Roy couldn't help but laugh as he watched this bizarre capture process.
Misty turned her head to glare at him, her face flushing red: "You're still laughing! It's all your fault!"
"How is it my fault again?" Roy spread his hands. "It captured itself; what does that have to do with me?"
Misty opened her mouth to retort but didn't know what to say.
Roy walked over, took the poké ball from Nurse Joy, then walked back and held it out to Misty.
"Regardless, it's your Pokemon now."
Misty looked down at the poké ball with a complex expression.
She reached out to take it, stared at the ball for a long time, and mumbled: "But... it looks so silly..."
"Psyduck is a Water-type Pokemon," Roy said. "Didn't you want a Water-type? This is a Water-type."
"But it..." Misty looked up, "It looks like it doesn't know how to do anything! All it does is hold its head and cry about a headache!"
Roy smiled: "Don't worry, even though Psyduck looks silly, it has great potential. As for its legacy..."
He paused, looking at the poké ball in Misty's hand: "It will surely prove itself in the future."
Misty was silent for a few seconds, looking down at the poké ball.
Although she loved to cause a scene and Charm, once a Pokemon became hers, she would never have the heart to abandon it.
This was the basic quality of a Trainer.
"Fine." Misty sighed and put the poké ball away. "Since I've already captured it, I, the future Water-type Master, will just have to train it well. I hope it's not too stupid."
"It will definitely give you a surprise," Roy said.
Misty put away the poké ball, looked up at him, suddenly remembered something, and grabbed his arm.
"However, bad Roy, the matter of you tricking me isn't over!"
Roy: "...Again?"
"I want you to compensate me!" Misty tugged his arm and began to list things, "I want to eat ice cream! I want beef jerky! I want chocolate! And I want..."
She rattled off the names of over a dozen snacks in one breath, without a single repeat.
Roy felt a headache coming on: "Are you trying to eat me into poverty?"
"Who told you to lie to me!" Misty said righteously. "You deserve it!"
Roy looked helplessly at Delia.
Delia smiled gently and didn't say a word, just standing by to watch the fun.
Just as Roy was about to bargain, he suddenly remembered something and looked at Misty with a wicked grin: "Hey, can you eat ice cream today? Is it... that time?"
Misty froze, then her face instantly turned beet red.
"Agh—!" She let go of his arm and stomped her foot hard. "You jerk! It's not even dark yet! What are you saying!"
Roy burst into laughter.
Misty was incredibly embarrassed; she turned and ran toward Delia, hiding behind her and poking half her head out to glare at him: "Sister Delia, look at him! He's bullying me!"
Delia smiled and stroked her head, then looked at Roy and said gently: "Roy, I also want to eat... an ice cream."
As she spoke, there was a faint hint of suggestion in her eyes.
Roy met her gaze and gave a faint smile.
The two exchanged a look for a second; they both knew exactly what was going to happen tonight.
Misty poked her head out from behind Delia, looking from Delia to Roy, feeling like something was off but unable to put her finger on it.
"Let's go." Roy turned to walk out. "Let's go buy ice cream, and while we're at it, beef jerky and chocolate to feed this little glutton."
"Yay!" Misty immediately forgot what just happened and followed him with a skip in her step. "I want strawberry flavor!"
Delia followed behind with a smile.
The three walked out of the Pokémon Center, the afterglow of the setting sun spilling over them, feeling warm and cozy.
Pikachu lay on Roy's shoulder, squinting its eyes as it dozed.
Eevee followed at his feet, jumping around chasing its own tail.
Misty walked in the middle, her left hand pulling on the corner of Roy's shirt while her right hand gestured about how many snacks she wanted to eat.
Delia walked beside them, gently watching the two of them bicker.
The setting sun stretched the shadows of the three very, very long.
Inside the poké ball.
Psyduck squatted in the void space, rolling its small eyes that were full of wisdom.
Where is this?
Quack?
What happened?
Quack quack?
It tilted its head, falling into deeper thought.
...
Watching Misty's huffy appearance, Roy was inwardly delighted.
This little girl's temper came and went quickly; she was a classic case of having a sharp tongue but a soft heart.
The three walked out of the Pokémon Center, the setting sun dyeing the streets golden.
The shops on both sides of the street began to light up, and the crowds of people leaving work hurried past, occasionally turning to look at the Pikachu on Roy's shoulder with envious expressions.
"I want strawberry-flavored ice cream!" Misty tugged at the corner of Roy's shirt, leaning forward: "And chocolate flavor too! Two of them!"
"Can you finish all that?" Roy gave her a sidelong glance.
"I can!" Misty said righteously. "I'm in a bad mood today, I need sweets for compensation!"
