strictlysupreme Chapter 380: Grusha
Chapter 380: Grusha
Chapter 380: Grusha7:00 PM – Pokémon Tavern
The Pokémon Tavern was buzzing with life, illuminated by warm, cheerful lights. A diverse group of Pokémon had gathered to unwind, raising their mugs in a celebratory toast. Among them were Pokémon from the nearby town, along with wild Pokémon who had heard of the Tavern's welcoming atmosphere and ventured there to join the fun.
This evening, Naoki had brought Farfetch'd to the Tavern with a specific purpose in mind. He was
Farfetch'd maintained a disciplined routine. After eating a few berries in the morning, it would patrol the onion garden to ensure no bird Pokémon were stealing its prized crops. Once satisfied, it would begin its daily workout—lifting dumbbells, doing push-ups, and honing its strength.
Psyduck would always show up during Farfetch'd's training sessions, standing quietly by the garden fence to watch. Occasionally, it would catch small fish from the river and present them to Farfetch'd as gifts. However, Farfetch'd, focused entirely on its fitness regimen, had no interest in the offerings and politely declined each time.
Disheartened by the lack of response, Psyduck eventually stopped visiting the onion garden altogether. It returned to the riverbank, its steps heavy with disappointment.
Naoki: "..."
Just as Naoki was about to leave his observation post near the onion garden, a familiar sound startled him.
"Awoo?"
Turning, Naoki saw Dragonite standing behind him, its large eyes filled with curiosity. It tilted its head, clearly wondering why Naoki was crouched behind the garden fence.
Watching Farfetch'd tirelessly exercising nearby, Naoki couldn't help but feel deeply moved.
The love and dedication of Pokémon were so pure and heartfelt.
As this thought crossed his mind, he suddenly remembered something. Turning to Dragonite, he asked with a teasing smile, "Hey, Dragonite, didn't you have a crush on another Dragonite a while back?"
Naoki vividly recalled Dragonite's awkward attempts to court its crush. The memory of Dragonite's clumsy moves, inability to land any impressive attacks, and its habit of sulking by Casseroya Lake under the moonlight flashed vividly in his mind.
Hearing Naoki bring this up, Dragonite visibly stiffened, an embarrassed expression crossing its face.
"Awoo…" Dragonite growled softly, flapping its wings in an attempt to wave off the past. It let out a long sigh, indicating that those days were behind it and that it no longer had feelings for that Dragonite.
Naoki chuckled. "Alright, alright, I get it. But does this mean you're planning to be a single Dragonite for the rest of your life? No interest in finding another Dragonite to raise a family with?"
Dragonite blinked, startled by the question, before shaking its head vehemently. "Awoo!" it cried out, flailing its arms for emphasis.
"No way! I still have you and everyone else!" Dragonite seemed to say.
Naoki tilted his head, watching the passionate response. Although he wasn't using a translator device, he could piece together Dragonite's meaning from its actions and tone.
"So… you're saying you don't care about finding a mate? You're happy living as you are, and when it comes to laying eggs, it's all about love, not necessity?"
Dragonite nodded, its golden wings ruffling with what looked like pride.
Naoki leaned back, marveling at the complexity of Pokémon emotions and social behaviors. "Pokémon really are magical creatures," he murmured.
After lunch, Naoki headed upstairs to check on the Dragonite egg resting in a specially designed crib.
The egg was enormous, its creamy surface marked with faint blue patterns resembling the scales of a Dratini. The sight of it exuded an undeniable sense of vitality and promise.
This egg was the result of a pair of Dragonites on the ranch who had bonded deeply. Naoki and Indeedees had been entrusted with its care.
As Naoki gazed at the egg, he couldn't help but muse aloud, "I still don't get why those two Dragonites trust us so much. They just handed over their egg without a second thought."
In the wild, it was common for Pokémon parents to guard their eggs fiercely, often refusing to leave them unattended. Yet, these two Dragonites seemed perfectly at ease letting Naoki and his team take responsibility.
"It's trust," Naoki thought, his heart swelling with gratitude. "They know we'll take care of their child as if it were our own."
The midday sun streamed through the window, casting a soft glow over the room. Outside, the cheerful sounds of Pokémon playing echoed faintly.
