Chapter 283: The Collapse of Gardevoir's Image
As soon as Hikaru stepped into the training room, he was greeted by an unexpected sight.
Charizard and Greninja were locked in a fierce battle, exchanging powerful blows and dodging with lightning speed. It seemed Greninja had leveled up to 49 after its previous battle with Bisharp, gaining a lot from the experience.
Meanwhile, Gardevoir was conducting a skill training session with Bulbasaur, guiding it through various moves. Even Gible was under Gardevoir's supervision, practicing Stone Edge, though its little face looked a bit pitiful and aggrieved.
It didn't take Hikaru long to spot the reason behind Gible's misery—Gardevoir was hovering mid-air with a stern expression, her psychic energy surrounding the area, clearly warning Gible that slacking off would have consequences.
This strict, no-nonsense demeanor reminded Hikaru of his high school teacher, Ms. Xiao—the infamous "Tyrant Teacher" who struck fear into the hearts of students. He couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Gardevoir, who was sternly scolding Gible at that moment, froze in place. Hearing Hikaru's laugh, she turned around, her serious expression instantly replaced by a mix of embarrassment and panic.
She knew it. Hikaru had caught her in the act—her image as a gentle, sweet girl was completely ruined!
Thinking of how much effort she had put into maintaining her lovable and elegant demeanor in front of him, Gardevoir couldn't help but cover her face, mortified.
"Oh? What's wrong? You're doing great! Why are you acting so shy now?"
Hikaru approached and gently patted Gardevoir on the head, trying to reassure her.
Unlike the other Pokémon, Gible was a bit mischievous and had a playful streak. It needed someone strict to guide its training, and it seemed that Gardevoir had taken up the role. Hikaru couldn't be happier with her dedication.
But Gardevoir didn't see it that way. To her, maintaining a gentle, caring persona in front of Hikaru was of utmost importance. Seeing him laugh at her strict demeanor made her feel as if all her hard work had crumbled.
Desperately, she tried to defend herself.
"Garde... Gardevoir!" (Hikaru! Please believe me! I didn't mean to be harsh! I was just trying to reason with Gible, but it wouldn't listen!)
Hikaru smiled warmly and nodded.
"Yeah, yeah, I believe you."
His casual response didn't ease Gardevoir's worries at all. Instead, she felt even more devastated, thinking Hikaru was just humoring her.
"Alright, I'm going to make some energy cubes. Stop worrying, okay?"
"Garde..." (Okay...)
Still feeling somewhat dejected, Gardevoir floated back to oversee Bulbasaur's training. This time, though, her attitude was noticeably softer.
Seeing her sulk, Hikaru couldn't help but chuckle before focusing on his task. He summoned Latias and asked her to play with the others while he worked.
Crafting Energy Cubes
Hikaru took out the materials he had prepared, mostly those from the Qinling Mountains, and began creating top-grade talent energy cubes. He planned to make around 1,500 cubes in total.
As he immersed himself in the process, the room filled with the aroma of fresh, high-quality energy cubes. Latias would occasionally peek over curiously, but seeing Hikaru fully focused, she quietly went back to playing with the others.
It took him a full eight hours to finish the entire batch. Despite being exhausted, Hikaru felt immense satisfaction seeing the neat piles of energy cubes.
"Latias, I need you to deliver these to Ninetales. Think you can handle it?"
Latias nodded confidently.
"Mm!"
"Alright, thanks. Make sure to stay hidden and safe, okay?"
"Mm!"
With Latias zooming off to complete her mission, Hikaru finally allowed himself to collapse onto his bed, drifting off into a deep sleep.
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The Next Evening
After a well-deserved rest and a good meal, Hikaru was about to return to the training room when he sensed a familiar presence approaching. He paused at the door, waiting for the inevitable knock.
A soft, rhythmic tap came from the entrance.
As expected, it was Sakura, freshly showered and still carrying the faint scent of floral soap. Without waiting for an invitation, she slipped inside, glancing around the room before pouting at Hikaru.
"You pulled another all-nighter making energy cubes, didn't you?"
"Uh..." Hikaru hesitated, realizing Latias must have spilled the beans.
Catching his awkward expression, Sakura placed her hands on her hips, frowning in a way that was both adorable and intimidating.
"I knew it! You always told me not to stay up late, but you're the worst when it comes to taking your own advice!"
Scratching the back of his head, Hikaru chuckled weakly.
"Alright, alright. You're right. I promise I won't pull any more all-nighters."
Seeing him admit defeat so quickly, Sakura's expression softened.
"Good! You need to take care of yourself too, you know."
Grinning, Hikaru extended his hand, and Sakura grabbed it instinctively.
"By the way, how's your Dragon Force training coming along?"
Sakura closed her eyes and focused, linking her energy with Hikaru's. After a moment, she opened her eyes, looking puzzled.
"Your Dragon Force... barely improved at all?"
Hikaru gave a sheepish smile.
"Yeah... It's tough. I tried blending energy with Latias, but the increase was barely noticeable."
Sakura huffed.
"You're hopeless! Dad said in three days, we'll be going to the ritual site to properly awaken it. You better not slack off!"
Smiling, Hikaru squeezed her hand lightly.
"Got it, got it. I won't let you down."
As they stood there, fingers intertwined, a faint blush crept onto Sakura's cheeks. She seemed reluctant to let go, but after a moment, she pulled her hand back, mumbling something about needing to prepare for the ritual.
Watching her hurriedly leave, Hikaru couldn't help but smile.
"She really can be stubborn... but that's just like her."
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