" Pardon my interruption sir, but your table is this way. " The waiter said politely, breaking the staring contest between Lysandre and Atsumu.
" Ah yes. My apologies. I just recognized this young man and wanted to talk with him for a minute or two, if possible... " Lysandre said as he looked towards Atsumu.
" Not at all. Can we get an extra chair? " Atsumu politely asked the waiter.
The waiter stared at the two before giving a courtesy smile and a nod.
" Of course. Please wait a moment. " The waiter said as he turned on his heels to get a chair for Lysandre, leaving the other three to be stared at by the other customers.
" I must say, congratulations are in order. " Lysandre said as he turned towards Atsumu.
" It's the first time I've ever heard of Valerie going on a date before. She's turned down every offer before this. " Lysandre said.
" Really? " Atsumu said with a 'shocked' expression.
" Well, I'm honored. " He said with a smile to Valerie.
" You should be. I'm quite fickle with my type of man. " Valerie said with a beautiful smile on her face, resting her face on her right hand, her index finger running up her cheek as she stared at Atsumu.
" Oh...And how many boxes have I checked out for your ideal type? " Atsumu asked with a proud smirk.
" Hmmm..." Valerie thought as she put her finger in front of her mouth.
" Quite a lot...but I won't tell, after all..." Valerie said before turning her head to glance at all the other customers.
" There are a lot of eavesdroppers here. " Valerie said, a bit louder than necessary, causing the other customers to cease their staring to showing no reaction to the comment but directing their focus elsewhere.
" Well of course... " Lysandre said causing the other two to look at him, seated on a chair at the table.
" One is a beautiful woman who's a revered gym leader and fashion designer and model going on a date with someone relatively unknown and decided to declare to the world on social media.
It's quite obvious that it would cook up the perfect recipe for intrigue and excitement in the newly... "
" When did you get the chair? " Atsumu asked innocently, pointing towards the chair Lysandre was sitting on.
Lysandre stopped mid-way and stared at Atsumu for a few seconds with an incredulous look while the latter merely looked curiously at Lysandre.
" The waiter...brought it to me while the two of you were in the middle of flirting with each other. " Lysandre said before he took a sip of water from his glass.
" We were flirting? " Atsumu asked with a surprised face.
" I thought it was playful banter. " Valerie said with a 'thinking' face.
" Well, no matter. I think it's time for the real reason I wish to speak with you, Atsumu. " Lysandre said staring directly at him.
" I see. So what did you wish to speak about? " Atsumu asked.
" I believe you already know what the topic is... But it's better if I just say it. " Lysandre said with a closed-eyed smile.
" I want THAT book. " Lysandre said, having a serious look in his eyes, reflecting in Atsumu's line of sight.
' A book? That's why he's here? ' Valerie thought as she looked at Lysandre and then towards Atsumu, as the other two stared at each other in silence.
" I see. So you're the one Alain mentioned. " Atsumu said.
" Indeed. And Alain made the correct choice by asking you how much money you wanted. " Lysandre said before leaning forward over the table to close the distance between him and Atsumu.
" I am prepared to give you the amount you want. So tell me, how much for the book? " Lysandre demanded.
' You absolutely want this book, don't you Lysandre? But for what? No. That's what I should be looking into. Are the books the same? ' Atsumu thought.
' He's ready to pay him for one book. What's inside it? I want to read it now. ' Valerie thought.
" Hmmm... " Atsumu hummed as he had a thinking expression on his face, crossing his arms in thought.
" What's the author's name? " Atsumu asked as he looked at Lysandre.
" Excuse me? " Lysandre asked with a raised eyebrow.
" Well...I don't understand why you need this book. You already have an identical copy so why would you want mine? " Atsumu mused.
" Unless you're expecting there to be something that my version contains that yours doesn't. " Atsumu said as he stared at Lysandre.
' Interesting. Is he wary of me because of what I might do? He doesn't know me personally so he is being cautious of who he hands the book to. This means he also believes or understands that everything the book depicts is real. After all, most wouldn't keep the book and just give the book away.
