"Lucian, I've finally found you!!"
Lucas opened his eyes amidst a burst of wailing. Lying in the rest area after a nap, he was still a bit dazed, unsure of what had happened.
In his grogginess, he looked toward the source of the sound and found a man with a fiery red afro hugging Lucian's leg and crying out.
Ninetales opened her eyes and saw that Lucas had sat up and was staring blankly. She shifted her gaze toward Lucian's side, staring intently at the man with the afro.
Elite Four Aaron suddenly felt his scalp tingle. He looked around and saw a Ninetales staring at him fixedly with those beautiful fox eyes.
Lucian rubbed his forehead. "I guarantee that if you keep shouting like this, you'll be beaten to death by Ninetales and the others. It'll be the kind of death that's very miserable."
During his time at the Breeding House, he had discovered that the Pokémon there loved Lucas immensely. Consequently, they would handle the Day Care's affairs to the best of their abilities to prevent Lucas from having to do it himself, fearing he might get tired.
For instance, the three daily meals, the cleanliness of the Day Care, and weeding the planting area in the backyard were all handled by Gothitelle, Lilligant, and Gengar. Even when Lucas wanted to go somewhere, Gothitelle and Lilligant were the ones who packed his luggage.
It went without saying during nap time; unless there were customers, if someone disturbed Lucas's sleep, the consequences were dire.
For example, yesterday Pinsir was running around with Zorua and accidentally stepped on Lucas's foot. The result was that both he and Zorua were planted into the snow by Gothitelle.
Thinking about the work at the Day Care—where under normal circumstances, Lucas only needed to sit in the rest area, wait for customers to arrive, and then ask what they needed—Lucian felt incredibly envious.
Dammit, when will my job be like this!
Having others handle everything for me, only requiring my attention for important matters.
At this thought, Lucian took a sip of tea and looked unkindly at Aaron, who was hugging his leg, and Aaron, who was standing not far away.
Seeing Lucian's expression, Flint wondered why Lucian seemed to be in a bit of a bad mood.
Flint scratched his afro and stood up.
Lucas reached out and grabbed Ninetales' head, rubbing it vigorously. Only after Ninetales had squinted her eyes in enjoyment for a while did Lucas withdraw his hand and look over at Lucian's side.
There was a noticeably quieter man with green hair and a single tuft of hair sticking up like an ahoge.
Aaron came too?
"What's going on?"
Lucas yawned and asked.
Lucian turned his head and saw that Lucas was awake. With an apologetic expression, he said, "Flint and Aaron came looking for me to make me go back to the League to handle business. This fellow Flint is reckless and disturbed the Manager's rest."
Lucas waved his hand. "It's no big deal."
"Long time no see, Flint."
Lucas looked at the afro-haired Flint and greeted him with a smile.
Flint grinned widely, showing his teeth. "Long time no see, Lucas! This is our Sinnoh region's Bug-type Elite Four Aaron."
After speaking, Flint threw an arm around Aaron's shoulder and introduced him to Lucas.
"Hello, Elite Four Aaron."
"Hello, Lucas."
Aaron looked at this Lucas, whom Lucian often mentioned. He noticed there was still a bit of sleep crust in his eyes, and the man seemed very easygoing.
Lucas rubbed his eyes, looked at Flint, and said with a smile, "Are you here to catch Lucian and take him back to work?"
Hearing Lucas's words, Flint nodded incessantly.
"This guy Lucian left all the League's affairs to me and Aaron to handle."
Flint spoke with a look of grievance.
"Lucian really did go too far."
Lucas began to fan the flames.
"Right, right? Even though neither Aaron nor I have ever handled them before."
"Exactly, exactly."
Listening to Lucas's constant instigation, Lucian sighed helplessly. "Manager, if you keep fanning the flames like this, I'll truly become irredeemable."
Lucas laughed and waved it off. "Nonsense, everyone knows Elite Four Lucian is the kindest."
Lucas had Flint and Aaron sit in the rest area, then listened to their conversation with Lucian from the side.
"I originally planned to head back today anyway. I didn't expect you guys to actually come here."
Lucian took a sip of tea and said.
"Then let's get ready and return to the League."
His tone was filled with immense reluctance.
My vacation——
"Ah?! So soon?"
Flint was somewhat surprised. "We just got here. We were thinking of resting for a few days just like you."
Lucian's eyelid twitched. "Are you saying that for the past few days, the League's affairs were left to——Grandma Bertha?!"
