February 20th, Saturday.
The sun shone brightly in the clear blue sky.
The room wasn't particularly cold.
Natsume slipped into a brown jacket, paired with dark blue slim-fit jeans and white basketball shoes.
Professor Natsume vaguely recalled that the Pokémon world also had basketball tournaments, especially popular in the Unova region.
But the contestants included Machamp, Lucario, and Passimian…
For humans, competing professionally was much harder.
"If Ash hadn't become a Trainer, he might've been a sports star…"
With that thought, Natsume slung his single-strap bag over his shoulder and tightened his Trainer's belt.
Looking down, the Poké Balls in their holsters gleamed with a muted sheen.
"Gengar!"
Suddenly, Natsume extended an arm, gripping a Poké Ball with determination as he called out:
"Are you ready?!"
"Gengar!" Gengar materialized behind him.
"Henshin—...Never mind, let's go."
Feigning nonchalance, Natsume tucked the Poké Ball back into his belt, in high spirits.
Typically, a Trainer's belt only allowed for six Poké Balls.
But Natsume's was longer, wrapping around his waist once.
Take Unova Champion Alder, for example—he wore two strands of Poké Balls around his neck.
Toss out nearly twenty Pokémon in wild battles… No wonder he became Champion.
Saffron City, as a metropolis, has a subway that goes straight to the Airport.
Even dressed plainly, Natsume's handsomeness couldn't be hidden.
After all, his looks slightly surpassed Steven's… like the glow of a bright moon, he'd get asked for his contact info no matter where he went.
Oddly enough, Steven and Wallace never worried about being recognized when they went out…
Wait, they both have luxury cars? Never mind, then.
After arriving at the Airport, there were still two and a half hours until departure.
Natsume glared at the Rotom Pokédex beside him:
"Didn't you say you'd plan the trip properly?"
"Beep… This is to account for unexpected circumstances, Rotom!" Rotom said proudly.
"…You're way too cautious, Rotom!"
As everyone knows, slackers are contagious, so catching a Sirfetch'd is perfectly reasonable.
"But… is a careful Blastoise also contagious?"
Natsume-sensei, who only ever participated in Baby Cup battles, fell deep into thought.
With nothing better to do, he scrolled through the group chat.
Ash had defeated Brandon yesterday and earned the Frontier Symbols.
At the time, Natsume-sensei had been packing his luggage and didn't have time to pay attention.
"Congratulations, Ash."
Natsume sent his belated wishes, then quietly lurked for a while.
Gold scratched his head: "Do I… stand a chance against Ash now?"
"Frontier Brains, strictly speaking, rank even higher than the Elite Four."
Lance smirked: "Why don't you try and find out?"
"Heh, I'm not stupid. Beating Senior Red's single Pokémon is something I could brag about for a whole year."
Gold spoke matter-of-factly: "But if I lose to Ash, what then?"
"Then use your specialty—Wild Battles format," Silver said.
"Ugh… just kill me!" Gold's face twisted in horror.
"Group Owner, how could you start such a big game without telling me?!"
Old Man Wattson shouted: "Let me say this first—if it's a single-player game with cheats, you can't ban my account, right?"
"That would ruin half the fun of the game," Natsume-sensei said earnestly.
Wattson rubbed his hands together: "Hehe, the fun is in one-hit KO's and instant max levels!"
"Natsume-sensei."
Ash suddenly came online and asked, puzzled: "Weren't you moving today? I went to see you, but you weren't there."
Natsume froze, then coughed awkwardly: "I had a flight this morning."
"!!!"
The entire group exploded instantly.
Lance: "Something this big, and you didn't tell us? I could've lent you my Dragonite to help move!"
Lorelei adjusted her glasses and smiled slyly: "Could it be… you're visiting a girlfriend? Could it?"
"Natsume-sensei," Erika said sweetly, "people should have hearts, you know? We even came to pick you up last time~"
Sabrina: "Tch."
"Hmph, you clearly don't care about us at all!" Gold stirred the pot.
Yellow tried to mediate: "Maybe… Natsume-sensei has some unspeakable reason?"
What kind of unspeakable reason is that?!
The tone is getting weirder and weirder, geez!
Crystal: [Chikorita shaking its leaves.jpg]
Gardenia: [Chikorita shaking its leaves.jpg]
Wait, when did Gardenia join the group?
"I'm sorry!!"
