I Really Didn’t Want to Be a Trainer

"Brother, are you sure this is the right place?"

"It shouldn't be wrong."

"But..." Bonnie pointed at the "Under Construction" warning sign, tilting her head. "This place is still under construction, you know."

"Gengarrr! (～￣▽￣)～"

Clemont, carrying his backpack, watched as Haunter floated directly inside and nodded.

"This is definitely the place."

Taking advantage of Haunter's challenge opportunity, the siblings decided to visit the legendary Teacher Lu they'd heard about.

Led by Haunter, the brother and sister arrived at the café.

Ding-dong—

The Chimecho ornament rang with a clear, crisp chime. "Excuse us~" Bonnie greeted politely, pushing the door open and entering the shop, her eyes lighting up.

Even though it was still under construction, you could already see the café's distinctive style.

"So cute www" Bonnie cupped her little cheeks.

"We're here to visit Teacher Lu, not to eat desserts," Clemont said.

"I know that already..." Bonnie slumped her shoulders, saying listlessly, "I won't cause trouble for anyone."

Clemont nodded with satisfaction and called toward the backyard:

"Anyone here? I'm the Gym Leader of Miare City, Clemont, here to pay a visit!"

No response.

A soft 'click' sound.

From behind the door's cat flap entered a snow-white, beautiful, and elegantly postured Sylveon, eyeing these two unexpected visitors sideways.

"Eevee?"

After a whole night of 'fishing in low-level pools,' Sylveon had basically established her status as the 'big sister' of Miare City.

There were some like Pyroar with bad tempers who refused to obey... and then there was no 'then' after that.

Sylveon casually glanced at the brother and sister, then suddenly froze in place.

Because the little girl had come forward, squatting down to hug Sylveon, her cheek rubbing against Sylveon's bow.

"It's Sylveon... wow, you're really so cute."

Bonnie closed her eyes moved.

This café... is absolutely wonderful~

"Hey, Bonnie." Clemont got startled, saying nervously, "That's Teacher Lu's Sylveon."

Though elegant and cute, they say her temper is quite fierce, comparable to Electrode!

"I know that~"

Bonnie lifted her sapphire-blue eyes, leaning closer to examine Sylveon, saying with a smile:

"My name is Bonnie, very pleased to meet you!"

"Eevee…"

Sylveon could sense the little girl's pure and innocent emotional fluctuations, extending her snow-white ribbon to gently shake Bonnie's hand.

"Yay!"

Bonnie showed a happy smile, her cheek pressed against Sylveon's cheek, "Then we're friends now~"

Sylveon couldn't exactly use force either, helplessly sighing: "Eevee…"

Little girls really are such trouble...

Seeing this, Clemont relaxed, stroking his chin thoughtfully:

"It seems Teacher Lu and his Pokémon aren't as terrifying as the legends say."

Subtly, Clemont felt even stronger anticipation toward this renowned 'Teacher Lu.'

Lu Ye kept a straight face, waiting for Haunter to float inside.

"Gengarrr! (￣▽￣)~*"

Haunter sneakily handed the badge to Lu Ye, throwing in a 'don't mention it' look.

Lu Ye chuckled helplessly, saying, "There are guests outside?"

Haunter nodded, pointing toward the Prism Tower direction: "Gengarrr!"

So it's the Gym Leader of Miare City, Clemont.

That disastrous invention expert, also the first Kalos Gym Leader I've encountered.

"I guess what's coming will eventually come..."

Lu Ye rubbed his temples, following Haunter to the front hall.

In just one night, the café had mostly been restored, and Lu Ye couldn't help but marvel at the renovation team's efficiency.

Walking from the central courtyard into the café, Lu Ye paused slightly.

A somewhat familiar little blonde girl was sitting on a dining chair, chin in hands, asking the Sylveon standing on the table:

"What do you like to eat~"

"Eevee……"

"Macarons and ice cream, right? But big brother says they're bad for teeth and rarely lets me have them." Bonnie pouted.

Sylveon was speechless.

This is clearly what you want to eat!

"T-Teacher Lu!"

Seeing the newcomer, Clemont broke into a sweat, stammering before bowing deeply:

"I am the Gym Leader of Miare City, very honored to meet you!"

Clemont wasn't as mature as Lu Ye had imagined... seems he hasn't started his journey yet.

Because of his love for inventions, Clemont has been living reclusively, and he took over the Gym Leader position from his father 'Blaziken Mask' Meyer.

Lu Ye warily glanced at Clemont's backpack—that thing definitely contained explosives.

