The friendly battle with Gold ended without much drama.
After four Poké Balls dimmed in quick succession (scratch that...), Gold expressed his desire to learn Rain Team strategies.
Natsume paused. "But your Politoed's Ability is Water Absorb, isn't it?"
Gold countered, "Can't I manually set up rain?"
Natsume fell into deep thought at that.
Manually stealing weather control… Maybe Gold was playing 4D chess all along.
It was worth noting that Gold had once commanded Politoed to use Perish Song during the decisive battle in Ilex Forest.
When it came to unorthodox tactics… Gold was easily among the top of all Pokédex Holders.
"Meet me at the Ruins of Alph, then," Natsume said. "And remember to contact Silver—don't let him disappear again."
Silver was notoriously elusive, often operating alone.
Though Natsume suspected he was just following Green's Stall tactics while wandering aimlessly.
"Don't worry, leave it to me!" Gold grinned. "That guy's just binge-watching tokusatsu at my place!"
"May you two be happy together," Natsume said sincerely.
Gold: ???
The duel with Leon alone provided enough material for a short video.
But for tutorial purposes, Natsume still included Gold's match in the edit.
All to showcase a counterexample—no, wait—to make learning fun.
This video was edited with Rotom's help.
In its Computer form, Rotom's performance was impeccable—no risk of Premiere crashing halfway.
Knowing Rotom's mischievous habits, Natsume coughed lightly.
"Don't open the 'Study Materials' folder in Drive D. Anything else is fine."
Rotom suddenly blared a stern announcement:
"Full system scan initiated. Suspicious MP4 files detected. Purging now. Rotom!"
Natsume: ???
Watching Drive D being rapidly formatted, Natsume twitched and groaned,
"…I'll just edit it myself."
...
May 1st, Labor Day.
Episode 16 of Natsume-sensei Teaches Battling—Rain Perish Song Team—went live as scheduled.
"Updating on Labor Day? Natsume-sensei, were you hacked?!"
"Let's welcome today's victim—I mean, guest commentator!"
"Leon: I'm the one getting outplayed now?"
Leon was always the one playing dirty.
Fans never expected
the day would come when bushy-browed Leon got a taste of his own medicine!
The video had three segments: commentary, practical battle, and counterplay against different team compositions.
Since Perish Song already had its own dedicated video, Natsume-sensei focused on Rain Team strategies this time.
Weather systems boiled down to four types: sun, sand, hail, and rain—
mirroring previous videos on Sun-Sand Teams, Hail Teams, and now Rain Perish Song.
As Natsume-sensei explained, fans realized in shock:
Wait, you've single-handedly covered the entire weather meta… using nothing but Elite Four and Champion-level decks?
"Behold the Weather Master! (leans back)"
"Cool, but even with the textbook, I still can't afford a Weather Team!"
"Pelipper's pretty common though… Shoutout to Duck God and Barraskewda fans."
Rain Teams typically split into hyper-offensive Swift Swim teams and control-oriented Rain Perish Song.
This video showcased Natsume-sensei and Leon's duel, where pivoting reached its peak.
When Gigantamax Charizard—volcano-like and towering—succumbed to sleep, the chat exploded with "OHHHH!"
"You're using bonding for this?! (lol)"
"My Hypno and I are bonded too. Natsume-sensei, am I qualified?"
"Officer Jenny would like a word!"
The video completed Natsume-sensei's Weather System quartet, swiftly claiming the #1 spot on Must-Watch Weekly.
In the outro, Natsume revisited countering "Sunny Baton Pass" teams.
"Ah, my favorite segment—bullying Baton Pass!"
"Too detailed… Baton Pass players in shambles."
As a Pokémon Company developer, Natsume also dropped an ad for Pokémon.
The sponsored segment triggered chat:
"EVERYBODY SCATTER!!"
"Let him monetize! Let him monetize!"
"Safe for sensitive skin?"
"Quit delaying—we've been replaying the MV for two months waiting for release!"
Group Chat
Misty shared Natsume-sensei's Rain Team video, sighing.
"If I specialize in Water-types, I should consider Rain Teams… but I also want to learn from Sister Lorelei…"
Lorelei had always been Misty's idol.
Torn between Water and Ice specialties, Misty's ambition to catch up to Lorelei left her conflicted.
The pragmatic straight-man Red said, "Either works if it makes you stronger."
Lorelei adjusted her thin-framed glasses, scoffing at Red's answer.
If Misty was asking, she already had her answer.
Typical man.
Lorelei smiled. "Trust yourself. Who knows? Kanto might get a Water-type Elite Four."
