[ Cilan please. Red would have interrupted the guy during that if he hadn't done it himself once apparently realising the mistake, though the small sense of regret that comes doesn't leave entirely with the new answer. It was... a weird question, really, one that as Cilan finished, it was clear enough what made him do what he did. Because he wanted to. Red could have figured that one out for himself if he thought about it.

(But geez, he sure is a busy guy.)

He dabs the cloth and then removes it from over the cut, the stain of blood on his skin but the flow of it ending. Let's wait to make sure Cilan isn't cleaning off another apple before approaching the sink. ]

You know, I think...I'm jealous when I hear that. [ It's a little strange to admit, isn't it, and the reason why Red smiles. ] I don't remember feeling that way for anything until I took the professor's quest to complete the pokédex. Here-- there's nothing I can do about that.

But that's not really the same, [ he's quick to say, shaking his head and voice brightening with amusement, ] I didn't want to be the best at it. I just wanted to complete it. It was the professor's dream--Professor Oak's dream. When he told me that...it became my dream too.

[ It twists at his stomach to remember at all, the words earnest but not helping, and he's coming over now close to the side without realising the sinking feeling that surrounds him. Red moves up his sleeve from over the amulet he wears around his wrist than over his neck, clean from the blood. He pushes pushes it farther up his arm, just to get it and the crystal--a colour close to treacle, dark yet hinting the golden shade it can be--away from the water, and once it's wet enough he steps to the side to focus on dabbing softly on a cleaner side of the cloth to begin getting the area clear of mess. ]

I haven't wanted to be anything but a great trainer since then. --well, I like fishing too [ haha ] but not like that.