“Seriously? So you threw the match on purpose just to mess with my sister?” Senta tried to put some bite into it, half threat and half probe. The battle had shaken him more than he wanted to admit.

That Poliwhirl was ridiculous. Yesterday, against Cissy’s Blastoise, it hadn’t shown anything like that. If today was the real level, then there was only one explanation: Reiji had been holding back.

“Do what you want,” Reiji said flatly. “You still can’t beat me.”

Senta choked on the comeback. His face went red, and he ground his teeth like he might snap them. He hated this guy—hated how Reiji could shut him down with one line, and hated even more that he couldn’t do anything about it.

“Go bring in the next challenger,” Reiji said, waving him off. “If nobody’s coming, then go entertain yourself somewhere else. Don’t hover.”

Senta stormed out to the spectators, but the moment he tried to call someone in, nobody moved.

They’d all watched that battle. It didn’t matter whether it was target practice or a straight Pokémon battle—Reiji was out of their league. Even the young man from earlier, the one who’d been circling the Pokémon Center with a Golduck that could bully most trainers here, had gotten flattened. And the Poliwhirl that did it? That was even worse.

With no one willing to step up, the crowd broke apart. If they wanted to test this “acting leader,” they’d wait for a real heavyweight to show up first.

Senta had no choice but to go back inside. If he ever wanted to beat Reiji’s Pokémon, then he needed the basics—starting with landing Water Gun on moving targets. He threw himself into training Squirtle, quietly fuming the whole time.

Reiji didn’t spare him a glance. He didn’t supervise, didn’t nag, didn’t remind him about homework—Senta’s chores had already slipped off Reiji’s mind completely.

By the time the clock crept toward six, Cissy finally returned, arms full of fresh citrus.

“Everyone’s still here?” she said as she stepped in. She paused when she saw Senta actually training. For once, he looked halfway serious, and that alone made her expression ease.

“sis,” Senta muttered. The excitement flashed across his face for a second, then vanished. Compared to Reiji, his sister wasn’t exactly gentle either. He wasn’t about to run to her with gossip about Reiji hiding his strength.

“Cissy,” Reiji said, not bothering to sound polite. “Did my rookie certification go through?”

Her eye twitched. She yanked out a badge and a Pokédex and tossed them over. “Here. Your rookie trainer badge, and your Pokédex. Your personal info and Pokémon data are already registered. You can get the League’s free benefits at the Pokémon Center—go ask them what’s included.”

“Much appreciated,” Reiji said, catching both. “If you need anything later, just say the word. I’ll handle it.”

He couldn’t help looking them over. The rookie badge wasn’t special—same idea as a Gym Badge, just a different design. White with a touch of red, and a flat, simplified Poké Ball symbol like the Pokémon Center sign.

The Pokédex itself looked like an early model—built for logging what you saw on the road, what you caught, and basic reference data. Simple and practical.

It reminded him of a phone that only had one app installed. Someday, when proper smart devices became common everywhere, this would probably get folded into something like a Rotom Phone and upgraded into a full Rotom Pokédex.

He stored both carefully. Getting an official trainer ID had taken him far too long, and he wasn’t about to lose it now.

The rookie badge was mostly a formality—useful when you first got certified, and then again when you qualified for an upgrade. The Pokédex was the real lifeline. Lose that, and you might as well lose your name.

“I got you your Pokédex,” Cissy said, glancing at her watch. “It’s six. We’re eating.”

“No,” Reiji said, already pulling out Poké Balls. “I’m going to rent a place in town.”

“You’re not staying the night?” Cissy frowned. The Gym had plenty of rooms. Other than her and Senta, there was only a staff dorm—no one else lived here. Reiji was the only trainee she’d taken on at all.

“I’m good.” Reiji finished recalling his Pokémon. He clipped his six main partners to his belt and shoved the rest into his bag, then slung it over his shoulder.

“You’re skipping dinner too?” Cissy pressed. She’d even gone to the kitchen earlier, lining up something “special” for him.

“Getting dark,” Reiji said. “I don’t have time.”

Cissy stared at him for a beat, then gave up. “Be here at nine tomorrow morning. Don’t be late.”

“Got it.” Reiji filed the schedule away. Eight hours a day. Somehow, that still made him grin.

He left the Mikan Gym in a genuinely good mood. Outside, he released Pelipper, climbed on, and headed for the seaside town.

Once he landed, he didn’t go near the Pokémon Center. The League freebies could wait. Right now, he needed a place to stay.

He had a short list of requirements. A walled yard was non-negotiable, and a pool would be ideal. More importantly, it had to be quiet—somewhere with as few people as possible. Gengar and the others couldn’t afford to be seen.

