"What happened here?"
"Not sure. Heard there was a theft—an engine and some kind of giant drainage pipe got stolen."
"Oh."
In an instant, Natsume lost all interest.
"Let's go, Misty. Huh? Why aren't you eating your ice cream? Why'd you throw it on the ground?"
"Ahhhhhhhhhhh—!"
Natsume successfully triggered the "Pursuer Blood Rage Mode." He sprinted ahead, while Misty gave chase from behind, the shopping cart wheels spinning madly.
Cerulean City Pokémon Center
"Huff… huff…"
In a corner, two figures—one large, one small—leaned against the wall to catch their breath.
"N-Natsume! You're way too much! I'm never going shopping with you again!"
"You were the one—huff—who said you'd help me carry stuff."
Right now, Misty regretted everything.
She felt so stupid, truly. She should've known better. Even if she had nowhere to go to avoid her sisters, coming to Natsume was definitely not the right move.
She might as well have hung herself on a tree outside and pretended to be a wild Mankey.
"Speaking of which," Natsume took a deep breath and looked at Misty beside him, reaching a hand toward her.
"What are you doing?"
Misty stared at him warily, afraid he was about to pull some ridiculous stunt again.
Natsume slowly opened his palm. In it lay a smooth, water-blue stone.
"A Water Stone? For me?" Misty's eyes lit up. She had actually wanted to ask Natsume for one for a while now, but never had the nerve.
"Now that's more like it!"
Misty took the Water Stone and held it in her hands like a precious treasure hard-won.
Clunk— Natsume pulled out a small pouch and gave it a shake—several more Water Stones dropped into Misty's hands.
Seeing the three extra stones, Misty blinked in surprise.
"You're heading home, right? Gotta have something to show for it. Can't go traveling for months and come back empty-handed, can you?"
Natsume's voice followed.
"How do you know that? Are you spying on me?!" Misty stared at him, stunned.
"To know if a companion can be trusted, you've got to understand them inside out. Besides…" Natsume pointed at her face.
"Your thoughts are written all over it."
"But… are you really this nice?"
Misty looked down at the four Water Stones in her hands and cast a curious glance at Natsume.
This brat doesn't trust me?
Seeing this, Natsume shrugged his shoulders and suddenly took on a holy glow, gazing at Misty with a benevolent expression:
"No matter what, as the only adult here, I suppose I count as your temporary guardian!"
With that, Natsume turned and began dragging the shopping cart away.
Watching the Rotom phone automatically adjusting its lighting, Misty couldn't help twitching at the corners of her mouth.
Still, deep inside, she was actually quite grateful.
This unreliable researcher… maybe he was more empathetic than she thought.
Yes, empathetic.
"Why are you just standing there?"
Misty didn't leave but instead asked, confused, watching Natsume strike poses while pulling the cart.
"Uh, can you give me a push?"
Misty: "…"
Once everything was packed up, Natsume brought Misty to the Cerulean City Gym.
When they got back to the Pokémon Center earlier, Ash and Brock weren't around—likely already at the gym.
Soon, Natsume and Misty arrived at a building shaped like a theater.
"Your three sisters are quite beautiful."
Natsume sipped his Moomoo Milk while gazing at the large posters outside the gym, and sincerely complimented her.
"Hmph, of course they are. Whose sisters do you think they are?"
Misty proudly lifted her chin.
Soon, the two walked into the gym.
Misty still seemed uneasy, keeping a noticeable distance behind Natsume.
Helpless, Natsume had to enter on his own.
Near a pool filled with foam props, he saw Ash.
Facing him were three beautiful women—just like on the posters—with golden, blue, and pink hair respectively.
Nearby, Brock was collapsed on the floor, eyes replaced by hearts, clearly having combusted under the intense three-sister sunshine.
"Huh? Are you here for a challenge too?"
The Cerulean Sisters noticed Natsume.
"Natsume!" Ash waved at him.
"You two know each other?" the blonde eldest sister, Sakura, smiled, then looked a little embarrassed as she turned to Natsume:
"Sorry, the last three new trainers from Pallet Town were just too strong. We don't have any Pokémon left for battle right now."
"Yeah, the rest are scheduled for the water ballet shows. They can't be used for battles," added the pink-haired third sister, Botan.
"So, we'll just give you the Cascade Badge directly."
As she spoke, Sakura pulled out two droplet-shaped badges and offered them to the boys.
"Huh? That's way too half-hearted," Ash blinked, then his eyes sharpened:
"Natsume told me that unearned rewards are—"
"Thanks, I'll take them."
Before Ash could finish, Natsume had already stepped forward and accepted the badges.
"Natsume! That's not what you taught me!"
Ash looked at him, speechless.
"All our Pokémon are Electric-types, super effective against this gym's Water-types," Natsume shrugged.
"Besides, they really don't have any Pokémon left to battle."
"Oh…" Ash fell silent for a moment and also reached out for the badge.
"Hold it right there!"
Just then, a voice rang out as Misty leapt in front of Ash.
"I'm going to battle you!"
Misty pulled out a Poké Ball and stared at Ash.
"But why would I battle you?" Ash scratched his head.
"Oh my, Misty!" Sakura stepped forward.
"Didn't you say you wouldn't come back until you became the best Water-type Pokémon trainer? What, things got tough out there and now you're crawling back to us?"
"Hahaha!"
The three sisters burst into laughter.
"I—I've got something to show for it too!"
Misty pulled out the four Water Stones.
"Huh?"
The blue-haired second sister, Ayame, delicately picked one up.
"They're real Water Stones!"
The other two gathered around.
"Yep, Misty got those in Pewter City," Natsume added.
"Hmph, that's right! I got these with my sharp eye as a future top Water-type trainer!"
With Natsume backing her, Misty transformed into Pinocchio and started spouting tall tales.
"Wow, looks like you really did well."
"Guess letting you travel was the right choice. We were a little worried at first."
"Exactly. While you've grown, we've become even more popular as the Cerulean Sisters trio!"
"Enough!"
Misty shouted, silencing the lively chatter.
"In any case, Ash, I challenge you as a Cerulean Gym Trainer!"
"We'll use this pool as the battlefield. Go, Staryu!"
Misty stared at Ash across the water.
"Huh? Why don't you challenge Natsume?"
"Can't beat him," Misty answered bluntly.
"What the heck!" Ash felt insulted.
"Go, Pikachu!"
"Pika!" Pikachu tugged at Ash's pants awkwardly.
"Huh? You say you really like Misty and don't want to battle her?"
"Pika pika!" Pikachu nodded seriously.
"Hahaha! Give it up! Even your super-effective Pikachu refuses to battle me. You don't stand a chance!" Misty's laughter echoed.
"Darn it, don't celebrate too soon. Go, Middle-Part!"
"Pika!"
Misty: "???"
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin