usedlaserbeam | 002 | Cherrygrove City

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002 | Cherrygrove City | Action;

[After a productive (but admittedly somewhat boring) five hours of work sorting and filing papers at the Cherrygrove Pokémon Center, it's finally time for Yagyuu to head for home--or at least, for the room at the Cherrygrove Inn he's been sharing with Kirihara-kun since they both arrived in the city yesterday. He'd gladly work longer hours if they'd let him, but the rules are strict for minors, and so he's being cheerfully shooed out as soon as his time is up for the day.

As a result, anyone in the vicinity of the Center in Cherrygrove will probably see him exiting the front doors, his Breeder's Manual already open in one hand for casual perusal as he starts his walk back toward the inn. Strangely, he doesn't seem to have any Pokémon with him, though he does have his backpack slung casually over his shoulder like a model student might.

All things considered, he's not hard to spot, both from his lack of visible Pokémon and his bright yellow Rikkai jersey with the collar popped up at the neck. Which means he's also a prime target for bothering, should anyone feel so inclined.]

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[Yukimura lets Niou off first, of course, but he follows without much hesitation.

While he's tempted to hug Yagyuu as well, Yukimura isn't exactly the hugging type, not even after months (from his perspective) of separation. Instead, he simply walks up to Yagyuu with a smile.]

It's refreshing to see your face again in real life, Yagyuu.

[It's rare to see Yagyuu smile--or at least, rare to see one where he looks legitimately happy, as opposed to wry or cordial or superior. But he's wearing one now, because this is his captain, and it's not just Yukimura but Yukimura well, and strong, and apparently content. And if that's not a cause to be legitimately happy, Yagyuu frankly doesn't know what is.]

I'm glad to be back with the team again, Yukimura-kun.

[He says it more for their perspective than for his own; he's only been missing them a few days, but he knows they've been missing him for much longer.]

[He has his moments here - Yukimura has stumbled from time to time. But he is physically healthy, strong, and having Yagyuu here has certainly made him content for the moment. Having his whole team, more or less, in the same place - that's all he can ask for.]

It hasn't been the same without you.

[And he is sincere - it really hasn't. How could it be?]

I certainly hope you haven't slacked off on your practice, though.

I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. And I'm sure Yanagi-kun would be gratified to know that his training menus have more than paid off. I made excellent time on the trip here, even despite the necessity for breaks.

[Though traveling the routes is admittedly a little different than running laps around the familiar old campus. But he would've been a lot worse off if it hadn't been for all that training back home.]

The only area I've had to neglect is swing practice, and that's more a question of equipment than motivation.

That's quite all right, you'll just have to make it up to me somehow. I think I can manage to forgive you.

[Of course, he's really just happy to have Yagyuu here, but that doesn't mean Yukimura won't tease him a little.]

Ah, I think we can fix that equipment problem somehow. I wouldn't want anyone to neglect their practice while we're here - even if Nationals are over, we have to prepare for next year.

I'm ready to serve whatever penance is necessary, Yukimura-buchou.

[The humor is there in return, but the slight change in honorific is deliberate. No matter the world, his captain is his captain. And some things don't change.]

Yes, of course. I've had a few interesting ideas I'd like to start developing, if possible. And of course there's always doubles strategy to think of as well, if you intend to field our combination next year.

[Which he wants roughly as much as a drowning man wants air. Not that he's going to let that fervent desire show, of course.]

[And he leaves that there with a slight smile - he might indeed make Yagyuu do some kind of penance, but probably not. Having him here is enough.]

Have you? Excellent. Niou's already told me he intends to play next year, and I'd hate to have lost my best doubles team.

[Left unspoken is Yukimura's relief that Yagyuu also still wants to play.]

[The truth is, the memory of the ending of their previous season still stings, and not just for the loss of Nationals but for the more personal role he'd been tapped to play in it. Losing to awaken Akaya had been a necessary inevitability, and he'd done it without hesitation because it was what was needed of him, and that was what mattered. He'd accepted that. But marring his season's perfect record with a deliberate loss in the semifinals, then resigning himself to alternate for the finals...it had stung, and still somewhat needles at him. And that's why Yukimura's words strike him so poignantly in that moment, and he finds himself smiling as he basks in the warmth of the praise. Personal records were personal records, but in doubles, there's still no denying that he and Niou are flawless.]

A complement to my Laser, if you will. I can hardly let Niou-kun be the only one with tricks up his sleeve.

[Despite Yukimura's carefully laid plans, they hadn't succeeded in the end - but in a few things, he'd managed to do what he set out to do, and that was one of them. Unfortunately, it did require Yagyuu's sacrifice, but his willingness had only increased Yukimura's respect for him. Things will be different next year, one way or another.]

Niou has never been the only one with tricks up his sleeve.

