The skeptical Kona requested another round with Natsuhiko.
This time, she took it even more seriously and didn't reveal which Pokémon she would choose.
However, the result was the same.
After several more rounds, Natsuhiko won each time using so-called "tactics."
This result left Kona deep in thought.
She realized that the tactics she learned from her teachers and textbooks at school were too "clean."
"Clean" to the point they shattered upon contact.
She looked at Natsuhiko with a complex expression, "Where did you learn all this from?"
"From a... very formidable 'teacher.'"
By "teacher," he naturally referred to the vast community of Pokémon enthusiasts whose tactics, honed over decades, were one of Natsuhiko's main sources of confidence.
"A teacher, huh?" Kona nodded, "Must be an extraordinary teacher, capable of mastering so many Pokémon's Techniques, traits, and combinations, and formulating suitable tactics and battle strategies."
"More or less."
After the "battle game" ended, Kona fell into a daze again.
Natsuhiko shook his head.
What a sporadic and unpredictable condition.
He silently stood by for a while, eventually feeling it was a waste of time, and waved his hand in front of Kona to forcefully wake her up.
"Hmm?"
"I think it's about time. I should head back," said Natsuhiko.
"Alright, alright, I'm sorry for taking up so much of your time," Kona repeatedly nodded, full of apology.
Natsuhiko waved it off and called back Togepi, who had grown close to Lapras.
"Togepi!"
Goodbye, big turtle.
"Woo——"
Finally, they're leaving.....
Togepi jumped into Natsuhiko's arms, snuggling cutely.
He gently tapped the mischievous little guy's head and retrieved the rest of his Pokémon.
"Wait, wait a minute," Kona called out again.
"What's up?"
"Can we exchange contact information? Maybe in the future, we can discuss—no, let me learn more about tactics." Kona's face turned slightly rosy.
This was the first time she had actively asked a boy for his contact information.
Of course, it was solely for learning purposes.
"Oh, sure," Natsuhiko didn't refuse.
"I've already added Dodo, so why not add the one who can backstab Dodo as well?"
A scene suddenly flashed in Natsuhiko's mind...
Kona, after becoming one of the Elite Four, using tactics he "taught" to rub Lance into the ground...
The scene was too delightful to dwell upon.
'Tsk tsk, maybe Lance will be even more miserable in the future.'
Perhaps, he inadvertently backstabbed Lance.
"By the way, have you installed the new communication tool the school recently launched?" Kona asked.
"This one?" Natsuhiko opened the tool Flint had installed for him.
"I knew it, let's add each other as friends."
What did she mean by, I knew it?
Nevertheless, they added each other as friends simultaneously.
'Flint and the League's joint promotion efforts are doing well; it's already being widely used at Pokemon School.'
Natsuhiko put away his phone, waved, and quickly left Laplace Beach.
Kona watched his departing figure.
Murmuring, "I wonder which Pokemon School he graduated from; their teachers must be really impressive..."
However, after Natsuhiko and the others left, Lapras seemed anxious, searching all around.
"Woo! Woo!"
It seemed it had lost something.
...
...
Back on the cruise ship.
Running into Kona was an unexpected event; aside from not encountering a wild Lapras, everything else went quite smoothly.
The Pokémon tested their strengths through live battles, initially trying out combination tactics and confirming Abra's core position in the strategies.
Overall, the results were quite good.
Besides some minor shortcomings, the general direction was correct.
The combination of the three Pokémon could unleash power beyond their usual capabilities.
This assured Natsuhiko that his path was correct; he now needed to continue with such combinations, adding more tactics, incorporating more Pokémon to remedy strategy gaps, and strengthening all aspects of the tactics.
But those were plans for later; for now, Natsuhiko needed to point out some shortcomings in Beedrill and the others.
He opened the computer to organize.
To make future training more targeted.
"Togepi——"
While Natsuhiko was busy at the computer, Togepi giggled cunningly.
Beedrill and Abra were already used to this demeanor.
And then they saw...
Togepi smugly felt around its body, and somehow produced a fist-sized azure drop of water.
It emitted a faint halo.
Like a crystal-clear, pure waterdrop.
"Abra?"
The glow of the blue halo made Abra open its eyes in surprise.
It seemed Togepi managed to get its hands on something good this time.
"Togepi!"
Togepi giggled like a triumphant general.
It was something it discovered on Lapras while playing; finding it interesting, it had "borrowed" it for fun.
The commotion Togepi caused eventually drew Natsuhiko's attention.
Unable to resist, he turned to look.
"What is this..."
He picked up Togepi, looking at the waterdrop it held as a treasure.
"A Mysterious Waterdrop?"
Mysterious Waterdrop: A drop-shaped gem that enhances the power of Water Attribute Techniques used by the Pokémon holding it.
"Where did you get this from?"
Togepi jumped to the ground, using its hands to gesture, accompanied by facial expressions and gestures.
Natsuhiko understood.
It came from Kona's Lapras...
Lapras, besides its great Techniques, traits, and utility, has another lesser-known feature.
Every so often, a Lapras can conjure a "Mysterious Waterdrop," much like how a Qwilfish can produce "Poison Needles," or a Clamperl can produce "Pearls" and "Big Pearls."
Because of various factors like habits, characteristics, and lifestyle, Pokémon might yield Pokémon Items.
Many Pokémon Items in the Pokemon Realm are self-produced by Pokémon.
This "Mysterious Waterdrop" was formed from the pure spirit of Lapras and its mastery of Water Energy, unconsciously aggregated.
But now...
Togepi had actually swiped it.
This item was valuable, and even for Pokémon, it could be very useful.
But its origin...
Natsuhiko took a deep breath, gently patting Togepi's little head.
First, it was Little Monk Ann Ci's Farfetch'd's leek, now Kona's Lapras's Mysterious Waterdrop...
"Maybe... it's best not to meet up with Kona for a while..."
See less of her.
Lay low.
At least wait until Kona forgets about this, then Natsuhiko would dare to meet her.
Otherwise, who knows if Kona will backstab Lance or him first?
"You little troublemaker..." Natsuhiko helplessly shook his head.
"Togepi." Togepi giggled, playing along.
Well then.
At least this "Mysterious Waterdrop" is far more valuable than the Farfetch'd's leek.
"Beep beep——"
Meanwhile, a notification on the computer indicated a private message.