~Soutarou POV~
Soutarou's eyes lit up with pokedollar signs as he glanced at Kaede, before his eyes seemingly watched Misty dragging Kaede around a Morita Corp. designer store.
While in reality his eyes were focused on an entirely different view…
[Ralts has leveled up x2 from intense combat.]
[Ralts has defeated a significantly higher leveled Toxapex… Leveled up x6]
[...
Level: 20 (27, upon evolution Ralts' level will progress again)
…]
[Milotic has leveled up x1 from intense combat.]
[...
Level: 33
…]
[Servine has leveled up x2 from intense combat.]
[...
Level: 25
…]
'Eh? EHHHHHHHHHHHHHH? YOU GET THAT MUCH EXP FROM DEFEATING SOMEONE? No hold on it has to be that Exp Share… How does it even work… Is it locked to my team only? What if it's a passive Pokemon…? No, that would be too broken… The more likely case is like Servine, Ralts is underleveled and fighting with literal top tier pokemon. Not to mention her actually being completely outclassed by Toxapex who was just standing there menacingly….'
'Things only got serious when I threatened Taunt and pulled out Safe Guard… Man, I really want to fight Kaede… In pokemon battles… Maybe in-'
Soutarou's unfocused eyes literally popped out of their sockets when they saw Kaede holding a lacy black lingerie set.
'Yep totally… Fight her in all senses. Fight all night~ Baby you're just right~ Don't you know I just wanna take a look at your light~ Oh baby you're just right~... Wait, why was I singing again…? Damn that woman is trouble.'
'Must not give into temptation…'
'I don't need it… I don't need it… I don't need it… I NEED IT!'
'Eh whatever let her buy all those lingerie sets and I'll just bill headquarters for it later… Though I must critique these stylistic choices! As an artist and a man it's my civic duty to do so!'
While Soutarou was making a serious face staring at Kaede who was purposefully playing around with the lingerie and watching Soutarou's face go from dim to light in moments as she chose and then put back items…. And then repeat… In the end the group grabbed a few dozen outfits, with Misty taking an XL Orange Storage Bag and Kaede taking a pink one Pink. Kaede also swapped out her grey inspector outfit and her nurse uniform for a white and light pink sundress and hat giving her a serene almost faceless dream girl vibe. Misty didn't trade in her outfit, but did subtly upgrade her shoes to get the same hiker and running shoe hybrid that Soutarou did, but in red and white…
Just like that the trio fooled around and spent the rest of the day changing outfits, getting more gear, stocking up on items, and preparing for a new journey. Though Soutarou swore Misty took wayyy too many things compared to what was originally intended… Thankfully Soutarou had given all the stores a heads up and tipped luxuriously making sure to properly thank all the staff and even offering those who were called into work suddenly extra days off as compensation. After everything finished despite having the option to stay in the best hotel in the area, Soutarou opted to stay in the Pokemon Center dorms, which made Misty make a funny face, but made Kaede smile softly…
Once the trio were in their gender separated areas, Soutarou took a top bunk even though the entire Poke Center was empty other than the three of them for an overnight stay. After he had changed into comfortable sleeping attire Soutarou began to lose himself in his thoughts.
'Happy employee's, happy company. Also our competitors are forced to match us or lose their best workers. What a pleasant way to bleed out the others. Truly when in doubt… Throw money at your problems! Who said money isn't happiness? What you want to cry in your 2014 Toyota Corolla with more mileage on it than the neighborhood whore or you wanna cry in a brand new Ferrari because your concurrent nineteenth girlfriend wouldn't let you crack upside down in the vacuum of space. I thought so.'
'Money buys happiness, people. Truly dying was an upgrade….'
'Hmm…'
Soutarou stared at Misty for a moment before thinking… 'Wouldn't a Red Gyarados fit her aesthetic better? Red head, red ace? If she's nice to me I'll think about getting it for her.'
'As for Kaede… she already has Latios… What's next Rayquaza? Worst part is bet you she's already seen a Rayquaza before in her lifetime and probably wouldn't care all that much. I can tell she cares more about her bond with Latios than the fact that Latios is a Legendary. What a good trainer… As expected a Nurse Joy no matter how ridiculous is still an angel at heart-'
Just as Soutarou thought that a prickle of hot air hit his ear sending shivers down his spine and causing him to have goosebumps in the heated way. By his side was a Kaede with her pink hair let down and…
'JUST THE NURSE APRON? DAMN OK FINE WE'RE GOING ALL THE WAY TONIGHT BABY!!!!!!!!!!~~'
Just as Soutarou's fist clenched in victory Kaede broke his happiness by saying and showing, "I'm wearing a swim suit underneath."
