Pokemon: Thunder & Fire

Episode III: HQ

"Good job, Enji," Ketsushu called out from atop a tree, gazing down at the worn-out Flareon. They'd been training intensively for an entire week, and Enji was meeting Ketsushu's expectations. "Th-thanks..." Enji managed to say, breathlessly.

Ketsushu, with a nonchalant smile, remarked, "How about a break, hm?" He gracefully descended from his tree perch. Enji, wheezing slightly, managed an eager nod. "Sounds good to me," he said with the fiery enthusiasm reminiscent of his favorite shonen protagonists.

Just then, a Leavanny briskly entered the training grounds. "Cap'n!" she called out urgently. "We need you in the Research compartment; codename 'Black Goo'."

Ketsushu, yawning lazily, replied, "Oh? Alright, I suppose." Meanwhile, Enji, scratching his head with a goofy grin, piped up, "Uh, Sensei? What's this Research compartment you're talking about?"

Ketsushu looked genuinely surprised. "Oh! Haven't given you the grand tour yet?" Both the Greninja and Flareon shared a moment of carefree laughter, their combined chuckles in stark contrast to the seriousness of the moment. Leavanny, clearly exasperated, did a facepalm with her bladed hand.

Regaining her composure, she reiterated, "Cap'n, the Research Compartment?" Clearing his throat and donning a playful smirk, Ketsushu responded, "I'm on my way. But in the meantime, could you show our spirited star-to-be around? He's eager to learn, after all."

Leavanny released a resigned sigh. "Of course," she muttered, her annoyance palpable, but as always, she chose to let it go. "Fantastic!" Ketsushu cheered, darting away swiftly, leaving Enji in Leavanny's care.

Collecting herself, Leavanny turned to face Enji with a welcoming gesture. "Greetings. I'm Midori Kinuta. Our captain can be... challenging at times, but that's part of his charm," she admitted with a half-smile. Enji responded enthusiastically, "I'm Enji Kaenhoshi! Proud to be one of the newest members of the team!"

In a typical fast-paced anime fashion, the tour unfolded. "Here's the canteen," Midori announced, and suddenly they were amidst Pokémon enjoying meals and breaks. Just as quickly, she declared, "And this is the main Laboratory!" Enji blinked in confusion, trying to keep up with the pace, visibly perplexed by their rapid transitions. "Over here's the main lobby," Midori continued, and just like that, they were in the lobby. Enji's growing paranoia was evident, and this whirlwind pattern persisted through the remaining twenty-seven rooms of the facility.

"And that concludes our tour! Did you have fun?" Midori inquired with an innocent tone. Meanwhile, Enji, the Flareon, was a sobbing heap on the floor, overwhelmed by the dizzying experience—whether it was teleportation or time-warping, it certainly wasn't his idea of enjoyable.

Ketsushu materialized behind Enji, catching him off guard. "Hey, it's time for lunch," he announced, causing Enji to jump and adopt a defensive posture. "AH- don't do that," Enji exclaimed, still recovering from the surprise.

"Sorry about that. But let's make our way to the canteen, yeah?" Ketsushu suggested, to which the Flareon nodded. Ketsushu then turned to Midori, his lieutenant. "Are you joining us?" Midori nodded, and the trio proceeded towards the canteen.

~~~

"Enji, what do you feel like eating? Lunch is on me," Ketsushu generously offered as Enji contemplated the menu. However, he found it challenging to decide, given the limited choices. "In the week I've been training here, I had no idea this place existed... and this menu does seem a bit uninspiring," he commented.

"That's because this isn't your typical restaurant. It's what the Hagians of Sinnehague call a 'Borrel tent,' a spot frequented by adults but open to everyone. Most of the offerings here are fried delights, salads, and, the favorite, beer," Ketsushu explained, which left Enji mildly surprised.