Pokémon: Above the Top

Suddenly, a flurry of crisp slapping sounds echoed through the crowd. Everyone turned to look and saw that the Trainer who had just caught a Lapras was now kneeling on the beach, violently slapping himself.

…Smack!

…Smack!!

…Smack!!!

Over and over, each slap harder than the last, heavier than the one before!

Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth. His ears began to bleed. Both sides of his face were so swollen they were unrecognizable… yet he still didn't stop for a moment.

"I was wrong!"

…Smack!

"I shouldn't have tried to take advantage and catch Lapras."

…Smack!

"I shouldn't have shattered Lapras's last bit of trust in humans."

…Smack!

"I shouldn't have encouraged everyone to become bad people like me."

…Smack!

"I was wrong!"

…Smack!

"I shouldn't have caught Lapras…"

---

At first, the crowd was baffled. Then a subtle fear began to grow among them.

A living, breathing, selfish person… why would he suddenly kneel down and confess like this in such a frenzy?

Those nearby even saw a tooth fly out and land in the sand, tinged with blood.

What on earth could make someone treat themselves this cruelly?

Sato slowly stepped forward, flanked by Zoroark and Ariados.

The aura of two Ace Pokémon was already terrifying to ordinary people. Zoroark's and Ariados's cold, piercing gazes instantly stunned many in the crowd.

Even though Sato hadn't said a word, even though he hadn't admitted to doing anything to that man, everyone watching felt an overwhelming certainty.

'It was him!'

"Just finished wiping out a poacher ship, and now I walk into a scene like this. So, tell me… who else wants to catch a Lapras?"

Sato's tone was calm, as if he were talking about something utterly trivial, but everyone's heart turned cold.

'…Wiped out a poacher ship?'

They didn't even have the courage to stand against ruthless criminals like that, and yet this guy had already taken them out.

"It's him, it's him! That devil Trainer from the Johto Region, Sato!"

Having appeared in multiple headlines, Sato wasn't completely unknown in Sinnoh. It wasn't surprising that someone recognized him.

And just like that, his reputation only grew, making everyone even more afraid to act recklessly.

"WHO ELSE!?"

Sato suddenly turned fierce. Just as the crowd was still processing his identity, he shouted sharply.

At the same time, Ariados and Zoroark released their full aura without restraint, pushing it down hard over the entire crowd.

Faces changed all around. Everyone involuntarily took several steps back, staring at Sato with fear.

One moment calm, the next roaring.

…He didn't even give people a chance to prepare.

In such a situation, the crowd fell completely silent. No one dared to stick their head out now.

"Good. Because if anyone does, they might end up just like him. Kneeling in repentance, with no idea when it'll end.

You agree, don't you?" Sato suddenly turned and looked at the kneeling Trainer.

The man had finally stopped slapping himself, but there wasn't a single intact patch of skin left on his face.

He nodded blankly at Sato, trembling as he pulled out a Poké Ball, switched it to release mode, and released the Lapras he had caught less than an hour ago.

"Pras~"

A clearly juvenile Lapras appeared before the crowd. After getting its bearings, it stumbled and crawled back toward the group.

Seeing their kin return, the Lapras group erupted in joy. Their physical exhaustion had already been largely eased by Joseph and his healing team, and this long-lost feeling of relief filled them with happiness.

The Lapras group looked gratefully at the three people before them. Even though Sato and Zoroark looked quite fierce, the Lapras knew that the three of them… were good people!

Bee-doo~ Bee-doo~ Bee-doo~

Alarm sounds echoed from afar. The crowd quickly realized there was no more excitement to watch and, eager to leave this cursed place, they dispersed almost instantly.

"I'm Officer Jenny from Pastoria City. I heard there was a poacher incident. Can you explain exactly what happened?"

Wearing her blue uniform, Officer Jenny stopped someone who looked rather panicked. She stared them down with a probing gaze, but after a while, still couldn't get a clear answer.

The only ones left at the scene were Sato and the other two, along with a few Trainers who genuinely wanted to help Joseph tend to Lapras.

Jenny gave the area a general sweep, then walked directly toward the others.

Sato had no intention of chatting with Jenny, so he joined Joseph and Mark in continuing the Lapras treatment.

Each Lapras was quite large, and most had been injured multiple times. Even with Joseph's speed, they were still far from done.

About ten minutes later, while crouching and bandaging a Lapras's rear leg, Sato suddenly noticed a shadow blocking his light.

He looked up and saw a pair of long, white, straight-

"You're Sato, right? Please take me to where the poacher ship came ashore. I need to eliminate the possibility that you're one of their accomplices."

"…" Sato expressionlessly looked away and continued wrapping the Lapras's wound.

'…Same leg, but why the difference so drastic?'

"Sato, please cooperate with my investigation, or else…"

Officer Jenny, sounding like a fool, actually pulled out handcuffs as a threat.

"Can't you see we're treating the Lapras? You show up after everything's over, and now you want to interrogate us like you're the boss? Who do you think you are?"

Before Sato could say anything, Mark already snapped back sarcastically, "If we'd waited for you to deal with the poachers, every Lapras would be gone by now. How about learning to prioritize? Help us first!"

"You-" Officer Jenny glared at Mark coldly, ready to release her Pokémon to make an arrest without hesitation.

Sato sighed. While he didn't want to criticize Jenny's way of doing things, every Officer Jenny he'd ever encountered -aside from those perfect legs- seemed to lack a functioning brain.

Was he just unlucky?

Or was he fated to clash with every Officer Jenny?

Sato felt genuinely troubled.

"I am a Gym Inspector officially appointed by the Sinnoh League, Sato. As a superior officer, I'm ordering you not to interfere with our work. If you care so much about the case, walk ten minutes east and you'll find your answer."

Sato directly pulled out his most effective "Sinnoh ID" and coldly ordered Jenny.

Jenny froze, then after verifying the badge, gave him a salute with a blank face before getting on her motorcycle and riding off.

Watching her figure disappear, Sato suddenly grinned. He couldn't help wondering what kind of face she'd make when she saw a sailboat engulfed in flames.

"Hmph!"

Sato turned his head and saw Mark deliberately huffing at him, then turning away.

"Still mad? Maybe I've spoiled you too much lately… you seem to have forgotten who's boss."

Sato smiled faintly. An apology? Out of the question.

A beating would've been better.