I tap my fingers against my seat, Chairman Rose sitting beside me and Miss Oleana behind him. The three of us sitting in the VIP box watch Leon take on Bea, the fighting type gym leader, in one of the first exhibition matches. After the accident Leon made it clear to Chairman Rose that I would be a safe distance away from the field during matches, which is unnecessary, but appreciated.

Chairman Rose being the clever man he is, made a public statement about it, so I wouldn't be able to hold it over his head. I was given a pass to the VIP box for the rest of my career as Leon's manager and given a lump sum of compensation money. None of it mattered though, I was still pissed. Hopefully Leon is aware I'm going to have to get over this temporary fear of Dynamaxing, I can't be kept in a box every time someone has to Dynamax.

I watch with a sigh as Bea's final Pokémon goes sliding across the pitch, painfully clear it's down for the count. Chairman Rose stands, as he too is aware who the winner is, even without the Ref's final call. I stand with the man and straighten my skirt, my gaze steel-like as he sends me a plastic smile while he leaves. I watch The Chairman leave and by the time the door closes Leon's match is officially called, I roll my eyes as Leon's posing form is shown across the big screen.

Shaking my head I make my way down to the locker room. The walk there is peaceful even if the stadium is rumbling with the bustle of fans. I knock on the locker room door and enter when I hear a muffled 'come in'. Leon smiles brightly as I enter, his face covered in soot from his Pokémon's flames. "Good job Leon." I smile, the man's grins only brightens at my praise.

"Who am I battling next?" He questions, "Will you relax, you just battled Bea, and might I say you practically creamed her, she's just a girl Leon." I sigh. "Bea is a gym leader, for good reason, I can't just take it easy on her because she is younger than me. It means I should push harder, so that one day she'll finally have the strength to push back." he argues. The man makes a valid point, "Alright," I appease. "Our next battle is tomorrow versus Nessa." I inform him, I watch his champion gold eyes sparkle, a challenge he just can't wait to try.

I let out a hiss at the sight of Nessa's Gigantamaxed Pokémon falling to the ground before slowly shrinking to it's normal form. This is not going to end well for me, I can practically feel all the self loathing from Nessa's rigid form all the way from the pitch. I don't say a word to the chairman as I leave, I rush down to the locker room, and manage to get there before Leon. The man in question sent me a smile and I let out a sigh, "You do realize you've just cost me an afternoon of ranting right?" I grumble. "I'll make it up to you." He grins, "You better," I scoff. "So dinner then? Tomorrow?" He offers, "Depends, what are we having?" I smirk, "Nothing just yet, I hope." The voice of evil spoke up. I whip around and stare at the Chairman who twirls his one loose strand of hair with a coy smile. I bit back something nasty and sent the man my own very fake smile.

"Why is that Chairman Rose? Planning to steal him away?" I laugh, resisting the urge to sneer. "Of the sort." He shrugs, "Leon, would you care to join me at the tower tomorrow afternoon? There's something I would like to discuss with you." He smiles. Leon sends the man a weary smile but nods his head in agreement. "Great!" He laughs, I watch the man turn and leave Miss Oleana right behind him.

I held my fake smile until I heard the door close, I whip around and Leon's eyes widen. I fume silently as Leon chuckles nervously, "Relax, we can always do it some other time." He soothes, placing his hands on my shoulders and rubs them. I groan before letting out a heavy huff, "I know," I whine. "He just..." I trail off in a sneer, baring my nails as I picture myself strangling the man. Leon lets out a laugh at my annoyed expression, "It's late, some sleep will help." He chuckles, I roll my eyes. "Says the workaholic." I scoff, "To the other Workaholic," He shot back, "Touché." I shrug.

I let Leon walk me home, after promising me three times that he'll go straight home after and text me when he gets there. Upon my return home I fed my Pokémon and hopped in the shower. After stepping out I check my Pokédex, smiling down at it when I see Leon's text that he got home and about a dozen stickers attached to it. I slept well knowing Leon isn't lost somewhere in the middle of the night.

The next morning I woke up to a series of calls from Nessa, absolutely demanding I have breakfast with her. So I drag myself out of bed, pick out a black halter top sundress decorated with grey flowers, and make myself presentable to the public. It's been a long while since Nessa and I hung out one on one. Hopefully this little get together isn't all about Leon.

I slide on a pair of heeled sandals as I zap Houndoom out of his ball. As soon as he's out the Pokémon spins around excitedly, "Come on Doom, Nessa is waiting on us." I giggle sliding on my sunglasses and holding the door open for him. Doom trots out the door with his head held high, his happy expression continues all the way to the café I agreed to meet Nessa at. Only to arrive and see an unknown female sitting at the table as well, she had ginger hair and pale skin, She's a very pretty girl.

