After struggling so hard to beat a level, did I just breeze through it?

  thia was a bit stunned.

  Are we even pying the same game?

  Natsume's voice came through the team chat: "Boss, e quick! I just got some rare materials!"

  thia paused for a moment, her eyes lighting up. "Don't move, I'm ing!"

  ...

  Outside the window, the twilight sun cast its golden glow, and the chirping of Pidgeys returning to their s filled the air.

  The voiing through the headphones souired, with a hint of ziness, like a yawn.

  "I'm logging off."

  "Alright."

  Natsume let out a yawn. "ime, remember to book in advance. My schedule's pretty packed."

  thia thought for a moment.

  A Master-level Trainer like him probably didn't have much free time. She couldn't always expect him to be avaible on a whim.

  "Alright."

  thia nodded obediently, brushing a strand of golden hair from her forehead as she spoke seriously.

  "I'll book in advanext time."

  Natsume chuckled. "By the way, why do you always use Garp?"

  thia was momentarily taken aback, about to answer, when Natsume teased.

  "Don't tell me you're one of thia's fans too?"

  "Well..." thia hesitated.

  The Sinnoh Champion, stantly pestering someoo py games? How would that look?

  Not to mentioher the oppo would believe her, revealing her identity online was just pin foolish.

  thia smiled faintly and tered, "Are you a fan of thia?"

  "Yeah, I really like her."

  Natsume sounded nostalgic. "I've been a fan since I first watched Diamond and Pearl."

  "What's Diamond and Pearl?"

  "Ah, it's nothing, just another name for the Master League Tour."

  thia's tone remained calm. "You could always challenge her at the Master League."

  "Nah, I don't want to be a Trainer."

  Natsume g the Haunter beside him, who was rubbing its stomach with teary eyes, clearly unhappy.

  "Haunter..."

  Hurry up and feed it! Look how hungry Haunter is!

  Natsume ughed. "I'm logging off. Let's catch up ime!"

  thia wao say something, but in the end, she just softly replied, "Alright."

  "One more thing."

  "What?"

  "Have you ever heard Primarina's song? I think it sounds a bit like your voice."

  A faint smile tugged at the er of thia's lips.

  "Thank you."

  Natsume grinned. "See you ter!"

  The oppo had already logged off.

  In the room, a G leaped onto thia's p, curling up gently on her chest.

  thia tucked a strand of golden hair behind her ear, gently stroking G as she murmured to herself.

  "A Strategy Master who doesn't want to be a Trainer...?"

  A subtle curve formed on thia's delicate face, eventually blossoming into a stunning smile.

  "Quite iing."

  ...

  Natsume took off his headphones a out a long sigh.

  "I told myself... there's no way it could be thia."

  Because of Garp, Natsume had started to doubt again.

  So, he had tentatively probed the oppo's identity, even bringing up thia on purpose.

  But the oppo's tone didn't ge at all, even ag like they were just fellow fans.

  "I must have overthought it."

  Natsume shook his head. "A League Champion wouldn't have the time to py games every day, right?"

  But no matter who this wealthy patron was, they were definitely generous.

  Even if they weren't much to look at in real life, their voice alone was enough to spark some imagination.

  Natsume suddenly spped his cheeks hard.

  "You've got big dreams to chase!"

  "Even if it's tempting... you 't rely on your looks to get by!"

  His phone buzzed.

  [Cabbage Ice Cream: Don't fet to sehe bill. I might fet.]

  [Natsume-sensei: Got it.]

  Haunter, who had been floating nearby and withe whole se, gave Natsume a sidelong gnce.

  "Haunter?" (That's it?)

  "Being a pymate... doesn't t. It's a skill-based job... you call that freeloading?" Natsume argued.

  What followed were some inprehensible remarks, like "Pokémon expenses are huge" and "I really don't want to be a Trainer."

  "Haunter~!! o(*≧▽≦)ツ"

  Haunter burst into ughter, filling the room with a lively atmosphere.

  ...

  Time flew by, and Natsume's review week arrived as scheduled.

  The first episode of "Natsume-sensei's Night Kit" was currently rahird in the Lifestyle Category, with the top spot being Professor Samuel Oak's Backyard Dotary.

  Speaking of Professor Samuel Oak, while he didn't personally appear on Nico Dou, he had a dedicated team managing his at.

  Every day, they used high-definition cameras to dot the living ditions of the Pokémon in his backyard.

  "Pancham is so cute~~!"

  "Whoa, a Tauros herd!"

  "Forty thousand square meters, and you call that a backyard?"

  Natsume watched half an hour of Pancham footage, satisfied, and gave the video a like.

  Lunch was ba with a poached egg.

  Haunter, ever the aristocrat, id a napkin for itself and elegantly cut the ba with a knife and fork.

  Natsume raised an eyebrow. "Remember to grab the luggage ter. We're heading back to our hometown!"

  "Haunter?"

  Since he wasn't pnning to go home for the summer, Natsume decided to take advantage of the review week to visit his parents.

  His hometown was a small vilge led between mountains and rivers, about two hours from Tokyo.

  After pag his luggage and preparing gifts for retives and neighbors, Natsume boarded the high-speed train.

  After another half-hour bus ride, the earthy st of the suburbs greeted him. The sky suddenly felt clearer, and the sound of a flowing river filled his ears.

  "Be careful ter. Don't scare anyone!"

  "Haunter!"

  Haunter, carrying a rge bag of luggage, nodded fidently.

  As they reached the vilge entrance, a little girl with pigtails was riding a scooter. When she saw Natsume, she immediately dropped the scooter and ran over excitedly.

  "Big brother Natsume!"

  The little girl fshed a toothy grin, her baby teeth still growing in, and threw herself into Natsume's arms.

  Natsume smiled and ruffled her hair.

  "Natsumi, did you miss me?"

  "Mom said you'd definitely bring gifts!" Natsumi said shyly.

  "Little rascal! Here, take this."

  Natsume pulled out a minimized Poké Ball from his pocket and ha to her. "Yift!"

  "...A Poké Ball?"

  Natsumi stammered, swallowing hard. "Big brother, isn't this too expensive?"

  Poké Balls cost 500 Pokémon s on the market, so it was no wonder Natsumi hesitated.

  "Your mom said you've always wao catch a Pidgey. I'll take you up the mountain this afternoon," Natsume said with a smile.

  Natsumi's eyes lit up, and she threw her arms around Natsume's neck, pnting a big kiss on his cheek.

  "Thank you, big brother!"

  Haunter, mimig her, floated out from behind Natsume and poked its own cheek with a grin.

  Natsumi froze for a moment, then stiffened and burst into tears.

  "Mom, there's a ghost!"

  Haunter looked flustered, fumbling to pull out a napkin from the luggage, but the little girl had already run off g.

  "Haunter..."

  Haunter's head drooped in disappoi, its face turning a pale gray.

  Natsume patted Haunter fly. "How about I give you a kiss instead?"

  Haunter shot Natsume a disdainful look, then floated ahead with the luggage, looking utterly defeated.

  Natsume felt a pang of sadness.

  You've ged... You weren't like this before you evolved...

  As Natsume was lost in thought, Haunter had already floated far ahead, almost reag the vilge entrance.

  Natsume shouted, "Wait for me! Don't go sg any more kids!"

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