complexrestart | 015 [video/action]

[Rika is currently sitting under a tree on the outskirts of Violet City, and she's holding a badge in her hands.] Mii. I am sorry that I did not tell anyone that I would be challenging Falkner today. Satoko, I thought it would be better to show you a more even battle since I was too strong for Falkner and the battle went by quickly... I was not able to fight to my fullest, and I want to show you what my team is really like.

[She's silent as she shifts around, putting the badge down on the ground and picking up her Shinx and setting it in her lap.] ... I have also been thinking about Johto and everyone here lately. We all come from different places, and I've wondered if, given the choice, would you go back home right now? Would you forget all of the memories you've made here?

Or would you prefer to bring all of your loved ones here, and leave your home behind? ... Or maybe you would leave all of your loved ones at home and just stay here? [Rika opens her mouth again as she prepares to say something else when her Shinx licks her on the cheek. Her attention immediately turns to the pokémon and she smiles at it.]

Mii? Would you like something to eat? [Rika cuts off the feed as she reaches into her bag to look for food.]

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Yes. Johto may be a very happy place, but... it is also a very sad one.

Yet we always forget about its sadness, unless it affects us directly.

[She nods.] Maybe we should help those who are affected by the sadness.

We'd have to know who they are, first. Some people never mention that their friends have disappeared, and keep their sadness to themselves.

Mii... I wish people would not hold their sadness in like that.

Some people can only show their true feelings around their close friends, never where they can be seen by others. That can even be an advantage, under certain circumstances.

That is true. However, some people cannot even show their true emotions around their close friends.

...Those people must be the ones who feel saddest, when it comes down to it.

[She looks away from the gear for a moment.] I agree. However, there is nothing you can do about it.

Indeed. I have little talent for guessing people's hidden feelings. It caused much trouble at home.

Mii. I am sorry to hear that.

It's fine. Taling frankly together made everything better, after some time.

Good. Talking things out always helps.

Of course, we had to practically force the words out of my friend, but the results were worth it.

How did you force them out?

Mostly by being extremely distressed after an incident that involved mind-controlled and a close brush with death. I think we accidentally guilt-tripped him into talking.

Mii... that must have been very tough to go through.

It was. But we became used to it, after some time.

Coming here after all of that must have been a shock, since Johto is so calm.

It was. The difference between 'in the middle of a lunar cave with a group of twenty' and 'alone in a bedroom with a strange woman calling herself my mother downstairs' was a bit too much for me at first.