While Akira's side was all sunshine and Poké Ball vibes, the Bear Priestess duo across from her was totally dumbfounded.
The pint-sized "Big" Priestess puffed up her cheeks and stomped on the now-wobbly Ursaring with a "ferocious" growl: "All that bulk for nothing! Your rations are halved today!"
"Wuuu wuuu~"
Already dizzy and looking rough, the brown bear slumped even more, practically etching "MISERY" across its forehead.
Akira couldn't help but snicker internally while officially committing this Big Priestess to memory.
Taming a bear like that? She's got the makings of a top-tier Pokémon Trainer. Maybe a Gym Leader candidate? Speaking of, which Pokémon city would Hokkaido line up with?
After scolding her useless bear—yep, no issues there—the Big Priestess strutted over to Akira with Doraemon's Fat Tiger energy.
Gone was the playful or goofy vibe; now she carried the seriousness and gravitas befitting her rank:
"No wonder you're Gojo Satoru's prized student—the flashiest Special Grade sorcerer, the guy shaking up the jujutsu world, wielder of 'Pokémon Manipulation Technique'."
"So, did I pass your test?" Akira asked with a grin.
He'd suspected this might be a trial when she suggested the battle, but he didn't expect her to get so burned.
"Of course. If every one of your Pokémon has that kind of power, Gojo's 'strongest' throne might need a new occupant."
With that, the Big Priestess tiptoed, stretched up, and patted Akira's shoulder.
Just as Akira was about to reply, she yanked her hand back and kicked his shin.
"Idiot! No situational awareness at all! Why're you so tall? Can't even adjust for me!"
Akira: "…"
I'm just at the ideal guy height! If I'm tall, what's Gojo?
Oh, I get it—you couldn't reach Gojo's shoulder, so you're taking it out on me.
He whipped out his phone, opened the latest "High-Tech Office System (Temp Name)," and jotted in a custom memo:
—December 10, 2017, clear skies. Took the fall for Gojo, got kicked once. This grudge? Noted.
As he pocketed the phone, the Big Priestess was already waddling off on her stubby legs, waving back: "Don't just stand there—follow me!"
Passing the bear, she gave it another kick: "Stop playing dead. We're going!"
The Ursaring finally lumbered up, head drooping, trailing behind with all the enthusiasm of a scolded Teddiursa.
Thick legs, short legs, sulky and whiny—quite the pair.
Akira couldn't stand the pitiful sight. He pulled up his photo gallery, flipped to a pic of Pangoro and Fat Panda, and said, "Cheer up! Next time, I'll introduce you to some buddies."
The bear took one look.
That black-and-white color scheme, that massive build, those beefy muscles—prime bear material.
Instant mood boost.
"Wuu wuu~"
Please, hook me up!
Too bad the bear forgot: Akira wasn't the only one nearby. The Big Priestess "Fat Tiger," still in a sour mood, was right there.
She expertly climbed atop the bear, smirking: "A panda Pokémon too? Nice, nice. Bring it next time. We might be short on stuff here, but bears? We've got plenty."
About an hour after she dropped that line, Akira learned what "plenty of bears" really meant.
Hokkaido's terrain rises high in the center, dipping low around the edges, with mountains and ridges smack in the middle. Sapporo sits right there, with sprawling mountain ranges to the southwest—complex terrain, easy to defend, tough to attack. Since ancient times, it's been the stomping ground of the Ainu clan.
Once the Jujutsu Clan set up shop, it naturally became a key stronghold—gathering, training, passing down traditions, and multiplying.
"Multiplying" here covers both the Ainu priestesses and their best buds: bears.
Their ancestral techniques don't fit the usual "XX Manipulation Technique" mold. It's closer to Akira's bond with her Pokémon—priestesses and bears as partners, trusting each other, fighting side by side.
Stepping into the Ainu's barrier, the Big Priestess and her wobbly Ursaring let out a synced "Go-go-go-go-go"—wait, no, "Roar-roar-roar-roar-roar!"
The mountains echoed back with a chorus of "Roar-roar-roar-roar-roar!"
Humans and bears, belting it out in perfect harmony.
