~I don’t know if I should write that…~ Bianca repeatedly flicked the end of her pen on her head as she stared at her notepad, her lips pressed in frustration. ~I hope Professor Juniper won’t be disappointed if I do…~

  Since Eve's training session with Harper, four more episodes have been filmed, and up to a total of six were now completed. While Caleb and Claire have improved both as voice actors alongside their pokémon, Bianca made little progress in figuring out what made Harper so unique. Professor Juniper insisted that she was fine for not making any significant progress, it frustrated Bianca somewhat that they were this close to understanding at least one clue about pokémon linguistics.

  At least their research had opened doors, she reminded herself. Collaborating with Pokéstar Studios to create an educational show was an unprecedented opportunity. Still, she couldn’t help but feel ashamed of her own ambition—wanting just a little more out of their efforts.

  Bianca sighed, setting her notebook aside as if physically discarding her doubt. She leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes for a moment of reprieve. Her lap was suddenly claimed in a lighthearted tussle between Zorro and Eve, the two vying for space.

  “Hey, now,” Bianca said with a small laugh, scooping them both up. “There’s plenty of room for both of you.”

  At this point in production with the second-to-last episode now done, it was routine for Bianca to sit with Zorro and Eve as they watched the twins voice over what their pokémon acted out. She always sat behind the sound production crew in the control room, watching them work their magic with the tabs and dials while understanding little about its nuances. It amazed her every time she saw it being used, as it really showed how specific people’s talents were in this movie studio, something that she wouldn’t see much elsewhere in Unova.

  After a final push of a slider, a sound engineer turned to the Director. “Everything looks good, Ms. Pokélsky.”

  “Let’s get started, then,” Ms. Pokélsky replied, pressing a button. The red light blinked to life, signaling the recording session. “Caleb, Claire, mic check, please.”

  With a nod, the twins headed over to their spots as they wore their headsets, placing their scripts on a stand as they brought the mic closer to themselves. “We’re ready!” They responded in unison.

  “The gain levels are stable, no distortion in the audio,” Another sound engineer confirmed.

  “Pull up the footage for the first scene,” Ms. Pokélsky issued one of the staff members. The projector in the recording room and the television in the control room soon flashed on, freezing the raw footage of the episode mid-motion.

  Pressing a button again, the Director averted her attention back to the twins. “We’ll be starting in the first scene of episode seven. Follow along with the body language of your pokémon on screen as usual, ok?”

  “Got it!” Claire replied, grinning at Bianca.

  Caleb gave a thumbs-up. “We’re on it!”

  Bianca smiled back, raising her fist slightly in a gesture of solidarity.

  “We’re rolling,” The sound engineer announced. “The footage will start on the beep.”

  A single flat tone rang out, and the episode began to play. Zorro and Eve perked up, their attention glued to the screen as their trainers' voices filled the room.

  Their characters walked through a dark cave structure riddled with stalagmites and eroded rock, the mist from the mist machine hanging low under their bodies.

  “I can't believe we’re back here so soon,” Caleb murmured, his tone low and reflective as he mirrored Zorro’s posture on-screen.

  “At least we're more prepared than our first expedition,” Claire replied after a breeze blew by in the cavernous hall.

  “True! And we also have to go pretty deep to get those evolution stones. Finding three is going to be hard!”

  “We just need to keep Guildmaster Tundra’s words in mind once we go deeper.”

  Bianca was startled when she felt a paw press against her leg. Looking down, she saw Zorro nudging her bag, and it struck her that her Xtransciever had been buzzing all along without her noticing.

  “Thanks, Zorro,” She whispered, scratching his ear in gratitude. Standing carefully to avoid disrupting the session, she stepped out and closed the door quietly behind her.

  With a sense of trepidation, she flipped open her Xtransciever and saw that Professor Juniper was calling. It was an unexpected call, and a wave of concern washed over her, fearing it might be about her lack of progress in her research. Reluctantly, she accepted the video call.

  “Hi, Professor,” Bianca greeted nervously, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I wasn’t expecting a call today.”

  “Hi, Bianca, sorry for calling without warning. Did I interrupt you in anything, by any chance?”

  “No, not at all!” Bianca replied quickly, waving a hand as though brushing away the concern. “The twins are recording lines for one of the later episodes. I was just watching.”

  Professor Juniper’s smile deepened. “Good to hear. I wanted to update you—there’s been a change of plans.”

  Bianca blinked. “A change?”

  Professor Juniper nodded. “Mr. Stu Deeoh and I have had a conversation about making our collaboration public. Rumors have been circulating online about our involvement in Pokéstar Studios and we felt it was the right time to do so.”

