Steam still clung to the bathroom mirror when I shut the water off. The value gave a low groan before the Bathroom went quiet.

  I stood there for a second, dripping, watching the condensation roll down the glass. My reflection looked tired, with dark circles, a faint bruise near my collarbone from training.

  At fifteen, I stood at five-eight. The scrawny kid was gone. The wiry frame I'd carried since a young age had filled out, my shoulders broader, arms corded with lean muscle that caught the light when I moved, and my abs were flat, tight, functional, and built for endurance rather than show.

  And I looked further down

  Nice

  I reached for the towel, drying off in slow, dapping the water away. The sting of cool air against my skin felt good after the hot shower.

  Then I padded back to my room, the floorboards creaking softly under bare feet.

  The morning light cut through the curtains in narrow bands. I pulled on a T-shirt, dark gray, then some soft track pants, I usually wear at home.

  My chair groaned as I dropped into it. The faint hum of the computer filled the silence.

  Three Poké Balls sat in a neat line on the shelf beside the desk, two faintly scuffed from use, and one, Brand new

  Empty right now.

  I smiled without meaning to.

  Our newest member, Teddiursa.

  I'd named him Orin.

  Simple and Solid. The kind of name that fit a fighter who'd seen too much already

  A small smile tugged at my mouth

  Orin had been difficult at first, skittish and unpredictable, lashing out even with the bond between us. His trauma ran deep; he'd been hurt, half-starved, and angry at everything that moved. But bit by bit, he was changing.

  The last few days, he'd started to trust, not just me, but Caesar and Livia too. We'd even managed a few light training sessions. His attacks were clumsy, his stamina poor, but the way he moved… There was power under all that hesitation.

  Given time, he'd be strong. Really strong.

  That was enough for now.

  I turned back to the computer. The PokéMail icon blinked once before loading. Inbox: no new messages.

  Still nothing from the research board.

  The Pokédex application had gone in last week, the full draft of the article Rin had helped me polish.

  Aura: The Connecting Roots of All Life

  It was something I'd actually been proud of.

  I scrolled through old messages, just to make sure I hadn't missed it.

  Still nothing.

  "Guess these things take time," I muttered.

  I leaned back, chair creaking again, eyes drifting toward the backyard window.

  Morning sun was just starting to hit the grass. Caesar lay on the ground, stretched out there, tusks glinting in the light. Livia swooped low, letting the breeze catch her wings. Orin stumbled after her, trying to catch her shadow on the ground.

  The sight made my chest lighten in a good way.

  They looked like a family.

  My family

  My stomach growled, breaking the moment.

  I sighed, shut the monitor off, and stood up.

  The smell of something frying drifted up from the kitchen: eggs, maybe toast. Hailey never let mornings stay quiet for long.

  I padded down the hallway, bare feet on cool tile, then took the stairs two at a time. The kitchen came into view at the bottom: wide counters, the window half-open to let in the breeze, sunlight pooling across the counter.

  Hailey stood by the stove, hair tied up in a loose knot, A jacket draped over the back of a chair. She glanced over her shoulder as she heard me come down.

  "Morning, soldier boy," she said, flipping a pan. "You look good today."

  I yawned into my hand. "That's because I actually slept last night."

  "Mm-hmm." She tilted the pan, sliding scrambled eggs onto a plate. "Sit. I made Toast and eggs."

  I dropped into the chair across from the counter. "You're in a good mood."

  She smirked. "Somebody has to be. Besides, I have something to forward to today ~"

  I shook my head, smiling faintly as she placed a plate in front of me.

  "Thanks."

  "Eat," she said simply, turning back to pour coffee.

  The smell of butter and eggs hit first, then the warmth. It was quiet for a bit, A comfortable silence between family. I ate slowly, feeling the stiffness from training ease a little.

  Hailey glanced over, leaning against the counter with her mug, the faint steam curling past her face. Her expression was softer than usual, less teasing and more thoughtful.

  "You know," she started, eyes on me but tone measured, "Vermilion's high command was… very interested in that report Graves filed."

  I looked up from my plate. "About Orin?"

  She nodded slowly. "About you calming a near-feral predator mon, A situation like that doesn't usually have a happy ending."

  I didn't know what to say to that. I set the fork down and rubbed the back of my neck, staring at the plate.

  "I just…" I exhaled. "Did what felt right. He wasn't attacking because he wanted to. He was scared and Lost."

  Hailey's eyes softened even more at that. "And that's exactly why they're keeping an eye on you." She took another slow sip of coffee, the edge of her mouth curving upward. "You did good, nephew. I'm proud of you."

