Not Being a Trainer This Time

Lance’s gaze swept over Pawmot and Flutter Mane, finally resting on the muscular and strong Koraidon.

Lance’s eyes gradually became eager, as if he were looking at some sacred relic.

Naoki: ”?”

Lance praised: ”What a perfect and holy Pokemon!”

Koraidon: ”Ahh...?”

Lance asked: ”Naoki, you also really like Dragon Type Pokemon, right?”

Naoki was momentarily stunned, then glanced at Koraidon and Dragonite, nodding: ”Yeah.”

Lance seemed to find a fellow enthusiast and then began to share his views on such Pokemon:

”Dragons are sacred legendary creatures. Although they are not easy to catch, if trained seriously, they can be unbeatable all over the world! They’re the best companions! But...”

Lance didn’t speak too absolutely: ”But Dragon Type Pokemon are very afraid of the cold. This is one of their few weaknesses, isn’t it? So, whenever winter comes, I always huddle with Dragonite to keep warm.”

Naoki: ”...”

Naoki understood that Lance was clearly a seasoned dragon enthusiast.

But he really wanted to say that even though Charizard and Aerodactyl have ’dragon’ in their names, they aren’t Dragon Types.

”Do you also huddle with Koraidon to keep warm?” Lance looked at Koraidon and asked.

Naoki: ”In my ranch, we light the fireplace in winter, and the whole house becomes cozy and warm. It’s not cold at all; if we huddle together, we’d end up sweating profusely.”

Koraidon had once done something like that, sneaking onto the bed while he was sleeping.

The result was that it pressed on the blanket, making him sweat all over but unable to kick the blanket off, nearly suffocating him from the heat.

”I see.” Lance finally realized, a slightly embarrassed smile appearing on his handsome face: ”I almost forgot, you run a ranch, while I’m often out traveling, so I frequently encounter such situations.”

Naoki sometimes envied that kind of life of going on adventures.

He loved the storyline from the anime where Ash runs into a cave with his Pokemon during a snowy blizzard.

Thus, Naoki curiously asked: ”Do you hide in caves during snowy days?”

”We do!” Lance reminisced: ”Back then, I often thought how great it would be to have a kotatsu that could fit a Dragon Pokemon, so Pokemon and their Trainers could snuggle in for warmth... Haha, how big would that kotatsu have to be? Really hard to imagine.”

Naoki imagined that scene and couldn’t help but laugh: ”That’s great.”

”Huh?” Hearing his tone, Lance was a bit surprised: ”Naoki, haven’t you experienced something like that?”

”No.” Naoki shook his head: ”I’ve been running a ranch in the Paldea Region. I’ve hardly ever traveled.”

Lance looked at the Pokemon and said: ”Then you should try traveling. The feeling of keeping each other warm with your Pokemon in the natural environment is wonderful.”

Naoki thought for a moment, then shook his head: ”No, my Pokemon at home would miss me.”

To gain some, you must lose some. He’s already satisfied with his current life.

Plus, he couldn’t leave his family behind. Every time he goes out for a few days, he wants to return to the ranch, thinking about the fields, the Pokemon, and whether Teddiursa and Mew have sent any letters home.

Perhaps it’s the same feeling as those old people who originally lived in the countryside and constantly think about returning home after moving to the city?

Except those elderly worry about their chickens and ducks not being fed, and their big yellow dog going hungry.

”I see...” Lance could somewhat understand that feeling: ”Having Pokemon waiting for you at home, that feeling of attachment is really nostalgic.”

”Yes!” Naoki looked up at the night sky, nodded with a smile.

The night sky today was beautiful, the moon was full, emitting a bright and gentle glow.

Many Pokemon on the ranch liked such scenery. At this moment, perhaps they were also looking at the moon above, just like him?

Just then, a middle-aged man walked over.

Spotting that familiar face, a name immediately popped up in Naoki’s mind—Professor Oak!

Perhaps because he had just been caught in the rain, Professor Oak had taken off his lab coat, leaving only a round-neck sweater, exuding a friendly and harmonious aura.

Lance recognized Professor Oak and greeted him politely: ”Professor Oak.”

Professor Oak nodded at Lance and then looked at Naoki with a jovial smile.

”Hello, Trainer from Paldea, I’m Professor Oak from Pallet Town!”