I'll support you

At Lorelei's little seaside villa, Gary was going to town on a Kingler, with a clatter of chopping and cracking.

The tastiest parts were actually its legs. As for whether its shell held crab roe or crabmeat, Gary couldn't care less.

He removed the Kingler's legs to use in a Japanese soy sauce hot pot.

Then he popped the top of its shell right off, stirred the roe loose, and cracked in an egg laid by a Chansey. A silky steamed egg with crab roe was ready to cook.

He put the crown daisies, sweet onions, tofu, shiitake mushrooms, shredded konjac, and A5 Wagyu into the seasoned hot pot, then laid the Kingler legs on top. The moment it started heating, the aroma wafted far and wide.

Lorelei had changed into casual clothes: a white blouse and a light blue, figure-hugging skirt. She sat at the counter outside the kitchen, quietly watching Gary work.

If men who could cook glowed, Gary must have been shining right then.

After preparing the crab, Gary put a dozen oysters into the steamer. These were good stuff-a filling station for men and a beauty salon for women.

He couldn't quite decide what to do with the two big lobsters. In the end, he made one spicy and the other with minced garlic.

He gathered the remaining lobster meat and crabmeat, added peeled shrimp, scallions, and button mushrooms, and cooked a pot of seafood congee. All done!

"Whew~ Just a few more minutes until we can eat." Seeing Lorelei practically drooling, Gary couldn't help speaking with a chuckle.

"Gary, why don't you stay a few more days? After eating your cooking, I think I'll turn into a picky eater~" Lorelei tilted her head and sighed sincerely.

"How about you just cook for me, and I'll support you?" Lorelei's eyes lit up as she floated the idea.

"Aw~ I'm just throwing things together. It's not that good." Gary scratched his head. "Besides, I still have all sorts of competitions to enter. So... hahaha~ Let's talk about that another time."

Are you kidding? How could I, Young Master Mao, become a cook? It's exhausting, hot, and doesn't even pay that well.

With looks like mine, I could make a fortune just selling smiles... Ahem... No, this is going a little off track...

"All right~ I'm hungry. Can we eat now?" Lorelei spread her hands regretfully, though she was still pleased to see his ambition.

Gary tasted the hot pot broth and nodded in satisfaction. "Dinner's ready!"

He laid the seafood feast out on the dining table and wiped his long, slender fingers. "Lorelei, go ahead and sit down. I'll feed the Pokémon first."

In the spacious living room, Gary set out the Pokémon's food bowls... and, uh, the food buckets for Rhydon and Scyther.

He portioned out the Pokémon Food, chopped Berries, and necessary supplements in the proper proportions.

Then he took out the Poké Balls and released his little companions.

"Vee!" The moment Eevee left the Poké Ball, Eevee flew into Gary's arms like a swallow returning to its nest and rubbed against him enthusiastically.

Eevee: (≧▽≦) I haven't seen you in two hours! I missed you so much~

Gary stroked Eevee and soothed Eevee with a smile. "All right, all right. Time to eat. You really love being spoiled~"

Scyther stared at the food bucket, a glistening thread of drool trickling from the corner of Scyther's mouth. "Scy~ (Why aren't we eating yet...)"

Rhydon and Growlithe sat in a row, calling for Eevee to hurry back. Hadn't Eevee noticed their Wi-Fi formation had fallen apart?

Charmeleon was the calmest of them all, pulling out the whiskey from that morning and taking another couple of swigs.

"Hey! Young fellow, how did you get whiskey into your Poké Ball? Does that thing count as a held item? Hand it over." Gary held out his hand, his face darkening.

Charmeleon burped and reluctantly handed Gary the bottle.

"You little rascal. I don't mind you drinking, but keep it in moderation, got it? If you turn into a drunk, I won't let you off." Gary hooked one arm around Charmeleon's neck and grabbed Charmeleon's tail with his other hand, shaking it back and forth.