  The words hit me harder than I expected. Hailey wasn't usually like this. I looked away, pretending to adjust the plate, but the warmth in my chest didnt fade.

  "Thanks," I said quietly.

  For a while, neither of us spoke. The hum of the fridge and the faint ticking of the kitchen clock filled the silence.

  Then, softer, she asked, "How're you holding up? Really."

  I looked at her.

  "I'm fine," I said after a moment. "Still thinking about it sometimes. The bunker. The others. But… I'm fine."

  She studied me for a few seconds longer, as if weighing whether to believe me. Then she nodded slowly. "That's good. Thinking's better than ignoring. Just don't lose yourself in it, alright?"

  I smiled faintly. "Yeah. I'll try."

  The quiet was broken by a sharp ping from my Nav on the counter.

  I shook my head, reaching for it. "It Mira"

  The screen lit up with Mira's name and her usual barrage of emojis.

  Mira: Yo, ranger boy You free today or still saving the world??

  I huffed out a small laugh and typed back:

  Arata: Depends. What kind of trouble are you starting this time?

  The typing dots appeared almost instantly.

  Mira: Chill We're meeting at The Circle later. Taro finally got his first Pokémon—some tiny elekid that won't stop headbutting him Figured we'd celebrate a bit. Haru's back in town too, btw.

  I blinked at the last part. Haru.

  Huh.. Haru's Back

  I smirked, shaking my head as I typed:

  Arata: Fine. I'll swing by later.

  Mira: Knew you would Don't be late.

  The chat ended with a sticker of a smug Pikachu giving a thumbs-up.

  I set the Nav down just as Hailey turned from the sink, one eyebrow raised. "Who's got you smiling at your phone like that?"

  "Mira," I said, half-sighing at her . "She wants to meet up with some friends at The Circle. Apparently, Taro got his first Pokémon."

  Hailey's mouth curved into an amused grin. "So you're ditching me for a kid and your friend. Noted."

  "I'll be back before dinner," I said, already standing to grab my jacket.

  That made me pause mid-step. "…A date?"

  "Yup." She leaned back against the counter, smirking. "Don't sound so shocked. I have a social life too." you know

  I let out a long sigh through my nose, rubbing my temple. "Yes.... A Social Life"

  Her grin widened, completely unashamed. "What can I say? Some people collect Gym badges. I collect experiences."

  I groaned softly, dragging a hand down my face. I'd long since stopped keeping track of her "experiences." Hailey's dating history could fill a binder, and she somehow managed to treat each one like field research.

  "Right," I muttered. "Just… murder him once you're done with your experience."

  She winked over her coffee mug. "No promises."

  I rolled my eyes, snagged my Nav, and headed for the door. "See you later, Hailey."

  Vermilion always felt louder than Saltwind.

  By the time I hit the main streets, the city was in full motion, traffic humming, vendors shouting over one another, the smell of fried skewers and toasted beans drifting between the noise.

  Towering billboards lined the building, their holographic displays flickering from one bright ad to another: new PokéGear models, a League-endorsed energy drink, even a looping teaser for an idol group called Starlume.

  Their smiling faces followed me from one corner to the next, all glitter and perfect hair and skimpy clothing. Beneath them, a smaller sign flickered, an ad for Pokéballs "guaranteed to improve catch rates by 7%."

  Yeah, sure, buddy 7%....

  I shook my head as I walked past it all

  The Circle sat near the center district, a squat concrete building surrounded by newer towers. Its sign glowed a soft crimson.

  I flashed my card at the reception desk. The attendant gave a polite nod and gestured me through the glass doors.

  The air inside was cooler, threaded with faint music. The main floor spread wide, a mix of lounge areas and food counters. people moved between them with the easy rhythm of people who'd spent too many hours here: swapping stories and comparing badges.

  I made my way up the steps to the first level, scanning for familiar faces.

  It didn't take long.

  Mira was easy to spot with her red hair, waving one arm like she was trying to flag down a plane, her other hand holding a drink that looked too colorful to be healthy.

  Next to her sat Taro, all restless limbs and barely contained excitement, his legs bouncing against the edge of the sofa. Messy brown hair stuck out in every direction, and his grin was wide enough to make it impossible to take him seriously.

  This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  When he spotted me, his face lit up. "Arata! Finally!"

  I blinked, half laughing at the energy radiating off him. "Hey, Taro. You look like you've had too many Sugar Puffs."

  He jumped to his feet, already fumbling for his Poké Ball, pushing against Mira. "No, listen... You gotta see my new partner! He's amazing!"

  "Cute," I said, sitting down briefly. "First Pokémon, right?"

