Beyond the distant mountains and jungles outside Celadon City, Logan had once again immersed himself in pure, relentless training with Eevee and the rest of his Pokémon—just like when his journey had first Gible. His entire focus, his every ounce of concentration, was devoted to honing his Pokémon’s mastery of moves and sharpening their instincts.

“Very good, Flareon! At the very least, you’ve improved tremendously compared to two weeks ago.”

Logan nodded in satisfaction as he watched. Before him, the rushing river was boiling, bubbles rising as clouds of steam erupted upward—yet before long, the icy current from upstream smothered the heat, returning the waters to normal.

Whether it was mastery of moves, precision, power, or reaction time, this Flareon was leagues ahead of the Eevee it had once been. And that was exactly the result Logan wanted.

To train Eevee properly, Logan hadn’t relied on Gabite or Dragonair at all. Just like when he had first started his journey, relying solely on a tiny Gible, he forced himself and Eevee to face the dangers of the wild mountains and forests with nothing but their bond.

Logan was no stranger to rigorous training. Two weeks under his guidance was more efficient than a whole month of aimless practice. But efficiency had its cost—he himself was injured along the way. If Gabite and Dragonair had been alongside him, he wouldn’t have suffered even a scratch. Yet in order to truly temper Eevee, Logan bore the pain in silence.

The real challenge came from Eevee’s overwhelming potential. Its many possible evolutions meant it had too many moves to learn—more than any ordinary Pokémon could handle. Some techniques would never be used, but every STAB move tied to its current form had to be mastered without fail. Right now, Eevee could only shift between three evolutions, but if the day came when it could freely transform into all eight or nine, the number of moves to train would be staggering.

Logan felt a headache just thinking about it. Still, the one saving grace was Eevee’s adaptability—no matter the environment, it could immediately adjust and even counter it. Truly, a universal Pokémon.

To help Eevee adapt to evolution, Logan forced it every day to shift into different forms. Though the side effects lingered, the pain had grown far more manageable thanks to its strengthening body. He even gave it a permanent Water Stone to carry, ensuring that transforming into Vaporeon no longer brought any backlash.

“Haa… a long road ahead.”

Logan exhaled deeply. Then, frowning slightly, he glanced to the side and chuckled.

“…This trick again? Can’t you think of something new?”

No sooner had he spoken than blades of grass sliced through the air from the riverside forest—razor-sharp Leaf Blades, shrieking as they cut against the wind.

But Logan and Eevee weren’t the same as they had been two weeks ago. There was no scrambling in panic, no desperation. Without needing Logan’s command, Flareon sprang gracefully aside, dodging the incoming storm of leaves, and landed beside Logan protectively.

The barrage of Leaf Blades curved back mid-air, making a 180-degree turn, striking again from across the riverbank. But Flareon whipped its fiery tail, hurling a fireball into their midst. The explosion consumed the leaves in ash, the river itself sizzling as steam burst forth once more.

“Flareon—Fire Spin!”

Logan gave the order, and Flareon released a spiral of searing flames, shooting directly toward the source of the attack. Just like two weeks ago, blossoms of vivid color fluttered through the air, caught in the whirlwind of fire. Petals and fire entwined, clashing until both slowly vanished into nothing.

“How incredible… In just two weeks, this Eevee has transformed completely. Even I could hardly recognize it.”

A soft, elegant voice carried from the trees. Erika emerged from the woods in her immaculate kimono, as if she had simply stepped out of her own backyard. Not a speck of dirt clung to her despite the wilderness surrounding her.

Logan knew all too well—forests and fields were Erika’s true battlefield. For a Grass-type expert like her, this was home.

“Eevee’s been training with everything it has. If it weren’t for its determination, this transformation would’ve been impossible.”

Logan reached out and stroked the Flareon at his side. Its fiery mane was soft and warm to the touch, like gentle flames brushing his palm.

Flareon wagged its tail happily, pushing its head against Logan’s chest like a playful pup, letting out an adorable little cry.