Even Blastoise couldn't analyze the components of those explosives... you can imagine how dangerous Clemont is!

"Hello, my Haunter has caused you trouble," Lu Ye said.

"Not at all," Clemont quickly waved his hands. "It's my lack of skill that's the issue."

"Teacher Lu."

Bonnie sitting nearby raised her small hand high, jumped down from her seat, and introduced herself:

"My name is Bonnie, very pleased to meet you!"

Bonnie had small yellow pigtails, wide sapphire-blue eyes, her bangs carefully braided into twists, wearing an adorable little dress.

Lu Ye shook Bonnie's outstretched small hand, smiled, and said:

"Very pleased to meet you too, Bonnie."

"Hehe." Bonnie suddenly showed a sly smile, "I heard, Teacher Lu, that you and Miss Cynthia are boyfriend and girlfriend~"

"Bonnie..." Clemont signaled her not to say more.

Bonnie acted like a little adult, holding her forehead and sighing:

"But my big brother is still single, it really gives Bonnie a headache!"

Clemont flushed red, loudly saying: "Bonnie!"

Bonnie hid behind Lu Ye, making a face at her brother: "Nyeh!"

Even Bonnie couldn't explain why she felt such natural affection for Teacher Lu.

Maybe it was the pleasant dessert scent around him, or perhaps because—

Teacher Lu's Pokémon are just too adorable!

Early in the morning, these two siblings were giving Teacher Lu a headache with their arguing.

"Have you two had breakfast yet?" Lu Ye interrupted the siblings' bickering.

"Huh?" Clemont looked up, pushing his thick round glasses, "Not yet..."

"Then sit down and let's chat slowly," Lu Ye said. "What would you like to eat?"

Bonnie looked at the café menu, thought for a moment, and said: "I want ice cream."

"Noted," Lu Ye said. "That's also my specialty."

Clemont said loudly: "Who eats ice cream first thing in the morning!" ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩~𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢~𝔫𝔢𝔱

Bonnie: "Ehehe…ξ(✿＞◡❛)"

"Eevee~"

Sylveon gracefully jumped down from the table, came to the cooking counter, and silently watched Teacher Lu's movements.

The weather was hot, having some ice cream couldn't hurt.

As for whether ice cream could count as a meal... not sure, but "Ice Cream Princess" could.

Lu Ye shook his head, dispelling the shock from this morning, and focused on making desserts.

"Just one badge... no big deal!" Lu Ye thought to himself.

Clemont and Bonnie found seats to sit down.

The little blonde girl propped herself up on the chair with both hands, swinging her slender legs, whispering:

"Brother, Teacher Lu is really friendly..."

Clemont nodded, saying: "If even you think so, then it can't be wrong."

Bonnie stuck out her tongue, giving a sweet smile.

She was a lively, active little girl who could sense others' kindness.

But she hadn't caught her first Pokémon yet, and every night there was endless homework...

Bonnie, who had been energetic just moments before, now rested her cheeks in her hands with a light sigh, her mood suddenly dropping.

"What's wrong?" Clemont asked.

"Grown-ups won't understand children's worries," Bonnie said.

"Hmph~" Clemont curled his lip as a mechanical arm called 'Aipom Arm' extended from his backpack to read the newspaper.

Today's dish was called "Swablu Soft Ice."

Shaved ice themed after Swablu's fluffy, soft wings, drizzled with sweet and tangy Oran Berry juice, the head on top replaced with creamy ice cream, Swablu's two stray feathers perfectly recreated in the spreading cold air.

Served in a sky-blue glass, with fine powdered sugar sprinkled around the shaved ice, plus star-shaped chocolate flakes.

"Gengarrr~" Haunter politely carried two cups of shaved ice to the table on a tray.

"Thank you, Haunter~" Bonnie said with a smile, swinging her legs.

"Gengarrr! (ノ￣▽￣)" Haunter waved its hand.

Staring at the cold-air-emitting shaved ice before her, Bonnie's eyes shone, excitedly clenching her small hands: "Wow wow!"

"The whole thing, can I eat the whole thing!" Bonnie swallowed saliva, looking at Clemont.

Clemont put away the newspaper, saying helplessly: "Only this time."

"Awesome!" Bonnie raised her silver spoon high, then scooped toward the "Swablu Soft Ice"'s wing.

"Mmm..."

Bonnie held the silver spoon in her mouth, both hands cupping her little cheeks, her whole body seeming to float with happy little bubbles.

Eating a bowl of shaved ice in summer is absolutely wonderful!

