"So… that's Jin, the champion of Ever Grande Conference…"
Dot confirmed that Jin and the others were out of sight before closing the door. She then turned to her computer, operating it to play a saved video.
"...…"
The video displayed a massive battle stadium, packed with spectators fixated on the central battlefield. In the midst of the field, two Pokémon and their trainers were locked in a tense standoff.
On one side stood Jin and his partner, Sceptile. On the other, his opponent and their Hariyama.
"And now, we're down to the final moments of the championship match! Jin still has all six of his Pokémon, while his opponent is down to their last one, Hariyama! Could this be the end?!"
As the commentator's words faded, Jin issued a command to Sceptile.
"Sceptile! Use Bullet Seed!"
"Hariyama! Knock it down with Arm Thrust!"
Sceptile unleashed a rapid-fire barrage of seeds from its mouth. Unable to evade, Hariyama braced itself and used Arm Thrust to deflect the incoming seeds.
"Charge in! Use Quick Attack!"
Hariyama prepared to counter with another Arm Thrust, but Sceptile dodged at the last second, tilting its head to avoid the blow. It then closed in, landing a direct hit with Quick Attack as Hariyama's arm retracted.
"Hariyama?!"
"Finish it off! Leaf Blade!"
Sceptile followed up with Leaf Blade, slashing Hariyama and dealing heavy damage. Despite the critical hit, Hariyama, being a Pokémon that had made it to the finals, refused to go down easily.
"If it's close combat they want, we'll give it to them! Hariyama, use Close Combat!"
The opposing trainer attempted a comeback with a powerful move. Hariyama rushed in to deliver the decisive blow, but…
"Retreat!"
Sceptile swiftly abandoned the close-quarters fight, leaping backward to evade the Close Combat strike.
"What?!"
"This ends now. Finish it with Leaf Storm!"
Sceptile focused its Grass-type energy into its tail, then turned its back to unleash a Leaf Storm. A violent barrage of sharp leaves whipped up like a storm, striking Hariyama and sending it flying into the air.
"Hariyama?!"
Overpowered by the force of the Leaf Storm, Hariyama was lifted off the ground and hurled into the air before slowly crashing back down to the battlefield. The referee approached to check on Hariyama, who was sprawled out on the ground, eyes swirling in defeat. It was clear to everyone who the victor was.
"Hariyama is unable to battle! The winner is Sceptile! The champion is Jin from Littleroot Town!"
As the referee declared the victory, Dot paused the video.
"He's perfectly adapting between close combat and long-range attacks based on the situation... His battling style is incredibly clever."
Dot had watched other battles where Jin used different Pokémon, and she noticed that Jin never lost his cool or became overly passionate at inappropriate moments. Instead, he remained calm, skillfully adjusting his strategy according to his Pokémon's abilities to maintain an advantage.
"I want to know what goes through his mind during battles..."
However, Dot realized that her earlier behavior hadn't been the best. Though she hadn't directly wronged Jin, she had been rude to his friend, which likely left a bad impression. Even with her limited social experience, Dot understood that much.
"…Qua-ss…"
"…I know. That drawing was a bit too much… The Black Rayquaza, huh…"
***
While Dot was watching footage of the Ever Grande Conference in her room, Jin, Liko, and Roy had left her door and returned to the Wing Deck.
"What are we going to do now? You just said all that!" Roy anxiously questioned Jin. His concern was understandable. Despite practicing all morning, Roy and his Fuecoco hadn't managed to successfully use Ember. Now, Jin had promised that not only would they master it, but they'd also learn the basics of battle—all within the day. It was a daunting task, and Roy knew it.
"Don't worry. We'll manage… I think," Jin replied.
"Hey, come on!"
"J-Jin..."
"My bad, I was just joking… From what I saw this morning, it looks like Fuecoco is already close to being able to use Ember."
"Really?"
Ember was a basic move that Fuecoco should have been able to use from the start. Unless it was a newborn, it was strange for it not to be able to use it at all in its current state.
