The moonlight flowed like silk, the water trickled softly, and in the quiet courtyard, the clattering sound of bamboo echoed.
After battling Blaine.
Lu Ye, drenched in sweat, pulled Gengar along and soaked in the hot spring for another half hour.
"So comfy…"
Lu Ye rested his hand on the slippery green stone and sighed in contentment.
"Gengarr~" Gengar nodded in agreement.
The large-bodied Arcanine sat at the edge of the water, dipped its paws in first, then slowly sank its whole body in, a dopey grin spreading across its face.
After evolving, Arcanine was probably around two meters tall.
But the one owned by Teacher Lu seemed to have developed more horizontally—roughly only about 1.7 meters.
Visually, it looked more like a big lion.
Not too exaggerated—just the right size to ride and still fit in the house.
Lu Ye patted Arcanine's fluffy head and suddenly realized—This Friday, doesn't that mean he can ride Arcanine to and from work?!
He can walk his dog and save on commuting costs.
More importantly, it just looked so damn cool!
"Next week, I'm counting on you!" Lu Ye said cheerfully.
"Arrooo (O_o)??"
I don't know what you're laughing about, but I'm sure it's nothing good!
---
Coming out of the hot spring.
Arcanine shook its mane, its flax-colored fur faintly glowing under the moonlight.
Lu Ye rested his hand on the mane, feeling a bit emotional.
Every time the little ones evolved,
Lu Ye always felt like a proud dad.
Of course, evolution is a leap in life—and ultimately, Arcanine's own choice.
All Lu Ye could do was take good care of these "little ones."
"Let's go," Lu Ye smiled. "Time for a late-night snack!"
"Arrooo~~"
Arcanine raised its head and howled, its stance full of vigor, mane swaying briskly in the night breeze.
---
The night deepened, and the early winter wind carried a crisp chill.
Red and Yellow had just returned from the town. Yellow was holding a Clefairy plushie.
"Red-senpai gave it to me," Yellow said with a big grin, clutching the plushie in both hands.
What the heck? Red is buying gifts now?!
"There was a battle event at the night market. It was a prize," Red explained.
Lu Ye blinked, and couldn't help but mourn for the Trainers who joined the battle.
To be wiped out by the strongest—at least they died with honor!
Even though Red had used Yellow's Butterfree,
The bloody "massacre" still shocked the tourists watching at the night market.
Before they could be recognized, the two of them sprinted back to the inn and recounted what happened to Teacher Lu.
Looking at the smiling and well-matched pair,
Teacher Lu nodded in satisfaction.
As the group chat admin, his members' lifelong happiness was naturally part of his concerns too!
The late-night snack had been arranged by Blaine—a selection of hand-pressed sushi, miso soup, and tamagoyaki made by the head chef.
Sitting in the corridor, Yellow curiously looked at the stocky, well-fed Arcanine lying on the floor.
"Did it evolve during the battle just now, Teacher Lu?"
"Yeah." Lu Ye nodded, passing the tamagoyaki to the Togepi in his arms.
Togepi bowed respectfully, then suddenly tipped over with a wobble, its little feet kicking adorably.
Sylveon used its ribbon to help Togepi back upright, its gaze fixed on Lu Ye.
Only to hear him sigh, "It really was a tough fight."
Red nodded with deep understanding.
"Probably… just like when I first ran into the Legendary Birds."
Lu Ye froze.
Legendary Birds?
What Legendary Birds?
It was just a Gym battle—how the heck did it get tied up with legendary Pokémon?
He glanced over at Arcanine, who was chomping away at a sticky rice ball, grains of rice stuck to the corner of its mouth.
Red's eyes were deep and thoughtful.
With the Sacred Fire of Entei, it had undergone training and evolved.
Was this the real reason Teacher Lu came to Cinnabar Island?
Seeing Red deep in thought, Lu Ye didn't have the heart to disturb him.
Sitting between the two, Lu Ye turned and asked Yellow beside him:
"When are you two heading back tomorrow?"
