Pokémon：Trainer's Gambit

The city lights flickered to life.

On this winter night, Togepi and Sirfetch'd sat side by side, doodling on the floor-to-ceiling window.

Natsume smiled faintly, ruffling the little head of the Sylveon in his arms.

"Sylveon!" The small one protested but didn't struggle.

Around its neck hung a delicate pink-purple orb—the Life Orb earned during the last Inter-School Exchange Tournament.

Using Sylveon's ribbon's perception ability, it could siphon life energy from the orb.

Sure, doing so would drain the Life Orb of its power-boosting effects—

But hey, when it came to training Pokémon, the real priority was whaling hard.

Squirtle, who had gone "dungeon crawling" with Sylveon earlier that afternoon,

Was now meticulously polishing its turtle shell.

"Squirtle! (o˘◡˘o)"

A little shell buffing brings great joy to life!

As for Arcanine—

Thanks to its relentless Sunlight Chamber blasting spree,

Mastering Flare Blitz was only a matter of time.

Natsume's mood was… complicated.

How did adding a slacker to the team…

End up motivating everyone else?!

Luckily, over at Pokémon Company,

Oleana had good news for him.

"Thanks to the success of the Pokémon Trading Card Game's Sinnoh Expansion Pack,"

She adjusted her thin-framed glasses, "The Auto Chess project has entered early development."

"It should be ready for release by the end of this year."

"You've worked hard." Natsume sighed. "Anything you need from me?"

"Well… You are the captain of Pokémon Company—our leader and helmsman."

Oleana smiled professionally. "Rather than diving into the details, setting the right course is your true role."

Natsume blinked.

Wait…

Does that mean I can slack off officially now?!

"That said, the Saffron City game studio has a promotional event planned."

Oleana added, "All you need to do is make an appearance."

"What about press questions?"

Her eyes gleamed with the precision of a professional secretary: "I've already prepared your script!"

Natsume froze.

…No wonder Boss Giovanni always just pets his Persian during interviews.

Turns out he really doesn't need to do anything himself?!

"Got it." He coughed. "Send my regards to Kazuya and Mina—and remind them baldness isn't company culture."

...

Oleana's so-called "promotional event" was a small press conference in Saffron City,

Open only to select journalists and invitees.

Natsume might have to shake hands or sign autographs for fans—

After all, his public title was genius game developer.

But beyond his dashing looks, it was his overflowing talent that truly drew the crowds.

"Busy schedule, huh…"

Natsume muttered, still mulling over Sirfetch'd's dietary needs.

In the Galar region, edible leeks were rare.

Farfetch'd evolved into their Fighting-type regional form precisely because of their fierce competition over food.

While Berries could serve as an alternative,

Losing their leek to another Farfetch'd could literally depress them to death.

Hence, Galar was full of Farfetch'd dueling like fencers.

But now that it was part of Natsume's household,

"Leek Pancake" no longer had to worry about starvation.

"The online leek order won't arrive for a while…"

Natsume eyed Sirfetch'd's leek thoughtfully. "Theoretically, sticking it in a pot could grow new leaves… right?"

Sirfetch'd, mid-drawing lesson with Togepi, suddenly felt a chill down its spine.

Danger!

Someone's eyeing my leek!

Over my dead body!

Noticing Sirfetch'd's paranoid scanning, Natsume chuckled.

Yep. To Sirfetch'd, the leek is its soul.

Shaking his head, he set the thought aside.

"She's probably coming tonight."

"Better get dinner ready!"

...

A tall, golden-haired beauty in a fur-lined black coat

Walked through the night toward the warmly lit house.

For some reason, Cynthia allowed herself a small smile.

As she reached the entrance, Gengar floated out to greet her.

"Gengar!"

"You're too sharp." She laughed, patting its head.

"Gengar!" It grinned.

I've learned to recognize high heels by now!

Oh, and Miss Erika's geta clacks.

Sister Sabrina's boots.

And—

Cynthia pushed the door open, greeted by warmth—

And a faint… onion fragrance?

She paused.

Is tonight's menu leek-themed?

Her question was soon answered.

"Sirfetch'd!? ((;ﾟДﾟ;))"

Sirfetch'd, spotting Garchomp beside Cynthia, turned to stone.