"Bad mood?" Roy laughed. "Didn't you just capture a Water-type Pokemon? Even if it captured itself."
Misty's face reddened, and she let go of his shirt to hit him: "You're still talking! It's all your fault!"
Roy jumped forward, dodging her fist.
Misty chased after him, the two of them playing and bickering in the street.
Delia followed behind, her lips curled in a smile as she watched them play.
The setting sun shone on her face, making her look as gentle as a painting.
Pikachu lay on Roy's shoulder, being jolted up and down, its eyes also filled with a longing for delicious food.
Eevee followed at his feet, jumping around chasing its own tail, occasionally looking up at its owner before lowering its head to continue spinning in circles.
The three of them made their way all the way to the commercial street.
This street was the most prosperous place in HopHop Town, lined with all sorts of shops—food, drinks, and entertainment, everything you could want was there.
It was dinner time now, and the street was bustling with people coming and going.
"We're here, we're here!" Misty pointed to an ice cream shop ahead, jumping with excitement: "That's the one! Strawberry flavor!"
Roy looked at the shop.
The shop wasn't large, but it was decorated very cutely in pink and white tones, with several outdoor tables and chairs in front, filled with customers eating ice cream.
Most were young couples, feeding each other bite by bite.
"Let's go." Roy led the way inside.
The shop was filled with the scent of milk and fruit, and the freezer was packed with various flavors of ice cream scoops, colorful and mouth-watering.
A young girl with a ponytail stood behind the counter, wearing a pink apron, greeting them with a smile: "Welcome! What flavors would you like?"
Misty leaned over the counter, her eyes shining: "I want strawberry and chocolate, a double scoop!"
"Coming right up!" The girl picked up the scoop. "What about this beautiful lady?"
Delia looked at the freezer and said gently: "I'll just have a vanilla one."
"Got it! And for this handsome guy?"
Roy scanned the options: "I'll have a mint chocolate chip."
"Alright! Three ice creams, that will be forty-five yuan in total!"
Roy took out his wallet and paid.
Soon, the three ice creams were prepared and handed out.
Misty took hers, impatiently took a lick, and then her eyes crinkled into crescents: "Delicious!"
Roy reached out and wiped the corner of her mouth, brushing away a bit of chocolate.
Misty froze, then her face turned slightly red, and she lowered her head to continue eating, falling silent.
Watching this scene, Delia smiled and used a small spoon to scoop some vanilla ice cream into her mouth.
The three found an empty table and sat down.
The sun had completely set, the sky darkened, and the streetlights came on, illuminating the entire street brightly.
The night breeze blew past, carrying a hint of coolness.
"Ah, so nice." Misty leaned back in her chair, holding her ice cream cup with a look of satisfaction. "Sweets really are the most healing thing."
"Not angry anymore?" Roy teased her.
Misty gave him a look: "Being angry is one thing, eating is another; they're two separate matters."
"So are you still angry now?"
Misty thought for a moment and held up three fingers: "It takes three ice creams to stop being angry, and this is only the first one."
"Fine." Roy laughed. "We'll go buy beef jerky and chocolate later to fill you up."
"That's more like it." Misty nodded in satisfaction and continued eating her ice cream.
Delia ate slowly, scooping small spoonfuls with elegant movements.
She wore a long dress and sat upright, forming a sharp contrast with Misty, who was leaning over the table eating her ice cream next to her.
Looking at the two of them, Roy felt inexplicably comfortable.
Aside from the usual battles and adventures, this kind of everyday feeling was also quite good.
After finishing the ice cream, the three went to browse a snack shop.
Misty was like a little mouse, scurrying between the shelves, picking up whatever she saw, and soon she had an armful.
"This one, this one, beef jerky!"
"And this, chocolate sticks!"
"Hey, this is a new flavor of potato chips, let's take a bag!"
Roy followed behind pushing the shopping cart, watching her toss things into the cart, and couldn't help saying: "Are you stocking up for the winter?"
"It's not often someone else is treating, of course I have to take more!" Misty said righteously. "Usually, I can't bear to buy this much."
Roy shook his head but didn't stop her.
When it came time to check out, the full cart of snacks cost nearly five hundred yuan.
Misty looked at the bill, a bit embarrassed as she stuck out her tongue: "Is it too much?"
"It's fine." Roy paid the money: "I have the reward money anyway."
"Oh right!" Misty's eyes lit up. "Officer Jenny said she'd give you a reward! So this meal counts as your treat, it's not too much!"
"You certainly know how to do the math."
"Of course!"
The three of them carried the large and small bags back toward the hotel.
It was nearly nine o'clock by the time they returned to the hotel.
Misty was already exhausted while holding her bags of snacks, and she wobbled back to her own room.
Roy and Delia shared a look and smiled with unspoken understanding.