  Bianca knew what she was talking about. It first started when that photo of her with the twins from a tourist spread around on the Entranet, sprouting rumors of her taking part in some production. Thankfully, none of them were correct in the sense of what kind of production it was, but it did worry her about the information becoming leaked as the days went by. Revealing it now before a random person online was understandably the right move to make.

  “How are we announcing it?” She asked, her voice tinged with apprehension.

  “I assume that Mr. Stu Deeoh has already sent Brycen and his pokémon off to an interview in Virbank, correct?” Professor Juniper responded.

  “He did,” Bianca answered before her eyes opened wide at the realization. “Oh, so Brycen’s going to be the one to make that announcement?”

  Professor Juniper’s gaze softened. “Because of this, Mr. Stu Deeoh has invited me over to Pokéstar Studio to watch the test screening of the show once it’s ready. With how close the production of Sonamu’s Sunrise is to completion, I’ll be available to come by when it’s done.”

  “And when you come by, does that mean…?”

  "We can talk in person about everything we've gathered thanks to your efforts," Professor Juniper complimented. "My arrival also creates a scenario where I can finally meet Harper. You know how much I always wanted to see him."

  Bianca squirmed uncomfortably in place, shifting a foot on the floor.

  “Bianca? What’s wrong?” Professor Juniper immediately noticed her behavior.

  “Is… Is everything that I gathered… sufficient? Everything I’ve managed to piece together about Harper is only the surface level, I just get confused and get stuck about anything else… because every species of pokémon are unique, and no two pokémon of the same species are identical,” Bianca stated, recalling her lessons from early biology. “It’s an undeniable fact, like how Eve’s ears are larger than an average eevee’s or how Zorro’s eyes are capable of changing color, but Harper takes it to an extreme. Now that I’ve known him for a while now, I’ve come to realize how fundamentally… different… he is to the average riolu.”

  “What do you mean?” Professor Juniper asked patiently.

  “I-I’m sorry, Professor, but I don’t know how to explain it,” Bianca admitted with a sigh. “Ever since he trained Eve about acting better, I noticed that something changed as the show’s production continued. When I talk with him, it’s not like I’m talking with a riolu. It’s like I’m talking with someone older than me.”

  "I may have an answer as to why that might be the case now that we have more data to work off of," Professor Juniper said thoughtfully.

  “There’s an answer?”

  “Under immense guilt or stress, people or pokémon may tend to mimic the personality of a lost loved one, and sadly, what you're seeing may be connected with Harper's past. The scar on his chest indicates an accident that involved someone he lost, likely his Trainer. While his memories are gone, he still subconsciously imitates his Trainer to keep him alive in memory…” Professor Juniper explained carefully.

  “But we don’t know if his trainer is dea—” Bianca started, her voice faltering.

  “Yes, we don’t, but they’re missing,” Professor Juniper reiterated with a soft but firm tone. “This would explain why you felt like you were talking to someone older whenever you talked with Harper.”

  “I… I originally thought it was him being forced to mature at an early age…” Bianca murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

  “We’re closer to an answer now, Bianca,” Professor Juniper assured her, her tone full of encouragement. “Everything you have collected to find why Harper is literate is more than sufficient, ok? Don’t belittle the effort you have put in as my Assistant Professor and sole editor to what might be Pokéstar Studio’s next great achievement.”

  Bianca’s eyes began to water and she hastily wiped them before they formed into tears. “Thank you, Professor.”

  “Of course, now you should exit the call. We can talk more once I come by, I’m sure that the twins won’t like it when they see that you left them for too long,” Professor Juniper added with a chuckle.

  "I— Yes! I'll see you next time, Professor!" She tilted her head in a bow and disconnected the call, quickly pocketing her Xtransciever and entering the control room. Caleb and Claire were still recording their lines and their pokémon were still glued to the screen.

  Thankfully, they hadn’t noticed that she was gone for too long so she eased her way to the back of the room and sat down to continue watching them perform. As she sat, a new image of Harper began to form due to Professor Juniper’s theory; it did quell her precariousness about the riolu.

  If only it could answer them with absolute certainty.

  Despite being a star in two movies already, Harper never expected to be in an interview. It was only when Mr. Stu Deeoh suddenly burst into one of their training sessions with twins and their pokémon that the possibility emerged in his head. Apparently, larger TV stations were sending requests in droves for an interview with Brycen due to the success of Full Metal Cop.

  They also wanted the presence of Brycen’s Ace pokémon and the new addition to his team and the co-star of the film. After sifting through all the emails, the studio owner chose a TV station that was established nearby in Virbank for convenience. With the production of “Sonamu’s Sunrise” already underway, Mr. Stu Deeoh helped to pick a date that wouldn’t interrupt its progress.

