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"Okay, I'll battle you."
The words came so suddenly that Nemona nearly missed them. She blinked, snapping her head toward Florian, hands still planted firmly on her hips. Had she heard that right? After all the times she’d begged, pestered, and practically chased him down for a battle, he was just… agreeing? Just like that?
"You will?" she asked, eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to detect some kind of trick.
Florian’s lips curled into a small, knowing smile. "I'll do it," he confirmed. Then, with a casual flick of his hand, he pointed to a hill in the distance. "If you beat me in a race to the top of that hill over there, then I'll take you on."
Nemona followed the direction of his finger, and her stomach dropped.
It wasn’t just any hill—it was one of the taller ones in the area, its incline just steep enough to be a real challenge. The kind that made your legs feel like lead halfway up. The kind that turned a simple run into a grueling endurance test.
For a moment, she just stood there, frozen, staring in stunned silence. Her orange eyes widened, her brain catching up to what he had just said.
"A race?" she echoed, voice almost disbelieving.
A beat passed. Then another.
Florian watched, barely holding back his amusement, as realization dawned on her. The color drained from her face, her usual unshakable confidence faltering in a way he so rarely got to see.
She hated running. Hated anything that involved long-distance cardio. For all her energy, all her battle prowess, endurance races were her one true weakness, and he knew it.
"That's right," Florian said, shrugging as if it were the most reasonable challenge in the world. "Beat me to the top, and I'll finally have another Pokémon battle with you. No more excuses. Heck, I’ll battle you anytime after that."
His grin widened as Nemona’s expression twisted into sheer horror. She had wanted a challenge. Now, she had one.
Florian's mouth twitched as his lips curled up in a smirk.
"You fiend!" Nemona shouted, stomping her feet in frustration as she jabbed an accusing finger at him. "You'll dangle such a tantalizing prize in front of my face, only to make it unobtainable?”
"It's not unobtainable," Florian said, his tone light yet teasing. "It'll be difficult for you, sure, but that's what makes it fun!"
Nemona let out an exasperated huff, crossing her arms as she shot him a sharp glare. His laughter only made her irritation spike higher, the smug amusement in his voice grating against her competitive spirit.
Florian, still chuckling at her clear frustration, rolled his shoulders, stretching his arms overhead until a satisfying pop echoed from his joints. "Take your time," he said with a lazy grin. "Think about whether it's worth the effort. I don’t mind waiting."
The champion ranked trainer chewed the inside of her cheek, eyes narrowing as she weighed her options. She was already breathless just from the thought of it, her legs aching in anticipation of the grueling climb ahead. Every instinct screamed at her to reject the challenge, to call it unfair, to demand a rematch under different terms.
But then she met Florian’s gaze.
There was something in his expression—something challenging, something expectant. He was testing her, pushing her in a way she hadn’t been pushed before. The realization sent a familiar fire surging through her veins, replacing hesitation with resolve.
She straightened her back, squared her shoulders, and locked eyes with him, determination burning bright in her orange irises.
"I accept."
Pokémon battles were always exhilarating, there was no doubt about it. Nemona lived for the thrill of fighting, the rush of adrenaline as she gave her Pokémon commands and watched them execute her strategies.
Pokémon battles with Florian though... they were something else entirely.
The rush of battle always set Nemona’s heart ablaze, but with Florian, it was something more. Something deeper. A spark unlike anything she’d ever felt, even against her fiercest rivals. It wasn’t just the thrill of the fight—it was the way they moved together, the perfect flow between them as if they spoke the same unspoken language.
There was an energy in the air when they battled, something electric, something alive. It wasn’t about winning or losing. It was about
him
. Florian was the perfect rival—not too strong, not too weak, always pushing her to the edge of her abilities, always making her fight harder, think faster, adapt. She never felt more
alive
than when she was battling him.
Like an addict chasing the next high, she craved it.
Needed
it. One battle was never enough. The moment one ended, she was already begging for another, desperate to relive that rush. But Florian was
stingy
. He always had an excuse—
"I don’t have my Pokémon on me,"
or
"I’m too busy right now."
And if he had no excuse, he’d simply say he
didn’t feel like it
.
Nemona
hated
that. She hated the uncertainty of it, hated that she had no control over
when
their next battle would be. She wanted to fight him whenever
she
wanted, not just when he was in the mood. So she pestered him, pleaded, and wore him down until he gave in. Eventually, he always did.
