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Dazai was half heartedly flipping through a reference book in the back of the lab. He was supposed to be going over the data sent from the kid's pokedexes, but he just couldn’t muster up the energy. He sighed and laid his head down on the table. At least Professor Fukuzawa was away at a conference. The only other person in the lab was Ranpo, who was probably just sitting at his work station eating sweets.
Dazai’s Sobble, who had been sitting on the table, shifted to curl up next to Dazai.
“Let’s just forget about the world,” Dazai told the Pokemon. It pressed itself closer to Dazai in response.
The two were about to doze off when something came rushing into the room and tackled Sobble. Sobble let out a frightened noise and Dazai jumped to his feet to try and save it. When he grabbed the thing he realized it was an other Pokemon. In fact it was…
“Morpeko?” Dazai questioned. They weren’t native to this region.
The Morpeko looked up at Dazai and squealed in delight. Sobble was quickly calming down, its eyes brightening when it realized who its attacker was. Dazai heard footsteps pounding down the hallway. Dazai looked to the door just as a man came bursting through it. He was hunched over, panting, when he spoke.
“I am so sorry,” he said between breaths. “I have no idea what’s gotten into her. She’s usually so well behaved."
The strange man finally straightened to look at Dazai. Dazai let out a gasp when their eyes locked. He knew those eyes. He’d dreamed of seeing them again for years. Sobble made the happiest noise Dazai had ever heard it make before launching itself at the man. The man bent down and scooped Sobble up into his arms. They both looked like they were going to cry.
“I must be dreaming,” Dazai said. “Or I’ve finally died.”
“I won’t let you die before me,” the man said looking over at Dazai. He took a few cautious steps towards Dazai. He reached out a hand and cupped the side of Dazai’s face. “I finally found you.”
“You’ve been looking for me?” Dazai asked. He leaned into the other man’s touch.
“Of course,” the man said. “I promised.”
Dazai remembered being a teenager and watching the movers pack all of his and Odasaku’s things into the back of their truck. He had been trying so hard not to cry while his only friend had tried to comfort him. The other boy had sworn that they’d see each other again someday. He promised that he’d find Dazai again, even if it took the rest of his life.
“Are you going to write it down in your notebook?” Dazai had asked, leaning closer to his friend.
“Of course,” the other boy had said.
He wasn’t a boy anymore though. He’d grown even taller than when they were kids. His hair was longer too. It was tied in a low ponytail that trailed down his back. His eyes were just like Dazai remembered, a deep green that reminded Dazai of the forests near their hometown.
“Doppo,” Dazai said just above a whisper.
“Osamu,” the other man replied.
Dazai felt like crying. He couldn’t believe it. Kunikida Doppo had kept his promise. He’d come to find Dazai. Kunikida had actually been looking for Dazai. Morpeko jumped out of Dazai’s arms at the same time Doppo set Sobble down. Then Kunikida wrapped his arms around Dazai and held him tight. Dazai squeezed him back.
“How?” Dazai asked.
“What?”
“How did you find me?” Dazai clarified.
“I came to speak to Oda,” Kunukida answered.
A loud snort came from the door. Dazai and Kunikida looked over to see Ranpo leaning against the door frame.
“He came to challenge Oda,” Ranpo told Dazai.
“What do you mean?” Dazai asked.
“This region is looking for a new gym leader,” Kunikida said. “I came to tryout for the position.”
“You what?”
“It was the only way to make sure Oda spoke to me,” Kunikida explained. Dazai blinked up at Kunikida. Ranpo laughed.
“To become an official gym leader in this region’s Pokemon League, you have to participate in a trial and get interviewed by the champion,” Ranpo said when he was done laughing.
“And Oda is the champion,” Dazai said. He looked at Kunikida. “You were going to blow your interview by asking about me.”
“Becoming a gym leader wasn’t as important as finding you,” Kunikida told him. He looked so serious, Dazai knew he was telling the truth.
“You’re going to take your interview seriously now though right?” Dazai asked. Kunukida didn’t answer. Ranpo laughed again.
“He’s going to withdraw his application,” Ranpo said.
“You can’t!” Dazai exclaimed.
“But, I don’t need to speak with Oda anymore,” Kunikida said. Ranpo just laughed some more.
“They don’t just let anyone apply to be a gym leader,” Dazai said. “You have to meet certain qualifications. You have to go through with your tryout. You can’t just give up on your goals.”
“My goal was finding you,” Kunikida stated. Dazai felt his stomach flip at the other man's words. Ranpo made a gagging noise in the background before snatching up Morpeko.
“While you convince him to go through with his tryout, I’ve got work to finish,” Ranpo said as he carried Morpeko out of the room. Sobble cried as it followed after them. Dazai shot Kunikida a questioning look.
“Because my Pokemon are from a different region they have to go through a physical exam,” Kunikida explained.
“Ranpo is qualified to do that?”
“I was hoping to meet the professor,” Kunikida said. “But he’s apparently out.”
“We should keep an eye on them,” Dazai said dragging Kunikida after Ranpo. “We have to make sure he doesn’t disqualify you before I can even convince you to go.”
-
Kunikida found it fascinating to watch Dazai and Ranpo work together. He also felt very proud every time Dazai complimented one of his Pokemon.
“I shouldn’t be surprised that you train electric Pokemon,” Dazai said, smiling at Kunikida’s Magnaton.
“It seemed like that most ideal thing to do,” Kunikida said. “Especially since Morpeko and I are such a good team already.”
“The others compliment her very well,” Dazai said. Kunikida beamed. Ranpo smacked Dazai on the back of the head.
“Stop being gross around me,” Ranpo said.
“You’ll have to get used to it,” Dazai told him. “Once Kunikida moves here we’ll be gross all of the time.”
Kunikida looked away with a blush. It felt nice to know Dazai was so sure of their future. He’d have to do his best at his tryout.