  Harper internally cringed from the memories of him filming interviews. He had tons of experience after working for late-night talk shows and entertainment channels that outsourced their filming to where he worked.

  And it was boring every single time.

  Since it was his job, Harper couldn't outwardly complain about filming them, but he certainly had the right to have his own gripes if he didn't share them. There was no fun in keeping the lights and camera angles completely still during the entire interview session. Every time he was on the set, preparing the interview between some stuck-up celebrity and the host with an ego only bigger than their salary, he wished he was spending his time preparing for a potential audition instead. Harper always let his brain autopilot whenever he helped film interviews, his mentality was better spent elsewhere.

  However, now that he was an actor for Pokéstar Studios, Harper was thankful that he never needed to do that again. Now, he was going to be in the seat where he usually helped with finding the right lighting…

  Wait…

  How was he supposed to act during this interview?

  Harper cursed himself for never paying attention to all the interviews he filmed. They were just about to be interviewed, so why didn’t he have this thought pop up any sooner?

  “Hey kid, you nervous?” The lumbering Ice-type turned his gaze to Harper.

  Realizing that he had been fidgeting with his paws the entire time, Harper forced them down at his sides. “This is my first time doing an interview. What are we supposed to do?”

  “You don’t need to worry about a thing,” The polar bear grabbed Harper and placed him on his shoulders before adding bounces in his step, bobbing Harper up with him. “Brycen’s going to do most of the talking anyways. All we need to do is sit beside him and give an answer if they ask us anything, just simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions. I’m sure that was one reason why Brycen told you to not bring your whiteboard.”

  Harper instinctively reached for his neck, only to feel the emptiness where his whiteboard usually hung. It felt strangely unsettling, especially after wearing it for so long. Beartic was right that leaving it behind was because Brycen was going to talk for them, making the whiteboard effectively useless, but deep down, Harper knew the real reason. His longing to be recognized as a star clashed with his wish to avoid being labeled merely as “the pokémon that could write.” Yet, the Ice-type trainer and his Ace understood him perfectly without needing further explanation.

  "Thanks, Beartic," Harper patted the spot between Beartic's ears with a grin. "The moment they ask me something, I hope you answer instead.”

  “I don’t think I can do that, and also…” Beartic cocked his head sideways, dodging Harper’s paws. “I’m the one that gives the pats, not you!”

  Beartic suddenly leaned in, rolling Harper off his back and catching him in a firm embrace. Before Harper even realized what was happening, the polar bear secured him in one arm like a beach towel and began to gently pet his head.

  "Hey!" Harper tried to wave Beartic's paw away from him but failed. His strength was far greater than Harper's was ever going to be, and he couldn't do anything but relent.

  As annoying as it was when Beartic pulled something off like this, it wasn’t like Harper hated it. He hadn’t been a victim of lighthearted goofs like these in years, and it made his time in Pokéstar Studios more… enjoyable, to say the least.

  The lighthearted attitude, the skills and experience in their passion, and how they shared similar goals reminded him of someone from his past life.

  It reminded Harper of his father.

  Not wanting to bum himself out any further before filming an interview, Harper shifted his attention to the broadcasting network they were heading to.

  “Hey Beartic, how come we’re doing an interview so close to Pokéstar? Wouldn’t Castelia City have a more mainstream channel? I’m sure that Pokéstar Studios would gain more recognition that way,” Harper tilted his head, his curiosity evident as he leaned forward slightly.

  After clearing his throat, Beartic began his explanation. “Mr. Stu Deeoh likes to give smaller networks and companies a fighting chance against competition by giving them exclusives like interviews or behind-the-scenes. The Twin Dragons know how much the Castelia Times’s paparazzi hounds us for their entertainment segment.”

  Beartic’s answer wasn't what Harper had anticipated, but given that he was in the Pokémon world, he had come to realize that profit wasn’t the driving force here, a very stark contrast compared to how things worked in Hollywood.

  “Mr. Stu Deeoh’s pretty… benevolent,” Harper said slowly, scratching the back of his head, his eyes briefly scanning the horizon. “But still, I wonder what Castelia City’s like.”

  “Why? Do you wanna go to Castelia?” Beartic asked, cocking an eyebrow while his claws lightly drummed on his arm, his expression both amused and curious.

  “I mean, it would be cool to visit someday,” Harper replied with a casual shrug. “I don’t know what the rest of Unova’s like.”

  Beartic only responded with a hum and a brief smirk, just quick enough for Harper to barely notice. The remainder of the walk was a peaceful one, and as the afternoon gave way to early evening, they finally reached their destination. Harper carefully slid down the Ice-type's back from his shoulder, who had placed him back up a few minutes ago, and looked up at the multistory building. The structure was designed just like the others around it but with one distinct feature: a bright, flashing logo for a TV station above the sliding glass doors.

