Chapter 23: You Are So Adorable

Here is Zivoki Daigo, son of the president of Dervon Manufacturing Corporation, Champion of the Hoenn League, and a masterful Steel-type Pokémon Trainer with a penchant for collecting rare stones.

This particular hobby cemented his position at the top of the NEET Trio of Pokémon Champions, alongside Denji and Yagen.

“NEET” originally referred to those who neither study, nor work, nor pursue further education or job training—a group perceived as idle and aimless.

Here, it humorously describes Daigo, who spends his days holed up in caves digging for rocks rather than fulfilling his champion duties; Denji, who tinkers with circuits and causes citywide blackouts; and Yagen, who lounges on Iron Island playing with his dog.

To this day, Hu Yang still remembers that mis-translated line from the bootleg version: “As a result, I’m first—so strong, so amazing.”

Gazing at the screen as the trainers made their entrance, Hu Yang’s eyes settled on the youth with silver-blue hair and eyes.

Daigo was likely around sixteen now, his vibrant face brimming with confidence.

“It’s starting! It’s starting!” Nishida Go shouted excitedly.

Already knowing the outcome of this match, Hu Yang showed little reaction.

With the judge’s whistle and the thunderous cheers from the audience encircling the grand arena, both trainers sent out their Pokémon.

Daigo’s first was a perfectly raised Skarmory, while his opponent—a character so forgettable Hu Yang couldn’t recall his name—sent out a Pidgeot.

The League Championships, in any region, are the pinnacle of competition. Any trainer to reach this stage has emerged through countless trials and adventures.

Under Daigo’s calm and measured commands, Skarmory swept forward with swift, powerful moves, shattering its foe.

Pidgeot lost its fighting strength, while Skarmory landed before Daigo, nearly unscathed.

“A-amazing!” Nishida Go was visibly shaken.

Daigo then displayed even greater dominance, allowing Skarmory to take out three opponents in succession.

Even more impressive, throughout the entire process, Daigo’s expression remained calm and composed, as though everything was unfolding exactly as he had foreseen.

Not once did Hu Yang see Daigo’s ace, Metagross, take the stage.

With only two Pokémon, he had defeated his opponent and claimed victory in a match that was nothing short of a rout—enough to leave anyone breathless.

“Could I ever become a trainer that strong?”

Hu Yang replayed every cool-headed decision and prediction Daigo made during the battle, quietly questioning himself.

The League’s grand final was on a completely different level from the match between Budew and Corphish—it was as if a graduate student was facing a kindergartener.

They simply weren’t in the same league.

“How will I know if I don’t try?”

In that moment, Hu Yang made a firm resolution.

He would strive, together with his Pokémon, to reach the pinnacle of training!

But for now, the most important thing was to earn some money first.

———

The next morning, Hu Yang washed up in the bathroom, preparing to take Budew out to practice its moves again.

As he looked in the mirror, Gengar suddenly floated out, making faces.

Hu Yang’s expression didn’t change in the slightest; he simply continued to dry his face with a towel.

For the first time, Gengar began to doubt its own prankster abilities and, feeling wounded, asked, “Are you really not afraid?”

Hu Yang glanced at it and answered honestly, “I just think you’re adorable.”

After what ancient humans did to it, the curse born of its grudge now only causes nightmares, and in summer, the chill it emits can even serve as air conditioning.

Compared to other Ghost-type Pokémon, this Gengar was already quite kind.

Besides, it craved cutesy ice cream and little cakes—a contrast to its mischievous demeanor that only made it more endearing.

Never before described as cute, Gengar blushed and muttered in a small voice, “Then I won’t tell you where the other treasures are.”

With that, Gengar dove into the mirror and vanished.

Face washed, Hu Yang took Budew and Archaea out as usual.

Late autumn had arrived; by next month, winter would begin.

The weather was turning colder. When the sharp autumn wind blew, Budew instinctively burrowed into Hu Yang’s arms.

“Bii~” So cold!

Hu Yang noticed and, after a moment’s thought, took his Pokémon to a shop and bought each of them a scarf.

“There we go.” He first wrapped the scarf around Budew, then proceeded to tie one for Archaea.

He patted Archaea’s head, reminding it, “Don’t go into the water with this on, or you’ll get the scarf wet. And there’s no need to bring food home anymore—we have plenty.”

At first he hadn’t noticed, but he later realized that Archaea’s habit of bringing food home seemed to stem from a fear that he might go hungry.

“Caw?”

Archaea tilted its head in confusion, still not understanding.

Seeing this, Hu Yang sighed helplessly. Regardless, he had already decided to care for Archaea for life.

This outing, besides scarves, he bought some daily necessities: basic healing medicine, snacks favored by Grass-type Pokémon, and so on.

Most of these were for Budew and Archaea. As for himself, he didn’t require much—just enough to be warm and well-fed.

Looking at the jumble of items in his bag, Hu Yang suddenly felt as though he were raising children.

He shook his head, dismissing the unnecessary thought, and prepared to drop the supplies off at home before taking Budew to train.

Gengar eyed the scarves around Archaea and Budew’s necks with a tinge of envy.

A thought surfaced—if only it had met this human sooner.

But life offers no ifs.

Gengar, disheartened, returned to the sealed orb.

Hu Yang had noticed Gengar’s behavior. He pulled out another scarf from the bag—a pink one with a chibi Eevee print.

Gengar was, after all, just a pitiful wandering spirit temporarily lodging here.

In the shop that morning, recalling their earlier conversation, Hu Yang had spotted this scarf and thought it suited Gengar, so he’d bought it on impulse.

He only remembered afterward that Gengar couldn’t touch it, but having already bought it, he decided to gift it as a little winter present to a poor ghost.

He rolled the scarf into a bundle, wrapped it around the sealed orb, and left with Budew.

The room soon fell quiet.

Gengar emerged from the orb, pausing when it saw the scarf.

It sat at the desk, and though it couldn’t physically touch it, it gently stroked the scarf with a claw.

The wind outside howled, seeping through the windows.

The pages of books on the desk rustled and flapped.

That sound reached deep into Gengar’s heart, and for a moment, it felt the sudden urge to cry.