[ EU ] The Region of Kanto has a 24/7 hotline for new Pokémon Trainers who get lost , homesick , or otherwise in over their heads . You 've taken hundreds of calls , but this one tops all of them .

“ Excuse me, you said you ’ re where now? ” Rui blinks, matching the pace of the cursor on her screen, waiting patiently for her to fill in the information for the Rangers. 
 
 “ Well, I ’ m not exactly sure to be honest Miss. ” A check of the Trainer ID had told her that it was a newer trainer, a Shiroishi Yuu, who had only graduated trainer school two weeks previously. A glance over the page tells Rui that Yuu is only thirteen, failed trainer school three times before he graduated, and had an Ekans registered as his starter. 
 
 “ Could you describe the place for me, Shiroishi-san? ” Rui attempts and the young trainer gives a small laugh. A nervous smile appears on Rui ’ s face, she ’ s glad the kid can be so light-hearted considering what she thinks she ’ s just heard. 
 
 “ Yuu, I like Yuu. ” 
 
 “ Well then Yuu, can you describe where you are again and how you got there? ” Rui waits, waving her hand in the air to get her superior over to her desk. Otsuka-san walks over, holding his steaming cup of tea and looks curious until Rui puts the child on speakerphone. 
 
 “ I was exploring around into Mount Moon and I keep finding these guys in black and they won ’ t leave me alone. ” There ’ s a short silence. “ I ’ m glad Hebi, Taddy, and Speary are doing good but there ’ s a lot of them. ” Rui looks up at Otsuka-san in confusion. “ I just kinda wan na leave. Can someone guide me out? ” 
 
 “ You said guys in black? ” Rui attempts to get clarified. 
 
 “ And some girls. Something about being on some sort of team. I dunno, my Pokemon are getting tougher fighting them so I wasn ’ t paying any attention. ” Rui looks at the Trainer card for Yuu again. Here was a thirteen year old fighting, and apparently winning, against what sounded like Team Rocket. “ I just lost track of where I was walking and I don ’ t know where I am now. Can you get me out of here? ” Otsuka-san pats Rui on the shoulder, shrugging. 
 
 “ Just guide him out. We ’ ll send the police in the check the situation later. ” Otsuka-san whispers and Rui nods, returning the call to her headset. Half the office is looking over the cubicle walls at her and Otsuka-san by this point. Her manager stays beside her, sipping at his tea, and listening. 
 
 “ All right Yuu. What was the last sign you remember seeing? ” 
 
 “ Um… I dunno. I think it said something about cruel leaning. ” Rui ’ s face twitches at the answer. The kid could take out a bunch of Rockets but couldn ’ t read a sign? 
 
 “ Is it possible that it said Cerulean? C, e, r, u, l, e, a, n? ” 
 
 “ Yeah! Cruel lean. ” Rui wants to put her face in her hands as she hears Otsuka-san snort in laughter. Instead, she forces a smile onto her face and stuffs it into her voice. 
 
 “ That ’ s fantastic news. Is there any way you can get back to that sign? ” 
 
 “ It was like… a floor up. ” Rui pulls up the most current map for Mount Moon on her computer, blocking out Yuu ’ s Trainer card. She locates the sign she thinks he ’ s talking about and tries to figure out where the child might ’ ve gone from there. 
 
 “ So you headed downward then. ” She trails off as Yuu gives a joyful affirmative. “ Which direction did you turn from the ladder? ” 
 
 “ I… went right. ” Yuu hums a little. “ Like with my back to the ladder, right? ” 
 
 “ Exactly how I want you to think about it. ” 
 
 “ Yeah, I went right from the ladder. ” Rui smiles. The kid is closer to the exit than he thinks he is. 
 
 “ That ’ s fantastic news, Yuu. If you ’ ve continued straight ahead, there ’ s a large cavern. Follow the left edge of that cavern and you ’ ll find another path. ” Yuu hums along, indicating he ’ s still alive and receiving directions as he walks. Rui slowly guides him out of the dark cave, with a minor interruption at the exit of someone wishing to battle. He stays on the phone throughout the battle though, unwilling to hang up. 
 
 “ Ah! I see daylight! ” He gives a loud shout and Rui listens to Yuu running along the path. “ Fresh air! ” He shouts and there ’ s less of an echo this time, indicating that the child has left the cave. 
 
 “ You ’ re safely outside then, Yuu? ” 
 
 “ Oh yeah! I think I can see the city in the distance! ” An amused smile appears on Rui ’ s face. The child trainer certainly had enough energy to make it there sometime soon. 
 
 “ So you do not require Rangers sent to your location? ” 
 
 “ No ma ’ am, I ’ m good! Me, Hebi, Speary, and Taddy will take care of it. Thank you Miss! ” Yuu ’ s voice sounds even more energetic than it did before. Rui supposes that being out of the cave probably had something to do with that. 
 
 “ I ’ m glad to assist. Feel free to call at any time. ” 
 
 “ Thanks for being nice too! Most people see me failing at the one school three times and treat me like I ’ m dumb. Thanks for being all nice! ” Rui blinks at her screen again, having exited the map of Mount Moon. 
 
 “ Ahm. Welcome. ” Otsuka-san chuckles again, starting away. 
 
 “ I hope if I need help again, you ’ ll be the one who answers! ” Yuu ’ s happiness is infectious, a small smile appearing on Rui ’ s face. After the rest of the stories she went through on a regular basis, the kid is a breath of fresh air. “ Talk to you later Miss! I got ta go! ” Yuu hangs up and Rui marks the call as completed in her queue, along with some of the details. 
 
 “ Did that kid really take on whatever remains of Team Rocket and couldn ’ t read a sign? ” Yoko leans over into Rui ’ s cubicle and Rui nods. 
 
 “ Yep. ” 
 
 “ You think they ’ d teach them to read before sending them out, ” Yoko mutters. “ Being able to run a Pokemon around a field is all fine and dandy but having to field calls from eleven-year olds about how they can ’ t read the sign is getting old really quick. ” 
 
 “ I have the feeling that ’ s why he failed three times. ” Rui chuckles as she heads back to her queue. 
 
 “ Ah, that might explain that. ” Yoko laughs, pulling back into her cubicle. “ Something to talk about though, I ’ m sure that story will be making the rounds for at least a few weeks if not longer. ” 
 
 “ Probably. ” Rui agrees, smiling still as she goes to answer her next call. “ Hello, this is the Trainer Assistance Hotline, how may I help you? ”
