The Journey Continues

The impeccable Gary Oak

Goh and Chloe walked into the entrance hall of Naranja Academy with a purpose. "Excuse me, miss," Chloe asked the receptionist with small butterflies in her stomach, "we're new, we literally just enrolled yesterday." Since last seeing them, Chloe had managed to convince Goh to enroll with her. It was a tough battle, he hasn't been to school in a very long time, but eventually Chloe enticed him with the promise of meeting many strong trainers there. It's not like she knew that for sure, but it was a good enough bet that she probably wouldn't end up regretting it.

"You only enrolled yesterday?" The receptionist asked. "What are your names?"

"Goh and Chloe," the former answered.

The receptionist took a look on her computer. "Ah, Professor Cerisse's daughter and her friend, I see. You're special cases, aren't you? You'll have to go visit the director at his office. Wait a sec, I'll find someone to take you..."

She didn't have to look long though, as someone actually found them. "Would you look who it is!" Goh, Chloe, and the receptionist looked over at the origin of the voice. "If it ain't Ashy boy's friend!"

"Ah, Gary Oak!" The receptionist exclaimed. "How nice of you to be around! Could you take these two to Clavell's office?"

"It'd be my pleasure, miss Mendelev," Gary replied with a smile, gesturing the two to follow him. As they walked, he made conversation. "So Goh, how's it been hanging?"

He formed a confident smirk on his face, "I've decided to invest my time into battling."

Gary chuckled, "Is that so? Unlucky, I retired long ago. And who's your friend?"

"Hi," she greeted awkwardly. "I'm Chloe, I'm, uh, a research assistant."

"Ah, a woman of science! That I can get behind," he winked. "You know, I'm something of a scientist myself."

Chloe gave him a weird look, "I only do field research for my dad."

"I do research for my gramps. It's only natural that family will share interests."

"Well, what if you were only doing it because you have no other options?"

"No other options?" Gary gasped. "My dear Chloe, there are always options, especially in a region as rich as Paldea!"

Goh chimed in after a quick search on his phone, "The unemployment rate is about 15%."

Oak sighed. "If you google everything to check the numbers, you won't get very far in battle.

"Is that why you lost to Ash with a type advantage?" Goh retorted, bringing up the Silver conference.

"Touché," Gary didn't put up a fight against that one. "But we're both men of science, aren't we, Goh? You and I are on the same boat."

"If we're on the same boat, how about a battle?" Goh smirked.

Gary clapped. "Now that's an Ash quote. Bad luck though, I retired."

"Heh?" Goh was confused. "But this is just a casual friendly match! It's not like I'm a gym leader."

Gary shrugged with a smirk, "I guess we just have different definitions of casual."

"Hey, are you really gonna lead me on like that?"

He shook his head, "I only intend on leading Chloe on."

"Excuse me?" Chloe and Goh both said.

Gary laughed, "Ah, the look on your face, Goh! Don't worry, me and Chloe are merely research associates. It's a shame it won't last, but that just means we must make every minute count." He said with a wink, then suddenly stopped. "We've arrived."

"Ah, right, the director..." Chloe said, still in shambles. She knocked on the door, quickly getting let in by the headmaster.

"Hm, new students, I see. Goh and Chloe, I believe?" Clavell asked, getting a nod of confirmation that he got the names right. "I am Clavell, the director of this fine establishment. A good afternoon to you too, Mr. Oak."

"That's Gary Oak to you, Clive," Gary sent the director finger guns.

"Please leave."

"Okay." Gary left the room, deciding to wait outside for when he'll inevitably have to guide them back.

Within the office, Clavell took a seat in his principal's chair. "I'd like to officially welcome you two to Naranja Academy. I understand you're both formerly research aides of Professor Cerisse, it's quite admirable. I hope you'll enjoy your time and education here."

The two quickly recovered from the juxtaposition of Gary and Clavell speaking. "Thank you!"

"Unfortunately, since you enrolled so late, you'll have to settle for an off-campus sleeping arrangement. However, I believe you'll tolerate this proposal." Goh and Chloe got anxious hearing his language, expecting an unfortunate setup. What they got was something completely different. "I've bought a manor house in the very picturesque Cabo Poco, to the South. I'm using to house students who, like you, have enrolled late and share connections to important people in the world."

"Having connections is a prerequesite?" Chloe asked suspiciously.

"Of course," Clavell clarified. "I'm not letting just any ordinary Juan enter my 6 million pokéuro mansion."

"That's.. fair, I guess. Your money, your rules, right?"

"Don't worry, you're welcome to have friends over, security concerns simply dictate I be picky. In any case, another resident of this house happens to be Gary Oak, who guided you here. You can probably get him to see you to Cabo Poco."

Goh and Chloe were surprised. "You let Gary live there? Don't you dislike him?" Goh asked.

Clavell shook his head, "I have nothing but respect for him. He's just occasionally irritating."

"Well, okay then... Thank you for everything, anyway, director Clavell!" Chloe thanked the man. "We'll find Gary then, I guess."

"He should be just outside." Taking his word for it, the two exited the office, only to find Gary Oak leaning against the wall directly opposite to them.

"Hola. ¿Donde está la biblioteca?" Gary said in a serious tone as he approached the duo.

Goh stood up for himself. "You can't just threaten me in a foreign language and expect me to back down!"

Gary smirked. "Back down from what?" His eyes trailed to Chloe, who was unfazed by the confrontation until she got brought into it. "I am simply asking you if you'd like a guide."

"What if we don't?" Goh smirked back with confidence. "Come on, Chloe, let's go to Cabo Poco."

She started walking in his direction. "You can also ask before using me as a power play."

"Power play? I just think he's annoying," Goh admitted.

Chloe smiled. "Hell yeah, we don't need him." The two walked the halls of Naranja Academy, making their way back to the exit. Gary trailed behind, whistling casually. They kept wandering for 20 more minutes before seemingly finding themselves in the exact same space.

"Hey," Gary called out from behind, "you know this hall circles the whole building, right?"

Goh paused. "Are you serious?"

He nodded, "A hundred percent. See?" He knocked on the door to his left, only for it to be opened by a very confused director Clavell. "Hello, sir. You look healthy." He closed the door, and turned back to Goh and Chloe. "You guys have done a mighty job."

&__/----)

Short chapter because I'm busy having a life rn and I gotta pump out something this week. Dw I haven't given up on this I'm just not very fast at getting to it. I hope quality makes up for quantity though as this is an epic Gary chapter. And guess what? Even more Gary to come. Peace out tri-state area.