Chapter 81: Jumping Into Conflict

The wind whipped across the deck of the St. Anne mam as I stood by the railing, gripping the egg in my arms. The ship was pulling away from the dock, the sea stretching endless ahead, its surface glistening in the sunlight. My Raichu was bouncing nervously at my side, as if sensing the tension building between us all.

Alisha leaned against the railing next to me, her grin sharp as a knife. "I get it. Erin's calm, honest, but she's got no common sense and a fear of Pokémon. But Punit, why'd you take advantage of her like that?"

Erin, standing to my other side, stared out over the water, her expression unchanged, calm as always. "I take advantage," she said quietly, "he does not."

I sighed, adjusting the egg in my arms. I could feel the weight of this conversation building, like a storm cloud about to break.

Alisha flashed her mischievous grin, that familiar spark of playful trouble lighting her eyes. "Listen, girl, he's mine. You might as well jump off the ship now."

Dumbfounded, I glanced at Lucy, who stood a few feet back, nervously clutching her satchel. She looked just as shocked as I felt, her lips parting as if she couldn't believe what she'd just heard.

Erin turned to Alisha, her voice as calm as the sea beneath us. "You jump."

Lucy, ever the quiet one, hesitated, her voice soft and filled with uncertainty. "You… you both jump."

I blinked. Even Alisha was at a loss for words. This conversation had gone off the rails faster than I could have predicted.

I handed the egg to Lucy. She gave me a shy smile, her fingers barely brushing mine as she accepted it. I took a step toward the railing, feeling the eyes of the passengers on me, their curious whispers carried by the wind.

"Don't fight," I said, the tension leaving my voice as I slipped into a relaxed tone, standing up on the railing, "let me jump."

Before anyone could react, my Raichu let out a sharp cry, leaping into my arms. He clung to me, his wide eyes filled with tears. I sighed, stepping down from the railing, holding him close.

"Don't worry," I whispered, my hand smoothing over his fur, "I'm not going anywhere."

His trembling slowly stopped, his breaths evening out as he drifted into sleep. I took a deep breath, turning back to the girls. "I've made a decision, but let's talk in my room."

Lucy, still holding my egg, nodded and murmured, "Room… room… room."

Alisha's grin returned as she shot Lucy a teasing glance. "What dirty things are you thinking, Lucy?"

I rolled my eyes, cradling Raichu gently. "We're ten. Act like it."

Alisha just laughed, but we all headed to my cabin, the tension between us simmering beneath the surface. Inside, the luxury of the room felt out of place compared to the storm swirling in the air between us. Lucy carefully placed my egg on the desk before sitting cross-legged on the floor, her fingers fiddling nervously with her scarf. Alisha and Erin followed suit, while I sat with Raichu still resting in my arms.

I broke the silence first, my voice as calm as I could manage. "Alisha, why are you so obsessed with marriage? We're just ten."

"What about my first kiss?" Alisha's voice had that teasing lilt again, but there was an edge to it this time.

I shrugged. "Erin hasn't said anything."

"Punit, kiss," Erin said, her tone completely unbothered. The room went dead silent as the rest of us stared at her in disbelief.

Alisha's jaw dropped, and she shot me an incredulous look. "You've made her addicted to you."

Lucy's voice, always soft and hesitant, broke through the awkward silence. "I… I want to…"

I turned, my gaze snapping to Lucy. For the first time, she was meeting my eyes directly, no longer hiding behind her hair. "Alisha, what did you do to Lucy?"

"Nothing!" Alisha defended herself, but I wasn't buying it.

"You're going to get killed by her parents," I muttered, but Alisha just laughed it off, not taking the warning seriously.

I let out a long sigh, adjusting Raichu in my arms. "Look, I've got goals. Until those are done, I'm not getting into any kind of relationship." The room went still, their eyes all on me. "We're all just ten. We've got plenty of time. We should focus on growing. Lucy wants to become a Pokémon breeder, Alisha, you want to compete in the Pokémon League, and Erin… well, Erin's got her own journey, too."

Alisha stood, her eyes flashing with anger. "Then you don't love us?"

I shook my head slowly. "I like you all, but I love my Pokémon more than anything. Marriage, love… that comes later. After I've completed my goals."

Alisha clenched her fists. "Then what's your goal?"

"Becoming a Pokémon Master," I said simply, my voice steady. "Winning the Pokémon leagues, defeating the Elite Four of every region, and beating every champion."

Lucy stood too, tears welling in her soft eyes. "What about my feelings?" Her voice broke as she cried, her sobs quiet but heartbreaking.

I sighed, the weight of the moment pressing down on me. "I'll choose someone eventually, but for now… let's just be friends. No more… intimate stuff. Especially you, Erin. I'm sorry."

Alisha's slap came out of nowhere, sharp and stinging across my cheek. Without another word, she stormed out of the room, Lucy following behind her, still wiping at her eyes.

Erin remained, standing up calmly. She walked over to me, her lips brushing against my cheek in a kiss. "I don't care," she whispered. "Staying by your side is enough for me. I'll just need more hugs and kisses."

She laid down on the bed, curling up and closing her eyes as if everything was normal. Meanwhile, I looked down at Raichu, still peacefully sleeping on my chest. I pressed a kiss to his head and laid back on the floor, letting exhaustion pull me into sleep as well.