Chapter 29: Why Did You Have to Act So Tough?
The scene continued.
Vermilion Gym.
The Gym’s exterior was completely different from Pewter Gym. It was a pale turquoise, block-shaped building with an enormous lightning-bolt emblem hanging above it.
Raina stood outside the entrance and took a deep breath.
"Are you ready, Eevee?"
"Eevee!"
She pushed open the doors.
Inside was an enormous battlefield. Several rows of spotlights hung overhead, illuminating the entire arena as brightly as daylight.
At the opposite end of the field stood a tall, muscular blond man.
When Lt. Surge saw Raina enter, he revealed a broad grin.
"Oh! Are you today’s challenger?"
Raina stepped forward.
"I’m Raina from Cerulean City! I’m here to challenge Vermilion Gym!"
Lt. Surge glanced at the Eevee beside her feet before slapping his chest and laughing loudly.
"Hahahaha! You’re a rookie Trainer, aren’t you, little girl?"
Raina nodded.
"Yes."
Lt. Surge wore an expression that clearly said, Just as I expected.
"Listen, little girl, I suggest you go home and train some more. Don’t start crying if I send your little baby Pokémon to the Pokémon Center with serious injuries."
Raina remained completely unmoved.
"Let’s begin."
"Good! Then I’ll show you the power of Vermilion Gym!"
Lt. Surge raised one muscular arm.
"Go, Raichu!"
Raichu leaped from its Poké Ball and landed on the battlefield, electricity crackling across its cheeks.
Lt. Surge crossed his arms, wearing a smile that seemed to say, This rookie is about to be shocked until she cries.
Clearly, he did this often.
"Little girl, the rules are simple! This is a one-on-one battle, so use your strongest Pokémon against me!"
Raina looked at Raichu, then lowered her gaze toward the Poké Balls at her waist.
The corners of her mouth slowly rose.
"My strongest Pokémon?"
"That’s right! Your strongest!"
Lt. Surge laughed loudly.
"Don’t be afraid. You’ll be heading to the Pokémon Center soon enough—"
Before he could finish, Raina threw her Poké Ball.
A flash of red light appeared.
The golden Gyarados crashed onto the battlefield. With a casual sweep of its tail, the ground trembled slightly.
Lt. Surge’s eyes widened into circles.
Gyarados lowered its head, its red eyes staring down at Raichu.
The tip of Raichu’s tail trembled.
It took a step backward.
Then Gyarados released a deep, rumbling growl.
Raichu immediately hid behind Lt. Surge’s legs.
Lt. Surge stared at the Raichu cowering behind him, its ears pressed so tightly against its head that they nearly touched the back of its skull.
The smile on his face completely froze.
He looked down at Raichu, which had nearly curled itself into a ball, and then raised his head toward the enormous golden beast across the battlefield.
"What the—"
He forcibly swallowed the rest of the sentence.
He could not swear.
He was a Gym Leader.
He needed to maintain his dignity.
Lt. Surge took a deep breath and spoke in a voice that was trying extremely hard to remain calm, yet still trembled slightly.
"...What is going on here?!"
Raina placed both hands behind her back and leaned forward slightly, smiling sweetly at him.
"Leader Surge, you said this would be a one-on-one battle. You’re not allowed to change your mind~"
Gyarados cooperatively released another low growl.
Raichu poked half its head out from behind Lt. Surge’s leg and stared pitifully at its Trainer, the tip of its tail still trembling.
"Raichu, Raichu..."
Boss, I don’t want to fight...
"Get out there!"
Lt. Surge clenched his teeth and growled quietly at it.
"You’re a Gym Pokémon! Show some professional pride!"
[VIP Chat Group]
[Lt. Surge]: ...
[Ash]: Lt. Surge! Raichu looks scared!
[Lt. Surge]: I can see that! I don’t need you to tell me!
[Dawn]: Hahahahaha! Lt. Surge’s expression is hilarious! What happened to that smile he had earlier?!
[Piplup]: Piplup, Piplup, Piplup! Rolling around laughing.
[Gary]: This is killing me. What was it Lt. Surge said earlier?
[Leon]: "Then I’ll show you the power of Vermilion Gym!"
[Raihan]: "Then I’ll show you the power of Vermilion Gym!"
[Iris]: "Then I’ll show you the power of Vermilion Gym!"
[Lt. Surge]: ...
[Bruno]: Hahahahaha! I can’t take it anymore! Who knew Lt. Surge had such talent for comedy?!
[Lily]: Raina really knows how to create an entertaining scene... Where did she learn that?
[Daisy]: I think she inherited it from her father.