Nothing like that existed in the middle of town. If he wanted space and privacy, he’d have to go outside the residential area. Asking door to door in the dark would take all night, so he went looking for the orchard lady he’d chatted with before. She lived here, which meant she’d know what was available.

He didn’t even make it to her street before someone called out behind him.

“Acting Gym Leader?”

Reiji turned. It was the same young man from the afternoon—the challenger with Golduck.

“You are…?”

“I challenged the Gym today,” the young man said, sounding a little offended. “You seriously forgot?”

“The Golduck trainer,” Reiji said, not denying it.

The young man nodded and stepped closer. “I’ve been thinking about what you said. You’re right—my Golduck has gaps. A lot of them.”

“Call me Rai,” Reiji said. “Don’t call me ‘acting leader.’ I just joined the Mikan Gym as a Gym Trainer.”

The young man blinked. “So you’re a trainee? With strength like that?” He hesitated, then introduced himself. “I’m Gai. I’m a bounty hunter—travelling right now.”

“Bounty hunter?” Reiji finally slowed down.

“Trainers who take wanted-criminal jobs from the Pokémon Center,” Gai explained.

Reiji got it. Licensed freelancers—useful to the League when there were fugitives to catch, and useful to the underworld when the pay was dirty. A grey trade that survived because it served both sides.

“Rai,” Gai said, lowering his voice, “you’ve raised that Poliwhirl incredibly well. I want to invite you to join my team.”

“No,” Reiji replied immediately. “Wanted criminals aren’t safe to deal with.”

Gai forced a smile. “Fair enough. If you change your mind, my team’s always open.”

Reiji gave a brief nod. “I’ve got things to do. Another time.”

He walked off into the town, leaving Gai standing there.

The moment Reiji disappeared, two men drifted in to flank Gai—his teammates.

“Boss, are we taking that private job?” one of them asked.

“Taking what?” Gai snorted. “The three of us together couldn’t beat him.”

“That strong?” the other one said, still doubtful.

“Go challenge the Gym yourself if you don’t believe me,” Gai said. “Against that Poliwhirl, you won’t last one move.”

Both men went quiet.

Gai’s voice hardened. “Golduck is still in the Pokémon Center right now. And that ‘private job’—forget it. Even if the pay is a mid-grade Evolutionary stone, we’re not touching it. Tell the client to find someone else.”

“Understood,” they said.

Reiji had no idea any of that had happened. By then, he’d already found the orchard lady—and he was sitting in her home.

“Young man,” she said warmly, “I heard from my neighbour that you became the acting leader at the Mikan Gym.”

“Just filling in for a few days,” Reiji said. “Once the Gym Leader finishes the orchard work, that’s it.”

He took out a box of premium Bug-type Pokéblocks and handed it to her son. “I came in a rush, so I didn’t bring much. These are for your Heracross. Take good care of it, alright?”

The woman’s eyes widened when she saw the clean, bright green blocks under the light. “That’s way too expensive.”

“It’s nothing,” Reiji said. The boy clutched the box like it might vanish, so Reiji reached over and gave his hair a quick, gentle ruffle.

The woman turned to her son, half scolding and half delighted. “Kouta, say thank you.”

“Thank you,” the boy said, voice small but steady. “I’ll take good care of Heracross.”

Reiji smiled. “Good kid.”

Once the gift was done, he got to the point. “Ma’am, I’m trying to rent a place near the town, somewhere closer to the Gym. A house with a yard. Do you know what’s available?”

“Oh, you asked the right person,” she said, clapping her hands once. “Wait here. I’ll get you a number.”

She hurried out. Reiji waited, taking in the room while he did.

The house was a two-storey concrete build with front and back yards. Everything inside was modern—TV, washing machine, fridge, proper furniture. If her family weren’t spending money raising a trainer, they’d be comfortably well-off. Life under the League’s rule looked steady, at least for ordinary people.

He chatted with Kouta for a bit—small stories about Pokémon, the kind that made kids forget to be shy. Then the orchard lady returned, bringing a young man with her. He looked tidy, and he had keys in his hand.

“There are two places close to the Gym,” she said. “I can take you to see them—”

“No need,” Reiji cut in, glancing at the night outside. “Which one’s closest to the Gym? I’ll take that one.”

The orchard lady gave him a long look, then nodded. “Alright. There’s a wooden house by a lake. I know that one. The back yard’s open grassland, and there’s a small lake in front. A few citrus trees too. It’s kept in good shape, but if you stay long-term, it can get damp, and the wood needs maintenance. So the rent’s higher.”