And then, with a flash of light, Flareon’s body shrank, morphing back into Eevee. With a nimble leap, it perched itself on Logan’s shoulder, clinging with tiny paws.

“Eevee, eevee~~”

Gabite and Dragonair had long since grown too large to keep outside their Poké Balls all the time. But at last, Logan had found a partner small enough to carry and cuddle every day—one that would never grow too big for him.

“Erika, what are you doing here? If I’ve calculated correctly, we still had half a month before our agreement.”

Logan scratched under Eevee’s chin, confusion flickering across his face.

Erika shook her head softly, hands folded demurely in front of her like a perfect Yamato Nadeshiko.

“…Forgive me, Logan. I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep our agreement.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’ve realized my current strength isn’t enough to face the coming dangers. I, too, need special training. And you understand well—sparring with another Trainer is far more effective than training alone.”

“…So?”

“So I’ve come uninvited, hoping to join you. As for Gym battles, they’re no longer as important in these circumstances. If you wish, Logan, I’ll gladly hand you the Rainbow Badge.”

Logan blinked. Was it just him, or was this girl speaking even more formally than before? And was it his imagination, or had she become far more… familiar, almost casual, with him since two weeks ago?

“I don’t mind. But you’re a Gym Leader. Is it really okay to just abandon your Gym?”

“It’s fine. As long as I return once a week to handle the challengers, everything will be taken care of.”

Erika’s voice was calm, unbothered. Logan couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for the Trainers who poured their sweat and tears into winning a badge, only to face Gym Leaders treating it like a formality.

“Well, it’s your decision. Your legs are your own—what could I do to stop you? Our training styles are probably very different. Let’s work together for a bit, find a method that suits us both.”

He shrugged. A beautiful woman volunteering to be his training partner? He wasn’t about to say no.

“Logan, may I ask—how old are you this year?”

“…Huh? Why ask that out of nowhere?”

Though puzzled, Logan didn’t think much of it. He answered casually.

“Almost sixteen, I suppose.”

The words left him feeling oddly awkward. After all, mentally, he was already twenty-four. But outwardly, he truly was just turning sixteen.

“No wonder Sabrina was able to deceive you. Sixteen is an age where boys feel the strongest curiosity and yearning toward girls.”

Erika sighed as if she had uncovered some hidden truth.

Logan’s head spun with question marks. Curious about girls? Longing for them? Please! Back in his old world, he had been a bit of an introvert, sure, but hardly some pathetic shut-in. He’d had a proper job, dated two girlfriends, and had already explored the mysteries of the female body. He was anything but an innocent, blushing schoolboy!

And even if he hadn’t… his theoretical knowledge was impeccable. He had studied well—if not from real-life teachers, then from “academics” with names like Amami Tsubasa and Airi Suzumura. Knowledge was knowledge.

“Miss Erika, what exactly are you trying to say?”

Logan honestly couldn’t follow her train of thought.

“Balance between work and rest is important. You’ve gone two weeks without any real break. I believe you should rest. And more than that—we need to understand one another better. Only then will our training together be truly effective.”

“…Besides, I think before you train Pokémon, you need to learn how to interact properly with girls. That way, you won’t be deceived by someone like Sabrina again.”

Logan nearly choked. He wanted to shout: My experience with girls is way beyond what you think!

But Erika pressed on, her tone elegant yet her ears glowing red beneath her short hair.

“So, in order to help you learn how to interact with girls… I’ve decided we should go on a date. That way, you’ll grow used to communicating with the opposite gender.”

She had spoken with poise, but her blushing ears betrayed her. Even saying something so embarrassing, Erika somehow managed to keep her dignity.

What is this, Date A Live? Logan thought bitterly. Since when does an “experienced driver” like me need dating practice?

He looked at Erika, realizing she was playing with fire.

This brilliant woman—this Gym Leader who seemed to see through everything—had, just this once, misjudged him badly.

Did she really think he was some pure-hearted boy?

This invitation… was anything but subtle.

——————–

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep