Flint stood at the doorway in his signature style—yellow polo shirt with popped collar tucked into red suspenders, one hand in his pocket while lazily dragging his sandals.
"Yo, Natsume-sensei! Afternoon!"
I was having a good day... until now.
Natsume forced a smile.
Honestly, who taught Flint this fashion sense?
Combined with that fiery red afro... it was practically assaulting his eyes.
Not that Natsume would judge outwardly. He simply sighed internally before turning back toward the genkan.
"Perfect timing. Join me for tea and roasted chestnuts."
"Whoa! Jackpot!"
Flint's eyes sparkled. Who knew a delivery mission came with such perks?
Getting to taste the legendary Food Content Creator's cooking was a rare treat!
Though something still puzzled him.
"Natsume-sensei..."
Following Natsume down the hallway, briefcase in hand, Flint scratched his fiery hair.
"Isn't Cynthia's villa somewhere around here?"
"You're standing in it."
"Huh? That one across the street?" Flint peered out the window.
"No. This one."
"NAANI!?"
Flint jumped like he'd stepped on hot coals, staring at Natsume in horror.
"Does she know that you broke into someone's house? Natsume-sensei!"
If you don't do this well, you might get hit by Garchomp's "Dragon Rush"!
"She approved it." Natsume said calmly. "Technically, she's my landlord now."
Flint stared blankly at Natsume, his mouth hanging open. After a long pause, he raised a thumbs-up.
"Natsume-sensei, I want to call you a tough guy!"
He'd assumed Natsume-sensei and Cynthia were just close friends.
Who knew they'd already reached the point of living together?!
Just imagining Cynthia's twin-scythe Garchomp—the same one that crushed him in the Champion Cup—made Flint shudder.
And yet, here was Natsume-sensei, quietly winning the favor of both Cynthia and her Garchomp.
His Champion-level strength, striking looks, versatile strategy system…
And now, for Cynthia's sake, he'd chosen to live a low-key life in Sandgem Town—
Was this what they called "true happiness in simplicity"?
Flint handed Natsume a briefcase, his gaze now tinged with reverence.
"Natsume-sensei, Cynthia asked me to deliver this to you—the 'Lunar Feather'!"
"Gengar~ヽ(￣▽￣)"
Gengar swiftly snatched the briefcase with both hands and bowed to Flint in thanks.
Flint grinned back, pressed his palms to his thighs, and gave Natsume a deep, formal bow.
"Natsume-sensei, let me once again express my gratitude for your efforts in saving the people of the Sinnoh League!"
This wasn't empty politeness—it was genuine. Natsume-sensei had saved countless lives, both human and Pokémon.
Maybe things wouldn't have turned out that badly.
But Natsume's intervention had resolved the crisis at its root.
Flint, who'd grown up in Sinnoh and become the Lily of the Valley Conference Champion at 20, couldn't help but see Natsume-sensei as a role model on his own trainer journey.
"Want some?" Natsume held out a paper bag to Flint.
"Huh?" Still mid-bow, Flint glanced up. "What is it?"
"Roasted chestnuts. Made with Heat Rotom." Natsume smiled. "They're really good!"
Flint took the warm bag and, under Natsume's envious gaze, peeled a perfectly intact chestnut and popped it into his mouth.
"Amazing!" Flint's eyes sparkled. "There's a hint of bay leaf!"
"That's osmanthus."
Natsume sighed.
"Weird. I can never peel them clean like that…"
...
As the sun set, the little ones returned home after training.
Flint strolled leisurely through the yard, hands in his pockets.
In just a few minutes, his worldview had been shattered multiple times.
"T-This is Revival Herb, right?!"
Flint's face was a picture of disbelief.
"You actually grew it?! And it's sprouting?!"
"Arcanine~!" Arcanine glared at Flint, studying him like he looked familiar.
Then, with a dismissive flick of its tail, it trotted away.
Pfft. Outsiders. So easily impressed.
Flint gulped as he watched the majestic, glossy-maned Arcanine leave.
As a Fire-type Elite Four member, he could instantly gauge Arcanine's mastery of Fire techniques.
He'd seen Natsume-sensei's Growlithe at last year's research conference.
To evolve and raise it to this level in under a year? Flint was genuinely awed.
But here was the real kicker—
Using a Moltres feather as a dog tag? That wasn't "low-key." That was flexing!
"That… doesn't seem like an ordinary Moltres feather."
Flint muttered, recalling the Moltres he'd once witnessed.
