Chapter 4: Day 3
On a hotel balcony located not far from the Driftveil world arena Two young men are hunching over the railings, trying to relax in the cool morning air of Driftveil while trying to distance themselves from the thoughts that's keeps them from having enough sleep last night.
One is used to this kind of habit since he's been doing it almost everyday for the last decade, the other not so much. Having settle into a nice comfortable life these episodes of restlessness are far and few in between for him.
"So, I guess this is the first time we've done this together isn't it Red?" Said one of the men looking over to his friend beside him.
"Yep, usually it's just me all alone with you lying still in bed blue" Said the other men, a sarcastic tone can be felt while he said it as he turned his head to look at his friend.
"Hahahaha, things are changing Red, I could tell you that much" Blue response turning back his gaze back towards the view in front of him.
"You sure you don't have something that's plaguing your mind?" Red asked, he's been sensing that his friend has something heavy in his mind for a while now judging by how his behavior has become soft towards him. At first red thought it was just him trying to ease his transition to normal life but by now it's clear that's not the only reason.
"No, nothing really other than wanting to spend time with you. I guess yesterday's black out sort of disturb me but not by that much" Blue quickly response, to tell the truth red is right. There is something plaguing his mind but he knows he can't just spill it out here, after all red have a battle to think about right now. Flooding his thoughts with this is simply not a good idea.
"You sure that's all?" Red sense that Blue is not being honest with him so he decided to pressure him further.
"Well........" Blue paused trying to think of a good excuse so he could red to asking about his feelings, eventually after a few moments of silence he found his 'good excuse'. "I've been thinking about what I'll do if I ended up facing you in the semis"
"Huh? What do you mean?" Red jolt back in surprise at what his friend just said.
"Haven't you paid any attention?" Blue turn his head and smile knowing his reasoning will be good enough to satisfy Red. "The tournament brackets has been designed so that the winner of bracket day 1 and 2 will ended up facing each other in the semis. So, if you win today and I win tomorrow we will meet in the semis". He explained this to red in a way that he hopes would make red think he's saying the truth, even though he isn't.
"Well, that is, interesting" said red tilting his head down, contemplating on what blue just said. He still feels that he's not 100% telling the truth but the thought of battling his friend again for the first time in almost 10 years distract him from his original thought.
"Got him!" Thought Blue, relieve that red accepted his reasoning. Despite this deep down he knows he have to voice his actual thought to red sooner or later, for the moment though he decided to push that aside as Red went back inside to prepare for his second round battle today.
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World arena main lobby, 08:35 am
The main lobby of the arena should be devoid of any activity right now just like the previous two days, but as the tournament organizer found out after yesterday's festivities the storm has bring more damage to the place than expected.
Water was everywhere in the stadium no one wall hasn't leak from the intensity of the storm, electrical system was also more damage than expected with it just one drop of water away from total failure, making the fact that the power was able to be restored and run to the end of day after the blackout seems more miraculous. Overall it was a mess, and the tournament organizer have to work all night to ensure the tournament could continue safely the next day.
Even then the start of day's matches is still delayed by an hour and the Vip area is closed for the next two days for further repair. Unfortunately, the news of the delayed start didn't get to the competitors who will be battling today in time, leaving them stranded in the lobby having to deal with the media and their endless questioning. Some like red hate this and elected to go to the locker room early, deeming the hour long wait there better than having to dealt with the troublesome paparazzi.
Some others however don't have the luxury of choosing as they were quickly pinned by the many reporters and journalist on site, one of those people is Hilbert who have to settle to sitting on one of the sofas answering questions from atleast 25 journalist who surrounded him with microphones.
"Is it true that the person who was rescue from the elevators in yesterday's black out was one of your friend?" Asked one reporter.
"Yes that person is one of my friend, Bianca" Hilbert calmly answers. "She was rushed to the hospital yesterday but was only suffering from shock and a minor case of hypothermia, so she was already allowed to go home by nightfall"
"Has that event effect you in any way coming into your match today against Dawn Hikari?" Asked another reporter.
