Chapter Text
Through the streets of Tokyo, near an ice cream parlor, Trainer Tanabe walked alongside Fuji Kiseki. A few meters ahead of them, an 'undercover' Jungle Pocket moved forward wearing a hoodie and jet-black sunglasses.
Fortunately for the group, the place was not crowded. Even so, on the giant screens of the buildings, advertisements for Pocket's recent victory in the Japan Cup continued to flash, reminding anyone who looked up of the reason why the girl had to hide.
Fuji Kiseki, clearly amused by the whole scene, addressed the trainer with a touch of grace while watching her teammate's less-than-subtle attempts to go unnoticed.
Fuji Kiseki: [Do you think it was a good idea to bring her?]
Tanabe: [No. The only reason she is here is because she wouldn't stop insisting on meeting that 'person' I mentioned. Barely a few weeks have passed since her victory, and just remembering the chaos with the public and the press gives me a headache. As a precaution, I asked her to hide herself, but what she is doing is anything but blending in.]
Fuji Kiseki: [I would say she’s trying quite hard; at least she has the intention. Perhaps people are calmer by now. It’s been a while since the Japan Cup.]
Tanabe: [You might be right, but I’d rather not tempt fate while we get there.]
It was then that Pocket turned toward them with a knowing smile.
Jungle Pocket: [I’ll go on ahead!]
Tanabe: [Pokke, wait—!]
Without letting him finish, Pocket took off running, leaving the trainer behind with his hand extended in a useless gesture, while Fuji Kiseki watched the scene with a slightly amused serenity.
As she ran, Pocket's mind could only think about that 'important person' Tanabe had mentioned. Even Fuji seemed to know him well. Both had spoken of him as if he were a fundamental piece of the group. That curiosity was what had pushed her to insist, even though the trainer repeated over and over that it wasn't necessary for her to accompany them.
A bit further ahead, Pocket's eyes, guided by the movement of her own legs, stopped in front of a jewelry store. She stood still for a moment, observing the place, letting the word 'jewel' resonate in her mind.
Jungle Pocket: [...Jewels. —Oh! I could buy something for Fuji-san. In a few days, her comeback announcement will be made... It would be a perfect gift! Yes! Come on, I need to find jewels that are up to Fuji-san level! Nothing less for the one who inspired me to be the strongest!]
Without thinking too much about it, Pocket entered the place with contained excitement. Inside, she could see a few people and an uncountable number of jewels of different colors and shapes—a whole place to explore. Of course, she had to be quick before her trainer passed by. She only wanted to take a quick look at the pieces and, if one caught her eye, she could return another time.
The first section she saw was the necklaces. They had strange shapes, and even the simple act of thinking about the word 'necklace' felt somewhat foreign to her. She tried to imagine how they would look on Fuji Kiseki, forming an image in her mind, only to erase it seconds later feeling that it didn't fit her.
Another section was the earrings. Most of them seemed very beautiful to her, and she really liked almost all of them. Furthermore, the prices were quite accessible for her, which made it even harder to choose just one... until an item captured her attention completely.
They were gold dangling earrings, with teardrop-shaped gems of a midnight blue, very similar to the shape of the gem Pocket wore on her own necklace. The impression was so strong that her instinct practically screamed at her that she had to buy them at that very moment.
With that sensation guiding her, she approached to ask the price of the earring, as it did not have a tag. Luckily, the saleswoman of the place was right next to it.
When she reached the counter, Pocket already knew exactly what she would say. However, as she opened her mouth, her voice blended with another at the same time.
—How much does this item cost? / How much does this item cost?
A male voice had said exactly the same thing as her. Both were pointing at the same glass case in front of the same saleswoman, so both turned their heads at the same time, meeting faces full of confusion. However, the instant their gazes crossed, a fleeting flash of brightness passed through both their pupils.