"And that undying tail feather… has a sacred aura to it."
What Flint didn't know was that Natsume-sensei also had a Rainbow Wing from Ho-Oh.
If he found out Natsume-sensei used it as an air purifier, he'd probably short-circuit on the spot.
Flint stood frozen, still trying to figure out how Natsume-sensei had trained Arcanine.
"Doduo, let me borrow~Rotom!"
Rotom ·Lawn mower Forms, making a dripping sound similar to a sprinkler.
"Gengar!"
Gengar pushed the cut Rotom and passed in front of Flint, and the grass clippings splashed all over Flint.
Flint: "Grass!"
...
Natsume sat at the round table, elbows resting on the surface, fingers interlaced under his chin.
Before him lay an open briefcase, inside which was a crescent-shaped feather glowing faintly.
[Lunar Feather: A feather shimmering with moonlight, said to ward off nightmares. (The ultimate sleep aid.)]
"Well, it's… somewhat useful."
Natsume's expression was subtle .
"At least now, when Sylveon steps on my chest, I won't have nightmares…"
Yawn let Natsume-sensei fall asleep quickly, sparing him insomnia.
But when Sylveon sneaked out to train at night, Gengar's Hypnosis had to step in.
The problem? Hypnosis gave him nightmares, so he avoided it when possible.
With the [Lunar Feather], his sleep quality was guaranteed either way.
Since it was a gift from Moe-Moe!, Natsume treated it with extra care.
"Maybe I can turn it into a pendant."
Natsume threaded the [Lunar Feather] onto a string.
"Sylveon!" Sylveon's ribbon curled around Natsume's wrist, its eyes shining with hope.
"It is pretty."
Natsume smiled.
"If you like it, it's yours."
"Sylveon?"
Sylveon blinked its baby-blue eyes, staring at the glowing feather pendant now dangling from its bow.
"Sylveon…o(*≧▽≦)ツ"
So pretty. Love it.
It could sense the energy within—perfect for move training.
"Sylveon!"
Sylveon's gaze hardened, a faint smile tugging at its lips.
No need for Trainer to spend extra.
With this, I'll get even stronger!
...
With Sylveon wearing the [Lunar Feather], nightmares were kept at bay for both of them.
After all, the little one loved burrowing under the covers, so Natsume-sensei stayed within the feather's range.
Plus, the [Lunar Feather] was infused with the power of Cresselia, the Lunar Pokémon.
Now, even if Sylveon snuck out to train at night, the risks were much lower.
For dinner, Natsume invited Flint to stay. To his surprise, the guy didn't hesitate.
"You came all this way just to deliver a feather?"
"Legendary resources are precious. They need an official escort."
Flint shoveled curry rice into his mouth, cheeks stuffed, eyes blissful.
"Lucian was supposed to deliver it, but he's swamped, so I stepped in."
"What's keeping Lucian so busy?" Natsume asked.
"Where do I start? Preparing for the Lily of the Valley Conference, raiding poaching syndicate warehouses, guest appearances at the Wallace Cup…"
Flint grinned. "That guy's booked."
"Yeah… real booked." Natsume nodded solemnly.
Ever the recruiter, Natsume invited Flint to join his fan group.
[Member 'Burn It All! Boom!' has joined the chat!]
Blaine adjusted his sunglasses: "Not bad. Kid's got style."
"Seems to be Sinnoh's Fire-type Elite Four," Auntie Lorelei noted.
Yellow: "Welcome~! "
Flint was about to greet everyone cheerfully when his face suddenly paled.
"W-Water!"
Natsume handed him Moomoo Milk. "Too spicy?"
"Not 'spicy'—sadistic!"
"Is that so?"
Natsume flashed a bright, innocent smile.
Back when Arcanine was still a Growlithe, Flint had personally delivered the Fire Blast manuals.
Natsume never forgot a debt.
Revenge was a dish best served… whenever.
(Scratch that.)
Natsume's motto: Payback is non-negotiable.
Flint's lips burned, his eyes watery, yet he kept shoveling curry into his mouth.
"Gulp!"
So painful… but so delicious!!
For a moment, Flint saw hell itself—a Galarian Moltres soaring through blackened flames, engulfing the wilderness in wrath…
"Delicious!!"
Natsume cradled a yawning Sylveon, stroking its snowy fur, and grinned.
Perfect. The post-MV wrap-up dinner.
Let's treat everyone to [Black Moltres Curry]!
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