But why ask for the author's name? Could it be that his book isn't made by the same author or is it that the author's name on the book is damaged to the point he can't read it?
Let's test it. '
" That's an interesting question, but you are quite off in your assumptions. Far from it, I am a collector. I have a deep love for history, so I buy many historical items and safely keep them with me to admire. It's a little hobby of mine that I can enjoy with the extra cash I have. " Lysamdre explained.
" AZ's work is just another in a long line of items that I wish to preserve. I can't allow such a wonderful book to be destroyed by an unforeseen factor. " Lysandre said passionately as he stared at Atsumu, especially at the moment he said the author of the book.
Atsumu had stared back, his face not making a reaction to Lysandres's comment. His poker wouldn't be broken so easily.
' So the author's name is AZ huh? That's good to know. ' Atsumu thought.
" That is true. " Atsumu said as he crossed his arms in thought.
" Though that was an interesting comment you made. 'You already have an identical copy'.' Perhaps you're expecting my copy to contain something that yours doesn't'..." Lysandre drawled.
" Are you suspecting me of having ulterior motives for a book? " Lysandre asked with a smile, using his fist as an armrest, after propping his elbow on the table.
" No. That would be silly. " Atsumu stated with a sweet smile.
" Hmmm...Now then. Name your price. " Lysamdre demanded once again.
" I refuse. " Atsumu said immediately after.
Atsumu stared at Lysandre who stared back, still processing Atsumu's choice as he stared at his opponent.
" I'm sorry. I must have misheard. Did you just... refuse? " Lysandre asked.
" Yes. " Atsumu confirmed.
" I see. May I ask why? " Lysandre asked, staring intently.
" Why would I need more money? I'm already rich. " Atsumu said, shrugging.
Lysandre stared at Atsumu, his thoughts running at 100km/h, before coming to a stop.
" I see. Well then...what is it that you want in exchange? " Lysandre asked.
" Don't know. I don't have anything in mind at the moment. How about I call you when I know what I want? " Atsumu suggested.
" Hmmm..." Lysandre hummed, tapping his finger on the table.
" Alright. " Lysandre said.
Reaching into his coat pocket, he brought out a business card, before sliding it onto the table towards Atsumu.
" It was a pleasure meeting you Atsumu. " Lysandre said as he stood with his arm stretched out.
" Pleasures all mine. " Atsumu said, shaking Lysandres's hand.
Lysandre nodded before leaving the table and exiting the restaurant.
" Well... that was certainly an interesting conversation. " Valerie said, startling Atsumu, who hadn't paid much attention to her after Lynsadre got serious.
" Yes, it was. " Atsumu said as he leaned back on his chair.
" So how was your meal? " Atsumu asked.
" Quite good. The show you two put on was quite entertaining as well. " Valerie stated with a smile on her face.
Shall we leave? " Valerie asked.
Atsumu hummed in agreement before he stood up.
...
" So tell me...What's so special about that book? Does it contain a huge secret about Kalos lore? Or...Or... Maybe has hidden secrets that can solve questions that have stumped professors for years? " Valerie asked curiously, firing ideas in rapid succession, while walking next to Atsumu as the duo walked down the streets, the street lamps illuminating the path.
" Perhaps. " Atsumu said simply as he stared at Lysandre's card, more specifically, the phone number on the back of the card.
" From your answer, I feel like my guesses were quite accurate. " Valerie commented.
" Heh. Believe what you want. " Atsumu said.
" Can I read the book though? " Valerie asked.
" Sure. You can read it tomorrow, just before I leave. " Atsumu said.
"That's fine. " Valerie said.
" So tell me... " Valerie said as she walked ahead of Atsumu and stopped in front of him.
" Did you plan for all this to happen? " Valerie asked, as she stared Atsumu in the eyes.
" At the beginning, nope. I was thinking about how I could lure whoever wanted the book out. They already knew who I was, so I just needed some way for them to notice and come directly.
