Pokemon Regression

Chapter 10: Oak's Conditions

"...And that's what happened. Do you have any idea why she reacted like that?" I asked cautiously, wondering if I'd accidentally stepped onto a landmine. 

The man in front of me was Professor Oak, who had finally been able to make enough time to talk to me after I mentioned that Chee had practically had a panic attack right in front of me. He sat hunched over his desk, writing away at a series of papers in front of him. 

The office was dark and moody, a dark space with nothing but a desk with a chair, a small lamp and a grandfather clock up against the wall. The ticking of the clock pendulum swinging back and forth was all that you could hear for a few moments, before Oak sighed. 

The older man leaned back, meeting my gaze with a tired face. "I see, and I thought she'd been improving after meeting you... Perhaps it's still too early."

He pursed his lips, seeming to weigh something in his mind for a few moments. After what felt like several minutes, he sighed again and stood up. "Alright, the two of you are close and this does relate to your sponsorship conditions. I'll fill you in on the basics."

Oak gestured for me to follow, and we left the dark study in favour of a more inviting room with some armchairs and an inviting atmosphere. An unlit fireplace suggested that this room was the location of choice for staying warm in the winter months. 

"Chee is... An unusual girl, to say the least." Oak began, sitting in one of the armchairs. "She's talented for sure, but she has a lot of eccentricities. I'm sure you've noticed her talent for battle, even though she hates fighting people." 

I nodded gently. 

"But well, there was an incident a year ago-And ever since, I'm afraid she's been deathly afraid of touching any Pokemon directly. An irrational fear of touching any Pokemon with her hands. Her cheek? Fine. Her feet? Just dandy. Even if she's wearing gloves, it's no problem, but if there's even the faintest possibility that she'll touch it with her bare hands..." Oak lowered his face in thought. "Truth be told, I don't really know what set it off. She's not the easiest girl to communicate with at the best of times, and every time I try to ask she just starts freaking out."

I continued to nod, my own thoughts whirring in my brain. "...That's why you wanted me to be here?"

Oak looked at me appraisingly. "...Yes, something along those lines. I was hoping that having someone she gets along with be a part of our training might help her break out of her shell a little."

He leaned forward, staring at me rather intently. His posture triggered my anti-interrogation training, and I stiffened automatically. We sat in silence for what felt like an eternity before he spoke again.

"I can't get a read on you." Oak said quietly. "And I'm very good at reading people."

"Whatever do you mean?" I answered, the calm in my voice not betraying the torrents of emotion swelling beneath the surface. Oak didn't respond, leaning back into his chair and leaning his head into his hand again.

The silence hung for what felt like an eternity. I didn't dare to move as the stare fixed to me made my skin crawl with unease. I felt like a Butterfree caught in the web of an Ariados, unable to do anything but stay completely still and pray I hadn't been noticed. 

Finally Oak let out a sigh, letting the tension in the room fade back to normal levels. "I suppose it doesn't matter. I'd hoped Chee would warm up to Battles and overcome her fears with time, but perhaps it was a lost cause from the outset." Casually he reached over to a small coffee table and lifted a newspaper to his lap.

I frowned a little at his comment. "Uh, sir...?"

"What, are you still here? You don't have to wait for me to dismiss you, you can leave when you want." He responded absentmindedly, flicking through the pages.