"Hmm? ...You really haven't changed a bit. Raichu, use [Iron Tail]! Milotic, press forward and use [Aqua Tail]!"
Sakiko watched blankly as Satoshi charged ahead, before shaking her head helplessly with a gentle smile.
Milotic swung its elegant tail, unleashing a torrent of water that surged forward like a giant serpent. Raichu followed swiftly, its tail glowing like solid steel as it struck fiercely, aiming to crush any resistance.
"Rai!" "Woo!"
"Shiftry, use [Leaf Blade] to block!"
Facing their attacks, Parker swiftly ordered Shiftry to counter with [Leaf Blade]. Its razor-sharp leaves intercepted the combined force of [Aqua Tail] and [Iron Tail] perfectly.
Amid the clash, Satoshi quickly closed the distance with Parker, whose eyes widened with fear.
"Hey—what are you doing?!" Parker stammered.
"Sorry, but I'm about to fight dirty with my million-ton punch, old man!"
Satoshi flashed a confident grin, radiating undeniable charm.
Elbow strike!
He swiftly tightened his fist, thrusting his elbow sharply forward into Parker's face with expert precision.
"Gah!"
The fierce elbow strike landed squarely, sending Parker stumbling back, howling in pain.
Without hesitation, Satoshi launched his next powerful move—an uppercut!
"Oraaa!"
Pivoting sharply, Satoshi sprang upward, twisting his entire body to drive his fists directly into Parker's jaw.
His punch split the air with a sharp whistle, crashing into Parker's chin with devastating force.
"Uwaaah…!" Parker was sent flying by the impact, landing heavily on the ground, unconscious.
[Whaaa?! Satodear, since when were you so strong?! (￣口￣)!!]
"I learned from Lao Da and Urshifu," Satoshi casually replied, adjusting his cap as the fire in his heart finally cooled.
"Parker, your only mistake was making me angry."
…
With the mastermind down, Shiftry quickly fell under the combined efforts of Raichu and Milotic. Its earlier advantage was purely due to type resistance; once coordinated properly by Sakiko, Shiftry had no chance to fight back.
As Satoshi dragged Parker over by his collar, Sakiko's expression turned complicated. This was the first time she'd witnessed a Team Rocket member suffer such complete defeat. It brought a strange, satisfying pleasure to her heart.
"Officer Jenny will take some time to arrive. Let's watch him until then."
Satoshi and Sakiko rested on a stone, sitting back-to-back. She'd called Officer Jenny earlier, expecting trouble, yet they'd managed to handle everything themselves.
Not only had they avoided risking her job, but they'd also defeated a Team Rocket member—this was undoubtedly a huge victory.
One word: Amazing!
"Thanks a lot for today. Without you, Sakiko, I wouldn't have handled him so easily."
"Honestly, I think you could've just punched that Mightyena out too…"
Sakiko shyly bent forward, carefully slipping off her delicate leather shoes to empty out small pebbles, revealing her soft white socks covering her dainty feet, slightly flushed and faintly fragrant.
They sat back-to-back at her insistence; as a former heiress, she couldn't bear being seen in such an undignified state.
Pebbles slipped gently from her shoes as she discreetly rubbed her aching soles.
"No way. I'm not Superman—how could I knock out a Mightyena with a single punch?" Satoshi turned slightly, briefly noticing Sakiko shaking out her shoes, but paid it no further attention.
Yet Sakiko immediately sensed his glance, and her cheeks reddened with embarrassment.
He might not care, but she certainly did—especially given some bizarre topics recently appearing online.
For instance, Blueberry Academy's recent viral debate:
"Whose feet are more appealing—Teacher Briar's or Elite Four Ziyu's?"
Popular opinion favored Teacher Briar, due to her "legendary red tights"…
Sakiko shivered in discomfort, desperately wishing she hadn't stumbled across those disturbing discussions.
Buzz…buzz…buzz…
"Forget about that… Your phone has been ringing for a while. Aren't you going to answer? Who is it?"
Sakiko grew curious, wondering why she'd even asked.
Why did she care?
She had no good answer, yet curiosity about Satoshi filled her mind.
"A friend named Soyo. She's been messaging nonstop for some reason." Satoshi casually replied, pulling out his phone and quickly responding.
Sakiko's amber eyes widened instantly.
"Soyo? Nagasaki Soyo?"
That name… How could she ever forget it?
To Sakiko, Nagasaki Soyo was practically a stalker. After Sakiko left Team CRYCHIC, Soyo frequently reached out to Wakaba Mutsumi—Sakiko's childhood friend—attempting to learn about her whereabouts.
Sakiko suspected Soyo wanted her back on the team. But her current reality was harsh; with a heavy burden at home, returning to some childish dream-team was meaningless, just another unnecessary hardship.
"Yeah, you know her?"
"Let's drop this topic. Officer Jenny will arrive soon anyway."
A shadow crossed Sakiko's face. She quietly slipped her shoes back on, regaining her composure.
"Alright… I'm mostly recovered anyway. I'll go check on Grookey and the others."
Without further concern, Satoshi stretched lightly and moved toward the injured Pokémon. Many had been attacked, and he'd exhausted nearly all his medicine treating them.
Especially Grookey—even after a [Full Restore], its injuries remained severe.
"Grookey, do you want to visit a Pokémon Center? Your wounds are pretty serious, and letting them heal naturally might cause lasting damage."
Satoshi gently held out a Poké Ball, watching Grookey tenderly.
"Pachi…pachi…" Grookey raised its head weakly, trembling as it shook its head fearfully.
"I understand. If that's your decision, I won't force it."
Respecting its choice, Satoshi put away the Poké Ball, having lost any intention to capture Grookey. He was content as long as Sakiko and the Pokémon were safe. Nothing else mattered.
Perhaps Soyo really does like him… He's so gentle.
Watching Satoshi from afar, Sakiko's cheeks flushed softly. But suddenly she sensed something strange within herself, instinctively placing a hand on her chest.
Her heart raced rapidly, pounding as if it wanted to burst free.
What's this feeling? Why is my heart beating so fast?