For most Pokémon, hot springs are an incredibly comfortable experience—but this absolutely doesn't apply to Rock, Ground, or Ice-type Pokémon.
The first two types naturally dislike water, preferring to cover themselves with heated sand near the springs if they must partake. As for the latter...
Seriously, making an Ice Vulpix soak in a hot spring? What kind of torture is this? Try it and I'll melt before your eyes.
"Calm down—" Hayashi walked to the entrance and crouched behind Klahh, who was frantically scratching at the door to escape this hell. He placed a hand on her head and said, "Klahh, you wouldn't want Pinocchio to see you like this and laugh at you, would you?"
"!"
The panicked Klahh instantly forced herself to calm down. She turned to Hayashi and said with perfect grace, "Thank you for the reminder. I nearly forgot to maintain my elegance—"
So you're a Tohsaka Klahh? Was getting scalded by the hot spring water part of your family's trademark blunders too?
"Wait here for a bit—" Hayashi patted Klahh's head. "I'll prepare something so you can enjoy the hot spring too."
"That's unnecessary—" Klahh hastily shook her head. "It's too much trouble!"
Hayashi didn't respond, simply waving as he left the hot spring area.
Watching his retreating figure, Klahh choked up. "He's so kind, really—I could just cry—"
...
...
Hayashi's solution was brilliantly simple—if Klahh couldn't handle the hot spring's temperature, why not prepare a separate "low-temperature spring" just for her?
Erina glanced at Klahh, who was now floating contentedly in a wooden tub on the water's surface, and said to Hayashi, "I can't believe you thought of this—"
Using a separate tub? That's so like you!
"Heh, isn't it great?" Now fully accustomed to the heat, Hayashi submerged himself deeper into the water with a grin. "Now Klahh can enjoy soaking with everyone too—well, sort of, haha!"
Erina smiled faintly and nodded. Klahh was her Pokémon, and seeing Hayashi treat it so gently made her eyes curve into crescents with happiness. Hisako beside them couldn't help but let out a satisfied burp at the sight.
"Speaking of which, is this hot spring really as miraculous as advertised?" Erina turned her gaze to a wooden plaque hanging on the wall, reading aloud: "'A hot spring blessed by Entei, with effects of improving constitution, curing diseases, and prolonging life...'"
"Obviously fake." Hayashi didn't even bother turning his head to look. He curled his lips and said, "Entei usually roams around Kanto and Johto regions. Forget whether it would even bless hot springs—why would it skip all those springs in Kanto and Johto to specifically bless one in Hoenn?"
"You might as well just claim 'this spring emerged when Groudon and Kyogre's epic battle split the earth with a single Precipice Blades.' That would make a better selling point!"
Sure, it can't fly, but it's a Legendary Pokémon!
And Entei? Just a big Growlithe.
Hearing Hayashi's words, Erina disappointedly withdrew her gaze and muttered, "I was really hoping to soak in an Entei-blessed hot spring. What a letdown—"
Hayashi scratched his head. "Entei and hot springs? Hmm, I think there was an episode about that in the anime. Let me check when we get back."
He did vaguely remember such an episode, but couldn't recall which one exactly—understandable, since Entei's appearance would have been in the original series, which was ages ago.
Erina quickly waved her hands. "Oh no, that would be too much trouble for you."
"What trouble?" Hayashi waved dismissively. "If you're interested, I'll find it for you."
"Exactly!" Hisako chimed in cheerfully. "This just shows how much Mr. Hayashi cares for you, Erina!"
Care, caring for her!
Blushing, Erina immediately submerged her mouth in the hot spring, blowing bubbles with a "blub-blub" sound. She glanced at Hayashi with sweet, bashful eyes and whispered, "Then... thank you in advance—"
"Ahem, thank me... well, it is quite an effort!" Hayashi coughed exaggeratedly, his eyes darting around. "So, I wonder if there might be some... reward?"
"W-what kind of reward do you want?"
The mention of rewards immediately made Erina think of those shoujo manga plots—did anyone really believe all shoujo manga were just about pure, aesthetic romance? Some were downright filthy!
'C-could it be...?' Erina's mind had already conjured up a 23-page scenario. Covering her burning cheeks with her hands, she swayed dizzily. "Ah-ha~ No way, absolutely no way!"
It sounded less like refusal and more like anticipation! Who knew Erina could be like this?