  “Virbank Network…” Harper read the sign aloud as Brycen furled his sleeve up and observed his Xtransciever.

  “We’ve arrived on time,” Brycen moved his arm down, stepping into the building first. “Follow me, everyone inside is expecting us.”

  After briefly asking the front desk for directions, Harper made his way through the building, catching the attention of staff on their way.

  “It’s Brycen and his Ace! They must be here for the interview!” One intern whispered to their colleague.

  “And that’s his riolu!” They quietly burst aloud. “He’s even cuter up close!”

  Harper didn’t need to listen any longer to the chatter around them when they finally stepped into the recording room. The design inside was typical of a standard entertainment channel, with the host’s desk and chair, sofas of varying sizes, and a backdrop featuring a night cityscape through large windows. While the set offered ample space for those being filmed, the area crammed with equipment felt quite tight. Harper noticed crew members hastily navigate a maze of wires while carefully maneuvering around cameras and lighting equipment.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Harper mentally compiled the production value of the set overall. It was far less than Hollywood would usually have, but if Mr. Stu Deeoh had specifically chosen this place over a larger company, then he had faith that things would go fine.

  “The guests for the interview are here!” An employee announced to everyone else, many of them momentarily stopping before returning to preparing the set.

  “Brycen! Welcome to Virbank Network!” A bright and sharply suited man approached the veteran actor and shook his hand. “My name’s Zeke Striker, the host of Virbank Variety. I greatly appreciate you and Mr. Stu Deeoh for allowing us to have an exclusive!”

  “Of course,” Brycen firmly shook back. “I hope that we’ll have a pleasant interview, Mr. Striker.”

  “With your two pokémon beside you, tonight’s show will go great once we go live!” Zeke waved to the rooms down the hallway. “Get your makeup ready, and I’ll see you soon!”

  As the electric host left, Harper stood silently in surprise at what he mentioned a moment ago. No one ever told him this was going to be live, and he had assumed up till now that this was going to be a pre-recording.

  Maybe it was his prior experience setting up expectations. For every celebrity interview and talk show Harper had helped in filming, they were always prerecorded. Even the ones considered “live” to the public were recorded in advance for convenience to the famous figures being filmed, much to the inconvenience of everyone else in the film crew. The unease Harper had for this interview began to bubble up once more, but now knowing how he needed to interact very little, he was able to push it down again.

  He was in two movies now, and he was now acting in another production. An interview should be a piece of cake.

  As long as Beartic and Brycen were there, he felt like he could get through this.

  "Gooooooooooood Evening, Ladies and Gents, and welcome to Virbank Variety! I'm your host, Zeke Striker, and tonight, we are joined by some very special guests from Unova's Entertainment Capital, Brycen and his pokémon!"

  The lights flashed on the three, and Harper had to blink twice to adjust to the brightness. Quickly, he joined Beartic in waving for the camera as Brycen stoically nodded instead. Zeke continued to speak to the main camera, introducing the guests for tonight.

  “Brycen is a celebrated figure in the entertainment industry for starring in multiple action films such as Enter the Beartic, Crouching Tiger Hidden Druddigon, and Avenue Avengers! He’s also more familiar with older Pokémon Trainers as one of the former Gym Leaders of Unova, famous for coldly striking down anyone without mercy! Brycen, thank you for coming tonight!”

  Brycen shifted his weight and gave a small wave of his hand. “Of course, thank you for inviting us.”

  Zeke tapped a stack of cards together with his hands, leaning forward. “I would like to start with a few questions about you that everyone is dying to know.”

  Brycen waved his hand forward, signaling for him to shoot.

  “The first question I would like to ask is; Why the career change back into an actor? It’s odd to see a Gym Leader return to their former job.”

  "My decision to return to Pokéstar Studio wasn't made lightly," Brycen replied, crossing his arms thoughtfully. "After Team Plasma attempted to take over Unova two years ago, the bonds between people and pokémon were tested to their extremes. After a conversation with Champion Alder, I wanted to prove that with my acting alongside pokémon, the tension between us can be lifted."

  Zeke nodded, tapping the cards on the desk again. “That is a very honorable answer, but do you ever miss being a Gym Leader?”

  Brycen’s lips curved into a faint smile as he glanced briefly at the camera. “I’ve enjoyed my time as one, and I’m glad to have passed the role onto the Gym Leaders we have today.”

  “Every Unovan Gym Leader follows a theme for their type specialty, and you still seem to do so, any reason for that?”

