Pokémon: Did you play Pokémon today?

Chapter 380 "Waaaaah, my Kiju-chan has been kidnapped..." (Thanks to the generous donor, Reincarnation!)

At the end of the Bell Sound Path stands a massive tower.

Bell Tower.

Upon arriving at the foot of the Bell Tower, an elderly man in a monk's robe stands at the entrance, smiling and welcoming each visitor.

Monk: Welcome to the Bell Tower, young trainer.

"Monk: This was once the sacred tower where the Ho-Oh resided, and it is one of the most sacred places in the Johto region."

"The monk: Legend has it that when a trainer with a deep bond with Pokémon ascends to the top of the tower with a special item, Ho-Oh will descend once more to respond to that sincere prayer."

"A specific item?"

Qi Shu's eyes lit up; he became interested.

"What is it? Where can I get it?"

The monk smiled and shook his head, offering no reply, but simply gazing at her silently.

"Is that even a question? It's definitely the Rainbow Feather!"

"Yes, yes, Ho-Oh's token is the Rainbow Feather, anyway, that's what the handsome researcher said before."

"But the Rainbow Feather is in the Burnt Tower side quest; you have to defeat the Masked Man to get it."

"Kiki-chan can't possibly beat that perverted masked man now—"

"Why not use the silver feather? They're all feathers anyway, so we can just make do."

"Silver Feather belongs to Lugia! You're a fake fan!"

"Then what happened? We came all this way for nothing! We spent all that trouble only to not be able to get in?"

Qi Shu's face fell instantly as he watched the heated discussion in the live chat.

"Rainbow Feathers—we've come full circle again—"

She slumped helplessly on the table, radiating an aura of utter despair.

"But I can't beat that masked man at all! His messenger bird is just too overpowered!"

She remembered the masked man in the charred tower who had rubbed her against the ground, and she felt terrible.

Frustrated, I controlled the little strange tree to circle around the tower. Apart from admiring the ancient murals and the tower's architectural structure, I didn't trigger any special events.

"Never mind—let's continue with the main storyline. I'll come back and check again when I have the Rainbow Feather."

After traversing fields and forests, defeating several trainers who came to challenge you, and crossing Route 39, a bustling port city finally appeared at the edge of the screen.

"Asakon City"

"A port city where the sound of waves echoes"

The city's description appears, and the scene shows a bustling port, rows of cranes, and ships faintly visible on the distant sea.

The waves gently lapped against the embankment, and gulls circled and cried in the sky.

"Asari City—is the next gym here?"

Qi Shu looked at the gradually clearer outline of the city on the screen and said excitedly.

However, at that moment, the comments section suddenly started flooding with messages.

"Kiki-chan! Give us a call! We need to find some outside help!"

"Yes, yes, yes! Call Teacher Salty Fish! Ask him to mentor you!"

"Let Teacher Salty Fish help you! He definitely knows how to get past the Burnt Tower!"

"You all saw the press conference yesterday, right? Dr. Shirafusa was there! Kishu, aren't you a big fan of handsome researchers? Quickly ask Professor Salty Fish about his relationship with Dr. Shirafusa!"

"Actually, I've always suspected that Professor Salty Fish and Dr. White Boat are the same person —"

"The one before that, +1."

"+2"

"+10086"

"Now that you mention it—it actually seems possible? Mr. Salty's understanding of Pokémon is too profound, unlike that of an ordinary player."

As Qi Shu watched the rapidly scrolling barrage of comments, his expression gradually became subtle.

"Should I call... call Teacher Salty?"

She instinctively wanted to refuse, but her hand involuntarily reached for the phone on the table.

"That's not a good idea—he's so busy, and besides—"

Moreover, she watched yesterday's press conference.

I not only watched it, but I watched it several times.

That figure standing beside the champion of Bamboo Orchid, calmly answering all questions.

The figure who stepped forward at the crucial moment and saved the entire Fenglai City.

The figure who finally smiled and admitted that he was the "handsome researcher".

That game character she had liked for so long.

In that case, all my previous performances during the live stream—

Isn't that the same as publicly "confessing" your feelings to him?

At the thought of this, Qi Shu's face flushed red, and his eyes began to dart around, completely unable to look at the camera.

He was so amazing, so dazzling, and a great hero who saved the entire city.

And what about yourself?

She's just an ordinary streamer who's still struggling to fight back because she can't beat the masked man.

"I----"

Qishu opened his mouth, but suddenly didn't know what to say.

"Is it appropriate for me to call him?"