[A smile.]

[A new year, a new promise. Yes, that suits Yagyuu just fine.]

I'd be remiss as a partner if I couldn't keep up.

[Which is a flagrant lie, and one he doesn't even bother to pretend he believes. Which is why there's an edge creeping at the corners of his smile, a small hint of Niou in an expression that is otherwise entirely Yagyuu's.]

Somehow I doubt anyone has even considered you that.

[Certainly Yukimura hasn't. Yagyuu is easily one of the best at doubles on Rikkai's team - with people other than Niou, as well, but put him with Niou and they're truly remarkable.]

Ah, but for now I suppose that's not something we need to concern ourselves with. There are no tennis tournaments here.

There's certainly no lack of players, though.

[But he's inwardly making a face at the confirmation of something he'd already suspected. No tennis tournaments. Of course. Just one more way for this place to feel completely unlike home.]

I'm told you've taken on a pupil, even. A Kujikawa-san, I believe?

You'll have plenty of people to play with.

[Yeah, Yukimura's pretty disappointed about that too. He's just doing his best to make his own little universe of tennis in Johto.]

Ah, yes, I have. Did Niou tell you about her? She's got potential.

I've been considering asking Hyotei's Oshitari-kun for a game, actually. Though it'll have to wait until I have a racket to play with, of course.

[And though he hides it well, he's keeping a close eye to see if Yukimura reacts with any sign of displeasure at the mention of Oshitari. If rumors are flying and talk is spreading, Yagyuu wants to know exactly how far it's gone.]

She spoke with me herself, actually. She recognized my uniform from over the PokeGear and said she was acquainted with the rest of you. Are she and Niou-kun close?

Oh, really? He might not be terribly amenable to that idea.

[Not after what Niou did, anyway. Yukimura still doesn't know all the details of that, but he doesn't think he really needs to. All he does in response to Yagyuu's words is raise an eyebrow, looking just a little amused.]

She and Niou are friendly, but I'm not sure I'd say close, exactly. She does seems to be talented at making friends with us, though.

[...Which means his captain does know something about the apparent feud. One more piece to add to the puzzle, then.]

If he refuses, I'm sure I can find someone more willing. As you said, there's no shortage of people to play with.

[And the latter part gets a nod.]

I did get that impression from her, yes.

I've been hoping to play him myself, actually. Perhaps one day soon we'll all be in a position to make that happen.

[He's quiet for a moment, thinking.]

I'm sure you'll meet her in person sooner or later, and then you can come to your own conclusions about her. And about Niou.

I hope I'll have the opportunity to see that match. Watching you play is always an entertaining prospect.

[And for once, it's really not about Oshitari; frankly, it wouldn't matter who Yukimura's opponent was at the time. Yagyuu would just be thrilled to see him play at all. Like he always should have been.]

I'll let you know if she manages to befriend me, then.

Hopefully we'll all remain in the same general area for some time. I don't want us to get scattered again - and then you can watch me play as often as you like. And play me yourself, of course.

[Yukimura fully intends to keep his team together as much as possible from now on, or at least to know where everyone is at all times.]

Ah, unless you're planning to go somewhere else?

[The question actually gets him to blink, a little surprised that Yukimura is even suggesting the possibility at all. Leave his team? After they've all reunited again?]

No, of course not. I could hardly part ways with everyone after you all went to so much trouble to retrieve me.

[To do so would be nothing short of abandonment, and abandoning his team is unthinkable.]

[And that's a relief. While he had of course hoped for and expected that answer, Yukimura hadn't been entirely certain of it. If Niou and Yagyuu decided to go off somewhere on their own, there'd be no stopping them.]

Excellent. The logistics of traveling might be difficult with so many of us, but I'm sure we can work it out.

[Were it anyone other than Yukimura, the possibility of striking off alone might've been much greater. But if there's anyone in the world capable of challenging the intensity of Yagyuu's bond with his partner, it's his captain.]

Kirihara-kun happens to be in the possession of a rideable giraffe, you know. I'm sure we can find a way to make do.

[After being apart from most of his team for so long... well, Yukimura feels strangely awkward trusting his instincts, the ones that say his team is loyal. He'll have to get used to it again, with Yagyuu at least.]

He told me his giraffe bites. Or its tail does, at least.

[Arguably, getting used to it won't be that difficult at all. Not with Yagyuu still fully ready to jump at the sound of Yukimura's command.]

I wouldn't put it past it. He made for quite a sight when he came riding up to find me the other day.

[A captain without his team isn't much of a captain - or so most might say, but Yukimura has never really let that stop him. He'll just have to get used to having more of his team here.]

I haven't seen him ride it yet, but I want to. You didn't happen to take any pictures, did you?

002 | Cherrygrove City | Action;

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