Aspiring to become a Pokémon trainer

"But, but, this is Nan Yin's wish, not mine. Although I don't know why we can meet again, if this is just a dream, I still want to help you fulfill a regret."

The little guy twitched his nostrils and tried to make a sound, but he didn't know how to argue back.

"I know, but this is my wish."

She gently touched Jirachi's face, said nothing more, and simply tightened her arms around him.

His eyes gradually reddened, clinging to his thin clothes. The little beast calmed his breathing and whispered:

"This wish...I can't fulfill it..."

"But, everyone can help you realize this wish."

Before anyone knew it, the mythical Pokémon had surrounded the little beast, casting smiles at it.

"When you wander among the stars, Hoopa's halo can find you and bring you here to rest..."

[That's for sure, Hoopa is the strongest!]

"When you awaken a thousand years later, and find no familiar figure, Diancie will still be there for you..."

With a slight nod, Princess Eternal extended her small hand to the one before her.

"Even after a thousand years, and after Corinne and I have gone our separate ways, these children will still be with you."

As the warmth swayed, Jirachi looked around at the several figures, slightly dazed.

"And, most importantly—"

The dark sphere splits in two, revealing a majestic figure descending, embodying the ultimate in the world.

It is the Void.

"I want this fleeting moment to last forever."

Yes, Jirachi's slumber is fundamentally due to the heavy price of fulfilling its wishes. Each wish fulfillment inevitably consumes the little guy's essence. However, as long as there is almost infinite cosmic energy, it can break free from its slumber and be content to stay with each other.

Nan Yin held this idea. Back then, in the theatrical version of the generation, her biggest regret was that she couldn't keep this lovely child. Now that she had come to this land, she should also fulfill the unfulfilled wish of the past.

Even though human lifespans are not long enough, and even if they pass away first, these mythical beasts can still accompany Jirachi, wiping away its loneliness and giving it sweet companionship.

Even though he hadn't agreed, the Poison Dragon from beyond the stars couldn't help but express his longing upon seeing this scene, his pride tinged with a hint of arrogance, yet he didn't deny it.

"Everyone......"

Tears fell, but Jirachi raised his lips in a smile.

Even though it's not very beautiful, and even though it evokes pity, it's incredibly real.

"Together, together, forever."

This is also my wish.

..........................................

Chapter 284 The Battle of the Eight Masters

The sky was high and the clouds were light, and a gentle breeze was blowing.

As you draw back the curtains, the morning light caresses your face, carrying with it the chill of autumn.

Click.

It was the soft sound of the door lock turning.

Hearing the commotion behind her, the silver-haired girl did not turn around, but spoke softly to the lush green courtyard.

Good morning, Korni.

The greeting was very flat, with no variation in tone.

After all, they said those things every day, and their relationship had long since crossed that line, and they began to openly flirt with each other.

"Hmm, but is there anything interesting to see outside the window?"

Extending her five fingers and standing on tiptoe, she gently turned her lover's pretty face to face her directly.

All five senses were occupied by the girl, and there was no room to even glance to the side.

However, after days and nights of reflection, how could Nan Yin panic or lose her composure? She has always been the one in control.

"The verdant courtyard, the birds flying across the sky, the buildings standing side by side... these things are ordinary and commonplace, but when you hold something in your heart and touch your fingers with warmth, even the simple things can blossom and become more pleasing to the eye."

He pulled the curtain tighter, then leaned in to whisper in her ear. The girl simply gazed at her lover, referring to him with words, and watched as her face flushed red, yet she couldn't bring herself to turn away in embarrassment.

"Hmph, Nan Yin, you always manage to say something nice."

It was a reproach barely audible, yet also a deliberate act of turning the tables.

A welcoming dinner, a night of warmth and affection, yielded countless unforgettable memories.

As the morning sun washed over them, they returned to their daily routines, to a life that was both ordinary and fulfilling.

After tying her apron and braiding her hair, Nan Yin picked up the spatula again and started preparing breakfast, just like before.

“Maji…”

As she prepared her clothes, Maya also grasped the shovel handle and joined the girl in burying herself in the stove.

Pour in the oil and water, stir-fry the minced meat, and as the steam rises, beads of sweat appear on the forehead, adorning the fair skin.

Use your mental power to measure the color of the liquid in the pot, and when it's ready, add soy sauce and light soy sauce to adjust the color and flavor.

