Even Sinnoh champions have to work hard.

Time flies, and the old man looks so old. You know, when he started his journey in Hoenn, he was very energetic and full of vitality. Now he's hunched over, and even his temples have turned gray.

The skilled chef skillfully cuts the meat, puts it into the pot, scoops it out, pours broth over it, and adds various side dishes. All together, the aroma wafts over.

The ramen here isn't particularly famous or special; it has all sorts of flavors, making it quite a mixed bag. The side dishes look like they're randomly mixed together, and there's no particularly unique broth flavor, but it's just plain delicious.

That's right, it's nothing special, but the portions are generous and the vegetables are fresh. The soup base is fragrant and made by farmers, and the noodles are also very chewy and flavorful. It's just delicious.

It's like the dumplings my grandma makes during Chinese New Year. I don't know what kind of filling they are, but they're delicious because they're full of meat and vegetables. When I eat dumplings at a restaurant, I'm full from the dough, but when I eat dumplings at home, I'm full from the meat.

It has that simple, delicious taste, like the taste of home, but with an added touch of sophistication that makes it very comforting.

Looking at the steaming bowl of ramen, Kazama Shiramo's appetite was whetted, and he picked up his chopsticks to start eating heartily. However, after only three bites...

"Bai Mo..."

Kazama Shiromo followed the lovely voice and saw Tanabata Bluebird gazing at him with her big, watery eyes, full of affection.

His eyes seemed to speak volumes as he gazed at Kazama Shiromo with tender affection.

"What's wrong? Is it not tasty?"

"No, it's not that." The Tanabata Bluebird's face was flushed, and she looked at Kazama Shirobuchi somewhat shyly: "Mine, I've finished eating..."

"Finished eating???" Kazama Shiromo glanced at the huge bowl of noodles that Tanabata Bluebird had just been holding. The large bowl of mixed ramen that had been there just moments before had vanished completely, even the broth had disappeared entirely!

"No way..." Kazama Shiromo stared at the ramen bowl, which looked as if it had just been washed, his eyes filled with shock.

It wasn't the size of the Altaria's appetite that was striking—it's perfectly normal for it to finish such a small amount of ramen—that impressed Kazama Shirasumi. What truly astonished him was the speed at which the Altaria ate. Could it be that after transforming into human form and abandoning its sharp beak, it had unleashed an incredible monster?

Chapter 9 This suction force is terrifying.

Because he has a good wife who takes good care of his health, Kazama Shiromo has a very healthy lifestyle and eats three meals a day on time. So Kazama Shiromo doesn't have any appetite at the moment, he just wants to try the taste of this ramen.

So, under the adorable and incredibly cute gaze of the Tanabata Bluebird, Kazama Shiro gently pushed over the ramen he had only eaten a few bites of.

"Eat up." Kazama Shiromo took a few bites, but there was nothing to linger over. He wasn't hungry, even though the familiar taste still felt wonderful!

"Really?" The big eyes of the Qixi Bluebird were filled with surprise and indescribable joy.

"real."

"Is it really, really, really possible?"

"It really, really, really, really can!"

"Hehehe." The Qixi Bluebird let out a silly laugh that was hard to understand, then picked up its chopsticks and prepared to eat.

Kazama Shiramo's eyes sharpened instantly. He wanted to know the secret about how the Tanabata Bird feeds!

Heaven knows what happened in the one or two minutes that I was eating my noodles with my head down. Suddenly, the Qixi Qingniao was like a starving ghost reincarnated, and she finished off such a big bowl of mixed ramen in such a short time. How did she do it with such a small mouth?

then……

"What the hell is this suction force?" Kazama Shiramo was so shocked he almost swore.

The Tanabata Bluebird used its chopsticks to pick up a large clump of noodles, stirring it until it was almost as thick as a stick. Then, with a sudden gulp, under Kazama Shiramo's watchful gaze, the entire clump of noodles was sucked into its stomach in less than 0.5 seconds without any chewing...

Horror!

Moreover, the movements of the Qixi Bluebird are extremely fluid. The moment it finishes eating a handful of noodles, its chopsticks stir rapidly again, and in the next 0.5 seconds, another handful of noodles is formed and quickly brought to its mouth.

And so it went, rubbing, slurping, rubbing, slurping, rubbing, slurping, rubbing, slurping, rubbing, slurping, rubbing, slurping, rubbing, slurping, rubbing, slurping, rubbing, slurping, rubbing, slurping, rubbing, slurping...

In less than twenty seconds, the noodles in that huge bowl of mixed ramen had vanished completely! Next came the side dishes, which seemed to take a little more effort from Qixi Qingniao. She quickly picked up the beef, tempura, cauliflower, and other miscellaneous side dishes from the bowl, threw them into her mouth, chewed them quickly, and swallowed them. But the whole process didn't even take Qixi Qingniao thirty seconds.