  “Due to the geography around Icirrus City, there are frequent snowstorms that come from Twist Mountain during the winter,” Brycen explained, his hand resting on Beartic’s shoulder. “I also found my Ace and first pokémon, Beartic, when he was a cubchoo before I began my journey as a Pokémon Trainer. I have always been an Ice-type specialist, and I always will be.”

  “Thank you for answering that. For your career as an actor, what is your favorite and least favorite aspect of it? I’m sure every actor has their own gripes about the industry.”

  Brycen gestured toward Beartic and Harper. “What I enjoy most about being an actor is working alongside pokémon to create something special for everyone to see.”

  “And your least favorite part?”

  Brycen frowned slightly, his gaze dropping momentarily. “The intrusive nature of paparazzi. There is a difference between being willing to give an interview and being poked and prodded for one.”

  “You haven’t been forced into this one, right?” Zeke asked, his eyebrows rising with mock worry.

  “Not at all,” Brycen said with a rare smirk. “I’m honored to be here with Virbank Variety.”

  “That is reassuring for me and the rest of the Virbank Network to hear,” Zeke replied, chuckling as he exhaled with relief. “Another question I would like to ask is: What kind of martial arts do you practice for movies? It’s nothing like other martial arts I have seen in films.”

  "I practice the 'Reitō-ken Style,' or the 'Frozen Fist Style.' It primarily focuses on slow and deliberate movements before striking with sudden and sharp combos to 'freeze' an opponent in place."

  "That sounds fierce! How much of it is applicable in real-world scenarios?"

  “Nearly all of it. The only difference is that to a bystander, the moves won’t look flashy.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Looking good for the camera is the last thought any martial artist should have when fighting against real opponents. Your focus is to stop them before they can cause any more bodily harm,” Brycen's face turned a shade serious, almost as if giving a lesson.

  “I see. Well, it’s amazing that your fight choreography in movies can work in real life!” Zeke slid a few cards out of his hand and set them beside him. “Speaking of fight choreography, the fights in your last movie, Full Metal Cop, have been the talk of everyone who’s seen it since its release!”

  “Full Metal Cop has been a thrilling production, and I am thankful for everyone’s kind words about the film,” Brycen nodded his head to the camera.

  “The praise is well-deserved, Brycen, and it also goes for your riolu, Harper,” Zeke added, shifting his gaze to Harper. “You’ve been becoming popular from the roles in your last two films, especially in Full Metal Cop. Your chemistry with Audrey Cohen’s sneasel, Ripley, has been so amazing that the film has had one of the highest turnovers in pokémon viewers in Unova’s history—a record that hadn’t been beaten for years!”

  “I— Wow… Really?” Harper blushed, scratching the back of his head and glancing downward, his ears twitching.

  “No need to feel shy,” Zeke laughed, leaning back slightly in his chair with an amused grin. “Now, the public sees you as one of the biggest rising stars, but how do you see him, Brycen?” He pointed at the veteran actor with his cards, tilting his head with interest.

  Harper turned to Brycen and, after briefly exchanging glances, the veteran actor returned his gaze to the host, his expression calm and composed. “Harper has made mistakes from time to time, but he has learned from them and became a great actor in a short amount of time,” Brycen said, folding his hands on his knees.

  As embarrassing as it was to have his shortcomings admitted live on television, Harper was nothing if not grateful for the way Brycen phrased it, his tail swishing subtly behind him.

  “Continuing about Harper, he's shown great talent for a pokémon new to the industry. How did you find a pokémon like him?” Zeke asked, leaning slightly forward with a curious tilt of his brow.

  After a few seconds of thought, Brycen began to explain an abridged version of the story. He omitted the descriptions of Harper's injury and his "condition," so it sounded far more optimistic than it really was and Harper having his chest scar hidden again by makeup before arriving for the interview helped in fueling the falsehood. The details about Reed and Meadow taking care of Harper and Mr. Stu Deeoh finding him remained the same.

  "Mr. Stu Deeoh has an eye to find potential when he sees it. Beartic and I have only helped to foster that talent," Brycen said, his voice steady as he gestured subtly toward Harper. "It has also helped that he had a great partner to act within Riolu-Kid of Justice vs. Brycen-Man.”

  “Ah yes, the movie that saved Pokéstar Studios from bankruptcy, and it was thanks to a Pokémon Trainer that happened to be around, right?” Zeke asked, adjusting his cufflinks and raising an eyebrow.

  “Yes, and his name was Nate Cinereu,” Brycen confirmed, nodding slightly. “He and Harper were a magnificent duo and helped through despite our struggling conditions.”

  “The short film was praised quite positively according to the Entranet, but some say that it was too short and they want more. Is Pokéstar Studios considering another project for that IP?” Zeke asked, tapping his cards lightly on the table for emphasis.