"What do you mean it's inappropriate? He dares to say it's inappropriate! Kiju-chan, hit him, hit him!"

"Aren't you friends? Are you scared?"

"I want to see Kisaki-chan and Shio-sensei interact! Please!"

"Come on, I'll bet you a tree fruit that Professor Salty Fish definitely knows Dr. Shiraishu!"

"I bet two stars that Professor Salty Fish is Dr. Shiraishu himself!"

"If it's true, then Qishu's previous infatuation with the handsome researcher—wasn't that practically confessing to the person in question right in front of him?"

"Ugh, stop talking! I'm getting so embarrassed!"

Qi Shu bit her lower lip, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.

It's perfectly fine to ask him to play games privately, since we're separated by a screen and neither of us can see the other.

But this is being broadcast live now.

If I hit him, what should I say?

Should I ask him to do a live stream with me? Or should I just ask him to help me beat up the masked man?

And what if he's really busy? What if he doesn't want to be bothered? What if he finds me annoying? What if—

"Kiki-chan, the way you hesitate is like a girl in love (doge)."

"Hey you in front, if you can talk, say more!"

"Ahhh, that expression! That hesitation! I'm totally shipping them!"

"Go ahead and hit me! The worst that can happen is rejection, it's not like I'll lose anything!"

"Exactly, it's not like I haven't been rejected before (crossed out)."

"That's enough, what's wrong with a girl being a little nervous?"

Qi Shu's cheeks flushed as he read the teasing comments in the live chat.

"What nonsense are you talking about! What love or anything like that! I just—"

Her voice grew softer and softer.

"I'm just a little nervous."

Take a deep breath.

Take another deep breath.

I finally made up my mind.

Pick up your phone and find the contact whose name is "Salted Fish Sauce (Current progress 60%)".

My finger hovers over the dial button.

Take another deep breath.

Press.

Beep————·————Beep————

"Feed? Qishu-chan?"

A familiar voice came from the other end of the phone, with a slightly lazy laugh.

"You called so suddenly, is it because you miss me? —"

"Eeya—!!!"

Qishu let out a short scream, almost jumping off his gaming chair.

Bai Zhou's first words were to give her a cup of red wine.

Her face turned as red as a ripe tomato, and she frantically tried to explain incoherently.

"Salty, salted fish sauce! What are you talking about?! I...I didn't! I'm live-streaming right now, oops!"

"Oh, you're live streaming? Sorry, sorry."

Bai Zhou's tone showed no embarrassment whatsoever; on the contrary, he appeared even more open and generous.

After all, they've always had this casual attitude when playing games in private, so they're used to it.

I just didn't expect that Qishu would be live streaming today, and that he would be on speakerphone.

But what needs to be explained should still be explained clearly.

He couldn't let people misunderstand him as harassing the young girl, could he?

"I mean, you finally remembered to ask me to play games?"

Bai Zhou's voice carried a hint of melancholy.

"You haven't contacted me for a while. I thought you'd found new gaming partners and forgotten about me."

The chat room was clearly fed up with the situation.

"Did you miss me??? What did I just hear? Is this something I can hear? Is this how you guys usually chat?"

"I'm so excited! I'm so excited! I'm so excited! Family! I'm totally shipping them! I'm really totally shipping them! Kisaki-chan's reaction! That redness!"

This is chaos! Ahhh, I'm dead!

"Waaaaah, my Kiju-chan has been kidnapped—"

"I'm so jealous! I'm so jealous! It's outrageous! Why does Teacher Salty get to enjoy this kind of treatment?!"

"So, Mr. Salty Fish, when are you going to start broadcasting again?! It's been so long since you've started broadcasting, don't you have any morals as a producer?!"

"Yes, yes, yes! Let him start broadcasting! Qishu-chan, quickly scold him for us!"

Qishu's face turned even redder as he looked at the accusations in the comments; he was practically steaming with rage.

"You...you guys, don't talk nonsense! We're just ordinary friends! Ordinary friends!"

"An explanation is just a cover-up!"

"The first thing a casual friend asks me is, 'Did you miss me?'"

Why are you blushing when we're just friends?

"Ugh, I'm not explaining anymore!"

Qi Shu gave up struggling and took several deep breaths before he could barely calm down.

Then she quickly changed the subject, saying into the phone, "Salted Fish Sauce, the comments are saying you haven't streamed in ages, asking if you even remember you're a game developer. Don't you have any professional ethics as a developer?!"

17

"They also said that if you don't start broadcasting soon, they will protest on the Pokémon Company's official website."

A soft laugh came from the other end of the phone.

