The Fishing Master Aura kicked in, Kazuki's muscles reacted instinctively, executing a perfect rod-pulling motion.
"It's coming! It's coming! Kazuki, you can do it!"
Misty was even more excited than Kazuki himself as she watched the line tighten.
Hearing the commotion, many of the trainers on the deck abandoned their own rods—after all, no one else was catching anything.
Instead, they gathered around to watch what kind of incredible catch the "expert" Kazuki might reel in.
The excitement spread to those who had been on their way to lunch; they turned back, crowding toward Kazuki.
And Kazuki didn't disappoint—he smoothly pulled his "big catch" out of the water.
Everyone craned their necks to look.
Under the sunlight, the "big catch" gleamed so brightly it was hard to look directly at it.
But when it landed on the deck, there was no dramatic "smash the floor" scene as many had imagined.
Because... it wasn't some massive beast.
Kazuki had caught a Horsea.
"...Eh? What? It's just a Horsea?"
"Come on, Kazuki—you made it look like it was some giant!"
Misty rushed over to take a look.
"Huh? Wait, Kazuki... this Horsea—"
Her eyes widened.
"It's so pretty!"
The captain, who had been watching from above, caught a glimpse of its color first and now dashed onto the deck, cheering.
"Amazing! Mr. Kazuki, you caught a Shiny Pokémon!"
[Ding! Due to the influence of the Fishing Master Aura, you have caught a mutated rare-colored Pokémon — a Silver Horsea!]
At first Misty hadn't recognized it, but now, as the seawater dripping from Horsea caught the light and shimmered, she gasped.
"You're right, it is a Shiny Pokémon! A silver Horsea!"
"Shiny Pokémon, also called alternate-color Pokémon, don't necessarily have different base stats from normal ones," Misty explained excitedly,
"but they usually have some special trait!"
"No wonder you had to use so much force! Maybe it's got an Ability related to strength!"
"Exactly!" the captain chimed in.
"But more importantly, Shiny Pokémon have incredibly high aesthetic value!"
"And their market price—"
Realizing he was venturing into dangerous territory, the captain quickly backpedaled.
"Ahh—of course, of course! I'm just talking about what I saw on the news! I don't participate in anything illegal, no sir!"
"I just meant... it's really beautiful!"
The gathered trainers chuckled and turned their attention back to admiring the shiny Horsea.
"It really is beautiful..." Misty murmured, inching closer to get a better look.
But just as she approached, the Shiny Horsea suddenly spun around and blasted a Water Gun at Misty's feet!
Misty slipped—
and would've fallen flat if Kazuki hadn't swooped in and caught her around the waist.
Kazuki marveled,
"Such focused reflexes..."
Meanwhile, nestled safely in Kazuki's arms, Misty's heart was pounding for an entirely different reason.
His reaction speed... That was so fast!
I totally lost my balance... and he still caught me!
With Kazuki behind me... I feel so safe... my body feels weird...
All the lessons in womanly charm Misty had been studying for Kazuki's sake floated through her mind.
Wait—
Wasn't I supposed to be acting sweet and gentle today?
Why did I get competitive again?!
Misty panicked internally.
What now? What now?!
She glanced around—and spotted the Shiny Horsea still wary and defensive.
Quickly pulling herself together, she decided to salvage the situation.
"Captain," Misty asked sweetly,
"the Pokémon we catch during the contest—we get to keep them, right?"
"Of course, of course!" the captain replied.
"Mr. Kazuki has full rights to that magnificent Shiny Horsea!"
Misty turned back, flashing Kazuki her most practiced, adorable smile—something she'd learned from Nurse Joy herself.
"Kazuki, did you hear that? You can totally catch this Shiny Horsea! It's perfect for someone amazing like you!"
Wink!
Kazuki stared at her, stone-faced.
What's with this sudden cuteness attack?!
Did she hit her head or something when she slipped?
Wasn't she just hauling up giant Magikarp with brute strength a minute ago?
Now she was speaking in that soft, sugary voice?!
Whatever.
Better focus on catching this Horsea first.
"Alright, Pikachu! Go greet our new teammate!"
