The open-air party lasted until dawn. Pikachu and Pichu were sprawled across the straw mats, not a single one awake. Even the village elder, the old Pikachu, was snoring while clutching a jar of fruit wine.
Aomori gently placed the small Pichu from his lap onto the ground. He stood up, stretched his body which was numb from sitting for too long, and walked towards the small waterfall.
The forest received ample rain, and the small waterfall had a considerable flow. The water plummeting from over ten meters still created a powerful roar.
Aomori shed his animal-skin pants and stepped naked into the stream.
The stream water was ice-cold. He immediately felt his mind clear and his drowsiness vanish.
Gazing at the piles of spray created by the small waterfall, Aomori took a deep breath, plunged into the stream, and resurfaced directly under the cascade.
The rushing water struck him like iron hammers. Aomori grit his teeth, expending a great deal of effort to sit securely on the slippery, large rock beneath the waterfall.
A powerful, downward pressure threatened to crush Aomori. For the average person, this would be a challenge much harder than being surrounded by muscular men.
Fortunately, Aomori had always done his Saitama-style special training, so his physique was strong. It took him just over ten minutes to become accustomed to the waterfall's impact, allowing him to sit stably cross-legged on the slippery rock.
Aomori gradually emptied his mind, his consciousness drifting into the void, manipulating his body by instinct.
Click. He fell asleep.
He woke up an unknown time later. It was already faintly light. As he relaxed his muscles, he was immediately swept away by the current.
The next moment, Aomori leaped out of the stream, landing on the bank. He put his animal-skin pants back on and listened carefully. The valley was silent, save for the rustling of leaves in the breeze.
He looked up. The few fruit trees on the bank were lush and thriving, yet there were hardly any berries left on the branches.
Remembering the berries and fruit wine from the party last night, Aomori frowned. He glanced at the sleeping Pikachu and Pichu, turned, and walked away with long strides.
...
"Pika Pika!" (Something bad happened!)
"Pika Pika?" (What is it? So early in the morning.)
Pikachu No. 1 rubbed its waist as it emerged from the cave. It had been sound asleep, hugging Pikachu with the heart-shaped tail, but was awakened by a loud "Pika" cry. It was not in a good mood.
"Pika Pika..." (I was just about to prepare breakfast, but I found that all the berries on the fruit trees are gone!)
"Pika Pika!" (You must have eaten them all last night... It's not a big deal. I'll just go pick more elsewhere. Don't worry, I won't let you starve!)
Pikachu No. 1 spoke with spirited assurance, but its hand kept pressing its waist. This is trouble. I overexerted myself yesterday. My back hurts...
A short while later, Pikachu No. 1 gathered over twenty Pikachu, preparing to go pick berries elsewhere.
The old Pikachu, who had also been awakened, warned them, "Pika Pika." (Be careful. Most of the nearby fruit trees are occupied by Pokémon. Check the situation before you act.)
"Pika Pika." (Don't worry, I won't be reckless.)
Pikachu No. 1 patted its small chest to reassure the elder.
The old Pikachu sighed and said, "Pika Pika." (Sigh, back when we didn't have so many villagers, we had more berries than we could eat, and the leftovers could be brewed into fruit wine. Now? Alas.)
Pikachu No. 1 impatiently interrupted the old Pikachu's long lecture, saying, "Pika Pika." (Relax, relax, we'll be back soon.)
"No need!"
Aomori suddenly appeared at the valley entrance, throwing a large bundle wrapped in leaves in front of the Pikachu. The bundle burst open upon impact, spilling out a massive pile of berries.
"Pika Pika?"
"You ask where I got them? I woke up early with nothing to do, so I took a stroll nearby. When I saw some berries, I picked them on the way."
"Pika Pika?"
"You ask if I met any Pokémon? Yes, I ran into one group of Rattata, two groups of Pidgey, and three groups of Spearow. They all wanted to steal my berries, but I convinced them with reason and persuaded them to leave."
"Pika Pika?"
"Of course, I'm not giving them to you for free, Pikachu. I need you to help me with my training!"
"Pika Pika?"
"Don't worry, it won't be hard."
"Pika Pika?"
"You ask how I can understand your language? Well, it's mostly guesswork. The main thing is that your mimed actions are very expressive."
"Pika Pika." Pikachu No. 1 rubbed its long ears. It was a little embarrassed to be praised, but very happy!
In truth, Aomori's high Spirit attribute now allowed him to vaguely sense the Pokémon's emotions, and with some deduction and guesswork, he was usually close to the meaning.
"Alright, without further ado, let's begin training today!"
...
"Pika Pika..."
Inside the cave, the emaciated Pikachu No. 1 lay collapsed on the ground, struggling to inch forward. Almost there. The cave entrance, symbolizing light, was within reach. It could even smell the faint fragrance of flowers outside the valley.
However, a hand reached out from the darkness and slowly dragged it back.
"Pika Pika!"
Aomori dragged Pikachu No. 1 over and pressed it down onto a stone stool.
"Come on. I know you still have some. Release it quickly."
Pikachu No. 1 shook its head desperately. "Pika Pika." (No more. I really don't have any left.)
"You're being disobedient, aren't you?" Aomori placed both hands on Pikachu No. 1's rosy cheeks, gently rubbing them.
"Pika Pika." (No, I can't. I'm going to release it again.)
"Pika... chu!"
The suddenly released electric shock made Aomori shiver slightly. Pikachu No. 1 collapsed to the ground, looking utterly drained.
"It looks like you've truly reached your limit. This time, it's my turn to inject it."
Aomori placed both hands back on Pikachu No. 1's rosy cheeks, fully activating Thunder Breathing. He guided the electric energy into Pikachu No. 1's body as much as possible, though a significant amount still dissipated into the air.
As the electric energy was injected, Pikachu No. 1's complexion grew more vibrant. When it woke up, Aomori's energy was nearly exhausted, so he stopped.
"How do you feel?"
"Pika Pika." Pikachu No. 1 shook its head, still looking a little unclear.
It seems I can't just keep squeezing the wool from a single sheep.
"Alright, you can go out now. Call two... no, call three Pikachu to come in."
"Pika." Pikachu No. 1 nodded, stumbling out of the cave like a zombie.
A short while later, three Pikachu huddled together, their legs shaking, as they hesitantly shuffled in.
The miserable cries of Pikachu No. 1 still echoed in their ears.
"Don't be afraid. I'm not a devil." Faced with the high-charm Aomori, the Pikachu quickly became less terrified.
"Then, use your full power and hit me with Thunderbolt."
"Pika... chu!!" The three Pikachu unleashed Thunderbolt!
A stinging, tingling sensation.
The electric energy surged from the Pikachu toward Aomori. Aomori seized the opportunity to draw the electric energy into his body, closing his eyes to sense the changes and flow of the electric energy within him.
After a long time, the Pikachu, breathing heavily, stopped generating electricity.
Opening his eyes, Aomori showed a slight smile as his Energy attribute had increased again.
Aomori stared intently at the Pikachu, and under their fearful gazes, he declared, "Three is no longer enough for me. Bring me ten more!"