山吹は

  日に日に咲きぬ

  うるはしと

  吾が思ふ君は

  しくしく思ほゆ

  Yamabuki, named after the Japanese kerria, a yellow-flowering shrub found in mountain slopes. Apparently the first settlers here back in the 11th century witnessed the yellow-ish sunset and decided to name the settlement based on that.

  I have about a couple of weeks before college actually starts. Which means I have the time to explore this neon, steel-and-concrete, twelve-million-person monster that doesn’t even know I exist.

  I woke up this morning, opened the window, took a deep breath of that fresh morning air.

  ...

  Well I'll be damned—my weak-ass countryside lungs were NOT ready for city pollution. I sure am going to miss home.

  But nonetheless I've battled wild koffings and rode with bikers, so I've smelled worse.

  I cleaned up, threw on some baggy denim, a graphic tee, and layered it with a cropped bomber. Laced up my beat-up Converse and clipped on a chain on my pants. For the length of high school I've been wearing things I've read on magazines, with Yamabuki as it's Mecca. Today I'm gonna find out whether I fit in.

  Espe waited for me at the front door, looks like she's eager to go out too.

  I got out the door, down the stairs onto the streets. Whispered to myself as if I was shouting, "Get ready Yamabuki! A new girl's in town." This city’s ready to be conquered—and I’m here for it.

  This isn't my first time here. Like I said, I've been here when I was eleven. But back then the instructions were; "When you arrive at the next city, go to the closest Pokémon Center, they'll take you to the closest Trainer's House, there they'll take care of you." So I didn't have the opportunity to explore as much.

  I walked down to the station. I've marked it on my map, "Yutenji Station." With the constant noise from my apartment, I figured it wasn't that far.

  Today's technically my third day here. I arrived on Saturday, then spent the whole Sunday in bed. I was tired.

  They said Mondays were hellish on trains. I mean, how bad could it be?

  It was, in fact, hellish.

  By the time I've arrived at the station the platform was already filled with commuters heading northwards. I didn't have the time to double-check where I'm heading when the train arrived. I was pushed back and forth and before I knew it I was already on the train.

  Thankfully it was the right train. Not thankfully though is the fact I am going to have to endure through till the last station.

  Espe was tucked in her Pokéball since that's what the rules told us. A train full of people was already chock-full, imagine one with Pokémon.

  Stop after stop, the train suffocated me more and more. The fact the train was filled with old salarymen didn't help my situation at all. It was like drowning in a sea of stale cologne and tired sighs.

  Then came, Shibuya Station.

  Suddenly I sigh with relief as what felt like millions of commuters left for the station. My lungs had the opportunity to once again take in what I have underappreciated for the last five to ten minutes. Never have I been more grateful to breathe open air again. I wanted to kiss the ground if it weren't for my logical sense of manners.

  But then, I looked up. There it was,

  Shibuya Scramble Crossing.

  Arguably the most iconic spot in Yamabuki. There were people flowing in every direction, weaving through one another as the towering buildings flashed with advertisements and giant screens. The sidewalks overflowed with pedestrians, while taxis honked here and there. If Unova had Times Square, Yamabuki had this.

  I released Espe out of her Pokéball. She stretched, blinked once, then looked up in awe too.

  I looked around, there were tons of people. All going somewhere, had something to do, had someone to meet. There were businessmen shouting into phones, salarymen sprinting for the train, kids chasing voltorbs, high schoolers enjoying their last days of holiday, policemen trying to move a snorlax out of the road. A woman had a luxray on a leash and nobody batted an eye.

  It was chaotic, unlike the calm scenic life of Masara.

  I took a few (okay, a lot) pictures with my old camera of Espe at the crossing. Then we headed into the 109. There were some clothing shops that caught my eye, but not enough to make me buy anything. Espe found a fuzzy house shaped bed she seemed to like, but I knew she'd eventually sleep in the packaging box instead.

  There were also these hip cafés and stuff. I tried a macchiato at one of them. It had this bellsprout pattern on it that I thought was really cool. The taste was, okay, I guess. The barista also gave Espe what apparently was "coffee for Pokémon." Who knows what was in there, she seemed to like it though.

  It was getting closer to noon and we decided to head for some lunch. I've marked some spots on my map based on some blogs I've read online.

  The first spot was this insane, futuristic-looking sushi place. It was honestly super cool—floating ornaments everywhere, and the waiters were literal rotoms. The whole place felt like it belonged on another planet. It was so cool... until I saw the prices.

  Hell no, my wallet aint big enough for that.

  Next up, this gritty-looking bar tucked into the side of the street. I checked the prices before stepping in. "Hmm, this seems reasonable," I muttered to myself. But the second I walked through the door, about a dozen heavily tattooed men turned and stared me down, dead in the eyes.

