*Ding!*
[B Rank: A Talking Meowth]
[Subject] Meowth
Natsume ignored the system's notification. After all, he'd have plenty of chances to meet Team Rocket again.
He made a casual shrugging gesture toward the trio, looking completely nonchalant:
"Ah, just came up here… that's it."
"I don't care who you are! Don't ruin our plan—get down here right now!"
"Go, Ekans!"
Without another word, Jessie threw out a Pokéball.
In an instant, a purple Ekans appeared in the hot air balloon, the already cramped space becoming even more confined.
"Ekans!"
Ekans eyed the shadowy figure before it warily.
"Ekans, use Wrap!"
At Jessie's command, Ekans roared and lunged toward Natsume, coiling to attack.
Just then, Natsume tossed a Pokéball.
"Ah!? Don't battle here, Meowth! The hot air balloon could explode!"
Meowth yelped in panic.
But contrary to expectations, the Pokémon Natsume's Pokéball contained didn't emerge—it struck Ekans squarely on the head instead.
*Shhrrk—*
A flash of red light, and Ekans was sucked back into the Pokéball.
Jessie: "???????"
"Hey! Who are you? Don't you know you can't just CAPTURE SOMEONE ELSE'S Pokémon!?"
Jessie shouted angrily at Natsume. Sure enough, in less than five seconds, Ekans struggled out of the Pokéball, standing once more before him.
The snake's cold eyes locked on Natsume, only to be met by a second Pokéball hurled immediately after.
*Plop!*
Seamlessly, Ekans was sucked back in—five seconds of hard control.
Of course, Natsume knew he couldn't actually capture someone else's Pokémon. But that didn't mean the Pokéball was useless.
Five seconds—just five seconds!
Jessie: ???????
"Is this even a legal way to battle? I learned a lot, Meowth!"
"Meowth, what are you complimenting him? This is our enemy!"
Jessie was on edge. She only had Ekans left. If Natsume kept cheating like this, she couldn't do anything.
"James, what are you staring at? Go, now!"
Jessie yelled at James, who was frozen in place.
"Ah, oh—oh!"
James reacted, reaching for a Pokéball at his side, but Natsume was faster.
"My Pokéball!"
Natsume snatched James's Pokéball.
"Ekans!"
*Plop!*
He threw another empty Pokéball at the struggling Ekans.
At that moment, Natsume stepped out of the shadows. Under the moonlight, Team Rocket froze as they saw his blue-and-white striped pajamas.
"Is… is that a mental ward uniform?"
Jessie muttered dumbfounded.
"That's… a mental ward uniform, right, Meowth?"
Meowth summarized.
Their discussion reached Natsume's ears, but he acted as if he hadn't heard.
Indeed, the pajamas were custom-made to resemble a mental ward uniform.
In this world, while it was peaceful, evil organizations were everywhere. Natsume thought it wise to carry *intimidating* props—like his clothes and the brick he'd previously given Ash.
The effect was immediate: the mere sight of the mental ward uniform made Team Rocket feel uneasy and restrained.
They were in midair, floating in the sky. If this person suddenly made a move, things could get disastrous.
Natsume ignored the panicked Team Rocket trio and, after tossing another Pokéball at Ekans, opened James's Pokéball.
"Come out, Koffing!"
*Koff—Koff??*
Koffing hovered in the air, staring at its *trainer*, confused.
"Yes, that's right. Your trainer abandoned you."
Natsume's face was serious.
*Koff—?*
Koffing began to feel down, but then a restrained voice came from behind:
"Kid, don't go too far!"
James lowered his tone, trying to control his emotions and not provoke this person.
Hearing James, Koffing immediately turned, its sadness gone.
Just as it floated toward James, it felt something pressing against it.
It was Natsume, holding a jar to cover one of Koffing's vents.
Soon, gray-black gas began to fill the jar.
Koffing tried to struggle but saw the controlled, restrained look from James.
Before long, Natsume had collected a full jar of gas.
P*erfect. Excellent.*
He reached into the night and grabbed his Rotom phone in flight mode.
Under Team Rocket's shocked gazes, Natsume *floated* up, leaving the hot air balloon and disappearing from sight.
*Ekans—*
Ekans's call came one final time, but there was no Pokéball smacking it in the face this time.
"Come back, Ekans."
Jessie frowned and recalled Ekans.
"That guy… could he really be a ghost, Meowth?"
Meowth nervously muttered.
In the night, they couldn't see the Rotom; they only assumed Natsume had floated away by raising his hand.
"Damn, I've never seen such a shameless ghost before."
Jessie ground her teeth, glaring at the empty Pokéballs on the floor.
"No, I don't think that's it," James said, eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
"He even knows that Koffing is in my Pokéball!"
At this, Jessie and Meowth froze.
"No way!"
"Meowth, no way!"
"Could it be that he's sent by Giovanni to inspect our work?!"
All three exclaimed simultaneously.
"Yes, Meowth, that explains it! Earlier he did mention Giovanni, Meowth!"
Meowth clasped his paws together, drawing a conclusion.
"Yeah, maybe he's watching us from some corner!"
James speculated.
"Maybe, maybe! And maybe he's live-streaming to Giovanni right now!"
Jessie said excitedly.
"Then tonight, we have to perform even better, Meowth!"
Meowth made the final conclusion.
"What are they cheering about?"
From below, Natsume faintly heard voices from the Meowth-head balloon overhead. He shrugged and ignored them.
He didn't know what Team Rocket was celebrating, but he did know one thing: soon he could bathe, change, burn incense, and enjoy his lucky ten-scratch streak.
Feeling elated and excited, Natsume returned to the Viridian City Pokémon Center.
The moment he stepped inside, he saw Ash and Misty anxiously gathered around a stretcher. On it lay Pikachu, sprawled out in all directions.
Raising an eyebrow, Natsume observed the scene.
It seemed Ash and Misty had already explained everything, and Pikachu had been stabilized.
"Don't worry, your Pikachu is out of danger. His consciousness is just a bit fuzzy right now."
Approaching, Natsume heard Nurse Joy's reassuring words.
Ash noticed Natsume's arrival and couldn't help but ask,
"Natsume, what were you doing just now?!"
Natsume gently pried open Pikachu's slightly dazed mouth and pulled out his tongue.
*Hmm… now he looks even more like a neutered kitten.*
*Click!*
After taking a commemorative photo, Natsume turned and headed upstairs, returning to his own room.