Not Ice, but Water…
Misty rested her chin on her hands, deep in thought.
Red scratched his head and @'d Bruno: "Wanna battle at Mt. Silver this afternoon?"
"Can't," Bruno sighed. "Ran out of steamed buns…"
Red-haired Lance's eye twitched. "I just mailed you a crate of Mahogany Town's Rage Candy!"
"Not the flavor I wanted," Bruno lamented.
Natsume-sensei: [Copy this link and open AmazonXX…]
Bruno's eyes widened. "Rage Candy link?! Where'd you find this, Natsume-sensei?!"
"Ah, stumbled on it," Natsume coughed.
"I'll give this flavor a shot!" Bruno nodded firmly.
Green checked the store. "Wait… isn't this blatantly counterfeit?"
"Oh? How could you tell?" Jasmine gasped—she'd been about to order three crates for midnight snacks.
"Nobody sniffs out fakes like me!" Green boasted.
"That's… not a flex," Erika sighed elegantly.
Ash scratched his head. "Even in sim battles, if Mr. Leon loses, doesn't that break his 'undefeated' streak?"
"Official matches only," Brock said, squinting. "All interpretations belong to the organizers."
Natsume blinked.
That explanation sounded legit!
By that logic… Natsume was technically undefeated too!
Since it was Labor Day, the chat revolved around holiday plans.
Working man Brock took leave from Pewter Museum to reunite with his siblings at Pewter Gym.
Lt. Surge docked his ship, vacationing at Cinnabar's hot springs while sharing sake with Old Man Blaine.
Professor Erika returned from Celadon School to her perfume shop, tending to booming business.
All was well—except for Galar's overworked Champion and Sinnoh's Psychic-type Elite Four.
Leon returned to work stress-free, grinning.
"Lost?" Rose side-eyed him.
"Lost," Leon admitted cheerfully. "To Natsume-sensei."
"Whatever," Rose muttered. "Not an official match. You weren't Champion last night anyway…"
Lucian stayed overtime at Lily of the Valley Island.
Home was just books anyway. Salaried reading sounded relaxing… probably.
...
Natsume closed the chat group and turned to the adorably dopey Larvitar.
Larvitar was competing with Gengar to see who could open their mouth wider—a bizarre yet amusing sight.
Larvitar puffed its cheeks, then suddenly gaped: "Larvitar!"
Gengar stretched its maw wide, revealing its entire throat: "Gengar!"
Confused but eager to join, Arcanine threw back its head: "Arcanine~! (｀0′)"
Larvitar took one look at Gengar's abyssal mouth and retreated.
I concede defeat!
Natsume and Sirfetch'd lazed on the sofa:（ ￣ー￣）
"Didn't you have firewood to chop?" Natsume suddenly remembered.
"Sirfetch'd! (′︿‵｡)" (Busted!)
In just a few days, the coal bought from Oreburgh Gym was nearly depleted.
Prioritizing Larvitar's diet, Natsume slumped deeper into the couch as Sirfetch'd trudged to the garden.
He then pulled out his phone and DM'd Steven, who was currently mining.
This'll hurt the wallet… but we'll earn it back soon.
No starving the kids! (Even if the "kid" was a dinosaur…)
Natsume's mind flashed to Nobita's Dinosaur, drawing a faint smile.
"Ores… suitable for Larvitar?"
Half an hour later, Steven wiped his brow with a gloved hand and typed cheerfully:
"Plenty! Smooth Rocks for extending sandstorms—I've found loads in Hoenn's desert sector."
"Natsume-sensei, I'd be happy to deliver them to you. Consider it a gift."
After deliberation, Natsume declined and insisted on paying.
Steven's loaded, but friends keep accounts clear.
(Insurance had covered most gym damages—Oleana's bills proved that much.)
Steven misinterpreted the refusal: Perhaps Natsume-sensei finds these ores unworthy…
Next time, I'll gift him a Tyranitarite instead.
To a tycoon who casually gifted Sceptilites to rookies…
Mega Stones were just trinkets!
Smooth Rock would amplify Larvitar's future Sandstorm.
Natsume remained oblivious, assuming it'd just suit Larvitar's palate…
As Larvitar feasted,
Gengar's absorption of the Griseous Orb fragment (marked 'Antimatter') deepened its mastery over black holes.
Natsume theorized that if Gengar's Dark Void could reliably land,
even peak-era Kanto Elite Four Lance would be manageable.
"From day one till now,"
Natsume muttered, perplexed:
"Everything gets measured against Lance..."
Lance and Yellow were universal benchmarks, after all.
