[Pyer ‘Cabbage Ice Cream’ has sent you a friend request. Accept/Dee.]

  Without a sed thought, Natsume clicked "Dee."

  "Haha, you think you add me just to trash-talk me? Not a ce!"

  Ba the day, when Natsume-sensei was still a naive young d, his favorite de Hearthstone was the infamous "Dirty Priest."

  After winning with his Dirty Priest deck, oppos would often send him friend requests.

  Natsume, thinking it was for friendly banter and strategy sharing, would accept.

  But instead, he’d get bombarded with insults from salty pyers who would then block him after venting their frustration.

  The messages usually went something like: "Stop pying that XXX Dirty Priest!" or "Pirate Warrior is the best!"

  Ever sihen, Natsume had beeremely cautious about accepting friend requests.

  After all, his pystyle was just too dirty…

  It was uandable that oppos would be salty after losing.

  Even Gold had been so upset after getting swept by Natsume’s Venusaur that he could for three days.

  Natsume had seen it all!

  "Kid, you’re still too green!"

  Natsume couldn’t help but pat himself on the back for his quick thinking.

  Three seds after deing the friend request, the oppo sent another message.

  [Cabbage Ice Cream: ?]

  You’re really sending me a question mark?

  Natsume was amused and immediately replied.

  [Natsume-sensei: My friend slot is very expensive.]

  [Cabbage Ice Cream: How much?]

  [Natsume-sensei: I’d say it’s worth at least 1,000 Pokémon s!]

  [Cabbage Ice Cream: What’s your at number?]

  Natsume: ?

  Wait, are they actually serious about sending me money?

  It’s not unon for people to trash-talk their oppos after losing, or eveheir teammates.

  But sending moo the oppo after losing? That’s a first!

  If you ’t beat them, join them?

  Staring at this unfamiliar ID, Natsume felt like he’d stumbled upon a new path to riches.

  [Natsume-sensei: No rush, let’s break it down.]

  [Natsume-sensei: If you get into my friend list, not only will I provide strategy tutorials, but I’ll also be your free sparring partner. 1,000 s is a fair price, right?]

  [Cabbage Ice Cream: That’s a good deal.]

  [Natsume-sensei: Plus, I’m rah in the world, and my schedule is packed. Adding another 500 s isn’t too much, is it?]

  [Cabbage Ice Cream: Sure.]

  [Natsume-sensei: You know how expehings are in Touran. Fact in utilities and bor costs, how about this…]

  [Natsume-sensei: I’ll give you a friends-and-family dist—3,000 Pokémon s!]

  There was a brief pause oher end.

  [Cabbage Ice Cream: …Isn’t that a bit too low?]

  thia did some quick math based on her own experience. A league match usually sted about two hours, and her appearance fee was around 2 million Pokémon s.

  The oppo was clearly skilled with the Perish Song team.

  If he really could provide free sparring sessions as he cimed, then this was an incredible deal.

  After all, professional Trainers charged tens of thousands per hour for sparring.

  Given the and skills of this "Natsume-sensei," 3,000 s wasn’t just cheap—it ractically an insult to his worth.

  [Natsume-seoo… too low?]

  Natsume spat out the water he was drinking.

  Gulping, he typed back with trembling hands.

  [Natsume-sensei: Well, how much do you think is fair?]

  [Cabbage Ice Cream: For the friend slot, I’ll send you 10,000 Pokémon s for now. When you have time, ar, and I’ll pay extra then.]

  [Cabbage Ice Cream: I’m logging off now. Send me your at number. See you ter.]

  The sudden stroke of luck left Natsume’s head spinning.

  Did I just… run into a sugar mommy?

  Not only did she not trash-talk me after losing, but she’s also giving me 10,000 Pokémon s?!

  After accepting Cabbage Ice Cream’s friend request, Natsume nervously checked her profile but still couldn’t be sure.

  Judging by the ID and Pokémon, it was highly likely to be thia.

  But is the Sinnoh Champion really this free? Not only does she have time to py games, but she also uses a chibi character?

