March 5th, Friday.
After a day's journey, the two arrived at the bustling Jubilife City.
Cynthia bid farewell to Natsume-sensei and departed for the Sinnoh League.
They had spent an entire week in Celestic Town.
As the Sinnoh Champion, Cynthia indeed had a mountain of work waiting for her.
Jubilife City Airport, departure lounge.
Natsume-sensei watched the golden-haired beauty's graceful figure recede into the distance, then turned away reluctantly—only to find Gengar sniffling with a handkerchief in its mouth.
Natsume blinked. "Why do you look even sadder than me?"
Gengar stood on the ground, waving its tiny handkerchief at Cynthia's retreating form.
"Gengar! (｀Д｀)"
It's going to be so long before we see her again! This is unbearable!
Over their three days in Celestic Town, the little ones had grown fond of Cynthia.
Just as Natsume had once rented Cynthia's team, building trust with Lucario, Spiritomb, Togekiss, and others…
Through top-tier guidance, grueling training, and tangible growth in strength…
Cynthia had earned the respect of Natsume's Pokémon.
Much like Lucario and Blastoise's mentor-student dynamic, or Glaceon and Sylveon's playful squabbles…
The bonds formed through companionship—
These were what Natsume cherished most.
"Let's go."
Natsume ruffled Gengar's head and grinned.
"Moe-Moe! isn't gone forever. We've got our own business to handle."
"Gengar!" Gengar nodded slowly, its grin returning.
This "business" must mean more training!
Perfect timing—I've mastered a new move.
Time to test it out at the research institute's training grounds!
"Gengar~! (≧▽≦)"
Natsume watched Gengar's mischievous cackling with a strange expression.
As everyone knew, Natsume's Arcanine and Sylveon were gentle and adorable.
Gengar didn't have a mean bone in its body… probably?
Still, Natsume had already secured a VIP card from the Renovation Captain (Sinnoh Form).
As long as the house wasn't reduced to rubble, it was fine.
"No wonder most trainers travel instead of settling down."
Natsume sighed deeply. "No amount of money can withstand this kind of destruction!"
Moe-Moe!'s figure had long vanished from sight.
Natsume turned and prepared to ride his beloved Arcanine back to Sandgem Town.
Buzz—
His phone vibrated with a new message.
Cabbage Ice Cream: Don't miss me too much.
Natsume-sensei: I'll honor your absence by battling with a Garchomp team daily.
Cynthia raised an eyebrow.
Cabbage Ice Cream: Against whom?
Natsume-sensei: Gold. He challenged me—I'll give him a proper thrashing!
Cynthia smirked in amusement.
If it's Gold… then no problem!
Natsume-sensei set his phone down, stroking his chin.
Cynthia's team composition was arguably the most balanced among Champions.
Aside from Leon—the most dedicated (and ruthless) worker—
Her Garchomp-centric squad outclassed even "Helping Hand Onix" or "Steven's Steel Legion."
The thought of Gold's "Sunny Day Relay Team" challenge made Natsume-sensei's eyebrow twitch.
I don't even know how to lose!!
...
Johto Region, New Bark Town.
A town brushed by the first winds of spring—Gold's hometown.
[Morning! This is DJ Mary on the air!]
A goggle-wearing delinquent turned on the radio and grinned—until he spotted the red-haired youth lounging in front of his TV.
"You—why are you in my house?!"
Silver kept his eyes on the tokusatsu show. "Your window was open."
"So you just climbed in?!"
Silver paused, then nodded. "It was easy."
"That's not the point!"
Gold clutched his head. "If my mom finds you here, she'll think you stayed overnight!"
Silver froze, as if realizing the implication.
"Gold!"
The door swung open. Gold's mother stared at the two, blinked, then smiled.
"Hungry? I'll make lunch!"
Silence.
Silver looked at Gold. "It's fine."
"Fine?! This is a disaster!" Gold plopped onto the floor, seething.
A knock. Sunflora entered with tea and snacks.
"Thanks, Sunbo!" Gold crunched on a rice cracker.
"I came for a reason."
Silver sipped his tea, eyes closed. "About… my—" He corrected himself. "Team Rocket's Giovanni."
"Oh, your dad! What about him?"
Silver shot Gold a glare but sighed.
"He's been reaching out. I don't… know how to face him."
He'd stumbled upon a private message—just an ID: [Tales of Cat and Child].
The channel had fewer than 1,000 views, yet updated daily:
Persian licking its paw. Persian stretching. Persian napping…
Not a single trace of the "child" in the title.
It reminded Silver of caring for his father in the maple woods.
Restless, he'd sought Gold in the dead of night.
"Uncle Giovanni's pretty cool."
Gold scratched his chin, then scowled.
"But why didn't he recruit me?!"
"Team Rocket's picky, huh? I'm a Johto star trainer!"
Silver stiffened. Now that he thought about it…
Gold was the only Pokédex holder not invited to Team Rocket.
Ahem. Silver coughed, shoulders shaking.
Gold smirked. His antics had lightened the mood.
'Gold the Fifth' was more perceptive than he let on.
He'd once battled Champion-level Pryce alone—not out of recklessness, but to protect Silver and Crystal.
Silver wasn't just a rival.
He was Gold's most treasured comrade.
"Ignore Team Rocket."
Gold clapped Silver's shoulder. "But check on your old man sometimes."
"Phone. Now."
"Eh? Togebo, stop mahjong! Give it back!"
"Toge-boh!" Togebo tossed the phone disdainfully.
Gold handed it over. Silver tapped a few times and returned it.
"What'd you do?"
"Followed him. He has 20 followers now."
Gold scratched his head. "Lt. Surge has 10K… Natsume-sensei's hitting a million?"