Flint thought of Grandma Bertha's bold and unrestrained personality; she would probably just agree to everything, wouldn't she?
Flint shook his afro. "Then we'd better head back."
"You could let Cynthia handle it,"
Lucas suggested from the side.
"Gengar gargar——"
You're doomed. I'm going to tell on you later.
Lucas: ——
Lucian: "Never mind then, I'll go back and handle it myself."
Flint and Aaron nodded repeatedly.
"Why does it feel like you guys are so afraid of Cynthia?"
Hearing Lucas's inquiry, Lucian shook his head. "It's not about being afraid. It's that if I give her the work today, she can return even more to me tomorrow."
At this thought, Lucian sighed, seemingly recalling some unpleasant memories.
Is that really a thing?!
Lucas hadn't known that the online rumors about Lucian carrying the affairs of every region in Sinnoh on his shoulders were actually true.
"But Flint and Aaron have traveled a long way to visit the Day Care. This is your first time here, isn't it?"
Flint and Aaron nodded.
Aaron: "Yes."
Lucas smiled and said, "In that case, why not stay for dinner before you leave? Or stay the night and leave tomorrow morning. After all, it's winter, and traveling at night when it's snowing isn't safe."
Flint and Aaron left the decision to Lucian.
Lucian adjusted his glasses, thought for a moment, and said, "Then we'll leave tomorrow."
Just enough time to finish this book today. I might not have time to read once I'm back.
Lucian thought to himself.
Lucas nodded. "Then Lucian-san, I'll leave it to you to help me host Elite Four Flint and Elite Four Aaron."
?
Lucian: ——
Lucian looked at Aaron and Flint. "You can go wander around the backyard and find something to do yourselves."
With that, he lowered his head to continue reading.
Classic you, Lucian.
Lucas couldn't help but laugh. He reached out, and Ninetales rested her head on his lap. Lucas took out a brush and gently began grooming Ninetales' fur.
Aaron sat in the rest area, watching Lucas's movements the whole time.
He didn't stop until Lucas had groomed Ninetales' fur from head to toe.
It was clear that Lucas put a lot of heart into caring for this Ninetales. Her fur was so smooth it could only be the result of long-term, meticulous care.
Flint sat for a while and started feeling bored. Seeing that Lucas had finished grooming Ninetales, he, as the Fire-type Elite of the Sinnoh region, also owned a Ninetales. However, Lucas's Ninetales was much taller than his own, and he could feel powerful Fire-type energy emanating from her. His hands began to itch for action.
"Lucas, please have a battle with me!"
Flint's sudden outburst plunged the Day Care into silence.
Ninetales opened her eyes to stare at Flint, Lilligant tilted her head at him, and Gengar tossed a snack into his mouth while looking at Lucas.
Lucas looked at Flint, recalling his record. He became a Sinnoh Elite at age 20 and later challenged Cynthia. In Sinnoh, to challenge the Champion, one must first defeat the Elite Four, which meant Flint was the strongest among the Sinnoh Elite Four.
Furthermore, his close friend, the legendary "Yellow Flash" Volkner, the strongest Gym Leader in Sinnoh, was also said to possess the strength of an Elite Four member.
He wants to battle me?
Me, fighting an Elite? For real? And the strongest Elite in Sinnoh at that?
Lucian slapped his forehead. This guy, here he goes again.
Just then, a crisp voice rang out, "What battle? I can accompany you for a fight."
Flint's eyes widened, and Aaron also found it unbelievable.
Lucian and Lucas both turned their heads toward the counter. A familiar figure was standing behind it. With a head of blonde hair, she was removing the scarf from her neck and handing it to Gengar—who had appeared by her side at some unknown point—to put away. She was currently looking at Flint with a smile.
Flint swallowed hard.
"Big Sis, what are you doing here?"
Flint asked in a small voice.
We're dead. Did she catch us skipping work together?!
At this thought, Flint kept winking at Lucian, urging him to think of a way out.
Lucian stood up. "Champion Cynthia."
Cynthia finally noticed the three Elites sitting in the rest area. "Eh? Lucian, Flint, Aaron, you're all here?"
We're finished——
Flint was already imagining his own funeral.
Then he saw Lucas walk over. "Welcome back. Finished with your work?"
He saw Cynthia give a bright smile. "Mhm."
Gengar brought out two cups of hot honey water from the kitchen, handing them to Cynthia and Garchomp.
Garchomp accepted it without hesitation and downed it in one go.
"Garch!"