  Then again, Caitlin, the "legal loli," is also blonde and close to thia, so it could be her too!

  Or worse, it could be some middle-aged dude using a cute avatar!

  Natsume shuddered and pushed that terrifying thought out of his mind.

  "Let’s just assume it’s thia," Natsume muttered. "At least that gives me something to look forward to when we spar."

  Buzz—

  [10,000 Pokémon s have been deposited into your at ending in XXX. Bance: 23,500.00 Pokémon s.]

  "Woohoo, we’re taking off!"

  Raising Pokémon required a lot of money, and Natsume was just ying the foundation for his future.

  In a few days, his earnings from live streaming and Nico Dou would e in, totaling around 30,000 Pokémon s.

  For a freshman with no background, Natsume was doing pretty well for himself.

  But when it came to Trainer expenses, a few thousand s wouldn’t even make a dent.

  "That’s why I don’t want to be a Trainer," Natsume sighed, calling out to Gastly, who was busy studying. "Kid, today Daddy’s taking you out for a feast! Hahaha!"

  "Gastly!"

  Gastly flew over excitedly but suddenly realized something was off.

  Wait, did I just get scammed?

  Whatever, free food is free food!

  To treat themselves, Natsume and Gastly headed to a high-eaurant oerfront.

  For the main course, Gastly got a vegetable sad, while Natsume ordered a sirloin steak.

  "Don’t look at me like that," Natsume said, stuffing a piece of steak into his mouth. "This is the restaurant’s signature dish, specially designed for Pokémon!"

  "Gastly~~~(T ^ T)"

  Gastly’s eyes turned into wavy lines as it sadly chewed otuce, drawing some attention from nearby diners.

  Natsume smiled apologetically at the neighb table, causing a young girl to blush and whisper something to her friend.

  "Isn’t he that Trainer from the Piplup Cup…?"

  "Yeah, I think so. He was on TV."

  Natsume had always been low-key.

  But talented people shine no matter where they go.

  Just as Natsume was lost in thought, Gastly suddenly darted onto the table and gobbled up the eeak ie.

  "Gastly(*⊙~⊙)!"

  "…Are you sure you’re not going to choke?"

  Looking around the restaurant, Natsume noticed the décor was full of Pokémon-themed elements.

  Acc to the website, this was a branch of a restaurant owned by Siebold, a top Kalos chef and Water-type Elite Four member.

  The main branch was in Lumiose City, Kalos, with a three-Snorx rating.

  This Tokyo branch had a one-Snorx rating.

  The crystal deliers, amber lighting, and wooden bar in the ter gave the pce a cssy vibe. A stage with a piano seemed reserved for live performances.

  As Natsume gnced around, the sound of high heels clig against the floor caught his attention.

  Sakurako, now wearing a blue sleeveless dress and stylish heels, greeted him politely. "Cssmate Natsume."

  She seemed to be here with her parents. A well-dressed couple in the distance was watg Natsume with warm smiles.

  "Hey," Natsume said, surprised. "What a ce?"

  "I wao apologize again for what happened before," Sakurako hesitated. "If you don’t mind…"

  At that moment, a sharp microphone feedbaoise grabbed everyone’s attention.

  A waiter stood oage and announced with a smile, "Ladies alemen, it’s time for the highlight of ‘Siebold’s Restaurant’!"

  "The Battle Dining Challenge!"

  ?? Join My Patreon and Unlock Exclusive Pokémon tent! ??

  Are you a fan of the Pokémon series? Bee a member today and enjoy amazing bes!

  ?? Membership: Pokémon Series - Gold Champion Unlock access to 6 Chapters in advanjoy daily updates with 2 neters every day!

  ?? Membership: Pokémon Series - Ptinum Legend Unlock access to 20 Chapters in advanjoy daily updates with 5 neters every day!Join now and immerse yourself in the exg world of Pokémon like never before! Your support means the world to me!

  ??patreon./PokemonStoryWeaver