Pokémon Court

Chapter 453: Heart-to-heart talk with Kotoko

Fallarbor Town, Kotoko’s Home.

Early in the morning, Terrance arrived for a visit.

Most of the residents of Fallarbor Town maintain a fairly regular daily routine. Because this was an agricultural town, their lifestyle is largely structured around their work schedules.

By the time Terrance arrived, Kotoko’s parents had already gone to tend the fields, leaving Kotoko alone at home.

“You’re here.”

Seeing Terrance, Kotoko invited him inside. “Water or juice?”

“Got any cola?” Terrance asked.

Kotoko: “???”

“Uh, sorry, that was a reflex. Juice then, snow pear juice,” Terrance said.

“You must have called me here for something, right?” Terrance asked after taking a sip.

“Yeah. Have two people recently moved into Fallarbor Gym?” Kotoko asked.

Setting down his glass, Terrance gave Kotoko a deep look and said, “Yes.”

“Why are they living in Fallarbor Gym? Did you agree to this? Why?” Kotoko suddenly stood up, looking at Terrance in confusion.

If these people had ties to Terrance, he would eventually get caught up in trouble as well.

Moreover, the Gym was an important facility under the Pokémon League’s supervision. Albus and Fujiki, they actually dared to live there?!

Kotoko couldn’t understand at all.

“So, you really did experience the Nightmare Island incident…” Terrance exhaled, looking at Kotoko with a complicated expression.

“You…” Kotoko’s heart pounded violently as she stared at Terrance in disbelief. “You… You actually know about Nightmare Island?”

After a brief silence, Terrance looked at her and said, “Albus and Fujiki told me.”

“Impossible! Something this important—they would never tell anyone!” Kotoko still couldn’t believe it.

“Sister Kotoko, even though Nightmare Island may have left you with bad experiences, everything is in the past now. You don’t have to dwell on it so much…” Terrance also stood up, trying to comfort her.

Seeing Kotoko in such an unstable state, Terrance felt troubled.

Maybe Nightmare Island really left Kotoko with deep scars… But why was Albus still normal? No, wait—he wasn’t normal either.

Terrance continued, “Since it’s all in the past, why not look forward instead? Sister Kotoko, aren’t you an outstanding Trainer now? You can keep chasing your dream—collect Badges, challenge the League Conference, do the same things as other Trainers.”

“No… You don’t understand at all! But Team Nightmare… so many people died!”

Kotoko suddenly blurted out, her thoughts in chaos.

Terrance immediately fell silent.

So many people died? Was she referring to the test subjects on Nightmare Island, or Team Nightmare’s own members?

Could it be…

Terrance’s brow furrowed for a moment before smoothing out, as the shocking suspicion in his mind was confirmed—when Albus and the others escaped from Team Nightmare, did they choose the bloodiest way and directly kill their way out?

And they even destroyed Team Nightmare’s headquarters… Clearly, they had done it through violence.

If that was the case, many people must have lost their lives because of it. Terrance’s heart clenched as he looked at Kotoko again—so this was what she was worried about.

Mismagius, help her calm down!

Kotoko’s emotions were unstable. Terrance had to help her calm down first.

Receiving the command, Mismagius who was following beside Terrance began to slowly soothe Kotoko’s emotions through mental guidance.

Only when Kotoko finally appeared calmer did Terrance probe carefully…

“You… have you killed someone?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Kotoko’s pupils contracted. Though she hid it immediately, Terrance still caught the shift in her expression.

“As expected…” Terrance sighed. “Was it during your escape from Nightmare Island?”

“I…” Kotoko lifted her head, wanting to deny it, but when she saw the serious expression on Terrance’s face, she suddenly didn’t know how to respond.

“So that’s why you’re so panicked. You’re worried about facing legal consequences, even though you were a victim too.”

Kotoko’s gaze wavered slightly, but Terrance wasn’t finished speaking. “But that’s not what worries you the most.”

“Calling your actions self-defense wouldn’t be wrong. That’s something that concerns you, but it’s not what makes you this anxious. What you’re truly afraid of… is that some remnants of Team Nightmare escaped, and they might seek revenge against those of you who fled from Nightmare Island!”

At that moment, Kotoko’s face turned deathly pale.

So that’s it… Terrance sighed inwardly. If Kotoko hadn’t come to him, he wouldn’t have connected all these dots.

Even though all of this was Albus’s doing, as someone who had escaped from Nightmare Island and rebelled against Team Nightmare, Kotoko had been living in constant fear.

Albus and Fujiki were orphans with nothing to lose, but for Kotoko—who had a family and wanted to return to a peaceful life—exposing herself… she couldn’t bear the consequences.

That was why Kotoko had done everything she could to keep herself hidden. Even if there was a risk of retaliation, she didn’t dare to seek help from the police because she believed that the safest way was to keep this secret buried in her heart.

Now, Terrance finally understood what had been weighing on Kotoko’s mind.

“Albus and Fujiki are indeed staying at Fallarbor Gym, but don’t worry. The Fallarbor Town of today is not the Fallarbor Town of the past. Not just any random person can come here and do as they please,” Terrance said seriously, looking straight at Kotoko. “As the Gym Leader of Fallarbor Gym, I will defend this town against any external threats!”

“Terrance… you…” Kotoko stared at Terrance in a daze.

“I’ve gotten a basic understanding of Albus and Fujiki. Do you know why they’re not afraid of Team Nightmare’s revenge?” Terrance asked.

“Besides the fact that they have no attachments, they are also incredibly powerful Trainers. Even I have to admit their strength. You’ve battled me before, so forgive me for being blunt, but your strength is nowhere near theirs…” Terrance said slowly.

“Yeah…” Kotoko smiled bitterly. “That’s why I’ve kept up the habit of training my Pokémon every day—just in case…”

Looking at Kotoko’s bitter expression, Terrance suddenly froze. The new Gym format he had drafted last night replayed in his mind, and in that instant, one particular format took center stage, forming a clear idea in his head.

“Sister Kotoko, rather than hiding here and stifling your dreams and experiences, don’t you want to continue pursuing your dream of becoming a Trainer?”

“What if I gave you an opportunity—not only to continue chasing your Trainer dream but also to give you the confidence to face any remaining members of Team Nightmare? Would you take it?”

“Besides, whether or not any remnants of Team Nightmare even exist… that’s still up in the air.”

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