"You need to remember," Xiu explained patiently, "the responsibility for that victory, and everything that comes next, rests on you, as its Trainer. You need to study harder, train smarter, help Vulpix grow stronger legitimately."
He met her gaze directly, his tone hardening slightly. "Because that victory today? It was a fluke— a trick by exploiting Eevee's injury and Chanel's overconfidence. You humiliated Chanel today, Shirley. Do you think she'll just forget that? She will come back, stronger, more prepared. And if you haven't improved, if Vulpix hasn't genuinely grown stronger… she will return that humiliation tenfold."
Xiu's blunt words stripped away the last vestiges of Shirley's triumphant glow, leaving her feeling cold, exposed. The burden of responsibility settled heavily on her shoulders. She looked down, suddenly gloomy. "Why… why didn't you tell me all this before?" she mumbled resentfully.
"Ha~" Xiu let out a short, humorless laugh. "If I had told you the whole plan, explained every manipulation, every trick… would you have had the nerve to pull it off? Would Vulpix have fought with the same desperate intensity? Would you have been able to maintain the necessary façade in front of Chanel?" He shook his head. "Sometimes, ignorance is bliss."
Seeing the anxiety return to her eyes, Shirley reached out instinctively, grabbing his arm. "You… you have to keep helping me!" she pleaded. "You promised!"
Xiu gently but firmly removed her hand. "My help has limits, Shirley," he stated calmly, his voice devoid of its earlier warmth. "I did what I promised – I gave you the chance to win. I showed you the path. But walking it? That depends on your effort now."
Shirley's face fell, paling slightly. Seeing her distress, Xiu relented slightly, offering a sliver of hope. "I can't train you directly anymore," he clarified, "but I can offer some final advice. Some key points to focus on."
"Tell me! Please!" she urged desperately.
"First, and most importantly," Xiu instructed, "focus everything on developing Vulpix's Fire-type abilities. That is its core strength. Forget physical attacks for now; it will always be at a disadvantage against physically stronger Pokémon like Eevee until it evolves. Master Ember, then move on to Flamethrower. Control, power, casting speed – that's your priority."
He held up a second finger. "Second, avoid battling Chanel again until Vulpix has mastered at least Flamethrower. Don't give her the satisfaction of an easy rematch. Use this time wisely. Train hard, study harder, close the gap while she thinks she has the upper hand." He paused, leaning closer. "And there's something crucial here…"
"What? What is it?" Shirley asked eagerly.
"You can't do this alone," Xiu stated firmly. "You must utilize the resources around you. Swallow your pride. Go to Yuto. Ask him for help with Fire-type battle tactics, training drills, skill refinement. He knows this stuff. And for advanced nutrition, specialized rations, and supplements? Go to your grandfather. He's a master breeder; his knowledge is invaluable."
He paused again, his tone becoming unexpectedly serious. "But there's one condition attached to this advice, Shirley. One absolute requirement from me." He met her gaze intently. "Everything related to Vulpix – the feeding, the grooming, the training, the studying for the training – you must do it yourself. No shortcuts. No asking Yuto or your grandfather to just do it for you. You need to take full responsibility of what comes. Can you promise me that?"
Shirley hesitated, averting her eyes, clearly uncomfortable with the weight of that demand. Old habits – relying on others, avoiding difficult tasks – warred with her newfound desire to prove herself.
"Alas~" Xiu sighed softly, seeing her internal struggle. He recognized the ingrained pattern of learned helplessness, the fear of taking ownership.
His sigh, his apparent disappointment, seemed to galvanize Shirley more than any encouragement could have. She looked up, anxiety flashing in her eyes. She wanted to make excuses, wanted to protest, but found herself unable to speak, caught between her fear and her desperate desire not to disappoint him, not to fail again.
Instead of offering comfort this time, Xiu asked a simple question. "Winning today… defeating Chanel… did it feel good?"