  Yeah, nevermind.

  Okay, third time's the charm right? An American styled burger place ten minutes from the crossing. I recall their prices and I definitely know they're tourist friendly. Surely this'll be the one.

  It was fucking shut down. I cannot make this shit up.

  It had passed noon, the sun's rays were beaming down on us, and our stomachs were growling for food. There was one last spot reachable at that point, a ramen place in a quiet alley.

  We managed to arrive at the place after wandering about for about thirty minutes. It was a charming-looking shop, with faded noren curtains swaying gently at the entrance and the rich smell of broth wafting into the street. We entered the place, then were greeted by an old man behind the counter. He was the owner. There was a slugma lazily oozing near the stove, its body glowing like embers. Must’ve been his kitchen partner.

  I went for a bowl of shio ramen. The man moved swiftly with his bowls and ladles. Before I could blink he had garnished a bowl right in front of me.

  It tasted,

  AMAZING!

  The noodles were cooked nicely, the broth was seasoned to perfection, the meat, the egg, even the thin piece of nori on the side of the bowl.

  I loved every bite of this. It was a bowl of nostalgia of something I never even experienced. The man also gave Espe a bowl of their "signature Pokémon ramen." She loved it.

  It was such a fulfilling meal. I paid the very cheap prices, and offered a big tip that the man refused. His name was Mr. Omigawa. I am definitely gonna go here again. We waved our goodbyes as we left the ramen place.

  I had one place in mind to go next.

  After walking for around twenty to thirty minutes, I made it.

  Ura-Harajuku. The capital of the fashion magazines I've read.

  There were clothing stores here and there. People my age walking down the streets with their oversize tees and their sick jackets. And do my eyes deceive me? Is that a Bathing Slacking store I see? There weren't a lot of clothing options back in Masara, so I was very, very enthusiastic to be here.

  I hit every store. Bought way too many clothes. There were these limited time collab shirts I had to buy. Some thrifted sneakers I thought looked sick. I imagined all of the fits I could wear with these. How I'd look next to my already sick-ass bike. The cashier chuckled at the pile I dumped on the counter.

  Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

  "You're not from here aren't you? Tokiwa (Viridian) Prefecture I'm guessing."

  "How.. did you know?"

  "You're accent sorta gave it away."

  I guess I gotta work on that then. Can't sound like a hill billy am I right?

  I spent the rest of my day there. Espe just followed behind me the whole time.

  The sun began to set, I figured I might as well go home.

  The trains were tightly packed as the evening rush took place. It wasn't as bad as the morning rush, but still cramped.

  I saw not far from me, an elderly man in his 60s, coming home from his office job. He looked fatigued, a man that age shouldn't still be working. He wasn't even offered a seat.

  Japan's economy was hit hard the last few decades. They said the new millenia was going to bring a new hope. We can only hope I guess.

  But I see things are getting better.

  I dropped off Yutenji Station. The night was quiet.

  I made my way back to the apartment.

  =========================

  "Maybe I shouldn't have bought all that stuff" I said to myself as I was looking inside my wallet at the Pokémart counter.

  It's been an exhausting day. Hopefully this instant pouch of "Medium-Hot Goldenrod Curry - With Real Vegetables!" will do me good.

  The sky was already pitch black, and my clothes smelled like clearance tags and commuter sweat. Travelling on my own is kinda weird. I would ask Red, but he has stuff to do. He's still the Indigo League Champion of course.

  I was walking up the metal stairs to my apartment. Then I saw her.

  There was some girl straight up assaulting my apartment door. She was banging on it, forehead pressed against the frame like it had insulted her ancestors, one hand fumbling with a key that was obviously not mine.

  "Uh—HE—HEY. WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?"

  She turned around, startled, face flushed, eyes glossy.

  "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS, WOMAN!"

  "MIND MY-?! THAT'S MY FUCKING DOOR YOU'RE BANGING!!!" I said loudly. Even Espe was on edge, ready to attack.

  "Oh wait, this isn't—"

  "SHUT YOUR FUCKING ASSES ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MINDS???" a woman shouted from across the hall.

  "S—Sorry!!" the girl shouted back.

  She turned her head back to me. Her eyes started to water.

  "W—Wait, this isn't 303 then?"

  "No, it ISN'T. This is 304." I said in a lower voice, "THAT'S your room."

  Her face crumpled like a wet napkin. "AaaAAAHH I’m sooo sorry—"

  She swayed a little. I grabbed her arm instinctively.

  "Wh-Wha, You okay?!?!"

