After Karen's perfectly normal confession, she quickly left. Only then did the low-EQ Satoshi realize she liked him. His fingers brushed his own lips, and he couldn't help feeling curious.
Was that my first kiss?
[Huh? Satocchi, what's wrong?]
It feels like I've been kissed in a dream before… Whatever, that's not important. Compared to that, I should go meet up with my teammates.
Satoshi shook his head and didn't dwell on it.
Since Karen had worked up the courage to confess to him, he needed to respond to her feelings too.
But not right now.
"Next time will probably be the High School Pokémon League… about a month from now. That's still a long time. Before that, I have to get stronger together with them."
Satoshi walked out through the exit and found his MYGO teammates waiting. To keep competitors from getting swallowed by fans, only the contestants' teammates were allowed back here.
"Satoshi-kun~~ Congrats~" Anon's heart raced as she sprinted over from afar, threw both arms around Satoshi's neck, and pressed her head to his shoulder.
"Thanks. Me and Blaziken were able to win that battle because we had your support."
Anon's sudden hug caught Satoshi off guard.
But he didn't push her away. He just smiled and patted her back, trying to calm her down.
Do you have like no air resistance at all??? How can you can run that fast?!
Behind Anon, Soyo stared at her in disbelief. She'd been planning to hug Satoshi too, using "I'm just emotional" as an excuse—only for someone to move even faster than she did.
So there are masters above masters… who is this?
It's Anon~ MYGO's flattest legend—Chihaya Anon!
With reduced air resistance, she can hug Satoshi faster than anyone else!
Soyo couldn't help touching her own "front armor." Ten times—no, nine times bigger than Anon's!
Why… why is mine so big?!
In that moment, regret bloomed in Soyo's heart. Honestly, her figure was basically college-student tier.
Whatever… Anon-chan's flatness only has that one advantage. Satoshi definitely thinks I'm better… probably!
But thinking about the battle-brained Satoshi made Soyo's confidence wobble.
Still, if you've never tried, how can you judge~~? Besides, they're still high schoolers—it's too early to be thinking about that.
Calm down.
"Anon-chan don't bother Satoshi, okay~? We're heading back now~"
After a few deep breaths, Soyo forced herself calm. She put a hand on Anon's shoulder and slipped back into her sweet voice, looking very gentle.
Unfortunately, Anon had zero intention of letting go.
She hadn't gotten to enjoy it for long—and being the vain sort, she was currently dying to take a photo and post it to social media.
The moment it went up, she'd get attention. And with public opinion involved, other people would help push their "romance" along. Perfect.
"Ehehehehe~ Huh? Then Soyo can hug him too—just congratulate Satoshi-kun, right? I want a commemorative photo." Anon let out a few goofy giggles, then casually pulled out her phone.
Clearly an open scheme!
But I can't find it in myself to refuse at all!
Soyo's blue eyes widened, her fingers trembling as she slowly reached out and gently wrapped an arm around Satoshi's waist.
"Ah… Anon-chan's right. I'll hug Satoshi too and take a commemorative photo."
It's my hands doing it. It has nothing to do with me, Nagasaki Soyo. Please be informed!
Seeing the two girls cling to him, Satoshi...
"You want a photo? Then let's all take one together!" He waved, calling to the other girls nearby.
Anon and Soyo had arrived using "high-speed movement," while the others were still moving at normal speed, so they hadn't come over together.
Tomori edged in beside Anon, lining up normally for a group picture.
"Um… I want to join too… but taking photos is hard."
She was already spiraling internally over how to pose, lost.
"A photo? Taki, I want matcha candy—give me." Raana tilted her head, not interested, and held her hand out to the handler next to her.
"Here. Next time, you stray cat, buy it yourself."
After handing over the candy, Taki walked over to Soyo. But… she couldn't stand what Soyo was doing, and jealousy surged up inside her.
"Soyo, haven't you hugged him enough…? Don't press up against Satoshi like that."
"Taki-chan~ are you betraying me?"
