Misty gave Kazuki's chest a playful smack. "Pervert! Your eyes are glued on me! Focus, will you?!"
"Don't put all your attention on me!" she huffed.
"Oh? So you're saying I can focus on a few more girls too?" Kazuki teased, surprised by Misty's apparent open-mindedness.
"Hey!" Misty hit him again, this time a little harder. "I meant, split your attention! Half for me, half for becoming Champion!"
"Forget it..." She crossed her arms. "When it comes to women, I'm not gonna micromanage you. I'm not the jealous type."
"As long as you've got the ability, you can pick up whoever you want!" Misty said with a mischievous grin. "I'd be happy to have a few more girls around to chat with."
"But—"
Mid-sentence, her tone grew serious.
"If you're going to bring in other girls, you HAVE to bring in Delia too!"
"If you can't pull it off, I'll help you!" Misty declared, looking earnest.
Kazuki stared at her deadpan expression. He was tempted to confess that Delia was already his, thoroughly and completely. But that would just lead to a flood of complications.
Better to just let things develop naturally between Misty and Delia.
"If I can't even handle women, wouldn't that be pretty pathetic?" Kazuki smirked. "Just kiss them, pin them down—"
"Hey! Hey!" Misty frantically waved her arms to cut him off. "Be gentle with Delia, okay?!"
"She's such a sweet woman, if you're too rough, she won't be able to handle it!"
Kazuki couldn't help but chuckle as he recalled Delia sticking her tongue out, eyes rolling back, begging for more. His smile was tinged with a bit of wickedness. "Yeah, yeah... she really can't handle it."
"Exactly! This time, Delia's going to Kalos. When she comes back, I'll help you plan it all out—be gentle with her!" Misty was surprisingly committed to coordinating the situation.
"You? You're gonna help? Being 'gentle'?" Kazuki caught a few keywords and laughed dubiously.
"W-what's so funny?!" Misty puffed up in indignation, pushing out her chest. "I've... I've been learning about being ladylike from Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy!"
"I'm plenty gentle, okay?" she huffed while serving him a spoonful of food.
"Eugh!" Kazuki shuddered exaggeratedly, rubbing his arms as if warding off goosebumps.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Misty laughed, then climbed onto Kazuki's lap, straddling his thighs. "Back then we were just partners—I didn't mind your teasing."
"But now I'm your girlfriend. You have to listen to me!"
"Kazuki! Kazuki!"
"Kazuki!" she cooed like a spoiled child.
Leaning against the stair landing nearby, Delia watched with a tender smile. She let out a soft sigh and quietly headed back to her room.
---
After the whirlwind events at Porta Vista, Kazuki gained not only wealth and reputation but also leveled up his Pokémon impressively.
With their next stretch being long forest trails and sea routes, Delia, having no Pokémon to protect herself, opted to use Porta Vista as a transit hub to travel ahead to Kalos to meet Grace and Serena.
During their farewell, Misty hugged Delia tightly and whispered into her ear, "Delia, next time we meet, I'll help you! I'll make sure Kazuki takes responsibility for bullying you!"
Delia smiled sweetly, pressing her lips together. "Thank you. I'll count on you then."
When it was Kazuki's turn to hug Delia goodbye, she whispered mischievously, "When you... when you do it with Misty, be gentle. It'll be her first time."
"Don't go treating her the way you treated me, okay?"
Kazuki chuckled quietly. "Relax. I know exactly how deep to go."
"Alright! I'm off to Kalos to lay the groundwork with Serena for you!" Delia took a guilty glance in Misty's direction, then leaned closer to Kazuki's ear and whispered, "Goodbye, Master. Once everything's ready with Serena and Grace, I'll come back to you."
Blushing fiercely after her daring farewell, Delia scampered off happily toward her ship.
After the final hugs and promises were exchanged, Delia set sail for Kalos.
Misty, waving until Delia's ship disappeared into the horizon, clung to Kazuki's arm brightly. "See that? Delia really didn't want to leave you!"
"You better keep her in your plans, got it?"
From the enthusiasm on Misty's face, she seemed even more eager for Delia to join their "family" than Kazuki was.
Pinching her cheek, Kazuki teased, "What's this? So eager for Delia to be part of our little group?"
"The two of you, lying face down together, cute butts in the air... what a beautiful scene!"
"I mean... yeah, I am kinda looking forward to it..." Misty admitted shyly.
"You perv!" Misty smacked him again, though now she was laughing—she could handle his teasing a lot better now, even if she was still easily flustered.
"You wish! Both of us at once? You're dreaming!"
"I'd be too embarrassed! Even if I was willing to... you know... I'd only do it when it's just the two of us!"
"I couldn't act like that in front of the others... I'm too shy!" Misty confessed, blushing furiously.
"Shy, huh? So who was the one that kissed me first again?" Kazuki needled her mercilessly—teasing his shy little girlfriend was too much fun.