Caught between laughter and tears, Charmeleon pushed at Gary's face. "Quit it, boss. Everyone's watching..."

Watching Gary laugh and play with his Pokémon, Lorelei gave a warm smile.

The bond between a Trainer and a Pokémon could shape that Pokémon's entire growth.

Some Pokémon Trainers did treat their Pokémon as nothing but tools, and that could indeed produce better results in the short term.

But every Pokémon Trainer at Elite Four-level or above knew that to keep growing stronger and surpass a Pokémon's natural limits, a bond was absolutely essential!

The most important measure of a Trainer's potential was whether they could become partners, friends, and family with their Pokémon.

Lorelei still remembered her first interview after joining the Elite Four. A passerby had asked how she had managed to fight her way into the Elite Four with simple Ice-type Pokémon.

Lorelei's answer had been: with love. When you loved your Pokémon wholeheartedly, they would always respond.

When bonds and emotions became a Pokémon's support, even ordinary Cloyster and Dewgong could unleash power beyond anyone's reach.

Brushing back her long burgundy hair, Lorelei smiled faintly. Her dear Gary had chosen the right path~

"Gary, feed my Jynx and Slowbro too, please." Happy to add to the commotion, Lorelei had her two Pokémon join the others.

Gary shrugged helplessly. "Slowbro's no problem, but Lorelei, are you sure Jynx won't force a kiss on me?"

Seeing Jynx spread her arms toward him and pucker her plump lips, Gary recoiled with every fiber of his being.

After all, most cute Pokémon had a move called Sweet Kiss.

Jynx's most famous move, however, was [Lovely Kiss]!!

Once she kissed an opponent, it was like being forcibly kissed by a demon. They could have nightmares for nights afterward!!

"Haha, it's fine. Jynx really likes you, Gary. Don't worry." Lorelei chuckled.

Gary thought it over. That was true. It was better than Dewgong and Cloyster, anyway.

Those two guardians eyed Gary warily whenever they saw him, as though saying, Try seducing Lorelei, you brat, and we'll smash your head in...

Risking a forced kiss, Gary prepared two portions of his special fresh Pokémon food for Jynx and Slowbro.

Wiping away his cold sweat, he could finally return to the table to eat.

"All right, let's dig in. I can't wait any longer." Lorelei rubbed her hands together excitedly.

"All right! Time to eat!" Gary cheered along with her.

Click~ Suddenly, the lights flickered, and every building along the coast lost power.

"That's strange. Why would the power suddenly go out? Vermilion City has one of the most reliable power grids around." Lorelei frowned. "I'll get the backup lamp."

"No need, no need." Gary stopped Lorelei, walked over to the window, and pushed it open on its hinges.

A gentle sea breeze crept into the room with the bright moonlight. The soft, cool glow set off Lorelei's stunning profile, leaving Gary staring in a daze for several seconds.

Lorelei caught on and smiled teasingly. "Am I pretty?"

Gary blushed, inexplicably recalling a song: The crescent moon, so romantic, you look especially beautiful in the moonlight...

With that tender atmosphere lingering around them, Gary and Lorelei continued their meal...

Meanwhile, inside the Vermilion Gym, Lt. Surge wore sunglasses and clenched a big cigar between his teeth as he laughed. "Keep charging for me! That kid tomorrow won't be easy to handle. He actually beat Bruno in a rental battle. Now that's something to look forward to~"

"Boss, we can't keep charging at full capacity. We've already knocked out power to the entire Seaside Villa District in the North District," a leather-jacketed underling said helplessly.

The apprentices and staff at Lt. Surge's Gym had all once been thugs and delinquents in Vermilion City.

After Lt. Surge knocked some sense into them, they turned over a new leaf and joined the Gym. That was another way he contributed to keeping the city peaceful as its Gym Leader.

Looking at the three Pokémon crackling with electricity before him, Lt. Surge nodded. "Then let's stop here for now. I really hope that guy gives me another surprise tomorrow~"

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