Erina frowned as she observed Hayashi and Gengar slumped together like they'd just run a full marathon. "Is this so-called Mega Evolution really so taxing? You didn't even battle—just attempted the transformation—and you're already this worn out?"
What would happen if they actually fought in this state?
"I think it's a matter of familiarity," Hayashi muttered, rubbing his face to alleviate the overwhelming fatigue. "Both Gengar and I are experiencing Mega Evolution for the first time. This power is too unfamiliar, so we couldn't control it properly and wasted a lot of energy."
Hisako thought for a moment before nodding. "That makes sense. Just now, after you two evolved, there was a faint glow around you the whole time. So that was energy leakage?"
"Ugh—"
Hayashi suddenly groaned before flopping onto his back. "So that means Gengar and I will have to keep triggering Mega Evolution repeatedly to get used to this power? No way—"
If just one attempt left them this drained, how were they supposed to endure doing this daily?
Even seven times a night would be impossible!
"Geng-geng!" Gengar scratched her hand sheepishly before clenching her fist and speaking determinedly to Hayashi. "Geng-geng-geng!"
"What kind of talk is that?" Hayashi frowned at her. "If it's my first time, isn't it yours too? Don't shoulder all the blame yourself! I'm just a rookie Trainer fresh out of the gate—if we're talking about being inexperienced, I'm way worse than you!"
Gengar had just told Hayashi that the poor control was entirely because it was her first Mega Evolution, urging him not to lose heart and promising she'd train hard.
But hearing that made Hayashi uncomfortable.
"Listen, Gengar."
Hayashi leaned in close, squeezing her plump body (face?) between his hands as he spoke earnestly. "In our partnership, if anything, I'm the one who doesn't deserve you! So don't sell yourself short, got it?"
By game standards, Gastly evolves into Haunter at Lv. 25, then into Gengar via trade. Hayashi's Gengar was already at an astonishing Lv. 55—even in the wild, she'd be a regional powerhouse. In comparison, Hayashi, who had just become a Pokémon Trainer, truly wasn't worthy of her.
"G-Geng-geng—"
Tears welled up in Gengar's red eyes before spilling over in large drops as she gazed at Hayashi, deeply moved.
"Don't be so mushy!" Hayashi rubbed his arms, feeling a bit awkward as he said, "Ahem, anyway, I'm not the kind of person who shirks responsibility! So it's not just you working hard—we're in this together, got it?"
"Gengaa!"
Gengar nodded vigorously, baring her teeth in a grin at Hayashi before patting her chest—Don't worry! I'll become super strong!
"Eve eve!"
At that moment, Eevee nearby let out a dissatisfied cry—Don't forget about me! I'm part of the team too!
"Hahaha, of course not! How could we forget Eevee?" Hayashi stretched out his arms and pulled Eevee into a hug, laughing heartily. "Little Eevee needs to work hard too!"
"Eve!"
Eevee puffed out her chest proudly, wagging her tail spiritedly. "Eve eve!"
Leave it to me! I'll become the cutest Eevee in the world!
Beside them, Erina chuckled softly and shook her head. She gently picked up Pikachu and whispered, "Pikachu, my safety is in your hands too—"
"Pika pika!"
Pikachu patted her chest with an adorable smile, as if to say: Don't worry! I'll shock anyone who dares to bully you! Hmph!
Meanwhile, Hisako looked down at the innocent Florges and reassured her, "Florges, it's okay! I'll catch stronger Pokémon to protect us!"
"Yaa—"
Florges' eyes curved into crescents as she swayed gently—Even if I'm not the strongest, I'll still do my best to help my trainer!
...
...
Because of their Mega Evolution training, Hayashi and Gengar were so exhausted that they fell asleep by 8 p.m. and didn't wake up until 7 a.m. the next morning.
"Man, this is brutal—"
Hayashi crouched by the river, wiping his face with a towel, and said to Gengar beside him, "We didn't even get to play any games! This won't do. We've gotta master Mega Evolution ASAP!"
"Gengaa!"
Gengar nodded firmly. She had originally planned to continue their Resident Evil playthrough from last night—no, the night before—but she and Hayashi had passed out from sheer exhaustion.
This won't do! We could've played for three more hours! What a waste! Gengar's heart ached so much her eyes turned red.
Though, to be fair, her eyes were already red.