"Not really, I mean it was kind of terrifying to see one of my best friends in that kind of situation but I wouldn't let it affect my mind too much. Heck, even Bianca herself say that to me yesterday. As for the match itself I'm hoping for a good close match, Dawn is a very good trainer so I have to watch out for some of her tricks and skills during our match today"
"Do you have anything to said to the other remaining Unova representative?"
"Well, not much other than that I wish Nate and Iris good luck with their matches tomorrow. They're both very good Trainers but they're skills will be put up to the test against Gold and Blue so I think it will a good match for both of them which I hope they'll won"
"Do you have any regrets about leaving for 3 years leaving the fate of Unova to someone else?" A reporter near the back suddenly blurts out, Hilbert leans back in contemplation while the other reporters give the man who ask the 'you shouldn't have said that' look.
"Well......" Hilbert begin letting out a sigh as he went on. "It's certainly not a good decision I'll tell you that much, but it's already in the past and we shouldn't dig up the past too much as it is not important for what's happening today"
Without warning he suddenly stand up from the sofa, looking at his Xtransciver saying "it's been fun to answer to your questions but it's almost time so I unfortunately I have to go now" before walking off through an opening Besides him to the locker room.
Deep down however Hilbert is starting to feel the guilt of his actions again when that question was asked, once again wondering "should I really move on? Have everybody really forgive me?" Hilbert thought to himself. Before he let his mind to drift off again however he pushes those thoughts aside decided to focus on his upcoming battle with current sinnoh champion Dawn Hikari.
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".........I wonder why didn't they just postpone today's matches?" Growled Yancy frowning on the couch staring at the TV, sensing that his girlfriend is not in a good mood Nate put his around her shoulder to call her down.
"I don't know sweetie, Clay's the one running the show here" Nate response exhaling a breath as he rubs his hands against his girlfriend's back.
"Maybe it's because everything from the hotels, TV right and the return flights of the visitors has already been book for Sunday, and delaying them would cost the organizer money" Hugh chime in turning his head from the tv towards the young couple to voice his thoughts.
"Shouldn't they focused on satisfaction and safety first? This way they're just creating a PR disaster" Yancy snarled , "This industry sickens me sometimes I swear...." She thought, remembering that the entertainment industry push for profit in disregard of human life is what almost led her to depression before she met Nate a year ago.
"I don't know Yancy, I'm not a business man like clay. Maybe he knew something that we don't know that justifies this decision" Hugh shrugged, turning his gaze back to the tv while Nate kiss Yancy as a way to calm her down.
Since the Vip are is close Nate and Yancy was left with no option but settle for watching the Day's matches on their hotel room's tv, Hugh decide to join the young couple since he have nothing to do in Rood's place today.
"And now we just have this in" the voice the tournament Tv broadcaster suddenly fills the room. "Now, of course as a competitor you don't want anything distract you from thinking about your match. Well, it seems like that's something Hilbert Blackman would have a hard time doing going into this match up with Dawn Hikari today after his impromptu press conference at the main lobby earlier today, have a look;"
"Do you have any regrets about leaving for 3 years leaving the fate of Unova to someone else?"
"Well...... It's certainly not a good decision I'll tell you that much, but it's already in the past and we shouldn't dig up the past too much as it is not important for what's happening today"
"What are you trying to achieve with that!?" Nate shot up from the couch in Utter surprise.
"Can't he just left him and his past alone?!" Yancy added.
"He's right though......" Hugh suddenly muttered.
"What?" Nate mutters, turning his head towards Hugh. Surprise at what have just comes out of his friend's mouth.
"Think about it, if He hadn't leave Unova three years ago Plasma would never even think of coming back and wrecking the Havoc they did when they did come back in his absence" Hugh explains, turning his gaze towards Nate. His expression seems to suggest he's apathetic towards Hilbert's situation, unlike his two friends.
"It's not in his control though" Nate retaliated, "for all he knew when he left plasma was dead and buried, also it's only logical if he wants to bring N back. He's been abused all of his life and Hilbert wants to help him. Plus, I don't think he could stop plasma from rising again anyways"
"Maybe not, but the job of getting rid of them would be much easier and you probably don't have to go through your near death experience if he hadn't left" Hugh's cold response send silence through the room as the two stare at each other.
