Y/n's POV 🍒

Once I defeated the trainers with ease, I walked up the steps to the gym leader, which didn't surprise me after seeing that he's the same person I met, back at the Oreburgh mine.

Short red hair, glasses, everything.

When I looked at him by his pretty crimson red eyes, I felt my face heat up before I looked away from him a little bit, instantly feeling shy.

"Oh? You're the same girl I met in the mine. Didn't expect you turning out to be one of the challengers." I heard him say, before I nodded my head.

"Never told you my name when we met, did I?" He asked, which I shook my head 'No' in response to that.

"Well, since that's the case, my name's Roark. I'm the rock-type gym leader in Oreburgh city." He says next while he gave me a friendly smile.

I smiled back shyly in return to his introduction and his friendly smile.

"What's your name, challenger?" Roark asked me next.

"M-My name is Y/n..." I answered, still feeling shy.

"Y/n, huh...Cute name." I heard the gym leader say, making me blush over the compliment a little, despite the fact that I'm not used to being complimented.

"Th-Thank you. Y-Yours is cute too..." I said.

"Now, I'd like to continue having conversations with you, but you're not gonna be able to earn a badge from me if we continue on like this without a battle..." Roark mentions before chuckling a little, which I easily agreed with him on that.

"Y-Yes...I-I'm ready whenever you are." I replied as I took a pokéball out that had my starter pokémon in it.

Roark smiled after seeing that reaction from me before he took his pokéball out and started the battle.

-  -  -

After losing the battle and heading out to Nurse Joy to heal my pokémon back up to their full health, I headed back to the gym and went for a second attempt in defeating Roark for the first gym badge.

The first time I went up against him before losing the battle, I was mostly distracted and wasn't focused on the battle at all.

I was mostly focused on Roark, my eyes meeting his, as he was battling me.

He wasn't really paying much attention to me during the battle, but he did glance at me every once in a while during that time.

Taking in a deep breath and sighing, I coaxed myself to stay focused on the battle this time before I entered back in the gym, walking over to Roark to finish what I started.

"Back for round 2 on your attempt in winning the badge?" He asked, which made me smile a little, seeing he was somewhat making a small joke.

"I won't give up on the challenge...Not until I earn all the badges, defeat the elite four and the champion..." I spoke up, gaining a little bit of courage and confidence.

Just for a moment, I could've sworn I caught Roark giving me a surprised look for a few seconds, before he got over it.

"Alright then...You're welcome to battle me as much as you like until the badge is earned." He replied before giving me another smile.

That made me feel the same way again when I found and met Roark in the mine as my heart was pounding hard in my chest again.

"How can he be so calm, understanding, chill and cute at the same time?! Has this happened to him more than once since the day he first became a gym leader?!?!" I thought to myself in disbelief.

Then I clenched the strap of my bag a little, before taking my pokéball out again, after coming over my senses.

"I won't lose this time..." I said to Roark as I had a serious look on my face, while I felt a burst of determination flowing through me.

In response to that, Roark had a startled look on his face that was saying "Holy shit, she's not kidding..." before he took his pokéball out too.

Without any hesitation, I started the battle with Roark, in which it didn't take long for me to defeat him easily and heartlessly on my second attempt to earn the badge.

If it weren't for my sudden strong will and high knowledge on pokémon weaknesses, I would've never known how to beat Roark and possibly would have easily given up.

"Impressive...I wasn't expecting that. You really are something, y'know? If you do achieve those goals that you've said to me, I'm sure you'd be a wonderful champion, Y/n." He says after returning his fainted pokémon to their pokéballs.

My face turned red a little in response to his commentary, before I lightly pushed him a little at that.

"Shut up! I know you're bluffing!" I said while the reaction I gave him, only made him laugh a little.

"Nah, I'm serious. If you keep on like how you did to me, you'd be a really strong champion. Maybe even stronger than the one we currently have, if possible...

That aside, a promise is a promise...Here's your badge." Roark says before giving it to me.

Taking the badge, I opened the case and placed in its spot before closing it and putting the case away.

"Oh! And take these too for your ball capsules." I heard him say next before giving me a copy of some of the stickers, that he uses.

In response, I took the stickers and putted them away as well.

"Are the stickers, you gave me, kinda like an autograph from you?" I asked as I looked at Roark.

"Kinda is and kinda isn't..." He answered.

"Good luck on your next battle against the grass type gym leader when you meet her. I will warn you that the other gym leaders are tougher than I, so be sure to give it all you got..."

"Thanks, Roark. For not only warning me ahead of time, but for giving me a bit of the confidence I needed. I'll stop by and visit you when I get the chance." I replied as I smiled at him.

Roark smiled in return, before I left as we both waved goodbye to each other.

As soon as I stepped out of the gym, I suddenly felt my powerful confidence and bravery waver before it disappeared.