"Yuuto, how is it that after just a moment out of my sight, your bird has become even bigger?"
Misty walked over while biting into a piece of bread, her eyes fixed on Pidgeotto, who was currently preening its feathers.
"It feels like it's gotten a bit bigger?"
She leaned in closer to observe, forgetting to even eat the bread in her hand.
Crossing a major level threshold carries the accumulated momentum of the entire previous stage.
Moreover, the higher the level, the greater that momentum becomes.
Thus, the final level of a stage often brings a qualitative leap, giving Misty the illusion that it had "changed in the blink of an eye."
Pidgeotto was indeed different.
Its body had grown slightly larger, its wings broader.
Its feathers shone with a brighter luster, its gaze was sharp as a blade, and its presence already carried the faint aura of a king among raptors.
"Could it be anything but fierce while following me?"
Yuuto smiled and patted Pidgeotto's head.
Pidgeotto nuzzled his hand affectionately.
"Narcissist!" Misty laughed, casually handing the half-eaten bread in her hand to Yuuto.
"It's clearly because Pidgeotto has great potential."
Yuuto took the bread naturally and ate it.
"That doesn't mean my training didn't play a part."
Misty was about to argue back, but then suddenly realized—
Yuuto was eating the bread she had already bitten.
Her face flushed instantly, and she fell silent.
---
After a simple meal, the trio continued on their journey.
Misty, however, was still stuck on that moment.
She stole a glance at Yuuto's profile—he seemed completely unfazed.
Does this count as an indirect kiss?
Just as her thoughts began to wander, Yuuto suddenly raised his hand.
Both Delia and Misty stopped immediately.
"What's wrong?"
Before Misty could finish asking, Yuuto gestured for silence.
His Aura Power had already sensed movement—
A Pokémon using Agility in the bushes ahead!
Before either of them could react, a figure burst out—
No, two figures!
A Sandshrew slammed into a Rattata, sending it flying like a bowling ball.
The Rattata arced through the air, hit the ground heavily, and fainted on the spot.
The Sandshrew landed steadily, its claws scraping against the ground with a sharp shasha sound.
Moments later, a boy stepped out from the bushes, holding a whip.
He wore a black training uniform, with over a dozen Poké Balls hanging from his waist.
Most eye-catching of all was the cowhide whip in his hand, its handle wrapped in red cloth.
"Well done."
The boy raised the whip and cracked it sharply against the ground.
Crack!
The sound echoed through the forest.
At the sound, Sandshrew immediately returned to his side and stood stiffly at attention.
"Hey! Why are you abusing your Pokémon?!"
Misty couldn't hold back and rushed forward, pointing accusingly at the boy.
She hated Trainers who mistreated their Pokémon.
"Abusing?"
The boy smirked, tapping the whip lightly against his palm.
"Women really are short-sighted."
"This is my unique training method—the Whip Training Method."
He glanced at Sandshrew.
"Every one of my Pokémon has grown strong through strict discipline. Without pain, there is no growth."
Sandshrew instinctively shrank its neck.
Yet its eyes were sharp, and its body well-trained—clearly the result of intense conditioning.
At that moment, the boy's gaze swept across Yuuto's group.
First Pikachu.
Then Misty.
Then Delia.
Two girls and one boy.
His eyes lit up.
"Traveling with two women and a Pikachu…"
He pointed his whip at Yuuto.
"So you're that Pervert Trainer obsessed with women?"
The air froze.
Misty and Delia both turned to look at Yuuto.
"When did you get that title?"
Misty blinked—then burst into laughter.
"Though… it does kind of fit."
She was thinking about Yuuto secretly reading certain magazines.
Delia covered her mouth, chuckling softly.
Yuuto rubbed his forehead.
After crushing so many rookie Trainers, some had clearly resorted to slander when they couldn't win.
And somehow, this ridiculous nickname had spread.
"I don't have that title."
Yuuto tapped Misty lightly on the head.
"And did you notice? The 'two women' he's referring to are you two."
"Huh?!"
Misty froze—then instantly panicked.
"Hey! What nonsense are you saying?!"
"Yuuto might be a little perverted, but he's not that perverted!"
"No—wait—I mean he's only perverted in private—no, that's not right either—ugh!"
"He's just mildly perverted! Not a pervert!"
"He's actually serious—he just secretly reads magazines with pretty girls!"
"And I'm not his 'woman' or anything! He hasn't even been perverted toward me yet!"
The more she spoke, the worse it got.
Delia simply smiled, saying nothing.
She walked over and casually took Yuuto's backpack from his hands.
Seeing this, the boy's expression grew even more disdainful.
Yuuto grabbed Misty by the collar and pulled her back.
"Enough. If you keep talking, it'll become confirmed."
"I…" Misty pouted, but obediently shut up.
The boy shook his head and flicked his whip.
"No basic discipline. Doesn't keep his Pokémon in Poké Balls. Obsessed with women…"
"And someone like that has over 200 wins?"
He sneered.
"Just how weak were your opponents?"
Misty broke free again, furious.
"Hey! Who do you think you are?!"
She pointed at him angrily.
"Yuuto might be perverted, but his strength is top-tier! What are you being arrogant for?!"
"Heh…"
The boy puffed out his chest proudly, snapping the whip again.
"Listen carefully!"
"I am the Beast Master A.J.! I have 99 consecutive victories!"
His eyes gleamed with pride.
"And they were all against strong opponents—not weak rookies to pad my record!"
99 wins in a row.
That was no small achievement.
Yuuto's eyes sharpened slightly.
He examined Sandshrew closely—
Sharpened claws, worn shell, fine scratches…
This Pokémon had been through serious training and battle.
This opponent wasn't weak.
"You're acting this arrogant over just 99 wins?"
Misty crossed her arms.
"Let me tell you—Yuuto not only has a huge win streak, he also has two Gym Badges!"
She pointed at his badge case.
"And you? You sadist!"
"Gym Badges?"
A.J. glanced at them and scoffed.
"If someone like you can earn those, then those Gyms must be third-rate."
His tone was absolute.
"Padding records with rookies. Collecting badges from weak Gyms…"
"It's all the same trick."
"Third-rate?!"
Misty nearly exploded.
"I'm going to teach you a lesson!"
She reached for a Poké Ball.
A.J. looked confused.
"I was talking about him. Why are you so worked up?"
"I—"
Misty was speechless.
Yuuto stepped forward, gently pulling her back.
"I'll handle this."
His tone was calm—but firm.
Delia stepped in and led Misty away.
"Go, Yuuto!" Misty still shouted.
Then she whispered, "He's seriously annoying…"
Delia smiled but kept her eyes on Yuuto.
---
In the clearing—
Yuuto and A.J. stood facing each other.
"Since you're so confident…"
"Let's battle."
"Good!"
A.J. cracked his whip excitedly.
Sandshrew immediately tensed, ready to fight.
"I'll
use you as the stepping stone for my 100th victory!"
"My perfect finale before debut!"
He had waited too long for this moment.
99 wins.
Just one more.
And Yuuto—
Was the perfect final opponent.
Famous enough.
But, in his eyes…
Not strong enough.
A.J. was already imagining his victory.