Of course, none of this had anything to do with Xia Chi for the time being.
After nearly three hours of intense streaming and seven consecutive wins, he really was exhausted.
If all he wanted was to rake in donations, he could easily have switched to a more relaxing game, or even just watched videos with his viewers.
But Xia Chi felt that, as a proper Pokémon battle streamer, he couldn't pull off that whole "sit in the middle and cash in on both sides" routine.
"I'll post the full details of this Double Battle team in an update later. Feel free to grab it."
Xia Chi addressed the viewers, whose numbers were still climbing. "That's it for today's stream. If you like what you see, hit follow. See you tomorrow at seven!"
Then he ended the stream at lightning speed.
He didn't need to look to know that his chat was probably full of question marks.
Ignoring all that, Xia Chi shut down his computer, scooped up the little one who had stayed beside him the entire time, and took a deep sniff.
The Pokédex said that after Sprigatito soaked up enough sunlight, it gave off a wonderfully fresh fragrance. It really hadn't lied!
A satisfied, slightly creepy smile spread across Xia Chi's face.
Sprigatito still wasn't used to such intimate cuddling with its new Trainer. Instinctively resisting, it pressed its soft pink paw pads against Xia Chi's face.
Xia Chi didn't mind. He set it down and said, "Sorry for the wait, Sprigatito."
Sprigatito shook its head. "Mya~"
While Xia Chi streamed, it had been watching the gameplay on the screen attentively, so it hadn't felt bored.
If anything, Sprigatito had found it fascinating too.
Maybe I could try these battle strategies I've never seen before when I fight someday?
Without it even realizing, the door to a whole new world seemed to be slowly opening before Sprigatito.
After washing up, just before bed.
Holding the soft, sweet-smelling Sprigatito, Xia Chi was about to watch a few short videos before enjoying a good night's sleep.
On the Piplup messaging app, the adorable Bellibolt avatar he had added just yesterday began flashing nonstop.
Iono: "You're clocking out already? Already?"
Iono: "Not even ten Master Balls could make you work overtime?"
Even though she was the wealthy woman at the top of his donor rankings who had just sent him over a hundred thousand in gifts, Xia Chi replied with perfect confidence, "Weren't you the one who promised ten Master Balls if I won that match, Miss Iono? Overtime costs extra."
Iono: "."
Iono: "Fine, start streaming again right now, and I'll send them! (Morpeko gritting its teeth.jpg)"
Xia Chi quit while he was ahead. "Just kidding, Miss Iono. You didn't say anything, that's all. With how close we are, of course I'd have played a few more rounds if you'd asked."
Iono replied instantly: "You've got some nerve! You ended the stream before I even had time to send the message!"
Good thing I ended it right away, then.
That was what Xia Chi thought, but he replied, "Next time. Definitely next time."
Iono: "Forget next time! Get online and battle me now. Use the team you played today!"
Xia Chi: "."
He had figured it out. Iono hadn't become a streamer to make money. She was just hopelessly hooked!
With someone this quick to act, he really couldn't say "definitely next time."
Xia Chi: "I've been battling on stream for hours. Let's play tomorrow. Battling you is too intense and exhausting. I really don't have another match in me today."
On the surface, he was saying he was tired, while subtly flattering Iono's skill-
"The art of socializing."
He served his viewers on the clock, then had to sweet-talk his wealthy top donor and keep her happy off the clock too.
I really did earn every cent of this money!
Xia Chi sighed inwardly.
Iono: "Okay, I'll hit you up tomorrow~ (Pawmot standing proudly with hands on hips.jpg)"
Judging by how her tone had gone from cloudy to sunny, his coaxing had probably worked.
Xia Chi was just about to close the chat and go to sleep when she suddenly sent a message that jolted him wide awake.
"By the way, do you want some training notes for Sprigatito?"
Holy crap, talk about getting handed a pillow just as I was getting sleepy!
He had the system backing him up, sure, but the stronger Sprigatito was on its own, the greater the boosts from the system's bonds and equipment would be.
A good set of training notes tailored to an individual Pokémon was naturally very important.
Xia Chi had already considered asking Iono whether she had any training notes for Sprigatito.
Of everyone Xia Chi currently knew, she was the highest-level Trainer.
And Paldea, the region she lived in, was Sprigatito's place of origin.
As one of its signature Starter Pokémon, even if Iono had never raised one as an Electric-type Gym Leader, she probably had the connections to get some high-quality Sprigatito training notes.
But he felt they were merely a streamer and a viewer, and weren't close enough for him to ask that kind of favor-
Training notes were hard to put a price on. Call them expensive, and if you were close enough, giving someone a copy was no big deal.
But call them cheap, and you could hardly buy them on the market.
Or rather, whatever you could buy was generic, mediocre material.
So Iono's offer genuinely surprised Xia Chi. Had a free lunch really fallen into his lap?
Xia Chi didn't believe in that sort of thing. He asked tentatively, "But how did you know I'd caught a Sprigatito, Miss Iono?"
Iono: "Didn't you post it on your Piplup Moments?"
Xia Chi thought back. He really had.
After getting his license that morning, he had casually posted on Moments to commemorate it. He hadn't expected Iono to see it.
Iono: "So do you want it or not?"
Unable to resist the temptation, Xia Chi replied, "Yes!"
Iono replied instantly: "And what will it cost you? (Magneton smirking sideways.gif)"
Seeing Iono act like an angler who had finally hooked him, Xia Chi was a little speechless.
Sure enough, he should never have believed a free lunch would fall into his lap!
But the lure of Sprigatito training notes was simply too strong. He swallowed his pride and replied, "Name your terms. As long as you give me the Sprigatito training notes, I'll do anything!"
Iono: "First, you need to address me respectfully from now on!"
Xia Chi: "Then should I call you Miss Iono?"
Iono: "Everyone calls me that. It's too ordinary!"
Xia Chi: "Then how about Lady Iono?"
Iono: "A little formal. Something more affectionate?"
Speechless, Xia Chi typed, "You're not going to make me call you Mommy, are you?"
Xia Chi: "You'd even make me call you Mommy just to get back at me? Honestly, Haji-ono."
Iono: "What are you talking about?! Who asked you to call me Mommy?! (angry Pawmot.jpg)"
Xia Chi: "Don't get mad. I never said I wouldn't."
Xia Chi: "Type 1 and I'll call you Mommy."
The "typing..." indicator at the top of the chat stayed lit for several seconds, but all that finally came through was a string of dots.
Iono: "."
When Iono remained silent, Xia Chi stroked Sprigatito's head as it leaned toward him and sighed. "Ah, Sprigatito. I've sacrificed so much for this family."
After glancing at the text on his phone, Sprigatito gave Xia Chi a disdainful look.
You're doing this for the family?
I'm too embarrassed to even call you out!
(It's the last day, so please send some monthly votes! Anyone still holding big monthly votes, shower me with them~)
Before you continue