Naoki kicked off his shoes, sitting cross-legged beside the crib. Gently, he reached out and ran his fingers along the smooth shell of the egg.
"It's already been over two months since it was laid," he murmured. According to the care guides he had studied, Dragonite eggs had an exceptionally long incubation period, often taking up to ten months to hatch.
"It's the end of June now," Naoki calculated. "At this rate, it'll probably hatch sometime in January next year."
As the cicadas chirped outside the window, their sound resonating through the summer air, Naoki sighed, feeling the unyielding passage of time.
"Wow, time seems to crawl!" he thought as he listened to the rhythmic buzz.
He stood and began descending the stairs, wishing that by the time he reached the bottom, he'd somehow skipped ahead to the day when his Rotom Phone project would finally be completed. Of course, such miracles were impossible.
At five o'clock in the evening, Zack arrived at the ranch as usual, his truck pulling up to collect the day's harvest.
Naoki was busily sorting through the crates of fruit, calculating the quantities to be sold.
Watching him work, Zack wiped the sweat from his brow with a towel and grinned. "This ranch has really come a long way! It's hard to believe it's been less than two years since you started. What a transformation!"
Naoki returned the smile. "It's all thanks to the Pokémon," he said, glancing fondly at Koraidon and Cyclizar, who were busy loading crates into the truck.
Hearing their trainer's praise, Koraidon and Cyclizar perked up and let out cheerful cries.
"Gaao~!"
"Ah gah~!"
Zack chuckled at their enthusiasm. "Haha! Koraidon and Cyclizar really are reliable! But you know," he added with a teasing glint in his eye, "it's time you started thinking about settling down. Find yourself a wife, build a family. Life will only get better with someone by your side."
Naoki froze, blinking at the unexpected turn in the conversation. 'Is Zack seriously trying to set me up?' he wondered. He gave a helpless laugh. "It's a bit early for that, don't you think?"
"It's not early at all!" Zack countered, his tone shifting into the gossipy enthusiasm of an old friend. "Come on, do you at least have someone you like?"
"No way…" Naoki shook his head.
'It's not like that. Sure, people in the Pokémon world are good-looking, but relationships aren't just about appearances. It's about the connection.'
He silently ran through the women he'd spoken to since arriving in this world. There weren't many. Kelly, Madame Dantes, Geeta, and Professor Sada were the few that came to mind.
"None of them are suitable," he muttered under his breath, though his mind lingered for a moment on Iono—the bright, energetic girl he'd met by chance in Levincia, who had dragged him off to a local restaurant to try her favorite dishes.
Zack's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Then how about I introduce you to someone?" His eyes sparkled mischievously. "A friend of mine has a daughter who's also a trainer. She might be a good match. What do you think?"
"…" Naoki was dumbfounded. Blind dates? In the Pokémon world?
"No, no, no!" He waved his hands frantically. "I'm not in a rush. Really!"
"Alright, alright." Zack relented, though his grin showed he wasn't entirely convinced. "But if you change your mind, let me know. I'm sure your grandfather would love to see you settled down."
Naoki sighed. "Okay. Thanks, Zack."
With a friendly laugh, Zack helped load the remaining crates into the truck, handed Naoki the payment, and drove off toward town.
As Zack's truck disappeared down the road, Naoki turned and headed back into the house. His gaze fell on the calendar hanging on the wall. It was June 29th—tomorrow would be the summer fireworks festival.
As he started preparing dinner for the Pokémon, Naoki found himself wondering which Pokémon he'd take to the festival.
...
The next morning, the sky was bright, the air clear and fresh. Naoki was busy milking his Gogoat when he noticed sister Indeedee running toward him in a flurry.
"Ai-ai!" she called out, waving her hands frantically.
Naoki straightened, startled. "What's wrong?" he asked, setting down the pail. "Did something happen?"
Indeedee pointed urgently toward the entrance of the ranch.
Following her direction, Naoki spotted a striking figure standing near the gate—a young woman with long, flowing blue hair and piercing ice-blue eyes. She was watching the Dragonite grazing on the grass.
Sensing Naoki's gaze, the woman turned slightly, her serene expression meeting his.
"Hello. I am Grusha, the Gym Leader of Glaseado Gym. I've been sent here by the Pokémon League for special training."
.....
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