What a well-prepared kitchen. Sagira hardly had to do anything. Not wanting to be that ‘one too many’, she stayed back, continuing with the process of breaking things down. While the water ran over her hands the dishes as they came, she drifted off into her own thoughts.

She certainly hadn’t expected to pull out ahead in this.

“That sounds dangerous,” she joked. At least she was in the lead.

More rings were purchased, and she went again.

Summoned from the dishes, she went to lower a sturdier table into the space as told. Cooking with Pokémon was, indeed, a different breed of kitchen mastery. Tricks in this world were countless.

The meat at the bottom of her hand rolled into the compliant glob underneath. It was then sauced just the right amount, decorated, and then sent under heat.

On to the next culinary adventure.

Coffee was made on the fly, because it was closing. She sighed as she grabbed the pot out of the dish well. Couldn't always be lucky.

Maybe Sage was one of those schmucks, because she didn’t do very well. While King beat her at the game, they’d both done remarkably better than she figured they might.

Sage could have walked away then, not easily sucked into things like this—but, King wanted to keep going, so they’d keep going. Best two out of three.

“Okay. You're on.”

If she got another one, she’d surprise herself.

When her turn was up again, she paid for some more rings, and did her best.

Sage’s words didn’t seem to cut through the rage and panic of the Zarude, who cried back gratingly and prepared an attack. However, already having been CONFUSED after its THRASH on nearby vehicles, it only wound up hurting itself more in its efforts to be freed from the alleyway—by running straight into a concrete wall.

Still holding back her Cacturne, she waited until the monkey was back on its feet to gauge what their next move should be. “Maybe. Let’s see what it does.”

Zarude indeed jumped up again, having knocked itself back to its senses. The vines on its body were suddenly thrown outwards, and with a mind of their own went to grab Sagira and her Cacturne by the ankles. While Cacturne was able to avoid the GRASS KNOT, it caused the officer to fall to the ground with a grunt and scatter of dust. Cacturne retaliated with a POISON STING, sending thorns towards the Zarude.

“Help bring it down if you can!”

She pushed back up to her feet.

“Yup.” Shit.

This car was terrifying—but she got in anyways, because it was her job. If nothing else, she did her job thoroughly, and as well as she could. Plus, she wanted her rank back.

She found herself, again, sitting in the cockpit of a spaceship too low to the ground. It wasn’t a matter of whether or not the car could do it… she just had to focus, and cut the curves the right way. Avoid the other cars, hopefully.

They started off, and she was switching gears, and keeping up for now.

“Yeah.” Back on her feet, she looked down at herself, and then up at him with light scrunch of her face. “Maybe not, huh?” Her smile leaked laughter and warmth which slowed too soon to a trickle, nearly dried up.

She’d always have it for him. There was a special place in her heart which he filled and would never leave.

As much as she wondered about his story, it was almost too much to ask. Kanto had been the last time she’d seen him—before it had fallen. Before absolute tragedy had struck their region down. She’d wondered time and time again if he’d made it.

“I’m so glad to see you safe.” Eyes fell to her hands a moment, and her head shook in regret, or something that felt similar. For what, she wasn’t sure. For whatever she hadn’t done that she should’ve or could’ve, even though she’d felt at the time that she’d done it all.

With a sigh, she willed herself towards difficult conversation.

“What are you doing here? You’re League, now?”