You're So Cute

Steven Stone, the son of Devon Corporation's president and the Champion of the Hoenn League, was also a Pokémon Trainer proficient in Steel-types and loved collecting rare stones.

This hobby had directly earned him the top spot among the Pokémon NEET Starter Trio. The other two were Volkner and Byron.

"NEET" originally referred to people who did not study, work, pursue further education, or receive employment counseling, spending their days doing nothing.

Here, though, it described Steven, who spent all day holed up in caves digging for rocks instead of doing his job as Champion; Volkner, who played with circuits all day until he blacked out an entire city; and Byron, who spent all day on Iron Island playing with dogs.

Even now, Hu Yang remembered Steven's line that had been mistranslated by bootleggers: "In the end, I came first—strong and awesome."

As the trainers' entrance appeared on the screen, Hu Yang's gaze locked onto the young man with silver-blue hair and silver-blue eyes.

Steven should have been around sixteen now, his youthful face brimming with confidence.

"It's starting! It's starting!" Nishida Gang shouted excitedly.

Since Hu Yang already knew the outcome of this match, he did not react much.

As the referee's whistle sounded, accompanied by cheers and encouragement from the spectators surrounding the arena, both competitors sent out their Pokémon.

Steven's first Pokémon was a Skarmory raised to near perfection. The forgettable supporting character on the other side sent out a Pidgeot.

The Pokémon League was considered a top-tier competition no matter the region. Every Trainer who reached it had broken through countless trials and adventures.

Under Steven's calm commands, Skarmory shattered its opponent with swift, powerful moves.

Pidgeot lost its ability to battle, while Skarmory landed before Steven in almost pristine condition.

"A... amazing!" Nishida Gang was utterly shocked.

Next, Steven displayed an even more dominant side, using Skarmory to take down three opponents in a row.

More frighteningly, throughout the entire process, his expression remained calm and composed, as though everything had gone exactly as he expected.

Even by the end, Hu Yang never saw Steven's ace, Metagross, take the field.

With only two Pokémon, he defeated his opponent and won the match. It was such an almost crushing battle that it was hard not to gasp in awe.

"Can I become a Trainer with that kind of strength too?"

Hu Yang replayed every calm decision and prediction Steven had made during the battle, asking himself the question inwardly.

Compared with the finals of the Pokémon League, the previous battle between Budew and Corphish was like graduate school versus kindergarten.

They were not even in the same league.

"How will I know if I can't unless I try?"

At that moment, Hu Yang made up his mind.

Together with his Pokémon, he would work toward reaching the pinnacle of Trainers!

But for now, the most important thing was still to save money.

Early the next morning, Hu Yang was washing up in the bathroom, preparing to take Budew out to continue practicing its moves.

When he looked in the mirror, Gengar suddenly floated out of it while making a goofy face.

Hu Yang's expression did not change in the slightest as he continued drying his face with a towel.

For the first time, Gengar doubted its ability to prank people. Deeply shaken, it asked, "Are you really not scared?"

Hu Yang glanced at it and answered honestly, "I just think you're really cute."

After ancient humans had treated it like that, the Curse born from its resentment merely gave people nightmares. The chill it radiated could even serve as air conditioning during summer.

Compared with other Ghost-type Pokémon, this Gengar was already quite kind and innocent.

Besides, it wanted to eat adorable-looking ice cream and little cakes. Combined with its somewhat sly expression, it instead gave off a charming contrast.

It was the first time anyone had described it as cute. Gengar blushed and said quietly, "Then I won't tell you where the other treasures are either."

With that, Gengar sank straight into the mirror and vanished.

After washing his face, Hu Yang took Budew and Cramorant out as usual.

It was already late autumn. Next month, winter would begin.

The weather was growing colder, and when the biting autumn wind blew, Budew could not help curling into Hu Yang's arms.

"Bude..." It's so cold!

Hu Yang noticed it too. After thinking for a moment, he took the two Pokémon out and bought each of them a scarf at a shop.

"There." Hu Yang tied the scarf around Budew first, then went on to help Cramorant put on its scarf.

He patted Cramorant's head and reminded it, "Once you're wearing this, you can't go into the water. You'll get the scarf wet. And we don't lack food at home now, so you don't need to bring any back from outside."

He had not noticed at first, but later realized that Cramorant seemed to bring back food because it was afraid he would go hungry.

"Caw?"

Cramorant tilted its head blankly. It still did not understand.

Hu Yang sighed helplessly. No matter what, he had already decided to raise this Cramorant for the rest of its life.

Besides the scarves, he bought some daily necessities during this outing as well—basic Potions, little snacks that Grass-type Pokémon liked, and so on.

Most of them were for Budew and Cramorant. He himself did not have many needs when it came to food, clothing, shelter, or travel. As long as he was fed and warm, that was enough.

Looking at the assorted things in his bag, Hu Yang suddenly felt as though he were raising children.

Shaking his head and tossing aside those unnecessary thoughts, he planned to bring these things home first before taking Budew out to train.

Gengar looked at the scarves around Cramorant's and Budew's necks with a little envy.

It could not stop the thought from surfacing in its heart: If only I had met this human earlier.

Unfortunately, there were no ifs in this world.

Gengar returned to the Sealing Orb dejectedly.

Hu Yang naturally noticed Gengar's actions. He took another scarf from the shopping bag, a pink one printed with a cute Eevee design.

Gengar was now a pitiful wandering ghost temporarily lodging here.

While in the shop, Hu Yang had thought about his conversation with Gengar that morning. When he saw this scarf, he felt that it suited Gengar quite well, so he bought it on a whim.

Only after paying did he remember that Gengar could not touch it. But since he had already bought it, he would treat it as a winter gift for a pitiful ghost.

Hu Yang rolled the scarf into a ball, wrapped the orb inside it, and left with Budew.

The room quickly returned to silence.

Gengar emerged from the orb and froze when it saw the scarf.

It floated in front of the desk. Though it could not touch it, it still gently stroked the scarf with its claws.

The wind outside was cold, so very cold, blowing into the room through the window.

The book on the desk was blown open to its title page, its pages rustling.

The sound entered Gengar's heart. At that moment, it suddenly felt the urge to cry.

Please vote with recommendation tickets! This book has been recommended—please, dear readers!