Gojo picking up Voltorb and Pignite's cries? Totally the Bear Priestesses' influence—nine times out of ten.
Maybe the roars were too loud and too long, because Swablu got riled up, feeling the urge to join in.
"Dilu, dilu! (Watch me do one too!)"
With that declaration, it expertly pulled a mic from behind—Akira's special prep for emergencies.
Just as it was about to belt one out, a vine whipped out from the side, snagging the mic.
The culprit? Its old rival, Serperior.
"Tang tang~ (Quiet!) Tang tang~ (It's not lullaby time!)"
"Dilu~ (Mind your own business!) Dilu~ (Give it back!)"
"Tang tang~ (Nope!)"
Move: Growl vs. Move: Glare.
Dead even—things were escalating from bickering to a full-on brawl.
A familiar wave of psychic energy swept in, halting the fight and calming Pignite's itchy trigger finger.
If Serperior and Swablu started scrapping, it'd have the perfect excuse to let loose some Thunderbolt.
Hanging with Gojo too long can corrupt even a straight-laced Poké Ball—especially one with "Pignite" in its name.
Too bad its little scheme couldn't slip past Big Sis Gardevoir, who kept proving why she's the Mewtwo of "this tower's eight years old" energy.
The undercurrents didn't escape the Big Priestess either—fellow Trainer (beast tamer, pet master vibes)—who shot Akira a half-smirk: "Your Pokémon aren't exactly easy to handle either, huh?"
"No kidding," Akira sighed, feeling the kinship. "But if I had to choose, I'd stick with this. 'Cursed Spirit Manipulation' is cool and all, but it's missing that vital spark."
"Well said. If you weren't Gojo's kid, I'd do whatever it takes to keep you here. If the Jujutsu Alliance ever gets old, come find me. We're a bit poorer and more remote than Tokyo, but I could introduce you to my little sisters—you'd have tons in common… wait, why's it suddenly chilly?"
Mid-sentence, the Big Priestess shivered.
Akira quietly sidestepped, squeezed Gardevoir's hand, and blocked her line of sight.
Chilly? No kidding—pitching sisters to me right in front of Little Garde? You think she doesn't get jealous?
Sure, he was curious about those "sisters," but for your safety, "Big" and "Little" Lady, maybe pipe down. Keep it up, and you'll be the next wobbly bear.
As Akira mulled over a reply, the usually docile Ursaring lifted its head and roared.
From the dense forest ahead emerged a woman. Like the Big Priestess, she wore traditional Ainu garb—headscarf, a style reminiscent of Manchu or Korean clothing, adorned with red or blue patterns.
Spotting the group climbing the mountain, she bolted over faster than a Boltund, shouting with gusto:
"Sis~!"
"Didn't I tell you to wait in the village? Why're you out here?" The Big Priestess's face mirrored Akira's when his Pokémon threw tantrums together.
"To pick you up!" the woman shot back, full of confidence.
"I'm not a kid!"
"But you're so tiny!"
Akira could practically see the veins bulging on the Big Priestess's forehead.
She smiled and beckoned her sister over.
"Stick your head here."
"Why?"
Clueless about the danger, the sister obediently leaned in.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Triple Iron Fist combo.
"Keep finding ways to call me short, huh? Think being tall makes you hot stuff? Who raised you? Who fed you into that giant size?"
"Isn't height just genetics? You're naturally that short—there's a saying for it, right? Born with talent or something?"
"Still talking back!"
Bang! Another punch.
"Is born with talent even used like that?"
"What about standing out like a crane among chickens? No—chicken among cranes!"
"Are you trying to kill me off to take over the family? Get to the study and read your Chinese textbook three times!"
The sister let out an "oh," turned to leave, then doubled back after two steps.
"Wait, Sis, didn't you tell me to talk to the guest about the Wishing Pool? If I go study, what about that?"
Wishing Pool?
Akira's curiosity piqued.
When it comes to wishes, beyond the legendary all-powerful Genie Holy Grail, there's Jirachi, the Wish Star cutie—peak Mythical Pokémon, right up there with the Llama God.
Could this anomaly be tied to it?