Reiji turned to the young man with the keys. “How much per month?”

“To rent the lakeside cabin,” the young man said, polite and careful, “you rent the front and back yard, the grassland, and the lake as part of the property. The rent is one hundred and fifty thousand per month. There’s also a fifty-thousand monthly maintenance fee for cleaning and upkeep. The cabin and lake are both serviced regularly, so you won’t need to worry.”

“Water and electricity included?”

“Yes. The owner is an elderly man. His children brought him to live in a big city on Mandarin Island North. He wanted the place kept clean so he could come back anytime, so the service fees have been paid continuously.”

“One month, then.” Reiji counted out two hundred thousand—one month’s rent plus the maintenance fee—and took the keys.

It was expensive. Even in his head, the number had weight. Still, the lake alone made it worthwhile. He could keep his Water-types there without needing to sneak around town.

The young man pointed as he explained the route. “The cabin is off the roadside between the town and the Gym. There’s a small path in. There’s a citrus tree by the gate, and it’s in season—you can pick fruit right away. There’s also a swing under the tree, so it’s easy to spot.”

“You’re not coming?” Reiji asked, surprised the man was already backing away.

“If you need anything, you can call me,” the man said quickly. “I’ll… stay here.”

The orchard lady leaned in and lowered her voice. “He’s scared of the woods out there. I’ve been to clean that place before—besides the lake, it’s all wild mountain forest. People say things come out of it. Ghost stories.”

It wasn’t just an explanation. It was a warning.

Reiji nodded once. “I’ll go alone.”

“You’re sure?” she asked, not wanting to watch him walk into trouble.

“I’m sure.” He noticed the young man tugging gently at her sleeve, like he was afraid she’d scare off the only tenant willing to rent it.

Reiji let out a quiet, amused breath, then looked back at the key-holder. “From now on, the cleaning and upkeep—let her handle it. No problem?”

“No problem, sir,” the young man said at once.

Reiji waved to the orchard lady. “Thanks. I’ll talk to you again.”

Outside, he released Pelipper and took off toward the cabin.

The town and the Gym both sat along the coast, connected by the main road. Halfway along was a narrow trail leading into the hills—not the same hills where the old man fished, but another stretch of back mountain. Between them lay the Gym’s orchard, running across several ridges. The lakeside cabin sat beyond it, tucked up against the edge of that same orchard land.

Pelipper navigated easily in the dark. The cabin was exactly where Reiji remembered.

The moment he landed, the silence hit him. No lamps. No windows lit. Just insects and distant birds, and a strip of path cutting through a sea of black forest.

A wide lawn spread out, and in the middle of it stood a lonely two-storey wooden house. The lake reflected the moon in broken silver. Under the citrus tree by the door, the swing moved gently—despite the still air.

Reiji clicked on a flashlight and swept the beam around. He understood, suddenly, why the key-holder wouldn’t come.

He released Gengar and Darkrai immediately. “Check the cabin and the area,” he told them. “See if any other Ghost-types are lurking.”

“Geng-gar, geng-gar…” Gengar’s laugh rolled out in the dark.

Reiji almost smiled. With this greedy troublemaker here, any “ghost stories” were going to think twice.

Gengar’s eyes glowed red as it drifted through the door and into the cabin. Reiji followed, unlocking the wooden door and stepping inside.

The place was better than he expected. Mostly wooden furnishings, clean lines, and everything looked new enough to be maintained regularly. The lights worked. The appliances were in good condition. He liked it.

He looked out at the lake again. In the dark, it was only a shimmer. The real view could wait for morning.

Once Gengar and Darkrai returned and confirmed the area was clear, Reiji released the rest of his Pokémon. He fed them first, then threw together a quick dinner for himself.

He didn’t bother organising anything tonight. He’d sleep here once, then decide what furniture or supplies he needed tomorrow.

Some of his Pokémon curled up on the bed with him. Others took the floor. A few claimed the sofa. One hung upside down from the ceiling. And a couple stayed awake, alert in the unfamiliar house.

Gengar, of course, was the worst. New place, deep night, and a whole cabin to haunt—there was no chance it was going to sleep.

Reiji let out a slow breath and looked to Darkrai. “I’m turning in. Keep an eye on Gengar. Don’t let it wreck the place.”

“Leave it to me,” Darkrai said, then watched Gengar float through a wall like a child discovering a new toy. It pinched the bridge of its nose, helpless.

Gengar’s laughter echoed again, bright and shameless in the dark.

By tomorrow, the “haunted cabin” rumour would probably be back in town.

[End of chapter]

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