or a Beldum.
He really spent money without blinking. Add in the fact that he was handsome, and online he was the kind of guy people chased around calling "husband."
You could say Steven was one of the most popular Trainers on the internet.
And on certain websites…
It seemed there were even some… unspeakable fanfics about him and his close friend Wallace.
As for the author, it sounded like it was a Trainer from Unova.
Grey didn't think too hard about it. Right then, Steven sent another message.
[Steven Stone: This trip is a bit rushed, so please forgive the inconvenience, Gym Leader Grey. Tomorrow in Saffron City, I'll probably have to trouble you to guide me around.]
[Dojo Annihilape: Not trouble at all. Guests are guests—picking you up and showing you around is nothing. Grin.jpg]
[Steven Stone: No, it will still bother you. After tomorrow's meeting ends, I'd like to give you a small gift. I'm not sure—would you be more interested in a Pokémon, or in an item?]
[Dojo Annihilape: I'm not picky. As long as it's your goodwill, Mr. Steven, that's enough. Please don't spend too much.]
Seeing Steven's message, Grey was genuinely startled.
This was real extravagance.
He opened by asking whether Grey wanted a Pokémon or an item—either way, it was almost certainly something valuable.
Having money really is comfortable.
Not to mention having both money and strength.
Someone like Steven was exactly the kind of "dream build" countless Trainers longed for.
[Steven Stone: Then I'll give you a small surprise tomorrow.]
[Dojo Annihilape: OK, see you then.]
That was the end of the conversation, and Grey put his phone away.
So many things had happened today, it made Grey feel like the day had been incredibly full.
"Sabrina, want to go out to eat again tonight?"
Grey figured that after the livestream stunt in the afternoon, Saffron City's residents would definitely have a better impression of Sabrina.
"What do you want to eat?"
Sabrina glanced at the time. There were still three hours before dinner.
If they hadn't decided yet, they could use the time to think it over.
"How about Western food? I'll book a table in a bit—it should be better than what happened at lunch."
Grey pulled out his phone and searched for high-end Western restaurants in Saffron City.
They all required reservations, but with Grey's reputation in the city, using a tiny bit of "privilege" to get a table shouldn't be a problem.
"Fine. We'll do what you said."
Sabrina didn't really care. Eating out was eating out—anything was fine.
She just wanted to hear what Grey chose.
"Alright, then I'll go book it."
Grey walked into the kitchen with his phone and called the restaurant owner.
"Hello, this is Grey from the Fighting Dojo. I'd like to reserve a table for tonight at seven. A table for two—I'll be having dinner with Gym Leader Sabrina. That's not a problem, right?"
"Okay, I might arrive a bit early. Thanks."
After the call, Grey saw he still had plenty of time, so he went ahead and made a few more calls.
As for what they were for…
Grey said it was a little secret. By tonight, it would be pretty obvious.
"Ohhh? So lunch didn't work out as a date, and now you're trying again tonight?"
Green's voice drifted up behind Grey, eerie and teasing.
"Holy—are you a Gengar or something? Don't just pop up like that. You scared me."
Grey had been completely focused on the phone calls, and his aura senses had subconsciously pulled in—so he hadn't noticed Green hanging out in the kitchen.
"What? I was already here drinking milk. You're the one making secretive calls like you're doing something bad."
Green set down her cup and looked Grey up and down. "Tsk tsk—booking a restaurant and buying flowers. Why don't you buy fireworks too, and set them off later?"
"Good idea."
Grey stroked his chin, but quickly dismissed it. "It's probably too late to buy them now. If I had Moltres, it could coordinate with Zapdos and make some electric fireworks."
"You're actually taking that seriously?"
Green clicked her tongue, wearing a knowing smile. "Grey, you're pretty good at flirting, huh?"
"What would you know, you little brat? This is called the first step to opening someone's heart. You have no idea what lunch was like—if we hadn't gone to arrest Apollo afterward, things would've gotten completely out of control."
Grey couldn't help sighing.
A perfectly normal meal, and it turned into that.
Of course he had to make it up to Sabrina tonight.
"Tsk tsk tsk. Fine, I'll help you out—generously."
Green lifted her chin, puffed out her chest, and patted herself like she was taking charge. "Relax. Girls understand girls best."
"With Sabrina in her current state, her mental age isn't all that high, honestly. Trust me—I'll make sure you win this one, clean and pretty."
Today, Green was unusually excited.
All four Team Rocket generals had been captured. Even if it didn't have much to do with that person, it still weakened Team Rocket's strength.
Yeah.
It would get better. It had to.
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