'Erina, don't make that half-rejecting, half-inviting expression—' Hayashi pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed heavily. "Erina, no matter what, you're only fifteen! Fifteen! Maybe it's normal in Japan to go after fifteen-year-olds, but where I'm from? That'll get you a nice pair of bracelets and a cozy tea session with the authorities!"
Hisako stole a glance at the petrified Erina, then whispered to Hayashi, "Mr. Hayashi, just saying—is there a possibility that since we're in the Pokémon world now, neither Japanese nor Chinese laws can touch us?"
Erina gave an almost imperceptible nod: 'Mhm, exactly!'
Hayashi raised his hands in surrender and said, "Sorry, the education I've received over the years prevents me from laying a hand on an underage girl—even if I really want to do that kind of thing, it's a no-go! At the very least, we have to wait until Erina's eighteenth birthday."
To say Hayashi didn't want to do ecchi stuff with Erina? Impossible! After all, Hayashi was a 23-year-old single guy who had been perpetually single since birth. While he wasn't as hormone-driven as a teenage boy with his head full of dirty thoughts, he had still "recharged his holy sword" hundreds of times during those quiet, lonely nights.
But no! Absolutely not!
Upon hearing Hayashi's words, Erina, flushed with anger, kicked at him with her fair, delicate foot and snapped, "Oh, so you're just so virtuous, huh?"
Hayashi twisted his waist to dodge the direct attack, then slapped the water's surface with his right hand, sending a splash right at Erina's face. With a mischievous grin, he said, "Kidding—I'm amazing, okay? Don't I deserve a reward for that?"
"Ugh—"
Erina stood frozen in place, expressionless, as water droplets slid down her cheeks. The bangs clinging to her face gave her a slightly eerie aura.
"Oh? And what kind of reward do you want?"
"How about a lap pillow?"
"You splash me and then ask for a lap pillow!?"
Like an enraged bear-warrior who would never submit, Erina retaliated with a well-prepared wave of water, roaring, "Take this—Water Release: Great Waterfall Jutsu!"
Meanwhile, Hisako silently nibbled on some lemon-flavored dog food, then pulled Sabrina to the other side of the hot spring, watching Hayashi and Erina with the eyes of an Overwatch spectator.
"You two, go ahead and be as lovey-dovey as you want—" Hisako wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, feeling like she had it harder than Genji Hikaru's support. "I've already taken the third wheel away."
Sabrina pointed at herself. Me? Love, death, and the third wheel??
...
...
"U-um—" Seeing that Hayashi showed no signs of letting go anytime soon, Erina, her face burning red, stretched out her other foot as well, then feigned an air of "nothing happened" and asked, "So, what are your plans next?"
"What's next?" Hayashi cradled Erina in his arms, affectionately combing through her hair as he asked, "Do you mean which city we're visiting next, or our plans after the Pokémon world?"
"O-Of course, which city we're visiting next!" Erina stammered, curling her toes shyly as she felt the gentle touch on her head. "W-We're staying in this world for half a year, right?"
"Of course. Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to take those little guys back with us—" Hayashi marveled at the silky smoothness of her hair slipping through his fingers, inwardly sighing at how unrealistically perfect anime girls were. Hair like this would make every long-haired girl in the real world green with envy. "As for what's next… how about we head to Cerulean City?"
Erina, feigning composure, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and asked, "Are there any notable attractions in Cerulean City?"
This question alone betrayed her lack of calm! After all, before their trip, she and Hisako had already planned everything out, researching every city's landmarks—yet here she was, asking Hayashi?
Hayashi blinked, then flashed her a dashing thumbs-up. "Cerulean Gym's water ballet is world-famous! It'd be a shame to miss it!"
"…?"
A question mark popped up over Erina's head. She kicked him lightly with her foot, glaring. "Are you even human? Your actual girlfriend is sitting right in front of you, letting you do ecchi things with her, and you're talking about watching water ballet!?"
"Ahem! I just wanted to appreciate it from an artistic perspective!"
"No!"
"Well, if Erina-chan doesn't want to, then we don't have to go. But—" Hayashi slid closer along her legs, wrapping an arm around her waist and whispering in her ear, "Little Erina has to compensate me instead—"
"Guh!"
At that moment, it felt like the volcano of embarrassment in Erina's mind erupted all at once. With a pitiful whimper, she buried her face in her hands, turning into a complete ostrich.
"No good?" Hayashi tightened his grip around Erina's waist, pressing her against his chest as he murmured coaxingly, "Erina-chan, please~?"
Hayashi used Puppy Eyes on Erina! It's super effective! A critical hit!
Erina is unable to battle.
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