Logan walked within the pitch-black shadows, approaching the League's temporary command center.
Before he could get closer, his steps faltered. Ahead, standing gracefully atop the rubble of a collapsed building, was a young woman in a kimono. She stood there quietly, as though she had been waiting for him for a long time.
Bathed in moonlight, she looked like a goddess descended from the moon palace itself—surrounded by the fragrance of vivid blossoms, her moist and gentle eyes carried both warmth and joy as they looked toward him.
"Erika!"
Logan smiled and called out softly, as though afraid his voice might disturb the beauty of this moonlit scene.
Erika's smile bloomed even brighter. She leapt lightly down from the rocks and ran toward him. Just a meter away, she flung herself forward and wrapped him tightly in her embrace.
"Phew… thank goodness! You're not hurt, are you, Logan?"
Her arms encircled his waist, her delicate face buried against his chest, trembling with relief and excitement.
"Just a few scratches. The worst was a fractured rib, but I already treated it. With a little rest, I'll be fine."
Logan returned her embrace, inhaling the sweet fragrance from her hair.
"Compared to me, I'm more worried about you. Did you run into any trouble fighting Team Rocket?"
After holding each other for a while, they finally separated, though still hand in hand. They climbed to higher ground among the ruins—a spot with a clear view, safe from ambush.
Even in this battlefield that had yet to end, they never forgot the dangers, not even while whispering words of affection.
"I had no real problems," Erika said softly. "As commander, I mostly gave orders. Only when the situation got bad did I step in myself… but you—" her eyes darkened with worry, "—you fought Giovanni, Rocket's leader. Even from far away I felt those terrifying energy waves. At that moment, I wanted to rush straight into Saffron City to help you."
She placed his hand gently against her chest, as though to let him feel the pounding of her heart.
"That fight was indeed dangerous. Giovanni's strength is beyond imagination… But that's over now. And here I am, alive."
"Yes… you're safe, you're safe…" Erika whispered twice, her anxious heart finally settling.
Then she frowned in slight puzzlement. "Why is your body… damp?"
She had noticed it earlier when she hugged him—his clothes were moist. But her concern for his injuries had kept her from asking until now.
"Before coming here, I asked Vaporeon to wash me off with water. I knew I'd be meeting you—I couldn't let myself show up all dirty."
Logan kept his tone calm and natural.
What he didn't admit, however, was that while he had rinsed off, his true purpose had been to wash away Sabrina's scent. Erika's nose was too sharp—she could distinguish hundreds of fragrances. Sabrina's lingering scent was far too strong. If he hadn't washed it away, Erika would have been suspicious.
But Erika didn't doubt him. Instead, she pursed her lips and teased gently: "I don't care whether you're dirty or not. Battles are always like this. If anything, I should be embarrassed—I didn't wash either, so I'm the one who's filthy."
"Filthy? You? No way. You smell wonderful as always."
He leaned his head against her shoulder, lightly biting her earlobe. Erika gasped, a flush spreading across her cheeks as a soft sound escaped her lips.
"Stop… I still have to meet the other Gym Leaders soon to discuss our final move against Team Rocket."
Her words were chastising, but her eyes glimmered with a rare, intoxicating allure—so different from her usual gentle grace.
Her heart was stirring with emotions she tried to suppress.
With effort, she forced her tone serious again. "Tell me—did you manage to catch the three Rocket executives?"
"Didn't see Koga or Surge. I only caught up with Sabrina. But I couldn't hold her down either. I just passed along the Alliance's measures you told me about. If she chooses to listen, she may return to Saffron once this is all over."
Logan realized bitterly that sometimes one lie demanded another. The more lies stacked up, the more cracks appeared.
"Sabrina, huh… She's the most famous psychic expert in Kanto. Escaping is her specialty, so it's no surprise you couldn't capture her. Hopefully she'll change. After all, her parents are still in Saffron."
Erika sighed. She was about the same age as Sabrina, but she carried the aura of a mature, elder sister—gentle and reassuring. Yet when she turned sharp, she could be frightening.
"Enough about that. Come with me to the command center. Red and Blue are already there."
She laced her fingers through his again as they walked side by side toward a still-standing six-story building—the League's temporary command post.
"Oh, by the way, Logan—what are your plans now?"
"My plans?" He answered without hesitation. "Rest up, then train hard. The Indigo Plateau Conference is less than two months away. I have to prepare."
"Good." Erika squeezed his hand. "This year's tournament is different. The champion won't just be a symbolic title anymore. Whoever wins will be the real Champion of Kanto, with the title lasting for three years. After that, you'll face challenges from all previous champions. Only by defeating them all can you keep the title."
The Indigo Conference was held once every three years. This was the fifteenth, meaning fourteen champions had come before. Each had been hailed as heroes of their era. But until now, the title had been mostly symbolic.
From this year onward, it would become a battle of endurance—every three years, all champions would fight until only one remained, the true Champion of Kanto.
"I have confidence," Logan said arrogantly. "And as for three years from now—I'll be even stronger by then. Stronger than I can even imagine right now."
Erika chuckled softly. "This year's tournament will probably have the strongest competitors in the last twenty years. But don't worry—three years from now, not many of the old champions will still fight. The earliest champions are already past sixty—they won't be competing."
Their laughter lightened the heavy night air.
Soon, they reached the command center. Before stepping inside, Erika instinctively let go of his hand. She didn't want others to see them being too close—especially not one particular person inside.
When they entered, Logan spotted several familiar faces.
He smiled warmly. "Brock, Misty, Blaine—we meet again."
Brock and Blaine rushed forward happily, greeting him with excitement and concern. But Misty remained rooted where she stood, her face conflicted.
"H-hey… long time no see, Logan."
Her words trembled, betraying feelings she couldn't hide.
And Erika stood quietly by his side, her serene smile like that of an elegant attendant in a painted scroll—gentle, poised, and captivating.
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