Kill the fish first, then remove the scales.
Slice it open along the back, clean out the innards, and rinse it thoroughly.
Score the flesh, then add 5 grams each of cooking wine, salt, and MSG.
Marinate for 10 minutes.
Break the prepared charcoal into small pieces, light it with paper, and once the coals burn red, set up the grill.
Clamp the marinated fish with barbecue tongs and place it over the charcoal.
After two minutes, brush on a little oil and sprinkle cumin evenly over both sides.
Flip it once every minute, adding more seasoning evenly each time.
Once the fish turns golden, coat it with Aaron's secret sauce and sprinkle crushed Energy Cubes over it.
The grilled fish is complete!
Aaron looked at the golden, glistening grilled fish, and a deep sense of pride welled up inside him.
After a tense, life-or-death battle, a person should take the time to enjoy life properly.
Barbecuing was one of Aaron's few hobbies.
This kind of simple, easygoing life really was wonderful.
Although Aaron was a little tired, he felt relaxed and happy.
…
Drip… drip… drip…
The moment Gyarados saw the golden, fragrant grilled fish, drool poured from its huge mouth like a fountain.
This dumb dragon really was greedy.
Aaron could not help finding it funny when he remembered how he had captured Gyarados.
Back then, he had also won it over with a single grilled fish.
The other Pokémon were staring at the fragrant grilled fish on the grill with shining eyes too.
Even so, they held themselves back and all looked toward Aaron, waiting for his signal.
A bright smile appeared on Aaron's face as he shouted,
"Dinner's ready!"
"Grenin!"
"Scep-tile!"
"Bzzzz!"
The moment Aaron finished speaking, Greninja, Sceptile, and Beedrill moved first.
Greninja actually used Flying Thunder God and teleported straight beside the grill.
It stretched out the tongue wrapped around its neck and scooped up several fish at once, not even bothering to spit out the bones.
Sceptile and Beedrill used Quick Attack and Flash Step respectively, arriving almost at the same time.
Beedrill used Twinneedle, skewering one grilled fish with each arm before stuffing them into its mouth.
The other Pokémon rushed over as well, turning into starving beasts as they fought over the food.
"Slow down, slow down. There's still plenty!"
Aaron held a roasted chicken in his hand, his mouth shiny with oil as he laughed and called out to them.
But not a single Pokémon paid him any attention.
Slow down?
How were they supposed to slow down?
If they were even one second late, someone else would snatch the food away.
Seeing them like this, Aaron could not help laughing.
His grilled fish really was amazing, but did they have to go this crazy?
Sure enough, he was just too talented.
Even if he did not become a Trainer, he could still make a name for himself in this world with grilled fish alone.
…
Ten minutes later, Aaron and his Pokémon lay comfortably on the grass.
Gyarados was so full it could not even be bothered to fly.
Its long body sprawled across the lawn like a giant sausage as it let out loud burps.
Aaron, of course, was lying on Snorlax's belly.
It was soft, springy, and ridiculously comfortable.
A hundred times better than the soft mattress at home.
The night breeze blew gently, rustling the leaves.
In the sky, the crescent moon looked like a banana.
Infernape stared at it as if he wanted to pluck it down and eat it.
Drool even trickled from his mouth as he gazed at the moon.
Looks like he still was not full.
Just like that, Aaron chatted with his Pokémon and made all kinds of grand promises.
Those who had not eaten enough continued eating.
The Pokémon listened to Aaron's promises while imagining themselves riding a certain alpaca across the world.
Then they gradually fell asleep.
In the quiet forest, waves of snoring carried far into the night, keeping all the little Pokémon in the area awake.
…
Nothing happened overnight.
Aaron woke up early the next morning.
After washing up briefly, he recalled his Pokémon, leaving only Frog Boss and Charizard outside.
Aaron and Frog Boss jumped onto Charizard's back.
Then he shouted,
"Let's go, Charizard!"
"ROOOAR!"
Charizard let out a powerful roar, spread its wings, and soared into the blue sky, flying north.
The little Pokémon in the forest immediately cheered.
Those people had finally left.
The forest returned to its quiet, ordinary life.
…
Aaron sat cross-legged on Charizard's broad back, feeling the cool breeze brush past him.
It was incredibly comfortable.
Above the endless forest, all he could see were rolling trees and mountains.
There was not the slightest trace of human activity.
In this remote wilderness, no one should be living here.
"Grenin…"
At that moment, Greninja looked in a certain direction and let out a quiet cry.
Aaron paused.
Following Greninja's gaze, he saw a powerful, condensed energy fluctuation coming from the forest below.
Aaron frowned.
He was now very sensitive to energy fluctuations, and he could tell that this energy seemed different from an ordinary Pokémon's.
After thinking for a moment, Aaron said to Charizard,
"Charizard, go down and take a look."
"Rrr…"
Charizard gave a low growl, beat its powerful wings, and swooped quickly toward the forest below.
…
Deep in the forest stood a young man in a white shirt and green hat, holding a bug-catching net.
He was commanding a Pokémon with a red body, huge pincers for hands, a pair of white wings on its back, and the shape of a mantis.