Been a while

Catching up with Hideo Kino.

When the Gym Leader was unhappy, the entire company felt it.

Not in harsh words or a short temper, but in the unfamiliar, subdued monotone and a lack of the joviality that generally characterized the young captain.

His pen did not rise from the papers on his desk as his door was knocked, nor when he responded, nor when his soldier saluted and made themselves scarce.

It rose when Hideo's voice rang through the office, however. Only for a moment, before the sound of his scribbling filled the silence of the office once again.

He had fallen behind on his college work in recent weeks- most class projects had been due in November, and he had finished effectively none of them.

His teachers had been kind enough to give him an extension, given his job and the recent events, but with his weak academic aptitudes, he doubted he would be making the most out of it.

So with that in mind... he sighed, setting the fountain pen back onto its stand.

"'ello, Hideo." He said, slouching gracelessly onto his seat. "It has, huh? We don't seem to have much time these days."

An understatement.

The youth blew out air through his lips loudly before lurching forward, elbows slapping atop his desk and chin cradled atop his palms.

"So! What'cha been up to, shortstuff?"

As he entered the office, Hideo could hear the pen writing against paper; gym paperwork, no doubt. Doug must've had a lot to do with a gym this big.

But he knew Doug would make time for him. Any time together was worth it.

"Yeah, I've been pretty busy too." As busy as he could be without a structure; he could do whatever he wanted, when he wanted. Unless he had to wait in a queue. "Got a lot more to do now: going around Hoenn, having fun, catching rare Pokemon."

And who could forget the reason he was doing this? "Signing up for gym challenges, doing gym challenges..."

A wide grin adorned his face, almost matching his Ambipom's.

"Winning gym challenges." He could feel the pride going through him as he said that; nobody could argue he was winning under his own expertise.

He stayed quiet, waiting to hear Doug's reaction, his grin holding strong.

John Sullivan

Been a while

Catching up with Hideo Kino.

The beginnings of a grin began to manifest in the young soldier's tired countenance, his laughter ringing through the office as pride filled his chest.

"Wouldn't have expected any less!" He boomed, slapping the table excitedly as he stood up.

Rounding around his desk, he approached his short friend, his hand reaching over to ruffle the boy's hair vigorously.

"Well? What'cha waiting for?" Doug said with a grin, before hauling himself over the back of the couch that was right besides them. "Come'ere and tell me 'bout in detail!"

He slapped the cushion besides him soundly for the boy, before pausing.

"Oh, careful. Gotta round 'round the couch first!" He said after a moment, not wanting the boy to walk face first into the wooden backrest.

Once the boy was near him, Doug grabbed at a nearby throw pillow and hugged it to his chest, leaning atop it with a grin.

"Awright! So who was yer first victim? Oh, no, wait, let me guess..." The youth paused, humming loudly and obnoxiously as he cupped his chin in deep thought. "I'm gonna gueeess... noah faber?"

Hideo’s smile held strong as he heard Doug’s laughter, followed by the inevitable yet comforting hair rustle. He knew Doug would love that.

He was quick to follow Doug as he walked along the office, though the Ambipom stopped Hideo before he went right into something; by Doug’s warning, a couch.

Hideo didn’t even know Doug’s office had a couch.

Properly-rounding the couch, Hideo took a seat, a pillow placed ever-so-precisely by his Ambipom so he could lie right down and have it on his head.

The Ambipom took the opposite side of the couch, mimicking her trainer’s comfortable position. Not that much different from how she usually hung out with her trainer back home, minus the ugly christmas sweaters he had that she liked wearing.

“Nah, it wasn’t the Knockout Badge. But I do have my match for that one coming up soon, so I’ll make sure to show you that badge when I get it.” He was feeling pretty confident with the team he got planned, but he had to actually win it before he could claim victory. And who knew what Noah had in store for him.