Pika!
Pikachu, still sipping tomato juice nearby, darted through the crowd like lightning.
In a flash, it zipped to the Shiny Horsea and delivered a quick Thunder Shock.
Zap!
The Shiny Horsea was paralyzed—easy pickings.
[Pokémon: Horsea (Shiny - Silver)]
[Base Stats: 295]
[Level: 5 (Beginner)]
[Potential: Quasi-Elite Four Tier]
[Ability: Sniper — Critical hits deal extra damage.]
[Moves: Water Gun, Smokescreen]
Kazuki scanned the Horsea's data and couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction.
A Shiny Pokémon really was something else.
This one even had the potential to reach Quasi-Elite Four strength!
While it couldn't quite match the champion-level potential of Pikachu or Wartortle,
considering that Horsea's evolutionary line was usually only Elite-tier at best, this was extraordinary.
And Horsea were fast levelers—what took others until Level 50, it could hit at Level 60.
Given time and proper training, this Shiny Horsea could easily become a second-team powerhouse.
After capturing it, Misty clung to Kazuki, begging to admire the Shiny Horsea for a full day before he sent it back to Professor Oak.
Of course, Misty deployed every "womanly charm" technique she'd been practicing.
Though some moves were awkward enough to make Kazuki internally wince, he knew it wasn't easy for her.
A tomboy learning to act like a refined Water-type Gym Lady didn't happen overnight.
Kazuki simply let her be.
He even let the Shiny Horsea swim leisurely in the pool for Misty to admire all day.
By sunset, though still reluctant, Misty sensibly agreed to let Kazuki transfer the Shiny Horsea to Oak's lab for leveling.
Privately, she vowed:
I'm going to catch a Horsea too—even if it's not shiny!
----
Meanwhile, at Pallet Town
Professor Oak, having just read Kazuki and Bill's co-authored paper, was green with envy.
He was currently on a video call, chewing out his grandson Gary.
"Gary! Last time I praised you—you immediately slacked off, didn't you?"
"You've still only got four badges!"
"And hardly any new Pokémon!"
"Look at Kazuki! Three badges already!"
"He's caught a rare Clefairy! And a ridiculously strong Krabby!"
"AND he co-authored a research paper with Bill!"
"He's getting famous in academic circles, you know!"
"I'm basking in his glory just by association!"
"Grandpa, don't be mad!" Gary's voice came through amid loud background noise.
Ding-dong!
Oak was interrupted by the Pokémon transfer terminal flashing.
"Hold on, Gary. Some trainer just sent over a Pokémon. Let me check."
He moved to the terminal.
"Of course—it's Kazuki again."
"Look at how hardworking he is!"
"Yeah, yeah..." Gary mumbled.
Oak released the Poké Ball—
and was immediately blinded by the brilliant silver light of the Shiny Horsea.
"Silver Horsea! Shiny alternate-color Pokémon!"
Oak's jaw dropped.
He nearly dropped the phone into the water tank.
"See, Gary? SEE?!"
"Another extraordinary specimen from Kazuki!"
"Whoa... a Shiny..." Gary whispered, his fists clenching tightly.
Just then, a playful voice echoed from behind him.
"Gary, we're ready for the rehearsal!"
"Ugh, not now! I'm talking to my grandpa!"
Gary snapped back.
Oak fumed.
"Gary! You're wasting your time flirting around!"
"Starting next month, your travel funds are cut in half!"
"If you don't earn your fifth badge soon, it's ZERO!"
"Work part-time if you have to!"
"Grandpa! Wait! I can explain!"
"I'm training—I'm preparing to win the Porta Vista Beauty Contest!"
"That's why I'm staying longer!"
But the call had already been cut off.
Gary collapsed onto the sofa, groaning.
"Ughhh! How did things turn out like this?!"
"I just wanted to earn a little glory in every city!"
"But in Porta Vista, the only big event is a beauty contest!"
"I'm not even good at dressing up Pokémon!"
"I had no choice but to enter myself!"
While Gary wallowed in frustration, Kazuki and his party were about to arrive at... Porta Vista.
---
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