Perhaps because of Shelgon's evolution, Aoki remained in high spirits throughout the day. His mood was so elevated that even his usually steady walking pace became noticeably brisk.
Kamizlei watched this in silence, slightly speechless. She hadn't expected Aoki to be this easy to please. But, upon reflection, she knew that if one of her own Pokémon had evolved, she would have been just as thrilled.
Over the next few days, Aoki maintained his quickened pace, driven by the knowledge that most of his Pokémon had already evolved. Only Manectric and Grovyle remained in their current forms, requiring additional time and training before they could reach their final stages. Their bodies needed further strengthening to endure the increased strain of evolution.
Aoki knew well that a stronger physique translated to better endurance in battle—allowing Pokémon to take greater hits while also enhancing their explosive power. His Boss Lairon was a prime example; when it battled Slaking, it endured direct, flesh-on-flesh blows without flinching. It was only thanks to rigorous training that Boss Lairon had been able to withstand Slaking's Fighting-type attacks, which were four times effective against it.
On this particular day, Aoki and Kamizlei made their way through the forest until they reached the coastline. Their next step was to follow the shoreline for a while before cutting inland toward the main road that would eventually lead them to Lavaridge Town.
"Kamizlei, since we're at the beach, how about a swim?" Aoki suggested casually.
"No problem," Kamizlei responded without hesitation. She quickly found a large rock to change behind, while Aoki simply swapped into a pair of swim trunks and dove straight into the sea, swimming leisurely.
Meanwhile, the rest of their Pokémon remained on the shore, basking in the sunlight. Even Shelgon, who was naturally more reclusive, appeared content to absorb the warmth, aiding in the energy buildup necessary for its eventual evolution into Salamence.
A few minutes later, Kamizlei reappeared, now in a sleek, well-fitted swimsuit. As she stepped toward the water, Aoki couldn't help but pause, momentarily stunned by the sight before him.
He had always known that Kamizlei was attractive—after all, she was a model before becoming a Gym Leader—but seeing her in person like this was something else entirely. It felt as if her true beauty had been kept under wraps, and now he was witnessing it firsthand.
Noticing his reaction, Kamizlei felt a small surge of pride. Over the course of their travels, she had developed a subtle yet undeniable interest in Aoki. She wasn't entirely sure what this feeling was, but she found herself caring about what he thought of her.
"Aoki, you're staring a little too much," Kamizlei teased, flipping her hair playfully.
Aoki snapped out of his daze, covering up his momentary lapse. "Your figure is impressive," he admitted honestly. "Alright, let's go for a swim!" Without waiting for a response, he swiftly propelled himself into the deeper waters.
Kamizlei smirked. "Then let's have a race!" With that, she dove into the water with remarkable grace, moving as fluidly as a Milotic in its natural habitat.
Greninja, ever the vigilant guardian, remained in the water close to Aoki. Though it didn't join the race, it kept a close watch over its trainer, wary of any unforeseen dangers.
The morning passed in a blur of laughter, playful water fights, and lighthearted competitions. By noon, Aoki and Kamizlei returned to shore for lunch, enjoying a hearty meal before resting under the shade.
As they lounged, Aoki made an unusual decision—he recalled all his Pokémon except for Greninja into their Poké Balls. Even Happy, who usually clung to his shoulder, was allowed a break inside its Luxury Ball.
Kamizlei noticed this and raised an eyebrow. "Aoki, I didn't think you'd be the type to put your Pokémon away just to enjoy some alone time," she teased.
Aoki coughed, slightly embarrassed. "Well, it's good for them to rest, too."
Kamizlei chuckled. "In that case, why don't we go for another swim? Just the two of us."
Aoki didn't even hesitate. "Sounds like a plan!"
Moments later, Kamizlei stood up, her toned figure once again drawing Aoki's attention. He could barely keep his eyes off her.
This should be illegal, he thought to himself.
With a graceful leap, Kamizlei dove into the ocean, her form cutting through the water with precision. But just as Aoki was about to follow, something unexpected happened—
A whirlpool began forming in the sea.
The swirling vortex expanded rapidly, its powerful current disrupting the water's surface. Caught off guard, Kamizlei was quickly pulled in.
"Kamizlei, watch out!" Aoki shouted, lunging forward.
In his rush to save her, Aoki himself was caught in the powerful pull of the vortex.
Greninja reacted instantly, leaping into action. It dove into the water after its trainer, attempting to resist the pull of the vortex. However, the strength of the current was overwhelming—even for it.
In the span of seconds, all three were dragged beneath the surface.
As Aoki's vision blurred, his last coherent thought was—This is bad.
When Aoki finally regained consciousness, he found himself lying on a rocky shore inside an underground cavern. The sound of rushing water echoed through the vast space.
Greninja, who had somehow managed to stay conscious, had carried both Aoki and Kamizlei to safety. It now stood nearby, ever-watchful.
As Aoki stirred, Jirachi—who had emerged from its Poké Ball on its own—hovered above him, channeling a faint, golden light.
Heal Pulse.
A soothing warmth spread through Aoki's body, easing the fatigue and soreness from his ordeal.
"Cough… cough…" Aoki sputtered, spitting out seawater before groggily sitting up. As his vision adjusted, he quickly scanned his surroundings. It was pitch black aside from the faint glow of Jirachi's energy. The underground river continued to surge nearby, its current still strong.
Then, Aoki turned his gaze to the person lying beside him. Kamizlei remained unconscious, her breathing steady but shallow.
Is this what drowning looks like? Aoki mused. He had never actually seen someone suffer from near-drowning before.
Then, a ridiculous thought entered his mind—Should I… perform CPR?
For a brief moment, Aoki hesitated, debating whether he should give Kamizlei artificial respiration.
I mean… it's for survival. Nothing else.
He convinced himself that it was purely a medical necessity. There was absolutely no other reason he was considering this course of action.
Taking a deep breath, he leaned forward, cupping Kamizlei's face.
"This is for her own good," he muttered under his breath.
Just as he was about to press his lips to hers, Kamizlei's eyes fluttered open.
Aoki froze.
Kamizlei blinked in confusion, her dazed expression shifting into one of realization.
Then—
SMACK!
A sharp slap landed squarely on Aoki's cheek.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Kamizlei's voice rang out, half furious, half flustered.
Aoki, now sporting a red mark on his face, laughed awkwardly. "I swear, I was just trying to help."
Kamizlei narrowed her eyes. "Sure you were."
Greninja sighed from the sidelines. Traveling with Aoki was never dull.
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