Silver pictured Natsume-sensei—cool, powerful, unbeatable.
"A Champion," he murmured. "Even Senior Lance only ties with him."
"Speaking of Natsume-sensei—"
Gold grinned. "Let me show you my sun team!"
Under Silver's watchful gaze, Gold challenged Natsume-sensei to a battle.
Natsume accepted instantly.
On-screen, Typhlosion's flames blazed under harsh sunlight as Garchomp sharpened its scythes—
Ten minutes later.
[You Lose]
Gold stared at the screen.
Silver nodded. "Losing to Natsume-sensei is no shame."
"But 6-0?!"
"My first match? Also a shutout."
Gold gasped. You remembered that?!
I need to redeem myself!
[Gold]: Rematch!
Natsume massaged his temples.
I have enough battle points already.
Why do I keep using sun teams as teaching tools?
Gold, just work at a Pokémon Day Care.
Egg hatching suits you better than strategy!
...
Sevii Islands, Team Rocket Base.
Matori, the bespectacled OL-dressed secretary, pushed up her round glasses in surprise after finishing her routine report to Giovanni.
"The Boss seems... in a good mood today?"
Previously, Giovanni had ordered her to privately follow an obscure content creator account.
He'd strictly commanded her to keep it confidential.
Matori strongly suspected this small-time creator was none other than the Boss himself...
Clicking on the ID, Matori raised an eyebrow.
"In just a few days, it already has 20 followers?"
Her gaze dropped lower.
Among the mutual follows, one stood out glaringly:
[Natsume-sensei, Are You Serving Dinner Today?] with millions of followers.
Matori cleared her throat and muttered:
"The Boss surely doesn't care about such things..."
The silent war room was suddenly pierced by a ringing phone.
The person I personally recruited now outranks me...
Glancing at the caller ID, Matori answered reluctantly:
"Mentor, your orders...?"
"I've sent you locations of several poacher bases in Sinnoh. Handle them promptly."
Matori blinked. The intel her Mentor provided was more detailed than her own reconnaissance...
"Where... did you obtain this?"
Natsume replied casually: "Lance told me. His people will assist."
Matori: ???
Have some self-awareness as Team Rocket's Mentor!
Since when do you have League officer connections?!
Next you'll say you're secretly International Police!
But she nodded solemnly. "Understood."
Even the once-"evil" Team Rocket wouldn't recklessly throw Poké Balls like those Pokémon hunters.
Such actions violated both Pokémon ecology and most trainers' principles.
In games, using cheat codes to catch everything was one thing.
But in reality? Those who abused Poké Balls for mass captures...
Even Matori, an evil organization secretary, found them intolerable.
After hanging up, Matori mobilized her elite "Matori Matrix" with practiced efficiency.
The poachers in Sinnoh Region...
Would soon face a joint purge from both officers and Team Rocket.
Meanwhile, at Sinnoh League HQ, the atmosphere was oddly relaxed.
The golden-haired beauty who had just returned to duty asked her assistant in surprise:
"Team Rocket is participating in this operation?"
The assistant nodded cautiously. "Their reputation seems improved. Should we intervene...?"
After all, Team Rocket was formerly a villainous organization.
Most Sinnoh higher-ups still viewed them with suspicion.
"The enemy of my enemy..."
Cynthia murmured, thinking of Meowth and his team. "Perhaps they're not necessarily enemies..."
"Where's Lucian?" she asked.
"Elite Four Lucian said he needed to... rest after hearing of your return."
The assistant quoted verbatim: "He claimed he was too exhausted and needed to 'recover his hairline.'"
Cynthia smiled sheepishly before standing gracefully, her gaze sharpening:
"Then I'll handle this operation personally."
Clad in her black trench coat, Cynthia exuded commanding presence.
Under the awed stares of those around her, she strode out of Pokémon League HQ.
...
Sandgem Town, Professor Rowan's Research Institute.
Black smoke drifted lazily from the backyard.
At the center of the training grounds gaped a massive meteorite-like crater.
"Gengar!" Gengar scratched its head awkwardly.
Oops... overdid it this time!
Nearby rangers gulped nervously.
"Uh, boss... should we step in?" asked the rookie.
This destruction looks worse than a terrorist attack!
The lead ranger gave the newcomer a profound look before turning away.
"Stand down."
Rookie: ???
"That's Natsume-sensei's Pokémon," someone explained, patting the rookie's shoulder. "He'll handle the cleanup!"
As if on cue, a construction company truck appeared on the horizon.
"Gengar! (￣▽￣)／" Gengar waved cheerfully.
Natsume, riding shotgun, wore a complicated expression.
At least it's just the professor's backyard...
But I'm still paying for repairs.
As the sun dipped low, the renovation team worked with miraculous efficiency.
The renovation captain suddenly wiped his eyes, moved to tears.
Just a little more effort... and we can open a branch next year!
Natsume-sensei, our eternal savior!!
Night fell.
Natsume led his little ones back home in Sandgem Town.
"Sylveon~ (≧▽≦)?" Sylveon pounced onto its hamster wheel with zero resistance.
"Blastoise... ヾ(■_■)" Blastoise donned sunglasses and submerged into its fish tank like an abyssal titan.
The sea... boundless!
"Sirfetch'd~! " After three days of "brutal" training, Sirfetch'd had slimmed down noticeably.
It solemnly replanted its leek in the pot and nodded.
Must replenish what was lost with fresh leek leaves!
Arcanine remained energetic, dashing around the yard like a husky with its tongue lolling.
Natsume shook his head and entered the kitchen.
Opening the rice cooker, he gestured to Rotom:
"Rotom, activate Ultra-Appetizing Mode!"
"System Overload, Rotom! o(TヘTo)"
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