Yasui Makoto spoke in Japanese, and Hokubu Genkoma was immediately taken aback.
"Huh? Trainer, Japanese..."
The next second, she was so surprised that even her tail stood on end.
"As expected of Trainer Yasui. I don't think there's another trainer as young as you in all of Central... no, in the entire industry."
The foreign woman named Chris was also speaking Japanese.
And it was remarkably fluent—she even had a slight Kanto accent.
"Th-this... You can speak Japanese?" Hokubu Genkoma was dumbfounded.
"Sorry, Hokubu Genkoma."
Chris spread her hands, shrugged, and gave a dashing smile.
"I'd been wanting to say something, but unfortunately, I never found the chance.
"Of course, I'm not criticizing your kindness. Let's just call this a wonderful misunderstanding.
"Also, my English actually isn't very good. My native language is French.
"Au revoir~ muah~"
After saying goodbye in French, she pressed her fingers together against her lips and blew Hokubu Genkoma a kiss. She smiled at Yasui Makoto, then turned and left.
"Looks like French people are hopeless romantics in every world..."
"French...? Huh? Trainer, what did you say?"
Staring blankly at Chris's retreating figure, Hokubu Genkoma had missed Yasui Makoto's mutter and looked over at him in confusion.
"Nothing. I'll take you... Forget it, it's not far. Let's walk to the academy together."
Seeing that the traffic light ahead had just turned in their favor, Yasui Makoto suggested it.
"Oh, okay..."
Hokubu Genkoma blankly followed Yasui Makoto across the intersection, then suddenly sighed.
"Sigh, I never expected that lady to be a trainer. She definitely knew where the URA Association was, yet I still gave her directions..."
"She was going to the URA Association?"
Yasui Makoto paused.
"Yeah. I saw that she had some kind of Association brochure tucked under her arm."
Hokubu Genkoma gestured as