And sure enough there it was a pink bikini, not that Soutarou particularly minded, but expectations vs reality. Reality is often disappointing. In this case the view still wasn't bad…
Kaede whispered sultrily , "You're still the same perverted Soutarou…"
Soutarou's happy expression crumbled and he seriously sat up straight and then took the blanket and covered Kaede saying, "I'm really not another Soutarou. No matter how much I look like him. No matter how similar our powers may be. No matter-"
Kaede just yanked his arm out from under him and pulled him under the blanket and into her embrace and said, "Sure… But psychic signatures are unique to one person. As is Aura's signature. As is the power of viridian's signature. I know because someone… taught me how to use Aura… sure you might not… But… I suppose that's ok… Because after today… I'm sure of it… You're still…"
Kaede wrapped his arms around Soutarou's neck and nuzzled Soutarou softly saying, "I know you might not believe it… But I do… and if it's not and if I'm truly wrong… then am I wrong for wanting to start anew…? Am I wrong for trying to find happiness too? Plus when you stack all three powers plus that serious, poorly humorous, and pervertedness all together with a touch of golden eyes you get.... Plus…"
Soutarou's gaze tightened in anticipation and slight confusion listening to Kaede's somewhat sporadic speaking, so he said, "Plus…?"
Kaede's finger trailed along Soutarou's collarbone and she smiled as she finally said, "That's a secret~"
Soutarou sighed and just as he was about to say something Kaede straddled him and pressed him down into the bed and hovered over Soutarou. Soutarou gulped, but didn't resist at all locking eyes with Kaede whose eyes had turned misty, whose cheeks were filled with a girlish flush, and her lips glistened in the light.
Soutarou's hands instinctively wrapped around her waist and Kaede's hands cupped his cheeks… Just as Kaede was about to move her lips towards Soutarou's, Soutarou was suddenly on the bottom bunk. Kaede just chuckled and said, "Another confirmation… Jealous pokemon... Only you can have a bond that strong so early.."
Kaede shook her head and peeked out at Soutarou, before blowing him a kiss and walking towards the door before pausing and saying, "Good luck tomorrow, not that you'll need it, but good luck. Good night, Soutarou."
Soutarou watched her leave, before Ralts' glowing orange eyes locked with Soutarou's.
{Bad Master!}
Soutarou's face blackened and he said nothing before grabbing Ralts and messing up her hair and tightly hugging her and saying, "Who told you to be so sneaky?"
Ralts refuted and the pair bickered….
*Soutarou internally: You damn cockblock pokemon!*
~Kaede POV~
Holding her clenched fist over her heart she leaned against the male dorm room door as her heart beat loudly, and her face remained flushed.
She pursed her lips and pouted before biting her lip and leaving…
~Soutarou POV~
As he felt Kaede's presence finally completely leave, his mood dropped a bit, but at the same time he couldn't bring himself to be too mad at Ralts either, so he just let it go and fell asleep for the night as tomorrow would be the day his journey kicked off into high gear…
'Brock huh…? Heh.'
As Soutarou's vision darkened and he fell asleep, Misty and Kaede failed to do so and spent the entire night plotting something…
As the trio met in the Poke Center's cafeteria, Soutarou immediately noticed that both Misty and Kaede looked sleep deprived and had deep black bags under their eyes. Soutarou paused before asking, "What happened to you two? Don't tell me you guys got nervous about my gym challenge…?"
Soutarou's gaze tightened and he thought, 'Is Brock perhaps… actually strong in this timeline already…?'
Soutarou's gaze darkened a bit, before he shrugged as a sense of underlying anticipation lit up within him as he genuinely couldn't wait to see just how strong this version of Brock was.
Kaede paused and glanced at Misty who gave her that same from the side of her eyes a communicative glance. Before Misty sighed and shook her head and firmly said, "It's just girls stuff. You wouldn't understand."
Soutarou had question marks form over his head, but he shrugged and finished his breakfast before releasing all three of his Pokemon and hyping them up, and thoroughly making sure they were ready for the upcoming event.
Just before he got to Ralts he finally said, "Ralts. You're our ace… unfortunately that also means you're always the partner that'll go last in our lineup… I'm not entirely sure if I'm correct, but that also means you might not get to fight today."
Ralts paused before nodding her blue haired head which he promptly caressed at her acknowledgement.
Kaede and Misty looked over and turned confused as they wondered why Soutarou was so serious, before Soutarou heaved a deep breath and said, "Let's go, it's time to get our first Gym Badge!"
Kaede coughed into her fist and politely said, "Soutarou… You did register for the Indigo Plateau Conference right? Otherwise this challenge won't count for the conference."
Soutarou stumbled and Ralts just slapped her forehead thinking,
Soutarou instinctively glared down at Ralts for a second before sighing and going with Kaede to Aiko to get registered for the conference before Aiko handed Soutarou a gym badge box that Soutarou promptly placed inside of his backpack.
Soutarou sighed and said once more, "Ehem… Take two…Let's go get our first damn Gym Badge!"
Milotic let out an excited, "Miuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu. Mi?" (That Badge is ours! What's a badge again?
Servine sighed, smacked Milotic with a vine wipe and just elegantly said, "Vivivine. Ser? Servine" (The winners medal you dimwit. Why just one? We'll get them all).
Ralts nodded in appreciation of Servine finally finding an ally against that big brainless oaf of a water snake. All while Soutarou watched with interest as he was now more attuned to his pokemon's feelings and words, he could vaguely feel their meaning via minimal usage of Viridian power and the situation made Soutarou make an amused expression, but just recalled Milotic and Servine, before finally recalling Ralts.
'Who knew that Milotic turned out to be the clueless type…'
'Well it's whatever… When in doubt just start blasting!'
Finally as the trio of Kaede, Misty, and Soutarou set off towards the Pewter Gym a few figures followed them discreetly…