Garchomp gave Gengar a thumbs-up with a scythe.
Gengar grinned widely.
Cynthia walked with Lucas to the rest area and sat down. She looked at Flint. "Was it you who wanted to battle just now? It just so happens my hands are a bit itchy too. Shall we go outside and practice?"
Flint: ——
This time it's really over——
"What battle? Is someone battling? Can I join in?"
An eager voice drifted in, giving Flint a new lease on life.
"Ash!"
Flint turned around and found Ash running over with Pikachu.
"That's right, I was just thinking of coming over to have a battle with you to see if your strength has improved."
"Really?"
Ash adjusted the baseball cap on his head. "Don't worry, Elite Four Flint, I definitely won't let you down!"
"Very well, then let's go battle!"
"Alright, Pikachu, we have to work hard to show Elite Four Flint our progress."
With that, he ran out of the Day Care with Pikachu.
Flint looked at Cynthia. "Big Sis, I'm going to the battle then."
He ran out of the Day Care without looking back.
"Eh? Miss Cynthia?"
Dawn shouted in surprise. "What are you doing here too?"
Cynthia smiled and greeted Dawn. Then, she felt a blur before her eyes and realized a figure had somehow already knelt on one knee in front of her.
Just as Brock was about to speak, he felt the Day Care fill with killing intent.
He looked up and found Garchomp, Gengar, Ninetales, and even Lilligant sitting at the counter all staring at him with narrowed eyes. The greatest source of killing intent was none other than Lucas beside Cynthia.
"Brock, shall we go practice too?"
Brock wiped the sweat from his forehead. "If I said my foot slipped, would you believe me?"
Dawn couldn't help but sigh. The Croagunk that had just jumped out of its Poké Ball was stunned.
? Why didn't he say his lines today?
Adhering to the principle of 'since I'm already here,' a purple light glowed on Croagunk's hand, and it struck Brock's backside. Brock was instantly paralyzed by the poison and fell. Then, Croagunk grabbed one of Brock's feet and dragged him away, waving to Lucas and the others as a sign of farewell.
"Quite polite, that Croagunk,"
Lucas said with a smile. "I'll give you an extra treat tonight."
Croagunk stopped and stared at Lucas for a moment. Lucas didn't realize what Croagunk was trying to express.
Then he witnessed a scene that left him between laughter and tears.
Croagunk raised its hand high, glowing with purple light, and stabbed it into the other side of Brock's backside without hesitation.
Then it looked at Lucas. "Gua."
Is that enough?
Lucas's stomach hurt from laughing. "Alright, alright, I'll definitely give you a big extra treat tonight."
Just after Croagunk left with Brock, Celebi flew back from the backyard and perched on Lucas's head.
Cynthia looked at the Celebi on Lucas's head. "Is this that Celebi from back then?"
She saw the small wooden plaque hanging around Celebi's neck; she had one too, tied to her wrist.
Lucas nodded. "A very cute Pokémon, isn't it?"
"It just loves sitting on my head. I don't know what's so good about it; my hair's about to be plucked bald."
Cynthia smiled at Lucas's words and then opened her arms. Lucas's eyes lit up, and just as he was about to open his arms for a hug, he saw Celebi fly into Cynthia's embrace.
Lucas was filled with disappointment.
"Disappointed?"
Cynthia's voice rang out, and Lucas nodded.
"Want one?"
Lucas nodded again.
"Keep dreaming."
Lucas made a face at Celebi. Celebi huffed and turned its backside to him, refusing to look at him.
Dawn sat to the side, biting her lip furiously. The Piplup in her arms was being squeezed so hard it could barely breathe.
"Piplup—— Piplup——"
Aaron thought of something and looked at Lucian, only to find that Lucian was quietly drinking tea and reading, seemingly accustomed to all of this.
Aaron's mouth hung open in a round 'O' shape.
Lucas was just about to say something when he heard a loud explosion from outside.
Boom!
Lucas clenched his fist.
He was all too familiar with this sound——
The sound of his wallet shrinking.
Lucas stood up and walked out. Cynthia, holding Celebi, followed him.
Lucas looked at the giant crater that had suddenly appeared. If Gothitelle hadn't returned in time, the destruction would likely have been even greater.
He glanced at the culprits.
Two Infernape; one was lying in the pit, unconscious.
Lucas took a deep breath.
Looking at the two people who were sincerely apologizing to him, Lucas said heart-wrenchingly, "Just pay for the repairs at the original price."