"Hiding in a trash can isn't good, you know."
Rick gently lifted Charmander out of the trash can. It simply dangled its limbs, the flame on its tail swaying slightly.
As Rick carried it back upstairs, a voice called out from outside the window:
"Rick! Time to eat!"
Across the street on the first floor of another house, a girl in an apron with her hair tied in a ponytail cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted loudly up toward Rick's window:
"Hurry uuuuup—"
"Got it, you're so loud the neighbors are gonna file a complaint," Rick said as he opened the window with one hand, still holding Charmander in the other.
"Couldn't you just text me instead?"
Standing at her window, Shiyu crossed her arms:
"That's because half the time you just disappear after replying to messages!"
"I'm coming now."
Rick, unable to argue, vaulted smoothly over the balcony.
His and Shiyu's houses were close together—so close, in fact, that the distance between their room balconies was less than a meter. Rick easily climbed over into her room and opened her door.
Downstairs, Shiyu was preparing dinner. Her long hair was tied into a ponytail, revealing her fair neck. Rowlet perched on her shoulder, its head spinning 180 degrees to look back.
"Roo?"
"Seems like you two are getting along pretty well."
Rick placed Charmander on the floor and crouched beside it.
"Hungry?"
Charmander quickly turned its head away, but the next second—its belly rumbled loudly.
"Gah!"
Charmander flailed its claws as if to insist it wasn't hungry.
Rick chuckled and gently patted its head.
At that moment, Shiyu brought over a tray of fire-type Pokémon food and set it on the table.
"Time to eat."
"Okay."
After washing up, the two of them and their two Pokémon sat down to dinner.
Rowlet was clearly starving—pecking eagerly at shiny green cubes of food. With its round body, it looked extra adorable.
Charmander, meanwhile, sat at the table, staring blankly at its own food.
Noticing this, Shiyu turned to Rick.
"Does Charmander not like it?"
Rick watched for a moment and then smiled at Rowlet:
"Since Charmander doesn't want it, why don't you help him out?"
"Roo!"
Rowlet flapped its wings happily and reached for Charmander's plate.
But before it could grab it, Charmander growled slowly, hugged the food, and started shoveling it into its mouth in big bites—clearly not planning to share.
As it ate, Charmander suddenly sensed something was off. It looked up to find Rick, Shiyu, and Rowlet all smiling at it.
"Gah..."
Embarrassed, Charmander picked up the plate and turned its back to them, eating in silence.
"He's shy," Shiyu giggled.
Rick smiled too.
"So how are you planning to train Charmander, Rick?" Shiyu asked between bites.
How to train it?
Truthfully, Rick didn't have a formal training method, but he answered anyway:
"Just regular training, I guess."
"Do your best and leave the rest to fate, Little Leaf."
Shiyu raised a finger and spoke like an old man.
But a second later, something was stuffed into her mouth.
"Mmm?"
"Just eat," Rick said with a grin as he shoved a tamagoyaki (Japanese omelette) into her mouth.
Her cheeks puffed up like a hamster as she chewed.
"Too big... mmph."
"Chew slowly."
After dinner, Shiyu started cleaning up in the open kitchen. As she washed the dishes, she asked:
"Have you decided which school entrance exam you'll take, Rick?"
Rick was wiping Charmander down with a warm towel as he answered:
"Silver Mountain High School, the Pokémon Department."
"Isn't Silver Mountain the hardest school to get into in the city?"
Shiyu blinked her jewel-like eyes.
"You're really aiming for League University, huh."
"League University is the top school in the country, and one of the best in the world."
Rick nodded.
"Silver Mountain has one direct recommendation spot for League University every year. Everyone fights tooth and nail for it, so of course it's hard to get into."
Shiyu looked concerned.
"But... what if you don't get that recommendation?"
Rick smiled, seeing her worried expression.
"Silver Mountain may not be the strongest school overall in our city, but in terms of Pokémon training, few can compare. Even without the recommendation, studying there would still be a great opportunity."
"Why did you want to become a trainer, anyway..." Shiyu muttered to herself.
Rick tilted his head in curiosity.
"What are you mumbling about?"
"N-Nothing!" she quickly waved it off.
"So when's the exam?"
"In a month."
"That soon?"
Half an hour later, Rick went home.
Shiyu, now hugging Rowlet, sat on the sofa staring blankly at the ceiling.
"Roo?"
Rowlet looked up at her, as if wondering what was wrong.
Shiyu let out a long sigh.
"I want to go to the same school as Rick... but Silver Mountain is so hard to get into."
Rowlet didn't really understand, but gently nudged her as if trying to comfort her.
"We've never been apart..."
Shiyu looked out the window at the second floor of Rick's house. The lights were still on. A shadow moved faintly inside.
Hugging her knees, she lowered her head and whispered:
"Idiot."
Meanwhile, Rick had just finished his shower when he noticed Charmander standing by the bathroom door, head tilted upward, watching him.
"What is it?"
Charmander seemed hesitant, glancing at the shower inside. After seeing Rick was alright, it turned and left.
"Worried something might happen to me in the shower, huh?"
Rick chuckled as he dried his hair.
"Guess that's how fire-types think."
After brushing his teeth, he sat down at his desk and began drafting a study plan.
With the exam just a month away, a solid plan was essential. Rick needed to study Pokémon theory and also train Charmander in combat, since practical battles were bound to be part of the test.
After compiling enough material online, Rick finally put together a decent-looking plan. A quick glance at the clock showed it was already midnight.
Time for bed.
"Back in the Pokéball, Charmander."
Rick looked at Charmander lying at his feet and held out the Pokéball.
Charmander glanced at him, clearly reluctant to go inside.
"Then sleep with me tonight."
Rick reached down to pick it up, but with a hum, Charmander turned into a red beam of light and entered the Pokéball on its own.
Huh?
No face for me at all?