Sand Scale Fruit

Following the training plan, Xinhai and Hatake Changlin once again came to the speed training room.

Hatake Changlin looked at Xinhai and Torchic and said, "Then let's begin today's training!" With that, he released his Pokémon and let them train on their own.

Xinhai set his spatial backpack on a nearby seat and replied, "Okay." Then he took out a Sand Scale Fruit and handed it to Torchic.

"Torchic, eat this Sand Scale Fruit. We'll start training right away."

The Sand Scale Fruit contained the power of the sky and could increase a Pokémon's speed!

Hearing this, Torchic looked at the green, oddly shaped Sand Scale Fruit in Xinhai's hand and hesitantly took a bite. But as soon as it tasted it, it swiftly devoured the entire fruit.

Xinhai smiled faintly at the sight. Once Torchic had finished eating, he put a Power Anklet on it and said, "Now that you're done, get ready. Training is about to begin."

Torchic, still savoring the delicious Sand Scale Fruit, let out a clear cry at Xinhai's words. "Chamo!" Then it leaped onto the treadmill beside it.

Xinhai said to Hatake Changlin, "Brother Hatake, let's begin." With that, he stepped onto another treadmill.

Hatake Changlin pressed the switch for Torchic's treadmill, and it began running again.

Hatake Changlin pressed the switch for Torchic's treadmill, and it slowly started up. Since this treadmill had already recorded Torchic's information yesterday, Hatake Changlin made a few adjustments, and the speed of the belt steadily increased until it reached its limit.

Watching Torchic's condition, Hatake Changlin secretly marveled, Young Pokémon grow at an astonishing rate. After just one day of training, it's already improved so much. As he thought this, he increased the treadmill's speed again, stopping only once it reached Torchic's current limit.

Xinhai, running on the treadmill beside it, gave the order. "Torchic, use Flame Charge like yesterday."

Upon hearing the command, Torchic immediately focused and began using Flame Charge. Blazing flames gradually ignited around its body, and as they burned fiercely, Torchic's speed increased by several degrees.

It had already reached its limit, yet with the boost from Flame Charge, its speed increased once more and continued to rise.

Seeing this, Hatake Changlin began increasing Torchic's speed again. As he operated the controls, he thought, The equipment really needs an upgrade. I heard that many of the facilities at Rustboro City's Trainer School have already been upgraded to fully automated ones, unlike this, where you still have to adjust the speed manually.

But he could only think about such things. After all, Rustboro City's Trainer School was the most advanced in the entire Hoenn Region, and its educational resources were the best as well. Verdanturf Town's Trainer School simply could not compare.

Once the speed seemed about right, Hatake Changlin stopped increasing it. Yet whether the Sand Scale Fruit had begun to take effect or it was Torchic's Speed Boost Ability, Torchic's speed continued to rise.

Torchic kept running with all its strength until it could no longer keep going. Only then did Hatake Changlin begin slowing the treadmill down. This time, however, he did not stop Torchic immediately. He waited until Torchic's stamina was completely exhausted before bringing the treadmill to a full stop.

The moment the treadmill stopped, Xinhai and Hatake Changlin, who had been waiting nearby, immediately began giving Torchic a full-body massage according to the methods in the training plan.

"Brother Hatake, you handle the less important areas. Leave those key pressure points to me."

Hatake Changlin smiled and replied, "Sure. You know more about Pokémon care than I do, and Torchic is your Pokémon. You naturally understand it better, so it's more suitable for you to do it."

Xinhai smiled. "I'm only more familiar with care knowledge for Torchic. I'm still nowhere near as skilled as you, Brother Hatake." As he spoke, he began massaging Torchic.

Xinhai gently pressed his hands against Torchic's body, and Torchic immediately shuddered all over, crying out in comfort. "Chamo~" Then its entire body completely relaxed.

Watching Xinhai's practiced massage technique, Hatake Changlin chuckled softly. "Stop being so modest. Don't I know you? Ever since you were little, you've often come to the school library to read books on Pokémon care. You've been doing that for years. With the knowledge you have now, you could probably pass the Beginner Breeder exam, right?"