  “As of now, no,” Brycen answered as he leaned back slightly. “Mr. Stu Deeoh wishes for Nate to return for his role when the time is right, but right now, he is busy on his Journey.”

  “Well, it sounds like it’s in limbo, but we’ll all stay optimistic for now,” Zeke stated to the camera, flashing a reassuring smile. “Now, I have one question to ask that the Entranet has been spreading rumors about. Tourists of Pokéstar Studios have recently spotted Professor Bianca in the backlot with two children as if they were preparing for something. By any chance is she or the Unovan Research Team involved with any projects?”

  Harper froze in place from Zeke’s question, his ears twitching nervously. He glanced at Brycen, who remained composed, though Harper noticed the faintest shift in his expression—an indicator that he was carefully calculating his response.

  Brycen took a deep breath in and stated his answer. "All that I am allowed to explain is that, yes, both the research team and Pokéstar are in collaboration for a project."

  "How fascinating! Is there anything else you can explain about it if you can?" Zeke's eyes sparkled with curiosity as he leaned forward slightly.

  “What I can tell you is that the younger audience will enjoy this,” Brycen replied with a faint smile.

  As Zeke and Brycen continued to talk with each other, Harper leaned sideways towards Beartic, grabbing his attention.

  “Is Brycen allowed to reveal that much?” Harper asked discreetly, his voice low and his eyes darting briefly toward the cameras.

  Beartic gave a small nod. “Mr. Stu Deeoh actually told him to explain that much. He trusts him enough to not leak anything major since Brycen’s not the kind of guy to slip anything up like he’s on thin ice.”

  Harper couldn’t help but roll his eyes at the pun despite knowing that the cameras were still rolling, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.

  In a shadowy alleyway of Castelia City, Mr. Green and Mr. Gray found refuge from the bustling crowd on the sidewalk. They stood in the dim city lights, each propped against the crumbling wall opposite the other. Flicking a cigarette out of a pack, Mr. Green lit one up and took a deep drag, exhaling the smoke above him and watching it slowly rise up.

  “I hate this city, too many people in one place,” Mr. Green sighed, rubbing his temple with one hand while the other held his cigarette. “Hey, Mr. Gray, how much longer does Cabot even want us here?”

  “Don’t use the captain’s name in public, damn it,” Mr. Gray hissed, quickly looking down the alley for eavesdroppers. “We’re supposed to stay quiet until we get the order to move.”

  Mr. Gray didn’t know why his Team Captain assigned him and Mr. Green to Castelia City when security had increased. The public and the local police were now on the lookout for Team Neo Plasma members, so he and Mr. Green had to hold pseudonyms in case either of them were caught so they had nothing to share about the other.

  Mr. Gray was growing impatient as much as Mr. Green. Hiding like this was a waste of time, and pretending to be normal people infuriated both of them. He wanted to put on his face mask to hide his face but it would, in turn, reveal them to be members of Neo Plasma. As much as he wanted to argue back to the Team Captain because he ordered them to stay, that's all they could do.

  It also didn’t help that they had another frustrating member join their team some time ago, making it into a disjointed trio. Their additional member, the informally-named Mr. Brown finally caught up to them with an annoyed expression and two bottled drinks in hand.

  “I brought your sodas,” Mr. Brown growled, forcefully tossing each one of them at Mr. Green and Mr. Gray, who both successfully caught them. “I’m not your damn shuttle for beverages so get them yourselves next time.”

  “I’m sorry, but who’s the one here that wants to stick with us?” Mr. Gray shot back, folding his arms as he glared at Mr. Brown. “It’s just supposed to be me and Mr. Green here, so you should be fucking grateful that we let you into our group after your last one got arrested.”

  Mr. Green flicked his cigarette onto the floor, extinguishing it with his foot. “You know, that does raise a question—” He took a swig of his caramelized soda before pointing at Mr. Brown. “I remember reading that newspaper article where only three out of four members were caught. How did you get away from the cops? You don’t look like the sharpest tool in the shed…”

  "You calling me a dumbass?!" Mr. Brown snapped, stepping forward and shoving Mr. Green's shoulder. "I got away because they were dumbasses! They tried running away together, so I ran in the other direction! Guess who won in the end?! Me! That's right!"

  Mr. Green smirked, his hands resting lazily in his pockets. “That sounds like what a coward sneaking away like a Patrat would do.”

  “I’M NOT A FUCKING COWARD!” Mr. Brown yelled, his face flushing red before something clicked in his head. “AND DON’T CALL ME A PATRAT!”

  “SHUT UP!” Mr. Gray exploded, stepping between them and shoving both backward with stiff arms. His finger jabbed the air as he pointed at each of them. “Mr. Green, stop pushing Mr. Brown’s buttons. And Mr. Brown, any more funny business, and I’m kicking you out of our group. Got it?”

