Natsume imagined Sirfetch'd rapidly jabbing its leek through walls like a spear.
He glanced down at the duck.
Sirfetch'd met his gaze with a sharp, confident grin: "Sirfetch'd!"
Natsume turned to Bea dryly. "You came prepared!"
"You flatter me." The gray-haired girl smiled shyly, headband fluttering.
Master seems very pleased with the gift~
Then she crouched, studying Sirfetch'd intently.
"Sirfetch'd?" The duck looked down its beak at her like a martial arts grandmaster.
"I plan to catch a Farfetch'd someday."
Bea looked up, eyes shining. "I hope you'll guide me then, Master!"
Natsume blinked.
Teach how to be a professional slacker?
But if those Close Combat rapid jabs could crit every time...
This duck might actually carry the team.
"Let's head back first."
Brock noticed the lingering crowd eyeing them eagerly.
Fans waiting for someone?
The moment he wondered, people swarmed Natsume.
"Natsume-sensei! Autograph please!"
"I've been a fan since your early streams!"
Natsume immediately signed with a flourish.
"Master's so popular," Bea murmured.
"Well," Brock nodded, "he is Touran's Fighting Master."
After much effort, they finally returned to the hotel.
Bea bid farewell to prepare for her next match.
Entering his room, Natsume's eye twitched.
"Gengar!" The ghost had sticky notes plastered all over its face—clearly outplayed by Togepi.
"You can't even scare me. Why the face?" Natsume laughed at its exaggerated expression.
"Gengar... (??ω??)"
Dejected, it licked Natsume's cheek—instantly rejuvenated.
"Gengar! （`▽`)"
Natsume casually popped a Cheri Berry while peeling off the notes.
Inside the room...
"Togepi~" The little one giggled, sitting beside a floating 1.5L cola bottle—levitating via faint blue Confusion energy.
"You're doing that?" Natsume stared.
Gengar shook its head, then proudly pointed at Togepi. "Gengar!"
Checking Togepi's moveset, Natsume's brow rose.
Extrasensory for telekinetic soda retrieval?
Are these two training harder than me?!
The slacker trainer coughed. "Just don't spill the—"
POP!
A caramel geyser erupted, drenching the room.
Natsume wiped his face.
Sirfetch'd lowered its shield, relieved.
"Sirfetch'd! (≧▽≦)))"
"Duck stew tonight."
"Sirfetch'd? Σ(っ°Д°;)っ"
Surveying the mess, Natsume sighed.
At least the hotel's intact.
Consider it their version of "Dragon's Suction Technique."
"Togepi..." The egg Pokémon pouted at the wasted cola.
"Gengar!" It patted Togepi's head, producing another bottle.
"Togepi doo-ee! (｀▽｀)"
Natsume chuckled tiredly.
After calling housekeeping, an Indeedee arrived with a cleaning cart.
Gengar happily commandeered a mop.
"Gengar!" It hummed while scrubbing.
No one does chores better than me!
...
December 23rd, Monday - Light Snow
Christmas decorations adorned the tournament's vendor area.
Team Rocket's stall even launched a "Holiday Gacha Banner."
With business sense like this, they're destined for riches.
Natsume headed to his match, hoodie-clad with Gengar floating beside him.
Spectators already crowded the arena, their breath visible in the cold.
In the competitor tunnel, he spotted a pink-haired girl with a nose bandage.
Maylene—wearing just a sleeveless top—ran barefoot toward him.
"Aren't you cold?" Natsume couldn't help asking.
Maylene turned, eyes widening.
Touran's Fighting Master...
His reputation had spread through martial arts circles—
especially after Mustard's public praise.
"N-Not at all!" She grinned, then shivered.
Natsume: "..."
"Ahem!" Blushing, Maylene did high-knees. "See you inside, Natsume-sensei!"
In lore, Maylene's "austerity training" often meant skipping meals.
Why buy shoes when barefoot builds character?
"Nine out of ten Gym Leaders are broke," Natsume mused. "The tenth is Giovanni."
Entering the battlefield, winter sunlight greeted roaring cheers.
"Next up—Touran's own Natsume!"
The commentator's shout electrified the crowd.
In the stands...
A tanned man with a blue mullet crossed muscular arms.
"So that's Natsume-sensei," murmured Brawly, Hoenn's Fighting Leader/surfer.
His remote island gym required boats or Surf to reach.
As Bruno's junior, he specialized in "Soft Style" versus his senior's "Hard Style."
"Indeed." Shirtless Chuck nodded beside him. "Gurkinn speaks highly of him."
"Rumor says he's an aura wielder too?"
Chuck's solemn confirmation made Brawly grin.
That Unburden speed burst from previous matches...
If I can spar with him today...
He clenched his fists. "Worth the trip."
On the field, Poké Balls flew as the referee's flag dropped.
"Medicham, go!"
"Sirfetch'd," Natsume said calmly, "engage."
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