"Yeah, Fuecoco has watched Charizard use Flamethrower many times. The image of how to perform the move is already in its mind. What's missing is the timing to actually use it."
"Timing?"
"Exactly. Fuecoco is overloading its energy and getting stuck. If the Trainer can guide it to release at just the right moment, the move will work."
Once a Pokémon successfully uses a move even once, it learns the timing through its body and will be able to do it without the Trainer's input from then on. That's why it's crucial for Fuecoco to grasp the timing for the move right now.
"Hmm..."
"Is it hard to understand?"
"…Yeah."
It was natural for Roy to find it difficult. If they'd figured out the timing earlier, they would have been able to get Ember working during the morning's training session.
"Well, think about it a little. What can you do with Fuecoco to find that timing?"
"O-Okay! I'll figure it out."
With that, Roy and Fuecoco sat down in the middle of the battlefield to start thinking. Jin and Liko sat on the stairs leading to the observation deck, watching them.
"Hey, Jin," Liko called out.
"Hmm?"
"Do you already know the timing for when Fuecoco should use Ember?"
"Yeah, I do."
"Then…"
Liko's suggestion was clear—why not just tell Roy the timing right away?
"No, this is something Roy and Fuecoco need to figure out on their own."
"But…"
"If they can't overcome something like this, capturing Rayquaza will be impossible, no matter how long they try."
Legendary Pokémon are rare encounters, and meeting one even once in a lifetime is considered incredibly lucky. To capture one, you have to seize the opportunity when it arises. Whether Roy's dream remains just that—a dream—ultimately depends on him.
"...Hey, Jin, do you think you could capture that Rayquaza?"
Liko understood that for Roy, capturing Rayquaza was out of reach for now. But she couldn't help asking if Jin, the strongest Trainer she knew, could do it.
"If we go all out without holding back, I think it's possible," Jin replied.
By maximizing the advantages they had, such as their numbers and the presence of a Trainer, it wasn't entirely out of the question.
"Really?"
"Yeah, but even then, I can't guarantee success. In other words, if Roy wants to capture that Rayquaza in a head-on battle, he needs to be at least strong enough to fight on equal footing with us."
(Equal footing with Jin…)
Liko imagined a battle between Sceptile and Fuecoco. Fuecoco being mercilessly cut by Leaf Blade, pelted by Bullet Seed, and blasted away by Leaf Storm. Even though it was just her imagination, the thought made her want to turn away.
(I-I can't… I don't want to imagine that…)
"Huh?"
"That's it!"
Roy suddenly shouted, snapping Liko and Jin's attention back to him.
"Did he figure something out?"
"We'll see."
With Jin and Liko watching, Roy stood up…
And started singing.
"Huh? …A s-song?"
Liko was caught off guard, while Jin watched with interest as Roy continued to sing.
"♪Ho ho ho, Fu-e-coco, ♪Ho ho ho, Fu-e-coco, ♪Ho ho ho, Fu-e-co-co, ♪Fuecoco, Fuecoco, you can do it!"
(A song, huh…)
It wasn't an approach Jin would have considered, but thinking about it calmly, it wasn't a bad idea for getting the timing right. If Roy and Fuecoco could sync up with a rhythm they both enjoyed, it could work.
"♪Ho ho ho, Fu-e-coco, ♪Don't lose, Fuecoco, you can do it! ♪Ho ho ho, Fu-e-coco, ♪Don't lose, Fuecoco, you can do it! ♪Stand up! ♪Fuecoco, Fuecoco, you can do it! ♪Remember! ♪Fuecoco, Fuecoco, you can do it!"
"♪Ho ho ho, Fu-e-coco!"
Fuecoco, who had initially been bewildered by Roy's song, gradually began moving to the rhythm, eventually joining in and singing along.
"♪Ho ho ho, Fu-e-coco!"
"Fuecoco, use Ember!"
