Ran away from home?
That aligned with how some rebellious teenagers in the Pokémon world acted. Johan recalled in Pokémon Adventures, Norman's son, Ruby, ran away due to his passion for Contests, fearing his father's disapproval.
As a teacher, Johan felt he should offer some advice. However, giving advice required finesse, especially with rebellious kids. The first step was to listen.
Starting with lectures often backfired—parents usually had that covered.
[Grain in the Field]: You're pretty bold. What happened?
But the other party didn't respond immediately, likely offline. Johan then moved on to reply to other messages.
Seeing the dimmed icon of [Eevee Eats Cabbage], Johan sighed.
With Feebas' evolution, there goes one steady income source.
"Earning money is just too tough…"
He decided to continue experimenting with energy cube recipes to supplement his finances.
As he returned to the living room, he witnessed:
"Oowu~~" Vulpix exhaled, releasing a breath of icy air mixed with ice shards of various sizes.
Opposite it, Haunter was poised and serious. As the ice shards approached, it launched a flurry of Shadow Punches, breaking the shards into glittering fragments.
Johan's eye twitched.
Turn around for a moment, and they're already training together.
The two Pokémon realized only then that shards were scattered across the floor.
"Ka-kah~~" Haunter chuckled awkwardly.
"Oowu~~" Vulpix lowered its head, as if admitting fault.
Johan strode into the kitchen and came back with a large glass.
Haunter and Vulpix watched with curiosity as he placed the glass in the middle of their "battlefield."
"Haunter, hit the shards into the glass," Johan instructed.
"Ka-kah?"
Haunter and Vulpix exchanged confused glances.
A new training method?
They complied, and soon, the glass filled with finely crushed ice.
Johan fetched half-prepared berry juices from the Berry Mixer.
"What flavor would you two like?"
Realizing what he meant, Haunter and Vulpix lit up.
Shaved ice!
"Ka-kah!" (Pomeg Berry flavor!)
Haunter loved bitter flavors, a fact Johan knew well, so he'd prepared the light purple Pomeg Berry juice in advance.
Vulpix thought for a moment.
"Oowu." (Figy Berry.)
Vulpix preferred complex flavors, likely due to its past scarcity of food, making it enjoy variety.
Johan poured their chosen juices over the ice. For himself, he chose Sitrus Berry juice—a tangy, slightly sweet flavor perfect for pairing with shaved ice.
"Let's watch a movie?" Johan suggested.
"Ka-kah!"
"Oowu!"
And so, Johan and his Pokémon gathered around the TV, enjoying their homemade treat while watching a "horror" movie. It was another simple yet fulfilling day.
"Haunter, no… don't! You're a ghost; why are you scared of a 'horror' film?!"
"This plot isn't even as good as my own writing…"
The next morning, Haunter, armed with a knife and fork, and Vulpix, donning a bib, sat expectantly at the dining table.
"Ka-kah~~(´﹃｀)"
"Oowu~~(´꒳`)"
The sounds of Johan cooking came from the kitchen.
Knock, knock—
A knock echoed at the door.
Before Johan could react, Haunter zipped to the entrance and phased through, sticking its head out.
"Ka-kah?"
Who's there?
A bloodcurdling scream followed, causing the entire floor's residents to think a Tepig was being butchered.
Minutes later:
"Sorry, sorry—" Johan, wearing an apron, bowed repeatedly at the deliveryman, sneaking some energy cubes to the Machoke assisting him, finally appeasing them.
It wasn't entirely the deliveryman's fault for being startled. The dimly lit hallway in the old building made a disembodied head appearing out of nowhere terrifying to anyone.
Thankfully, the delivery itself was unharmed.
Machoke hauled in box after box of MooMoo Milk. Johan had ordered it the previous night and was impressed with how fast it arrived—proving once again that logistics in the Pokémon world were top-notch.
He cracked open a bottle and drank it, unfazed by Haunter's envious stare from the corner.
"Try that again and I'll break your legs!" Johan feigned anger, waving a spatula.
"Ka-kah! Σ(дlll)"
"Oowu~~"
Haunter, where do you even have legs? Vulpix tilted its head, puzzled.
"Ka-kah!"
Oh, right! A figurative lightbulb flashed above Haunter's head as it patted its chest.
Nothing to fear.
"Alright, breakfast time," Johan said, softening his expression.
Haunter and Vulpix exchanged glances, smiles creeping onto their faces.
He's all bark, no bite…
Halfway through breakfast, Johan's phone rang.
Seeing Steven's name, he answered.
"Johan, Metang evolved!"
Johan paused. Finally, it evolved into that signature shiny Metagross?
"Congratulations to both you and, well, your new Metagross," Johan chuckled.
"It's thanks to your guidance. Now, Metagross is stronger than ever—"
Steven called Johan first to share the joy and express his gratitude. Metang had always been powerful, but it had some psychological hang-ups, compounded by Steven's own doubts, delaying its evolution. With guidance and newfound resolve, its evolution was inevitable.
Now, Steven truly embodied "handsome, powerful, and wealthy."
Johan, Steven's teacher, felt a genuine sense of pride.
After a brief chat, Steven hung up to test Metagross' capabilities.
Johan resumed his breakfast, mapping out the day.
"First, we'll go to Rustboro Department Store—running low on berries and maybe find a few more TMs. Then we'll head to the Pokémon Center…"
His phone rang again.
Can't I just finish my breakfast?
Johan answered irritably.
"Where are you?"
A female voice. Familiar and pleasing.
Johan checked the screen—Eevee Eats Cabbage.
He paused for two seconds.
Cynthia?
He glanced out the window.
It's daylight…
"Are you there?" Cynthia's voice called again.
"Yeah, in Hoenn," Johan replied, recovering.
"I know. Which city?"
"Uh… Rustboro City."
"Got it."
The call ended abruptly.
Got it? Got what?
Is she coming to Hoenn?
Come to think of it, examining Spiritomb might indeed need in-person attention.
Turning back, he noticed Haunter and Vulpix, ears perked straight up.
A bead of sweat formed on Johan's forehead.
To Haunter, he said:
"Spiritomb's coming to play."
"Ka-kah?! (д°〃)"
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Going to start doing bonuses for each 100 powerstones. For example 500 powerstones = 5 chapters. Patreon reader's don't worry, you'll still remain 20 chapters ahead of webnovel.