[Satocchi, it really feels like she knows you well~ And Electivire's moveset—could she be targeting you? It's obvious those moves were picked with Raichu in mind.]
So even the innocent you finally noticed.
Satoshi lifted his head and focused.
"Yeah… I've been a bit busy lately. I'm really sorry I haven't reached out."
I'm really sorry I failed to satisfy you Lady Uika.
Huh? We're friends and childhood friends, right? I've been reading the messages you and Saki send every day to build up courage…
"It's fine. Then let's continue the battle—Electivire, use [ROCK SLIDE]!"
Uika's brow twitched, a little displeasure flashing across her face.
"Ele!" Several huge boulders rose into the air, then hurtled straight at Raichu. Facing the attack, Satoshi quickly had Raichu use Electroweb—an invisible mesh that wrapped around the falling rocks.
"Use [ELECTROWEB] and trap the Rock Slide!"
"Raiichu~~!" Under Raichu's control, the web snapped open instantly, tightly binding the descending stones. Rock collided with crackling threads, spitting sparks and sharp sounds.
"[SURF]!"
"[BRICK BREAK]—split the Surf!"
A powerful wave surged up beneath Raichu again, but Electivire swung Brick Break and cleaved the Surf in two.
"[QUICK ATTACK]—go again!"
Raichu shot toward Electivire at blistering speed, its body streaking across the field like a flash of lightning.
"[STOMP]—wait, the ground's already soaked." Uika realized the problem only after giving the order. But Electivire didn't stop attacking—its foot came down anyway, sinking in instead of executing Stomp.
"Ele~" Electivire's foot stuck, unable to pull free. Raichu, meanwhile, slipped in and struck Electivire square in the belly, landing only a light hit.
So that was the point of Surf?
By turning the field into mud, he'd made Stomp ineffective. Now the outcome was harder to call.
Watching closely, Uika more or less understood Satoshi's plan. But she was still firmly in the driver's seat—there was no need to panic.
Except…
Neither of them noticed the Pokémon hiding in a small grove nearby, watching them.
"Kapu!"
With a booming cry, it moved at near-instant speed—appearing right in front of Satoshi.
"What—?"
At the same time, a violent gale swept over them, forcing Satoshi, Uika, and their Pokémon to squeeze their eyes shut.
"Huh? Tapu Koko?" When Satoshi opened his eyes again, he found Melemele Island's guardian deity, Tapu Koko, right there.
"Tapu Koko?!" Even Uika widened her eyes in shock. She couldn't believe the Pokémon they'd come looking for could appear this easily.
Satoshi wasn't all that surprised. Tapu Koko's curiosity was famously intense—interested in people and Pokémon alike, showing up now and then to play and to settle contests of strength.
It wasn't hard to imagine it being drawn over by their battle.
But why here? This was Akala Island.
Shouldn't this be Tapu Lele?
"Fwoosh~" Tapu Koko reached for Satoshi's cap, snatched it cleanly away, then drifted up into the air and took off.
[Satocchi's true body!!]
Not my true body!
"My hat!" The moment his precious cap was stolen, Satoshi and Raichu gave chase. Uika recalled Electivire and ran after them too.
This was Tapu Koko—the guardian deity. You had to treasure an encounter like this. And more than that, Uika herself had come here to defeat Tapu Koko.
If she could beat Tapu Koko, that would mean she'd reached Elite-level strength—maybe even beyond.
Even a simple exchange would teach her a lot.
Still… she hadn't gotten to see Satoshi squirm, and for some reason that made her a little annoyed.
I want to see it~ I really want to~
Feels like I've got a bit of an S streak!
"Wait! Tapu Koko!" Following Tapu Koko's flight path, Satoshi and Uika drew closer to the forest. When he noticed Uika, he slowed just a little.
"Uika, do you have business with Tapu Koko?"
"Yeah. I want to challenge Tapu Koko."
Their eyes met—both sets blazing with fighting spirit.
"I see. Then we'd better catch up fast."
Seeing Uika's resolve, Satoshi smiled and quickened his pace again.
As someone who also wanted to challenge Tapu Koko, he sincerely thought having a rival like her was a good thing.
"Mm." Uika panted a reply.
"Wah—!"
But just then, her foot caught on an exposed tree root. She lost her balance.
"Are you okay?" Satoshi noticed instantly, spun around, and caught her securely in his arms.
She was clearly pushing herself—and she was a girl—so Satoshi slowed down.
The hat mattered, sure. But people and Pokémon came first.
This was a forest. There were real risks here.
Satoshi figured his own constitution was pretty solid, so he'd be fine.
He was a Super Rookie.
But Uika was different. He paid her extra attention.
"Mm… I'm fine." In that moment, time seemed to freeze. A blush spread across Uika's cheeks, her heart pounding as warmth flooded her chest.
The wind whispered through the trees, lifting their hair so the strands mingled together.
"If anything hurts, tell me."
Concern filled Satoshi's eyes. He gently patted Uika's back, trying to soothe her.
"Mm. Really, I'm fine." Uika squeezed her eyes shut, soaking in Satoshi's warmth—clearly feeling her chest pressed against him.
As a girl, it was mortifying. And it even stirred a certain curiosity in her—
Like whether the boy in front of her was getting intoxicated by her.
"Then let's hurry and catch up, or Tapu Koko's going to get away."
And the moment Satoshi said it, he immediately took an appropriate step back—no hint of indulgence at all.
If you're fine, then let's go!
As for cherishing the moment—what's that?
That single sequence of actions brought Uika's swelling girlish feelings to a sudden stop.
I'm an idol, okay? Is Satoshi still as dense as ever?!
He is. He totally is!
Uika started doubting her own charm—she was confident she could even go toe-to-toe with Elesa from Nimbasa Gym.
Yet here, it was completely useless.
Unfortunately, Satoshi's attention was entirely on Tapu Koko.
By now, Tapu Koko had stopped running and was watching the two of them from not far away.
"Tapu Koko, my hat—can you give it back?"
Satoshi asked with solemn seriousness.
It was an important hat given to him by someone important. He couldn't even remember who anymore, but he had no intention of letting anyone take it.
"Fwoosh~!"
Tapu Koko nodded, then zipped over with gale-like speed and placed the hat back onto Satoshi's head.
At the same time, two items slipped from Tapu Koko's hand and floated down, hovering in the air in front of Satoshi and Uika.
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T/N: OOOOH ZRINGSSS