"Vee..."
Before Owen could even speak, Eevee already had a bad premonition. She shot a nervous look between the two men.
Does this mean... the days of lying on the sofa and binge-watching anime are over before they even truly began?!
"Stay calm."
Owen vigorously rubbed Eevee's head, signaling her not to interrupt. When the adults are talking, the "kids" should just listen.
"Let me explain," Ethan continued. "The Starry Battle Club is a place for Trainers to test the results of their nurturing.
They provide battlegrounds, training equipment, sparring partners, and private coaches. It's a comprehensive facility.
What you need to do is complete the battle assignments the club gives you. As for the private coach's advice, you can listen to it selectively."
"Can a rookie trainer like me really be a battle sparring partner?" Owen asked in surprise.
"Normally, of course not. But I know the owner there. Arranging some simple work for you won't be a problem—for example, battling customers who are also rookie trainers."
"During this period, your salary will be settled daily. You only need to go at fixed times; it won't take up too much of your day."
"Also, I can tell you that their fees aren't cheap. Only wealthy people go there, so even 'simple' work pays well.
The combat experience is secondary; with the status of a Starry Battle Club employee, you can enjoy more discounts at the Pokémon Center. I believe the club has a comprehensive partnership with them," Ethan added.
Owen was already sold.
The Starry Battle Club sounded like a high-end establishment. If he had known about such a place earlier, he wouldn't have had to struggle and fumble through everything on his own.
He had sacrificed far too many brain cells planning Eevee's training; it was more exhausting than studying. At this rate, he'd go bald before he graduated.
"Then I won't be modest. Thanks, Ethan!" Owen grinned. For an opportunity like this, even one extra polite refusal felt like a waste of breath.
"Glad you're decisive. But I should warn you: the private coach I mentioned can only help you so much. How much you progress depends on your and Eevee's own efforts."
"I understand that, of course."
"Good. Tomorrow, just head over using the address and contact info on the card. Good luck in that 'Cup' or whatever it is."
Ethan arrived in a hurry and left just as quickly, leaving Owen with only the silver card.
Owen and Eevee stared at each other for a while before Eevee began rolling around on the sofa in despair.
"Look, Eevee, we can't miss an opportunity like this. Professional coaching is bound to be better than us just training blindly. I've been worrying about how to get you to learn Bite anyway," Owen said.
"Vee." Eevee stuck her tongue out and went back to watching TV. Seizing the remaining moments of peace was the most important thing right now.
The First Day
Although Eevee acted reluctant, she was actually more eager than Owen when it came time to get up the next morning.
"Ugh..."
Owen pulled the Silk Scarf off his face and gave Eevee a resentful look. He had nearly suffocated. Are you trying to assassinate your Trainer?!
"Vee!" Eevee shook her head, urging Owen to hurry up. She never wanted a repeat of the Secret Realm incident. Becoming stronger than that Pidgeot was a new goal she had set for herself.
As for her first goal... that was the one Owen mentioned a few days ago: winning the Young Ho-Oh Cup to get her very own phone. Her eyes sparkled at the thought of a dedicated screen.
"Fine, fine. Let's get breakfast first, then we'll head out."
Owen scratched his messy hair. The Starry Battle Club was famous, headquartered in Kyoto, and a favorite among the upper class. After breakfast, they took the developed transit system to the Fairview branch.
"Starry Battle Club..."
Owen read the bold characters on the building before stepping into the lobby. The place was massive and grand, even for a branch. Several pillars stood in the bright hall, each carved with star patterns, giving the layout a unique feel.
Trainers with Pokémon were everywhere, chatting and networking. Owen walked to the front desk and found a neat-looking receptionist.
"Excuse me, I'm looking for Mr. Sam... We have an appointment. My name is Owen."
"Hello," the receptionist smiled. "Please wait a moment while I contact him."
The Matchup
Meanwhile, in the club's VIP reception room, the manager, Mr. Sam, was hosting two rather stout guests.
Sam was nearly forty, dressed impeccably like a successful businessman.
Across from him, a middle-aged man of similar build took a large gulp of his drink and laughed. "Old friend, no need to praise him. I know exactly what kind of kid he is."
The stout man then swatted the head of the chubby boy sitting next to him, who was half-asleep.
The boy, around fifteen or sixteen, had a rosy complexion and tiny eyes buried in his cheeks. Waking up, his eyes immediately started darting around.
"He's exactly like you were when you were young," Sam shook his head with a smile.
"I wish he were even half as ambitious as I was back then," the stout man sighed. His only son was sixteen and a rookie trainer, but the boy didn't seem to care about Pokémon at all.
Though they were wealthy, the father hoped his son would become a Professional Trainer. Having a professional license was like a degree—a golden stepping stone for any career.
"Hey!" the chubby boy shouted, clearly unhappy. "Nineteen battles, nineteen wins!"
"Shut up. I brought you here today to see what a real Trainer looks like." The stout man shoved the boy back down, pressing him into the sofa until it dipped.
"Interesting. If you had come earlier, I might not have had a suitable sparring partner available," Sam said with a smile. "But as it happens, I have the perfect candidate."
"A business partner of mine asked me to find a part-time sparring job for a junior rookie trainer. He said this rookie is quite exceptional. I think we can let the two of them battle. A match between peers might be more persuasive for your son."
"Excellent, excellent." The stout man narrowed his eyes and smiled. This was perfect.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Sam's secretary entered and whispered the news from the front desk.
Once the secretary left, Sam's smile widened. "What a coincidence. The person I mentioned just arrived. Is now a good time?"
"Let's do it now," the stout man said, standing up.
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