----
After recalling Dragonair to its Poké Ball, Kai climbed up the ladder and left the underwater battlefield, returning to the main level of the Gym.
He headed to the locker room, slipped out of the wetsuit, tossed the diving gear aside, rinsed off quickly, and changed back into his regular outfit. By the time he returned to the main hall to meet Sabrina, Dorian happened to come in from the opposite side.
Seeing Kai, Dorian gave a weary smile and raised his hands in surrender.
"Your Dragonair is amazing. My Pokémon couldn't keep up at all. Is it your ace? It's insanely strong how'd you train it like that?"
Kai paused.
Was Dragonair his ace?
If he told Dorian it was only his third-string team member, nowhere near ace level, it might be a little too crushing.
After a moment, Kai replied with a tactful smile, "Dragonair hasn't even evolved yet still growing. But once it does, I'm sure it'll become one of my ace Pokémon. As for training… well, I think if you spent a bit less time practicing ballet and more time training your team, your Pokémon would be just as strong."
Now that's what you call the art of phrasing things gently.
And Dorian understood right away. The Pokémon that had wiped the floor with his team wasn't even one of Kai's best.
That stung.
Was trying to become both a Gym Leader and a top-tier water ballet performer… too much to ask?
After a little more friendly small talk, Kai checked the time it was getting late. It was time to move on.
Dorian's Gym didn't offer official League Badges or any token of victory, but the trip hadn't been a waste. Dragonair had earned valuable experience, bringing it one step closer to evolution.
Waving goodbye, Kai and Sabrina left the Gym. Outside, he called out his Charizard once again.
This time, there would be no detours to their destination: Saffron City.
---
Kanto Region – Saffron City
By the time they arrived, it was the early morning of the third day.
Charizard had flown nearly non-stop from eastern Johto to central Kanto over 2,000 kilometers in total. Excluding short rests and overnight breaks, it had taken them roughly a day and a half.
Charizard was exhausted.
Kai could've switched to a faster flier like Zapdos along the way, giving Charizard a break, but he hadn't. This was a perfect chance to test Charizard's endurance, to see just how far it could go.
And it had passed with flying colors.
Though visibly worn out, Charizard had flown through it all without quitting.
The big dragon descended onto the plaza outside Saffron Gym, flapping its wings as it landed.
The gust stirred the grass in the flowerbeds and flared the skirts of a few passing women. Some pedestrians turned their heads, but most paid it no mind Pokémon landings in a big city like this were nothing unusual.
Kai looked up at the familiar facade of Saffron Gym.
It hadn't changed a bit.
But the people inside… they were no longer the same.
Sabrina dismounted first with Kai's help. She looked at the place where she'd grown up, the building that once defined her, and for the first time, felt… hesitant.
She didn't want to go back.
But there was no choice. They were here. And it was time to part ways.
Without saying anything, she turned and hugged Kai tightly.
He gently patted her back and whispered, "Well… back to being the ice-cold Gym Leader of Saffron City. Better keep that sweet little smile hidden your students and challengers might start to question your reputation."
Sabrina didn't care about that. But still, she pulled away.
She leaned in, gave him a soft kiss on the cheek, and murmured her goodbye before walking toward the gym doors.
Just before stepping inside, she turned back for one final glance.
"My heart will always belong to you."
Kai froze.
'Was that… her confession?'
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something anything but Sabrina was already gone, slipping through the doors, vanishing from sight.
He stood there for a moment, waved softly at the empty air, and stared at the doors in silence.
Then, with a sigh, he climbed back onto Charizard's back.
The wind felt colder now.
His thoughts were still full of her every moment they'd shared, every laugh, every battle, every touch but now she was gone, and her absence left his heart feeling hollow.
Still, it wasn't a breakup. It was only temporary.
They'd call. They'd visit.
This wasn't the end.
Just a pause.
He shook off the melancholy and refocused.
Where to next?
Head straight back to Johto?
Or stick around Kanto for a while?
After a moment's thought, Kai decided to drop by Professor Cerise's lab first.
He was back in the region he might as well pay a visit to the people who had always supported him.
Charizard spread its wings once more, rising into the sky and heading south.
After more than an hour's flight, they reached Vermilion City, but Kai didn't go to the lab right away. He stopped by a gift shop, bought some presents and fresh fruit, and then made his way to Cerise's lab.
Just like the city, the lab hadn't changed at all.
Ding-dong.
He rang the bell.
When Chloe opened the door and saw Kai standing there, she froze, eyes wide in shock.
Even Professor Cerise and the assistants were caught off guard by the surprise visit.
"Kai? You're back?!"
Kai smiled warmly. "Just passing through Kanto on some business. I'm heading out again tomorrow. Figured I'd drop by while I still had the time."
He handed out the gifts, one by one.
Then he turned to Chloe with a raised brow. "Why are you home? No school today?"
Chloe blinked, then burst into a giggle. "Kai, seriously? It's Saturday! There's no school!"
She looked composed on the outside, but the way her heart raced said it all.
Kai chuckled.
Of course.
Out in the wild, every day battling, traveling, camping, he'd long since lost track of things like calendars and weekdays.
----
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