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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.

It was for me as well. I was expecting to wake up in Hinamizawa, but I woke up here.

Hinamizawa is the name of your home? Is it that different from Johto's cities?

Yes. Everyone knows one another, while new people are showing up here every week.

That is a rather important difference indeed. Though at least it means that you can make many new friends, which must be harder in a small town.

[Rika nods.] I have enjoyed making many friends here.

That is good. You can never have too many friends.

I agree. I don't know what I would do without them.

Spend boring, lonely days by yourself, probably?

Probably. I would not even have the will to move forward in my life.

My own life would also be terrible if I was friendless in this world. It's lucky we both made many friends here, then.

Yes. I may have my pokémon with me, but I don't know what I would do while traveling between towns.

Normally I would suggest talking with the locals, but some of the trainers on the road have rather limited interests and conversation subjects. I find them somewhat strange, at times.