Chapter Text
“Wow,” Abe says, recalling his fainted Gardevoir. “You really did get stronger after your trip.”
“But of course,” Sakuma laughs, his heart swelling at the impressed tone of Abe’s voice. “Someone’s gotta keep you on your toes.”
Abe smiles, and Sakuma can see him curl his fingers around the sixth and final Pokeball at his belt. “I’m glad,” he says. “This is the most fun I’ve had in a battle in quite a while.”
“It won’t be the last time we battle,” Sakuma says, like a promise. “It’ll be even more fun, the next time. You just wait and see.”
He reaches out to recall Tinkaton to her ball - she’s done well, punched way above her weight, but she’s barely hanging on now, and Sakuma does have one more Pokemon left who’s still in battling condition. It’s going to come down to both of their last Pokemon, the closest Sakuma’s ever come to beating Abe in a Pokemon battle, and he can feel his heart begin to race as he closes his fingers around the scratched, worn surface of the battered Luxury Ball at his belt.
A heartbeat of silence, two, three. Then-
“Meganium-”
“Clefable-”
Two Pokeballs are tossed in the air, gleaming under the harshness of the arena lights, and a flash of light illuminates the battle court. Sakuma grins to himself. Here we go, he thinks.
“I choose you!”