"Hah? Isn't that obvious?"
"Eh? …What even happened between you two?"
At that, Soyo's face stiffened.
She'd had a vague feeling already, but… in the short time of the Cinnabar Tournament, how had Taki already changed her mind?!
You're stealing my boyfriend, aren't you?!
I was here first… ugh~ how dare you Tauros me?!
"Alright, time for the photo."
Not really understanding their exchange, Satoshi casually pulled all the girls into his arms.
As for who would take the picture—Whimsicott!
Whimsicott: Nagasaki Soyo, You *****—I'm not your tool!
Soyo: Shut up. Complain again and I'll send you to Unova to do labor.
Whimsicott: AUGH! I picked the wrong trainer... I'll behave, I swear~~!
Click—!
With the shutter sound, the moment froze.
[This feels kind of weird… Satocchi's too much of a blockhead, so everyone's lost any sense of boundaries and forgotten what "keeping distance" even is… waaah~ At this rate, won't he end up split into several portions later?]
"Huh? We're all teammates—this is normal, right? I'll cherish this photo for my whole life."
Satoshi wore a satisfied smile.
Probably because there were too many girls, the photo ended up looking like a boy and his harem.
Though Satoshi knew that they we're just pure friends—what romance?
Soyo, Anon, and Taki glanced at the photo, each feeling a little dissatisfied.
Soyo: Later I'll use Photoshop to edit the other women out.
Anon: Later I'll use Photoshop to edit Soyo out~
Taki: Later I'll use Photoshop to edit Soyo and Anon out!
They really are just pure frie—romance!
...
"Satoshi really is so cool. I'm glad I came to see it in person."
Misumi Uika, an active idol, stared at the battlefield. Even after the contestants left, she could still feel—and savor—that heat from earlier.
An urge she couldn't suppress crept up, making her body itch with restlessness.
Pokémon battles…
Just as Uika was sinking into it, Togawa Sakiko stood and patted her shoulder, bringing her back.
"Uika, what are you doing? It's time to go. We should start getting ready for the Island Challenge too. Did you pack your luggage?"
"Didn't you bring me here, Saki? Are you really not going to go see him? Don't you like him?"
Uika put on her black cap and slid on her sunglasses too—an idol had to hide her identity properly.
"Hah? No way. I just came because I was a little curious about Satoshi-kun—it's just to study an opponent's strength, that's all."
Sakiko turned her head aside, shy, unable to meet Uika's eyes. Her lashes trembled softly.
Even if she admitted in her heart that she liked Satoshi, saying it out loud was still too embarrassing.
"Mhm~ I know. Then on the Alola school trip, isn't Saki going to go on a date with her handsome boyfriend Satoshi-kun?"
As Sakiko's childhood friend, Uika suddenly felt like teasing her.
Because Sakiko looking shy like this was really rare.
Uika, that kind of thought is way too impure!
I don't think like that at all~~ But if I think about it… it actually sounds kind of nice.
"Ugh…" Sakiko lowered her head shyly, slipping into that strange little fantasy.
After a few deep breaths, she finally got back to normal.
"By the way, Uika—why are you going to Alola? Is it because you want to get an Electric Z-Crystal?"
Thinking of that, Sakiko felt puzzled.
She'd brought up Z-Moves before, but Uika had always looked completely uninterested.
So why go to Alola?
What did Uika want?
She got her answer quickly.
Uika shook her head, and scorching electricity appeared in her eyes.
"No. I want to battle Alola's guardian deity, Tapu Koko!"
...
[Satocchi, what are you going to do in Alola this time?]
[Girls, right? Lillie, Lana, Mallow, Acerola, Mollie~~ Kahili! Even Lusamine! I want to see you get torn apart~!]
What are you even saying?
Walking back, Satoshi felt a headache coming on.
But he still told her.
Satoshi's fighting spirit flared, anticipation rising.
"None of that. I'm going to battle Alola's guardian deity, Tapu Koko!"
---
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