  "No!" she wailed, then burst into tears like I just asked her if she believed in heartbreak.

  And that’s how I met Inoue Chō.

  Turns out her unit was next to mine—303, yeah, close enough to confuse when you’ve had a few cans of Kotobuki Premium Beer.

  "I got dumped," she sniffled as I helped her into her apartment. The lights were still off. Half-unpacked boxes were scattered around. Her bag had spilled over near the door.

  I told Espe to go back to our room. I'll handle this.

  "He did it over text. While I was on the fucking train!" She said sobbingly.

  "Ouch."

  She collapsed on her futon and just buried herself in her blanket. “I shouldn’t be crying like this. I’m strong. I’m dark type strong!”

  ...

  "WAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!" She suddenly started wailing uncontrollably.

  I tried to comfort her, she just, I can't understand a thing she says.

  "Hhrnghh... R-R-Rou..." She hiccuped between sobs, clutching her chest. "hngh... my-... my-..."

  "Wh-What?"

  "R-Rouga... my Pokémon... I lost him... hnghh... in the station... hrhhgh... I was drunk... I think..."

  "Rouga? That sure sounds like a scary Pokémon" I said to myself.

  Then suddenly, the floor shook.

  I heard the metal stairs rumbling. Something, was coming.

  I stood up, "What's that sound—"

  Chō sniffled from the futon. "Rouga."

  "What?"

  Before I could ask anything else, her door exploded open with a crash.

  BANG

  A black and red blur shot inside, paws skidding on the wooden floor, fangs gleaming.

  "WHAT IN THE—" I shrieked as I fell back.

  The houndoom—a full-grown houndoom—snorted fire from its nose and pounced—not at me (thank Arceus), but straight onto the bed.

  "ROUGAAA!!" Chō cried out, suddenly alive again.

  The massive demon-dog nuzzled into her, tail thumping the wall. It licked her face while she laughed and sobbed into its fur.

  "YOU—YOU HAVE A FUCKING HOUNDOOM??" I gasped from the floor, heart racing.

  I didn’t know whether to be terrified or impressed.

  Eventually, once my lungs decided I wasn’t dying, I helped her sit up.

  Rouga curled up in the corner, tongue hanging out like nothing happened.

  "You’re gonna need, like, five warning signs on your door," I muttered, brushing dust off my pants.

  "Please," Chō said dramatically, "you act like he bites."

  "He—HE CLEARLY DOES."

  We both laughed, finally.

  She eventually cheered up. I helped her with cleaning up the place. She unpacked some books while I folded her hoodie and tried to figure out where her toothpaste went.

  "So, it's Inoue, right?"

  "Yup."

  "Where are you from?"

  "Kogane." She grinned while holding a V-sign with her hand.

  "Knew it! You're Johto accent was familiar"

  "Hahaha, how about you Midoriba? You're accent doesn't sound exactly Yamabukian either."

  "I'm from Masara"

  "Ohhh so you're from th—"

  I looked at her, this Kogane girl in a city just as foreign to her as it was to me. Maybe I wouldn’t be alone here after all.

  Maybe I found someone—

  not a teammate, not a rival—

  but a friend.

  "Hey watchu got there?"

  "Oh-uh, curry—"

  "Hey that looks yummy! Splitsies!!"

  "H-Hey wait a sec—"

  And ever since then, I spent the rest of my days with Inoue Chō. I don't think I've ever met anyone louder than her, and I don’t even mean that as an insult.

  The girl lives her life like a firework that never lands. She laughs at everything, talks with her hands, takes an hour to get ready but always shows up five minutes late. She'll lie about her age to go to bars, she'll go to extreme lengths to 'make the best of her youth'. She's a certified Koganean gyaru, with rhinestone nails, caramel highlights, and a rotating wardrobe of off-shoulder tops that probably cost more than my entire flat deposit.

  And apparently, she's a medical freshman in Keio University, via scholarship. Somehow there were still brains under those tinted hair strands.

  Espe didn't really trust her, neither does she like Rouga. But I'm sure she'll get around eventually. But I can't blame her though.

  First night after the incident? She knocked on my door and said: “Shinjuku. Now. Bring lip gloss.”

  I blinked. “What? Why?”

  “Because we’re young, dumb, and cute.”

  I hadn’t even unpacked my rice cooker.

  But I went anyway.

  Me, her, her friends, her friends' friends, her friend's cousin. It all was a blur honestly.

  Shopping in Shinjuku, late-night movies in Shibuya, chasing underground bands in Shimokitazawa. We went here, there, pretty much everywhere.

  The one time when I felt a little bit of calm was during the cherry blossom blooming here at Meguro River. But even after that there were festivals, shopping discounts, whatever.