"(y/n)!" Nessa calls, I smile and make my way over to the table, "Hey Nessa and..." I greet but slowly trail off. "This is Sonia, a good friend of mine as well as an old friend and rival to Leon." She introduces me. I nod my head and hold out my hand, Sonia takes it with a gitty grin. "It's really amazing to meet you! I just love your taste and elegance. I've followed your entire career!" She gushes, A laugh slips through my lips before I could stop it. "Clearly Nessa hasn't spilled how inelegant I am," I giggle, "But I have to ask." I whisper leaning closer to her, "Has Leon always been such a...uh, child?" I mumble. This time Sonia laughs, "Oh you have no idea." She laughs waving her hand.

"That's unfortunate," I sigh, "Anyway, Nessa, spill. What's eating at you." I quip turning my attention back to the girl who summoned us here. "He thinks I should quit!" The girl huffs, "Who?" I mumble looking over the menu, "The Chairman!" she snaps stabbing into her cake as I whisper my order to the waitress. "Why do you think that? I mean I'm not surprised, but still?" I scoff, "He thinks my modeling is getting in the way of being a Gym Leader. Said to be careful if I have too much work." She growls stuffing her face with half her cake.

"The Chairman? As in Chairman Rose? Saying you have too much work?" I laugh, "If that isn't the biggest lie." I all but sneer. "So prove him wrong." Sonia pipes stealing the other half of Nessa's cake as I'm handed the coffee I ordered and Doom's bowl of Pokéfood. "That's right! Show him you can be the best damn Gym Leader and the best Fashion Icon to hit Galar all at once!" I dare. Nessa grins ear to ear, "You're right!" She huffs, "Of course we are." I muse on the edge of my cup. Nessa looks down at her Pokédex and gasps, "Gotta go loves! See you soon!" She yelps standing from her seat, I wave goodbye as I continue to sip on my coffee.

"So, how do you know Leon?" Sonia questions, "I'm his manager." I muse softly. Sonia cringes, "Yikes." She hisses, "It's not all that bad, I enjoy it, as long as the clown can keep himself from getting lost." I grumble. "Lee can't help it." She offers with a weak smile, "I'm very much aware." I affirm with a sigh with a long sigh. "And you?" I question before sipping on my coffee, "Grew up together." She shrugs. "Little Leon," I muse out at the thought, "Must have been a handful." I quip with a small laugh.

"His mom was always so scared he'd end up in a new region when he started his journey." she recalls with a giggle, "I would be too if I was her." I laugh. "Honestly that man," I groan, "I sometimes think he's just doing it to spite me." I grumble looking down at Houndoom who licks his bowl clean. "You're doing better than any of his other managers, most of them only last a week with his busy schedule and constant lack of direction." She smiles, "I suppose I'll take that as a complement." I smile in return.

"He talks about you, you know?" She smirks leaning forward, propping her head up in her hand with her elbow on the table. A Purrloin-like smile spreads across her lips, "All good things I hope." I answer eyeing her carefully, "Very good things from what I hear." She grins. "Careful darling, you don't want to start suggesting things." I warn, "Simply just an educated guess, I am after all a pursuing Pokémon Professor." She shrugs. "One that should stick to Pokémon," I snort, "Leon doesn't have an interest in me, not romantically at least, I've had plenty of men chase after me. I know the difference between real interest and a fleeting fantasy," I grunt.

Sonia watches me for a moment, "You're like him you know." She finally answers. "Leon may seem like an open book but ever since he became Champion he got good about hiding his feelings. There's always this reflective look in his eye, like a mirror, when he's hiding something. You got that same look, more carefully hidden, but I see it." She observes, I feel my blood freeze over. Houndoom senses my distress and immediately snarls at Sonia, who's eyes go wide and leans back into her seat. "Doom, no." I call off, I lick my lips and look back at Sonia who looks between me and the Pokémon.

"I didn't—" She starts, "It's fine." I cut off. "As a Pokéstar you grow a certain talent to act things out. It starts small like if you felt you performed badly you smile anyway because you can't let judges see it, or if you're in a bad mood but you have to perform. But then it gets bigger, where you're sore and still performing show after show or an interviewer said some nasty things to you before the camera comes on. You learn to do it as a tool but it eventually grows into a survival tactic and then it's just a subconscious thing a person does to keep up their flawless image." I explain softly. "Leon and I, we don't mean to do it. But please respect the fact we do it for a reason and we don't take kindly to people exposing the things we try so hard to keep hidden." I finish looking into her concerned eyes.

"Yeah, okay." She breathes out softly, I stand from my seat and pull out some money. "It was really nice meeting you Sonia, perhaps we can meet again and really get to know each other," I smile placing my money down on the table and exiting the café. 

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