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The Miracle Seed contained gentle Grass-type energy—eating it outright wasn't a problem.
But the overwhelming sense of déjà vu made Natsume's eye twitch.
Are you sure this isn't the recipe for Eight-Treasure Duck?
Embedding ingredients first to enhance the flavor?
As a veteran chef, Natsume fell deep into thought.
"Sirfetch'd~!" The bushy-browed Sirfetch'd let out a burp.
Then, it flashed Natsume a thumbs-up, its eyes ding with sparkles.
So full~!
Since Trainer went through all this trouble…
Guess I'll reluctantly do some training later!
"The effects seem excellent," Erika remarked with a smile.
Natsume's expression was complicated.
Sure, the effects are great—but the Miracle Seed's just gone now!
Still, the seed had been picked for Sirfetch'd anyway.
At least this saved him the hassle of training…
"Thank Earl Dervish for me. I'll accept this year-end bonus," Natsume sighed.
"Of course." Erika chuckled. "I'll pass along your gratitude~"
With that, the Celadon School's tutorial mission officially concluded.
For Sirfetch'd, the Miracle Seed would boost both Grassy Glide and Leaf Blade.
But Natsume suspected… the real upgrade was in flavor.
"Oh, Natsume-sensei."
Erika clasped her hands, smiling. "Do your best at the League Tournament, alright~?"
The Indigo Plateau Conference was approaching.
In the chat group full of big shots, Natsume-sensei was likely the only one actually competing.
After all, entering amateur matches was his hobby!
Natsume blinked.
Weird. Everyone knows I'm competing… except me?
"When exactly is the Indigo Plateau Conference?"
Erika thought for a moment. "January 25th, lasting about half a month."
As a routine event across regions, each League Tournament had its own schedule.
Aside from collecting eight badges, passing a Pokémon Academy's evaluation granted direct entry to the preliminaries.
As a Celadon School teacher, Natsume naturally qualified.
But braving the winter cold for a tournament didn't suit his lazy style.
Besides, Natsume-sensei had only been a trainer for seven months.
Sure, he'd had a friendly match with Leon, stood his ground against Lance, even saved Steven once…
Natsume coughed. "We'll see."
Giselle seemed keen on competing, and as his protégé…
Attending a few matches as a spectator might be nice.
More importantly, given his ties to Kanto's Elite Four…
He probably wouldn't need tickets. Probably.
Mounting his majestic Arcanine, Natsume returned to Saffron City.
The setting sun cast long shadows as flocks of Pidgey soared home. A pedestrian strolled by with a Granbull.
Even a grunt in Team Rocket's black uniform dashed past, delivering packages…
"Their rebranding's going well…" Natsume's mood was delicate.
Truthfully, Team Rocket's elite forces were limited to its Leader and Executives.
To protagonists, the grunts were just EXP fodder.
Giovanni had no use for mindless followers.
Oh, he had ambitions.
But building a Team Rainbow Rocket that Silver would respect? That held real value.
Back home…
"Sirfetch'd~!" Sirfetch'd picked its teeth with a leek leaf, then began lecturing the team on training.
"Blastoise…" (Makes sense…)
Mid-plank, the motionless Blastoise's eyes gleamed.
Truly… Sirfetch'd's guidance is the path of the strong!
Evenings were Natsume's cherished cooking hours.
Cooking itself wasn't hard—it was prep and cleanup that annoyed chefs.
But with Sirfetch'd's "culinary genius" handling ingredients…
And Gengar taking over chores…
Natsume's only duties were walking Arcanine and playing with Sylveon's long ears.
Sylveon's pink ears, lined with indigo, were softer and warmer than any cat's fur.
"Sylveon! (`皿′)"
Natsume dangled a white vanilla stick before it.
"Sylveon~(′▽｀)"
Nearby, Togepi seemed to be gaming—but was secretly studying type matchups.
With Mew's online tutorials… its progress might soon rival Sirfetch'd's.