"So he hasn't lost that coldness, huh?" Nate thought remembering how this cold, passive-aggressive attitude was a trademark of Hugh when they started their journey a little over a year and a half ago, he thought Hugh have already shred this personality away at his realization moment on the plasma frigate and his subsequent effort to change afterwards.
He has to admit it though; Hugh has been kind of aphetic about Hilbert whenever someone bring him up, avoiding them whenever he could although it seems like this is the first time he actually voice those thoughts to other people.
Ding!!!!
The sound of the doorbell to their hotel room Snapped Nate out of his staring contest with Hugh.
"I'll answer it, probably just room service" Nate simply said standing up from the couch and walking past Hugh to the door, not even looking at him as he passed.
Perhaps because of the tense situation just moments before Nate didn't bother to check the peep hole and just opens the door.
When he did he's suprise to find out that it was not room service at the other end but a tall and slim young girl. She has very long dark brown hair tied in two large sock buns above her ears, with two long locks hanging loose to her waist, and shorter locks on either side of her face, pale peach skin and dark blue eyes. Nate stagger back a few steps as the girl also look about as surprise as he is. Nate examine what he saw again, he couldn't believe what he's seeing.
"No, it can't be......" Nate muttered his voice barely audible. "Rosa?"
"Nate!!!!!" The girl suddenly lunges at him forcing him into a tight hug. "Oh Arceus, i can't believe what I'm seeing right now, it's really you!!! My twin brother!!!!!"
"Neither can I sis!!!" Shout Nate as he hugs Rosa back. "It's been so freaking long!!!! I've never thought I'll see you again!!!!"
The sudden commotion wasn't left unnoticed by Hugh and Yancy with the latter being confused at hearing the word 'brother' and 'sister'.
"Nate have a twin sister?" Asked Yancy with a surprise and confused expression on her face.
"Yeah, he does. It's a long story" Hugh reply with a smile on his face.
This only made Yancy even more curious as to her knowledge Nate only live with his mother in Aspertia, never has Nate or his mother mention another family member to her.
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"Good grief, you've become so tall Nate!" Says Rosa as she finally released Nate from her tight hug.
"You too have become taller since we last met Rosa" Nate simply reply, "Why now all of a sudden though?" He asked puzzle at her unexpected arrival.
"Well, I actually I arrive back in unova last night but I visited mom first back home" Rosa explains. "She was surprised too; in fact, she wants to call you to inform that I'm here but I tell her not to so that it didn't ruin the surprise for you. So I came here to visit you".
"Oh sis, you always love surprises don't you?" Nate thought rolling his eyes at his sister's explanation. "Come on in, I actually have a couple people here right now who you might want to meet"
The two make their way inside to find Hugh smiling and Yancy looking on with a confused expression still processing the thought of her lovely boyfriend having a family member he never told her about.
"You remember Hugh don't you sis?" Nate asked stepping aside so his sister can see the other people in the room.
"Of course I do!" Rosa immediately respond, with Hugh standing up to greet her, someone he hasnt met in a long time. "The loud kid with wild blue hair that likes to hang out with you spending all day talking about comics, how can I forgot about someone like that"
"It's nice to see you again Rosa" said Hugh extending his hand for a handshake.
"Nice to meet you too Hugh" Rosa reply as she shakes hands with Her old friend.
"And Uhm" Nate suddenly interrupts, "Over there is uh, my girlfriend Yancy." Rosa turn her gaze towards the pink hair girl sitting in the couch in front of her, her eyes lit up at hearing the word 'girlfriend'
"You have a girlfriend!?" She gasped, "Dang, I didn't think A bookworm like you could even have a girlfriend let alone one as pretty as this"
"Hello Ms. Rosa I'm Yancy Ruri. Nate's boyfriend" says Yancy, standing up and nervously introducing herself to Rosa.
"Hi there! Dang Nate, you are lucky boy to have someone like her..." Rosa reply turning her gaze towards her brother who's blushing intensely, flustered by his sister's compliment.
"Hehe, seems like I have some explaining to do. Let's all have a seat shall we?" Said Nate as everyone takes a seat with Rosa sitting on the couch Besides Yancy while Nate took a plastic chair and sit next to Hugh, the tension between the two of them seemingly gone as if it never happens. "So, first of all Yancy I want to explain why I never told you that I have a sister before...." Nate begin.
