Leaving the stadium with the rest of the contestants, after leaving reporters swarmed certain trainers and asked them questions. Majority of the reporters surrounded Chelsea and Charlie and the rest other ranked trainers from last year.
Surprisingly, four reporters came up to Daikon.
"Daikon Klein, can we have a moment of your time?"
"Uh, sure." Daikon said.
"Do you feel any guilt about entering this tournament without the proper credentials?"
Daikon knew this question was coming because the professor warned him. "Though on paper I don't have any business being here, the last 7 months I have been training very hard. I believe in my strength and my Pokemon's strength that we will do well in this tournament."
"Do you think Jared Hyet's sentencing was too light?"
"Elite 4 Bruno Siba already gave him a sentence. There is no point in voicing my opinion."
"The little girl you saved, Joelle Fontaine, have you seen here since the accident?"
"I visited her and her mother before coming here. They are doing well."
Daikon pardoned himself and walked back towards his villa. He noticed that many trainers were throwing glances his way but he ignored them and continued walking.
"Hey celebrity! Where are you going?" a loud voice called out.
Daikon turned and saw a tall man walking towards him with a scowl on his face. He tried to remember his name… Jason? He ranked 11th last year.
"It's Daikon." he replied coolly.
"No man, you are a celebrity. Celebrity of the Kanto region, right?" Jason said mockingly.
Daikon gave him a long look before turning around and walking away.
"Hey! Get your ass back here you bitch!"
Daikon ignored him and continued walking. Jason continued to yell and cuss at him but he didn't pay any attention to it. Soon Daikon was out of earshot and made it to his villa. Entering his bedroom he collapsed onto his bed, mentally exhausted. Suddenly bright flash of light appeared and Espeon appeared next to him.
"Espy."
Espeon nudged his face. 'Cheer up master.'
"Do you think we can actually win this?" Daikon asked, feeling somewhat nervous.
'I believe in our strength.'
Daikon gave a nod, agreeing with her. A knock on the door made Daikon and Espeon stared at the door. Joel peeked in.
"Hey, do you want to go to the hot springs?" Joel asked.
"Hot springs?" he asked, curiously.
"Yeah, there is a huge hot springs here."
'Please master! Please!'
Espeon cried in his mind, loving hot springs and water.
Daikon shook his head lightly while smiling. "Okay let's go." Daikon grabbed a pair of shorts and towel.
He followed Joel, passing by the other villas. Daikon saw that a few other trainers were heading towards the hot springs to. Espeon walked beside Daikon, enjoying the view. He noticed that a few other pokemon were following their trainers. He saw a Skitty, Aipom and Luxray following their trainers. Espeon trotted next to the Skitty and started running around it. Skitty was surprised and looked up at its trainer who gave a slight nod. Skitty gave a happy cry and started to play with Espeon.
Daikon smiled and made small talk with Joel while Espeon and Skitty played around. Soon they made it to the hot springs. It was halfway up a mountain with an outcropping of rocks, a stream of piping hot water was coming out from the mountain. A large building with an eastern design was next to it with a sign that said 'Indigo Plateau Hot Springs' in large font.
Walking into the building, Daikon and Joel went into the boy's change room. The hot springs was coed so they were all wearing swimsuits. Taking his shirt off, the rest of the change room went silent. Looking up he saw everyone staring at his scars criss crossing his body.
Daikon gave a light laugh, "Come on guys, I'm not gay."
Most of them snorted and looked away but Joel continued to look.
"Sorry… I didn't know it was that bad…" Joel muttered finally looking away.
"It's fine." Daikon said, but decided to put his shirt back on. They walked out into and saw steaming pools of water. Daikon choose one away from most people. As he slid into the water, he let out an audible sigh. Closing his eyes, Daikon relaxed and let the hot water seep into his pores. Joel followed him and entered the water.
"Man you see these girls? Unbelievable." Joel said, wiping the drool off his chin.
"Majority of them are aura cultivators. Of course the will have attractive features." Daikon said, not opening his eyes. His grandfather had warned him that women can be the downfall for men and that he shouldn't be tempted easily.
"I thought you were not gay?"
This caused Daikon's eye to twitch and finally opening his eyes. He followed Joel's line of sight and saw some beautiful girls in bikinis. The only had their feet in the water, showing off their long smooth legs. Daikon nodded his head, appreciating the view.
Espeon showed up suddenly with a pair on oranges in her mouth. She placed them in front of Daikon. 'Hungry?'
Daikon raised an eyebrow at her, "Are you causing trouble again?"
'Of course not.' she said, sounding hurt that he would suggest that.
Rolling his eyes at her, he still tool the oranges and started peeling them. Giving one to Espeon and eating one himself.
Espeon ate the orange happily, getting juice on her fur. Daikon laughed and rubbed her head.
Daikon heard some yells and curses coming from somewhere but ignored it.
"Which bastard stole my food!?"
Daikon shot a look at Espeon who gave him a fake innocent look. Soon Daikon could see a man coming towards him. When he got closer, Daikon noticed it was the same guy who called him 'celebrity' earlier.
'This is going to end well.'
Joel's eyes darted back and forth between the two, waiting for something to happen.
"Well if it isn't our own 'celebrity'." he said with a sneer. "Your pokemon stole my food."
Daikon slowly got out of the hot springs, his shirt sticking to his muscular body. Many of the girls pointed and giggled at him, hiding their laughs behind their hands.
"So she did." Daikon said curtly.
The man's eye twitched. "Do you know who I am?"
"Dagon Freymon. Son of Richard Freymon, owner and CEO of Freymon Shipping. You have 3 gym badges and you prefer ground type pokemon." Daikon quickly rattled off what he found out from a quick internet search last night.
Dagon's eyes went wide before a cold smile appeared on his face. "So you do know who I am. Well listen hear 'celebrity', I don't like you and the fact that you are in this tournament. So why don't you do us all a favour and drop out before you and your pokemon get hurt."
"Is your name supposed to scare me? A useless son of a rich man? Without your daddy you are nothing." Daikon said with a mocking smile. He then motioned to Espeon who came up beside him. He walked past Dagon, not wanting the situation to escalate.
Dagon's face turned red from anger as Daikon walked past him. Dagon turned around and grabbed Daikon's shirt, and pulled hard.
Being as strong as he was, Daikon barely felt the pull but heard his ripping.
He heard a couple girls gasps as they looked at his bare chest. Not in admiration of his flawless physique, but the scars that criss crossed his body.
"Holy shit…"
"Looks like the media underplayed his injuries."
Daikon stopped walking and turned around. Dagon was still standing there with his ripped shirt in his hand. He walked up and snatched from his hand and said very quietly, "Next time you touch me, I will break your hand. I don't care who your dad is."
He walked out of the hot springs with Espeon and back to his room.
Beast God chapter tomorrow.