"Hold still, I'll heal you right up."
"Jala?" Kommo-o blinked groggily, clearly confused.
"You're healing the Pokémon too?"
Uika's violet eyes widened in disbelief.
He'd just defeated a formidable opponent, and now he was helping it? Wasn't he afraid of a sudden counterattack?
"Yeah. Kommo-o never attacked me directly, meaning it genuinely treated this as a trial. How could I not help it?"
Without hesitation, Satoshi sprayed a Full Restore over Kommo-o's battered body.
Kommo-o wasn't like Team Skull; one was a trial, the other was an actual enemy.
Enemies? Satoshi would strike mercilessly—fracturing bones or even finishing them off without blinking.
But a trial opponent was different. It clearly knew it would get beaten up but still faced you honorably.
Do Totem Pokémon even get paid for this? They're so dedicated to the rules! Honestly… I'm tearing up!
Good-hearted people and Pokémon were Satoshi's absolute favorites!
"Thanks for battling me seriously."
"Ja…"
Satoshi gently sprayed the healing mist, which released a soothing fragrance into the air. Under his care, Kommo-o's wounds gradually healed, the pain slowly fading away.
Witnessing this, Uika's heartbeat quickened, her cheeks flushed pink as she stared intently at Satoshi.
Satoshi really is like the stars—so irresistibly charming.
Stargazing had always been her greatest passion, utterly irreplaceable—or so she thought. Now, another feeling was stirring inside her, unmistakable and powerful.
She was sure of it: she was falling in love with Satoshi.
"I really want to try it again…"
Uika lightly touched her lips, savoring the lingering taste of the kiss.
Fully healed, Kommo-o sprang to its feet, dashed back into its cave, and quickly returned holding something.
"Ja!" (Here, take this.)
It extended its claw, presenting a dark-green Dragonium Z.
"Huh? You're giving this to us?" Satoshi tilted his head curiously.
"Ja-ja!" Kommo-o nodded vigorously, flashing a thumbs-up toward Uika.
There had originally only been one Dragonium Z, meaning only one person could participate in the Grand Trial. Now Kommo-o had thoughtfully provided another, eliminating that dilemma entirely. Both Satoshi and Uika could now join.
Despite its fierce appearance, Kommo-o's heart was surprisingly thoughtful.
Gratefully accepting the crystal, Satoshi prepared to leave with Uika—but not before Kommo-o gave him a hearty hug.
Kommo-o's body felt amazing!
It's like getting a massage~
Now I really want to try hugging other Pokémon~
[Satocchi, may I suggest a Gardevoir?]
Easy there—I'll try them all eventually! Even Arceus!
Satoshi replied without hesitation.
[Satocchi, you dare challenge the heavens?!]
...
The setting sun painted Poni Canyon in hues of warm gold.
Carrying the injured Uika on his back, Satoshi staggered slightly as he walked.
Uika's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red as she nestled against him, the softness of her chest pressed warmly against his back, heart utterly content.
A sweet warmth swelled within her, an urge to kiss him again—to openly share her feelings and affection.
But one nagging thought troubled her happiness: Satoshi was heading to Kalos soon, and he intended to bring along the girl he favored.
Who could it be? As someone newly awakened to love, Uika couldn't help but wonder.
Based on her knowledge, Satoshi's team alone had five girls—and then there was Togawa Sakiko or his supposed fiancée.
Honestly, it was annoyingly complicated. But she made a swift decision.
I'll take some vacation time, sneak off, and join him in Kalos!
Love-struck Uika was now officially in pursuit of her boyfriend—secretly, of course!
"You know, Satoshi, you used to mistake me for a boy."
Reminiscing, Uika smiled softly.
She'd grown up on an island—not densely populated, but popular enough with tourists—which was how she'd met Satoshi and Sakiko.
To Uika, they were her first real friends, and easily the most important.
Her feelings ran deeper than mere friendship.
However…due to her mid-length hair and tomboyish ways as a child, Satoshi had mistaken her for a boy. This misunderstanding kept their relationship stuck somewhere beyond friendship, yet shy of romance.
