Chapter 4 - ''Enter Hsu Ren'' (Patreon)

Vivi saw two trainers having a pokémon battle: Simipour vs. Electivire and, despite the type advantage, Electivire was struggling.

Simipour's trainer was a young boy, full of energy and his confidence was reflected in its attacks.

After an easy and quick match, Electivire is defeated.

—WE DID IT!!

The boy jumped forward, hugging his Simipour tightly.

—You were amazing!

Simipour chirped happily, clearly just as excited.

The boy stepped back, took a breath and smiled with a calm demeanor.

—Good match —he said to his opponent.—Yeah. Great battle. Your Simipour is amazing! —Answered the other trainer.The trainer left the field, leaving Vivi and the boy alone, but, as soon as he turned, ready to leave, Vivi was already in front of him.

Close.Very close.

—HEY! How did you do that?! —asked Vivi

No answer.

—That Simipour—how did you train it?!

Still nothing.

Vivi frowned.

—Did you hear me?

The boy didn’t move, didn’t blink and didn’t speak.

At first, Vivi just crossed her arms, then she tapped her foot.

Then—

Her eye twitched.

—Oh, you’re one of those, huh? —she said, narrowing her eyes. —Too cool to talk?

What she didn’t realize was that the boy wasn’t ignoring her.

He was petrified.

According to several proffessional studies, when a boy his age is suddenly confronted with a girl standing less than a foot away from him, his brain may experience a total system shutdown, and Hsu-Ren was currently living proof of that theory.

Vivi leaned in even closer.

—Hey! I’m talking to you!

That did it.

Ren moved fast. He pushed her back—just enough to create distance—and immediately turned around, back facing her.

Vivi’s jaw dropped.

—…Excuse me?!

Ren took a breath, calming himself and, still not looking at her, spoke.

—You… shouldn’t stand that close to people... It’s… disrespectful.

Silence.

Then—

—DISRESPECTFUL?! —Vivi’s face turned bright red —You’re the one ignoring me!

She pointed straight at him.

—I, Vivi, challenge you to a Pokémon battle!

Ren smiled, still not turning around.

—Then I, Hsu Ren… accept your challenge.

Both trainers took their positions.

Vivi didn’t hesitate.

—Marco! Muscles! Let’s go!

Her Hitmontop and Poliwrath appeared, ready for battle.

Ren adjusted his stance. Back straight, focused and careful not to look in her direction.

—Go.

A single Poké Ball opened. An Alolan Raticate stepped forward.

Vivi blinked.

—…That’s it?

Ren gave a small shrug.

—It’s enough.

Vivi’s eye twitched again.

—Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me!

That was it.

She’d had enough.

—Marco! Triple Kick! Muscles! Dynamic Punch!

Both Pokémon charged at once.

Ren didn’t move.

—Raticate.

One step forward.

One clean motion.

And then, a powerful uppercut... a single uppercut blew Vivi's team to Kingdom Come.

The battle was over even before Vivi could notice it.

Ren returned his Pokémon to the pokeball.

—Thanks, buddy.

Ren turned his back again.

—…Sorry —he said —, I shouldn’t have acted like that... You just… caught me off guard.

Still not looking at her, he added:

—Be more careful with people’s space... And… don’t rush in with a hot head.

And just like that, he walked away.

Vivi stood there.

Silent, frustrated, confused and annoyed.

But more than anything—

Excited.

She clenched her fists while a small carved on her face.

—…I’m gonna beat him next time.