After finishing the side dishes, to Kazama Shiramo's horrified gaze, Tanabata Bluebird picked up the bowl containing the ramen broth and then—glug glug glug glug glug glug glug glug glug glug glug…

Was it ten seconds? Probably...

And just like that, the entire bowl of ramen was eaten, not even a drop of soup was left...

"Would you like another bowl?" Kazama Shiromo asked tentatively, looking at the satisfied Tanabata Bluebird with unsatisfied eyes.

"Is it okay?" The bluebird's eyes were full of anticipation, making it impossible for anyone to refuse. Besides, it wasn't a big deal, and Kazama Shiromo had no intention of refusing.

"Uncle, another big bowl of ramen, please!"

"Another bowl?" The uncle poked his head out of the kitchen amidst the commotion, looking at Kazama Shiramo and Tanabata Aotori, and then saw two empty ramen bowls in front of them...

"Didn't I just serve it up? Or am I just getting old and forgetful?" the man muttered to himself, a look of confusion in his eyes. "You really didn't throw it away?"

"Really, no." Kazama Shiramo looked somewhat amused and exasperated. "Could I have another bowl?"

"I never would have guessed! You're so skinny, yet you can eat so much."

“Uh, no…” Kazama Shiromo was somewhat taken aback: “Never mind, just have another bowl.”

"Okay." After all, he was in business, so the uncle didn't ask any more questions. He turned around and went into the kitchen, where he skillfully started working. A few minutes later, a steaming bowl of ramen was served again.

"Um, uncle, don't you have anything to do?" Kazama Shiromo looked at the uncle standing to the side, wondering what he was staring at him for.

"It's not mealtime now, there aren't many customers and I'm quite free." The middle-aged man stood quietly next to Kazama Shiro, looking at him with a strange expression: "Are you sure you're not wasting any food?"

"Really, there isn't any." Kazama Shiramo was somewhat amused and exasperated. "Why don't you see for yourself?"

……

……

……

"Hey guys, are you from some competitive eating show? Why can't I see any cameras?" After witnessing the terrifying eating speed of the Qixi Bluebird, the uncle recovered after a brief moment of shock.

"No, it's just that this child has a big appetite." Kazama Shiromo didn't know how to respond, so he silently paid the money and prepared to run away with the Tanabata Bluebird.

"Just a kid who eats a lot?" The uncle looked at Altaria with a complicated expression. "This kid is a Pokémon Trainer, right? Well, that makes sense. Trainer kids are always running around, they get hungry quickly, and they eat a lot."

"Well, that's about it." Kazama Shiramo wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. It was good that the uncle had misunderstood, since the transformation ability of Pokémon was still a completely unfamiliar area for most people.

"That's wonderful." A complex light flickered in the uncle's eyes. "It reminds me of my daughter; she has a big appetite too."

"Oh, your daughter?" Kazama Shiromo's eyes lit up with interest. He vaguely remembered that when he was here before, there was indeed a little girl playing here. Judging by the time, she should be about this age now.

"Yes, she's my pride." The uncle's eyes shone with light, as if he had seen a ray of sunshine in his life. "She's really outstanding. She was even chosen as a disciple by the Gym Leader of Las Noz City. She's a very serious and good girl."

"Is that so? Then she must be your good child."

"Yes, although this child has been acting strangely lately, I don't know what's wrong with him."

The uncle's eyes flickered with worry, and he looked helpless and pitiful.

"What's gotten into you?" Kazama Shiromo asked curiously as he took the change the uncle handed him.

"Well, this child has become more and more rebellious. She dresses like a little hoodlum. Lately, she's been going out early and coming home late, and I don't know what she's doing. I don't know what's wrong with her. When I ask her, she seems very impatient."

P.S. I need to go prepare for my makeup exam now. See you all on the 25th!

Chapter 10: Isn't this overreaching?

Is it puberty?

It doesn't seem so simple...

Children can certainly be very rebellious during adolescence, but it shouldn't go to this extent.

"Uncle, what was your daughter's name again?" Kazama Shiromo thought back to the little girl in his memory, with her brown ponytail and adorable round face, her chubby cheeks were so cute.

“Her name is Nana, and she’s my pride.” The uncle’s face was beaming with a smile, but a hint of worry quickly crept in: “But this child is really worrying.”

"Specifically," Kazama Shiramo said, resting his hand on the table as he quietly looked at the older man. "If you don't mind, tell me. Maybe I can help you."

"Well, speaking of which..." The uncle's eyes gleamed with a hint of doubt, "It seems like it was a few months ago."

"Back then, Nana was very well-behaved, but one time she seemed to have encountered something, and she came back looking rather lost." The uncle scratched his head with a hint of heartache and helplessness.

