Logan didn't even know why he was panicking so much. The truth was simple: yes, he had been intimate with both Erika and Sabrina, but at no point had he ever officially said they were in a boyfriend–girlfriend relationship. If he really wanted to, he could brush it off with a careless "We were just having fun." That excuse alone could keep him out of trouble.
But the moment that thought surfaced, Logan shoved it down hard. If he truly said something like "I never said we were actually together," wouldn't that make him the scum of the earth? Just like those pathetic excuses from cheating men he'd seen exposed on social media back in his old world. He grimaced—yeah, that was the lowest of the low.
Logan didn't want to throw away even the most basic dignity of being a man. Still, the situation right now was spiraling out of control, and he had no idea how to handle it.
"Pretend you don't know me for now."
The words were so soft they almost slipped past his ears. Sabrina's lips had barely moved, her voice slipping straight into Logan's mind so only the two of them could hear.
Logan blinked, then suddenly it clicked.
Of course! Sabrina didn't know about his situation with Erika, and Erika had no clue about his involvement with Sabrina. That meant—he could play both sides, weave a web of lies, and buy himself some time!
For now, at least.
As for when the truth eventually came out? He'd cross that bridge when he got there. For Logan, the immediate problem was always the most important—the future could wait.
But still… her choice touched him deeply. Sabrina was deliberately keeping her distance so that her past as a Team Rocket member wouldn't drag him into suspicion with the League's higher-ups. She was protecting him in her own cold, subtle way.
At that moment, Sabrina even felt a flicker of relief. Thank goodness she hadn't walked in holding Logan's hand. If she had, facing the supreme commander of the Kanto Alliance would've been impossible to explain away.
Arms folded, Sabrina's eyes stayed icy as she watched Erika approach, every thought centered on shielding Logan. She didn't know that the man beside her had already "betrayed" her trust long ago.
"Wait here," Logan murmured. "I know Erika fairly well. Let me go greet her first. You know how it is—the League's higher-ups can't always be trusted. Who knows what they might suspect about you? … But don't worry. I've gotten close to their inner circle now. If anything happens, I'll warn you ahead of time."
His words carried weight, delivered with a grave tone.
Sabrina's heart softened at once. She thought he was risking himself, even acting as a spy within the League on her behalf. She wanted to tell him her power alone was more than enough to handle any threat, but looking at the seriousness in his expression, she swallowed her pride. As a wise woman, she wouldn't trample on the dignity he was trying so hard to uphold.
But when Logan strode forward and exchanged lighthearted banter with Erika, Sabrina's female instincts prickled. Something about Erika's gaze toward Logan made her chest tighten. Sabrina knew that look—because sometimes, she wore it herself.
"Logan, you came all the way to Indigo Plateau without even telling me?"
Erika's delicate brows furrowed in mock annoyance. She shot a quick glance at Sabrina, and though she longed to cling to Logan, she refrained. With others watching, she kept her composure.
If Sabrina had been holding back out of caution, Erika's restraint came from guilt. She knew very well she had stolen away her best friend's secret crush, and deep down she was ashamed. But giving up Logan? Impossible. So she kept her relationship with him hidden, afraid of how Misty—or anyone else—would see her once the truth was revealed.
And yet, even with her secrecy, even while she avoided acknowledging their bond publicly, Logan never grew angry. He never pushed her, never scolded her. He treated her with the same gentle patience as always. That only deepened her guilt, making her want to give him more of herself in return—even in ways that pushed her boundaries in private.
He really does deserve everything I can give… Erika thought, her heart aching.
Logan, meanwhile, was thinking about something else entirely.
"Mewtwo—if Sabrina tries to eavesdrop telepathically, stop her immediately!"
"Leave it to me, Logan."
The instant reassurance in his mind made Logan sigh with relief. His Pokémon never questioned, never doubted—loyal to the core. Unlike this tangled web of women, Mewtwo was absolute. With that comfort, Logan could maneuver freely without fear of some catastrophic "bad romance" explosion on the spot.
Outwardly, he smiled at Erika. "I only just arrived at Indigo Plateau. I was on my way to find you. But I happened to run into Sabrina here first. You know her past with Team Rocket. Now she's moving with you Gym Leaders, but who's to say she doesn't still have some secret plan? I had to test her a little, just to be sure she's truly changed."
He nodded meaningfully toward Sabrina, who, catching the cue, unknowingly nodded back.
The lies slipped off his tongue effortlessly now, his expression calm, his tone natural. Even he wasn't sure if this was a skill to be proud of—or the beginning of his downfall. One lie, after all, always demands another to cover it.
Still, for now, it worked.
Erika, hearing his words, thought he was only concerned for her safety. Warmth filled her heart. Quietly, she whispered back, "And? Do you think she's truly changed?"
Logan tilted his head, adopting the look of a thoughtful observer. "From what I've seen, she really has abandoned Team Rocket completely. You should give her a chance, Erika. She's just… lonely. Someone like you, with your kindness, could help her open up."
The words left his mouth—and he immediately regretted them. Why on earth did I just encourage Erika to get closer to Sabrina?!
But instead of suspicion, Erika's cheeks flushed pink. She lowered her lashes, a shy smile tugging at her lips. "Logan… you give me too much credit. I'm not as gentle as you think."
Her soft tone, her kimono's faint fragrance, her gaze—it stirred something inside Logan. He almost forgot where they were. But before his thoughts could wander further, he forced himself to calm down.
"Since we've run into each other here, let's head to the main arena together." He smiled quickly, trying to steer the moment away.
If he kept living like this, he thought wryly, he was going to become a master at juggling women's hearts.
Erika agreed easily, falling in step beside him. Together, they rejoined Sabrina.
Sabrina lifted her head at their approach, cold eyes narrowing slightly as she met Erika's gaze. Both women's brows furrowed ever so slightly. Instinct, intuition—a woman's sixth sense. Something about this situation wasn't simple.
But with Logan standing between them, neither said a word. They exchanged polite greetings, masking the storm beneath their calm.
And so the three walked side by side, one man flanked by two dangerous women—Logan feeling both thrilled and tortured, like a tightrope walker dancing over the abyss.
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