Chapter 43. Bill's Lighthouse
A small town, Pokémon Center.
Officer Jenny stood in front of Natsume, a look of regret on her face.
"Sigh, witnesses said three blockheads were hopping around on traps the Squirtle set."
"When I arrived, they were already gone. Mr. Natsume, you really didn't see them?"
"I don't know. I didn't."
Natsume spoke with practiced ease.
"Sigh, all right."
Officer Jenny shook her head and left the Pokémon Center.
"Mr. Natsume, Officer Jenny said those Squirtle are all problem Pokémon. Will it really be okay?"
At Natsume's side, Honora spoke, full of worry.
"Problem Pokémon? If it's Ash, there will definitely be no problem."
Natsume thought for a moment and answered seriously.
"Why does Mr. Natsume trust Ash so much…"
Honora pouted a little, seemingly displeased.
After all, she was the teacher's only Student.
Why trust Ash so much?
Natsume scratched his head.
How to put it… putting aside the filter from the original storyline regarding Ash.
A kid who, from the age of six, already knew what loyalty meant and was willing to take the blame for a researcher.
Even if something like "the lab lost ten tons of Berries overnight," which no one could possibly associate with a six-year-old, happened, Ash would still declare loudly:
"It was me who ate them!"
Then, even after being double-teamed by Aunt Delia and Professor Oak, he would stubbornly refuse to give up the Natsume behind it all.
There's no way Natsume wouldn't trust him.
Natsume pointed at the Pokémon Center's front doors and said to Honora:
"Believe it or not, Ash will make those Squirtle mend their ways, and at the latest they'll be here by tomorrow evening."
Honora tilted her head.
She knew well that most problem Pokémon were the kind that had been abandoned by their Trainers.
For that kind of Pokémon, never mind "mend their ways," even being friendly with people was a problem.
"I believe it."
Honora pursed her lips, still unconvinced in her heart.
Seemingly seeing through her thoughts, Natsume yawned, patted her head, and spoke earnestly:
"Honora, you need to trust your own scholarship."
"Many of your current judgments already help me eliminate a wrong option."
A faint wisp of steam began to rise from Honora's head.
Mm… triggered again.
The next day, at noon.
Sure enough, just as Natsume had said, Ash and the others appeared at the Pokémon Center entrance.
Behind them was Officer Jenny, and behind Jenny was a mighty crowd of Squirtle.
"Incredible. You actually persuaded these Squirtle."
Officer Jenny gave Ash and the others a thumbs-up.
"Not at all. This is what this humble one ought to do!"
Brock smoothly dropped to one knee and took Jenny's hand.
"Ah—hahaha…"
"Natsume!"
Ash spotted Natsume, his eyes lit up, and he trotted over.
"Pikachu—"
Center-parted looked like a refugee who had suffered for days, face smudged with dirt.
But he paid no attention to any of that.
Clutching his little blanket, he scrambled up onto the table in front of Natsume.
After kneading Honora's backpack a few times, center-parted flopped over and fell asleep.
"Pikachu—"
Compared to the hard, unyielding stones in the cave, this soft backpack is better.
"Natsume, I caught Squirtle!"
Ash spoke excitedly, and a Squirtle wearing triangular sunglasses hopped onto the table as well.
At the same time, Ash's Pokédex began to cheer:
"Squirtle, my favorite Pokémon. Squirtle, my favorite Pokémon."
On the other side, Honora stared blankly at center-parted lying on her backpack.
Come to think of it, she had always assumed that Pikachu was Ash's, too.
Later she learned that center-parted was Natsume's Pokémon.
But Ash could command center-parted as well.
Conversely, she noticed that Ash's Pikachu also seemed to listen to Natsume.
How annoying.
Even as the assistant, she didn't get that kind of treatment.
Honora touched her chin, a delicate look of hesitation on her face.
She was wondering whether to give Natsume a "jointly raised" Pokémon to deepen their bond.
As she thought and thought, steam began to rise from the top of Honora's head.
"What's wrong with you?"
While talking with Ash, Natsume noticed Honora's state.
"Huh? Did something happen?"
Honora shook her head.
The flush on her face receded like the tide.
The Squirtle leader was caught by Ash, while the other little brothers stayed in the town to become firefighters.
"Don't worry, Squirtle."
"Natsume says that in the Orange Islands we're heading to, there's a Pokémon firefighters' competition."
"We'll meet again!"
Ash walked along the beach, comforting the Squirtle on his head.
"Squirtle, squirtle!"
Squirtle took off his sunglasses and nodded to him.
"Hey, you, could you maybe not be so showy?"
Misty looked at Ash, speechless.
After catching Squirtle, Ash had completely let himself go.
The moment they set out today, Ash released all his Pokémon.
Bulbasaur on the left, Charmander on the right, Squirtle on his head.
Up above, Pidgeotto and Butterfree were flying.
"Hahaha, I feel like I can already enter the League Conference now!"
Buoyant with success, even Ash's stride had swagger.
"Natsume, he's floating this high already—aren't you going to say something?"
Misty looked to Natsume, exasperated.
Fiddling with a Great Ball, Natsume raised his head, glanced at Ash, then lowered it and kept tinkering with the Great Ball in his hand.
Whatever.
Gary will take care of it.
At Gary's pace, he should have four or five Badges by now.
With Gary's personality, once he sees Ash, he'll definitely lay into him with some harsh ridicule.
Then Ash will be deflated, and finally reignite his fighting spirit, entering a healthy cycle.
"Hmph, don't try to sow discord between Natsume and me."
Ash suddenly leaned over.
After a pause, as if remembering something, Ash asked Natsume:
"Natsume, come to think of it, you don't seem to have ever caught a Pokémon."
"Why would I need to catch Pokémon?"
Natsume turned his head and looked at Ash, puzzled.
Ash was choked speechless.
"I get it. You mean you want to focus on elite training, right?"
Brock leaned in.
"That's not what I mean."
As he spoke, Natsume casually palmed a Poké Ball off Brock's belt.
"Go, Onix! Use Stone Edge on the surface of the sea!"
"Rooaaar—"
An Onix appeared and unleashed Stone Edge toward the distant sea surface.
Brock: "???"
"Whoa, why does Brock's Pokémon listen to you!"
Seeing this, Misty fearfully covered the Poké Balls at her own waist.
After recalling Onix and returning the Poké Ball to Brock, Natsume shrugged indifferently.
Natsume had discovered that, within their traveling party, every one of their Pokémon was somewhat afraid of… in awe—yes, in awe of him.
As expected, he possessed the innate Sacred Physique of Pokémon Bonds.
Thinking that, Natsume nodded to himself in satisfaction.
"But Natsume, you can't borrow other people's Pokémon to compete in the League, right?"
"I'll lend mine to Mr. Natsume."
Honora's little head suddenly popped up in front of Natsume.
She raised a hand high, offering a Poké Ball to his face.
"In principle, no."
Natsume pushed Honora's hand aside, then continued:
"Don't worry, Ash."
"If I run into a suitable one, I'll catch it."
"Let's head to that lighthouse and stay the night."
Natsume pointed toward the distant coastline.
Everyone looked over and finally noticed a massive lighthouse standing atop a far-off cliff.
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