It took him a moment to recollect his battle. “The first one I got - well, that wasn’t yours - was the Skyrider Badge. It was a battle against Alexei’s Pokemon. A Togekiss and a Crobat, versus my Dragonite and Oricorio.” The details of the battle came back to him fairly quickly. “My Rotomdex warned me his Crobat was built to poison, so I set up a Safeguard nice and quick. After that, I had my Oricorio focus on the Togekiss while my Dragonite fought the Crobat. The Togekiss got some good shots on my Dragonite, and even got a lucky Metronome-made Thunderbolt on my Oricorio.”

Dramatic pause. Hideo knew well how to tell a story.

“But my Dragonite clinched the victory with a Hyper Beam. Took’em both out in a single shot, and both of my Pokemon were still standing!” Granted, his Dragonite had to take plenty of time to rest afterwards, but it was still a solid win for him.

John Sullivan

Been a while

Catching up with Hideo Kino.

Swing and miss! Not noah faber, but Alexei Ivanov. He was a veteran gym leader as well, but Doug didn't know how the man battled- he had gone for the high-risk of death option, and it had certainly lived up to its name.

Thankfully, Hideo had chosen the more traditional route.

"You have a Dragonite?" Doug echoed softly in the background as Hideo unfolded the story. He smirked smugly. "At twelve? That's friggin' metal. I' told'em you were a talent."

A pokemon that powerful at 12? Hideo was no slouch in the prodigy department.

As a pause suddenly brought the narrative to a halt, a tense silence settled in the air, the young Captain waiting anxiously (despite knowing the result) for the conclusion.

"... And then!?" He muttered lowly, hugging a pillow tightly.

What else? The boy cinched it with a high risk, high reward move at the very end.

"Atta boy!" Doug shouted, a broad grin on his lips as he threw the pillow high in the air, his hand falling atop Hideo's hair and ruffling spiritedly. "A movie finish on your first gym battle? Yer career's already lookin' promising! Yer all set for the battle tent."

Winning or losing mattered little in the battle tent- well, in the grand scheme of things. Pro trainers were not always the strongest- sometimes, they were just the best showmen.

After all, the most important thing for the ones leading the show was for the crowd to be entertained.

A little bit of showmanship and dramatic tension in battles went a long way.

"Ya better not forget 'bout us lil' guys when ya make it to the top! Eh, Champ'n'da making?" He said as he fell back onto the arm of the couch, snickering for a moment before tilting his head at the other boy.

"So Noah's next? Or do ya got anybody else in line for a can o'whoopass?"

Hideo's cheeks reddened from the praise. "Yeah, it's pretty cool having him around! He's really strong, and he can get really fast for his size! Only downside is he can get pretty huggy when I let him out." It was how he'd earned the name of "Hugger". "At least he's gentle when he needs to be."

No back-breaking Bewear hugs, thankfully.

Hideo couldn't resist giggling at Doug's exuberant reaction to his victory - which contained the ever-present hair ruffle. His Ambipom made sure to catch the pillow Doug threw into the air, holding it up in case he wanted it back.

"Of course I won't forget you guys!" Hideo protested, "If anything, I've been wanting to spend more time with you all!...but there's so much going on now that it's getting harder."

It was bitterly ironic that once he finally had all the freedom he wanted, he was having less time to spend with everyone.

But enough worrying about that - it was time to regale Doug with more of his successes!

"Nah, I didn't go for Noah next. Melody Miro 's gym was next! Took me a bit to find her gym, but Eris was there to help point me in the right direction, since she lives in Sootopolis and all!" Eris Halla had been a big help that day - and they got to know each other a bit better.

"Though I didn't really whoop her ass, 'cause I did that challenge where my Pokemon gotta survive against hers until a song finishes. 'The Bullet Challenge', or something like that. My Pokemon weren't allowed to attack them at all."

"I brought along my Aggron, Gardevoir, Ribombee, and a Wooloo. All of them did really well - especially Aaron. I think you've seen him before." He could recall his Aggron's performance during the Meltan confrontation - and that Doug probably saw what he was capable of. "My Gardevoir and Wooloo did really well too! My Ribombee was a big help too, though he almost fainted a couple times."