Whether it would work was up to them. Lysandre had turned out to be the one who wanted the book, which was surprising. " Atsumu said with a sigh.
" I see. So it was only when I agreed to the idea that you decided to implement the idea. " Valerie said.
" Yep. It would probably get a lot of attention on social media sites, so he would end up finding out. " Atsumu admitted.
" I see. That plan was fairly simple, though it wouldn't have worked if I hadn't agreed to the idea of us having a date. " Valerie said with a giggle.
" Soooo... Did you... enjoy the date? " Atsumu asked as he looked at Valerie.
" Of course I did. " Valerie said with a happy smile on her face.
" Today was a really fun day. One of the best I've had in a long time. Thank you for the wonderful time. " Valerie said as she walked up to Atsumu.
" Your phone, please? " Valerie asked, holding out her hand.
" Why? " Atsumu asked with an eyebrow raised.
" Well...I can't enter my phone number without it, now can I? " Valerie said with a smile.
Atsumu looked with a surprised face, his eyes staring at her in surprise. Absent-mindedly, Atsumu took out his phone and gave it to Valerie after opening his contacts. The process was as Valerie entered her number and handed it back to Atsumu.
Atsumu looked at the number and decided to call her. Valerie picked up her phone to see Atsumu's number calling her. Smiling, she saved the number before looking at him.
" You're a fun guy to hang out with. Text me sometime, I'm sure it will be fun. " She said with a chuckle.
" Yeah. I guess it will be. " Atsumu said with a smile.
" Well then, I'll see you tomorrow. " Valerie said as she walked away from Atsumu, her hotel just around the block.
Atsumu stared at his phone with a smile, before placing his phone into his pocket and walking down the street to get to the pokemon center.
' Today was quite eventful. ' Dusknoir commented.
' You kidding?! I got a front view seat of watching a possible future couple! ' Gengar gushed.
' Oh lord, Arceus! It's been a single day! ' Sabelye argued.
' I agree. ' Aegislash commented.
' Yeah, I know. That's why I said "possible ". ' Gengar sassed.
' Your 'possible' usually means guaranteed. ' Marshadow stated.
' Hehehee...Well, I can't argue much. From all the movies we watched about romance, they seemed to hit off quite well. ' Jellicent mused.
' We can't be too sure though. At best, she will probably be a close friend.' Decidueye said.
' It's true. I doubt Atsumu would let her inside his heart that easily. ' Froslass commented.
' Yep. Though I think it's best if we just watch for now. We'll only interfere when necessary. ' Chandalure said.
' Yes. That would be for the best. ' Aegislash said.
' Though I wonder...How do you guys think Kukuei would react to this if he knew? ' Palossand asked.
' He'd probably cry tears of joy! ' Dragapult said.
' While saying " Nice " in a stretched-out way. ' Aegislash mused.
Atsumu opened the door to his room and walked inside. Turning in the lights, he placed his jacket on his bed, removed his tie, opened his white buttoned-up shirt a bit, and sat on the chair in front of the desk.
He took out Lysandre's business card and placed it on the corner of the desk.
Opening the drawer, he took out a notebook and pen, placing them on the desk.
' Dusknoir. The book. ' Atsumu said.
From Atsumu's shadow, a book slowly rose from the shadowy depths as a hand pushed up to where Atsumu could take the book.
' Thanks. ' Atsumu said as the hand made a thumbs up before going back.
' The author's name is AZ, huh. ' Atsumu thought as he wrote it down in the notebook.
' He wasn't lying about that. The author of his book is AZ. However, why would he need the book? Some priceless art paintings are sold at auctions for a lot of money, with many people trying to buy them... '
Atsumu slumped back in his chair while tapping the pen on the desk.
' Perhaps I'm just worrying for nothing. It could be possible that he is just a fanatic and wants the book for safekeeping, as presumably there are only two books ever made... '
' Are you suspecting me of having ulterior motives with the book? ' A flashback to Lysandre's comment in the restaurant popped into Atsumu's mind.
The sound of the pen hitting the table stopped as Atsumu went back to his notebook.