Holy crap—this thing's scarier than Arcanine !!

Why does this slacker trainer surround himself with monsters ?!

Frozen in place, leek and shield raised, it looked like it was challenging Garchomp head-on.

"Garchomp!" The menacing dragon's crimson eyes actually softened with approval.

This Sirfetch'd's got guts!

Cynthia giggled behind her hand, pearly teeth glinting. "A new catch?"

"Yeah." Natsume sighed. "Almost as handsome as me."

Let's be real—Sirfetch'd's V-shaped brows and intense gaze did carry a certain charm.

Sure, it was a slacker like Natsume-sensei…

But the fact it had secretly started training left him with mixed feelings.

"It's got presence." Cynthia smiled. "If it wants to challenge Garchomp, that's fine."

"Garchomp!" The dragon nodded.

Not backing down in my presence?

This Sirfetch'd has earned my respect.

"Ahem!" Natsume coughed. "No need—it's just a kid."

Sirfetch'd wept internally.

Thank you, Slacker Trainer !!

Cynthia didn't press further.

Dinner with Natsume mattered more.

As Garchomp followed her inside, it made a mental note:

We'll battle someday.

Sirfetch'd exhaled in relief, gripping its leek pensively.

Watching this, Natsume's eyebrow twitched.

Is this the "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—don't bully the young and poor" arc?!

Under the soft ceiling light, Cynthia tucked a golden strand behind her ear, chopsticks in hand.

Flawless grace, effortless charm—and yet, the way she ate was oddly adorable.

"Thanks for the meal." She dabbed her lips, exhaling lightly.

"Gochisousama—" Natsume almost blurted, then chuckled. "Don't mention it."

By the time Gengar lay sprawled on the sofa, belly full,

The household robots finally sprang to life.

Cynthia, in slippers, tried cornering Sirfetch'd.

"Sirfetch'd~!!"

"No escaping!"

Eventually, she flopped onto the couch, gleefully petting duck feathers.

"Like a Call Duck." Natsume remarked.

"What's a Call Duck?"

"Uh…" He hesitated.

"Another cute duck. Like Sirfetch'd."

Sirfetch'd folded its wings, surrendering to Cynthia's scritches, eyes half-lidded.

So comfy~~~

...

Kanto, Fuchsia City.

Deep in the mountains stood an old training dojo.

A masked, shadowy figure appeared atop a tree beside the second-floor window.

Inside, a purple-haired girl snapped her head up.

"Who's there?!"

The man lowered his mask, revealing a face 70% identical to hers.

"Good reflexes, Janine." Koga, Kanto's Poison-type Elite Four, nodded approvingly.

"No, Dad…" Janine winced. "It's the Grimer on your shoulder. The smell's… strong."

Koga coughed violently.

Scanning his daughter's room, the ninja was surprised by its girlish decor.

A poster of someone uncannily like Natsume-sensei hung on the wall.

"So that's Natsume." Koga mused.

Even I admire his Minimize stall tactics.

As a Poison-type specialist, it's natural Janine would idolize the SubProtect Toxic master.

Ignoring Janine's deepening blush,

Koga adopted a fatherly tone: "Janine… You're not getting younger. Honestly, that Violet City Gym Leader seems like a fine match—"

Janine's face burned. She clenched her fists.

She'd chosen Poison-types to find her missing father.

But now that he was a public figure as Johto's Elite Four, she felt… awkward.

Maybe it was middle age—

But her once-stoic dad had become weirdly chatty?

"I know, okay?!"

She slammed the window shut, leaving Koga stranded on the tree.

After a long pause, he sniffed his sleeve, conflicted.

"…Is it really that bad?"

Inside the room,

Janine finally caught her breath.

She had considered her dad's matchmaking.

But the only candidate she fancied was Violet City's Falkner—a kindred spirit.

Both their fathers had abandoned their gyms for personal reasons.

Both had stepped up as Gym Leaders to honor their legacy.

They were strikingly similar.

That aside—

Janine also held Natsume-sensei, the Poison-type specialist, in fan-like reverence.

"He'll be in Saffron City soon for that promotional event."

She twirled a kunai, murmuring, "I'll seize the chance to learn from him!"

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