Pokemon: Thunder & Fire

Episode XV: The Warrior & The Captain

Akio collapsed onto the ground with a heavy thud, the breath knocked out of him. "Argh..." he groaned, his body aching from the relentless training. Sweat dripped from his fur, dampening the wood beneath him.

"You keep thinking too much," Kenshi remarked, his voice a calm contrast to Akio's ragged breathing. With slow, deliberate movements, Kenshi reached up and removed his blindfold, his fingers carefully untying the knot.

"What else am I supposed to do?" Akio muttered, his voice tinged with frustration as he struggled to push himself up. His arms shook under the weight of his own exhaustion, but he forced himself into a sitting position, wiping a bit of sweat from his brow.

"Thinking... that's my strength," he added, his tone softening as he pressed a hand over his chest. The gesture was instinctive as if reminding himself of who he was. His mind had always been his greatest asset; analyzing, strategizing, staying one step ahead. Without that, what was left?

"Thinking always comes with a delay," Kenshi said, his tone calm but firm, like a hammer hitting an anvil. He stepped closer, casting a long shadow over Akio, his figure tall and imposing. "In combat, even the smallest hesitation can cost you everything." Kenshi's gaze bore down on him, sharp and unyielding.

"So I shouldn't think at all? I should just... act without thought?" Akio's frustration simmered beneath the surface, his voice tight as he looked up at Kenshi. He clenched his fists, the dirt shifting under his fingers as he tried to keep his emotions in check.

"How is that supposed to help me?" he demanded, his voice growing louder, more insistent. The words were laced with irritation, but also confusion. He had always relied on his mind, his ability to analyze a situation and find the perfect solution.

"Not that either," Kenshi replied, his voice as calm as ever, completely unfazed by Akio's outburst. "I don't want you to force anything," he continued, his tone soft but firm, as if speaking a truth that Akio hadn't yet come to understand.

"What!?" Akio's voice shot up, his eyes wide with disbelief. His mind raced, trying to process what his sensei had just said. "You want me to do... nothing!?" His tone held a sharp edge of bewilderment, almost bordering on frustration.

"Both yes and no," Kenshi replied evenly, his calm demeanor only deepening the waves of confusion washing over Akio.

The Jolteon's brow furrowed, his frustration mounting. He could feel the answer slipping just out of his reach, no matter how hard he tried to grasp it. "What's that supposed to mean?" Akio asked, his voice tinged with desperation now.

"The current you. I don't want the current you to do anything," Kenshi stated calmly, his words measured as he slowly moved toward the door of the training room. He opened it with deliberate care, as if emphasizing the importance of what he'd just said.

Akio, still sitting on the floor, stared after him in utter bewilderment. His head spun as he tried to make sense of it. "The... current me?" he echoed, standing up slowly, his expression caught between confusion and the faint hope that there was more to this than he understood.

"Yes," Kenshi replied, his voice remaining calm, yet somehow enigmatic. "Think about the answer... we'll revisit it tomorrow, after your class." He stepped out of the room, leaving Akio standing there, still trying to grasp the meaning of his teacher's words.

The quiet settled in around him, but Akio's mind was anything but calm. His thoughts raced in circles, the cryptic message echoing in his head as he struggled to piece it together.