Arceus, I loved swimming in Vermilion City. The warmth of the sun, the breeze in my hair, the smell of the sea, the sounds of the world around me… it all felt so freeing. Cerulean would always carry a place in my heart—it was my home, after all—but their indoor pools just couldn't compare to the real thing. Besides, I was known as the Tomboyish Mermaid for a reason. Trying to keep me away from natural water was like expecting a Goldeen to be happy being stuck in an aquarium.

I was walking across the beach, when I bumped into someone whose mind had clearly gone fishing. At least I had the reason of drying myself off, and trying to find a new spot to relax in that wasn't overflowing with kids, or sleazeball pick-up artists fishing for 'a good time'. (Jerks.) What was their excuse‽

"Hey!" I said, before I closed my eyes, and took a deep breath before I exploded on them. As much as I tried to squelch my temper, that didn't stop me from giving them the fish eye as I sized them up… and as I did, a million thoughts stormed in my mind. Did they recognize me? If they did, was it because I was a Gym Leader, or were they one of my more… impassioned fans? If they were a Trainer, would they be expecting a battle for a Gym Badge? (I didn't mind, but it was supposed to be my day off.) If they were a fan, just how deep did their interest in me run?

But these thoughts weren't getting me anywhere. If I wanted answers, I'd have to talk to them… and that meant owning up to my part in our little crash.

"Look… sorry that I wasn't watching where I was going," I said. I was still a bit crabby, but at least tried to make it sound like I was genuine, because… well, I was. I looked them in their eye, and waited to hear what they had to say… and if one of those things wasn't an apology, they were definitely gonna be diving into hot water.