"Fue…coco!!!"
At Roy's command, Fuecoco, who had only been able to produce small sparks before, unleashed a powerful Ember that struck the barrier on the Wing Deck. Realizing they had succeeded, Roy and Fuecoco embraced, sharing their joy in the moment.
"You can really do it with a song…" Liko remarked in surprise.
"There are all kinds of Trainers and Pokémon, each with their own style," Jin replied.
When Liko and Sprigatito first succeeded in using Leafage, Jin and Sceptile had carefully explained what needed improvement each time. However, it seemed that with just a bit of advice, Roy had succeeded purely on instinct.
"Hmm, what should I do now?"
Jin noticed that both Roy and Fuecoco were different in type compared to Liko and Sprigatito. The logical guidance that worked for Liko might not yield the same results for Roy.
(If I give Roy too much to think about, it might backfire… In that case…)
"Alright, I've decided on a training plan for Roy and Fuecoco," Jin announced.
(Training plan?)
"Jin…?"
Jin stood up from beside Liko and walked down the stairs toward Roy and Fuecoco, who were still celebrating their success.
"Jin! Did you see that? We did it!"
"Fuecoco!"
"Yeah, I saw. Congrats," Jin said with a smile, pulling out two Poké Balls from his pocket. He tossed it into the air, releasing Aggron and Salamence onto the Wing Deck.
"Salamaaance!"
"Aggrroooonn!"
As soon as they appeared, both Salamence and Aggron roared loudly, causing Roy and Fuecoco to cover their ears.
"I'd love to let you bask in your success a bit longer," Jin continued.
The first successful move with a partner was a precious experience, one that would become a cherished memory to look back on. However, Jin remembered the promise to Dot—they had to cover the basics of battle by the end of the day.
"Sorry, but we're short on time today."
From what Jin had observed of Roy and Fuecoco's approach to life and training, they seemed to rely more on their instincts during battle. With their potential at its peak, it made more sense to hone those instincts through real combat rather than focus on theoretical training.
What they needed most now wasn't more practice drills, but actual battle experience.
"Today, we're in Spartan mode. Don't worry, I'll go easy on you, but brace yourselves."
Jin grinned as he said this, with Salamence and Aggron behind him mirroring the same expression. Their smiles were far more menacing than any Dark-type Pokémon or the Explorers.
"…"
Shortly after, the Wing Deck echoed with the repeated screams of a young boy and his Pokémon. What exactly transpired during that time would remain known only to those present.
---
Knock, knock, knock.
There was a knock on the door. Dot, who had been operating the computer, paused and glanced at the door with a hint of annoyance.
"They're here..."
"Quax!"
"Yeah, yeah, I got it."
Several hours had passed since Jin and the others had left. Dot had already gathered all the information about the black Rayquaza and had summoned Jin and the others via the app.
Normally, she would just communicate through drawings, but...
(A little… I want to talk… but how should I approach it?)
The answer was simple: just go outside and talk to them. However, Dot seemed unable to come up with this idea.
"Hey, Dot?"
"!"
Hearing Jin's voice from outside the door, Dot flinched. If she ignored them, they would eventually leave, which would defeat the purpose of calling them. So, Dot mustered up her courage and...
"First, I need to observe them. Just like in battle…"
"Quaa..."
Dot repeated this to herself. With Quaxly watching in disbelief, she opened the door slightly to see what was outside.
"Eh?"
Outside stood a disheveled Roy and Fuecoco, looking somewhat haggard. Liko and Sprigatito were visibly pale, desperately avoiding eye contact with Roy and Fuecoco. The only one who seemed unchanged was Jin.
"W-What on earth happened…?"
(...Hmm? This voice…)
Jin recognized this voice. It was the same high-energy voice he had heard countless times at Liko's recommendation. If that voice were toned down…
(No way… could it really be?)
"H-Hey!"