' Yet I have a sinking feeling that he did want the book to cross-reference the content with his copy. ' Atsumu thought.
' Even so...What would he do with that knowledge? ' Atsumu thought.
' There are only two things in the book that are relevant. The fact that mega evolution existed that long ago and is the ultimate weapon. ' Atsumu thought, circling the two topics in his notebook.
' I doubt Lysandre cares much about the mega evolution idea, he doesn't strike me as the type to want to know how it could have existed so far back. The weapon on the other hand seems more likely, yet it was used as a tool of destruction that ended the war. ' Atsumu thought.
Atsumu sighed as he closed the notebook.
" I can't make assumptions. I've met the guy once and that was today. I don't even know if my assumptions are correct and this is all in my head due to paranoia. " Atsumu muttered, running a hand through his hair.
Atsumu stared at the Lysandres card, the phone number especially, thoughts racing on what he should do.
" No," Atsumu muttered as he closed his eyes, rubbing them with his left hand.
" I'm done for the day. Let's just take a quick bath and go to sleep. " Atsumu muttered to himself, placing the card on his desk and heading towards the bathroom.
...
' That was quicker than expected. ' Lysandre thought while staring at the report made by Xeriosic. A schematic of the finished base, housing the ultimate weapon was shown on screen.
' All preparations have been made to make the ultimate weapon ready for use in the future. Xeriosic will handle the weapon, monitor it, and do a few experiments. ' Lysandre thought, placing the report down.
' The book states that the life energy from sacrificed pokemon had been used to power the machine. A bit of testing on how that works will get us up to speed. We need that key to activate it though. ' Lysandre thought.
'However, it now seems I have a little pest being suspicious about my true intentions. ' Lysandre thought as an image of Atsumu popped up into his head.
' I should get rid of him...
But that will only raise suspicions about me. Valerie was present at the table and was listening in on everything that we were saying. If she reads the book, what will she think? Will she also believe that everything was real and become suspicious of me as well?
Killing Valerie will only have the league increase security. There hasn't been much trouble in Kalos lately and it's been relatively peaceful. Keeping peace allows Team Flare to move around with ease while being under the approval of the league itself.
...
No.
I'm starting to sound panicked. It's just a book, a story, a piece of fiction. That's what they will think. They won't believe that it is real unless they see proof. Until then, it is just a story. '
" It seems I'm gotten more worked up than expected. Well, no matter. If a curveball suddenly strikes me, ill just deal with it when it does. Though it won't be too bad to have countermeasures, just in case. " Lysandre muttered.
...
In the Cyllage City gym, a lone figure stood atop the tall rock climbing mountain built in the gym, the roaring of the waterfall behind him. His arms were crossed, his eyes closed, eyebrows knitted in concentration...
* beep* * beep *
" Fuck!! " Grant yelled as his eyes snapped open due to the alarm on his wristwatch.
" He didn't come today!! Arceus dammit why!!?? " He screamed, clutching his head in frustration.
" I'm slowly starting to lose hype for the fight! Why can't he get here sooner?! " Grant whined in the empty gym, falling onto his back.
" Goddammit!! I want to have an epic battle!! I want it! I want it! I want it! I want it!..." Grant whined, throwing a tantrum in the gym arena.
" Fuck it. I have tomorrow and the day after and the after that and the day after after that and the after after after that!! " Grant snapped, standing up straight after pushing himself off the floor.
" Welp whatever...I'll just go home already and drown my sorrows with food. " Grant said before sighing, shrugging his shoulders as well.
His arms went limp, falling to his sides before he dragged himself to the elevator, his arms swinging with his erratic movement.
Another day was wasted.
___________________________________________________
Holy shit!
It's been way to long since the last chapter! I hope this chapter had the same feel as the others and still delivered in the entertainment factor.
Anyway,
Leave a comment. Tell me what you thought about this chapter.
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Please do send this to others who would enjoy it. It would mean a lot.
I hope you enjoyed today's chapter.
Have a nice day.