Shirley looked surprised by the question, but answered cautiously, "Yes… happy…"
"Good," Xiu nodded. "Hold onto that feeling. Because Chanel will challenge you again. I'm sure of it. If you want to feel that happiness again, that pride, that victory… you have to take responsibility now. You have to put in the work yourself. Otherwise," his voice turned cold again, "you will lose. And you'll keep losing to her, maybe for the rest of your life."
The stark choice – hard work and potential victory, or laziness and guaranteed, lifelong humiliation at the hands of her rival – finally broke through Shirley's hesitation. The thought of losing to Chanel again, of proving her right… it was unbearable.
"I won't lose to her!" Shirley declared, her voice ringing with sudden, fierce determination, her previous timidity vanishing. "I'll work hard! I promise!"
Xiu allowed himself a small, approving smile. "Good." He stood up. "Then your first step… is to go apologize to your brother."
"Hey!" Shirley stared at him, utterly bewildered. "Apologize? To Yuto? Why?"
"You know perfectly well why," Xiu replied, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Shirley met his knowing gaze and, after a brief internal struggle, surrendered with a sigh, lowering her head in admission. "Okay, fine… I shouldn't have yelled at him like that after… after everything."
"Telling me is useless," Xiu interrupted gently but firmly. He reached out, gently tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his eyes. "You know, deep down, how much your brother and grandfather actually care about you, even if their methods are flawed. Why use their affection as a shield, only to lash out at them when you feel cornered?" His voice softened. "I know you're not really that kind of person, Shirley. That's why admitting your own mistakes, offering a sincere apology… it's important. For you."
He released her chin. Shirley didn't lower her head this time, thoughtful silence replacing her earlier defensiveness.
"So go," Xiu prompted gently, a warm smile finally replacing his earlier sternness. "Go find Yuto now. Apologize. And then… ask him for help with Vulpix's training."
"Hmm~" Shirley hesitated only a moment longer, then nodded shyly, unable to refuse his gentle encouragement.
Xiu walked with her to Yuto's bedroom door and knocked firmly before Shirley could change her mind.
"Who is it?" Yuto's voice called from inside.
Xiu just smiled encouragingly at Shirley. She looked back at him, feeling like she was facing a benevolent demon, then took a deep breath, steeled herself, pushed the door open, and stepped inside, offering a quiet, mumbled greeting.
Yuto looked up from his studies, surprised to see her. He clearly expected Xiu or his grandfather. "Shirley? What's up?"
"Um… that is…" Shirley stammered, suddenly overcome with embarrassment, unable to get the words out, her mouth feeling like it was glued shut.
Yuto just watched her struggle silently, confused by her strange behavior.
After a long, awkward pause, Shirley finally managed to overcome her reluctance, whispering, "I… I'm sorry."
Yuto's eyes widened instantly in surprise, then narrowed in immediate suspicion. He leaned back unconsciously. "Okay… what trouble did you cause?" Clearly, in Yuto's experience, an apology from Shirley usually preceded a confession of some major mishap.
"Xiu um…" Shirley started, flustered by Yuto's reaction, about to deflect blame onto Xiu again out of habit.
But the mention of Xiu's name made Yuto stand up abruptly, his expression turning anxious. "What did you do to Xiu?! You didn't hurt him, did you?" He started towards the door, ready to go check on Xiu.
Incensed by Yuto's immediate assumption that she was the problem and his concern for Xiu over her, Shirley's embarrassment vanished, replaced by righteous anger. She blocked his path. "It was Xiu who told me to come apologize to you!" she practically yelled.
"Huh?" Yuto stopped, utterly confused now, unable to grasp the situation.
Outside the door, listening to the siblings' 'friendly' interaction, Xiu couldn't help but chuckle softly, shaking his head. 'Progress… sort of.' Hearing that the lines of communication were at least open, however awkwardly, he figured his task was complete.
He turned quietly and walked away, leaving them to sort things out themselves.