  “…Fine,” Mr. Brown grumbled.

  “Sure,” Mr. Green shrugged without a care.

  “Let’s get out of this alleyway,” Mr. Gray said sharply, brushing dust from his jacket as he stepped forward. “The both of you better stay silent the whole time or else.”

  Returning back to the busy street, the three of them followed the foot traffic down the sidewalk. Mr. Gray briefly glanced over at Mr. Brown, who had no care to apologize whenever he bumped into some, which he had done multiple times. As annoying as Mr. Green was, he had a point about Mr. Brown's loyalty; if he easily betrayed his last group, then it was only a matter of time before he did it again. Mr. Gray decided to keep a close eye on Mr. Brown as if the one he already had on him wasn't enough for being a raging asshole.

  Sometime later, Mr. Green briskly paced a few steps ahead of Mr. Gray to approach the front of a television store. He stared intently at the multiple televisions displayed behind the glass window, all of them playing the same commercial for the latest brand of pokémon snacks.

  “We don’t have time for window shopping, Mr. Green,” Mr. Gray barked, crossing his arms impatiently. “We don’t even have a place to put one anyway.”

  “Just look at that one, man,” Mr. Green replied, sticking a finger out at the largest television showcased behind the window. His eyes gleamed with excitement. “Thirty-two inches, 4K resolution, the colors alone… this is the best on the market right now.”

  “And… what about it?” Mr. Gray asked dryly, motioning at the so-called prime television with a flick of his wrist.

  Mr. Green turned his head, lowering his voice as he leaned closer to Mr. Gray. “Once Neo Plasma takes control of Unova, no one’ll stop us from taking anything we want.”

  “And the first thing you want to steal is a TV? Really?” Mr. Gray asked, raising an eyebrow as he tilted his head.

  “I mean, c’mon,” Mr. Green gestured broadly at the television with both hands. “Don’t you wanna see news coverage of our successful takeover in the highest quality possible?”

  “Fair point,” Mr. Gray admitted with a smirk, “but we can see us taking over with our own eyes. Now let’s go.” He grabbed the back of Mr. Green’s shirt, pulling him away from the store window.

  “Hey hey hey, stop stretching my clothes!” Mr. Green muttered, adjusting his collar once he was released. He jabbed a thumb in the direction of Mr. Brown. “Besides, I think you’re forgetting someone.”

  Mr. Brown stood transfixed at the televisions with closed fists, his face gradually contorting the longer he watched. Mr. Gray grumbled as he marched towards their incompetent partner, already sick and tired of him.

  “What did I say about funny business? Let’s go now!” Mr. Gray commanded, his voice sharp. But his words seemed to go in one ear and out the other.

  “It’s him… It’s fucking him!” Mr. Brown slammed a fist against the glass, his voice trembling with anger. “So that’s where the brat’s Riolu’s been all this time!”

  Mr. Gray turned to the television, all of them now playing what seemed like a talk show. He recognized Brycen sitting in the sofa chair, the former Gym Leader who helped thwart their plans two years ago. Beside him was his Ace, Beartic, and another pokémon, a young riolu, a riolu that Mr. Brown had his undivided attention on.

  “Ok, first off, stop creating such a scene, you idiot. Second, you know that riolu?” Mr. Gray asked, pointing at the canine pokémon as Mr. Green approached with a curious expression.

  "Hell yeah, I do. He's the one I lost to when I was in Virbank City! I knew there was something weird about him, with that scar and everything!" Mr. Brown spat, his finger jabbing the glass furiously.

  “Wait…” Mr. Green stepped forward, his mouth curving into a grin as he peered closer. “That’s the Riolu that was with Brycen in Full Metal Cop! I loved that movie!”

  “When in the hell did you find the time to watch a movie?” Mr. Gray asked, narrowing his eyes. “I know you never went to a theater since we’ve been together the whole time after the Team Captain assigned us together.”

  “Watched a pirated copy online a few nights ago at that motel while you were sleeping,” Mr. Green admitted casually, pulling out his phone and waving it. “The video quality was shit, and all the subtitles were in Sinnohan, but it was still fun to wa—”

  “Stop it! Stop praising that mutt!” Mr. Brown growled, curling his hands into fists and slamming them against the glass again. “That damn riolu messed up my plan to take over the Virbank Ports, and now he’s famous? Arceus, I wish I could just ruin his life…”

  “What? You have a plan or something? You know they don’t like it when grunts act on their own,” Mr. Green asked, raising an eyebrow as he leaned casually against the window.