  And honestly, it was fun. I'm glad I get to experience all of this.

  My wallet couldn't say the same.

  I gotta find a part time job or an internship soon or I'll lose my apartment.

  =========================

  Cherry blossom petals drift through the air, turning the streets into soft pink rivers of fluff. The once dusty, polluted air suddenly turns sweet and fragrant. People lay out picnic mats and snap selfies as sakura blossoms blanket the city like snow. Kinda like that one shoujo anime you see on TV.

  Spring symbolizes rebirth, hope, and new beginnings.

  Spring also means saying goodbye to our beloved holidays and return once more to classrooms and textbooks. This year however, is something different. A new beginning, a new start.

  University.

  I spent—what, like—ten, twenty minutes in front of the mirror fixing my suit for the entrance ceremony. It's a big day. I wanted to look, photogenic, at least.

  “The suit’s kinda stiff,” I muttered to myself. But hey, I look good.

  Espe was “getting ready” too — meaning, of course, taking a beauty nap. Why is she coming? Because apparently it's tradition. In olden times people would bring their Pokémon to ceremonies to flex their "authority" and "power" apparently. I find it cute.

  "It's about time you woke up, sleepyhead."

  Espe walked across the room, completely unbothered, and headed straight for her food bowl.

  "Tsk, typical."

  "Hey, Chō you ready ye—"

  Oh, she left already.

  "Well, guess it’s just you and me now. How about we the bike out for spin? It's been a while."

  About time I get some miles on the bike. I've only taken it out a couple of times since I've moved here.

  Espe jumped into her Pokéball, I turned the engine on, released the clutch, and off I went. I tried to be as quiet as possible, V3 engines aren't exactly whisper-soft.

  I took the 416 to the 318 and made it to campus.

  The campus was full of freshmen. Most of them were taking pictures of the moment. There was a line for taking pictures at the main gate. Some older students were giving little tours of the campus. Some of them were exploring on their own.

  "Midoriba!!"

  I looked back behind me — it was some of my friends from high school.

  Arima, a girl from my class who lives near the hills. She got an architecture scholarship. And Kashiwagi, the fisherman's son who now studies electrical. I think he's from class B. Masara was small enough that everyone knew where everyone lived.

  We caught up — it had been a while.

  "How about we take some pictures? Mr. Tanaka would love to see them," said Arima. Mr. Tanaka was our physics teacher back in high school.

  "Yeah that sounds great!"

  We took some pictures — of ourselves, with our Pokémon, and all of us together.

  “Hey, how about a pic with your bike? That’d be rad,” Kashiwagi said.

  "Alright! Sounds cool."

  We headed to where I parked the ol' banshee, only to find a group of people taking pictures of it. I mean, the Rothman’s livery does have that kind of pull.

  After shooing them away, Kashiwagi snapped a shot of me, Espe, and my bike.

  I liked it. I liked it a lot.

  After that, the main event started. We all went into the auditorium for the enterance ceremony. Espe went back in her Pokéball — not like she'd find it interesting anyway.

  There was a speech from the chancellor, then a professor, then a student — and maybe more, but I slept through most of them. I only woke up after a guy next to me bumped my shoulder. Everyone was standing up and clapping their hands. I joined in too.

  And since then, college has officially begun.

  Every day was pretty much the same.

  I wake up, make breakfast, take a bath, then say goodbye to Espe as I leave the house. I either take the train, or ride my bike. Then I dive into notes and textbooks. "Calculus isn't that hard," I said to myself while crying in class. At least Beginner's Mechanical Engineering is fun.

  Then I'll hang out and study with my friends before heading to another class. After that I'll either go home or work my shift at the local izakaya near campus. Either way, Chō will probably crash into my door talking about a new "crush" she has.

  Then I'll call my parents, or stare at the horizon until my eyes become tired. After that, it's time for bed. Then I'll repeat everything the next day.

  I made it. Aoi Midoriba, now an independent girl in a big city. I've conquered Yamabuki. Everything's perfect. I don't want anything to change.

  But everything did in fact change.

  One day my friends invited me to join them watch a Pokémon battle with them.

  I had nothing to do that night. So why not, I thought.

  It was a College Championship Match.

  Between Yamabuki Tech and a commercial university from Tamamushi.

  We came late, so we arrived in the middle of the action.

  There were flamethrowers blasting all over the place.

  Shadow Balls flew here and there.

  Then I saw the trainer from Y Tech.

  It was a girl.

  Her stance was sharp.

  Every command snapped with precision.

  It was brilliant.

  It was art.

  And then, I felt it.

  A spark.

  Igniting something that had burned out long ago.