----
Danny's confident demeanour faltered for a moment, his cheerful expression frozen in place.
Until now, in both the Orange League and on Navel Island, Danny had been known for his charm and charisma. His status as a Gym Leader often made him irresistible when striking up conversations with women.
Sure, he'd experienced rejection before, but being outright ignored like this? That was a first.
Today, he'd thought meeting a beautiful woman like Sabrina would mark the beginning of a lucky day, but her cold attitude quickly dashed his expectations.
Danny turned his attention to Kai, observing him more closely. Kai's appearance was striking his sharp features and youthful energy made him undeniably attractive.
Compared to himself, Danny couldn't help but feel slightly outclassed. 'Does she like this guy?' he wondered. 'Or maybe… they're already a couple?'
But as he continued to observe, he noticed no signs of romantic interaction between the two. Sabrina didn't exhibit any affection toward Kai, and the two maintained a professional distance.
'It doesn't matter' Danny thought. 'She probably doesn't realize I'm the Gym Leader yet. Once she finds out who I am, she'll change her tune!'
With Danny joining them, the group made their way toward the Navel Gym.
Danny led the way, filling the time by sharing stories about Navel Island's history and the adventures he'd had as a Gym Leader. His tone was lively and energetic, brimming with the charm he'd perfected over years of entertaining tourists.
However, his efforts were wasted. Sabrina showed no interest whatsoever, and even Kai looked bored, responding only occasionally with polite but uninterested comments.
Despite Danny's best attempts to liven the mood, the atmosphere felt tense.
Danny couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched not by curious eyes but by something… unseen. A strange energy seemed to prick at his senses, making his every move feel scrutinized.
'Is it this Kai guy?' Danny wondered, glancing back at him. Kai appeared entirely indifferent, distracted by the scenery and chatting casually with Sabrina.
Danny shifted his gaze to Sabrina, catching her sharp, piercing eyes for a brief moment. A chill ran down his spine as he thought he saw a flash of disapproval in her otherwise emotionless gaze.
Sweat formed on his brow, despite the warm summer air. He blinked rapidly, but when he looked again, Sabrina's expression was as neutral as ever.
'Am I imagining things?' He thought, shaking his head.
After a long, awkward walk, they finally arrived at the entrance to the Navel Gym: a massive iron gate at the base of Navel Mountain.
The gate was flanked by high stone walls that stretched far into the distance, obscuring the view of what lay beyond.
Danny turned to the others with a grin. "Here we are welcome to the Navel Gym."
With Danny's help, Kai pushed open the heavy gates, revealing a wide, open courtyard. At the centre stood a modest wooden cabin, and beyond it, a decommissioned cable car sat unused.
A narrow, winding trail led further up the mountain, disappearing into the clouds above.
Kai surveyed the area. Apart from the three of them, the place was completely deserted.
"So, it's just you running the Gym?" Kai asked, curious about how such a large area was maintained without any staff.
Danny laughed. "That's right. No staff, just me! I like to keep things simple."
Danny led them to a signboard near the cable car, where a set of rules for the Gym was clearly displayed:
---
Welcome to Navel Gym!
Challenge Guidelines:
1. To reach the summit, challengers must climb the mountain using only their own strength.
2. Using Pokémon to assist in the climb will result in immediate disqualification.
3. Companions or non-participants may use the cable car freely.
---
After reading the rules, Sabrina turned to Kai. "What's the plan?" she asked quietly.
Kai glanced at Danny, who stood off to the side with his arms crossed, waiting patiently for a response.
"Well…" Kai said with a playful grin. "Since there's no one else around and no cameras to watch us, maybe I'll just take the cable car with you. Nice and easy."
"Absolutely not!" Danny interjected, stepping forward with sudden urgency. He cleared his throat and continued in a calmer tone, "I mean… climbing the mountain is a crucial part of the Gym challenge. Even if it looks like no one's watching, the Gym Leader is always observing. If you break the rules, it won't count!"
Kai raised an eyebrow at Danny's defensive reaction. He had been hoping Danny would use this opportunity to reveal his identity as the Gym Leader, but Danny seemed determined to keep up the charade.
'Why is he hiding it?' Kai wondered. 'We're already here what's the point of this game?'
Feigning a sigh, Kai said, "Alright, alright. I'll follow the rules." Then he turned to Danny. "You said you're heading up the mountain too, right? Don't let us keep you feel free to go ahead."
Danny hesitated. "Well… I was planning to climb anyway, so why don't we go together? It'll be safer that way, and I can show you the best route!"
Reluctantly, Kai agreed. He handed Sabrina the extra supplies from his bag, and after ensuring she was settled on the cable car, he tightened his boots and followed Danny to the base of the mountain trail.
Before them loomed a sheer rock face, the first major challenge of the climb. The cliff rose several hundred meters, with narrow footholds and jagged outcroppings providing the only means of ascent.
Danny took the lead, scaling the cliff with practised ease. His movements were fluid and confident, each handhold and foothold chosen with precision.
Kai followed closely behind, watching Danny's technique. 'The innkeeper wasn't exaggerating. This guy really knows his stuff.'
Despite his earlier scepticism, Kai couldn't help but feel a hint of admiration for Danny's skill as a climber.
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