[Misty]: That smiling expression of hers... is exactly the same as Asher’s.
[Daisy]: Misty, have you finally accepted the role completely?
[Misty]: What?
[Violet]: You used to say, "I don’t have a daughter like that." Now you don’t mind at all?
[Misty]: That was then! This is now!
[Lily]: So when are you going to find Asher and marry him?
[Misty]: ...Could the three of you focus on the battle?!
[Sabrina]: Interesting.
[Koga]: Sabrina, you actually spoke?
[Sabrina]: Because this truly is interesting.
[Diantha]: Hahahaha! I could watch this scene ten times! The expression in Gyarados’s eyes is perfect!
[Lance]: Gyarados: Go ahead. Keep talking. I’m listening.
[Steven]: Gyarados: Don’t rush. I’ll wait until you’re finished.
[Wallace]: Gyarados: Are you done talking? Good. Now it’s my turn.
[Lt. Surge]: That’s enough from all of you...
[Acerola]: Raichu hiding behind its Trainer’s legs is so cute! I know I shouldn’t laugh right now, but hahahahaha~
[Elesa]: As a professional model, I must say that Lt. Surge’s current expression is remarkably expressive. It deserves to be captured and turned into a reaction image.
[Lt. Surge]: That’s enough!!!
[Barry]: I’m fining you! I’m fining you! Hurry up and start the battle! Lt. Surge, what are you waiting for?! If you’re a man, then fight already!!!
[Dawn]: Calm down, Barry. Lt. Surge needs time to prepare himself mentally.
[Barry]: What mental preparation?! Whether he sticks his head out or pulls it back, the blade is coming either way! Stop being scared and fight!!!
[Volkner]: Surge, you and Raichu are no longer on the same wavelength.
[Lt. Surge]: Shut up, Volkner! Of course it’s easy for you to say when you aren’t the one battling!
[Volkner]: Someone’s getting upset~
[Lt. Surge]: Volkner, you ****! I’ll ***** your **** and then—!
[Screen]: Inappropriate language detected. [Lt. Surge] has been muted for ten minutes.
[Bonnie]: Clemont, what was he saying?
[Clemont]: Bonnie, don’t look!
[Bonnie]: Huh? Why not?
[Clemont]: That isn’t something you should know! Go play somewhere else for now!
[Bonnie]: Okay.
[Regular-Seat Chat Group]
"It’s starting! It’s starting! Golden Gyarados versus Raichu!"
"Did Leader Surge almost swear just now? Hahahahaha! I saw it! His mouth was clearly forming ’What the—’ Those who know, know~"
"Lt. Surge: A Gym Leader must never lose his dignity. His pride can be sacrificed, but never his dignity."
"Raichu hiding behind his legs is far too funny! Wasn’t it crackling with electricity a moment ago?! Where did all the electricity go?!"
"Raichu: Electricity service has been suspended. Current functions are limited to curling into a ball."
"Why does everything you say automatically sound like a reaction image?"
"I went to get some water and came back to see Raichu curled into a ball. Can someone tell me what happened?"
"To put it simply, Gyarados looked at Raichu."
"...It lost its nerve from one look?"
"That’s a golden Gyarados, my friend! If it looked at you, you’d lie down and surrender immediately!"
"I hereby present this year’s Best Gaze Award to Gyarados. Its acceptance speech consists of one word: Roar."
The scene continued.
League regulations prevented Gym Leaders from refusing official challenges. Furthermore, Lt. Surge had already made such bold declarations that he could no longer back out.
At that moment, he felt as miserable as though he had swallowed an enormous, well-fed fly. He wanted nothing more than to slap his past self several times.
Damn it. Why did you have to act so tough?
Left with no choice, Lt. Surge used every ounce of strength he possessed to preserve the final scraps of his dignity as a Gym Leader. He grabbed Raichu from behind his legs and placed it on the battlefield.
"You useless coward! Get out there!"
Raichu was pushed onto the field and looked back at its Trainer with bitter resentment.
"Raichu..."
When I’m lying in bed afterward, remember to buy me plenty of Berries...
[Regular-Seat Chat Group]
"Raichu: If you’re so capable, why don’t you fight it yourself, Boss?!"
"Gyarados: Don’t be afraid. It’ll all be over soon."
"That look in Gyarados’s eyes! Hahahaha! It’s gazing down upon all living beings!"
"Raichu: I choose death."
"Lt. Surge: What about my dignity?!"
"I’m dying! Hahahahaha! The Gym battle is already over before it has even begun!"
"Be precise, person above. Technically speaking, neither side has used a move yet."
"You call an enormous Gyarados standing there doing nothing? That’s a psychological attack!"