"Thank you for your patronage!"
Natsume took the heavy bag from Green, his shoulder sagging slightly.
"Too heavy?" Green blinked. "Weird… it's just the usual weight."
Ah. So this is the difference in our physiques.
Clearing his throat, Natsume summoned Gengar and shoved the bag into its shadowy belly.
The bag vanished into the void.
"Gengar!" It patted its stomach proudly.
"By the way," Natsume said casually, "Green, you're coming to tomorrow's party, right?"
"It's Sister Green!"
She planted a hand on her hip, then added, "Probably spending most of it with my family."
"Makes sense." Natsume nodded.
After being separated from her parents for so long, family time was precious.
"But I'll drop by!" Green grinned. "I even prepared Christmas gifts for everyone!"
If Green was coming, Silver wouldn't be far behind…
Natsume smirked.
Perfect. I'll snap a few photos and send them to Boss Giovanni for payroll.
"Also… get me a Destiny Knot too."
"What for?" Green tilted her head. "Egg hatching?"
Natsume didn't answer.
His gaze drifted toward Team Rocket's stall nearby.
Might as well get them something too.
...
"For… us?"
James pointed at himself, stunned.
"You're my employees," Natsume said. "Holiday bonuses are mandatory."
Meowth snorted.
All Meowth needs is cold, hard cash—
"GYAHHH!"
Meowth lunged at the shadowy object Natsume tossed, leaving Jessie and James speechless.
"Mreow~" Meowth was already rolling blissfully with a Destiny Knot ball.
Jessie and James exchanged glances.
"Never seen Meowth like this."
"Well… it is a cat."
Natsume pulled out carefully selected gifts from the bag.
"Jessie—a Gloom No.5 Lure from Celadon Gym."
"James—a UR PTCG card."
Lightning might as well have struck them.
Tears welled up instantly.
"Th-thank you, Executive!! ?(;′Д｀?)"
"No big deal." Natsume smiled. "Take the next few days off."
"New missions start after New Year's."
"YES, Executive!"
As Natsume walked away, the trio shared a thought:
We gotta hustle harder for that budget!
If they could capture Pikachu and hand it over to the Executive…
Surely he'd be thrilled with such an adorable little guy!
"Feelin' good~"
"Wobbuffet!"
...
Back at the hotel, Natsume lined up the Full Restores.
"Squirtle!"
Squirtle took each bottle and—
Spritzed Gengar first.
Only after confirming no abnormal reactions did it nod in approval.
The cool mist made Gengar squirm.
"Gengar~(*≧▽≦)" It grinned, kicking its legs midair.
Natsume's eye twitched.
Even if it was poison, Gengar wouldn't react!
But this was standard Squirtle procedure.
"Squirtle! "
Watching Squirtle happily spray itself, Natsume's mood soured.
Just show me your HP bar already!
I bet you're not even hurt!
"Quarterfinal prize money… gone in a flash."
He sighed, pulling out the Mystic Water. "We'll add this to your fish tank back home."
"And this—wait, what the—?!"
Natsume froze, staring at a small disc.
A sticky note on the back featured a chibi character blowing a kiss.
Unmistakably Green.
A speech bubble read:
"Thanks for your support, Natsume-sensei~ A little gift for you! Mwah~?"
Natsume: ???
Mwah my ass!
Is this how Pallet Town says thanks?!
The disc's label read "Focus Energy"—a move to boost critical hits.
Not only could Squirtle now power up—
But pair this with Sirfetch'd's Scope Lens, and every strike would be a crit.
That slackbird doesn't deserve this kind of torture!
A pang of sympathy hit Natsume.
He set the disc aside and rubbed his face.
"Gengar!"
Gengar's eyes lit up. It levitated over, snatched the disc, and slotted it into Natsume's laptop.
Natsume: "..."
"Gengar!"
A thumbs-up. A smug grin.
No need to ask, Trainer !
I'll train everyone REAL good!
...
Natsume stepped into the hallway, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Brock, returning from the stands, frowned. "Natsume-sensei, it's cold out here."
"A room can't handle two slackers at once," Natsume said.
Brock blinked. "Slackers?"
"I'm the slacker." Natsume clutched his chest.
But he quickly rallied.
Trainers shine when it counts!
"I checked the brackets," Brock said. "Next round—you vs. Bea."
"Huh." Natsume nodded. Convenient timing.
If Bea won the championship, it'd fulfill her dream.
Plus… his expression twisted.
If Squirtle fights again, that Everstone's done for.
Tournament Committee Office.
Natsume submitted his withdrawal.
"Done training already?" Lorelei smirked.
Annihilating his own student would be too cruel.
Bruno crossed his arms. "If P1's too easy… try Victory Road. I'll be waiting."
Natsume paled.
Victory Road?!
I've only been a Trainer for seven months!
"Absolutely! Someday!"
Bea's Reaction:
Eyes shimmering, she wiped her face with her sleeve.
He withdrew… for me.
This is his faith in me.
"I won't let you down!"
...
Forum Reactions:
"Natsume-sensei still has a soul!"
"But if his student wins, isn't that worse?"
"...Bookmarking this to murder you later."
System Rewards:
[Ding! Mission Complete!]
Weakness Policy x1Close Combat Lv3 Moomoo Milk Tablets x1
Natsume paused at the last one.
[Close Combat Lv3: Professional-grade martial arts. 3rd Dan black belt. (Ahem—wrong script.)]
"Wait." Natsume muttered. "Does this mean I can wrestle a Seviper like Jessie now?"
In the Pokémon world, survival skills were non-negotiable.
Especially with Gold lurking in group chats.
Bruno and Marshal were probably Lv5—or beyond human.
Ash? Who needed technique with that physique?
A 3rd Dan was enough to hold his own in bar fights.
But against Pokémon? Without psychic powers?
Not happening.
"I'll grow into it."
He flexed his arm.
"Gotta start somewhere."
Moomoo Milk Tablets:Fresh, creamy calcium supplements. Even humans can eat them! (Joy's favorite!)
Natsume eyed the milky tablets suspiciously.
Why does this feel shady?
"Huh… smells good."
He broke one in half and offered it to Gengar.
"Gengar?"
Why am I always the test subject?
"Should be safe."
Seeing the tablets in the Shop eased his mind.
"Might work in cooking too."
"Gengar…(￣～￣)"
After monitoring Gengar, Natsume popped the other half.
Tastes like childhood milk candy.
"This isn't a fruit stand."
He chewed thoughtfully. "It's a school cafeteria!"
[?]
Weakness Policy:A small sticker that boosts Attack and Special Attack when hit by a super-effective move. (Exploit the opening!)
A one-time power spike—perfect for Squirtle's glass-cannon style.
After all…
When your entire existence is a weakness,
everything's a chance to strike back.
...
Final Thoughts:Gurkinn gave Dragon Pulse. Green gave Focus Energy.
More debts than a loan shark.
"Whatever." Natsume sighed. "Gratitude first."
"I'll just… add extra spice to their party dishes."
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