  After a few moments of fuming, Mr. Brown’s expression shifted as an idea struck him. “There was something interesting about the mutt when I battled him… For some reason, he had a whiteboard on him before he threw it aside to battle me…”

  “…What does that have to do with anything?” Mr. Gray asked, his tone flat.

  “Why would a Pokémon ever need a whiteboard?” Mr. Brown asked rhetorically, gesturing wildly as his voice grew animated. “He used it for something, most likely for communication…”

  “What, you think he’s drawing pictures to talk with people or something?” Mr. Gray deadpanned, rubbing his temples.

  "That's my point exactly! Don't you think Leader Colress would love it if we steal this Riolu?" Mr. Brown's lips curled into a sinister grin. "He's always going all la-dee-da about communicating with Pokémon anyway. Not only would I get back at the trainer who beat me, but stealing him would also get us three promotions for sure!"

  “Shut the fuck up!” Mr. Gray clasped his hand on Mr. Brown’s mouth and whispered close to his ear. “You’re speaking way too fucking loud in public!”

  “You know I have a point though,” Mr. Brown spoke with a muffled voice.

  Mr. Gray only frowned, staring at the television as the interview continued. Subtitles scrolled along the bottom of the screen while the host and former Gym Leader spoke.

  “Tourists of Pokéstar Studios have recently spotted Assistant Professor Bianca in the backlot with two children as if preparing for something,” The host asked curiously. “By any chance is she or the Unovan Research Team involved with any projects?”

  “…all that I am allowed to explain is that, yes, both the research team and Pokéstar are in a collaboration for a project…” Brycen answered.

  “We can use that!” Mr. Brown exclaimed before looking sideways in both directions and taking them to another alley for privacy, heeding Mr. Gray’s advice. “Alright, I’ve got an idea. We could just steal the Riolu and say the Unovan Research Team was researching him for trying to communicate with Pokémon or something. It adds a Cheri on top! Since we’re not technically lying that they’re involved with the Riolu, Colress would love to hear that!”

  “What if he finds out that we’re lying?” Mr. Green brought up as he pointed at Mr. Brown. “We’d get punished and I’m putting it real lightly.”

  “He won’t,” Mr. Brown brushed the notion away. “He’s such a sucker for anything Pokémon-related that he’ll love whatever we bring him,” For the first time since they had met, his voice carried an unusual sharpness. “Guys, I want to fuck the riolu up to get back at that trainer that beat me twice and I know you guys want a promotion. Stealing him is the quickest way to do it, so are you both in or not?”

  Mr. Gray considered the upsides and downsides of going along with his plan. If he told Mr. Brown to shut up and they continued to stay in Castelia City until the Team Leader ordered them to move, there was no risk of being caught. On the other hand, if they succeeded in kidnapping a single, tiny pokémon, they'd have a fairly good chance of being promoted and he'd be able to be on par with or even above the role of Team Leader.

  Having a higher authority in Team Neo Plasma sounded nice… and for how idiotic Mr. Brown sounded all the time, this was an interesting change of pace.

  After a long pause, Mr. Gray nodded slowly. “Fine. I’m in. But if we’re doing this, it needs to be planned down to the last detail. No slip-ups.”

  Mr. Brown’s grin widened into something almost manic. “Perfect.”

  As the trio stood on the bustling sidewalk, Mr. Green raised a hand with a sudden, enthusiastic idea. “You know… I heard Pokéstar does guided tours.”

  Mr. Gray frowned, tilting his head as he regarded the suggestion. “The ones where tour guides walk you through the place? You’re suggesting we join one of those?”

  Mr. Brown nodded, his grin now laced with calculation. “It’s perfect. We can learn the layout, figure out security routines, and maybe even find out where they’re keeping that riolu. It’s the best shot we’ve got to pull this off without getting caught.”

  “You think they’ll let a group like us walk around without any questions?” Mr. Gray asked skeptically.

  “Relax,” Mr. Green interjected, smirking as he gestured to his clothes. “We just need to dress the part. Pretend we’re a couple of clueless tourists. We’ll blend right in.”

  “Blend in?” Mr. Gray scoffed, running a hand down his face. “You, with your big mouth? Sure, let’s see how that works out.”

  Before Mr. Green could respond with one of his usual quips, Mr. Brown’s eyes darkened, and his voice dropped into a low, serious tone. “We’re doing this. And we’re doing it right. No screw-ups, no freelancing. You two follow my lead for once, understood? It was originally my idea anyway.”

  Mr. Gray stared at him for a moment before giving a curt nod. “Fine. But if this goes south, it’s on your head.”

  “Deal. Now, let’s get out of this city” Mr. Brown quickly accepted with a nod as he walked forward. “Virbank shouldn’t take too long by subway.”