Amidst the distant mountains and jungles beyond Celadon City, Ryuuske immersed himself once again in pure training with Eevee and his other Pokémon, focusing every ounce of his attention on mastering techniques and honing reflexes—just as he had when first starting his journey.
"Excellent, Flareon! At the very least, you've improved tremendously compared to two weeks ago."
Ryuuske nodded approvingly as he watched the bubbling, steaming section of the turbulent river ahead, where the scalding heat gradually dissipated as cooler upstream waters flowed in, restoring the temperature to normal.
The proficiency, accuracy, power, and reaction speed of the moves were now incomparable to Eevee's previous capabilities—precisely the effect Ryuuske had aimed for.
To train this Eevee properly, Ryuuske had deliberately avoided using Gabite and Dragonair from the outset. Just as he had once relied solely on a single Gabite to navigate the wilds, he now challenged the dangers of the forests and mountains with only Eevee by his side.
With extensive experience in Pokémon training, Ryuuske found these two weeks more productive than an entire month of past efforts. However, this came at a cost. As they ventured deeper into the wilderness, Ryuuske himself sustained injuries—wounds that wouldn't have appeared had he deployed Gabite and Dragonair. But for Eevee's sake, he endured.
The most troublesome aspect was Eevee's multiple evolutionary forms, each requiring mastery of different moves. While some techniques might never see use, the STAB (Same-Type Attack Bonus) moves for its current form couldn't be neglected. Currently, Eevee could only shift between three forms, but once it could cycle through eight or nine, the number of moves to train would multiply exponentially.
The mere thought gave Ryuuske a headache. The only consolation was that, regardless of the environment, Eevee could instantly adapt and even counter it completely—truly a versatile Pokémon.
To acclimate Eevee to evolution, Ryuuske forced it to change forms daily. Though the side effects remained, they had lessened as Eevee grew stronger through training. Additionally, Ryuuske had given Eevee the Everlasting Water Stone to hold, ensuring that evolving into Vaporeon caused no pain whatsoever.
"Hah... Still a long road ahead."
Ryuuske exhaled deeply—then suddenly frowned, glancing to the side with an amused smirk.
"Again with this move? Can't you try something new for once?"
No sooner had he spoken than a flurry of Razor Leaf shot out from the riverside trees.
The sharp leaves sliced through the air with a tearing sound, but this time, Ryuuske and Eevee weren't caught off guard like two weeks ago. Without needing a command, Eevee—still in its Flareon form—leapt aside, dodging the attack effortlessly before landing protectively in front of Ryuuske.
The Razor Leaf crossed the river, then abruptly made a 180-degree turn, attacking again from the opposite bank. Flareon flicked its tail, launching a fireball that struck the leaves mid-air with a resounding boom, reducing them to ashes instantly. The heat was so intense that the river's surface beneath them began to steam once more.
"Flareon, Fire Spin!"
At Ryuuske's command, spiraling flames erupted from Flareon's maw, shooting toward the origin of the Razor Leaf. Just like the scene two weeks prior, vibrant flowers once again scattered through the air, their petals intertwining with the fiery vortex before both gradually dissipated.
"How impressive. Two weeks have completely transformed this Eevee—so much so that this humble girl barely recognizes it."
A serene voice echoed from the woods as Erika emerged, clad in an elegant kimono that remained pristine despite the wilderness, as if she were merely strolling through her own garden.
Ryuuske knew that for a Grass-type specialist like Erika, forests and grassy terrain were her natural domain.
"Eevee has been training relentlessly. Without its perseverance, such drastic improvement would've been impossible."
Ryuuske reached out to stroke Flareon's mane—soft and warm, like living flames—as it stood nearly as tall as him.
Flareon wagged its tail like an overgrown puppy, nuzzling its large head against Ryuuske's chest with tiny, adorable whimpers.
Then, in a flash, Flareon shrank back into Eevee, leaping nimbly onto Ryuuske's shoulder and perching there.
