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Ignoring the Meowths chasing behind him, Hoshino rode Cyclizar and made it back just in time before most of the shops in Kabukicho closed for the night.
Slowking was moving the shop's signboard back inside when he noticed Hoshino's less-than-pleasant expression. He calmly looked at him and said, "Didn't I tell you? Don't meddle in other people's business."
"..."
Seeing that Hoshino didn't respond, Slowking continued, "You want to help the Pokémon in this district with their troubles. I don't know your motives, but maybe they don't even need your help."
"From the very start, your idea was flawed—completely meaningless. With or without you, this street will run the same as it always has."
"Is that so…"
Hoshino finally spoke. He got off Cyclizar, removed his goggles, and looked at Slowking while pulling out a small branch he carried with him.
"This branch…?"
"It was dropped by a Pokémon—one that naïvely believed its trusted trainer would take it on a journey. But in reality, it was just going to be traded away like a commodity."
Hoshino smiled as he casually explained, then muttered to himself with a grin, "Lucky me, huh? I happened to pick it up. Seems pretty important to that Pokémon… If I heard right, it's a keepsake from its mother? Maybe I can use this to scam a little something in return."
He twirled the branch in his hand as he headed toward the stairs. Cyclizar followed the motion with his eyes, repeatedly reaching out to grab it but always missing.
Slowking's expression remained unchanged. He turned to glance inside the shop, where a Ceruledge was wiping down the tables. Then, without another word, he carried the signboard back in.
Just as he was about to go inside, he calmly scolded, "Since you picked it up, return it to its owner. Don't be a brat who only learns bad things."
"..."
Hoshino didn't respond. He simply spun the branch like a pen and then put it away.
He understood Slowking's words—returning the branch meant he was being given free rein to handle things. It was different from Slowking's usual lectures. The Pokémon wasn't as stubborn as he'd thought.
Since Braixen no longer needed help, Hoshino had no reason to interfere. After all, trading Pokémon wasn't illegal—it was normal.
But he wasn't trying to help. He was planning to use this branch to scam a trade! One little branch in exchange for a chance to ruffle Braixen's big, fluffy tail—was that too much to ask?
As for whether things would go as planned… that was another matter.
"Fluffy tail…"
"Cy?"
—
Back home, Hoshino took a hot shower and changed into fresh clothes.
Yesterday, while Hala helped him settle his enrollment paperwork, he also brought over two sets of school uniforms—jacket and undershirt included. They'd do for now.
After getting dressed, Hoshino left again with Cyclizar, heading to Smile Restaurant. First, he'd mooch a free breakfast from Gardevoir, then take care of the rest of the day's plans.
Since he arrived early, the restaurant still had a few Pokémon customers. However, only Gardevoir was working in the kitchen. When an order came in, she prepared the food and used psychic power to send it over—one of the perks of a slow morning.
Hoshino wasn't here to chat with other Pokémon; he was here to learn. So, he stayed in the kitchen and watched as Gardevoir skillfully wielded kitchen knives with her psychic powers, sending them flying in every direction.
She diced berries and some unidentifiable meat in one smooth motion, plated them, and immediately moved on to the next step. It was mesmerizing.
"Nai-chan! I want to learn this!"
Of course, he knew he wouldn't master it instantly, but at least he could familiarize himself with the ingredients.
Hoshino was something of a jack-of-all-trades. In his past life, he was constantly on the move, dodging responsibilities, and had dabbled in both legal and… less-than-legal professions.
In just a few days, he had already adapted to life here. Running an all-purpose service shop (a "yorozuya") suited him perfectly.
Gardevoir was quite dedicated as well. Although language barriers prevented them from having real conversations, she used her psychic power to write in midair, teaching him ingredient names and recipe instructions.
Before long, Smile Restaurant closed for the day. After bidding Gardevoir farewell, Hoshino left with Cyclizar, having recorded everything he learned on his phone.
Strangely, he hadn't gained Gardevoir's friendship yet. He figured it might be because his favorability level wasn't high enough.
"Well, whatever. It's only the first day. Gotta take it slow—just like wooing a girl. Not that I've ever had a girlfriend…"
"Cy?"
"…Let's go. Next stop—Grand Wave Beach."
Hoshino hadn't forgotten his mission. Following his map, he rode Cyclizar toward the beach. As expected, the moment he left the city, the Meowths started chasing him again. Those little guys were persistent—but teasing them was kind of fun.
Grand Wave Beach was northwest of Hau'oli City, far beyond the city limits. It was a bustling tourist spot, known for Mantine surfing. The beachside was lined with shops catering to visitors.
Once out of the city, Hoshino finally dared to speed up, following the coastal highway.
Since it was still morning, the temperature was pleasant. The sea breeze was refreshing, and the scenery of Alola was breathtaking.
He passed a few other trainers on the road, and many of them were surprised to see Cyclizar. After all, this Pokémon was rare in Alola—let alone one ridden by someone who looked like a biker gang member.
With his school uniform jacket flapping in the wind, black goggles over his eyes, and his overall rough look, he practically screamed "delinquent." It wouldn't be surprising if he greeted people with "Yoroshiku!" instead of "Alola!"
"Huh?"
Hoshino suddenly noticed that the trainers on the road were keeping a safe distance from him, as if they were afraid of something.
He glanced around and checked himself but didn't find anything off. Shrugging it off, he continued riding.
Soon, he arrived at Big Wave Beach. Since it was still early, the beach wasn't too crowded. He noticed a job posting on a signboard—weekend lifeguard positions with same-day pay.
Using his past experience, he aced the interview and got the job. Then, he and Cyclizar strolled along the shore.
His job was simple—watch over the kids playing in the water and make sure they didn't drown or get attacked by wild Pokémon.
Time passed quickly. Around noon, Cyclizar caught some fish for lunch, while Hoshino skipped eating and stayed on the lookout for his target. He even scolded some kids for stealing Sandygast's shovel.
By the time 5 PM rolled around, his shift ended. He received his daily wage—300 Pokédollars, roughly the price of a single potion. Not bad.
"My first paycheck…"
Hoshino looked at the cash in his hands. Until his service shop was up and running, he'd have to rely on odd jobs to make a living. Fortunately, with Cyclizar, he could easily do food deliveries or courier work.
As a tourist hotspot, Grand Wave Beach had a bustling night market. A small town nearby kept the area lively, though it couldn't compare to Kabukicho.
With his hard-earned cash, Hoshino didn't hesitate—he took Cyclizar to get a meal.
While eating, he noticed something unusual—a group of police officers patrolling with Gumshoos, greeting people as they walked by.
"Why are there so many cops? Hope they don't come after me… Hm?"
Just then, his eyes locked onto a man in the distance—accompanied by a Toxicroak.
A smirk crept onto Hoshino's face.
"Finally… he's here."