Chapter 109. Kiana's Good Luck (2/22)
This Pokémon was holding some oddly shaped Berries in its arms.
It looked at Sirin and Squirtle, then at the Poké Ball in Sirin's hand, and at once it understood everything.
Beep—"Meowscarada detected. Grass/Dark-type Pokémon…"
Sirin no longer had the mood to read the rest—especially when the level-40 Meowscarada above its head was wearing a darker and darker expression.
"Squirtle, run!!!"
She smacked Squirtle on the head, knocking its sunglasses askew.
Squirtle had been a little aggrieved, but the moment it saw the upright big cat barreling toward it, the whole turtle went numb and sprinted after Sirin.
Unfortunately, there was no way their retreat could match a Meowscarada's speed.
In just a few seconds, Meowscarada had already closed in.
Seeing this, Squirtle dug in its feet with a sudden skid and steeled its heart.
In an instant it stopped between Sirin and the pale-green, upright big cat, staring resolutely at the oncoming foe.
"Squirtle, get back!!!"
Sirin quickly noticed what was happening and turned her head, shouting anxiously.
"Squirtle!"
This time, Squirtle did not obey.
With its back to Sirin and without looking back, its little paw shot up with a firm thumbs-up—as if to say, Don't worry. I'm here. You go.
[Tears in my eyes.]
[Tears in my eyes.]
[...]
A thick Water Gun blasted from Squirtle's mouth.
But against a Meowscarada more than thirty levels higher—and with a type advantage—it was basically just a scratch.
With a casual swipe, Meowscarada batted it aside.
Energy gathered on the big cat's claws as it swung hard toward Squirtle.
Unable to bear seeing Squirtle go down, Sirin pulled out the Poké Ball and, to Squirtle's cry, recalled it.
Losing its target, Meowscarada immediately turned its gaze on Sirin.
Watching the cat—about her height—sprint straight at her, Sirin drew a deep breath, bent her knees, and posed like a gladiator.
Just when everyone thought Sirin was going to take it head-on, at the instant the big cat lunged, Sirin snapped up a hand and quickly took off her glasses.
At once, all was calm, and the world returned to how it had been.
A breeze rustled a man-maintained grove.
A brook murmured along.
Sirin exhaled like she had survived a brutal battle and sat down on the ground, exhausted.
[Huh???]
[So that's how you solved it? The streamer is amazing!]
[Can't win so you pull the plug? Can't handle losing?]
[Meowscarada: I @@#￥@￥@￥@￥#@!]
Ignoring the jeers in chat, Sirin rested for a bit, then got up and ran toward the edge of the grove.
Soon, the familiar park and the growing crowd came back into view.
Only then did she stop and put her glasses back on.
She immediately looked warily behind her.
Sure enough, there was no trace of Meowscarada.
"Heh-heh, guess I was just a cut above!"
Feeling zero shame, Sirin hurriedly took out her two Poké Balls and threw them to the ground at the same time.
"Squirtle!"
"Mii~"
Squirtle popped out scowling and planted itself in front of her.
At that moment it had been turning to hold the line—so cool—and it had even planned what pose to strike after falling.
Then Sirin had recalled it.
How could that be acceptable!
But the sight before it left Squirtle a bit dumbfounded.
Sirin had scooped up the Sprigatito at its side, excitedly lifting the cute, pale-green kitty high in her hands.
This isn't right.
Shouldn't the greatest credit go to it?
"Squirtle?"
Watching Sirin completely absorbed by Sprigatito's beauty, Squirtle fell silent.
With a sigh, it slid its sunglasses back on, clasped its hands behind its back, and stood in the wind.
A turtle sheds no tears lightly—only when true heartbreak comes.
The day felt cold.
Its heart, colder.
Elsewhere, Mei sat on the lawn, surrounded by a small circle of Grass-type Pokémon.
She played happily with her Bulbasaur as others crowded up, asking to be petted.
Kiana's side, however, was a different story.
"Charmander, use Ember!"
"Gwah~"
A small flame puffed from Charmander's mouth, scorching the Rattata across from it.
The mouse-like Pokémon with the big front teeth tried to lunge, but the fire rolled over it, making it squeal.
Soon, the completely charred Rattata toppled with spinning eyes.
"Nice job, Charmander!"
Kiana clenched her fist and gave a big pump.
"Battling—so satisfying!"
Starting at 2 p.m., she had been battling nonstop with Charmander all the way until now.
Its level had already reached ten.
Just as she began looking for her next target, Mei's voice came over: "Let's go, Kiana. It's time for the fireworks."
"Huh? Already?!"
Only then did she notice the sky had gone fully dark.
She had been so focused on having Charmander pick fights that she hadn't paid attention to the time at all.
"Where's Sirin?"
"I've already messaged her—she'll be here soon.
But you—where were you? I didn't see you just now."
Mei walked over with Bulbasaur and asked.
"Ah, I was helping Charmander look for opponents, so I ran a bit far.
Also, I caught a Pokémon~"
"Really? Which Pokémon?"
"I just caught it; I haven't even checked yet.
It was so fast that Charmander couldn't keep up.
I figured I'd toss a ball at random, and—what do you know—I actually caught it!"
Watching Kiana scratch the back of her head with a dopey grin, Mei couldn't help but smile at her good luck.
"Let me see…"
Before she could pull out the Poké Ball, Sirin's voice piped up from not far away.
"Kiana, Mei~"
Purple hair swaying, Sirin trotted over to meet them.
Squirtle followed at an unhurried pace behind her, while she hugged an unbelievably adorable pale-green kitten in her arms, showing it off like a trophy to Kiana and Mei.
"Look—my new partner, Sprigatito!"
"So cute~"
Mei's eyes lit up at once.
She leaned in and carefully reached out a hand.
Sprigatito graciously rubbed against Mei's hand—this human carried a very comfortable scent.
But when Kiana also reached out, curious, Sprigatito turned its head away without the slightest courtesy, hopped down, and would not allow even a touch.
"Eh? Why won't it let me pet it?"
"Ah, maybe kitties don't like idiots~" Sirin spread her hands and laughed, poking fun.
"Who are you calling an idiot?!"
"Whoever gets mad must be the one~"
"You!!! I'm not without a new Pokémon!"
With a huff, Kiana instantly pulled a new Poké Ball from her bag.
"Heh, you?
What, did you catch an Oddish…"
A flash of white light.
A little hedgehog—green on its back, with a pink flower on its head—opened its dazed little eyes and looked around, as if it hadn't yet figured out what was happening.
Sirin's voice cut off the instant she saw it.
"Shaymin, Grass-type, Mythical Pokémon…"
"HUH???? Mythical Pokémon????"
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