Chapter 4: Rematch

                                    

                                          
"Sooo how'd the date go, eh?" Drayton said as he nudged Kieran in the arm with his elbow. Playful gold eyes met a cold yellow glare.
            "You knew, didn't you?" Kieran clenched his fists tightly. He gritted his teeth.
            "Sorry?"
            "Don't play dumb. You knew what you were doin', tryin' to set me up with that liar. Juliana, the girl who betrayed me many years ago? She took everything from me! An' she even had the nerve to say we were friends." Kieran pushed past Drayton and grabbed some battle items from his room. When he came back into the living room, he grabbed Drayton by the collar of his shirt and got up in his face. Drayton held up his hands in surrender. "I don't know what the hell you're tryin' to do. But whatever it is, stop." Kieran let go and walked out the front door.
            "You going out to train?"
            "What's it matter to you?"
            "Just be safe out there. It's late. Your sister would kill me if something happened."
            "I'm not a kid anymore. I'm fine." And with that, Kieran had gone out to the grassy areas just outside of Cascarrafa to train his Pokémon. 
            "Incineroar, use flare blitz! Hydrapple, combine with the attack using fickle beam!" Kieran commanded his Pokémon. That's right, I need to get stronger. Stronger so I can finally take her down. His mind kept wandering to Juliana. You're just like everyone else. Why did you lie to me? Why did the ogre pick you? How can you get everything—strength, friends, Pokemon... hell, even grand adventures—and I get absolutely nothing? It's just not fair...
            It wasn't before long that Kieran didn't realize that he fell asleep underneath a nearby tree. His body felt heavy and he slumped down against the trunk.
            "This bracelet is so pretty! Thank you, Kiki!" Juliana said with a smile that was as sweet as one of the candy apples from the festival. She showed off her bracelet. It looked beautiful.
            "Ehehe... I'm glad you like it!" Kieran laughed with a light dust of warmth that formed on his cheeks. He hoped that the girl before him hadn't noticed. "Hey, let's check out over there!" He pointed at a stall nearby that showcased balloons that looked like different masks.
            "What's this?"
            "It's Ogre Oustin'. You up for a run, Juliana? I did one just now." Carmine said. "It was pretty easy—for me, that is. My score was 6,390! Think you can do better?"
            "I can try!" Juliana said with a look of determination. She hopped onto the Stantler and began the game. In the end, she managed to beat Carmine's high score, despite it only being her first try.
            "I've been defeated?! I hate losing! I wanna have another go to get even, but I'm all out of pocket money..."
            "Good job, Juliana!" Kieran cheered.
            "What's that? You're taking the side of an outsider over your own sister?! C'mon, Kiki, you need to play!"
            "N-no!"
            "But we've gotta prove that our sibling power is unbeatable!" Carmine dragged her brother over to the stall.
            "Ugh... Sorry she's causin' such a scene. Don't worry—I'll deal with her. Why don'tcha go wander around a bit in the meantime?" Kieran suggested to Juliana. He was forced to play the game, despite his pleas against his sister.