By 2 PM, Kai and Erika had finally crossed the stretch of grassland and arrived at a large Pokémon Center built along the edge of the wilds.
They had been walking for hours since leaving Ecruteak City, and the exhaustion was catching up, aching calves, sore feet, and worn spirits. The sight of a full-service Center at last brought a wave of relief.
On the way there, they'd encountered a group of Sunkern, and Erika wasted no time. With practiced calm and skill, she captured one of her second Grass-type since arriving in Johto.
It gave her a noticeable boost of optimism, knowing she was steadily building a team ready for the journey ahead.
This particular Pokémon Center was nestled right between the bordering forest and open plains, located at a major three-way junction.
With heavy foot traffic from traveling Trainers, the Pokémon League had spared no expense. The place was massive.
As the automatic doors slid open, Kai and Erika stepped into a three-story facility bustling with activity.
Voices filled the air, dozens of Trainers chatting, Pokémon calling out, and screens flashing updates. The sheer liveliness of the place was almost overwhelming.
"Wow… this is intense," Erika murmured, taking in the noise and the crowd.
The Center was equipped with everything: wall-mounted TVs, satellite phones, public PCs, and even a pool out back, where several Water-type Pokémon splashed and played under the afternoon sun.
"Yeah, it's almost as equipped as the Indigo League grounds," Kai said. "But right now? Forget all that, I'm starving."
They skipped the sightseeing and made a beeline for the cafeteria. A late lunch was overdue.
After eating, they decided they'd stay the night here. It was still hours until sundown, and technically, they could've kept traveling. But according to the map, there was no other rest stop between here and Olivine City. Unless they wanted to camp under the stars, this was the smart choice.
Neither of them minded. A soft bed was worth more than a few hours of extra walking.
The food, as expected from a major Pokémon League facility, was excellent. Erika ate delicately, savoring each bite with grace. Kai, as usual, tore through his plate with the hunger of a wild Growlithe.
Just as they finished, before they could go explore the facility, two young Trainers, a teenage boy and girl, approached their table.
"Excuse me," the girl asked brightly. "Are you… The Kai?"
Kai looked up, curious.
She had long, sky-blue hair tied into twin ponytails that defied gravity, dressed in a sporty outfit of tight shorts and a crop top that spoke of high energy and confidence. A Misdreavus hovered playfully above her.
Beside her stood a boy in a red hoodie and backwards cap, his hair sticking out messily through the front. He looked equally energetic and equally starstruck.
Kai gave a small nod. "That's me. Why?"
"I knew it!" the girl gasped, bouncing with excitement.
The boy grinned from ear to ear, eyes lighting up.
Realizing they were drawing attention, both of them coughed awkwardly and calmed down a bit.
"I'm Marina," the girl said, then gestured to her friend. "And this is Jimmy. We're Trainers from New Bark Town."
Kai blinked. The names rang a bell. He remembered them vaguely from the Johto League exhibitions, but no matter how he tried, he couldn't recall the details.
"What can I do for you two?"
"We saw your matches at the Indigo League," Marina said, eyes shining. "We know you won the whole thing. So… would you battle me?!"
"Me too!" Jimmy jumped in. "I want a shot at you, too!"
Kai sighed with a small smile. "You two don't waste time, huh? Alright. I guess a battle sounds like a good post-lunch workout."
Their plans to explore the Center were put on hold.
They stepped outside to the back courtyard, where a standard practice field league-certified, of course, was available to all.
But before Kai even stepped onto the field, Jimmy and Marina were already bickering over who got to go first.
After a short, heated exchange, Jimmy unexpectedly relented, letting Marina take the lead.
She stepped into position opposite Kai, eyes sparkling. "I can't believe I get to battle a Champion today!"
Kai chuckled, then raised an eyebrow. "You two seem pretty close. Are you traveling together?"
The question hit its mark.
Both instantly flushed.
Marina waved her hands quickly. "N-no! We just happened to run into each other here!"
Jimmy nodded. "She's right! We're childhood friends, but we've been on our own journeys since leaving New Bark. This was just a coincidence!"
Kai smirked, amused. Sure, it was.
Their chemistry was obvious, with blushing, denial, and nervous glances. They weren't a couple yet, but clearly cared for each other.
Compared to Ash's cluelessness, Jimmy was already miles ahead.
"So, what are the battle rules?" Kai asked.
Their original idea had been a two-on-one match, each of them using two Pokémon.
Kai waved it off. "Let's keep it simple. One-on-one. One Pokémon each. Sudden death."
Both looked a little disappointed, but nodded. They knew this was a rare opportunity, just getting the chance to face someone like Kai would be a huge learning experience.
And now, it was time to see just how far they'd come.
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