"Morality? What's that? Can you eat it?"

Bai Zhou spoke with righteous indignation.

"I've been working overtime to create new content, okay? Every map and every storyline you play is the result of my hard work, even if it means I go bald!"

"Honestly, tell me, wasn't the 'Burnt Tower' storyline fun? Wasn't the masked man a brilliant design?"

He paused, his tone softening and becoming somewhat reassuring.

"However—I have been quite busy lately. I'll start broadcasting once I'm done with this busy period, and I'll show you some fun stuff then."

"???"

"Another empty promise! I've already tried to earn that promise before!"

"I don't believe you! Unless you show your face and broadcast it right now!"

"You're so greedy! You want both wishes fulfilled at once, huh?!"

"Alright, alright, let's ask him something serious: does he even know Dr. Shirafusa?"

Qi Shu looked at the comments and hesitated for a moment.

She knew the answer, because Bai Zhou had never hidden it from her.

"That—salted fish sauce."

Qi Shu spoke cautiously, his voice tinged with a hint of probing.

"The comments section wants to ask—do you know—that—Dr. Shirafusa?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by a soft chuckle.

"Dr. Shiraishu? The one from yesterday's press conference—of course I know him, we're quite familiar."

"!!! I knew him after all!"

"I knew it! Quick! Let him do a live stream too!"

"A collaboration! We want to see a collaboration!"

The strange tree continued to relay the message.

"The comments are saying you should bring Dr. Shirafusa into the live stream too —"

"Well—"

Bai Zhou's tone was drawn out slightly, with a distinct hint of amusement.

"He's been quite busy lately, but if there's an opportunity, we should be able to arrange something."

"Really? It feels like they're playing tai chi—"

"Explain yourself! Riddler, get out!"

"Got it, it must be the same person! Otherwise, why would they be so secretive!"

"Teacher Salty Fish, just tell me straight!"

"Never mind, it's not important anyway. What's important is the walkthrough!"

"Yes, yes, ask about the charred tower!"

Qi Shu looked at the speculations in the comments and guiltily looked away.

She knew the truth, of course, but she couldn't tell.

After all, if Professor Salty Fish were to say that he was Dr. Shiraishu, wouldn't that be tantamount to publicly executing himself?

"Ahem, um—Salted Fish Sauce, I actually wanted to ask you for a favor—"

Qi Shu quickly steered the conversation back on track, his voice tinged with embarrassment.

"Hmm? What kind of help?"

"It's that masked man from the charred tower, I can't beat him—could you—"

She spoke softer and softer.

"Could you call that number for me?"

"Shall I call it for you?"

Bai Zhou's tone was tinged with amusement.

"I refuse."

"Why?"

"The most important thing about games is the experience."

Bai Zhou's voice was gentle, yet earnest.

"If I just help you win, wouldn't you lose the sense of accomplishment from completing the game yourself? The most important thing about playing games is the moment when you overcome difficulties yourself."

19

"Even if you get the reward for having someone else do the work for you, you'll still feel empty inside, believe it or not?"

"And, that masked man design—to be honest, I put it there on purpose."

"But----"

Qi Shu pouted, looking somewhat aggrieved.

"I've been playing for days now —"

"I know."

Bai Zhou's voice softened.

"But that's precisely why I can't help you, because I can't give you that kind of happiness; only you can give it to yourself."

5

'

Qi Shu fell silent, his eyes stinging with tears.

Of course she knew he was right.

But—I'm so disappointed.

"Waaaaah, Teacher Salty Fish is so gentle!"

"That makes some sense. It's true, you only feel a sense of accomplishment when you've played it yourself."

"I understand the logic, but getting stuck is so frustrating. That masked man is such a pervert!"

"Teacher Xianyu is a good person to work with; he genuinely cares about the players."

"Don't be sad, Kisaki-chan, keep playing and you'll get through it eventually."

"Well, there's no other way. Teacher Bi Qian is the game producer; he can't exactly tell the players he supports us hiring game boosters, can he?"

However, just as Kiju Junbo hung up the phone and was feeling down, Bai Liang's voice rang out again, with a hint of mysterious laughter.

"However—"

'

Qi Shu suddenly raised his head, his heart pounding.

"But what? But what?!"

"Although I can't directly help you defeat the masked man..."

Bai Zhou deliberately dragged out his words, as if he were keeping someone in suspense.

"However, as the producer of this game, I can also tell you—"

His tone carried a clear sense of morbid humor.

"Actually, there's a hidden strategy to get the Rainbow Feather without having to confront the Masked Man head-on."

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