Chapter 91. The Center-parted's Road Ahead Is Murky
With Ash Ketchum taking the lead, the food on the table multiplied.
Many were local specialties from Celadon City.
"Behold my Cerulean City specialty, Water Honey!"
"And my Pewter City Lava Chocolate."
". . . Mmph, why did you two only buy specialties from your own cities?"
Ash mumbled around a mouthful of cake.
"Ahaha."
"Seeing hometown specialties in a big city makes you want to buy some to see whether they're authentic, right?"
Brock smiled, and just as he was about to share the chocolates, he found only a pile of wrappers left in the box.
He turned and looked at Natsume, whose mouth was stained dark.
"I didn't eat them."
Natsume shook his head, twisted off a sky-blue cap, and downed the honey inside.
"Ah, my Cerulean City specialty!"
Misty yelped.
"Natsume, are you very hungry?"
Honora tore open a Magikarp-yaki and held it to Natsume's mouth.
He bit down, and chili–crab-roe paste burst out, filling his mouth with savory fragrance.
"Mmph—Honora, you've got good taste."
The salty aroma made Natsume's eyes light up.
"Really? I still have a lot in my room, I'll go get them!"
Honora happily ran upstairs.
"Natsume, what's up with you today?"
Misty and Brock looked at Natsume in unison.
Blue light flickered in his eyes, and the food on the table flew, one after another, straight into his mouth.
In the end, to save chewing time, Natsume even used telekinesis to pre-grind the food.
Natsume didn't answer and just kept eating.
"Whew—"
After a long while, Natsume stopped and let out a long breath.
The table was piled high with all kinds of wrappers.
"Wow, it's a pity we didn't take Natsume to the food street yesterday afternoon."
Ash looked regretful.
"Yeah, they even had a Big Eater Contest there."
"If Natsume had been around, the winner might not have been the store's Snorlax."
Misty nodded along.
"A Pokémon Big Eater Contest . . . humans can't participate, right?"
The corner of Brock's mouth twitched.
He glanced at Natsume and asked curiously:
"Did your telekinesis make a breakthrough?"
Natsume wiped his mouth and nodded in passing.
Telekinesis consumes the body's energy, and after stepping over the threshold into the inner world, his body's need for food had only increased.
On top of that, after his will shattered yesterday, his telekinesis was nearly drained.
So he slept all the way until today.
Maybe he'd collapsed from exhaustion?
Natsume patted his cheeks, belatedly realizing.
He checked his status panel and found that his mental power had already broken past the 300 Intellect mark.
It seemed that when his will shattered, his telekinesis, while repairing itself, had become more solid too.
His path was indeed correct.
First shatter center-parted's will-construct, and then use telekinesis to repair it!
"Pika!"
Off to the side, center-parted bit its tongue while hugging a Magikarp-yaki.
After the meal, everyone planned to stay in Celadon City for a few more days.
After all, big cities like this aren't something you get to visit every day.
"I'm planning to go to the Breeders' Street—anyone coming?"
Brock asked at the Pokémon Center entrance.
"I'm going to the central park to look for battles!"
Ash couldn't wait.
"Pikachu!"
Pikachu was fired up too.
"Honestly . . . then I'll go with Hono—"
Misty spoke, then noticed Honora winking at her.
"Ahem, I'm going to check out the aquarium and compare it with our Cerulean Gym."
Misty switched tracks and left the Pokémon Center first.
Before long, the others left, and only Natsume and Honora remained.
"Natsume, where are we going?"
Honora scooted closer and tugged Natsume's sleeve.
"I heard there's a newly opened cinema in Celadon City. How about we go?"
"I'm putting center-parted through special training."
"Pika—pika—"
The center-parted clung to Natsume's pant leg, eyes brimming with tears.
Trainer, I'm so moved by you—give yourself a day off!
Through telepathy, Natsume's mouth twitched.
Ever since center-parted discovered that Natsume could read its inner thoughts, all of its little mental whispers about him had turned into every kind of "fawning flattery."
As Natsume walked, he suddenly stopped and looked back at Honora.
Honora looked up, hoping Natsume had changed his mind, but instead, his voice came:
"By the way, Honora, don't forget the multi-type move development assignment I gave you."
With that, Natsume grabbed the resigned-to-fate center-parted and returned to the Pokémon Center.
"Fine, I'll stay at the Pokémon Center too."
Honora flicked her sleeve and followed right on Natsume's heels.
Pokémon Center, first floor.
Holding center-parted, Natsume found an empty seat and sat down.
Honora followed close, cheeks puffed, and sat opposite Natsume.
"You seem pretty free. Give me your hand."
Natsume said to Honora.
"Huh?"
Honora blankly extended her hand.
As she glanced away, Natsume took it in one motion.
"Ah—"
Before Honora could react, the scene before her eyes shifted.
She and Natsume arrived on a stretch of open plain.
Not far away, center-parted was clutching its little head, looking like it was on death row.
"Natsume, what is this?"
Honora was amazed.
"This is center-parted's mindscape. This is where I train it."
As he spoke, Natsume waved his hand.
Azure motes gathered, and a jeep appeared.
"Vroom!"
The engine roared, and Natsume slid into the driver's seat.
"Eh?"
Honora cocked her head, peeking at Natsume with curiosity.
Suddenly, countless blue particles converged before her and formed a second jeep.
"You too. Our training task is to ram it and send it flying."
Natsume pointed at center-parted.
He had discovered that a single jeep was starting to be not quite enough.
The center-parted's will-construct had gotten a lot faster, and he was having trouble ramming it.
So Natsume planned to add another jeep.
Later, when center-parted got stronger, he could even bring Ash's group here for team-building.
"Pika!"
The center-parted bit its little blanket.
Its eyes grew round, tears pattering down as it looked pitifully at Honora.
Can you bear it?
Can you really bear it?
"Natsume, this seems a bit much . . ."
Honora hesitated.
"Get in and try it."
Honora hesitantly sat in the driver's seat.
In the next second, azure particles coalesced, and a black blindfold appeared in Honora's hand.
"Destroy the will, then rebuild the will. This is something center-parted must go through."
"If you can't bear it, put on the blindfold and drive. Anyway, going past a certain boundary here just resets you to the start."
Natsume shook his head slightly, intending for Honora to act as a random obstacle.
Sharp-eyed Honora took in every bit of Natsume's reaction and promptly shook her head.
"I can do it, Natsume—just . . ."
Honora suddenly looked a little embarrassed.
"It's just that my driving skills are kind of terrible."
"Born for this. Even better!"
Natsume gave an unreserved thumbs-up.
The center-parted: Σ(っ°Д°;)っ
You really can bear it!
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