"That's him! The kid in the video with that crazy-strong Pikachu!"
"Yeah! He drove off those three weirdos from Team Rocket all by himself!"
"Wait—does that mean he's the one who caught the Shiny Butterfree too?"
"Oh my god, he looks so young… What a prodigy!"
Ash barely stepped into view before the spotlight hit him. Just his presence alone drew everyone's attention, leaving the gathered trainers in awe.
Yumi had originally planned to formally sing Ash's praises, but she didn't even get the chance.
Apparently, some trainers who had witnessed the Team Rocket battle firsthand had already spread the news across Viridian City.
If she pulled out her phone now, she'd find the group chat for Viridian trainers already flooded—with the highlight reel being none other than Ash's Pikachu putting on an electric show.
"Hey bro, can I get a selfie with your Shiny Butterfree?"
"Yeah, please! I've never even seen a Shiny in real life before..."
A few trainers had flown in from other regions that morning, lured by the rumors. They'd spent the whole morning just getting to Viridian—only to find out the pink Butterfree had already been caught. Naturally, everyone now wanted to get a good look at it.
"Of course," Ash said without hesitation. He casually pulled out the Poké Ball and released his newest companion.
"Fweeee~" A soft, pleasant chirp echoed through the air as the pink-colored Shiny Butterfree fluttered gracefully into view.
With elegant motions, it flapped its shimmering wings, looking every bit like a celebrity surrounded by a fan club.
"Whoa!!"
"Way prettier than in the photos!"
"This pink is... dreamy!"
Excited voices filled the Pokémon Center like a flood.
...
"Hmph."
But not everyone was swept up in the buzz.
In a far corner of the room, a boy from the Sinnoh region gave a cold snort.
His name was Paul.
He was around the same age as Ash, but his vibe couldn't have been more different—he radiated a "don't come near me" aura.
At the moment, he was watching Ash get swarmed with admiration, and he didn't bother hiding the disdain in his eyes.
"A mere rookie trainer gets lucky and catches a Shiny... and that's all it takes to become some kind of celebrity?"
Paul had originally come to Viridian after hearing there'd be a battle tournament in the city. The prize? A carefully selected Pokémon egg from the Day Care's top breeder.
The tournament wasn't until the afternoon, and since rumors about the Shiny Butterfree had been flying all morning, Paul decided to check out the forest.
Instead, he saw Ash soaking up all this attention. For some reason, it rubbed him the wrong way.
He didn't like Ash. Couldn't even explain why.
But whether he liked it or not, there wasn't much he could do. Every trainer in the Center wanted to befriend Ash. That kind of popularity? Paul couldn't compete with it.
He just scowled. No one ever wanted to be friends with someone with a face like his.
Not that he cared. At least, that's what he told himself.
"Ashy~ Can I sit here and eat with you?" called a sweet, chirpy voice.
A little girl with pink cheeks and twin ponytails stood beside Ash's table, tray in hand, gazing eagerly at the empty seat across from him.
She was the fourth girl in just ten minutes trying to sit with him.
"No!" Leaf snapped before Ash could even answer.
She was practically seething, feeling like a Growlithe guarding its food bowl.
What the hell was up with Ash today?! Since when was he so popular with girls?! Back in school, he hardly even talked to any girls. Now that they've graduated, it's like they're crawling out of the woodwork!
"It's fine, go ahead," Ash said casually, gesturing toward the empty seat. His gaze, however, remained locked on the virtual system panel floating in front of him as he analyzed his new teammate's stats.
[Name: Butterfree (Shiny)]
[Type: Bug / Flying]
[Rank: Elite]
[Ability: Compound Eyes]
[Moves: Confusion, Gust, Sleep Powder, Stun Spore, Psybeam, Air Slash, Quiver Dance]
[Traits: Shiny Body (Gold), Viridian's Blessing (Gold), Mesmerizing Wings (Purple), Unyielding Wings (Unawakened)]
[Shiny Body (Gold): Proof of surpassing the ordinary. Exclusive to Shiny Pokémon. All base stats are naturally higher than average individuals, total base stats increased, and all moves gain bonus power.]
[Viridian's Blessing (Gold): A radiant aura born of the forest's favor. Passively accelerates the growth of all Pokémon in the team, calms the emotions of those in battle, increasing focus and stability. Occasionally boosts intimacy and bonds between host and Pokémon.]
[Mesmerizing Wings (Purple): Born from the dazzling shimmer of fantasy wings. Greatly increases accuracy of status-inflicting moves like Sleep Powder and Stun Spore.]
...
This Shiny Butterfree was leagues ahead of Pikachu.
Pikachu had only recently advanced from Novice to Beginner, while this Butterfree was already Elite tier—three full stages higher. It even came with two Gold-tier traits. Its battle potential was nothing to scoff at.
With Butterfree's addition—and the [Battle Legend] trait—Ash figured he now had enough firepower to challenge a Gym.
"Fweeee~"
Meanwhile, Butterfree was nibbling politely at its Pokéblock. As a female Pokémon, its demeanor was naturally graceful. A small crowd of trainers was still snapping pictures nearby, and the flashing lights were starting to make her a bit shy.
"Pika~"
Compared to her, Pikachu was an absolute extrovert.
Surrounded by unfamiliar trainers? No problem. He dug into his food with gusto, all while striking pose after pose for the cameras like a true showman. His antics had the crowd laughing non-stop.
The Pokémon Center's dining area was filled with cheerful noise and activity.
Of course, not everyone was hanging around. Plenty of trainers were eating like lightning.
"Let's finish up quick—word is the tournament's already started!"
[End of Chapter]