Still, by the end of it, all his Pokemon were still up. "Things did get hairy around the end; my Gardevoir was Taunted, there was a Heal Block on everybody, and she had a Mega Rillaboom come out at the last minute. I had to make my Aggron mega evolve and tank its big attack, and he was pretty roughed up afterwards."

"But after that - Melody said I'd won! And she hadn't realized I was blind 'til that point!" The was a wide smile on his face - he hadn't known she didn't know until she said it.

John Sullivan

Been a while

Catching up with Hideo Kino.

"Another huggy one?" The gym leader had asked, laughing. "Once ya get past 2 of anything, it's a pattern ya know. Maybe stop being so huggable."

Ah, 'victim' blaming. Classy.

Doug's laughter died down quickly at Hideo's next words, the youth sobering up rather quickly. He was all too right... If he hadn't the initiative to visit Doug himself, it might have been weeks or even months before the soldier gave a call.

His mood further darkened at the mention of Eris Halla and her home within Sootopolis, his lip tugging slightly. The circumstances with the girl were still something he struggled with; he had no idea of how to help her and accomplish his goals at the same time. He wanted to be her friend, but her happiness conflicted with his peace of mind when the safety of rocket was inevitably tied to it.

Thankfully, Hideo moved on, hopefully none the wiser, to Melody and her gym challenge.

As he recounted his victory, Doug managed to shake off his shitty mood once again, a broad smile finding its way back to his mouth by the end of the story as his shoulders quaked, a laugh leaving his lips.

"Sounds like her." He said, reaching over to ruffle his hair. "But really, look at'cha go. I've seen those bullet challenges in video before; you got through that madness? Good job!"

He was genuinely happy things were going so great for Hideo. Everything else seemed to be going to crap in Hoenn, but at least his buddy was doing alright.

His smile lost some of its strength as he stared at the boy, an uncomfortable feeling settling in his chest.

Everything really was going to shit... He wasn't sure if letting Hideo go at it alone was a good decision, anymore.

"..." The youth sighed after a moment, before asking. "... So! what's next in the schedule, champ?"

He wasn't ready to get into another argument, another fight.

To that, Hideo could only shrug. “I just can’t help it,” he sighed, “Some Pokemon just really like to hug me. ‘least he’s more careful than a Bewear; I hear their hugs break spines.” He wasn’t eager to find out if that was true or not.

Oblivious to Doug’s momentary darkening, Hideo went on with his recounting. “She really didn’t let up! That Mega Rillaboom really caught me off guard, and she went pretty hard on my Aggron, but we held on!” He had to be thankful how tough his Pokemon were when it mattered. He really couldn't have done it without them.

There was an odd silence as Hideo waited for Doug to speak - though Doug eventually broke it. Hideo noticed the hesitation, but neither knew what it was about nor commented on it.

“Well, other than Verdanturf, I heard a couple new gyms opened up in Ever Grande and Fallarbor, so I already got signed up for those. Dunno when they’ll start, but hopefully soon!” Every badge was one step closer, and he had no intent on stopping until it was over. “And I guess other than that and waiting for a spot at an eighth gym…I’m just kinda going around Hoenn. Hadn’t really been able to do that back home, and Hoenn’s huge.”

Even if there had been a few things he’d rather not have experienced.

But he didn’t even let his thoughts get anywhere near those bad experiences. There was too much good happening for him to focus on the bad anyways.

Hideo hugged his pillow close to his chest. “So enough about me; what have you been up to, Doug? Gym Leader life keeping you busy?” This whole talk wasn’t just to brag about his own successes: he wanted to hear what Doug was up to too.

John Sullivan

Been a while

Catching up with Hideo Kino.

"Awfully specific mention... ya ain't planning to get one, are ya?" Doug asked as he crossed his legs and leaned his weight forward on an elbow, giving Hideo a hopefully funny, suspicious look.