"Eevee, Eevee~~"
Both Gabite and Dragonair had grown too large to remain outside their Poké Balls regularly, but at last, Ryuuske had found a Pokémon he could pamper daily—one that would never outgrow his lap.
"Erika, what brings you here? Unless my count is off, we still have half a month until our agreed match."
Scratching Eevee under the chin, Ryuuske eyed her curiously.
Erika shook her head gently, hands folded demurely in front of her like a proper Yamato Nadeshiko. "...My deepest apologies, but this humble girl may no longer honor our agreement."
"Why?"
"Because I've realized my current strength remains insufficient to face the coming crisis. I, too, require specialized training. Surely Ryuu Kun understands that sparring with a partner yields far greater efficiency than training alone."
"So?"
"So this unworthy girl has come uninvited, hoping to join you. As for our Gym battle... given the circumstances, it's become trivial. Should Ryuu Kun desire it, I shall present the Rainbow Badge to you at once."
Ryuuske couldn't help but notice Erika's speech had grown even more formal—and somehow, she seemed far more familiar than two weeks ago?
"I don't mind, but you're a Gym Leader. Is it really okay to abandon your duties?"
"It's fine. I'll return weekly to handle challengers."
Erika's nonchalant reply made it clear how little importance she placed on official matches—a stark contrast to the earnest trainers striving for those very badges.
"Suit yourself. It's not like I can stop you." Ryuuske shrugged. "Our training methods might differ significantly, though. Let's take some time to adjust and find an approach that works for both of us."
Having a beauty like Erika as a sparring partner wasn't something he'd refuse.
"May I ask... how old is Ryuu Kun?"
Erika's sudden question caught him off guard.
"Huh? Why ask that..."
Though puzzled, Ryuuske saw no harm in answering. "...Almost sixteen, I guess."
Admitting this brought a twinge of awkwardness. Mentally, he was closer to twenty-four, but his physical age barely qualified him as a high schooler.
"No wonder Ryuu Kun fell for Sabrina's deception. Sixteen is precisely the age when boys become curious and wistful about girls."
Erika sighed as if she'd uncovered some profound truth.
Ryuuske's mind flooded with question marks. Curious and wistful about girls? Please—while he'd been a homebody in his past life, he was far from some inexperienced otaku. He'd held a steady job, dated two girlfriends, and thoroughly explored the wonders of the female form. He was anything but a blushing virgin!
Even if he'd lacked real-world experience, his theoretical knowledge alone could put most men to shame. While he might not recognize names like Aino Kishi or Eri Misaki, he'd certainly studied under the tutelage of angels like Moe Amatsuka and renowned scholars like Yua Mikami!
"Erika, what's really going on here? Can you just speak plainly?"
Ryuuske couldn't follow her logic at all.
"Balancing work and rest is crucial. Ryuu Kun hasn't taken a break in two weeks. This unworthy girl believes we should pause to understand each other better—it will improve our synergy during training."
"...Moreover, compared to Pokémon training, Ryuu Kun needs to learn how to interact with girls properly. That way, you won't be deceived by Sabrina again."
No, I'm pretty sure my expertise surpasses yours. And I highly doubt we need any 'mutual understanding'!
Ryuuske barely suppressed the urge to facepalm.
"To help Ryuu Kun learn proper conduct with women, this unworthy girl has decided we should attempt dating. Only through firsthand experience can you grow accustomed to feminine company."
Though Erika's tone remained serene, the tips of her ears burned scarlet beneath her short hair. Even she marveled at her own audacity—such shameless words would've been unthinkable weeks ago.
Dating operation? Ryuuske nearly laughed aloud. Since when does a seasoned veteran like me need lessons in romance?
As he studied Erika's determined expression, one thought crystallized:
This brilliant woman has gravely miscalculated. She actually thinks I'm some innocent teenager.
Her proposition couldn't have been more blatant.
And yet—Ryuuske smirked—she had no idea what she was getting into.
To be continued…
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