Clemont scooped some shaved ice, put it in his mouth, and a flash of amazement appeared in his eyes.

It's just ordinary shaved ice... why does it taste like this?

Closing his eyes, Clemont suddenly realized: "It's Oran Berry!"

Oran Berry has a sweet and sour taste that mixes unexpectedly refreshingly with shaved ice.

Gradually, Clemont narrowed his eyes, equally captivated by this summer's shaved ice, saying:

"An incredible flavor..."

Gradually, Clemont narrowed his eyes, also captivated by this summer's shaved ice, saying:

"These two are on me, next time you'll have to pay."

Bonnie raised her small hand high, asking:

"Can Bonnie work as a waitress here! (≧∇≦)ﾉ"

"Rejected," Lu Ye said flatly. "My shop doesn't hire child labor."

"Eh? What a pity..." Bonnie puffed her cheeks, continuing to scoop shaved ice.

"Gengarrr~" Haunter comfortingly patted Bonnie's shoulder.

Bonnie turned to look at Lu Ye at the counter, blinked, and asked:

"Then can I come play here often, Teacher Lu?"

Clemont reminded: "You still have homework to complete."

Bonnie: "What does it matter, I can ask Teacher Lu for help~"

Clemont paused, thoughtfully nodding: "That makes sense."

With Teacher Lu's strength and character as a trainer, he could definitely take good care of Bonnie.

Besides, Bonnie's judgment is never wrong.

"Then I can come play with Haunter and Sylveon often~" Bonnie smiled.

"Gengarrr~" Haunter narrowed its eyes, scratching its head somewhat embarrassedly.

Watching the two siblings talking among themselves, Lu Ye felt complicated.

What are you treating my café as...

A daycare?

However, Bonnie seemed to have a strange affinity, even comparable to Ash's.

In the anime, Bonnie caught a Zygarde Core, with both luck and kindness being key factors.

Rotom floated to Bonnie's side, blinking: "What's the homework content, Rotom?"

"Mainly some math problems..." Bonnie said.

"That's simple, Rotom~"

Rotom said proudly: "Just take a photo, and I can provide the solution method!"

Lu Ye's mouth twitched.

I didn't know you had this function.

In the blink of an eye, the shaved ice before the siblings was finished.

Bonnie looked pitifully at Clemont.

"No," Clemont said sternly. "After thanking Teacher Lu, we should return to Prism Tower!"

Bonnie sighed regretfully, jumped down from her seat, and bowed seriously to Lu Ye:

"Thank you, Champion Senior!"

Lu Ye: "...Just call me Teacher Lu."

"Then can I come play at the shop next time?" Bonnie lifted her shining eyes.

Lu Ye hesitated, then finally nodded.

I hope the legendary Pokémon in the shop later won't scare the little girl...

"Great~!"

Bonnie's smile was brilliant as she bounced to the shop entrance, waving to Lu Ye: "Goodbye, Teacher Lu!"

"Teacher Lu, until we meet again," Clemont also said.

Lu Ye nodded slightly, watching the siblings leave, secretly relieved.

Clemont didn't activate his 'Clemontic Gear,' what a relief!

Looking down at the counter, there was last night's reward from Haunter's gym challenge—a shining Electric-type badge.

[Voltage Badge: The challenge symbol of Miare Gym, metal pattern radiating outward. (Prism Tower still stands!)]

The lively and active Bonnie had actually dispelled Lu Ye's mental fatigue.

"Now there should be no more disturbances..."

Preparing to return to his room for more sleep, Lu Ye suddenly paused.

A subtly present system notification sounded in his ears.

[Ding! New badge detected, new mission issued!]

[Mission objective: Collect eight badges at the Kalos League.]

[Mission progress: (1/8)]

[Mission reward: Shiny Stone]

Teacher Lu paused, his expression gradually turning strange.

In the Kalos region where Mega Evolution is the focus, the reward is actually a Shiny Stone symbolizing Z-Moves.

Lu Ye: "...Always understanding the version one step ahead."

[?]

Different from previous times.

I seem to genuinely need this reward to strengthen the little ones.

"Shiny Stone" is essential for performing Z-Moves. Making it into a Z-Ring, then combining it with Z-Crystals, can unleash powered-up Z-Moves.

But... Z-Moves have one more prerequisite.

That's the awkward dance.

Taking Water Z as an example, in public you need to perform wave-like movements similar to seaweed dancing—

If you don't experience social death, how can you become stronger?!

Lu Ye thought for a long time, recalled the awkward dance movements of Z-Moves, and silently closed the system notification.

"This mission, I'd rather not do it!"