Pokémon: Master of the Rain Team

Before entering the treehouse, Reiji took out the Rawst Berries from his shorts pocket and rinsed three of them with the fresh water outside. One had gone bad, but the other two were still good.

He remembered picking up five berries—two must have fallen out while running. No matter; as long as he had a couple left, that was enough.

After cleaning them, he entered the treehouse and released the green Caterpie from its Poké Ball.

”Coo… coo…”

Its voice was weak, consciousness fading in and out. The once bright eyes were now barely open.

Reiji placed a hand on its body—still burning hot. Without hesitation, he cut a small piece of blue berry flesh from the Rawst Berry and fed it into the Caterpie’s slightly parted mouth.

He didn’t really know how to use the berry properly—he just hoped feeding it directly would help. As he looked up, a translucent screen popped up with the item’s information:

[Rawst Berry: Cures the Burn status for Pokémon. (Ripeness: 73.58%)]

So that’s how the proficiency panel worked—not just for Pokémon, but also items. As long as the item was recorded in the game, it could be identified here. He remembered now—the panel was originally from an unofficial Pokémon game.

Back when he first got the Poké Ball, he’d tested it out and confirmed it worked on certain items.

Up until now, he hadn’t had the chance to test much else. The only relevant objects he had were Poliwag and his Poké Balls.

And really, what use was it to know a Poké Ball’s stats? It wasn’t like he cared about their durability or something. As long as it worked, that was enough.

But now this Rawst Berry—with only 73.58% ripeness—might be the key. Reiji cut another piece and tried it himself.

”Ugh—cough cough!” He spat it out almost immediately. Bitter! It tasted like pure bitter melon.

”Coo… coo…” The Caterpie stirred, clearly awakened by the bitterness as well.

Reiji could spit it out—but Caterpie couldn’t. He crushed the remaining berry flesh in a metal cup, mixed it with warm water, and slowly fed it to the Pokémon.

The warm water had been left out to heat in the sun, using the treehouse’s stored fresh water.

Only after watching Caterpie drink down the bitter medicine did Reiji finally step outside to deal with his own injuries.

He boiled water in the stew pot, cooled it slightly, then poured it into a plastic basin. He unwrapped the torn cloth from his foot and placed the left foot into the warm water.

”SSSS—god, that hurts!” The second his foot touched the water, pain wracked through his face, contorting his expression. He yanked his foot back out immediately.

He was just cleaning the wound—why did it feel like someone was doing surgery?

”Oh right… it’s the salt…” The fresh water wasn’t actually pure—it was slightly salty, and salt kills bacteria. But it burned like hell.

Grimacing, he bit down on a wooden stick to keep from clenching his jaw too hard. Then, with a deep breath, he plunged both feet into the basin again.

His body stiffened. His face twisted in agony. His limbs trembled.

Only after a long while did the pain subside enough for him to relax. He wiped the sweat from his brow and looked at the now blood-tinted water.

There was a strange sense of relief.

Once the water cooled, he took his feet out and let the breeze dry them off as he laid on the grass, gazing at the sky, blue and white above.

He’d really lost big this time.

A wet lighter? Minor.

But injuries like these on both soles of his feet? Not so minor.

The right foot was manageable—should heal in two weeks. But the left was bad. No medicine, summer heat, and the need to keep the wounds dry? It could easily get infected.

If it did… and things got worse… he might not survive.

And his journey as a Pokémon Trainer hadn’t even started yet! He hadn’t had a chance to live his new life—not with all the lovely girls and exciting battles this world promised!

He didn’t want to die here. He had to live.

”Okay, okay… first, disinfect the wounds properly.”

Reiji got up and boiled more water in the pot, then added strips of cloth he’d cut from old clothes to sterilize them.

After boiling for a while, he used chopsticks to pull them out, let them cool, and wrapped his feet. Without shoes, he couldn’t walk at all.

Luckily, he’d kept his shoes—he’d tied them together and hung them around his neck before jumping into the sea.

After all this effort, the morning was basically over. He hadn’t made lunch and didn’t intend to.

He could still catch Caterpie, but that risked drawing out the Krabby again. If they came, he couldn’t even run—he’d be finished.

It felt like everything wanted him dead. What had he done to deserve this?

If the city was spiritually crushing, nature was physically lethal. This uninhabited island was the true lawless frontier.

”I told myself not to play the good guy… Why didn’t I listen?”

Lying under the tree’s shade, Reiji could do nothing but sigh. He couldn’t go anywhere. He couldn’t do anything.

”Poliwag, go collect some seaweed for me,” he called to his partner, who had just gotten a new water bucket.

Thanks to the overnight rain, they had plenty of fresh water—twenty buckets, all collected naturally. He couldn’t carry anything now anyway. Rainwater would have to do.

”Wag wag…” Poliwag came over and stared at Reiji’s injured legs. Blood still seeped through the bandages.

These wounds… all from retrieving berries… just to save Caterpie.

If Caterpie hadn’t returned, Reiji wouldn’t be like this.

Poliwag’s joy at seeing her return had long faded. Now, only silence remained.

”It’s okay, Poliwag. The wounds will heal. I’ll be relying on you now,” Reiji said with a smile, gently patting Poliwag’s head.

Poliwag wasn’t the strongest or smartest, but it was his most reliable companion.

Meeting Poliwag on this island—catching it—was the luckiest thing that had happened to him.

”Be careful, okay? Just grab a bit of seaweed and come back,” he said, giving Poliwag’s body a reassuring pat.

”Wag.” Poliwag nodded, its large black eyes gleaming with growing determination.

It felt the weight now—just like when Reiji was unconscious before.

Once again, the responsibility fell to Poliwag to take care of him.

And now, it no longer blamed Caterpie. If Reiji wasn’t angry, why should it be?

This was Reiji’s choice—and it would always stand beside him, shielding him from everything.

But it wasn’t strong enough yet.

It had to grow stronger.

Reiji didn’t notice, but when Poliwag turned around, a fire burned in its eyes—hotter than ever before.

Even its footsteps as it left became more stable, more resolute.

[End of Chapter]

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