Just back at the farm, exhausted from the journey, Naoki, who hadn't even had time to shower or shave, almost lost his breath, asking with wide eyes, "What did you call me?"
Lono realized her impolite address just now and quickly replied obediently, "Mr. Naoki."
Naoki: "..."
He sighed and handed some Pokémon food to Lono, asking her to feed her Pokémon.
With so many Pokémon earlier, there wasn't enough space at the table, and Lono hadn't let her Pokémon out. Naoki noticed this issue.
Lono: "Thank you very much, Mr. Naoki!"
"Just wait for a moment!" Naoki turned around and headed into the room, entering the bathroom.
Looking at himself in the mirror, he finally understood why from Lono to Carmine they all called him an uncle…
Because he got a bit tanned working on the farm in the summer, his hair hadn't been cut for a long time, and he was busy with Ogerpon matters during those days of agricultural exchange in Kitakami, so he hadn't thought of shaving.
In addition, during this short year, he consumed a lot of rich food like fish, meat, and Life Sheep Milk, becoming much stronger, almost turning into a burly man like Bruno, the Fighting Elite from the Kanto Region.
Naoki shaved, tidied up his appearance, and once everything was done, he looked much younger.
When he stepped out of the room, Lono was feeding her Pokémon on the grass.
Naoki glanced over, and names of those Pokémon floated in his mind: "Kilowattrel, Bellibolt, Luxray, Electrode, Mismagius."
Plus the two decorative Magnemite on her head, there were seven Pokémon in total.
Hearing the noise from behind, Lono turned around, her mouth agape in surprise: "Mr. Naoki?"
Naoki was quite satisfied with this form of address, and modestly nodded: "Mm."
"Wow!" Lono was really surprised: "May I boldly ask your age?"
"Twenty-one."
Lono was even more surprised; she hadn't expected Mr. Naoki to be so young, just four years older than her!
Naoki displayed a graceful yet respectful smile: "If young people from the city worked on the farm for a few years like I do, I'm sure they'd turn out like this too."
Lono instantly understood.
Naoki didn't say more and switched to the main topic: "Are you ready? Sure you want to start the Thunder Trial challenge?"
"Hey everyone~! Are you all ready~?" Lono looked at the Pokémon in front of her.
"Watt!"
"Dream!"
"..."
Bellibolt, Mismagius, and the others responded one after another.
"Hehe, seems like everyone's ready!" Lono cast her gaze at Naoki, her voice cheerful and lively: "Then~ Gym test, start!"
Naoki: "…Pfft!"
Oops, she mixed it up!
Lono laughed awkwardly: "Haha, I'm used to welcoming challengers, so those words just slipped out~ Suddenly switching roles, I haven't adapted yet."
Naoki showed understanding, and he led Pawmot, draped in a red cape, to the other side of the battle area.
Koraidon, Cyclizar, Flutter Mane, Alcremie, Naclstack, and Ogerpon all gathered around, watching the battle from the side.
With a whistle, her brother Indeedee walked to the center of the battle area.
As the whistle blew, Lono energetically pointed forward:
"Electrode, it's time! Let's pass this trial like Eelektross leaping over the dragon gate!"