"Next."

She ladled in warm water, sprinkled in chopped scallions, and the clever maid took the opportunity to glance sideways, catching a glimpse of the girl's faint smile.

"Well done, thank you, Maya."

They boil water, add dough, close the lid, and wait patiently for the water to settle, cherishing the tacit understanding that comes with their hard work.

It's so heartwarming, I can't bear to look away.

Sitting on the sofa with the big cat, Korni quietly watched her lover working hard in the kitchen.

Wiping away sweat, bending over to watch the fire—she never tired of these scenes, finding them pleasing to the eye.

Take out a porcelain bowl, fill it with noodle soup, and smell the enticing aroma. Nan Yin picks up her chopsticks and takes a light bite, letting the noodles slide between her teeth.

Neat and refreshing, soft and smooth, my skills are getting better and better.

She gave a small boast, already imagining the cloying scene of sitting around the table with many children, eating together.

I have always held this expectation in my heart as well.

Unlike Carlos's usual bread and fried eggs, this morning he made hot noodle soup.

On this slightly cool autumn day, a bowl of warm soup is just the right thing to awaken the stomach and nourish the tired body and mind.

Topped with minced meat and mixed with bok choy, the short morning fades away with the lingering aroma and flavor.

"Everyone, dinner is ready."

She pushed open the door and walked into the courtyard, calling out the names of the children, both big and small.

With its pointed ears perked up, Eevee, no longer fast asleep, gracefully approached. On the other side, Eevee and Winged Fly also slowly awoke from their morning slumber and went inside together.

Looking again at the cloudless blue sky, the crimson crescent moon was folding its wings, restraining its power, trying its best to avoid stirring up dust.

[What is this?]

Leaping off the red dragon's back, Qi Yuanxing inhaled the fragrant noodle soup, tilting her head slightly with curiosity.

Since gaining Hoopa's friendship and receiving the energy of Anuttara, this little guy is no longer troubled by sleepiness. Only his habit of being sleepy and his playful nature still drive his childlike heart.

"Want to try something delicious, Jirachi?"

[Um, well, thank you, Nan Yin.]

Seeing the little beast express its gratitude without even uttering a sound, the girl couldn't help but feel even more pity for it.

These sensible and obedient children are the foundation of her longing for this land.

After distributing bowls and basins, Nanyin didn't immediately pick up her chopsticks. Instead, she and her lover knelt down on the steps in front of the door, quietly enjoying the warm and blissful feeling of being surrounded by spirits.

"Hmm! What a unique flavor. Nan Yin's cooking skills seem to have improved again."

Slurping up the smooth noodles, Korni couldn't help but praise the person beside her. This culinary skill added even more memories to the already wonderful journey, allowing her to enjoy the delicious food of Changshu.

however--

"There's nothing we can do; our colleagues aren't particularly talented in this area."

She smiled without saying a word, their eyes met, and all she got in return was a puffed-up face from her lover in a huff.

"Hmph, that must be because you didn't teach diligently!"

It was only natural to attribute the mistake to Nan Yin, who always liked to tease herself. Ever since they confirmed their relationship, the former, hidden beneath her gentle demeanor, had a more and more obvious little mischievousness.

“Oh? Then the kitchen will be yours tonight, Teacher Kelney.” Nan Yin nodded readily, scooped up a spoonful of clear noodle soup, and blew on it to cool it down. “It’ll be a good opportunity for me to see what kind of ‘rapid progress’ a student with mediocre talent can achieve under the dedicated guidance of a master teacher.”

"Pfft—cough cough!" Koerni nearly choked on the mouthful of noodles she had just swallowed, her cheeks puffing out like an angry pufferfish. "Nanyin! You—you're just being unreasonable! You know perfectly well that I..."

"Know what?" The girl turned her head, her violet eyes filled with a mischievous smile. "Know that our Corne is best at speeding around on the roller skating rink and commanding on the battlefield, rather than fighting wits with pots and pans in the kitchen? Hmm, I do have that much self-awareness."

These teasing words were like a feather gently brushing against her heart. Korne's anger at being 'wrongfully accused' instantly dissipated, replaced by the embarrassment of having her little thoughts accurately exposed by her lover.

She muttered, lowered her head, and poked at the glistening white noodles in the bowl with her chopsticks: "...You're smart to know what's good for you."

