The Rain That Watered The Lillie

Ever After, Chapter Five: Memories

Retro's POV

it's league kickoff day, one of my favorite days of the year, what's cool about the Sokoku league, is that anybody can participate, so usually we get a few famous trainers attending, Usually, Wick and Silver decide to attend.

as I'm reading the paper, a face walks in that I haven't seen in 9 years

"what? you don't recognize me? I'm Jay Raibaru, your old rival, and the person who's ass you kicked 9 years ago" he said

"hey man" I replied "how the hell are ya!"

I gave Jay a bro hug

"I'm fine, I've been spending my days in Unova, but I decided, I'd try to kick my old friend's ass in the league"

"I doubt you would" I smirked "I've been hanging out with the champion of Alola, recently and uh, he's the only one who's gotten close"

"then I'll kick his ass in the league along with yours"

"yeah, sure, but first, whaddya say we go and get some lunch huh? we'll go to your favorite"

"sounds great, invite that Alolan friend of yours,"

"Sun? yeah, sure"

it took us about 15 minutes at the most, but we arrived at Jay's favorite coffee shop, Sun had already gotten a table

"Sun, this is Jay Raibaru, an old rival of mine, I kicked his ass in my first Sokoku League"

the two of em shook hands "my name's Sun Kagayaku, I'm the champion of alola"

"lemme tell a story, I was five years old, having the time of my life, all of a sudden my dad tells me that my mom was admitted to the hospital, will a terminal illness. my mom died two weeks after her diagnosis. I saw my mom die right in front of me. my dad never remarried, thought that it would dishonor her. eventually I took off on my journey, did what I needed to do. after I won the Sokoku League, I researched, and found that Tapu Fini, can temporarily bring people who we've lost mortal again, that's why I came to alola"

"shit man, that's deep" Sun said

"now, it's my turn," Jay said

"well then, after the Sokoku league, I went to Unova, found someone, and I met two people, one was from Castelia City, the other, from Wyndon in Galar, we hang every now and again. and that's about it" Jay chuckled "did Retro ever tell you about his little fling?"

"what fling?" Sun asked a smile adorned upon his face

"Retro, for a hot minute, was going out with Cynthia of all people"

"wait, THE Cynthia? champion of sinnoh?" Sun exclaimed

I facepalmed "yeah, we went out for awhile when I was in sinnoh"

"and you ditched her ass for a 15 year old Kantonian School Girl" he laughed "you could've had much more" Jay piped in

"need I remind you, she dumped me, after the press caught us once in twinleaf"

"hey, if she ever wants you back, tell her to give me a call huh?" the two of them laughed their asses off

we eventually finished our coffee, and I had to head to the league at the base of Mount Reinetsu, to kickoff the league, so I hopped on Rayquaza and headed there. when I landed, I made what one would call a champion's entrance. but I had a speech to deliver

"Hello Fellow Trainers! welcome, to the 54th Annual Sokoku Pokémon League! now, before we get started. LET'S ALL GIVE IT OUR ALL, UNTIL THERE'S NOTHING LEFT TO GIVE! but yeah, how this League works, it's a tournament based system, for the preliminary round, it's a battle royal! 1 pokemon per participant. all 100 of you are put in the stadium, we stop when there's 16 people left. from there, the real league begins, you are all matched at random, we go until there's two people left, and that's the championship bout. whoever wins that bout, is the next champion"

Sun's POV

wow, that speech, was, insanely boring, well then, it looks like Hauringu and Raibaru are gunning for me, great, that's the last thing I need

"Yo bro! that speech was so sick!" Hau came up to me

"really? I thought that was the most boring speech I've ever heard!"

"you guys are really enthusiastic, Silvally and I are gonna make it to the finals, and eventually face Retro" Gladion piped in

"not if I make it first!" I replied