"you're telling me, man." noah kicks a pebble bashfully— before quickly checking upon its sole for damage. he relinquishes his prized sneaker from his hands, letting it settle on the ground like a fragile treasure. "i've done a few battles here and there, but nothing too crazy. after this whole tourney's done, i go right back to work anyway. not gonna burn myself out."

in a neat arc, noah's pokeball travels. it lands, cracking open to reveal his urshifu. a small growl leaves its muzzle as fists rise like gates.

"wanna get some ice cream after?" noah asks.

kyle lopez

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"whoever wins pays!" not that it mattered. their wallets were slowly joining into one.

noah's urshifu erupts into battle. not one to backdown from an almost-mirror match, the pokemon's fur bristles hot with tenacity.

"okay, but where's my special attention?" the gym leader asks.

the urshifu dives in close to the other. a barrage of punches is thrown, potentially matched by the other's: a thunderous applause of their own creation.

kyle lopez

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noah is caught off-guard as the clangor of fists buffets the space before them. he rubs his own neck. "no! y'mean it?— IRON HEAD!"

his urshifu attempts to seize the other with a clawed lunge. should it be able, the massive bear swings its head forward. white headband-like fur whipping in the wind caused by the move's momentum.

"after dinner's good for me. i'm a patient guy."

kyle lopez

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"after this, i've got one other battle then a break." noah says. again, the ruckus of the battle punches in between his words. "might take a dip in the ocean though, t-b-h. 'cause it's way too fuckin' hot."

his urshifu falls to the ground, but it does not stop. growling, the bear twists its hips and swings it thick legs underneath the other to take the other with it.

"and 'sides, i gotta show off my summer bod while there's still time!"

kyle lopez

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"duh, i was gonna ask you if you wanted to come."

on the ground, the urshifu wrestle and slam paw. however, a WICKED BLOW jolts forth in piston-like fashion. the impact is enough to part the two urshifu in opposite directions.

after they drift across the arena, noah and presumably the other's, lift themselves up.

"we'll need another layer of sunscreen though. loser has to put it on the other and themselves. got it?" noah says in between commands.

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kyle lopez

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noah's urshifu tightens its defenses. arms remain close to the body. feet dare not remain too comfortable in their places.

"good and they gotta be naked too!"

his urshifu DETECTS. as the AQUA JET brings the other close, the bear is quick to swerve backward before lunging back in again. fingers leave no gaps between them as an open palm rushes in for an AERIAL ACE.

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kyle lopez

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"no! like, at the apartment! i think i have some swimming trunks left there still."

hoenn was never normal. who is kyle kidding? then again, being in the line of duty meant being pushed into situations far removed from normal, everyday life.

the DYNAMIC PUNCH lands thanks to its speed: a product of the other's specialized training. conversely, his own has mastered the art of patience. of finding the right time to strike— but every pokemon has their moments. moments to succeed. moments to falter.

the punch lands harshly and dizzies noah's pokemon. as it struggles to regain composure, its head swings heavy.

"ah! hang on, man!" noah shouts. his urshifu darts forth, swinging a colossal arm for a BRICK BREAK.

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kyle lopez

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