Inside the courtyard, the elves' breakfast symphony was in full swing. Sylveon elegantly twirled noodles with a ribbon, savoring each bite without spilling a drop of broth. Eevee, on the other hand, completely relaxed, hugging its rather large bowl, its little face almost buried in it, purring contentedly. Salamence, meanwhile, focused intently on controlling its breath, afraid a sneeze would knock over the entire table. It clumsily and cautiously picked up a small handful of noodles with its claws, savoring the long-absent appetite.

Jirachi sat on the soft cushion that Nanyin had specially prepared for it, with a delicate gilded bowl in front of it. It imitated the girl and tried its best to pick up a few noodles with its little hands.

The broth soaked the star-shaped markings on its fingertips, and it curiously licked them, its pupils instantly lighting up.

[Warm and smooth...] It exclaimed softly in its telepathic connection, [Unlike tree sap! Delicious!]

Magiana stood quietly to one side, the Soul Heart on her chest radiating a warm light.

It gazed at the bustling yet harmonious scene before it, data flowing silently through its eyes, recording this chapter of memory called home. When Nan Yin's gaze inadvertently swept over it, it nodded slightly, a barely perceptible, satisfied smile seemingly appearing on its metallic face.

Diancie quietly watched the little ones' movements, occasionally using her superpowers to help Zhenyifa steady the bowl that was about to slip, or to wipe the soup off Erguipeng's mask.

In this tranquil moment, Korne temporarily forgot about the 'kitchen dispute' from earlier. Resting her chin on her hand, her gaze lingered on her lover's pretty profile and the elves. Her indigo eyes also shone with a satisfied smile.

She quietly reached out and hooked her hand under the table with Nan Yin's. Nan Yin didn't look at her, but simply intertwined her calloused fingers with her own.

In this tender moment, the blonde girl seemed to suddenly remember something, abruptly sitting up and almost knocking over the soup bowl in front of her.

"Ah! I almost forgot!" she exclaimed, quickly pulling her Rotom phone from her clothes and handing it to her lover. "Nanyin! The tournament match schedule is out! The draw results for the final round of the qualifiers are in!"

"You mean, the battle among the eight masters?"

Knowing what Korne was talking about, the Battle of the Eight Masters, as the name suggests, is a competition among trainers from many regions to select eight to ultimately determine the strongest.

Because of the Wuji Tai Na incident, this quadrennial competition was moved from the New Year to the autumn season.

The tournament is divided into two parts. The first part is the preliminary round, which is matched by the league itself. Winners accumulate points, advance in rank, and only those who successfully reach the Master Ball level can participate in the main tournament held in Gongmen City.

As for trainers who possess the qualities of champions and elite trainers, they will temporarily skip the first two tiers and directly start matching opponents from Ultra Balls.

"Yes, look."

After responding, Korni tapped the screen a few times and then held it up to her lover's face. The screen clearly displayed the iconic dome of the Palace Arena, with a bolded and enlarged list of match-ups below.

[Final round of the qualifiers]

[Nan Yin (Carlos) VS Karuni (Carlos)]

The text followed by a smaller line of text: The winner will directly secure a spot in the Masters main tournament.

The atmosphere froze slightly, and the rising steam blurred Nan Yin's vision. She looked at the familiar beauty on the other end of the screen, and a sigh welled up in the depths of her violet eyes, only to be quickly covered by a deeper calm.

"It's actually the Karuni Champion? I didn't think I'd run into a local acquaintance so soon. Just a few days ago, she dared to come and visit. Now, we'll see who's the best on the battlefield."

She slowly put down her chopsticks and gently tapped the rim of the bowl. The girl's voice was soft, yet it sounded like she was stating an undeniable fact: "Fate... is truly wondrous."

Before even stepping into the main tournament, the kings and champions of Carlos will compete to see who will represent their homeland and who will uphold the romantic and shared fighting spirit.

Are you under a lot of pressure?

"No, it's just that the thought of facing someone we know makes it hard not to think about counter-strategies. As for our ace, Karune has Mega Gardevoir to back her up, plus the Trick Room and double wall system from Ice Dragon. In a three-on-three singles match with Ultra Ball, the test is more about individual skill."

Without making it public, the decision regarding Nanyin music has already been made.

Salamence, Magearna, Wingstrike – that's my strategy.