"Oh, sorry, sorry. Like I said earlier, I was training them to master Ember and learn the basics of battle. We might've gone a bit too hard."
"…A bit?"
"…With that?"
"…Fuee…"
"…Meow…"
(This guy… he's dangerous!)
The moment Dot poked her head out, thinking it would be nice to talk a little, she immediately regretted it. She didn't fully understand why, but she had an overwhelming urge to slam the door shut as quickly as possible.
"T-The Black Rayquaza is in Paldea!"
"What?!"
Dot, eager to get straight to the point, cut through the conversation and delivered the crucial information. Hearing the words "Black Rayquaza," the haggard-looking Roy suddenly regained his energy.
"R-Really?!"
"I'm not sure if it's still there, but there have been multiple sightings."
"Thank you!"
"Well, then…"
Dot tried to close the door, but just as she was about to, Jin slipped his hand in, preventing it from shutting.
"Hey, hold on a second. Why don't we talk a bit more?"
"I have nothing more to say! Ugh! Why are you so strong?!"
(I'm not even using that much force…)
Dot was desperately trying to close the door, but she clearly lacked the strength, as it hadn't budged even a millimeter.
"When we came earlier, I heard Nidothing's music. Are you a fan of Nidothing?"
"That's none of your business! Let go already!"
"Actually, Liko's a fan too. Hey, Liko, what do you like about Nidothing?"
"Listen to me! Not her!"
"Uh, um…"
Liko, who had been watching in bewilderment as Jin blocked the door, was suddenly put on the spot and struggled to respond.
"Don't overthink it. Dot's just testing how much you love Nidothing."
"Hey, wait!"
"R-Right! So, listen! There are so many things I love about Nidothing. The costume is super cute, and she knows so much about Pokémon. She always seems to have so much fun! Ever since I started watching Nidothing, my days have been brighter, and I've grown to love Pokémon even more!"
"…Ah… um… ugh…"
When Dot heard Liko's endless praise for Nidothing, she blushed and began to look down. Seeing this, Jin became confident that his guess was spot on.
(That's a bullseye. But… this situation is just too funny.)
It felt like a twist of fate, as if a higher power had orchestrated it all. As he struggled to suppress his laughter and silently thanked the universe for this amusing scenario, his grip on the door loosened slightly. Dot seized the moment, mustering all her strength to finally slam the door shut.
"Ha… ha… The conversation is over! Bye-bye!"
"Well, that's fine. I only intended to say hello today anyway."
"Yeah. Thanks for the information about Rayquaza, Dot!"
"See you later, Dot. Next time, tell us what you like about Nidothing."
"Don't come back!"
With that, Jin, Liko, and Roy began walking down the hallway together. Once Dot noticed that they were gone, she sighed with relief, but then she heard footsteps again, followed by another knock on the door.
"I forgot to mention something."
It seemed Jin had come back alone this time. Dot decided to ignore him completely and flopped down onto her bed.
"Good luck with your video channel. I'll subscribe next time."
"Wha… what are you even talking about…?"
"Observing Pokémon's cries is an essential part of understanding them. Even the same species of Pokémon can have slight variations in their cries, and you can tell a lot about their health from how they sound. I've always been sensitive to that kind of thing since I used to observe Pokémon a lot before becoming a Trainer."
Jin's hometown of Littleroot is a rural place with not much to offer except for Professor Birch's lab. But that lab was home to many Pokémon, and observing them helped Jin develop the skills that unexpectedly led him to this discovery.
"Don't worry, I won't spill the beans to Liko. I just thought it wouldn't be fair to keep this secret from you. See you around."
With that, Jin finally walked away from Dot's room.
"…What's with him?"
Dot opened the door slightly, watching Jin's back as he left. Moments ago, she had thought he was just a dangerous guy, but oddly enough, his final words left her with a sense of trust.
"Seriously… this ship is full of weirdos…"
// END
That concludes "Special Training! Captain Pikachu." Sorry, Cap didn't make an appearance this time.
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