Besides, after the trip through the flower field, his mastery of Gengar's Mega Evolution had noticeably improved.
At the very least, he wouldn't end up in a situation where the Trainer couldn't command the Pokémon after Mega Evolution.
Three legendary-tier resources—Rainbow Wing, Purifying Droplet, and Lunar Feather—were steadily boosting the little ones' strength.
If the Elite Four were divided into three stages—rookie, veteran, and peak—
Mega Evolved Blastoise surpassed even the main team of third-stage Elite Four members, like Bruno's Machamp.
Arcanine and Sylveon were slightly weaker, roughly on par with the main teams of Flint and Lucian.
Then there were Sirfetch'd, the "Lucky Egg" Togepi, and the utility Rotom.
Sirfetch'd could one-shot an Elite Four-level Raichu like Volkner's, so logically, it should be around the same strength as Arcanine.
But why did it always feel like such a slacker?
Natsume rubbed his chin, staring at Sirfetch'd.
Sirfetch'd: ( -'`-)
If it didn't train soon, would it end up losing to Togepi?
Or worse—would even the junior dinosaur surpass it?
"Sirfetch'd! (′︿‵)" Sirfetch'd cried tears of joy.
That would be—just great!
As the little ones grew stronger, Natsume's home was becoming increasingly hazardous...
Natsume coughed lightly and mused:
"No big deal. Togepi's sheer luck should be enough to lower the risk of house-wrecking!"
...
Taking advantage of the holiday break,
Natsume decided to return to Saffron City in Kanto to personally oversee the launch of the new game at Pokémon Company Headquarters.
Once that was settled, he could swing by Johto to fulfill Professor Oak's request on his behalf.
This holiday, Cynthia had gone to Unova to visit Caitlin, giving off strong "Moe-Moe! Best Friend Adventure" vibes.
Friendship and social connections were important... He couldn't let his presence interfere with Cynthia's personal relationships.
The Best Friend Squad consisted of: Cynthia, Shauntal, Caitlin, and Diantha.
Natsume couldn't exactly join their circle—
Well, he could, but a man shouldn't...
As he packed his luggage, Natsume glanced at Sylveon, dozing on the sofa.
"Wait… isn't today Gengar's turn to babysit?" he wondered.
Suddenly, a high-pitched screech assaulted his ears—
"Yoojii!!?"
"GengarGengarGengar~~!" Gengar pulled out a microphone, singing passionately.
Natsume checked Larvitar's Screech move and paled.
Dancing was one thing… but now it was singing along with Gengar?!
Covering his ears, Natsume shouted:
"Don't just teach others to sing, Gengar!!"
...
Johto Region, Mahogany Town.
A station attendant hurried over to an old man, steadying his wheelchair:
"Where are you headed? Let me help you onto the train!"
The old man smiled kindly.
"No need. This old man can manage on his own."
The attendant blinked, watching as the old man painstakingly wheeled himself onto the train.
That smile was warm… but his tone was unyielding, like a sheet of solid ice.
"What a strange old man," the attendant muttered.
The old man had white hair, a hunched frame, and sat in his wheelchair, gently stroking a drowsy Swinub in his lap.
Beep beep beep—
An old-fashioned ringtone blared, and the old man "fumbled" for his phone, offering an apologetic smile to the nearby passengers.
They all smiled back.
A polite, elderly man in a wheelchair… who would suspect anything?
The old man answered the call, his voice instantly turning cold.
"Don't disturb me, Oak."
"Oh, I'm not disturbing you," Professor Oak chuckled. "You're heading to the Ruins of Alph to investigate, so I sent you three helpers!"
"Helpers?" Pryce said quietly. "I don't need them."
"You've met them before—that reckless Gold, Silver, whom you know well..."
Professor Oak grinned. "And one more—a Snow Team Trainer you've dismissed."
"Gold… Silver…"
Pryce repeated the names under his breath, his eyes flickering.
"Fine. Let them come," Pryce said coldly. "I won't guarantee their survival."
Professor Oak's smile faded, his tone turning serious:
"Are you sure… the Ruins of Alph are connected to the upheaval in Sinnoh?"
"I don't know."
Pryce's voice was flat. "I'm just a half-dead cripple. My heart's as numb as my legs."
"But..."
He lowered his gaze, gently petting Swinub, his face softening with nostalgia.
If he could find the so-called "Temporal Dragon," Dialga…
Perhaps he could see his Lapras one more time...
The line fell silent for a long moment before Pryce abruptly hung up.
Professor Oak frowned, staring at the Ruins of Alph on the Johto map, and sighed softly:
"Don't let me down… Pokédex Holders…"
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