"Gah?"
Upon hearing Natsuhiko's words, Chimchar took the dark red fragment out of its mouth with some confusion.
This little thing it used for picking its teeth—though it liked it very much—seemed to be also liked by Natsuhiko and Togetic?
Thinking for a moment, Chimchar reached out its hand to offer it.
"Gah—"
'For you.'
Looking at the fragment in Chimchar's palm, still sticky with its saliva, the corner of Natsuhiko's mouth twitched involuntarily.
He lightly pressed his forehead.
"I don't want your thing; I'm just curious about where you got it from," Natsuhiko explained.
Given the sharpness of this fragment, could it be that Chimchar had ground it down bit by bit with its teeth?
If so, wouldn't some powder have been inadvertently consumed?
This...
Natsuhiko felt he needed to reassess the talent and potential of this Flash Chimchar.
"Gah—"
Chimchar suddenly understood, withdrew the fragment, wiped it on itself, and then stuffed it back into its dense fur among the flame disk.
This fragment.
Chimchar had liked it at first glance, though it didn't know why, only finding a reason to appease its feelings, eventually turning it into a toothpick.
But ever since obtaining this fragment, Chimchar felt its body growing stronger day by day, its control and use of fire also improving.
Chimchar attributed this to its hard training efforts, never considering that it might be due to the fragment.
What impact could a toothpick have, after all?
Upon hearing Natsuhiko inquire about the fragment's origin, Chimchar stood up, pointing toward a certain direction in the complex underground space.
Chimchar thought for a moment, realized that simply pointing wouldn't help Natsuhiko find it, so it walked a few steps ahead, gesturing for him to follow.
A nice little walk after a meal.
It seemed that Chimchar intended to take them along.
Natsuhiko thought for a moment and recalled all the Pokémon except for Togetic and the other three small ones.
Even though it was probably time to rest, compared to the Shell Fragments of Original Groudon, rest wasn't urgent.
There would be plenty of time to sleep when you're dead.
Chimchar called out to Blazing Beast and Cyndaquil.
Blazing Beast nodded.
Knowing Natsuhiko would accompany them and having just witnessed Natsuhiko's "deck," it didn't object, knowing he could protect Chimchar.
At the same time, this was also an opportunity for Chimchar.
To experience how it felt to be with Natsuhiko—if it liked it, it would certainly be a better choice for it.
However, little Cyndaquil, filled with curiosity, also wanted to follow but was blocked by Blazing Beast.
Blazing Beast knew it couldn't provide Chimchar with much, and despite the reluctance in its heart, perhaps following someone else would lead to greater prospects.
For Cyndaquil, though, Blazing Beast believed that staying with it would be best, as it could teach it many things.
Different methods and handling approaches, but in reality, Blazing Beast made its choices from a mother's perspective, just hoping both children could obtain what suited them best—the most suitable environment for their growth.
And so, Natsuhiko followed the nimble Chimchar, heading in a certain direction.
A Chimchar satisfied from its meal seemed very lively, bounding and leaping on the ground, climbing up some pillar, and standing on certain rock surfaces without pause.
Being apart from Cyndaquil, Chimchar temporarily forgot the loneliness in its heart.
Perhaps that was one of the reasons Blazing Beast made such a choice in the first place.
While walking.
Natsuhiko began asking about Chimchar.
For example, why Chimchar was living with Blazing Beast's group.
In its own words, from the moment it was born, it was with Blazing Beast mother and Cyndaquils. When it was younger, it even thought Blazing Beast was its mother, and that it was the same kind of Pokémon as the Cyndaquils.
But as it grew, it realized it was indeed different; it wasn't the same kind of Pokémon as them.
When it gradually became aware, Chimchar recognized this.
It was from that moment that Chimchar began to notice the strange looks some Cyndaquils gave it—except for that one Cyndaquil, the rest seemed to subtly exclude it.
So...
Growing up and becoming aware wasn't necessarily a good thing.
Worries, stress, responsibilities—all starting to come along.
With this realization, Chimchar couldn't help but feel a bit down again.
After learning it wasn't the same kind of Pokémon as the Cyndaquils and Blazing Beast, Chimchar even considered leaving.
Yet, it felt reluctant to part with that Cyndaquil, so amidst this awkward environment, it lived on to this day.
The only thing it could do was train continuously to avoid thinking about these troubling matters.
And becoming strong, as strong as Blazing Beast, or even stronger, became its biggest goal.
After listening, Natsuhiko's expression became somewhat wistful.
He approached the Chimchar squatting on a rock, its head lowered and appearing a bit forlorn.
Pa—
He reached out and cuffed its head lightly.
Then rubbed it.
Chimchar was taken aback by Natsuhiko's pat, lowering its head slightly, and then slowly looked up with confusion.
Strangely enough.
Chimchar and Natsuhiko had only met today. Though it didn't feel exceptionally comfortable, compared to Cyndaquils who saw it as somewhat solitary, Chimchar didn't resist Natsuhiko.