"It's too late to act cute now."
Hakuya reached out, kneading Sprigatito's cheeks like dough.
Although the tactile sensation was wonderful, he ruthlessly handed down his verdict.
"The money to compensate the Pokémon Center for the torn blanket will be deducted from your food budget for this month."
Faced with the prospect of reduced rations for the next few days, Sprigatito let out a mournful wail.
"Meowha? Meowha!"
Even willful kittens must occasionally face the consequences of their actions.
Three days later, the hellish, boot-camp-style training came to an end.
Hakuya's group marched boldly back to the Pewter Gym for a rematch.
Pushing open the doors, they were greeted once again by the squinty-eyed young man sitting cross-legged in a highly imposing posture.
"The rules remain 2-on-2. When all Pokémon on either side are unable to battle, the match is over."
Looking at the prominent dark circles under Brock's squinty eyes, Hakuya nodded thoughtfully, feeling a strange twinge of guilt.
It seemed that since their last battle, the lights in the Pewter Gym had burned through the night.
"Pikachu, show him the results of our special training these past few days!"
Ash and Pikachu stood on the battlefield, brimming with fighting spirit.
After enduring Hakuya's training, the two of them felt like they could take on ten opponents at once.
"Alright, I'll send out Geodude first."
Seeing Ash send out an Electric-type Pokémon yet again, Brock instinctively sighed.
Although this Pikachu looked exceptionally well-trained, the fact that this kid hadn't bothered to catch a Water or Grass-type Pokémon over the past few days proved that rookie Trainers these days were truly incredibly stubborn—
However, just a few minutes into the battle, cold sweat began to pour down Brock's face.
Because that yellow rodent dashed forward with blinding speed, using [Iron Tail] to violently elbow Geodude into oblivion before it could even react.
"T-This isn't right..."
It wasn't because he felt bad about losing.
After all, Gym Leaders don't exist solely to win.
Their role is to act as mentors, providing guidance to challengers through battle.
Knowing Ash was a complete novice, Brock naturally sent out lower-level Pokémon.
Losing a fair fight was perfectly reasonable.
What shocked him was the absurd rate at which this Pikachu had improved.
"This doesn't make any sense. I haven't been slacking off on my training these past few days either?!"
In the second round, he watched his Onix—which had effortlessly crushed Pikachu just days prior—get its [Bind] swiftly dodged by the yellow rodent, only to be completely knocked out by another [Iron Tail]. Brock's brain completely blue-screened.
No, seriously, what the hell is wrong with rookie Trainers these days?!
For the first time in his life, Brock felt deep, profound doubts about his own training methods.
...
After the Pewter Gym challenge concluded, a loud shout echoed from a distance.
"Ah, the classic anime trope of 'forcing a companion into the party after a battle' has arrived~"
Hakuya remarked, watching the scruffy middle-aged man pop out of nowhere.
"Brock, go forth boldly and chase your dreams!"
After handing over the Boulder Badge, the man they had met outside Pewter City reappeared. After dropping his disguise and revealing his identity, he was exposed as the former Pewter Gym Leader and Brock's biological father, Flint.
"Oh, oh~ So the deadbeat dad who left home and never came back was actually Flint~"
Unlike Brock, who was sobbing uncontrollably, Ash recalled the secret he had learned from Brock earlier. He scratched the back of his head and delivered this incredibly tactful line.
Veins popped on Flint's forehead. As the former Pewter Gym Leader, he was half-tempted to drag this kid into a 1v1 true-man's solo match right there on the spot.
As the group set off and reached a fork in the road outside Pewter City, Hakuya glanced at the destinations the two paths led to. He nodded thoughtfully before speaking up.
"Ash, I won't be heading to Cerulean City with you guys. I need to go to Vermilion City to catch a boat back to the Hoenn region."
"Eh?!"
Ash, who was eagerly preparing to march toward Cerulean City on the left, froze mid-step upon hearing Hakuya's words.
Just like Misty's reaction a few days prior when she learned Hakuya was leaving Kanto, Ash visibly deflated.
Perhaps this was the nature of traveling.
Reunions are temporary; parting is the norm.
Every Trainer has their own goals and ideals, and inevitably, the time comes to part ways.
Even Brock, who had only just joined the group, stood in silence, a trace of timely sorrow visible beneath his squinted eyes.
Losing a dependable friend on the journey is always a hard pill to swallow.
But after the sorrow passed, what he felt more was a deep questioning of his life choices.
I can't believe you're running away after only elbowing the Pewter Gym, Hakuya. Why...
Why won't you take that broken Sprigatito and Milcery of yours and go terrorize the other Kanto Gyms?
Make those guys taste the same soul-crushing despair that I did!!!
You absolute bastard—!!!
"Pi... Pika-pi..."
Beside them, Pikachu, teary-eyed, was about to step forward and try to convince him to stay.
But upon noticing a certain pair of terrifying, murderous feline eyes, it immediately wiped its tears away and awkwardly stepped back.
Yes, its instincts told it this was the correct response.
It felt that if it went up and hugged his leg, that cat would actually treat it like a real rat and bite it to death—
"Alright, from here on out, you're on your own."
Finding Brock's shattered expression and Pikachu's rapid tear-wiping slightly amusing, Hakuya looked at the still-downcast Ash and smiled. "Ash, don't forget the grand ambitions you declared. Crush the Kanto Gyms under your feet, and win the League Championship."
"N-No problem! Right, Pikachu?!" "Pika, pika!"
"Oh right, what about you, Misty?"
Ash finally remembered there was one more person he hadn't asked.
"I plan on traveling alone as well. Do your best, you two!"
Misty had somehow moved to stand behind Hakuya.
Although the two guys in front of her seemed like decent travel companions, without Hakuya around, the girl suddenly lost the desire to team up with others. Getting stronger quickly to face the Gym inspection in three months was her top priority.
"Then, see you around~"
Watching Ash, Pikachu, and Brock walk away into the distance, Hakuya and Misty prepared to head toward Vermilion City.
Before Hakuya could speak, Misty patted her rather modest chest and spoke with confidence.
She naturally remembered Hakuya mentioning earlier that he didn't know the exact location of Vermilion City.
"Don't worry, leave the navigating to me!"
—It's finally time for just the two of us.
Walking on the road to Vermilion City, the girl was currently in a very pleasant mood.