Now, standing at the base of the hill, she could already feel the adrenaline kicking in. Her fingertips brushed against the packed dirt as she bent her knees, settling into a runner’s stance. The top of the hill loomed ahead, a challenge waiting to be conquered, a victory that would bring her one step closer to the battle she longed for.
Beside her, her rival crouched down, his posture relaxed yet focused. "On the count of three," he said.
Nemona gave a sharp nod, her gaze locked straight ahead.
"One."
Her pulse quickened.
Battles with Florian were always exhilarating.
"Two."
Her legs tensed, ready to launch forward. Her breathing turned shallow, controlled. This was her chance—her shot at another taste of the high that only
he
could give her.
Did he ever find her annoying? She hoped not. She wasn’t sure what she would do without him. Most kids had thought she was
weird
, too obsessed with battles to be anything more than a nuisance. But Florian never judged her. He never made her feel like she was too much. If anything, the twinkle in his eyes when they fought told her he enjoyed their battles almost as much as she did.
"Three!"
Nemona exploded forward, feet slamming against the ground as she shot up the hill with everything she had.
Florian was just as quick. Within seconds, he was ahead of her, his stride steady and powerful.
Nemona’s competitive fire burned even hotter. She
had
to win. Florian was a natural strategist, a trainer whose careful planning and sharp instincts made every battle unpredictable. Even if his passion didn’t burn quite as fiercely as hers, she
admired
him for it.
And she refused to let him beat her. Not here. Not now.
Pushing a bit harder, she managed to catch up to Florian. They were neck and neck now, and Nemona could feel her lungs burning. Every breath felt like fire, but she kept pushing through. Her muscles screamed in protest as she forced them to continue running despite the pain.
The pair looked at each other, and Nemona gave him a grin despite how much effort she was putting into the race. Florian grinned back at her, and that same twinkle she saw in his eyes every time they battled was there.
And just like when they battled, Nemona felt it.
That spark.
It was a feeling of pure joy that surged through her entire body, making everything feel better than it was. The pain vanished completely and Nemona found herself grinning wider and laughing as she and Florian raced up the hill.
Even though this was a competition between the two, it was also a way for them to connect. Their relationship had grown so strong through their battles, that they were able to form an unspoken connection that neither of them could explain.
That's when it hit her like a Tauros.
All these feelings of friendship and camaraderie that she had always felt towards Florian seemed... different now. She wasn't sure how, but she felt it. Her stomach dropped when the realization struck her.
It wasn't just the Pokémon battles with Florian that gave her that feeling of a drug-like high, but being around Florian himself did as well.
How hadn't she realized this before?
She didn't just want to battle him because she loved battling. She wanted to battle him because she loved him.
Nemona felt the fire ignite deep within her chest, a fierce determination surging through her veins as she dug her heels into the dirt. Her muscles burned, but she pushed harder, her breath coming fast and sharp. The rhythmic pounding of her feet against the ground matched the wild beat of her heart.
Beside her, Florian’s eyes widened in surprise as she began to close the gap. For a fleeting moment, she saw the spark of challenge in his gaze before his lips curled into a grin. He leaned forward and surged ahead, his stride lengthening, as if accepting an unspoken dare.
The halfway point loomed before them, the incline steepening as the real test began. A flat sprint would have been easy—she would have already claimed victory—but the hill demanded more than speed. Endurance was king here, and Nemona felt the toll with every aching step. Her pace faltered, her legs growing heavy like lead, while Florian maintained his steady rhythm, pulling ahead once more.
Her lungs burned, the thin air doing little to soothe the fire raging inside her. Every breath felt like dragging in embers, every movement an effort against invisible weights. Sweat clung to her skin, her body protesting with each desperate push forward. But stopping was never an option.
A flicker of movement caught her eye—Florian glancing back. His brow furrowed, concern flashing across his face as he took in her struggling form. She knew how she must look: gasping, drenched in sweat, her body on the verge of collapse. But none of that mattered.
She squeezed her eyes shut for a brief second, shutting out the pain, the exhaustion, the doubt. In her mind’s eye, she saw herself at the top, victorious, the wind whipping through her hair as she stood triumphant. More than that, she saw Florian’s expression when she won—the warmth of his smile, the way his eyes would shine, not with surprise, but with pride.
