Struggling to open the door with one hand, Jaya swapped her laptop to the crook of her arm, balancing her notebooks on top. Finally, with a gust of cold air, she pried the door open. Glad to find the place empty of customers, she further entered the establishment. Thankfully, the championship match left it empty of any other customers.
"I'll have a chai latte stat," she told the cashier as she approached the counter, not looking up.
"We will now begin the final match of the World Coronation Series." The TV in the corner blared. Jaya opened the note app of her phone, ready to jot down the action as it happened. It was her job to, after all.
"What's the name?"
"Jaya,"
Handing her the receipt, the cashier glanced behind him then at her. "Aren't you going to the stadium like else?"
It was a valid question. Every person in Galar was probably there. The final match for the new Champion was today. Theoretically she should be there since she had to write an article about it.
Jaya shrugged. "I can watch it from here as well as anywhere."
Grabbing her drink, she sat down at her usual spot. Settling in, she keep an eye on the TV, entering data in her phone. Leon predictability uses his Charizard while Lance brought out his Gyarados, a good type match up. People cheered when Lance released his Pokémon, but Jaya shook her head. Shinies are overrated, she thought, opening her laptop. Trainers could spend years looking for one, and for what? Sure the stats might be better, but the only real difference was the color.
"Woah,"
Jaya looked up from her writing, watching the cashier stop in awe as Gyarados used Max Guard to deflect Charizard's Max Airstream.
"It's not that impressive," she sighed, taking a sip of her drink.
The brunette blinked at her. "You're not a fan?"
She turned to him, surprised he heard her. "Not everyone is obsessed over Pokémon fighting."
"I guess so," he went back to wiping the counter off, "but it is pretty amazing what they can do."
"I take it you battle?"
He nods, "Of course, don't you?"
Jaya raised one hand, palm up. "I can, but I don't."
"You scared?"
"No,"
Smiling in a way that made her feel he didn't believe her, he went back to watching the battle. Soon it was clear who the winner would be, Lance's proclamation only making it official.
Good. Now I can turn this in on time, Jaya thought, fingers flying over the keyboard. Once she was done, she went back over it, quickly scanning for errors before giving it a catchy title. Hitting send on the email, she sighed in relief. Deadlines are tricky things. You can either be ahead of schedule, or barely making the cut.
Packing up her things into her tote bag, Jaya stood. Stretching out her back out, she exhaled. Heading for the door, Jaya had her hand on the handle when she heard a voice behind her.
"We should have a battle sometime."
"I don't battle for sport," she shot back.
"You're that afraid?"
The challenge in his voice made her turn. "I'm not afraid." Jaya said, a bit too loudly.
Lifting the apron over his head, he moved around the counter, placing it on a chair. "Then let's have a battle."