One the other boy almost surely missed. Maybe Pom would get a kick out of it.

"Wouldn't be any good as gym leader if she didn't test properly." Doug said with a snicker next, remembering his own fight with the idol. He try to remember often, given what had happened to Sootopolis and its Gym...

"New Gyms?" Doug said, briefly thinking back to all the documents he had been sent recently. "Oh yeah! Greyson Connors's name did came up when new Gym Leaders were bein' proposed... Guess he's finally opened up shop."

He didn't know the other new Gym Leader personally, but he had heard of him at least- which was more than he could say about others that had reached the position in the past.

"An eighth gym..." Doug leaned back as his hands fell to his ankles, humming in thought as he tipped his gaze up, lips pursing. "It's quite off the beaten track, so maybe ya haven't heard of the Pacifilog Gym yet? It's ran by one... Uh, think his name was Norman Rararie? He prefers Tempest Quinn, though."

He didn't really like the idea of sending Hideo out to open waters for a gym battle, but he couldn't well pretend to trust in the boy if the thought of sending him out to sea kept him from helping out.

He was a bright kid, he would figure it out. Doug couldn't coddle him forever; as he said, Hoenn was huge.

Eventually however, the topic of conversation shifted away from Hideo and to Doug himself, and the youth immediately felt a uncomfortable just thinking about everything that had happened recently.

His mouth opened and hung open for a moment as he tried to speak, before it closed as he licked his lips, a brief grimace rolling over his face before he shook his head.

"... Sure has!" He managed to say with hopefully enough bombast, forcing a grin. "Can't let'cha in on everything, but working for the league is a supreme pain in the ass, I can tell ya that much."

Was there anything he could let Hideo know...?

"I've been havin' a few ideas for the Gym for a while now, but I haven't had time to think much on 'em since I've been kept so busy." He said, pursing his lips. "Well, that and I ain't got a lick o' cash."

And after the mess a former, fellow young Gym Leader had made a long time ago, he was a bit too shy about asking for funds for the league.

Hideo shuddered at the mention of actually getting a Bewear. "Nah!" he exclaimed, "I might like hugs, but I don't want an actual back-breaking Bewear hug." He might have a chance and teach it delicacy if it were still a Stufful, but he was bound to break some bones if he tried teaching it fully-evolved.

His Ambipom silently giggled, both at Doug's expression and the idea of Hideo trying to teach a Bewear to hug softly.

"That name does sound familiar," Hideo said at the mention of Greyson Connors 's name, cupping his chin. "I think Greyson's the one in Fallarbor. I grabbed a spot there as soon as I could! It's supposed to be the nontraditional challenge where I go around solving problems." He just had to get a team together that could handle any problem thrown their way; he doubted it would be purely fighting-focused, if there even would be any.

As for the other name, Tempest Quinn ? "Haven't heard about him, but I did hear someone was setting up a gym on a boat. In the water." Another shudder from Hideo, this one stronger than the last. "I hope we can fight off the boat. I don't do well on them."

Flying, he could handle fine, and he could do alright on the water atop a Pokemon, but seasickness always found him on a boat.

But enough about him and his gym adventures; Hideo was ready to hear about Doug's exploits!

"Gotta imagine the League's keeping you busy," Hideo commented, "With everything going on, they probably got you helping train a whole bunch of people." Not just as a gym leader; he knew this place was a functional military base. And with Rocket acting out in the open…

The mention of change dashed those thoughts. "Oh, you're changing up your gym?" Hideo asked, sitting up as his interest was piqued. "But I thought your challenge was really fun! Definitely one of the most fun ones I've done so far."

There was a slight pause as Hideo thought back to all the times he shared his experience. "Though, uh, people always sound kinda weirded out when I describe what your challenge was to them."

Hideo still hadn't fully put together that sneaking around and "assassinating" someone for a gym challenge might come across as suspicious. He just saw it as a fun challenge that put his trainer skills to the test, even like a game to some extent.