Natsume's mood was delicate, but he couldn't bring himself to stop it.
"Better… check my feed."
He opened the chat group.
Spring was near, and everyone was busy again.
Last time, Natsume-sensei's solo battle with Leon left Gold so shaken that he spent all night grinding through the Sprout Tower dungeon.
If I don't train now, when will I ever beat Natsume-sensei?!
"Hey! Hedgehog boy, I saw you in Johto yesterday!" Lt. Surge grinned.
Gold blinked. "Follower count: 11K, EDM Uncle?"
Lt. Surge fell silent, glancing around for his Electro Ball launcher.
"Yesterday, Sylveon visited the neighbor again," Sabrina said flatly. "I heard Koichi's about to close his gym."
Natsume stiffened.
Wait, really?
Oh right—the Fighting Gym wasn't official. No system notifications!
Misty wiped her brow. "Thank goodness Natsume-sensei isn't in Cerulean City."
Otherwise… her sisters might've been victims too?
"What if we add a rule banning Pokémon from challenging gyms alone?" Erika suggested.
As Kanto's lead administrator, she could push for it.
Otherwise, if Leaders quit from trauma, finding replacements would be… tricky.
Janine: "Great idea!"
"Natsume-sensei's too ruthless!" Whitney, the "Miltank Leader," nodded. "I vote yes!"
Blue Oak shrugged. "I agree with Natsume-sensei. If Pokémon can handle it themselves, why interfere?"
Green: "Is that why you let your Pokémon run the gym while you go on dates with Red?"
"D-Dates?!" Yellow turned scarlet.
"That's not—!" Blue Oak rarely lost his cool, but this time—
Gold: "He's mad! LOL—"
[Gold has been muted by Admin Blue Oak for 2 hours]
"Only two hours?" Lance whistled. "Blue's a merciful senior."
In Sinnoh, the overlooked Gardenia wept silently.
Even if Natsume-sensei's Pokémon showed up, I wouldn't dare refuse them!
Natsume looked baffled.
Ban solo Pokémon challenges?
Perfect!
But Erika was clearly joking. Natsume sighed in frustration.
So close… I wouldn't have to worry about Gengar sneaking badges home!
Still, of Kanto's eight badges, Natsume only lacked Pewter's and the Orange League's.
He'd already visited Vermilion. Lt. Surge knew he didn't need badges.
As for Pewter? Meh.
Key Stones? Tournaments? Natsume-sensei couldn't care less.
Brock: "@Natsume-sensei, Vermilion's hosting an eating contest. Think Gengar's up for it?"
"Eating contest?" Natsume paused.
The ramen shop owner had mentioned something…
Green mused, "Probably a New Year's promo. Shop marketing."
"What's the prize?" Ash's eyes sparkled.
Brock: "Leftovers for Snorlax, plus ribbons and Full Incense."
"Oh! That's the stuff that helps hatch Munchlax!" Gold, the self-proclaimed Hatcher, explained. "Prof. Elm and I researched it!"
Ash gasped. "Whoa! That's amazing!"
Gold: "Hah! Just stating facts~"
"Ash, you're too easily impressed," Lorelei muttered.
"Heh, it's no big deal," Ash scratched his head.
That wasn't a compliment!
Natsume-sensei coughed. "@Brock, so you're joining?"
"Not as a contestant—I'm hired as a chef." Brock grinned. "Good pay for appearances…"
The ultimate part-timer strikes again!
Natsume felt destiny calling. "I'll bring Gengar. Might even help you out."
"Gengar?" Gengar levitated beside him, tossing Starf Berries into the air.
"Gengar~(￣～￣)" Perfect catch!
…Is using pocket dimensions cheating?
Natsume pondered: Wattson would probably know.
"I'm in!" Ash cheered. "Snorlax needs a feast!"
Natsume froze.
Right. Ash's Snorlax once ate an entire Orange Archipelago harvest.
Maylene, a broke girl from Sinnoh, wiped her bandaged nose. "I signed up too…"
Buffets were expensive. A free eating contest? No-brainer!
