Pokémon: Trainers Returning from Monster Hunter

The moment it enters your mouth, the aroma of fruit fills the air.

The sweet and spicy flavor of the lychee bursts in your mouth immediately, but this time, with the neutralizing effect of the orange, it's not as stimulating as eating it raw. Instead, it has a smooth and lingering texture.

With a little chewing, the steak melts in your mouth like jelly.

It truly melts in your mouth.

really!

High-end ingredients often require only simple cooking methods.

This combination of lychee and orange fruit would taste delicious even with a shoehorn!

More importantly, based on his years of experience tasting chef's cat food in the New World, Oreki determined that this dish, which didn't look particularly appealing, had a similar enhancing effect.

Just a simple bite relieved the fatigue from my morning exercise.

The effect is amazing!

"Meow?"

Xin Ye Miao blinked her big purple eyes, her gaze filled with anticipation and nervousness.

How is it? Is it delicious?

After all, it was the cat's first time, and it was worried about messing it up and letting down its trainer's hard work.

"Ugh!"

However, what greeted it was only a sigh from Oreki.

"Meow..."

Seeing the trainer hesitate for a long time before finally picking up his chopsticks and then looking expressionless after finishing his meal, Shin-Ye-Nyan's disappointment was palpable.

Even with the help of a trainer, it's still not enough?

"New Leaf Cat, you're utterly shameless..."

Has he completely lost his talent for cooking?

New Leaf Cat lowered its fluffy tail.

"...It does have its flaws!"

Oreki said slowly as he enjoyed his meal.

"Grass-type Pokémon possess impressive psychic abilities. Not only are they fearless in battle, but their ability to learn moves is also top-notch. And now they can even make such delicious food—it's simply impeccable!"

"..."

The stark contrast between before and after left Xin Ye Miao stunned for a while before she finally came to her senses.

"Meow meow!!"

Can you please stop panting when you speak?!

"Meow~"

Well, considering how highly you regard me, I'll let it slide!

"How is it? Want to try some?"

Oreki scooped up a piece of meat with a spoon and asked.

Xin Ye Miao hesitated for a moment, then hopped onto the dining table with small steps, lowered her head, and gently licked it with her tongue.

Immediately, its tail began to wag slightly.

"Meow!"

good to eat!

"Right? Have you noticed any changes in your body?"

"Meow?"

Variety?

Xin Ye Miao carefully felt it and seemed to have a bit more strength?

It's uncertain.

Seeing this, Oreki went to the kitchen and brought out another small portion, not forgetting the nutritious Moo Moo fresh milk.

Let's eat together.

Meow~

After a full meal and plenty of milk.

Xin Ye Miao lay on the sofa with her round belly sticking out, her eyes full of surprise.

Is this amazing effect thanks to the trainer, or is this cat truly gifted?

Even though I was exhausted after training in the morning, I felt energetic after eating, and even had the urge to train again, as if I had inexhaustible energy.

It felt that if it were to happen again, the Flash would be even faster and more powerful!

"Could the trainer have secretly drugged me when I wasn't looking...?"

"Don't talk nonsense, or you might end up sending a trainer to jail at such a young age."

Oreki replied irritably, "Every time I connect with Shin-chan's thoughts, it's a test of my mentality."

Through Shin-chan's thoughts, Oreki confirmed that the cat food it made also had an effect on itself.

"What would it show if I scanned it with the encyclopedia at this moment?"

"If you have an idea, just do it," Oreki muttered to himself, "Search."

【New Leaf Cat (Female)】

[Attribute: Grass]

【Features: Flexible and adaptable】

[Moves Mastered: Petal Smash, Switcheroo, Quick Attack, Bite, Leaf Shot, Tail Wag, Scratch]

[A somewhat stubborn personality, and a fondness for spicy food.]

[Status: Excellent, Full; Please note that this monster has received a special enhancement, with a slight increase in both stamina and attack power. Attacks will have a chance to inflict fire-type status ailments.]

[Evaluation: A player of average strength at the grassroots level of the ecosystem, but possessing strong growth potential.]

"Six hundred and sixty-six, New Leaf Cat's attack caused a fire-attribute status ailment? Is that legal?!"

……

In the afternoon, as it was almost time for our meeting, Oreki took out the leftover fruit and pork cutlet dish from lunch from the refrigerator and reheated it.

Putting everything else aside, just the fact that repeated heating doesn't affect the cooking results deserves praise from Oreki.

Then, he used telepathy to wake up the fast-sleeping Xin Ye Miao, and with a resentful look in its eyes, he brought over a plate of food and handed it to it.

"Let's eat this and challenge the gym!"

"Meow…"

After yawning, Xin Ye Miao's eyes turned serious. "Meow!"

At four o'clock, Oreki arrived at the entrance of the Kanaz Gym as promised, but to his surprise, Du Juan was already waiting at the entrance.

The dojo master proactively greets challengers at the entrance?

This made Oreki feel strange.

I'm here to take on challenges, not to offer guidance!

"Mr. Oreki!" Du Juan scratched her head, quite embarrassed. "I didn't know you were a new teacher at the academy this morning."

Oreki suddenly realized, "So Du Juan is also studying at Kanaz College now?"

The academy is truly full of talented people. Apart from the young master Dewen who has been delayed in graduating for a long time, there is also a gym leader who is about to take office. It is indeed the most famous higher education institution in the Hoenn region.

"Now that I'm a gym challenger, don't call me teacher anymore," Oreki said with a smile.

"Huh...?"

Du Juan blinked. "So, Oreki-sensei still wants to take on the dojo challenge?"

She thought Oreki would give up the battle immediately after being recognized.

After all, with the identity of a teacher, winning would be considered a matter of course, while losing would mean that he couldn't even beat his students.

It doesn't seem right no matter how you look at it.

"Of course, Shin-chan has been looking forward to it all day."

"Meow!"

bring it on!

"Well... okay." Du Juan agreed and emphasized, "Since Oreki-sensei doesn't have a badge yet, I will choose my Pokémon wisely, but that doesn't mean I'll hold back."

"That's for the best."

Similar regulations exist in every region, where gym leaders determine the competition rules and the strength of the Pokémon to be used based on factors such as the number of badges earned by the challenger and the Pokémon's training status.

After all, this is just a preliminary selection before the League Tournament. If all the Gym Leaders send out their main Pokémon, it will be a nightmare for rookie trainers.

Imagine a rookie trainer challenging a gym with their starter Pokémon in their initial form and a newly caught Bug-type Pokémon, only to be immediately confronted with the final forms of the starter Pokémon and "late bloomers"—how devastating that would be.

A typical dojo challenge doesn't involve any complicated procedures, and there aren't many spectators besides the dojo students.

Well, except for some dojos that have a performance aspect or whose owners are quite popular.

However, by sheer coincidence, an unexpected girl visited the Kanaz Gym today.

"Hey! Is this the Rustboro Gym?"

A pink-haired girl dressed in strange clothes, holding a gimbal, and wearing a Magnemite hair clip greeted Oriki and his companion with great enthusiasm.

Du Juan stopped, smiled, and replied, "Yes, I am Du Juan, the acting owner. And you are?"

"Oops! Hehe~ I forgot to introduce myself!"

The girl made a peace sign.

"My name is Qishu, and I'm a streamer currently undergoing my final training before becoming a museum owner!"

……