“So what’cha gonna change it to? Still gonna stick with the military theme?”

John Sullivan

Been a while

Catching up with Hideo Kino.

"What's so weird about sneakin' 'round bases and assassinatin'- Oooooh... I may see the problem." He said, rubbing at his chin thoughtfully.

Before snorting.

Yeah, like he didn't know that. It was still a pretty good test, in his totally unbiased opinion... but, not necessarily the best in its field yet. Needed more tweaking.

"Uuuh, No. Like I said, I ain't got money or time. Just... ideas." He said, shrugging his shoulders casually... not that Hideo could see that. "It'll probably not happen any time soon, cause m'job and studies ain't getting any easier... But it sure would be nice."

It was nice to daydream out-loud.

"I rather not talk 'bout stuff that'll probably not happen." Doug said, yawning a moment later before smacking his lips. "Feels like I'll get my degree long before I get the time to work on the gym."

Well, he could take a vacation, but... it seemed weird for him to take a vacation just to get enough time to do more work on his gym.

"Plus my ideas so far don't really fit with the military theme... I gotta think deeper. Well's been poisoned by the HsT, haha." Most of his ideas revolved around tournaments, which just seemed utterly silly. Hoenn people needed more survival drills, not entertainment...

Right? Right.

Right, Doug was still studying on top of everything. "I don't miss dealing with homework and studying. I already knew enough two years ago to do this stuff." He had plenty of better stuff to spend his time on anyways. "I've honestly learned more from you and just spending time with my Pokemon than I would've learned at school anyways."

He never would've met so many other people, so many new Pokemon, if he hadn't left. He would've just languished at home, desperate for any activity that didn't bore him.

Hideo couldn't resist a(nother) snort of his own. "Man, I was sick of battling after the Star Tournament. Wouldn't think I'd get tired of it, but stuffing in so many battles so quickly was rough." Maybe it was a bit of bitterness after so many losses there.

Though that wasn't to say he disliked the HsT; it was actually a lot of fun. And it was when he finally talked to Andy Blackadder about plans to run away, a talk that really helped him plan things out properly.

"But a tournament doesn't sound like a bad idea! I've heard some gym challenges are group competitions, and more than one person can get a badge out of them."

"Dunno how you'll do a military-themed tournament, 'less you're gonna theme the ranks as promotions."

With a smirk, he placed the pillow he was holding behind his head, laying his head on it (his Ambipom ensuring it was placed properly). "Man, this kind of stuff makes me think about what I'd want to do if I were a gym leader."

Not that he'd settle just for that role, but it was something that crossed his mind every so often. Each challenge had been unique - and he'd be lying if he claimed he didn't already have some ideas brewing around.

John Sullivan

Been a while

Catching up with Hideo Kino.

"That so? That's kinda flatterin'." Doug said, the grin on his lips almost audible as he leaned his chin atop his palm, looking smarmy. "How 'bout I run ya through some basic math drills?"

Ah, mathematics (and other basics of the educational system). The bane of the average pokemon trainer.

"Tell me 'bout it." Doug said, adding a complimentary snort of his own. "Cramming forty-plus fights in the space of a week was hell. Had to cycle through m'entire PC just to keep up."

Some of his pokemon had been rather displeased to be pulled out of their otherwise peaceful existence at Winstrate to battle. His Blissey, Joy, particularly, had not enjoyed having to fight the goshdarned Champion of the whole ass Hoenn League kyle lopez.

"The top brass would chew my ear off if I tried that." He said with a sigh, crossing his arms over his chest while humming in thought. "I'll just keep thinkin' 'bout it 'tween challenges."

He tilted his head at Hideo's words, giving him a pointed look that the other kid definitely did not see.

"Wanna be Mauville's gym leader?" He offered with a smirk. "Ya can start right now; there's a stack of papers on the desk right over there."

Though most of it had more to do with the military than Gym leadering business... not that Hideo needed to know that.