"So this is the Galar region!" Duri sounded excited as he kept on taking photos of the scenery from the airport. "Oh my God Satoshi was not kidding when he said this place was awesome." 

"Don't forget why we're here, though," Fuyuhiko chuckled. "Wild Area first remember?" 

The programmer stopped and flushed slightly, stopping his photo spree, "R-Right. S-Sorry."

"Hey, don't worry. You've never been here before right?" he asked. 

Duri shook his head, "Not really. Just Kanto and Hoenn." 

"Then don't sweat it," he chuckled, grabbing the other's hand, "Now come on! We have Pokemon to catch then people to visit!" 

He was very glad Duri was unable to see the flush on his cheeks thanks to the sunglasses. Otherwise, he would be in an awkward position. There was no way he was going to put himself in THAT situation. 

But the hand just felt so warm. He really liked this feeling, and if Duri's tight grip on his own hand was any indication, he found it nice as well. 

Still, he tried to stay neutral. He didn't want to set himself up for romantic failure. Plus, Duri could definitely find a better person than a temperamental jerk, he thought darkly. 

Thankfully, those thoughts faded off as they bought the equipment for camping out and then headed out to the Wild Area, with Duri taking photos of the various Pokemon there. Some new Pokemon were there too, Fuyuhiko noted. Some he didn't recognise at all, which was weird, considering he had been to all the regions before.

.... Well, the only place he hadn't been to was... 

He shook his head again. No, he was NOT about to think about that place. He had promised for Fic's sake that he wouldn't try to think about what happened there. Not after what Fic had gone through in that region. No matter how curious he was, he couldn't!

He sighed and then noticed Duri tugging him slightly in a different direction. Where was he going?

He seemed quite focused on it, which confused Fuyuhiko, but soon he understood as the two hid and Duri pointed to the Kusune licking its paw as it ate some berries from a tree. 

"A Dark-type. Gulus and Betel are bound to be resistant to it, so let's-" 

"Wait," Duri shook his head. "I think that little one could be helpful in the battle." 

"It isn't even fully evolved yet!" Fuyuhiko protested. 

"Trust me on this," Duri met his gaze with a determined look. "I... I think I want to catch it." 

"We need a strong team of Pokemon if we want to beat Team Alpha!" he hissed. "Don't forget that's why we came here." 

"You can never underestimate a Pokemon," Duri said in reply. "I'll battle it and prove to you that it's strong on its own." 

Once again, Fuyuhiko was struck by how... how simple yet impactful his words were. It expressed his determination so, so well. 

After a while, he could only sigh, "Fine, but be careful Duri." 

Duri smiled, "No promises."

Then he stepped closer to it and called out, "Hey, Kusune, can we battle please?" 

The Pokemon looked over to Duri, and blinked in confusion, but once Y came out it immediately got into a battle stance, seeming intrigued by this turn of events. 

"Y, use Juumanbolt!" Duri yelled, and the Electric-type charged up before throwing it at the Kusune. 

"Sune!" it then used Quick Attack on the Thunders, sending it back. 

"Volt Tackle!" 

"Thun!" 

"Sune sune!" Fuyuhiko could only gape as the Foul Play hit Y hard again. What the heck!? It had to be one strong Kusune, alright.

"Now, use Denkousenka and keep your distance as you run around the Kusune!" Duri called out. 

"Der!" he agreed and used the move to kick up dust all around the Kusune. 

With a start, Fuyuhiko realised something. Was this... Was this supposed to be a way to blind it? 

His guess turned out to be true and the Kusune rubbed its eyes, seemingly unable to attack. 

He could only watch as Duri quickly ordered a Tackle on the now-blinded Kusune before using Quick Attack with rapid succession. 

He was wearing it out slowly, but not a lot because he was worried for its health, he suddenly understood. And the dust-kicking was to keep it from hurting his own Pokemon. 

Wow, that was one sick strategy, and he had to give it to Duri for thinking it up on the spot, which did give him a victory as the Kusune was defeated, lying on the ground and panting hard. 

"You did great Y," Duri called back his ace before walking up to the Kusune, who flinched and shifted away, only for him to stop and sit down on the ground, asking, "Hey, that was an awesome battle. You're really strong! And I like your spirit a lot, Kusune! So... would you like to work together as a team?" 

"K-Kusune?" it looked up at him, a surprised look clear, but slowly, a smile formed on its face as it nodded slowly. 

"Alright then. Fuyuhiko, you got some berries?" he asked. 

"Here," he took out some from his bag and handed it to the other, who fed it to the Kusune.  Once it finished chewing, it got up and jumped up and down, eagerly looking at Duri with a smile. 

"I guess it wants you to catch it," Fuyuhiko guessed. 

"Does seem like it," Duri smiled, getting out a spare Monster Ball. "Alright, you ready?" 

"Kune!" it chirped, and he smiled again before he threw it gently and let it hit the Kusune's snout, bringing it into the ball and spinning thrice, eventually sending off the ring of stars that both were familiar with. 

"Welcome to the team, Kettei," Duri picked up the ball, a smile on his face. 

Fuyuhiko snorted, "Well, you've proven yourself to me, alright. You got a good eye. How did you know that it was strong though?" 

Duri simply shrugged, "Instinct from fighting all those villains in Hoenn I suppose." 

Natsuri, his Tairetsu, then snuggled up to Duri, making the other laugh as he kneeled down to pet it. 

Fuyuhiko felt a pang of jealousy rush through him, and, as he tried to distract himself, he noticed a Gantle not too far off, "Hey Duri, I think we found another one!" 

Duri's head swiveled up, and his eyes narrowed, calling out Meramelion, "Let's go get ourselves a new friend, Mera!" 

"SHISHI!" he roared in reply before the two rushed off, and Fuyuhiko internally sighed in relief. Thank goodness for that save, otherwise, he would be down one member and Fuyuhiko didn't want that, especially since Natsuri was his best team member. 

... 

Wait, hold on. Was he JEALOUS? Jealous of Natsuri? Wait what!?

Seriously, he really was dumb at times!