"You're so annoying!" Misty squealed, leaping onto Kazuki's back, looping her slender legs around his waist and her arms around his neck.
"Did you put on weight?! You're heavier!" he teased.
"Heavy?!" Misty pouted, then gave his ear a tiny nibble.
Right on the sensitive spot that, when circled with emphasis (you know where), made one realize she had fully clung to him.
"Guess you're stuck with me now!" she proclaimed proudly. "You should feel lucky to have the most beautiful girl in the world stuck on you!"
"Yeah, yeah, lucky me," Kazuki laughed. "Anyway, there's a patch of forest up ahead—they say there are lots of Caterpie there. Let's farm some XP!"
"Caterpie?!" Misty's eyes widened. She shook her head vigorously and tightened her hold on Kazuki. "Fine—we'll farm XP... but I'm sticking right here so no Caterpie can get near me!"
The two of them laughed all the way down the trail, Kazuki taking full advantage of the Minor Champion Aura's remaining time to level grind.
[Pokémon Update]
[Pikachu: Lv31→Lv34]
[Pidgeotto: Lv36→Lv37]
[Butterfree: Lv24→Lv30]
[Wartortle: Lv30→Lv32]
[Bulbasaur: Lv32→Lv33]
[Charmeleon: Lv25→Lv28]
Because of differences in individual Potential and equipped Items, the rate of level growth varied greatly among the Pokémon.
Butterfree, who gained the most levels, finally reached the Advanced class.
[Ding! Mission Triggered — Stop The Release of Butterfree: Help Butterfree Successfully Court A Shiny Pink Butterfree And Prevent The Canon Release Event!]
[Mission Rewards: Butterfree Exclusive Potential Enhancement Mark — use to boost Butterfree's Potential by one rank!
Beginner Waltzing Aura — while commanding Flying-type Pokémon, has a chance to boost combat strength by 20%!]
Oh? Here comes a key turning point from the original story!
In the canon timeline, Ash had to let Butterfree go during the mating season... and I remember his Butterfree even got rejected at first!
But this isn't the original script—it's the perfect script!
Don't worry, Butterfree—your wife? I'll make sure you get her, no problem!
Completing this mission would even net an extra Potential upgrade item...
I wonder how high that shiny pink Butterfree's Potential is?
Could be a jackpot!
Once I secure her, I'll decide how to use that enhancement item!
And about that Waltzing Aura... another flying-type battle boost? Looks like the system really wants me to become a Flying-Type Elite!
Kazuki closed the system interface.
Misty finished feeding the Pokémon and came over, clapping her hands clean.
"Kazuki, the fast-food kibble we got at Porta Vista... the Pokémon don't seem to like it much," she said, pointing to the leftover food lying around. "They only ate until they weren't hungry. Nobody's full!"
Kazuki glanced at the Pokémon. Misty was right—they were eating just enough but no more. He started recalling them into their Poké Balls.
"Well, can't be helped. Porta Vista doesn't have a Gym, so it doesn't have the same support industries other cities do."
"Looks like we really need to find a breeder to whip up some proper feed," Kazuki mused.
Misty leaned her head against his shoulder, thinking. After a while, she perked up. "Hey! Maybe I can try making some Pokémon food myself!"
"You?"
"Pika? Pika?"
Both Kazuki and Pikachu gave her matching incredulous looks.
"Umm... I know the store feed isn't great," Kazuki admitted, "but at least it didn't poison anyone, right? We can hold out until Saffron City."
"Pika! Pika!" Pikachu nodded rapidly in agreement; after hearing that, even the bland Porta Vista kibble suddenly tasted a little better to him.
"Poison?" Misty tilted her head in confusion. "What're you two talking about? Am I really that bad at cooking?"
"Here! Let me show you right now!" Misty declared, reaching for her backpack.
Kazuki quickly snatched it up and started dragging her forward. "Come on! The ferry's coming soon—we've still got a stretch of water route to cross!"
"You're still missing a common Pokémon for your usual team, right? Maybe you'll even catch a new Water-type soon!"
"A Water-type?!" Misty's eyes sparkled. "Let's go! Let's go!"
Halfway there, though, she suddenly remembered, "Wait a second! Weren't we talking about my cooking?!"
Kazuki laughed it off, ruffling her hair. He wasn't sure if her short attention span was good or bad sometimes.
"Quick, quick! We're almost there!" he said, pulling her into a run again, neatly sidestepping the subject.
And just like that, Misty was whisked away onto the ferry, blissfully distracted.
Right now, they were deep into their honeymoon phase—just a few sweet words were all it took to sweep Misty into a haze of happiness, banishing any doubts.
Kazuki stole a quick kiss on Misty's forehead, then turned to check their next ferry stop.
Maiden's Peak!
As soon as he confirmed their destination, the familiar system chime rang out in his ear.
[Ding!...]
---
New Goal:- 400PS
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