Originally planning to have dinner directly in the cafeteria, Aoki realized that staying there would attract too much attention.
He quickly packed food for his three Pokémon at the cafeteria's counter, including a specially prepared al for Gastly.
Letting Slowpoke carry the packed als with its psychic powers, Aoki decided to return directly to his room.
However, as Aoki was about to leave the cafeteria, a pale-faced young man with a thin fra and two bodyguards in black stepped in his way.
The young man, appearing to be in his twenties, had a pale and smug expression, with a hint of weariness from indulgence. His neatly combed hair, branded clothes, and sowhat handso features gave him an air of vanity.
Noticing soone blocking the path, Slowpoke instinctively moved closer to Aoki. A faint blue light flickered in its eyes and quickly disappeared. Growing up on the trial island had honed Slowpoke's instincts; it sensed faint hostility from the group in front of them.
When the young man saw Slowpoke, his eyes lit up with excitent, as if he had spotted a rare and fascinating toy.
"Hey! I want to discuss sothing with you!" the young man said arrogantly, his tone full of pride.
Aoki's face imdiately turned cold. He glanced at the young man and his two bodyguards without saying a word and walked forward with Slowpoke.
Since Aoki hadn't issued an attack order, Slowpoke didn't take the initiative to strike.
Tap. Tap.
The sound of leather shoes echoed as the two bodyguards stepped forward to block Aoki's path again.
Aoki's gaze sharpened as he looked at them. "Move."
"You—!" The young man, used to being pampered, was stunned by Aoki's tone. His pale face showed a flash of anger, but he hesitated to act rashly, knowing where they were.
Without hesitation, Aoki walked forward again. This ti, Slowpoke used its psychic powers to push the two bodyguards aside, clearing the way for Aoki.
Though strong, the bodyguards were no match for Slowpoke's psychic abilities.
As Aoki and Slowpoke reached the stairs, the young man's voice trembled with frustration. "Don't think you can leave the Pokémon Center unscathed!"
The young man, a well-known figure in Vermillion City, was obsessed with collecting rare Pokémon to display his status. Upon hearing about Aoki's unique Slowpoke, he rushed over, hoping to buy it. But before he could even make an offer, he was t with rejection.
Knowing he couldn't act within the Pokémon Center, the young man planned to wait for Aoki to leave.
Aoki, now on the fourth floor, swiped his room key card, entered, locked the door, and released his Murkrow and Gastly from their Pokeballs.
"Ga~~"
"Cha-cha~~"
Having spent so long inside their Pokeballs, Murkrow and Gastly cried out in excitent. On the trial island, they were used to living outside. The confined space of Pokeballs didn't suit them.
"Gastly, you'll stay in my shadow for now. Murkrow, I'm sorry, but you'll need to stay in your Pokeball temporarily," Aoki said apologetically.
Slowpoke, however, seed uneasy and stood nervously by his side.
Aoki crouched down, gently patting Slowpoke's back. "Don't worry. He's just a clown. You've done nothing wrong," Aoki said with a reassuring smile.
Slowpoke still blad itself, thinking it had caused trouble for Aoki.
Aoki then unpacked the als Slowpoke had carried, placing them in front of each Pokémon.
Despite the enticing aroma, the Pokémon didn't start eating imdiately. They waited for Aoki's signal, a habit developed during their ti on the trial island—a sign of mutual respect.
"Alright, dig in. These are things you haven't tried before," Aoki said, sitting on the floor with his own al.
Slowpoke had canned whole fish made from various species, its favorite due to the rich, fishy aroma. Murkrow received a mix of chicken and fish, perfectly suited for its carnivorous preferences. Gastly's al was a special Ghost energy-rich pellet provided by the Pokémon Center, containing a unique flavor it loved.
After Aoki gave the signal, the Pokémon eagerly began eating.
The food wasn't just ant to comfort Slowpoke; Aoki truly didn't care about the arrogant young man. If necessary, Aoki could remove his disguise, recall Slowpoke, and avoid being recognized entirely.
Even if the young man found him again, Aoki wouldn't let himself be cornered. If pushed too far, he was confident he could use his past-life skills to eliminate any threat and retreat safely.
With Slowpoke's teleportation ability as a last resort, Aoki knew no one could catch him. However, exposing teleportation unnecessarily would draw unwanted attention, so it remained a secret weapon.
For now, Aoki focused on enjoying a peaceful dinner with his team.
Unlike the trial island, where they had to eat quickly and remain vigilant for attacks, they could now eat at ease. Murkrow, in particular, took its ti, savoring each bite of the League-prepared food.
While the als were good, they weren't exceptionally delicious. However, for Pokémon accustod to raw, unseasoned food, these carefully prepared dishes were a feast.
Watching his Pokémon eat happily, Aoki felt a rare sense of joy.
In his past life, he had viewed Pokémon as re tools. It wasn't until the end, when Murkrow opened his eyes to the truth, that he realized their worth.
Now, Aoki cherished the bond with his Pokémon above all else. Each of them had their own thoughts and emotions. When treated with care and respect, they would fight to protect and support him.
To Aoki, the world remained harsh and unforgiving, but his Pokémon were the one soft spot in his heart—the family he had chosen.
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