Xinhai merely smiled and did not respond, continuing to focus on massaging Torchic. The commotion here attracted Hatake Changlin's six Pokémon. Seeing Torchic's blissful expression, they all looked at Hatake Changlin with resentful eyes.

After the massage ended, Torchic came back to its senses and looked much more energetic. Xinhai smiled, rubbed Torchic's head, and praised it. "Torchic, you did amazing today. You improved again compared to yesterday." Torchic proudly chirped twice, seemingly responding to Xinhai's praise.

At that moment, Hatake Changlin's Sceptile slung an arm over its trainer's shoulder.

"Chalo!"

Hearing the sound, Hatake Changlin turned his head in confusion and asked, "What is it—" Before he could finish, he saw the resentful looks in his Pokémon's eyes and immediately swallowed the rest of his words.

Before Hatake Changlin could say anything else, his Pokémon dragged him away. Sceptile even politely gestured to Xinhai and Torchic, signaling that they needn't worry and that they would be back shortly.

Torchic watched this scene, then looked at Xinhai in confusion, not knowing what had happened.

"Chamo?"

Xinhai scratched his head, smiled, and rubbed Torchic's head reassuringly. "It's fine. They'll be back soon. Rest for now. You still have more training later."

Torchic did not think too much about it and leaned against Xinhai's leg to rest.

Xinhai took out two Pokéblocks from his pocket and handed them to Torchic. Torchic affectionately rubbed its head against Xinhai before happily eating them.

After Xinhai and Torchic had rested for several minutes, Hatake Changlin returned looking dejected. Behind him, his Pokémon were all brimming with energy, their tails held high.

Xinhai could not help teasing him. "Brother Hatake, what happened?"

Hatake Changlin gave a bitter smile and shook his head helplessly. "Sigh, they insist that I massage them like we did Torchic from now on. But what do I know about massage? It's really worrying."

Upon hearing this, Torchic, with the last little piece of Pokéblock it had been reluctant to finish still in its mouth, cried "Chamo" twice as if snickering. Xinhai rubbed Torchic's head and said to Hatake Changlin, "Brother Hatake, Torchic and I have troubled you so much. Leave the Pokémon massages to me."

The moment Hatake Changlin heard that, he immediately hugged Xinhai and put on a tearful act. "Really? That's wonderful! From today onward, you're my real brother. Boohoo!"

Xinhai pushed Hatake Changlin away. Seeing through his act but not exposing it, he said, "However, Brother Hatake, once Trainer School starts, I'll be leaving to travel. So I can only help you for these dozen or so days."

Hatake Changlin said with a broad smile, "Haha, it's fine. These dozen days will be enough for me to learn the massage techniques. Then I can do it myself."

Looking at the delighted Hatake Changlin, Xinhai scratched his head and said, "All right, I'll teach you over the next few days. Let's rest for a while first, then we'll continue training. Torchic has rested enough too."

The moment Hatake Changlin heard that, he immediately became serious. "All right, let's continue training. Today, we'll try to take Torchic's speed up another level." As if to show his sincerity, he went to adjust the treadmill again.

After finishing its Pokéblocks and resting a little longer, Torchic felt fully recovered. It stood up and sprang onto the treadmill with a whoosh, happily calling to Xinhai, "Chamo~ Chamo."

Hearing Torchic say that it had rested enough, Xinhai looked at it and smiled. "All right, then let's continue training."

Seeing that Torchic was ready, Hatake Changlin pressed the switch, and the treadmill began running again.

And so, aside from going out for lunch at noon, Xinhai and Torchic spent the entire day training in the various training rooms.

With Yantai Bai Mu's reminder in mind, Xinhai and Torchic did not stay at Trainer School too late. They ended the day's training at nearly four o'clock.

When training ended, Xinhai said goodbye to Hatake Changlin with Torchic in tow, then carried the exhausted Torchic home.