  "Yup!" Taro said proudly, puffing his chest once as Mira smacked his head. "Got him two weeks ago. We're already training for our first badge!"

  Mira sighed, slouching deeper into the couch. "He's been talking about this nonstop. You'd think he caught a Legendary."

  Taro shot her a look, puffing his chest out. "He's just as good! Wait till you see him!"

  Mira rolled her eyes. "He's been watching too many championship clips. Thinks he's going to take on Surge by next weekend."

  "Hey, I could!" Taro shot back, crossing his arms. "Elekids fast. And he's strong!"

  Mira snorted. "He shocked you yesterday when you stepped on him."

  "Did not!"

  "He did, and you cried for like ten minutes.."

  "Because it hurt! And what does that have to do with Elekid being strong !!!"

  Their voices overlapped, rising and falling. I leaned back on the couch, smiling despite myself.

  Siblings

  Some things never changed.

  "So," I said, cutting in gently, "you said you wanted to show me your Pokémon right, Taro?"

  He looked up, eyes lighting with sudden excitement. "Yeah! A battle! You said you're a ranger, right? You've gotta be strong!"

  Mira groaned, dragging a hand down her face. "He's been asking everybody to battle since we got here. Even challenged the bartender."

  "The bartender had a Hitmonchan!" Taro said defensively.

  "And you nearly tripped the poor Bartender!"

  "That's called passion!"

  I laughed under my breath. "Alright, alright. One match won't hurt."

  Mira gave me a look that said, you're encouraging him, but she didn't argue.

  As Taro bolted down the stairs, half skipping and sprinting.

  Mira and I were left in the sudden quiet that followed him. The music from below hummed through the floorboards, soft bass and laughter threading faintly through the air.

  Mira slumped back into the couch, exhaling hard. "That kid's going to give me a heart attack before he hits puberty."

  I chuckled, leaning forward, elbows resting on my knees. "He reminds me of you, actually."

  She scoffed, flicking a straw wrapper at me. "I wasn't that bad."

  "You were worse," I said.

  Her grin faded a little, replaced by something quieter. She stared at her half-empty glass, rolling it between her hands. "Hey, uh…"

  The shift in her tone pulled me back from my amusement.

  "Yeah?"

  She hesitated, searching for words. "About… Saffron. Rin's birthday."

  I froze slightly, just enough that she noticed.

  She winced. "Yeah. That's the reaction I was afraid of."

  I let out a slow breath. "What about it?"

  Her eyes flicked to me, then down again. "I just wanted to say I didn't… mean for things to go like that. The whole party. The pool. Kieran." She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "It was supposed to be fun, not... whatever that was."

  For a moment, I didn't answer. The glow from the lower floor brushed across her face, painting her expression in shifting colors, regret, and guilt, something tangled between the two.

  I leaned back, arms crossing loosely. "It's fine, Mira."

  "It's not," she said quickly. "I know what it looked like. I mean, I didn't know you had a thing for her then, but later... when you just… left.. I kinda put it together."

  I blinked, letting the words hang for a beat. Then, quietly, "Yeah. You're not wrong."

  She looked up, uncertain.

  "It wasn't a big thing," I added. "Just a crush, you know? Then reality catches up."

  Mira studied me, like she wasn't sure whether to believe how calm I sounded. "So, you're really fine?"

  "Yeah," I said simply. "Rin's a friend. You're a friend. That's enough."

  She huffed, leaning back, relief flickering in her eyes. "Sometimes it feels like im the younger one here, you know that?"

  I smirked faintly. "You're just used to people who argue back."

  "Touché." She grinned a little, then sighed. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry if I made things messy back then."

  "You didn't," I said, and meant it. "Life just… happens. People change, do stupid things. and move on I'm not holding a grudge."

  For the first time in the conversation, Mira smiled, really smiled, the easy kind that felt like the old days again. "Guess that's why I keep you around. You don't hold grudges."

  "I could start," I said dryly.

  She snorted. "Please. You'd apologize halfway through."

  Before I could respond, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed up the stairs.

  "Arata! Mira! It's booked!"

  Taro burst back into view, cheeks flushed, practically vibrating with excitement. "Come on! I got Field 3... It's open right now!"

  "Field 3," Mira groaned, standing up. "You realize that's the one near the glass wall? Everyone's going to watch you lose."

  "Not if I win first!" Taro shot back.

  I stood, straightening my jacket, unable to stop a small grin. "Alright, lead the way, champ."

  He grabbed my wrist, tugging with all his weight, and I let him pull me toward the stairs.