She glanced at her Lucario:
"Hope we get picked. o(╥﹏╥)o"
"Lucaa! o(╥﹏╥)o"
Green smirked. "I checked past winners. You might face last year's champion."
Natsume: "The what champion?"
Brock sweatdropped. "Who is it?"
Jasmine, hiding behind her Ampharos, turned beet red.
Green: "@Jasmine. Three-time eating champ."
"WHAT?!" Brock and Ash recoiled.
Ash: "B-But Miss Jasmine's so… tiny?"
"Never judge by appearances," Brock muttered.
Jasmine, her twin braids trembling, whispered:
"I just… eat a little more."
Natsume's eyes widened.
A three-time champ…
Jasmine just became legendary.
"So you're competing?" Brock asked.
Jasmine: "Mhm…"
"Snorlax might lose?!" Ash groaned.
Natsume had a thought. "@Jasmine, is your partner Steelix?"
"Just me and Amphy." She fidgeted.
Rules required Trainer + Pokémon. Combined intake decided the winner.
For Ampharos—a lightweight—to out-eat Snorlax and Gulpin?
Jasmine's a monster…
"Not just the 'Chosen One,'" Natsume murmured.
"Some Gym Leaders are terrifying."
The group chat's competition participants were set:Natsume-sensei.Ash.Jasmine.Maylene.
Brock, serving as head chef, promised a lavish feast with some entertaining side events.
Lt. Surge, as Vermilion City's Gym Leader, couldn't care less about the contest.
"Just report any illegal activities to me," he shrugged.
Ash clenched his fists, eyes burning with determination. "This year, Snorlax and I will win the championship!"
The Eating Contest was set to take place tomorrow at Vermilion City Port.
Natsume happened to have free time, so he decided to take the little ones out for a trip to Vermilion City.
As a staff member, Brock recommended Natsume, Ash, and Maylene—no chance of missing the sign-up.
Meanwhile, Jasmine, the reigning champion, would attend as a special guest.
Johto, Olivine City.
"What should I do…?"
Jasmine blushed, murmuring to herself:
"How should I greet everyone tomorrow…?"
"Should I eat more gracefully? But I'm so hungry…"
Ampharos stood beside her, stretching its short arms to hug her. "Ampharos!"
"…Thanks, Amphy." Jasmine closed her eyes, then flashed a determined look.
"Tomorrow, we can't lose to Natsume-sensei and Ash either!"
"Ampharos (＾∀＾●)"
...
January 19th, Tuesday. Sunny.
Natsume floated alongside Gengar, meeting Ash at the agreed spot.
"Natsume-sensei, long time no see!" Ash waved cheerfully.
"Snorlax~" Snorlax stood beside him, eyes half-closed, rumbling in agreement.
Natsume vaguely recalled this Snorlax could even do the butterfly stroke—its strength was terrifying.
Raised well, it might even rival Red's Snorlax.
But Ash wasn't fond of using such heavyweights, so it usually stayed at Professor Oak's ranch.
Professor Oak must be spending a fortune…
Natsume smirked. "Let's go, Bound Person!"
The two boarded the train to Vermilion City.
"Gengar! Ψ(￣∀￣)Ψ"
Gengar cracked its knuckles, ready for action.
Ash had already returned Snorlax to its Poké Ball. The moment they arrived, he leapt off the train excitedly.
"Eating Contest challenge—here I come!"
At the competition venue, decorated with lanterns and streamers, vendors had already gathered.
"Hey, kid!" The ramen master called out to Natsume, grinning. "Knew it'd be you!"
Natsume nodded curiously. "Master, did all these vendors team up for this?"
"Yep! Almost every big name in Vermilion City's food scene is here. It's a local tradition." The ramen master laughed.
The festival had drawn crowds, with stands lining the contest stage.
Natsume glanced around—then froze.
Among the staff stood a Meowth, walking on two legs.
"These three again?!"