Subsequently, the two of them entered the same room.
Delia put down her bag, turned to look at Roy, her cheeks slightly flushed.
Roy walked over and put his arm around her waist.
Delia leaned obediently into his embrace, looking up with watery eyes.
The two stared at each other for a few seconds, then slowly drew closer, their lips meeting.
They kissed, slowly moving toward the bed.
Roy kissed her while reaching out to pull the zipper of her dress...
The oppressive city always welcomes wonderful moments at night.
...
Late at night.
Roy opened his eyes.
In his arms, Delia was already sound asleep, her breathing steady.
She was lying on her side, curled up in his arms, one leg draped over his, nestled like a little cat.
Roy moved gently, trying to pull away.
Delia frowned and subconsciously held him tighter, her legs also squeezing closer.
Roy had no choice but to stay still, looking down at her.
While asleep, Delia's face bore a satisfied smile, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned as if she were having a good dream.
Her skin was fair, and her long eyelashes cast a shadow over her eyelids.
Roy watched for a while, then closed his eyes and began to receive the rewards from this time.
[Ding!]
[Task: Misty Captures Bond Psyduck, completed!]
[Psychic level upgraded to Intermediate!]
[Side Task: Resolve the disappearances in HopHop Town. Completed!]
[Strong Mental Aura has been loaded!]
[General favorability with the Officer Jenny Family +10, total: 60]
As the system notification sounded, a surge of warm energy welled up from within his body and rushed straight to his brain.
Roy felt a coolness in his head, followed by a state of absolute clarity.
All distracting thoughts and fatigue vanished instantly and completely.
His thinking became exceptionally clear, as if it had been washed clean by pure water.
He could clearly perceive everything around him—Delia's heartbeat, the sound of the wind outside, the hum of the air conditioner in the hallway, and even the occasional car passing on the street below.
All the sounds were so clear, yet they didn't make him feel confused.
Is this what it feels like to have an upgraded Psychic power?
Roy opened his eyes.
Everything in the room appeared different in his eyes.
He could see the subtle energy flowing in the air, the trajectory of the moonlight spilling in through the window, and he could even "see" Misty sleeping soundly in the next room—she was hugging her quilt, with one leg exposed, sleeping peacefully.
With a thought from Roy.
The next second, he vanished directly from the bed and appeared outside the window.
Floating high in the air at the 23rd floor.
The night breeze blew past, carrying a chill.
Roy looked down at himself, then at the street below.
He was really flying.
Not by relying on a Pokemon, but by using his own power.
He tried to move; wherever his mind went, his body floated along.
He floated forward a few meters, then back a few meters, up, down, left, right, as he pleased.
Roy couldn't help but smile.
This feeling was incredible.
He floated to the outer wall, looking at the iron bars outside the window.
These bars were for theft prevention, made of steel as thick as a thumb.
Roy reached out and gripped one of them.
With a thought, his mental power surged out.
The steel bar began to twist, as if being forcefully wrung by an invisible hand, slowly bending into an arc.
Roy let go, looking at the bent steel bar, then gripped it again with another thought.
The steel bar slowly returned to its original shape, as straight as before.
Perfect.
Roy nodded in satisfaction.
This trick would make things much easier if he ever encountered a situation that required lock-picking or breaking down a wall in the future.
He floated outside for a while longer, getting used to how to use his Psychic power, then with a thought, he returned to the bed.
Delia was still sleeping.
As soon as Roy lay down, she subconsciously snuggled into his arms, her leg draping over him again, holding him tightly.
Roy held her and gently patted her back.
Delia seemed to feel his presence, the corners of her mouth turning up slightly as she slept more peacefully.
Roy smiled, closed his eyes, and soon fell asleep as well.
...
The next morning.
Sunlight shone through the gaps in the curtains, casting several golden spots of light on the floor.
Roy opened his eyes.
In his arms, Delia was still sleeping, nestled against him, sleeping sweetly.
Roy moved gently, wanting to pull away to take a shower.
Delia woke up.
She opened her eyes, looking at Roy dizzily, and then her face turned red.
"Morning," she said softly.
"Morning." Roy leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Going to shower?"
Delia nodded.
Roy picked Delia up and went into the bathroom.
Delia stood under the showerhead, the hot water washing over her body.
Roy embraced her from behind.
Delia's body trembled, and she looked back at him.
"Don't, Misty will be getting up in a bit..." Delia said shyly.
Roy smiled and lightly nibbled on Delia's ear: "I'm not doing anything, just a hug."
Only then did Delia relax, dotingly letting Roy be playful.
The two showered, changed into clean clothes, and walked out of the room.
The door to the next room also happened to open, and they bumped right into Misty, who had just woken up...