"Alright, Green, stop picking on Caitlin. She couldn't travel or battle in the past due to her health, but even so, she managed to train Pokémon and become a Trainer. That kind of effort deserves recognition."
Ryuuske felt a headache coming on. How could Caitlin, a sheltered young lady who rarely left home, possibly be a match for the sharp-tongued Green? From what Professor Oak had told him, Green had been kidnapped at the age of five. Yet, ten years later, not only had she survived, but she was thriving. The sorrow and suffering she had endured in those ten years were likely known only to herself.
When it came to life experience, not only was Caitlin no match for her, but even Ryuuske probably couldn't compare. A girl who had grown up without relying on orphanages or welfare, supporting herself from a young age—though heartbreaking, it was also deeply admirable.
That was why Ryuuske could only do his best to comfort Caitlin. It wasn't favoritism; Green simply didn't need his comfort. Her mental resilience was far stronger than anyone could imagine. Caitlin, on the other hand, was different—the young lady was prone to emotional breakdowns.
Sure enough, as soon as Ryuuske finished speaking, Caitlin, who had been wearing a gloomy expression, immediately brightened up. Though her emotions were volatile, she was also easy to placate—just a few kind words were enough.
"How biased~ You've forgotten your old love the moment you found a new one."
Green's eyes welled up with tears, her voice trembling with sorrow. Her fox-like, alluring eyes took on an irresistibly pitiful look, enough to make any man who saw her feel heartache. Ryuuske, however, remained unmoved, keeping his gaze steady. He knew Green would never be genuinely upset over something so trivial—this was all just her Oscar-worthy acting.
"Hand it over!"
Suddenly, Green thrust her fair, delicate palm in front of Ryuuske's face.
"What?" Ryuuske looked at her, confused.
"My wallet! Last time, I saved your life and even slept with you, and you repaid my kindness by stealing my wallet!"
The mere thought of it made Green furious. She prided herself on her wit and cunning—she was always the one stealing from others. Who would've thought she'd one day be outsmarted and have her own belongings taken?
"Don't make it sound so suggestive. Besides, it's not entirely my fault—you took my wallet first, so I had no choice but to take yours in return."
Ryuuske rummaged through his waist pouch and pulled out a pink wallet, slapping it into Green's palm. "...Here. I didn't touch anything inside."
For Ryuuske, swiping Green's wallet had just been payback for her stealing from him. As for needing money? That was never an issue. Just three days ago, he had made tens of millions on the S.S. Anne. Given this world's pricing and purchasing power, that was equivalent to several years of income for the middle class.
He knew that despite her tragic childhood, the girl before him hadn't developed an antisocial personality. If she had, with Green's skills, she could have committed countless crimes by now—not just harmless tricks and petty theft.
Beneath her tough exterior lay an incredibly tender heart.
"Here's yours!"
After retrieving her wallet, Green casually tossed Ryuuske's stolen one back to him. "...I didn't touch anything inside either."
"Because there was nothing in it to begin with."
Ryuuske chuckled.
Green shot him an annoyed glare, then stepped onto the railing beside him and leaped into the sea. A Jigglypuff-shaped hot air balloon slowly rose into the sky. She winked at Ryuuske, blew him a kiss, and giggled, "...I'll be going now, handsome~ Like I said before, we'll probably meet again soon~"
With a playful laugh, her fox-like eyes flicked toward Caitlin one last time before she drifted higher and higher, eventually becoming a tiny dot in the night sky.
She admitted she had feelings for Ryuuske, but until she achieved her goal, Green refused to let herself be distracted by anything else.
Just then, the horizon in the east brightened as the sun rose, dyeing the sea and sky a soft orange-red. A few days ago, such a breathtaking view would have drawn the upper-class elite to the deck to admire the sunrise. But now, no one had the heart for it. The Trainers continued bustling about, working to salvage the S.S. Anne, while the aristocrats stood quietly to the side, not daring to interfere.
Only upstarts would make a scene—those with true class knew better than to act arrogantly.
And just like that, the girl had come and gone, leaving not a single cloud behind.
Ryuuske turned his head and saw Ash sitting nearby, pulling snacks from his bag to feed his Ivysaur. His expression was as serene as a meditating monk's. Only after Green left did Ash finally relax, letting out a sigh.
"...That girl, Green—she's gone?"
"You've met her before?"
"Nope."
"Then why were you so scared?"
Ryuuske wondered if Ash had some kind of persecution complex.
"Just felt like she was kinda terrifying. The less I say, the better."
Ash wiped nonexistent sweat from his forehead and laughed.
You had to give it to Ash—his instincts were sharp. He knew how to avoid trouble. Green really was a bit scary—she could wrap anyone around her finger without them even realizing it.
"Ash, where are you headed next?"
"Find a way back to Kanto, then move on to the next city."
Ash thought for a moment before answering.
"I see. Well, we're on the same page, then. But I've already figured out how to get back to Kanto, so I'll have to say goodbye for now."
Ryuuske slowly stood up from where he'd been sitting. The medicine had taken effect by now—though his injuries weren't fully healed, the pain had dulled significantly.
"Lord Ryuuske... you're leaving?"
Caitlin sensed his resolve. She didn't try to stop him, only stood there with her head slightly lowered.
Whether it was Green or Ryuuske, Caitlin's keen intuition allowed her to understand—they had their own goals, their own paths they were determined to walk. Until they achieved their objectives, nothing and no one could halt their progress. They wouldn't linger for anyone.
That kind of determination was exactly what Caitlin lacked.
Her lovely face was smudged with dust, but despite the brutal battle earlier, she had only suffered minor scratches. All of that was thanks to Ryuuske.
He smiled gently and pinched Caitlin's soft cheek.
"...We'll meet again, young lady. I've already taught you everything I could these past three days. I've even helped untangle your chaotic psychic abilities. How far you go from here depends entirely on your own efforts. I've already—"
Before he could finish, his lips were sealed again—unlike Green's fierce kiss, Caitlin's was tender and light.
Since when had girls become so bold?
Just as Ryuuske was lost in thought, not even given time to savor the moment, Caitlin took a step back. She smoothed out her dress, her smile elegant and refined. The traces of her former naivety had faded, replaced by a faint air of a drowsy sleeping beauty.
"The next time we meet, Caitlin will no longer be the Caitlin of today."
Lifting the hem of her skirt slightly, she crossed her legs in a graceful curtsy—her noble etiquette as flawless as ever.
Ryuuske touched the corner of his lips but said nothing. With one hand on the railing, he vaulted overboard. A dragon's cry echoed once more. The sky and sea, bathed in the morning sun, were suddenly swallowed by dark clouds rolling in from the distance. Thunder rumbled, and fierce winds whipped across the waves—as if heralding an approaching storm.
Panicked shouts rose from the S.S. Anne once more, its passengers fearing another catastrophe. The luxury liner couldn't withstand any more devastation!
Fortunately, this was just Dragonair summoning wind and rain with its power. Ryuuske stood atop Dragonair's head as the elegant, serpentine dragon soared into the sky. Amidst the howling gales and torrential downpour, its form flickered in and out of view within the storm clouds before vanishing completely from sight.
This was the very ability attributed to Dragonair in ancient legends—to advance with the storm!
To be continued…
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