Interlude XXV - Shared Weight

Years ago, Blaine operated a chemistry and engineering startup with his partner Yuki, pouring his heart and finances into developing more durable capture balls. However, during a stressful inspection, two League officials regretfully informed him that impending zoning laws—driven by the public's superstitious, diffuse fear following the Hoenn Incident—would force their lab to relocate away from residential areas. The crushing cost of relocation effectively killed their momentum. Recognizing that the mandate emerged from an amorphous bureaucracy where no single person took responsibility for the decision or its harm, Blaine internalized the failure entirely. Though he eventually secured new funding from a young, eloquent Giovanni—who helped him realize his leadership style was better suited for a Gym—Blaine burned himself out in the process, parting ways with Yuki and learning the heavy cost of bearing responsibility alone.

In the present, Blaine flies toward the ruined Cinnabar mansion on his charizard Kokuyōseki, flanked by two senior gym trainers. He expects to resolve a simple misunderstanding but is immediately put on guard by the presence of an airborne dragonite, a honchkrow, a kilowattrel, and jammed communications. Landing amid the ruined picnic, he finds Red, Blue, Leaf, the rangers, and Interpol Special Administrator Looker waiting.

Looker aggressively demands to know why Blaine is harboring an illegal underground facility, though he admits forensics are still searching for hard proof. Blaine counters that the underground structure was legally filed as a separate facility; as Leader, he had approved its secrecy to foster innovation on Cinnabar Island, taking personal responsibility for its safety. Leaf points out the grim reality: the lab's builders deliberately used the island's bureaucracy to secure a hidden location while effectively using Blaine as free security. Though insulted that he was manipulated, Blaine accepts that the responsibility still falls on him.

He gathers the group in a ruined bedroom and demands a succinct explanation. Leaf reveals she learned about the lab and its unethical biological research from a scientist source who is now missing, and she argues they are racing against the clock before the creators destroy the evidence. Recognizing the chaotic, diffuse motives of the group, Blaine decides to test their resolve. He delivers a profound lesson to Blue on the nature of fire and leadership: one does not control fire, one takes responsibility for it. A person cannot split their responsibility evenly without stumbling, nor can they take on more responsibility than they have power over. He challenges everyone in the room to honestly ask themselves if staying at the mansion serves their primary duty, or if they are simply acting on curiosity and shared momentum.

The question hits its mark. Blue admits his true priority is stabilizing Cinnabar so he can earn his badge, and he departs. Cadet Wendy and Ranger Neasman realize their immediate duty is tracking the island's ditto nests, and they leave as well. Red, acknowledging his primary role as a combat asset against the renegades, decides his time is better spent resting and training, and he teleports away.

Only Leaf remains, her posture defiant. Looker, recognizing her unyielding commitment, officially tasks her with getting to the bottom of the lab's mystery, demanding she report directly to him first. After Looker steps away to manage his men—whom Blaine formally permits to stay—Blaine is left alone with Leaf. He reflects on his past, acknowledging that the weight of responsibility is lessened when shared, and finally asks Leaf if she would care to help him uncover what truly happened on his island.