"Dan, what the heck are you thinking-" 

Unfortunately, as his luck with romance would have it, he ran straight into the store where Dan, Fic, and someone with chestnut-brown hair and green eyes was staring at each other. 

His mouth opened for multiple reasons. One, why was Dan Kouzo, known to be very oblivious to romance, BLUSHING? Two, why was Fic, who was supposed to be in MASANA TOWN helping with the ghoul gathering, here? Three, who was the other guy? Four, where was Gulus- oh, never mind, he was eating chocolate with the other three, wait, was he ENJOYING THIS- 

Fuyuhiko was sure he could have a panic on the spot. All 4 liked chocolate? ALL FOUR?

"Oi, Hiro, if you're done having a gay panic, can we go now?" Weles yawned as he munched on some chocolate. 

"R-Right," the stranger quickly broke eye contact with the other, a flush clear before the five took off, pushing past Fuyuhiko to get out. 

"Hey wait!" Fuyuhiko quickly chased after them, calling out his Uonoragon and getting onto him as he yelled, "Go after them, Fuyumi!" 

"Raura!" he cheered as he went after the group. He could hear Dan and Fic following him from behind, if the calls for Arcleon and GUILT were any indication. 

He grabbed his phone and called Peko again, yelling as soon as it got through, "Find someone named Hiro with chestnut brown hair and green eyes! I don't know how deep this person's in with Team Alpha but it might be a trainer relationship!" 

"Got it!" the sounds of keyboard clacking echoed in his ear. "What happened?"

"I think your leader decided that he wanted to get a crush!" Fuyuhiko couldn't keep the sarcasm out of his tone when he answered Lia.

"What?! Danny boy has a crush!? I mean sure we knew he had a crush on the SRS' leader, but still!"

"Wait, he likes Fic? Is that why he was staring at both Hiro and Fic at the store?" Fuyuhiko nearly fell off from that piece of information. What had the world come to!? Two supposedly rational people had crushes on a villain! A villain! 

Wait, Dan was not rational- 

Actually, compared to that cute dumb idiot he was-

Fuyuhiko felt the heat rush to his cheeks when he thought of the programmer, but shook his head as he ordered Fuyumi to go faster. He couldn't allow them to get away this time!

As he turned the corner though, the Fossil Pokemon froze, and Fuyuhiko did too. 

Speak of the person and he shall appear. What the heck? How did Duri get into all this?

Yet there he was, blocking Hiro's path with his three Pokemon. 

"Get out of there you idiot!" Fuyuhiko yelled. "They're really powerful!" 

Duri scowled, and met his eyes bravely, reminding him of a reckless flame. 

One he had seen before, one he recognised well. 

His grip on his Uonoragon tightened, but he didn't say anything more. He knew what that meant; Duri wanted to prove himself. But why? Why was he trying so hard?

"Get out of the way, human!" Gulus snarled. "Or we'll have to get rid of you ourselves!" 

Duri inhaled, and seemed to mutter something about being part of the SRS before he yelled, "Y use Quick Attack! Sleep, Surprise Attack! Meramelion, Flame Emission!" 

"Gulus, use Dark Blow!" Hiro quickly countered. "Betel, Flame Wheel! Weles, Consecutive Cutter! Kaus, Crunch!" 

The attacks collided, but no one seemed to be affected much aside from the close combat attackers. Duri's side was definitely worse for wear, but they seemed to be handling it pretty well. 

"Y, hit Kaus with Thunder Fang! Sleep, Yawn on Weles and Betel! Meramelion, Rock Smash on Gulus!" 

He was using type advantages on two of them and letting down the guard of the others at the same time. Interesting! He was sure that if Duri had stayed a trainer he would be a tough one. 

"Grrr.. Kaus, Gulus, dodge! Let's get out of here!" Hiro commanded, which the two obeyed as the teen rushed over to Kaus and climbed onto him, getting three Pokeballs out and calling the 3 back before yelling, "Wing Strike on the three! Kick up some dust, Kaus!" 

"Got it!" Kaus understood and rushed at the three. 

"Rapid Spin to block, Sleep!" Duri said. 

"Nekkoaraaaa!!!" 

It did deflect the attack, but it kicked up some gusts of wind that blinded them for a moment. Once their eyes readjusted, Fuyuhiko noticed that they were gone. 

Yet he didn't feel anger. 

Just... amazement at the battle he had seen. Was that actually someone who hadn't battled for 2 years?

So powerful, so fiery...   Was this the true Cha Duri?

Duri, on the other hand, seemed angry as his fists tightened, "Dang it, I'm really rusty." 

"Fuyuhiko- Duri!?" Fic yelped as they and Dan arrived, with Arcleon and GUILT being called back before they rushed over. "What happened?! Where's that Hiro guy?!" 

"Hiro was their trainer, and we had a battle," Duri answered, adjusting his glasses slightly with a twitch of the lips downwards as his fists tightened. "They got away though." 

"Actually scratch that, how did you end up here!?" Dan demanded. 

"I wanted to buy some additional refreshments, but noticed you guys chasing them and decided to join in to help." 

"That was still dangerous!" Fic chided. "Geez, Duri, don't scare us like that!" 

"Sorry," he sheepishly smiled despite the frustration in his eyes. "I just-"

"Was it because of what I said?" Fuyuhiko suddenly asked him. 

Here, Duri flinched while Dan and Fic turned to him, eyes wide. 

"What DID you say to him?" Dan asked, frowning. 

"Something about being a spoiled brat...?" Fuyuhiko flinched seeing Fic's stormy look. Was that the wrong move? Thankfully, soon they calmed down and asked Fuyuhiko, "Were you stressed about this?" 

"Sorta..." he rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry about that Duri." 

"No it's fine," Duri sighed. "You're right anyway. I did let my guard down." 

"Duri-" 

"Fic, don't even try," he tiredly said, turning around. "Let's just head home." 

"Duri..." Fic frowned. 

Yet, as they and Fic headed back to their base in silence, Fuyuhiko was quietly thinking. 

That flame, that determination burning in his eyes...

He knew it all too well, didn't he?

"Brother, brother! Look at this new move I just thought up! Isn't it powerful?" 

Natsumi...

He closed his eyes, and a mirthless smile formed on his lips. 

Gosh, Cha Duri was a piece of work indeed, just like his younger sister.

Hopefully he didn't get into a coma as she had. Fuyuhiko didn't know how he would cope with that...