Not Being a Trainer This Time

The Eevee, who wanted to evolve into Sylveon, met his gaze with big round eyes, full of anticipation.

Naoki asked, ”Have you mastered Baby-Doll Eyes?”

”Bui.” Eevee felt a bit guilty.

Naoki: ”...”

Earlier, he had asked Alcremie to help teach Eevee the move Baby-Doll Eyes, but when he wasn’t paying attention, Eevee started slacking.

”You!” Naoki sighed helplessly, poking its little head with a finger, then turned around and shouted, ”Alcremie!”

”Ma-ma!” Alcremie immediately rushed over.

”Alright! Show Eevee again how to use Baby-Doll Eyes, Eevee, watch carefully this time!” said Naoki.

”Bui!” Eevee quickly nodded.

So, Alcremie began to demonstrate.

Compared to these freshly born Eevee, Alcremie had long been established at the ranch.

Even though it was small in stature, Alcremie still assumed the big sister role it used with Garganacl, to guide Eevee.

”Ma-ma!”

Alcremie focused intensely, staring with round eyes at the little Eevee.

Naoki noticed when using Baby-Doll Eyes, a pink glow appeared in Alcremie’s eyes, likely Fairy Type energy.

Eevee got hit by Baby-Doll Eyes, feeling dazed, it sat blankly where it was.

After quite a while, Eevee snapped out of it, quickly shaking its little head to regain clarity.

”Did you see it clearly?” asked Naoki.

”Bui!” Eevee nodded.

Oh? So fast this time?

Naoki felt a bit surprised: ”Want to give it a try?”

Eevee nodded again, imitating Alcremie’s expression as it focused fiercely, trying to make its eyes round.

However, Baby-Doll Eyes didn’t come out, instead it made itself cross-eyed.

Naoki: ”...”

Its partner Eevee, witnessing the whole scene, only felt that this companion was so dumb.

It had watched many times and already learned.

Consequently, the partner Eevee ran forward while calling, ”Bui bui,” using Baby-Doll Eyes on Eevee.

The partner Eevee sighed, ”Bui...”

Looking like it meant ”You’re too dumb, I learned it already!”

Witnessing this, Eevee felt like the sky was falling, tears welled in its eyes, facing the partner’s ”bragging,” and it ran off with a ”Bui.”

Naoki: ”...”

The partner Eevee looked puzzled, its eyes filled with innocence.

”Bui?” What happened?

The other evolved Eevee blinked, exchanging glances at it.

”Bui...” Glaceon sighed, laying sideways on the grass speechlessly.

No hope, these Eevee all seemed quite dim-witted.

Naoki too was momentarily at a loss for words.

He felt it necessary to give this partner Eevee a course.

The course would be called ”Emotional Intelligence.”

But for now, Eevee’s situation was more urgent.

Naoki let the other Pokemon play on their own, while he followed the path Eevee ran off to search for it.

Eventually, Naoki found the distressed Eevee in the storage room behind the Pokemon Tavern.

”Alright, don’t be sad.” Naoki squatted in front of Eevee, patting its little head to comfort it.

”Bui...” Eevee felt even more aggrieved, it thought it was a fool for not being able to learn Baby-Doll Eyes.

”You must understand, not all Pokemon are geniuses at first!” Naoki began giving Eevee examples: ”You know Dragonite?”

”Bui?” Eevee looked at him.

”Dragonite was originally a fool who couldn’t learn any moves; later it came to the ranch and, through diligent practice every day, successfully mastered moves that it initially found difficult.” Naoki said: ”In the human world, there’s a saying ’diligence makes up for lack of talent.’

”It means that with diligent practice, one can compensate for natural shortcomings.”

”Although I don’t see you as a foolish Eevee, you just often slack off during practice.”

”Bui?” Eevee quickly asked if not slacking would allow it to learn new moves.

Naoki understood its intention and nodded: ”Exactly! I believe you can definitely do it!”

”And even if you can’t, it doesn’t matter, at worst, we’ll keep you as Eevee forever without evolving, I can still raise you for a lifetime.”

”Bui...”

Upon hearing this, little Eevee was deeply moved.

But soon, it regained its determination, shaking its head and firmly declared, ”Bui!”

It didn’t want to stay the same! It also wanted to evolve into a stronger Sylveon, to stay with Naoki as Sylveon!

Decided, starting today it would practice Baby-Doll Eyes diligently, no more slacking like before!

Thinking of this, Eevee never felt clearer internally.

It recalled Alcremie’s teaching, deciding to begin practicing Baby-Doll Eyes right now.

First, mobilize the body’s Fairy Type energy...

Eevee concentrated and began to exert effort.

Naoki could immediately see Eevee’s intentions.

He observed its movements, guiding from the side: ”Make sure your mind isn’t too tense, relax your expression, and gaze at your opponent with your cutest look!”

Cutest look?

Eevee tried to relax, stared with its round eyes, attempting to give Naoki the cutest gaze.

A pink light flashed through Eevee’s pupils, successfully using Baby-Doll Eyes!

Seeing this, Naoki only felt that Eevee was truly adorable.