Chapter 87. Natsume vs. Erika
"What method?" Ash Ketchum looked up and met Natsume's wordless smile.
He suddenly shivered.
Celadon City's center, a women's clothing boutique.
"Ooh, Ash, this one, this one, and put a bow on top!"
The Rotom Phone floated in the air, its screen showing Delia Ketchum's smiling face as she directed Ash's outfit coordination.
"Ahahaha, so cute. Rotom, please take a photo for me and send it to me."
"Roto!"
Delia kept laughing, and Ash's face grew redder.
"Mom, this is the eighth outfit already. Are we done yet?" Ash shouted.
Natsume planned to have Ash pretend to be his younger sister, sign him up with an eco tour group, then slip inside and launch a challenge.
It looked very feasible, so the two came to the boutique, explained the situation, and Natsume invited Delia to advise.
But once the first outfit went on, Delia's "advising" changed.
She suddenly discovered that Ash was quite cute, and she wanted more photos to show that girl named Serena the next time she traveled to Kalos.
"Ooh, Ash, don't be impatient. Mom just thought of a new combination. It'll look even better."
Half coaxing and half cajoling, Delia had Ash change two more sets.
"Click—click—click—" After the Rotom Phone's full, no-dead-angle shoot, Delia's voice came again:
"All right, the first set looks best. Buy that one!"
Ash: "…"
"Mr. Natsume, the total is 100,860 Pokédollars."
Natsume swiped his card.
Strangely enough, the price was cheaper than he'd imagined, given Celadon City's high cost of living and the fact these were major-brand clothes.
But productivity in this world was truly high, and as long as it wasn't something related to Pokémon, nothing was expensive.
"N-Natsume, wait for me!" Ash pinched his voice and hurried after him.
Soon, the two returned to Celadon Gym.
"Ashie, you can do it!" Natsume cheered toward Ash, who was mixed in among a group of little girls.
Ash gritted his teeth, barely holding it together.
"Mr. Natsume, you can leave your little sister to us. Please feel free to go challenge the Gym," the lead staffer bowed.
"Great, see you inside the Gym," Natsume waved to Ash.
To keep Ash's identity from being exposed, Natsume casually lifted the sleeping center-parted onto his shoulder.
Fortunately, before puberty, girls are generally taller than boys, so although Ash was fairly tall among the seven- or eight-year-olds, he didn't stand out too much.
"We're Tour Group Five, okay? Little ones, hold your signs high. This way!"
Several staffers led Ash and the others down another passage.
Natsume stroked the fur on center-parted's back and strolled forward.
Ahead of him, a staff member had already gone to inform the Gym Leader.
Lowering his head, he glanced at the dozing center-parted in his arms.
Truth be told, a Pikachu that had absorbed Divinity really was different.
Even its fur felt smoother.
"You're going in later," Natsume said.
Center-parted's ears twitched, pretending not to hear.
The next second, the world spun, as light flashed in Natsume's eyes.
Whether it listened or not, a voice rang directly in center-parted's heart.
"Don't tell me you're treating Divinity like a simple rename ticket."
"Pika—" Center-parted woke up and gave Natsume a conflicted look.
"Hm?" Seeing that reluctant, about-to-speak expression, Natsume's heart stirred.
"Did you discover something during this period?" Natsume looked to center-parted with hope.
"Pff~" Center-parted lifted a hind leg, let out a fart, and the conflicted look turned into relief.
"Pikachu!!!"
When the challenger's gate opened, everyone saw a furious Trainer, blue light blazing from his eyes, punch his own Pikachu flying.
"Kids, we've got a challenger to—eh?" The staffer doing the tour commentary suddenly found a Pikachu dropping into her arms.
Center-parted squirmed twice in the young lady's embrace, rolled over, and fell asleep again.
"Wow, what move did that big brother use?"
"I know, it's Rage Punch!"
"Hey, that's from a cartoon."
Inside the conservatory, beside a battlefield, a crowd of children gathered.
There was a Trainer challenge today, and they had all clamored to watch.
"Ah, it really is Natsume." Outside the field, Misty covered her face.
She, Brock, and Honora had come to watch the fun after hearing someone was challenging here.
"This challenger looks very energetic."
From behind the crowd, a gentle-looking woman stepped out: Celadon City's Gym Leader and owner of the city's largest perfume shop, Erika.
Erika's dark Brown hair flowed down her back, and she wore a beige knit top with a light green long skirt.
A white magnolia clip adorned her hair, pearls hung from her ears, and a sandalwood bead bracelet wrapped her wrist.
Her temperament was warm, and her outfit was carefully chosen.
"Miss Erika, I'll serve as the referee!" Brock, face flushed, stepped forward.
"Then I'll trouble you," Erika smiled at Brock like the first bloom of cherry in March.
"No trouble, no trouble…" Brock, dizzy with delight, walked to the center of the field.
"Challenger, please enter!" Brock sounded like he'd taken a shot of adrenaline, his voice thunderously loud.
Not far away, Ash—who had just entered with the tour—snapped his head this way.
"Go, Gloom!"
Erika threw a Poké Ball.
With a flash of red light, a Pokémon with a big red flower on its head and an indigo body appeared at center field.
"Allow me to introduce myself.
I'm Erika.
This battle will be a 3-on-3."
Erika smiled at Natsume, but he didn't respond, staring fixedly at one spot.
Following his gaze, she saw one of her employees.
In the employee's arms lay a sleeping Pikachu.
Natsume used Glare!
Center-parted is immune to the Trainer's Glare!
Blue light flashed in Natsume's eyes, and center-parted floated into the air, drifting toward Natsume.
"Wow, that big brother's Pikachu can fly!" the kids exclaimed.
"That's… psychic power?" Erika murmured, glancing at Natsume in surprise.
Manipulated, center-parted hovered face-to-face with Natsume.
He could clearly see center-parted's eyelids trembling.
Natsume used point-blank Glare!
"Pika!" Center-parted snapped its eyes open.
Reluctantly, it handed its little blanket to Natsume and walked onto the field.
Center-parted rubbed its belly and regretted lying on that rock.
Originally, it could have lived peacefully as a salted fish.
But since that rock entered its body, Natsume had paid it special attention.
Center-parted made up its mind: the next time it encountered strange rocks like that, it would stuff all of them into Natsume's mouth.
If a Trainer had the strength to solo Pokémon, then his Pokémon naturally wouldn't need to go on the field.
The more center-parted thought about it, the brighter its future seemed.
"Pika!"
Bring it on!
Center-parted stood before Gloom and clenched its tiny fists.
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