Pokémon: Trainers Returning from Monster Hunter

"Huh? Ralts has evolved."

As soon as they met, Zhu Lan offered her congratulations.

"It's been cultivated very well."

"Chiru".

Kirullian blushed slightly, spun around once, and then bowed slightly.

Even though it was a little shy, it still showed the respect it deserved to be treated by the bamboo orchid.

Back when I was at the Yamanashi Research Institute, I had battled against their Lucario and learned a lot of combat experience.

"Thanks to you, otherwise I wouldn't have met it."

Oreki said with a smile.

The recognition of a champion is not something anyone can obtain.

"New Leaf Cat, you should also do your best!"

Zhu Lan reached out and scratched Xin Ye Miao's fluffy neck.

"Meow~"

Okay, meow~

New Leaf Cat let out a contented hum.

"Who is that, to be so close to Zhu Lan?"

"I don't know, but he looks quite handsome."

"Why is there a young girl behind him? Could it be...?"

Shh! Look over here.

As Zhu Lan and Zhe Mu exchanged pleasantries, they seemed poised to become the center of attention.

"Let's go out first."

Zhu Lan said.

If you don't leave now, you'll be on the front page tomorrow.

She didn't care, she just didn't want to have a bad influence on Oreki.

After all, the other person is a low-key person and probably doesn't like to show their face in public.

Then--

As she turned around, her eyes swept over him out of the corner of her eye.

Oreki pinpointed a camera and flashed his signature smile.

"..."

……

Baidai City is a large city located at the northwest foot of Mount Tenkan.

Thanks to the fact that the Eternal City Gym is a Grass-type Gym, the entire Eternal City is lush and green.

In late April, the flowers that had already faded in Hoenn were still blooming vigorously here.

It presents a scene of "full vitality and flourishing of all things".

"Cattleya, it's been a long time."

Seeing that the girl with the same long golden hair as her kept her head down and remained silent, Zhu Lan had no choice but to greet her first.

"Hmm... Zhulan, it's been a long time."

Cattleya followed behind the two and replied quietly.

Upon seeing this, Zhu Lan frowned slightly.

What's going on? When I saw them before, they were quite lively and always held my hand, wanting me to go out and play.

Why are you acting so ladylike today?

Soon, she seemed to have thought of something.

She turned to look at the boy next to her.

Oreki noticed Ran's gaze but did not respond.

What can I say?

You can't exactly say that I beat up your little fangirl several times and threatened to send her photos to you in exchange for her behaving herself.

It seemed like they were trying to verify something, or perhaps they were looking for a topic to discuss.

After a brief silence, Zhu Lan looked straight ahead and suddenly asked, "Cattleya, is there any progress in controlling your superpowers?"

hum-

As soon as he finished speaking, a gust of wind rose up behind him.

But strangely, the gust of wind disappeared without a trace after Zhu Lan subconsciously turned around.

Looking at the boy next to her, she noticed that he had changed his walking posture at some point—his hands were behind his back, and his right fist was clenched tightly.

Kirlia on the right and Newleaf Meow, who had been looking around, also changed their demeanor.

It felt like...like going to fight?!

"Ah...yes! There's been progress!!"

Cattleya's eyes darted around, avoiding eye contact with Zhulan.

Zhu Lan felt something was off, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it, so she just nodded and said, "It's fine, then keep up the good work."

"Um!"

Cattleya finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness we managed to control it.

Otherwise, if I were to get beaten up in front of Zhu Lan, I would lose all face for the rest of my life!

This is the only one!

This is the only thing that absolutely is not allowed!!

Soon, the three of them arrived at the east side of the city and passed by a huge Pokémon sculpture.

Ok?

Palukia?

Wait, Dialga?

Oreki glanced at it a couple more times.

"You know him?" Zhu Lan's eyes lit up slightly.

"Are those two Pokémon?"

The path of the broken tree is uncertain.

"So you do know him!"

Zhu Lan immediately became interested.

"Oreki-sensei, could you tell us about it?"

Seeing her idol make that expression, Cattleya, a devoted fan, was immediately displeased.

Pshaw, it's just a broken sculpture, what's the big deal?

As it turned out, Oreki's next sentence also caught her attention.

"You probably know them too, right? Dialga, who controls time, and Palkia, who distorts space, are two Pokémon from the Sinnoh legend. This sculpture looks like it was carved from half of each of their features."

"Another legendary Pokémon??"

Cattleya gasped softly.

"again?"

Bamboo orchids caught this word.

"Ah! That's how it is."

Gradually regaining her composure, Cattleya seized the rare opportunity and began to recount her and Oreki's experiences in Fuma Town.

"call--"

After listening, Zhu Lan took a while to calm down before sighing and saying something that she herself felt was unnecessary.

"Are you alright?"

"Huh?" Cattleya pointed excitedly to herself. "Me? No, not at all!"

Zhu Lan paused for a moment, then finally nodded and said nothing more.

"So, why did we come to the city gate? There aren't any cars here, are there?"

Oreki steered the conversation back on track.

He hadn't forgotten his primary purpose for coming to Sinnoh.

It's almost 1 a.m. Although I ate a deluxe airplane meal and don't need to eat lunch, if I don't get on the bus to Shenhe Town soon, I'm afraid I'll really be late.

"car?"

Zhu Lan returned to her usual self, a smile playing on her lips.

"When we parted last time, I said you'd definitely have a Pokémon that could cross the ocean. How about you give it a try?"

As he spoke, a flash of red light appeared, and Garchomp appeared beside the three of them.

"roar--"

It means that this place is already in the suburbs, otherwise, given Garchomp's power, it would probably have caused quite a stir.

"OK."

Without hesitation, he broke off a piece of wood and answered.

There are many dragon riders in the New World, but I haven't ridden any in the Pokémon world yet.

I don't know what happened.

...

...

air.

On the back of Garchomp.

"Meow~~ Ha~~"

Shin-chan, nestled in Oreki's arms, opened its mouth wide, filling it with air, yet remained undeterred.

On its first unprotected ascent into the sky, it showed no fear of the oncoming gale; on the contrary, it seemed to have a playful heart.

"Airflow Meowth, this is what the trainer meant by airflow."

"Eat more, maybe I can master the secrets of airflow, meow."

Kirullian, on the other hand, seemed much more obedient.

Sitting with his back to Oreki, near Garchomp's tail, he stood steadily.

If you look closely, you can see that its surroundings, including the Garchomp's tail, are enveloped in a purple air membrane.

It is using this method to hone its superpowers.

"I didn't expect you to have such a talent for riding Pokémon."

Beside her, Cynthia, sitting on Tokiss, joked.

"roar!"

Before Oreki could speak, Garchomp emphasized first.

It was clearly me who flew more steadily, okay?

Although Oreki couldn't understand, he understood from the other person's disdainful and contemptuous look.

Hey.

Looks like I didn't swim enough when I was a kid.

Oreki smiled, and with one hand holding onto Garchomp's outstretched dorsal fin, he slowly stood up.

"Come on, let me see your strength."

"No……"

Before Cynthia could finish speaking, Garchomp vanished from her side with a flick of its body.

It left behind sonic booms.

And far away—

"Meow meow!!"

Kill the cat!! Help!!

"Hurry up and catch up, Tokiss."

"Kiss~"

"Hello!!"

In the blink of an eye, the two of them disappeared into the horizon.

Caldaria, who was rushing along on Metagross, was immediately dumbfounded.

The speed of a champion Pokémon is far superior to that of Metagross, which is not good at flying.

"How could you do this?! I've never been to Shenhe Town!!"

……