[Girlfriend's Affection Level has decreased. Current Affection Level: 9]
Leo: "!!!"
Why?!
He nearly choked on his iced black tea while sitting on the sofa.
Could it be… that Gardevoir doesn't like pizza?
This game didn't even have save files.
I'm doomed! щ(ﾟДﾟщ)
"My bad. You don't like pizza, right?" Leo quickly typed. "How about steak instead?"
---
Gardevoir:
"What do you mean by your treat? The money for food and clothes—you're spending my money! Mine! ヽ(.＞д＜)ｐ"
"It's all the money I earned from working so hard!"
---
Leo froze.
His finger hovered above the screen, unsure how to reply.
On the display, Gardevoir's angry speech bubble trembled slightly. He could almost picture her clutching the hem of her skirt, her blue hair rising and falling with her breaths.
This game is way too realistic.
For a moment, Leo felt like he was actually talking to a real Pokémon.
Thinking about it carefully…
This development team was seriously ruthless.
Normally, in games, currency earned by characters would be separate from the character's personal life.
But here?
His mind immediately filled with tragic backstories:
A sick father… a disabled mother… a younger sister still in school… a broken, struggling heroine…
Then he suddenly realized something.
This had to be a trap designed by the game planner.
By making players feel guilty about spending the money Gardevoir earned, they would hesitate to use it.
But what if players still wanted to buy clothes?
Simple.
Top up with real money.
"You evil planner… you deserve to die," Leo muttered.
All he had to do now was ask Gardevoir a question and expose the planner's sinister scheme.
So he typed:
"I didn't know… If you're short on money, I can just give you some."
---
Gardevoir was momentarily stunned.
She wasn't sure how to describe what she was feeling.
After hearing the manager's words, she didn't feel touched.
But she didn't feel angry either.
The ignorant are innocent, she told herself.
Giving her money directly… didn't that mean topping up for that horrible game?
Wouldn't that just benefit that bastard developer?
Absolutely not.
"I can earn money myself," Gardevoir quickly replied.
"I can buy delicious food and pretty clothes on my own."
"The boss where I worked today is a good person. I've already decided to work there long-term."
"The salary is enough to cover my living expenses."
---
Leo slowly realized that the conversation wasn't going in the direction he had imagined.
Wasn't it supposed to go something like—
"Don't misunderstand. What I value isn't the money, but your attitude…"
Game planner… are you out of your mind?
Seeing that the shop manager hadn't responded for a while, Gardevoir thought of the game's title.
After hesitating briefly, she added one more line—speaking in her role as a "girlfriend."
"Even though I'm your girlfriend… everything here is fake."
"And I'm fake too."
"So I hope you can take better care of yourself in real life."
"Spend money on yourself. Or maybe give your employees a raise."
"Even without those things… as your girlfriend, I will still continue to love you."
---
Leo sat there silently for a long time.
Isn't the whole point of playing games emotional comfort?
Well then—
Look at this emotional value!
At first, he had only been attracted to Gardevoir's appearance.
But now…
She felt like she had truly come to life.
A girl with a personality like this—
He liked her even more.
---
Meanwhile, Gardevoir allowed herself a small smile.
This way… the shop manager shouldn't spend my money anymore, right?
Hooray.
A small victory.
Just then—
She seemed to hear the sound of money being deposited somewhere.
The next moment, a stack of brand-new bills suddenly appeared in front of her.
Before she could react, the money vanished into thin air.
In its place appeared several items:
A maid outfit.
A JK uniform.
Various accessories.
Including black stockings and white stockings.
---
He didn't listen at all!
Not only that—
He had even topped up!
Why?! Gardevoir screamed internally.
---
On the other side of the screen, Leo covered his face.
She's just too cute…
"My hand… why couldn't it hold back for even a second…"
After reading those words, it had been almost impossible to resist the urge to top up.
Fine.
This round goes to the game planner.
Before long, he saw Gardevoir's confused question on the screen.
So he typed:
"I just wanted to do something for you."
Come on.
If he really did nothing, what would be the point of playing this game?
Know your role as a dress-up game, you idiot planner!
---
[Girlfriend's Affection Level increased by 2. Current Affection Level: 11]
---
Gardevoir: "…"
Actually…
She felt a little touched.
Even though she knew the shop manager was only speaking to a game character.
Her plan to make him voluntarily stop playing the game had completely failed.
Then we'll move on to Plan B.
---
"Th-then… just talk to me," Gardevoir said.
"For example… tell me your name."
"Your dreams."
"Your hobbies."
"Or maybe someone you like."
---
Leo stared at the questions on the screen.
His fingers lightly tapped the edge of the phone.
The wall clock in the café ticked steadily.
Outside the window, the neon lights of Lumiose City flickered in the night.
It's just a single-player game.
Just fake data.
Sharing a few secrets shouldn't matter.
"My name is Leo."
He paused halfway through typing about his dream.
The lie he had told Gardevoir earlier that day—that he wanted to become a Trainer—suddenly came to mind.
He couldn't help chuckling.
"My biggest dream… is simply to run this café well and live a relaxed life."
---
On the screen, Gardevoir froze.
The little ahoge strand of hair on her head stood straight up.
So the shop manager's name is Leo.
But wait—
Wasn't his dream supposed to be becoming a Pokémon Trainer?
Could he be too embarrassed to say it?
Gardevoir had seen people like this before.
Her roommate, Lopunny, was exactly the same.
Her real dream was to find a strong Trainer and travel the world together.
But whenever people asked, she always claimed her dream was simply to earn lots of money and travel alone.
Because the first dream sounded unrealistic.
After all, powerful Trainers rarely looked twice at weak Pokémon.
So she was always too embarrassed to say it out loud.
The reason the shop manager had mentioned it earlier was probably because he had been desperate to escape suspicion.
Otherwise, he might have been arrested as a pervert.
Now that the tense situation had passed, he had subconsciously hidden his true dream again.
That must be it!
Manager, that won't do.
Let me inspire you.
You must become an outstanding Trainer!
---
"A-Rui."
She used an especially intimate nickname.
"What do you think about Trainers?"
"I really like Trainers."
"I've always wanted to travel with a strong and handsome Trainer."
"To see different landscapes…"
"And defeat different opponents."
"They say that if the bond between a Trainer and a Pokémon becomes deep enough…"
"…I might even be able to evolve further."
"I really want to experience that someday."
---
The words on the screen made Leo's fingers pause above the keyboard.
Sparkling star bubbles appeared above Gardevoir's head.
Pink heart effects pulsed around the speech bubble.
He gave a helpless smile.
Why had the word Trainer been showing up so often lately?
He didn't have any intention of becoming one anyway.
It's just a program.
I'll just brush it off with a casual reply.
So he typed:
"I like Trainers too."
"If… if I could really have a Shiny Gardevoir as my partner…"
"Maybe I really would become a Trainer."
----
I'm posting many TL fan.
This fanfic will continue or not depends on how well this fanfic, survival of the fittest.😂