"Mawile?"
Mawile looked at Kashiwagi, her face practically glowing with a "See? I won!" expression.
Lairon certainly had stamina left, but this was just a spar. If she actually beat him into a Pokémon Center visit, how would they finish the morning training?
"You won, you won. It's your victory."
Kashiwagi stepped directly between the two Pokémon and gave Chansey a meaningful look.
Chansey didn't quite catch his drift at first, but seeing Lairon staggering a bit, she quickly scurried over. She used Heal Pulse to restore his energy and soothe the minor bruises he'd taken while tumbling across the dirt.
Minor bruises might seem insignificant, but if left to accumulate, they would inevitably hinder Lairon's movement—much like a sudden, sharp pain in a runner's kneecap. A Pokémon's state fluctuates with its health; their attack power, defense, and even mental focus aren't constants.
Kashiwagi turned to Mawile, who was wearing a peculiar expression.
"You really are strong. Right now, you're the strongest one among us."
"Maw... Mawile..."
Hearing this, the reality of her power finally sank in.
She had thought her skills would have rusted away after years without a real battle. She hadn't expected her counter-punching techniques to be so instinctive; it seemed her body hadn't forgotten a thing.
And...
The Trainer's other Pokémon aren't that great, are they?
Yesterday, she hadn't paid much attention to their drills. She'd assumed they had some real tricks up their sleeves. But this was it?
In the past, she used to pick fights with wild Pokémon in the ecological park. When she discovered her level was merely average and that many others could beat her, she had lost heart and stopped doing such "boring" things. She had even felt a bit of an inferiority complex regarding her strength.
Who would have thought that after today's bout, Lairon wouldn't even be a match for her? She had spent the whole night worrying for nothing.
It was clear now why the Trainer had chosen her. He valued her power!
With that thought, Mawile crossed her arms with an air of dignified reserve and nodded at Kashiwagi, her expression saying, It's good that you realize.
----
Soon, Lairon and Chansey approached her.
Seeing them closing in, Mawile initially thought they were going to be sore losers and try to double-team her. She immediately dropped into a defensive stance. Instead of an attack, however, she was met with two beaming faces.
"Lai-ron!"
"Chan-sey!"
For Lairon, this was the first time since joining Kashiwagi that he had suffered such a one-sided defeat. Although it was mostly because he hadn't reacted in time, a loss was a loss. He offered his respect.
Chansey was simply delighted that the team had gained such a powerful new member. She knew she still hadn't overcome her struggle with attacking others, which she felt held the team back. Seeing Kashiwagi gain more strength made her genuinely happy. As for the healing, the singing, and sharing her Nutri-Eggs—those were just trifles to her. Since it was what she should be doing, she was too humble to take credit.
"Maw...ile..."
Surrounded by the two smiling Pokémon and hearing their appreciative cries, Mawile found herself at a loss. As someone who had always kept her distance from others, when had she ever been approached so warmly?
But the feeling... wasn't bad.
"Mawile!"
She turned her head away to maintain her "cool" persona, trying to hide the slight flicker of joy on her face. Even if it was just one-sided flattery, she was pleased to be "popular." Her vanity was thoroughly satisfied.
Kashiwagi laughed. "Well then, no time to waste. Let's get on with today's morning training!"
"Lai-ron!"
"Chan-sey~"
"...Mawile~"
The three responded in their own ways—some excited, some happy, some feigning composure. As they started their laps, Kashiwagi, trailing at the back, couldn't help but grin.
Their energy levels were all in the early 40s, and Mawile's base stats were technically lower than Pokémon like Mightyena. Yet, coming from a high-tier environment, Mawile could effortlessly suppress the Lairon that those Mightyena couldn't touch. It was proof of her caliber. Even if a true life-or-death battle might have a different outcome, Mawile's raw speed and attack power were enough to make Kashiwagi lose sleep out of sheer excitement.
And the biggest surprise of all? Mawile's cooperative attitude. It was only day two!
If I could see my own stats, I'd check if I have some hidden 'Charisma' or 'Pokémon Whisperer' talent, he thought.
----
Afternoon.
After finishing his literacy class, Kashiwagi took some time to visit the hospital to see Otsuka and the others. It had been a few days; the young man should be awake by now.
Sure enough, when Kashiwagi reached the ward, he saw Otsuka wrapped up like a mummy, propped up against the raised hospital bed while his sister fed him fruit. Most of the teammates from the tournament were in the same room, each being tended to by someone.
He pushed the door open.
"Otsuka..."
"Kashiwagi!"
Otsuka's eyes lit up. He didn't even care about the Sitrus Berry his sister had just peeled; he tried to climb out of bed to greet him. The other patients in the ward also wore various complicated expressions upon seeing the visitor.
"Alright, take it easy. Give your sister a break." Kashiwagi ignored the surrounding stares and smiled at the gentle woman by the bed. "Sister Kurika."
Otsuka's sister, Kurika, was an ordinary-looking but kind and virtuous woman. She worked as a dealer in an Underdome casino and was currently trying to get a clerical job at the headquarters.
"Captain Kashiwagi, you don't need to be so polite with me," Kurika said, rising quickly with a look of nervous respect.
They had met less than three times in total, so they weren't close. Facing a Squad Leader with such a bright future, Kurika didn't dare accept a casual greeting.
"Just call me Kashiwagi. Forget the 'Captain' prefix; I'm not a fan of the prefix."
Kashiwagi hated being called "Captain" followed by his name—it sounded weird. He preferred either just "Captain" or just his name.
Kurika was left speechless, but at the mention of the title "Captain," the faces of the others in the room turned green with envy. Who would have thought that the man they once looked down upon would not only be the hero of the tournament but also ascend to the rank of Squad Leader? Even if they wanted the position, they'd need to make a massive contribution first; otherwise, they'd be "Elite Grunts" for the rest of their lives.
"Kashiwagi..." Otsuka's face was also full of unconcealed admiration. "I knew you weren't an ordinary person!"
"Of course. I'm one of a kind."
"Huh?"
"Never mind. Just a joke." Kashiwagi sat down calmly on a stool by the bed and pulled out a small envelope, placing it on the blanket. "Here is a million. The principal and interest I promised. Count it."
Kurika stood by, unsure if she should sit, trying her best to fade into the background.
Otsuka looked at the bulging envelope on his lap. He didn't look happy; instead, his face went pale, and he made no move to open it. "Kashiwagi... I..."
"Don't say anything stupid about not wanting it. What's yours is yours." Kashiwagi paused to consider. "It's not safe to carry this much cash around. Sister Kurika, how about I escort you home so you can drop this off?"
Kurika looked at her dazed brother, not knowing whether to agree, but finally nodded. "Alright. Thank you, Ca—Kashiwagi."
She managed to cut off the "Captain" just in time.
He nodded, satisfied. Seeing Otsuka looking lost, he added, "Look, I know what's on your mind. If you want to join my squad, you need to heal up first, right? Or do you think I'm the type to turn my back on my friends the moment I get a bit of power?"
"Ah!" Otsuka looked up sharply, his eyes a mix of surprise and relief.
"Having a knucklehead like you as a subordinate... I'm going to have my hands full," Kashiwagi sighed, turning to walk out. Kurika clutched the envelope and hurried after him.
Otsuka couldn't help but yell, "Big Brother Kashiwagi!"
"Call me by my name! No prefixes, or I'll clobber you!" Kashiwagi spun around and pointed a finger at the boy's nose.