Pfft—Gengar chuckled at her own lame joke, tilting her head with a smug, lone-wolf smile. A Pokémon who tells such terrible puns? Probably the only one in the whole world.
Truly, loneliness is my destiny. Rawr!
"Alright, time for breakfast—"
Hayashi stood up, and he and Gengar both clasped their hands behind their backs like old men out for a stroll, heading to the dining table. Before even sitting down, Hayashi started laying on the praise: "Ayy! Erina's cooking is just the best! I could smell breakfast all the way from the river—"
Erina glanced at him and said, "I haven't even started cooking yet."
"?"
Hayashi froze, then rubbed his chin and muttered, "How did I mess up even the flattery? Is Erina messing with me?"
"Can't you have a little conscience?" Erina twitched her lips and said, "It's only because I saw how exhausted you were yesterday and worried that breakfast would get cold if you woke up too late, so I specifically waited for you to get up before making it!"
"Ohhhh!"
Hayashi let out an exaggerated exclamation. He hugged the Gengar beside him, both of them looking at Erina with teary eyes as they said, "Th-this is so, so touching! Erina-chan actually cares about me this much! Waaah, I want to be Erina's dog!"
"Gheehee!"
Gengar chimed in, declaring that he'd be her second dog then!
"Now that you've gotten familiar, you've completely abandoned any sense of dignity, haven't you?" Erina covered her forehead and said, "At least pay some attention! Hisako is still here, you know!"
"Exactly!"
Hisako said indignantly, "I'm right here! If anyone's going to be the young lady's dog, it should be me first!"
'That's not what I meant!'
Erina sat slumped in her chair, feeling utterly drained. The world wasn't worth it.
...
...
After enjoying a delicious breakfast (tomato and egg noodles), Hayashi and his group set off once again on their journey to Pewter City.
"Honestly, I can't help but feel..." Hisako furrowed her brows, speaking with some reluctance, "Isn't this kind of travel a bit of a waste of time? We've spent almost the entire day just walking."
Erina and Hayashi stopped in their tracks, exchanging a glance. Erina spoke first, "At first, I didn't think much of it, but now that Hisako mentions it, I feel the same way—what's the point of this journey?"
"Uh, well..." Hayashi crossed his arms, looking troubled. "I never really thought about it. I just did it because that's how the protagonists in the anime always traveled."
"You..." Erina sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead. "Then why did the original protagonist travel in the first place?"
"To become a Pokémon Master!" Hayashi blurted out Ash's ideal without hesitation. "So the main goal of the original protagonist's journey was to collect Gym Badges and compete in the League, while the side objectives were encountering Pokémon and battling trainers along the way to grow stronger."
"I see—" Hisako nodded. "Then, Mr. Hayashi—"
"Do you plan to collect Gym Badges and compete in the League?"
"No—"
His goal in this world was just to take a few cute Pokémon with him. He had no intention of becoming a Pokémon Master.
"Do you plan to encounter various Pokémon like the original protagonist?"
"No—"
He already had a complete Pokédex. If he was interested in any Pokémon, he could just go straight to their habitat.
"Do you plan to have thrilling Pokémon battles with trainers you meet along the way?"
"No—"
If he wasn't even planning to compete in the League, why bother battling random trainers?
"So..."
Hisako spread her hands. "You're not collecting badges, not encountering Pokémon, and not battling anyone—then what's the point of this journey?"
"Uh... sightseeing?"
"Then why not just go straight to the tourist spots?" Erina retorted. "I thought there was some profound meaning behind this kind of travel, but you're telling me it's completely pointless?!"
"Guh—" Hayashi let out a pitiful groan, his expression desolate. "Just kill me already!"
"Stop fooling around—" Erina crossed her arms, visibly displeased. "So we've just been wasting several days on the road for nothing?"
"That's not entirely accurate, is it?" Hayashi tilted his head, pointing first at the Pikachu perched on Erina's shoulder, then at his own shadow. "If we hadn't embarked on this journey, you probably wouldn't have met this Pikachu, and I wouldn't have encountered this Gengar, right?"
Erina blinked in surprise. She glanced sideways at the Pikachu on her shoulder and murmured, "That... does make some sense?"
'Young mistress, your convictions are far too easily shaken!' Hisako watched as her lady wavered after just a few words, covering her face in exasperation. "So, we're continuing our journey like this, then?"
She decided to stop caring. After all, she was just a secretary with no say in the matter...
How frustrating!
(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
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