"I can't help it. I'm not a Pokémon Trainer. I was quite disorganized when I was young, and I didn't have the qualifications to become a Pokémon Trainer or anything like that, so I can't offer any help to the child in this regard."

"Hmm." Kazama Shiromo nodded. In the uncle's era, the Pokémon League had not yet developed to the extent it is today, and the construction of Pokémon Centers had not yet been developed. Even now, there are still many children in various places who have not been able to become Pokémon Trainers by the age of ten. So, children who have the opportunity to travel are actually very lucky.

"I don't know what to do. I cook delicious food for her, but she only eats half of her favorite cola chicken wings before saying she has no appetite. She seems like she's lost her soul. When I ask her what happened, she won't say anything." The uncle looked helpless, which made people feel sorry for her. "As parents, we all hope that our children can do well in school, but we also worry that the pressure on them is too much. Seeing my child like this, I regret letting her become a dojo apprentice."

"Actually, being a gym apprentice is pretty good." Kazama Shiromo smiled. He meant it seriously. If a trainer doesn't have a good network of connections or family influence to rely on, there are two types of lone wolf trainers.

One type is a dark horse with super geniuses, and the other is an entertainment-oriented trip for ordinary people.

In reality, the vast majority of wild trainers spend their journey in mediocrity, with only a very few managing to stand out.

On the contrary, becoming a dojo apprentice at least proves that you have good talent. Otherwise, a dojo master would not be blind and randomly beckon disciples with poor talent.

Secondly, don't be fooled by the fact that gym trainees are always used as tools for others to gain experience. In reality, gym trainees are in a much better situation than wild trainers.

Not all trainers can have a background like Ash and Gary. For ordinary people, becoming a gym apprentice is a great thing. You have a master who can guide your training, and people who come to challenge you can provide you with practical experience. You don't have to travel around in all kinds of weather.

If you have real talent, it's easier to stand out. The chances of earning the favor of the dojo master through hard work are much greater than trying to win a vague tournament championship.

“I know, but seeing how unhappy this child looks makes me think that if he’s so unhappy, it would be better for him to just live an ordinary life. Isn’t the point of living to be happy?”

"Well, you should respect your child's choice." Kazama Shiromo smiled. "Since becoming a dojo apprentice was her own choice, you should trust her. Besides, there shouldn't be any problem with being a dojo apprentice. The problem must be elsewhere. Since then, has your daughter done anything unusual?"

"Yes, there is." The uncle stroked his chin, revealing a thick stubble. He had the kind of face with a full beard, and if he didn't shave often, half of his face would look a bit strange. "After that time she came back, that child started acting strangely. Like her clothes and her appearance became increasingly odd. Before, she would go straight home after leaving the dojo, but later she would often come back late at night. She wouldn't tell me anything, and if I asked her, she wouldn't answer anything. And..."

"And what?" Kazama Shiromo stared intently at the uncle, his intuition telling him that something was amiss.

"Nana later became a bit neurotic. Sometimes she would mutter things like 'the earth is the best,' and I couldn't quite understand what she was saying, but she just seemed very strange." The uncle patted his head, as if suddenly remembering something: "That child also had a very strange outfit, a red one, some kind of weird clothes that I can't quite describe."

"I see." Kazama Shiromoto narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing within them. "Uncle, I've roughly figured it out. I might be able to help with this a little. If it's resolved, remember to give me a discount next time I come here!"

"Hey, what are you saying? If you can solve this problem, I'll give you free service every time you come." The uncle waved his hand, looking nonchalant.

"That's settled then." There was still a hint of coldness in Kazama Shiromo's eyes. He stood up and gently patted the little head of the Tanabata Bluebird. "We have some things to do, so we'll be leaving now."

"Take care," the uncle said, then went back to the kitchen to tidy up.

Kazama Shiramo walked quietly, holding Altaria's small hand. The coldness and killing intent in his eyes had not dissipated. "Hey, Altaria, why do you think there are always so many dangerous people and organizations in this world?"

"I don't know." The Qixi Bluebird shook its little head.

Kazama Shiromo smiled and said, "Why can't all the villainous organizations in this world be as easy to deal with as Team Rocket? Look at Team Rocket, they manage the graffiti while also boosting GDP, creating jobs, and promoting technological development. Why don't the villainous organizations in the Hoenn region learn from Team Rocket?"

"It's one thing to always do dangerous things, but to always dabble in places you shouldn't? Do you think you can just fool any trainer in this world?" Kazama Shiramo's eyes were quite dangerous; he was genuinely angry. A gym apprentice becoming a member of Team Magma was hardly a happy thing.

P.S. I'll write a little bit first, and continue after I wake up!