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Kai and Erika had no trouble finding a mid-sized passenger. However, the ferry wasn't a direct route it would stop at the Whirl Islands for a brief layover before continuing on. While this detour added time to the journey, it was still their best option.
They bought their tickets and found seats on the open deck, where the salty sea breeze brushed past them. Before long, the ship gave a gentle shudder and slowly pulled away from the harbor.
Kai released Eevee the one he'd received from Koume.
It was clearly Eevee's first time on a ship. The little Pokémon was wide-eyed with excitement, darting to the railing to stare at the vast ocean and then scampering around the deck. But after a few minutes of sprinting, its energy faded perhaps from seasickness. It curled up at Kai's feet and didn't move again.
"Seasick already, huh?" Kai chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. He let his gaze drift toward the sea.
Cruising across the water was surprisingly refreshing. After so much fast-paced traveling, it was nice to slow down and enjoy the breeze. Time itself felt like it was moving more gently.
He grabbed two cocktails from the deckside bar and returned to Erika. The two sipped their drinks and chatted, enjoying this rare moment of relaxation.
The ferry sliced through the waves, leaving twin trails of white foam in its wake. But even with the calm setting, the repetitive scenery soon wore thin, and their enthusiasm waned.
After about half an hour of sailing, Kai was lounging in a deck chair, nearly dozing off, when an old man sat down beside them.
At first, he simply sat quietly. But as the monotony of the trip wore on, he struck up a conversation.
The man was charming and articulate, with a sharp perspective on the world. He introduced himself as a native of the Whirl Islands and knew the area intimately.
He spoke of the islands' peculiarities like a group of Pidgey that lived there. But unlike normal ones, these were enormous, at least three times the typical size. Their bodies had become so heavy, they'd lost the ability to fly altogether.
"Flightless Pidgey?" Kai asked, raising an eyebrow. "You mean they… devolved?"
The oddity piqued their curiosity, and they leaned in, eager to hear more.
From the old man's stories, Kai learned that "Whirl Island" wasn't a single island at all but an archipelago.
The region was made up of four major islands: Blue Rock Island, Red Rock Island, Yellow Rock Island, and Silver Rock Island, along with several smaller islets. Together, they formed a spiral-like shape surrounded by dangerous whirlpools, which made sailing to them nearly impossible in ancient times. Only with modern ferries had the area become accessible.
He even shared a bit of ancient lore: it was said that the Whirl Islands were once a single, massive landmass. A seismic event had shattered it into four. Deep beneath the ocean's surface, a labyrinth of shadowy underwater caverns now connected the islands.
And in those dark depths, it was rumored that Lugia, the legendary guardian of the seas, could be found.
That name struck a chord in Kai's memory he recalled the Lugia he had encountered in the Orange Islands. But that one had been different. If he remembered correctly, the Lugia native to Johto was actually a mother and her offspring two in total.
At that moment, the old man glanced down at the curled-up Eevee.
"You're here for the Water-type Pokémon tournament, aren't you?" he asked.
Kai and Erika exchanged looks, both confused. "Water-type tournament?"
They shook their heads.
"We didn't even know there was a competition," Kai admitted. "What's it about?"
The man's eyes lit up. "Then you're in luck!"
He explained enthusiastically: "It's held in Kugia City, on Blue Rock Island. Every three years, Water-type Trainers from across the region gather to compete. The champion wins a hefty cash prize and a fair bit of fame, too! As Trainers, you shouldn't miss an opportunity like this."
Kai wasn't interested in fame but money was another story.
He still wasn't satisfied with his finances. The idea of a lucrative tournament made his eyes light up.
He turned to Erika and from the way she smiled, he knew she understood exactly what he was thinking.
"Then let's enter," she said with a playful tone. "A tournament like this will definitely attract strong Trainers. It'll be good training for your Pokémon."
Kai nodded, then asked, "Are you joining too?"
Erika laughed gently. "I'm a Grass-type Trainer, remember? I don't exactly carry a lot of Water-types around."
By mid-afternoon, around 3 PM, the ferry reached Kugia City on Blue Rock Island, the capital of the Whirl Islands and the most bustling port in the region.
Originally, Kai and Erika had planned to continue straight to his next location. But now, with the Water-type tournament on their radar, they disembarked here instead.
As soon as they stepped into the city, they were greeted by a wave of noise and excitement.
The tournament had drawn in a massive crowd Trainers, tourists, vendors, fans. The streets were packed.
Kai's first stop was the local Pokémon Center, where he registered for the tournament preliminaries. He also hoped to book a room there but Nurse Joy regretfully told him every room had already been taken by other competitors.
No luck.
They checked nearby hotels and inns, but it was the same story everywhere completely booked.
Finally, with little choice left, Kai rented a luxury suite in a hotel closest to the tournament arena.
It was expensive, but at least it was available.
Of course… it came with a complication.
They'd be sharing one room. Just the two of them.
An unspoken tension began to settle between them.
Throughout their journey together, they hadn't even shared a tent in the wild. Jumping straight into a private suite… felt suspiciously like a couple booking a romantic getaway.
The thought hung in the air, unspoken.
But neither of them addressed it.
Not yet.
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