Chapter 337 – Iono, You're as Red as a Darmanitan
Sabrina saw right through Asahi's humblebrag.
But for someone like Sapphire, who hadn't known Asahi long, she simply stared wide-eyed at the Eevee bouncing around on Lairon's head.
So that's what power looked like?
"Asahi!" she heard him call.
"End this match."
"Vee!"
Eevee's tiny legs tensed, and in the blink of an eye—
Boom!
She landed squarely on Lairon with explosive force.
Sapphire saw it clearly—cracks spread across the battlefield from the point of impact, and Lairon's body sank several centimeters into the earth.
Body Slam!
A move that paralyzes by crushing the opponent with one's weight.
But the idea of a 6.5-kilogram Eevee using Body Slam to flatten a 120-kilogram Lairon?
It looked... surreal.
Even for someone like Sapphire, who had conducted extensive field research with her father, Professor Birch, the raw power packed into Eevee's tiny frame was hard to comprehend.
It was unbelievable.
...
[Lairon is unable to battle. The winner is Asahi!]
[Your rank has increased. Congratulations on advancing to the Great Ball Tier!]
Just as he expected, with Sapphire defeated, Asahi successfully advanced into the Great Ball Tier.
Time to contact Iono about starting the documentary project.
With Eevee nestled in his arms, Asahi looked over to Sapphire, who was returning her Lairon and preparing to leave.
"Sapphire," he called out, revealing his true intention, "have you ever considered joining an organization?"
Sapphire blinked, caught off guard.
Sure, Asahi said he knew her father, but inviting her to join some organization right after battling? That was… suspicious.
Was this some kind of shady recruitment?
Ever since Team Magma and Team Aqua vanished, Hoenn had been crawling with all kinds of weird groups trying to fill the power vacuum they left behind.
Asahi seemed to read her thoughts.
"We're an official organization," he said with a smile.
"Let me introduce myself properly: Asahi, Head of the International Police—Kanto Division."
"This is Sabrina, Gym Leader of Saffron City, and also an officer of the International Police. My colleague."
"If you don't believe me, you can ask Professor Birch himself."
That confident tone chipped away at her doubts.
Still—
"I'm assisting my father with his Pokémon research, so I might not have the time…"
Before she could finish, Asahi cut in, "I've got a research project on ancient Sinnoh civilization. Think Professor Birch might be interested?"
"Wait, what?" Sapphire froze.
She had the strange feeling that Asahi had come fully prepared to recruit her.
"Let's add each other as friends," Asahi continued, pulling up his Pokégear. "I'll send you the data later."
Sapphire wasn't even sure what came over her—but like a puppet on strings, she tapped "Add Friend" before she knew it.
Only after Asahi and Sabrina had left did she finally snap out of it.
Rubbing her chin in thought, she called her father.
"Hey, Dad? Do you know someone named Asahi from the International Police?"
...
Elsewhere, Asahi and Sabrina were strolling down the street.
"So this is your type, huh?" Sabrina mused thoughtfully.
Asahi: "?"
What was she even talking about?
He was just trying to recruit someone into the International Police!
"Inviting her the first time you meet… sounds like more than work to me."
Asahi gave her a deadpan look. "If that's your logic, then remember—I had Gardevoir hypnotize you when we first met. Did I do anything weird to you?"
"…You only ever crossed the line that one time, and I was the one who initiated it."
Even though it had been a while, just hearing Asahi bring it up again made Sabrina blush ever so slightly.
She quickly composed herself. "I'm only here to keep you in check—for Green's sake."
"Right, right…" Asahi nodded obediently. "Then let's hurry. Iono's probably waiting for us at the dessert shop by now."
Sabrina: "…"
She couldn't win an argument with this guy—and it was infuriating.
...
Inside the Dessert Shop
Iono stared nervously at the dessert in front of her—Charizard Inferno Ice Cream—and swallowed hard.
"…This thing could actually kill someone."
[Wasting food is bad manners.]
[Didn't the main streamer once say: 'You ordered it, you finish it—even through tears!']
[It's just spicy ice cream. I could eat ten bowls. Don't tell me the streamer can't handle one?]
Watching the barrage of bullet comments on her livestream, Iono bit her lip.
As a rising Dendeneet livestreamer, how could she let herself be outdone?
"I'm not scared! I'll eat it!"
With grim determination, she scooped a massive spoonful and shoved it in her mouth.
When Asahi arrived, he was greeted by the sight of Iono steaming from the head, her twin Magneton-cams spinning wildly beside her, tongue lolling out as she gasped desperately for air.
He stopped in front of her, glanced at the glowing red ice cream on the table, and twitched an eyebrow.
"…Charizard Inferno Ice Cream. You didn't go and test your limits again, did you?"
"Mh—No, I didn't!" Iono insisted, struggling to speak clearly.
"Still acting tough?" Asahi smirked. "Your face is as red as a Darmanitan."
With a sigh, he pulled a cube from his bag and handed it over.
"Here. This PokéBlock'll neutralize the spice."
Iono had never heard of PokéBlocks doing that before, but since it was from Asahi, she figured it was worth a try.
She popped it in her mouth.
Instantly, a sweet and refreshing sensation spread across her tongue. The burning vanished completely.
"This is…"
"Mango base with mint infusion," Asahi explained. "Discovered by accident—turns out it's great for countering heat."
[Whoa, he makes PokéBlocks too?]
[Not just that! He even published a paper on PokéBlock development!]
[Wait… is this a food-play stream now? So jealous.]
Even as the chat buzzed, Asahi ignored the noise.
"I'm ready on my end. When do we start shooting the documentary?"
Half a day had already passed.
He needed to rank up to the Ultra Ball Tier ASAP—before he risked running into Gary or the others.