The Pokémon journey begins in Galar

"Damn it... I concede!"

"Okay."

Marie nodded without saying much and returned Baru to his Poké Ball. He was in no shape to keep going either.

"I'll remember your battle style. Next time we meet in the arena, I'll be the one walking away with the win."

The white-haired boy pocketed his Poké Ball and strode up to Marie. His arrogant air had returned, as if that flash of frustration moments ago had never existed.

"You're strong. I look forward to seeing you on the field."

Then he turned to Yuri and added, his gaze brazen:

"And you. You're one of those Trainers endorsed by the Champion, right? You might have had your friend watching your back this time, but next time? You're on your own."

Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and walked away.

"..."

"You don't have to let it bother you," Marie said after a pause, noticing Yuri's clenched expression. Her voice was a little awkward, clearly not used to giving comfort. "You're just starting out. That guy, and even I, we've both had years of experience. It's perfectly normal to fall short for now."

"I know... it's not that." Yuri shook her head, fingers twisting in the hem of her shirt. "Next time, I want to fight on my own. I don't want to rely on you, Marie..."

"That's why I said you don't need to dwell on it."

Marie reached out and gently took Yuri's anxious hand, leading her toward the cave's exit as she spoke.

"Pokémon aren't just tools. None of yours have evolved yet. Charging into battle against someone like that would've been reckless. Don't get blinded by the whole 'endorsed by the Champion' thing. A meaningless battle isn't worth fighting."

"But..."

"Let me ask you this. Would you really send Sobble out against those Pokémon? Just to get beat up?"

"I... I get it... I overreacted."

Yuri swallowed hard. Of course she knew what Sobble was like. That timid little thing always ran crying to her for protection at the first sign of trouble. There was no way she could have sent it into a hopeless match like that.

"Good."

Marie gave a short nod. That was enough lecturing.

There was a world of difference between battling on equal footing and sending your Pokémon into a fight they couldn't possibly win. The latter could lead to serious psychological issues, and in the worst cases, a Pokémon might lose all desire to battle ever again.

Trainers shouldn't care about rumors or meaningless fights. What mattered most was choosing the path that helped their Pokémon grow.

The battle area was close to the cave's exit. It didn't take long before the two of them stepped out into the daylight and spotted a young woman who looked very similar to the nurse they'd seen at the cave's entrance.

"Hello! I'm the younger sister running the outdoor Pokémon Center on this side of the mine. Would you like me to heal your Pokémon?"

The setup looked familiar, and the resemblance was obvious. Marie stepped closer, curious.

"You look a lot like the lady at the entrance..."

"Ah, she's my older sister! We each take care of one entrance."

After checking their Trainer IDs, Marie handed over her Pokémon for treatment.

"Hehe, it'll be just a moment! A boy brought his team in right before you, so you'll be next."

"The boy from earlier..."

Yuri blinked and exchanged a look with Marie, just about to say something when a voice called out from the side.

"Tch. You two again?"

They turned to see the silver-haired boy approaching with a large pot of curry in his hands. He glared at them as if irritated by their presence.

"What are you staring at?!"

"N-nothing! We just wanted to ask where you got the curry."

Yuri's stomach gave an audible grumble at the smell, and she blushed.

"None of your business."

He looked away, clearly not interested in talking to the people who had just seen him lose.

"Ah, that would be from the camping lady up ahead!" the nurse cheerfully chimed in from her station. "You can borrow a pot and cook for yourself there, or just buy something ready-made. I've been getting my meals from her too lately."

From the sound of it, this "camping lady" probably made a killing selling food to travelers. Most challengers didn't have time to cook, and a convenient roadside meal stand? That would be hard to pass up.

And with every Trainer carrying several Pokémon some with massive appetites selling even a single portion meant big profit.

"Wow, so that's a thing?"

"Yeah, and if she's selling here, the League must have inspected it. The food should be safe."

Marie nodded. There were all sorts of side businesses that sprang up around the Gym Challenge like her family's Pokéblock stand back home. It was all part of the ecosystem.

"Here you go, young man. Your Pokémon are all healed up."

"Thanks."

The silver-haired boy took back his Poké Balls and, without sparing a glance at Marie or Yuri, sat down nearby with his pot of curry. One by one, he let out his team and started feeding them.

Slurp...

"Marie... I'm really hungry..."

"Yeah, me too... Why don't you head to the campsite first and eat something? I'll join you once Eevee and Baru are done recovering."

"I'd rather eat your cooking!"

"Let's settle for this just once, okay? Besides, mine might not be as good. When we get to Turffield tomorrow, I'll take you somewhere with good food."

Marie reached out and gave Yuri a gentle pat on the head. Then she paused, realizing what she'd just done. That gesture had come out so naturally, as if she were comforting her old Eevee again.

Awkwardly, she pulled her hand back but Yuri, grinning, pulled two Oran Berries from her bag and clung to Marie's arm with a laugh.

"Hehe... I'll wait for you, then! A couple berries should tide me over."

"Alright. Whatever works for you."

Marie nodded, a little embarrassed at how she'd briefly mistaken Yuri's clinginess for that of a younger sibling. She said nothing more.

"Hehe, I'll head over with you two later," the nurse added cheerfully. "I'm starving too."

"Huh? You haven't eaten yet? But it's already dark!"

Yuri blinked in surprise. It was getting late, and she hadn't seen that many people pass through.

"There've been a lot of challengers the past few days, so I kinda lost track of time."

The nurse returned Marie's Pokémon and then shouted toward the boy:

"Hey kid, watch the station for a sec! I'm heading out to grab dinner!"

"Ugh...!"

The boy let out an annoyed grunt and turned away without answering.

"So he's totally a tsundere," Yuri whispered to Marie, eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Keep that to yourself, okay? Don't let him hear you say that..."