"Although from the outside I look like one of those kids whos only living with their mom because their father left it wasn't always like that, my family was once a normal and happy one with me living with my twin sister Rosa, my father and mom. It was great we were living the unovan dream. Unfortunately, that all change 7 years ago when an argument between my mom and dad turned violent, I still don't know what's the cause of the argument but it ended their marriage. And after their divorce, my father took custody of Rosa while my mom took custody of me. Since then my mom and me decide to not tell anyone about Rosa and my father because it was a traumatic experience for us, with only Hugh's family being the only ones outside of my immediate family to have any knowledge of this since they have gained my mother's trust"
"Oh my, i'm sorry for what happened to your family." Said Yancy in a saddened tone, realizing the terrible story of her boyfriend's family.
"Thanks Yancy, but all of that is in the past and as painful as it was for me and Rosa, it doesn't matter now. It's in the past." Everyone nodded in agreement at Nate's reply, there was silence in the room as everyone is taking in the story until Rosa turn her head towards Nate and smile.
"Let's move on to a happier story now shall we?" She says gaining the attention of everyone in the room.
"Uhm, like what sis?" Nate asked.
"Come on now Nate, you know what I want to hear. Tell me how you met this beautiful lady Beside me"
"Uhm....." Nate and Yancy nervously reply, both feeling their faces turn red out of embarrassment with Nate turning to Hugh for advice.
"Just tell her man, she's your sister she deserved to know." Hugh patted his friend in The back, trying to convince him to tell Rosa his love story.
"Ok, fine........" Nate sigh as he prepared to tell his love story to Rosa, shifting his chair closer to her.
"I'm listening." Rosa said playfully to her twin brother.
Nate sigh once more before telling his love story with Yancy, from how it went from a simple act of kindness of Nate founding Yancy's Xtransciver in Nimbasa and returning it to her. To a full blown loving relationship that involves them finding out that they're both superstars in disguise, living the double live of loving eachother behind the scenes and not in front of it, and finally blowing their cover both on and off screen.
As he finished his story Nate let out one last enormous sigh as if a huge weight has been lifted off him, seeing this Rosa can't help but chuckle as she decided to wrapped her arms around Nate like a good twin sister should be.
"Awwww, seems like my little bro has gone through a lot hasn't he?" Rosa said playfully teasing Her brother in her grip as his expression turn from one of shame to one of annoyance.
"First of all, can you get off of me please?" Said Nate as he free himself from his sister's grip, his voice full of seriousness. "Second of all, why are you calling me 'little'? We're twins. We're the same age"
"Well you could say that but I am just a little older than you brother" Rosa reply with a smirk on her face.
"By 30 seconds!" Nate suddenly snapped.
"Best 30 seconds of my life!" Rosa yelled causing Hugh and Yancy to burst out laughing out of the hilarity of the situation.
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Hilbert's hotel room, 08:45 pm
The Day's events are over, Hilbert return to his hotel room feeling satisfy after his upset over Dawn, not many people picked him to win over the dominant Champion of Sinnoh but he proves them wrong by beating Dawn and ensuring his place in the semis.
Still that question in the interview this morning still sticks in his mind. That question once again made him question whether or not everyone has forgiven him, feeling conflicted he decides called his mom for advice.
"Don't you worry honey; everyone has forgiven you" she said trying to reassure Hilbert.
"Well that question this morning certainly beg to differ" Hilbert coldly respond.
"Oh you know how the media works son, trust me most people have already forgiven you for what you did"
"Most being the keyword there mom."
"Hilbert please, Don't take this too hard. It's not good for your health and progression in the tournament, now just take it easy and used tomorrow to relax ok?"
Hilbert only nodded in response as they say their goodbyes and end the calls, Hilbert sigh, taking in what his mom just told him.
"'used tomorrow to relax'. Ok, I might do that" he told himself as he turned off the lights and go to sleep.
"Is it true that I'm just making this worries up myself? Do I need to change? Or is it I'm feeling this way because there's someone who hasn't forgiven me?" He thought to himself as he tries to doze off.
"Maybe just maybe........."