It wasn't all bad—just frustrating at times.
Still, for some unknown reason, Sakiko had stopped messaging her a year ago, and even Satoshi had vanished for two months.
Uika had worried their bond was broken, feeling quietly heartbroken. She'd reread old messages hundreds of times, finding warmth in each familiar word.
They really are special to me…
"All because I was brave enough to touch Bug-types like Heracross back then. You assumed I was a guy," Uika teased playfully.
Unfortunately, the current Satoshi…
Oh no, that's something from the past?!
I have no memory of this at all!
Even the mighty Super Rookie had his weaknesses—his greatest fear being sudden amnesia!
Time to use my ultimate conversational move!
[Satocchi, you're really going to try it?]
Here I go! This is my conversational Z-Move!
"That's pretty cool," Satoshi said gently, forcing a vague smile, unsure what else to say.
Huh? Pretty cool? It's because you're such a clueless straight dude that Sakiko and I are having such a hard time!
Uika's heart sank slightly in frustration.
She frowned a bit, deliberately pressing closer against him. But the oblivious guy in front of her seemed utterly indifferent, completely unfazed by the softness against his back.
Maybe it's fine this way?
Cold sweat formed on Uika's brow.
At least his obliviousness had kept Sakiko at bay—but then, what about me?!
On impulse, Uika boldly kissed the back of Satoshi's neck, her soft lips lightly brushing his skin.
"You might not fully understand my feelings, but I'll keep expressing them until you do."
Her gentle body pressed warmly into his back, her rapid heartbeat loud in her ears.
Satoshi nodded lightly—this time notably less awkward, choosing to support the girl's feelings.
"That sounds nice."
"Hmm?~"
I like you, Satoshi.
At that moment, Uika forgot everything else around her, holding him tightly. Her world shrank until it contained only him, leaving her deeply enchanted.
Meanwhile, Satoshi…
Feelings? Can we please pause the emotional drama?!
How about we express ourselves through Pokémon battles instead?!
Don't just say these things out of nowhere!
Satoshi blinked slowly, utterly baffled, unable to keep up with her pace.
[Satocchi… maybe pick up a book on emotional intelligence sometime?]
...
Hmm… What exactly happened to this guy?
President Lusamine stared incredulously at the man standing before her, whose hairstyle had undergone a drastic transformation. The unmistakable, wild explosion of hair belonged to none other than Guzma.
"I won't work for you any longer, Lusamine. Don't call me again. From now on, I'm dedicating myself to helping Alola's people! I'm done being just another trainer!"
Guzma appeared worn but resolute, standing on firm ground with a newfound dignity.
The Aether Foundation employed Team Skull frequently, making Lusamine quite familiar with Guzma—especially as she'd carefully manipulated him, becoming the only "adult who valued his talents."
So why is my pawn suddenly going rogue?
"You've really changed…" Lusamine murmured awkwardly, breaking into a nervous sweat, unsure how to respond.
It didn't truly matter; Guzma was insignificant. Still, she couldn't help but be curious.
"I've turned over a new leaf! You should, too! Farewell, Lusamine!"
Guzma lowered his head respectfully, bowed deeply, and calmly departed.
His old arrogance had vanished entirely, replaced by quiet determination.
It was only long after he'd left that Lusamine shook herself from her stunned daze. She turned her attention to the report on her monitor, thoughts shifting elsewhere.
"Satoshi… He's the boy who saved that Garchomp back in Kanto, isn't he?"
Thanks to the collaboration between Rainbow Wing Academy in Kanto and Alola—trading Z-Moves for tourism—the boy's exploits had gained surprising popularity here.
Looking at the intel and Satoshi's picture, Lusamine couldn't help but lick her lips, eyes glinting with sudden interest.
"How fascinating… I'd love to meet him."
---
T/N: LICKING UR LIPS???? ohhh right idk if it was super rookie or super pallet... i think its super rookie here and super pallet in urban pokemon... right?