Hearing Lacey's voice, Axel instinctively stepped back and held a pillow in front of him.
Iono was too fierce, she actually chased him all the way to Blueberry Academy?
'You're already a Gym Leader, why are you still attending school?'
'No, wait, Iono shouldn't know I am coming here.'
Otherwise, the one who lifted the tent flap this morning wouldn't have been Teacher Briar.
Thinking of this, Axel let out a long sigh of relief.
As long as he avoided Iono, he'd be fine. Once he got the composite metal, he could run right away, could Iono chase him all the way to Aurient?
'I, Axel, admit I was a bit aggressive while gaming, but I have no regrets.'
'Who doesn't kill people when carrying girls?'
Just as Axel was doing some mental prep and had finally relaxed a little, Iono's voice came from outside again, "Lacey-chan, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, Sister Iono, ask away. I'll tell you anything I know," Lacey's voice was still crisp, but compared to when she talked to Axel, it had more warmth and respect.
Clearly, Lacey's favorability toward Iono was higher than toward Axel.
'Danger!'
If Iono asked about his whereabouts, would Lacey help cover for him?
Axel really wanted to summon Gardevoir right away and teleport away, but thinking of the scene where Gardevoir went head-to-head with Cynthia, he felt a bit inexplicably afraid.
Compared to Iono, Gardevoir was the real uncontrollable variable here.
"Then I'll ask, okay?", Iono grabbed Lacey's arm and seriously looked into the younger girl's eyes.
"Have you heard of someone named Axel?"
"I met him in Lightning City yesterday, but then lost contact."
"I know he's a student from Aurient, and if they came to the Unova Region, they might very well be exchange students at Blueberry Academy."
Lacey blinked her big eyes and gently pursed her lips.
Axel, watching the two from the peephole, was nervous enough that his palms started sweating.
Right now, he felt like he was in a horror escape game, about to be caught by a stunningly beautiful ghost, and this ghost currently had negative favorability toward him.
While Axel was uneasy, Lacey smiled and took a step back.
She firmly crossed her hands in front of her in an X, looking seriously at Iono, "Gym Leader Iono, it's true that an exchange team from Aurient arrived at our school today."
"But Teacher Briar said we're not allowed to disclose their information."
"If you want to know something, it's better to check it out yourself."
Hearing Lacey's words, Iono smiled and nodded, the corners of her lips slightly lifting.
Lacey didn't say anything directly, but her reaction was enough.
"Axel, I will find you!"
Axel: "..."
'You really don't have to rush...'
———
While Iono was settling into her room, Axel tiptoed out of his.
Even though Iono, who was hunting for him, was right across the hallway, he couldn't just stay cooped up in his room forever.
The Pokémon needed to eat, and for Duraludon to evolve, he still had to get the composite metal.
If he got caught by Iono. Well, he could reluctantly pin her down and grind her into the ground once.
Following the route map Lacey gave him, Axel quickly found the cafeteria.
This cafeteria didn't feel like something from Unova at all. Instead, it fit the style of the Paldea Region, with over half the stalls selling sandwiches.
Axel gave a quick glance, then went straight to the back and rented a private room with a stovetop.
Sizzle~
With the help of his Breeder passive, steaming-hot Pokémon food was quickly ready.
The aroma was overflowing.
Axel's Pokémon all stared longingly at the stove, and Eternatus even crawled to the edge of it.
If he wasn't careful, today's meal might turn into stewed dragon in an iron pot.
"All right, all right, back to your spots."
"Gardevoir, come help serve!"
Gardevoir nodded and floated lightly to Axel's side. With a tap of her finger on the food, it would teleport through space and appear before the corresponding Pokémon.
Rock biscuits for Duraludon and Gholdengo.
Cakes for Gardevoir, Pheromosa, Mewtwo, and Axel.
Thick soup for Nihilego and Eternatus, water-scooped snacks for Ho-Oh.
For Luxray…
"Hm?"
Axel noticed and looked at Luxray in surprise.
'Where did this guy come from?'
"Chirp!"
Ho-Oh flapped its wings hard and looked at Axel excitedly, clearly wanting praise.
'I saw that good friend of yours who took you to the training gym earlier nearby, so I brought him over to eat with us!'
Axel: "..."
'Damn it, really?'
'But… that guy is Iono's Pokémon!'
Axel stared suspiciously at Ho-Oh, "You don't know that Iono is chasing me?"
"Chirp!", Ho-Oh gave a soft cry, and a childish telepathic voice echoed in Axel's mind.
'That girl doesn't really want to hurt you!'
Axel: "..."
Of course she doesn't. If she did want to, things would actually be simpler.
Axel scratched his head in frustration.
Right now, he really wanted to kick Luxray out and slam the door shut.
But seeing Luxray's hopeful eyes, he couldn't help but soften.
What wrong could a Pokémon possibly have?
It just wanted to eat something good…
Thinking this, Axel grinned at Luxray, "Little guy, wait a bit, I'll make you something tasty."
"Though I don't have any Electric-type breeding materials, want me to whip up something else?"
"Meow!"
Axel: "..."
'Dude, even though your name has 'cat' in it, you're clearly a lion-like Pokémon, okay?'
'Who told you to cry like that?'
But glancing at his own Eternatus and Ho-Oh, Axel didn't have the heart to say it out loud.
"Then just wait a bit. I'll make some Water-type food for you. It'll even make your fur look shinier."
"Meow!"
Luxray took a few elegant steps forward, squatted down gracefully, and looked eagerly at Axel's big pot.
This stuff smelled amazing, he'd caught a whiff the moment he entered the cafeteria.
'Way better than anything outside!'
Soon, gelatin-like fish jelly food, the same kind Gyarados and Dragonair eat, was ready.
The moment it was served, Luxray's eyes lit up with a blazing glow.
'Smells amazing!'
"Gulp~"
With a big mouthful swallowed, Luxray's wide eyes turned into little heart shapes.
Since coming out into the world, this was the best thing he'd ever eaten.
At the same time, Luxray's fur visibly became smoother.
The fur that used to stand on end due to excess Electric energy now lay flat and sleek against his body.
Compared to now, the Luxray from earlier looked like a total wild Pokémon.
"Meow!"
Luxray excitedly spun around in circles on the ground, thrilled with the changes to his coat.
If he could stay this pretty, livestreams with his trainer would be way more effective.
Thinking this, Luxray couldn't help but let out a loud roar.
Axel's pupils shrank. He dove toward Luxray, trying to cover its mouth.
But, it was already too late.
The door slammed open with a bang, and Iono appeared, eyes full of worry, immediately locking onto Luxray's position.
"You little guy, why are you wandering off again? I thought I lost you!"
Axel, still holding Luxray by the throat, awkwardly turned to Iono.
'Damn it, Iono wouldn't think I kidnapped her Pokémon, would she?'
"Uh… if I said he came to my room on his own, would you believe me?"
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