Natsume-sensei immediately apologized: "I just didn't want to trouble everyone. Goodbyes… aren't really my thing."
Everyone nodded in understanding.
"If you buy Potion wholesale from me again, I'll forgive you!" Green said with a smirk.
Lorelei: "(|T|Д|T|) It's not some lovey-dovey honeymoon flight, is it?!"
Natsume-sensei: "No."
Auntie Lorelei let out a sigh of relief.
Sapphire: "（Thinking emoji）Come to think of it, Ruby and I traveled all around Hoenn in eighty days."
Ruby: "Ah, and you were the one who confessed to me."
Sapphire: "??"
Lorelei: "!!!"
Wild [Ice-type Elite Four] has appeared!
[Hoenn Couple] used 'Dog Food Critical Hit' on [Ice-type Elite Four]!
It's a critical hit! Super effective!
[Ice-type Elite Four] has fainted!
"@Natsume-sensei." Steven smiled. "I suggest sending a red packet~"
Natsume's heart skipped a beat.
Had the conversation circled back to this after all?
With no other choice, Natsume sent out all the red packets he had—originally snatched from Steven.
"Huh?" Green blinked. "Only ten bucks total Pokémon Coins?"
"This is everything I've grabbed from the group chat over the past six months."
Natsume said solemnly: "I even had to chip in some of my own savings."
Gold: "Classic Natsume-sensei!"
Lorelei: "Classic Natsume-sensei!"
...
Ash followed the chain and excitedly said: "Natsume-sensei, I'm heading to Saffron City Airport right now!"
"What for?" Natsume was taken aback.
"To send you off!"
Natsume raised an eyebrow.
Though well-intentioned, wasn't the phrasing a bit… off?
He checked his watch—there was still time before the flight.
If it was just Ash coming… it wouldn't hurt to kill some time.
As he pondered, a video call popped up.
"Good morning," Cynthia said with a smile.
"It's almost noon."
"Since I haven't eaten breakfast, it's still morning for me."
"Why didn't you eat breakfast?"
"Had some research to sort out."
Cynthia waved a hefty book: "This way, I can free up time to pick you up tonight."
Natsume felt a warmth in his chest: "You don't have to come."
"If I don't, where will you sleep?"
Cynthia chuckled, then lowered her head again: "Gotta go… still have work to do…"
Natsume studied the golden-haired beauty on screen, absorbed in her work, and nodded approvingly.
After hanging up, he suddenly stroked his chin.
Judging by her tone…
Did that mean he'd get to sleep with Cynthia tonight?
"Sylveon." Natsume said seriously.
"Sylveon?"
"Tonight, I'm afraid you'll have to sleep alone."
"Sylveon! (╬ ò﹏ó)"
"Haha, just kidding… hey, don't use Iron Tail!"
Suddenly, a voice called out from the direction of the airport terminal:
"Natsume-sensei!!"
Natsume looked up to see a red-capped young man in a blue vest, Pikachu perched on his shoulder.
"Yo, dumbass! (￣▽￣)／"
Natsume waved and grinned: "When's your flight?"
Ash walked up, scratching his head, his voice tinged with hesitation:
"Natsume-sensei… actually, I've been thinking of staying in Pallet Town."
"What!? Σ(っ°Д°;)っ"
"It's like this…"
Ash glanced at Pikachu, then spoke with resolve:
"Now that I've beaten a Frontier Brain…"
"I think… maybe I could place in the Kanto League…"
Natsume studied the suddenly aimless young man before him.
The Ash he knew had grown from arrogance and recklessness through countless trials.
Perhaps defeating Brandon had left him both proud and lost.
Wanting to show off after a major victory… that was just youth.
"Ash, I won't stop you."
Natsume spoke slowly:
"But ask yourself this… don't you want to meet new Pokémon in new regions?"
"Huh?" Ash looked up.
"The Frontier isn't the end of being a Pokémon Master. "
"A true Pokémon Master…"
Natsume smiled: "Wouldn't rest on their laurels after conquering the Frontier or winning a league!"
Ash scratched his head, turning to exchange a long look with Pikachu.
"Pikachu... ヾ"
Natsume: "So… what's your goal now?"
Ash stared at the man he admired, lost in thought.
Then, as if struck by inspiration, his eyes blazed with determination.
"Natsume-sensei!"
Ash clenched his fists, bowed deeply, and declared:
"Please… battle me!"
--------------------------------------
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