"If it's just a two-day, one-night trip, then we'll leave tomorrow afternoon," Erika replied, "Is Teacher Lu planning to stay a bit longer?"
"I'll head back tomorrow too," Lu Ye thought for a moment, "Still 'gotta teach on Friday… Can't keep asking Erika to sub for me."
Of course, if she could keep subbing forever, that'd be great too.
Mainly, he just wanted to ride Arcanine to school and flex a little.
It was a bit chubby, sure—but compared to a husky, even a chubby Alaskan Malamute is pretty cute! (dramatic voice)
The night breeze was gentle. After getting its fill, Arcanine lay down and started dozing off.
Snorlax also lay belly-up, lazily rubbing its round stomach.
Blaine walked over to the corridor, saw the towering stack of plates, and raised an eyebrow.
This half-month's income… did it all get eaten away tonight?
Sylveon sat like a lady on the floor, ribbons gently swaying.
Lu Ye rubbed its long ears.
"Heading home tomorrow—you can get back on the treadmill!"
Sylveon let out a soft hum.
With its beautiful deep blue eyes, it looked up at the bright full moon over Cinnabar Island.
---
Tuesday, November 24
After saying goodbye to Red, Lu Ye boarded the ferry back to Goldenrod City.
At the port, Red said, "Teacher Lu, let's battle again sometime!"
Lu Ye nodded, "Next time for sure!"
Battle Red?
Only if Gold stops being a pain someday, or if Sylveon stops being such a diva!
Inside the chat group, the vibe was still super lively.
'The Evolver' Green's eyes lit up when she heard Arcanine had evolved.
[Green: Got a pic? Let me take a look!]
Teacher Lu uploaded a cute sleeping photo of Arcanine, and Crystal looked surprised.
[Crystal: It just feels… way stronger than Jumpin' Arcanine…]
[Brock: Different training methods can lead to different traits in Pokémon. For a field-control type, this is an excellent result.] Brock nodded.
Blue was still examining the photo when Red's call came in.
"What is it?"
"I'm about to head back to Mt. Silver. Mind if I borrow your Charizard?"
"No problem." Blue paused, wanting to say more.
Knowing Blue better than anyone, Red said, "You want to ask about Teacher Lu's strength?"
Blue said seriously, "Did you battle him?"
"No," Red shook his head regretfully, "But he challenged the Cinnabar Gym and defeated Mr. Blaine."
Green frowned slightly.
"That's not all. I also saw Entei on Cinnabar Island," Red said. "I think Mr. Blaine used Entei's power—and still lost…"
"Is that so." Green gave a small nod.
With that kind of breeding skill, defeating Entei isn't exactly impossible…
"In any case!" Red clutched his phone and pulled down the brim of his red cap.
"Feel like battling today—kinda pumped up!"
"Just what I wanted." Blue let out a cold snort, a smirk forming on his lips.
---
Back home, Lu Ye yawned lazily.
"Gengar, grab me a cola~"
"Gengarr!"
"Tchugki-briee~" (Me too~)
Lying on the sofa.
Teacher Lu began to reflect on what he'd gained from the trip to Cinnabar Island.
Overall, Arcanine's evolution left him with mixed feelings.
It definitely got stronger… but also better at wrecking the house!
Extreme Speed plus Thrash Around—just imagining it made Lu Ye shudder.
Also, Blaine's Fire Blast TM wasn't exactly safe to keep at home.
Lu Ye planned to use it later in the school's Sunlight Room.
As for the Cinnabar Badge—it was more like a bonus prize.
What left Teacher Lu speechless was… the Sacred Fire from Entei seemed to make Arcanine even more energetic.
Could it be… that Entei felt a sense of kinship seeing an Arcanine that looked just like it?
In the end, Lu Ye shook his head and patted Arcanine's butt.
"Come on, let's go run a few laps in the yard!"
"Arrooo~~(⊙o⊙*)"