babel_hacker | Day 31 - [Action]

[It’s another normal day for Atsuro. By this point, he’s gotten used to Vermilion and using his time to both train his Pokémon and earn money. As an adult, he have to work adult hours, so he have to make the most of his free time.

Before he leaves for work, he went outside of Vermilion after breakfast to do some early training in Route 7. Antec the Lanturn doesn’t need the extra training, but Atsuro brought him along out of fondness and safety precaution. The Pokémon he’s about to train, his lower levelled ones, aren’t as strong as his main team.]

...Hm? Something the matter, Antec?

[As his starter and first Pokémon, Atsuro have long since learned how to read and communicate with Antec. Yeah, he can speak Pokémon, but they can still tell each other what they need to.

He looks from watching Bufu’s training to Antec, noting the wary expression in his trusted partner’s eyes. Glancing up, his eyes gaze around them carefully.

Until something jumped out.

When he turns on his PokéGear's video feed, sounds of roaring and battling can be heard coming through the speakers.]

Hey, guys, be careful around Route 7 outside of Vermilion. Dunno how, but there’s some demons around here—Antec, Ice Beam!—from my world, so be careful.

[People can come to check things out, either during one of the skirmishes with a demon or after the battles. If it’s afterwards, Atsuro can be seen talking with a Cerberus with his ~~Nintendo DS~~ COMP in his hand.]

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[It does look familiar.

No matter how long he lives in this world, Atsuro will never forget some things from his old life. Demons, lockdowns, angels and of course, his teacher. After a brief moment of pause, Atsuro runs after Naoya. His Lanturn and Sneasel following right behind him - it's dangerous to leave their trainer alone right now!

But the danger just barely register in his mind.

Atsuro just want to be sure. Is it really Naoya? Or is this world messing around with him again? After Keisuke's departure, Atsuro try not to think about his friends from home.

It's better to keep moving in this world as a trainer. Better than constantly dwelling on sad things.]

Naoya!

[At least Atsuro's older and more fit than his old self. A faster runner as well. He's glad for that.

If he didn't catch up, there's a chance that he'll never see Naoya again.]

[ naoya's not making an intense effort to flee, seeing as running away had never been what he wanted to do... and not what he expected he'd be able to do, anyway. atsuro could be incredibly tenacious--he knew that very, very well.

it's why he's not surprised when he turns to see atsuro catching up, and it's also why he's not that frustrated when he stops and turns slowly on his heel after that small chase, both hands tucked into the sleeves of his haori and expression as neutral as always. ]

Heh... You've gotten better at playing tag, Atsuro. [ even if he's not really out of breath... ]

[He slows down to a stop, staring at Naoya. Atsuro's a little taller now, and he's almost at equal eye level with his teacher. Almost. Naoya is still older, taller than him.]

I've been training hard for a while.

[Between training his Pokemon, working and developing his programming skills more, he's been busy.

His Pokemon catches up to him. Bufu looking at the strange human, warily. In contrast, Antec is waving his fin happily at Naoya. It's pretty easy to tell what Antec is saying.]

Naoya! You're back! Welcome back! Does this mean you're going to stay and make Atsuro less lonely?

[Atsuro glance at Antec, knowing just from his body language and tone what his Lanturn is saying. Just the gist of it, but it's enough for him. He looks back at Naoya.]

It's been a while, Naoya. I wasn't expecting to see you all the way over in Kanto instead of Johto.

[ ah, that one... he can't say he hasn't missed pokémon, but he can't say he's missed them either--they were too much like demons for him to be anything but apathetic to the entire thing, so he only spares antec a glance.

way too friendly... ]

You were expecting something? [ but it really had been a while. to say he can't remember the date he left exactly would be a lie, considering he remembered most things but... dwelling on memories only serves to give him a headache. ] It looks like this place refuses to spit you out, if you've stuck around this long.

Not even a hint of an exit, I take it? Unless you've grown attached.

[Bufu starts asking Antec about Naoya behind Atsuro's back. 'Hey, who's that creepy guy?'

'Atsuro's teacher!']

Either you pop up in New Bark as a trainer or breeder, or in Goldenrod as a Rocket. I'd include Mahogany, but I haven't seen any new arrivals in that city from the network. [He's been watching and making his own deductions, ever since Keisuke arrived and left.] And yeah, I've been here for over a year and a half. Not one moment did this world take me back.

[He ends up watching people he knows coming and leaving. Did this world like him better than Kazuya? Keisuke? Who knows.]

No known hint of an exit, yet. [Is Atsuro attached to this world?] ...I'm a little fond of this world, yeah. But I'm always keeping an eye out for anything.

So they've stuck to their basic scheme all this time. How static.

[ fundamentally speaking, anyway. "kanto", on the other hand... this was new. well. new-ish. either way, naoya can't really be surprised at hearing about atsuro's attachment--he was that kind of person.

himself, on the other hand... he can't find himself too happy at being here again. ]

But at least it makes things easier. Given that they've broken their pattern for me... I can't say my return is something permanent.

So you'll be leaving after a while.

[He wants to be selfish and keep Naoya here. But Atsuro knows better than that. Unless they find and control the cause of how they arrive to this world, it would be pointless to complain.

No matter how much he may want to. But he's better than that.]

I guess with demons here and being able to use my COMP properly, it's not the expected pattern anyway.

Aw, he's not staying?

[Sad Lanturn is sad.]

...Well, what will you do now?

Day 31 - [Action] | [Video] 4th Wall!

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