Incineroar was beyond frustrated.
Every time it tried to close the distance and strike Mimikyu, the little Ghost-type would block it—Protect, Substitute, or even a well-timed counterattack. No matter how hard Incineroar pushed forward, it simply couldn't land a clean hit.
It knew it was stronger.
Not by much—but enough to be confident in a straight fight.
But with such a small gap in strength, finding an opportunity to one-shot Mimikyu was nothing more than a pipe dream.
Kukui's right wrist—partially hidden beneath his sleeve—twitched.
He hesitated.
Even if Incineroar unleashed its Z-Move, the best possible outcome would be a trade—taking Mimikyu down with it.
The result wouldn't change.
He would still lose.
At most, using the Z-Move would make his defeat look better.
With a sigh, Kukui raised his hand.
"That's enough. Let's stop here."
Curse + Pain Split—it was a fascinating combination.
But it wasn't flawless.
It only worked in battles where both Pokémon were relatively equal in strength.
Could this strategy be used to defeat a vastly stronger opponent?
Maybe.
But pulling it off would be harder than just overwhelming them with raw power.
Still—Kai's unique approach to move combinations had given him a new perspective.
There were countless strategies in the world of Pokémon battles—endless possibilities to explore.
And just that thought alone made this match more than worthwhile.
Kai and Mimikyu both froze for a second, blinking.
That's it?
They still had plenty of tricks left.
Kai had even considered the possibility of Incineroar using its signature Z-Move, and he had several countermeasures prepared.
And yet—Kukui had called it off before even trying?
Was this some kind of "soft-stop" technique?
Geeta clapped her hands, stepping forward with a bright smile.
"That was a fantastic battle! Absolutely dazzling! It reminded me of our last match—not too long ago, Kai used a similar strategy to take down my Espathra with ease."
Kukui's eyes widened.
And then—he felt oddly comforted.
So it wasn't just him.
Kai had pulled this filthy strategy on other people too.
Good.
That made him feel a lot better.
"Well? The library at Naranja Academy isn't bad, is it?"
Geeta led Kukui and Kai through the academy's vast library, taking them on a full tour before finally stopping at the front desk.
Kukui nodded enthusiastically. "It's like a treasure trove of knowledge! Especially this entrance, surrounded by books on all sides—it feels like stepping into the embrace of wisdom itself. Absolutely mesmerizing!"
Geeta's smile widened. "I'm glad you think so! I personally oversaw the renovations here. It's only been completed for about six months."
Kukui's admiration deepened. "That's impressive!"
"Ahem."
Having been forced to tag along for the entire trip, Kai let out a deliberate cough, cutting off their mutual praise session. He turned to Geeta. "Chairwoman, didn't you say you were busy with official duties? Maybe we should wrap things up for today…?"
At this rate, the sun would be setting soon.
Geeta gave Kai a strange look. "It's not every day we have such an esteemed guest from another region. I had Aoki handle the urgent matters, and the rest of my work can wait until tomorrow. Is that a problem?"
"...No problem."
Kai blinked, suddenly feeling relieved.
Good thing he never accepted Geeta's offer to work for the Pokémon League.
Otherwise, the one getting overworked today would've been him.
Hang in there, office worker big bro.
Kukui stole a glance at Kai. Knowing him well enough, he could tell the younger trainer was itching to go home.
At the same time, Kukui himself was thrilled with everything he had learned today.
It wasn't just talk—he really was going to build a Pokémon League in Alola.
Seeing how the Paldea League operated so efficiently, with its structured policies and battle culture, gave him valuable insight into what his own league might look like.
After discussing things at length with Geeta, the vision in his mind was starting to take shape.
With that thought, Kukui spoke up. "It's about time we head out. Chairwoman Geeta, thank you for your hospitality."
Geeta looked surprised but nodded. "I suppose it is getting late. I should return to the Pokémon League as well."
Hearing that, Kai felt like he had been pardoned from a life sentence.
Finally, it was over.
"Well then, I'll be taking my leave."
Geeta turned with effortless grace and began walking toward the front gates of Naranja Academy.
After just a few steps, however, she paused—almost as if something had just occurred to her.
Turning slightly, she looked at Kai.
Both he and Kukui exchanged puzzled glances.
What else did she have to say?
Then, she spoke.
"That promise from before—still holds, right?"
"Huh?"
Kai was momentarily confused.
Then, he remembered—the promise he had made with Geeta at the Pokémon League not too long ago.
He nodded. "Of course."
Geeta's lips curled into a small, knowing smile. "Sometime soon, I may have a personal request for you. If you're willing to take it on, that would be ideal. We'll discuss the details and compensation when the time comes."
Kai nodded again, watching as Geeta finally walked away without stopping.
Turning to Kukui, he said, "Let's head back too. After such an intense battle, our Pokémon must be exhausted."
Kukui chuckled. "They've earned a feast tonight."
The Next Morning – Farmland
Four graceful arcs of water landed precisely around the base of the young saplings, soaking into the soil. This was the daily irrigation routine, led by Poliwhirl and assisted by three Poliwag.
Once the moisture had settled into the ground, the moment was seized—Eldegoss and its companions shook their bodies, releasing clusters of nutrient-rich cotton spores. The fluffy seeds drifted down, quickly breaking down into pure nourishment, which the soil absorbed before channeling the nutrients back to the saplings through their roots.
This was just part of the daily routine for caring for the crops. There was also pest inspection, weeding out overgrown plants benefiting from the fertile soil, and other necessary tasks.
Once all the work was done, Serperior, who had been watching from the sidelines like a supervisor, finally slithered forward, extending its vines to conduct a final inspection.
Kukui crouched nearby, observing the process.
Even though he had seen it multiple times, Kai's unorthodox approach still amazed him.
There were no human farmhands—aside from the tasks that required his direct intervention, Kai left the day-to-day care entirely to Pokémon.
Yet…
There was one issue that had always stood out to him.
Standing up, Kukui muttered to himself, "Using Grassy Terrain would make all of this so much easier. Why doesn't that Serperior use it?"
Having the Eldegoss scatter nutrient spores one section at a time was tiring and inefficient. There was no way Serperior didn't know Grassy Terrain… right?
"What are you thinking about?"
Kai's voice suddenly sounded from behind him, nearly making him jump.
With a silent stride, Kai had appeared, carrying a fishing rod in one hand and a bucket filled with freshly caught river fish in the other.
Kukui turned, still startled. "I was wondering why Serperior doesn't use Grassy Terrain—wait, when did you even get here!?"
Kai chuckled as he set down his fishing gear. "So that's why you've been staring at Serperior so much lately? I was wondering what was up with you."
He continued, "The reason it doesn't use Grassy Terrain is simple. I've taken Serperior to train that move multiple times, but no matter where we went—whether it was with Paldea's Grass-type Gym Leader or other experts—none of them could teach it."
"As for the Eldegoss? I just haven't gotten around to teaching them yet."
Kukui paused. Then, a slow smile spread across his face.
He had been holding back this idea for a while now, but at last, he blurted it out.
"Want to take Serperior and the Eldegoss to learn it?"
"Huh?"
"I know someone—someone incredibly skilled with Grassy Terrain. Want to take them to train under this expert?"
Kai narrowed his eyes slightly. "Where?"
Kukui grinned.
"Alola!"
---