  We made our way down the stairs, as Taro dropped my wrist and practically bounced ahead of us, and Mira fell into step beside me. She leaned in just enough for her voice to cut through the thrum of music and chatter.

  "Go easy on him, alright?"

  I gave her a sideways look, half a smile tugging at my mouth. "You think I'd crush a kid on his first match?"

  "I think," she said, arching a brow, "you've got a six-foot dragon and zero mercy."

  I chuckled quietly. "Don't worry. I'll be using my latest capture."

  She gave me a skeptical hum but seemed satisfied enough as we reached the ground floor.

  The battle arenas at The Circle were built like miniature stadiums, each enclosed by reinforced glass and divided by gleaming physci barriers. Lights lined the ceilings in strips, casting the field below in even, soft illumination.

  The flooring shifted automatically depending on the trainer's registration: Rock, Water, grass, or artificial turf. And Taro picked grass.

  Spectators lounged on the upper benches, watching other matches play out across the complex. The air buzzed with energy, cheers, the crack of attacks, and the rumble of Pokémon trading blows.

  A referee stood waiting at the far end of the field, clipboard in hand, expression bored in the way only seasoned officials could manage. "One-on-one battle," he said as we took our places. "League-standard rules. First Pokémon unable to continue loses. Trainers, ready?"

  Taro was already halfway to his mark, fists clenched, excitement radiating off him. "Ready!"

  I nodded. "Ready."

  "Then begin."

  Taro practically vibrated with excitement. "Let's go, Elekid!"

  His Poké Ball burst open, releasing a small yellow Electric-type that landed with a sharp hop and a crackle of static. Sparks danced between its antennae as it squared up, eyes gleaming with challenge.

  I gave a small nod and tossed Orin's Poké Ball. "Alright, let's see what you've got."

  Across from me, Orin appeared in a flash of red light, my Teddiursa, small, His fur still uneven from recovery. He blinked once at the bright arena lights, then flexed his claws, letting out a small growl.

  The ref's arm sliced down. "Begin!"

  "Elekid, Thunder Shock!"

  The electricity hit the field before Taro even finished the command. It was small and weak, missing by a mile. The sparks fizzled uselessly into the ground next to Orin as he flinched.

  "Calm," I said. My tone alone seemed to settle him a little. "Start with Scratch."

  He dashed forward, claws glinting white, and swiped across Elekid's arm. It was light, quick enough to leave a mark but not enough actual harm.

  "Counter with Quick Attack!" Taro barked.

  Elekid lunged, landing a solid shoulder into Orin's side. He grunted, sliding back a few feet before planting his claws.

  Taro's face lit up. "Yeah! That's it!"

  I just sighed inwardly. He wasn't wrong, but he was rushing.

  "Orin," I called, voice even, "Feint Attack."

  The little bear's outline blurred, then vanished in a flicker of shadow. Taro blinked, caught off guard.

  "Wha... Elekid, turn around!"

  Too late. Orin reappeared behind the electric-type and struck hard, sending Elekid stumbling forward.

  But even as I smiled, I saw the fatigue already setting in my little bear. His breathing was sharp, his movements slightly delayed. His body still hadn't caught up with his spirit.

  Its too soon

  Taro clenched a fist. "Alright! Brick Break!"

  Elekid's arm glowed, crackling with yellow light. It charged, shouting a tiny battle cry.

  "Counter with scratch!" I ordered.

  Orin braced himself, but when the impact came, it was too much. The blow connected square in the chest, and the shock sent him sprawling.

  He tried to rise, legs trembling.

  "Enough," I said softly. I held up his Poké Ball. "You've done great, Orin. Rest."

  The light pulled him back in, gentle and warm.

  "Winner... Elekid!" the referee announced.

  Taro whooped, pumping a fist in the air. "Yes! We did it, Elekid!"

  The little Pokémon sparked proudly, though its stance wobbled with exhaustion.

  I smiled faintly. "Not bad, rookie."

  When I turned toward the viewing deck, Mira was leaning on the railing, a knowing look on her face. "You didn't even try to win."

  "Didn't need to," I said, clipping Orin's Poké Ball to look at it. "He fought well. That's what matters."

  We climbed the stairs together, Taro already running ahead to boast about his "first official win against a Ranger."

  But as we reached the upper level, the easy warmth of the moment thinned.

  Near the entrance stood Haru.. hands in his jacket pockets, hair slightly longer than before, smile sharp enough to cut glass. Two people stood beside him, friends maybe, laughing at something he'd said.

  When he spotted us, that grin of his widened. "Hey Guys, how have you been?"

  Mira stiffened instantly beside me as her smile faltered

  "Haru," she said, her voice even but small, polite, and hollow..