@circhester-flair needs to know:
“I want to know why you care.”
“Because I worked hard to make this!” Milo is a bit offended at Gordie’s question and it shines through in the slight knot of his brows. He’s no stranger to this inquiry, but it still surprises him to hear it coming from a fellow gym leader. With a gentle sigh, Milo sets down the gargantuan hay bale he’d been rather effortlessly carrying about. He’s still dabbing his cheek with his scarf by the time he turns to face Gordie. “I know I’m not competitive and I don’t have the same track record that any of the other leaders do. But that never changed how much being a leader matters to me.”
“I earned my place as the first gym leader and I get to see other trainers start off on their journeys. It doesn’t matter that I lose, because more often than not the look on a rookie trainer’s eye when they realize what they’ve accomplished and earn the confidence to grow stronger far outshines the loss. I can be there to show them that battling’s more than just pitching a fight against someone; it’s a fun experience to have with your partners too!”
“And I’d not give up on that for nothing in this world.” He finishes succinctly, wondering if he’d been a bit too harsh on his response to the blond. Milo just couldn’t help it; little else hurt him quite as much as being questioned on how seriously he took his position as gym leader.