Florian’s smile, so bright and full of warmth, and then, before she could stop herself, she imagined leaning in, closing the distance, pressing her lips to his.
Her heart slammed against her ribs, rocketing up into her throat so fast it choked the breath from her. Her feet fumbled beneath her, and she nearly pitched forward, barely managing to catch herself before she could faceplant into the dirt. The sudden jolt rattled her, but not as much as the thought still lingering in her mind.
She could feel the heat crawling up her neck, spreading across her face like wildfire. Her tanned skin did little to hide the furious blush burning her cheeks. What was she thinking? Did she really want that? The idea alone made her stomach twist in ways that had nothing to do with exhaustion. And even if she did want it… could she even go through with it?
A glance ahead showed Florian pulling farther away, his strides strong, unwavering. He wasn’t slowing down. At this rate, he would reach the top before she did.
Nemona shook her head, forcing the distraction from her mind. It didn’t matter. Not now. There was only one thing she needed to focus on: winning.
She clenched her fists and forced her legs to move, even as they screamed in protest. The sensation in her lower body was beginning to dull, her limbs heavy, her knees barely responding. The world narrowed to the rhythm of her own ragged, shallow, breathing. Her lungs felt like they were on fire, each inhale searing through her chest like molten lead.
But she couldn’t stop. She wouldn’t stop.
Florian’s back was still ahead of her, that gap between them widening by the second. She needed to move faster. Needed to close the distance.
Her vision blurred at the edges, the world fading into a tunnel of motion and instinct. She grit her teeth, forced herself forward, eyes squeezing shut as she focused on the only thing that mattered—one foot in front of the other.
She had to win. She would win. And when she stood victorious at the top, Florian would have no choice but to battle her again.
And maybe—just maybe—if she was feeling particularly bold, she’d ask him out. The thought made her pulse stutter, uncertainty gnawing at the edges of her mind. How would that even go? What would she even say?
She had no idea. But Nemona had never been the type to back down from a challenge.
Of course, all this was only if she won. And Florian was already steps away from doing so himself.
Closing her eyes, she pushed herself to her limits as her legs screamed with agony. There was no stopping now, no matter what!
Reaching the top Florian threw his arms up high, his breath ragged but triumphant as a loud whoop tore from his throat. His chest rose and fell in deep, heavy gasps, sweat clinging to his brow as he turned back to watch Nemona’s final stretch.
"I—I win..." he panted, flashing her a lopsided grin as she charged toward him. "Guess you're not getting that battle after—"
He never got to finish.
Nemona’s exhausted, momentum-fueled body slammed into him, knocking the air from his lungs as they went tumbling backward in a tangled mess of limbs. The world spun in a blur of sky and grass, and before he knew it, he was flat on his back, the weight of her pressing down on his chest. His arms had somehow wound around her in the fall, their legs a jumbled mess of tangled limbs.
A breathless groan left them both as they lay there, chests rising and falling in rhythm, neither moving, neither speaking—just trying to drag air back into their burning lungs.
"Flor...ian..." Nemona gasped at last, her voice raw with exertion as she lifted her head just enough to meet his gaze.
"N-Nemo-na...?" Florian rasped, blinking up at her, confusion flickering behind his wide brown eyes.
Their faces were close—closer than they had ever been before. The space between them was nothing, just the shallow distance of shared breath. Nemona’s vivid orange eyes burned into his, intense and unreadable, searching for something he couldn’t quite grasp.
For a moment, neither moved. The world faded to silence, the only sound between them the heavy, uneven rhythm of their breathing.
Then, slowly—deliberately—Nemona leaned in.
Florian barely had time to process what was happening before her lips brushed against his. Soft. Tentative. A touch that sent a shockwave through his entire body.
He stiffened in surprise, his mind blanking under the weight of the sudden, unexpected kiss. But he didn’t pull away.
Instead, he let himself melt into it.
His free hand slid to her waist, fingers curling gently around her as he pulled her closer, deepening the kiss just enough to tell her he didn’t mind. That he wanted this too.
The two broke apart after a few seconds, looking at one another. Nemona smiled shyly, and Florian blushed.
"Florian, I..."
"Yeah...?"
"Will you battle me again? Like, every day?"
Florian sighed, before smiling up at Nemona. "Yeah... Yeah, I will."