usedlaserbeam | 002 | Cherrygrove City

[After a productive (but admittedly somewhat boring) five hours of work sorting and filing papers at the Cherrygrove Pokémon Center, it's finally time for Yagyuu to head for home--or at least, for the room at the Cherrygrove Inn he's been sharing with Kirihara-kun since they both arrived in the city yesterday. He'd gladly work longer hours if they'd let him, but the rules are strict for minors, and so he's being cheerfully shooed out as soon as his time is up for the day.

As a result, anyone in the vicinity of the Center in Cherrygrove will probably see him exiting the front doors, his Breeder's Manual already open in one hand for casual perusal as he starts his walk back toward the inn. Strangely, he doesn't seem to have any Pokémon with him, though he does have his backpack slung casually over his shoulder like a model student might.

All things considered, he's not hard to spot, both from his lack of visible Pokémon and his bright yellow Rikkai jersey with the collar popped up at the neck. Which means he's also a prime target for bothering, should anyone feel so inclined.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

And Phantom behaved himself, I hope?

[Because really, it was a relief to have his Pokémon out of his hair for the day, and Kirihara-kun seemed so enthusiastic about training them, so the arrangement was mutually beneficial.]

Yep! He's doing a good job keeping up with the rest of them. [ ... ] Actually, it's kinda hard keeping some of my Pokémon from going too hard on him...

[ ... don't worry, though, Phantom's fine. ]

[He shrugs a little, closing his breeder's manual and tucking it safely under his arm.]

It's only to be expected if he's not as strong as the others. Facing adversity is usually good motivation, don't you think?

Yeah, but it's not good to push a beginner too hard.

It's a valuable skill, being able to make that distinction.

Well, I am gonna be captain next year, you know.

[ as terrifying a thought as that is... ]

[Terrifying indeed, and yet somehow inevitable. Like standing in quicksand.]

Is that how you've chosen to approach training your Pokémon?

Well, it is kind of similar, isn't it?

I suppose it is. Yukimura-kun certainly seems to think so.

In that case, I must not be doing that bad of a job. The beginner seems like he doesn't want to quit yet and is improving a lot!

... Of course, that's mostly 'cause of Phantom here being easy to work with, I think.

Then it's beneficial practice for the both of you.

[And secretly for Yagyuu too, because it means he doesn't have to do the training himself and admit he's actually going to become a Pokémon trainer now.]

You'll continue tomorrow, I assume?

Yeah, if it's alright with you.

I don't mind it at all. After all, it's helpful to me, too.

Then I'll continue with it for as long as you want!

[ or until you stop letting him stay in your hotel room... ]

[And it's about to get a hundred times more exciting with their new arrivals...]

That's fine. I have to put in five days before I can collect my paycheck, and we're still waiting on Yukimura-buchou and Niou-kun anyway. That should give us a few more days, at least.

In five days, I'm pretty sure I can get Phantom up three levels at least. All of mine have been getting four or five a week.

Three levels is standard progress, I take it?

That's what I've heard. I guess it depends on how seriously you train, but even having them out without doing anything extra should get a level or two a week.

I'll have to keep that in mind, then. And perhaps you can demonstrate some of your training techniques when it's time for me to resume those duties myself.

Well, I can't give away all my secrets, but I suppose I could give you a few tips!

[ protip: he doesn't have any secret training techniques.... ]

I'd appreciate the assistance, Kirihara-kun.

And how is your own team coming along?

Pretty good! I've got four of them already!

I recall Ace. Who are the others?

There's Break the Pidgeotto and Fuurinkazan the Houndour. [ yeah... he named one of them after Sanada... ] I also caught a Mareep just before coming this way, but it doesn't have a name yet.