【Pokémon: Squirtle】

  【Gender: Female】

  【Ability: Torrent】

  【Potential: Blue Grade】

  【Individual Values: HP (18), Attack (20), Special Attack (21), Defence (25), Special Defence (24), Speed (16)】

  【Level: 5–8】

  【Moves: Tackle, Tail Whip, Water Gun, Withdraw】

  【Description: A Squirtle brimming with resentment. It seems to be wondering if it picked the wrong Trainer. The thought of having to wake up so early every day leaves it on the verge of collapse…】

  【Affection: 20 (You’ve made it start to regret its choice.)】

  【Happiness: -15 (It’s acutely aware of the differences between Pokémon, and it envies Snivy’s current situation.)】

  As Ethan read through Squirtle’s information, his expression grew increasingly odd.

  Well, well… who would’ve thought this Squirtle had so many thoughts running through its head…

  “Exactly! Exactly! They’re both Starter Pokémon. Sure, Water-types are weak against Grass-types, but I believe in my brilliant, unparalleled strategies! My Squirtle will definitely… fight your Snivy to a draw!” Emma declared, punching the air with confidence.

  “Uh… sure, I guess?” Ethan replied, suppressing a laugh.

  He figured it might be time to give her a reality check.

  Both were Starter Pokémon, but he needed to make it clear that even among Starters, there could be a world of difference.

  Come on, a ten-level gap on top of a type advantage?

  If Snivy can’t win this, I’d seriously need to check if something’s wrong with it.

  The two quickly made their way to a nearby cobblestone path.

  Since Starter Pokémon didn’t have the kind of destructive power that would ruin the terrain, any open space would do for the battle.

  “Squirtle, this is our very first battle! You’ve got to give it your all and show them what you’ve got. That way, we can make a name for ourselves at the Rookie Cup, okay?”

  All the way to the battleground, Emma kept enthusiastically cheering for her Squirtle.

  Squirtle’s reaction, however, was rather amusing.

  It kept staring at Snivy, its large, watery eyes filled with a hint of longing.

  “Squirtle, Squirtle…” (Where’d you find a Trainer like that? They seem pretty great—mind helping me find one too?)

  Snivy: …

  It hadn’t expected this Squirtle to be such a clown.

  Rolling its eyes, Snivy simply ignored it and walked beside Ethan with a cool, composed air.

  The contrast couldn’t have been clearer.

  Without comparison, you couldn’t see the gap.

  This human… really doesn’t seem all that sharp, Snivy thought, glancing at Emma.

  In contrast, Ethan appeared far more competent.

  With that thought, Snivy couldn’t help but let a faint smile tug at the corner of its mouth.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  On the cobblestone path, the two stood ready, taking their positions.

  “Ready?”

  At Emma’s enthusiastic and heartfelt question, Ethan gave a small nod.

  “Alright, here we go! Squirtle, use Tackle!”

  Squirtle’s expression grew serious. Despite its earlier complaints, it was still obedient to its Trainer’s commands.

  With a gleaming, polished head, it charged straight at Snivy.

  To be fair, all that jogging seemed to have paid off—its speed wasn’t bad at all.

  If only it would lift its head while charging, that is.

  Ethan couldn’t help but wonder why Squirtle insisted on keeping its head down during its Tackle attack.

  Snivy, on the other hand, remained calm and indifferent, its gaze steady and composed.

  “Uh… Snivy, maybe go easy on it?” Ethan suggested, noticing how Snivy hadn’t even bothered to move.

  “Snivy…” (Whatever you say…)

  Snivy spread its small hands in a casual gesture, as if to say it didn’t really care either way.

  “Alright then, Snivy, use Vine Whip!”

  With a flick of his finger, Ethan gave the command, a surge of confidence rising in his chest.

  Though Ethan had seen countless Pokémon battles before, being in the middle of one himself stirred an undeniable excitement.

  “Snivy…”

  Snivy’s amber eyes glimmered with amusement as it watched Squirtle charge forward, head down, completely unaware it was veering further and further off target.

  With a subtle sidestep, Snivy allowed Squirtle to miss entirely, the two Pokémon brushing past each other.

  It wasn’t until two green vines landed firmly at its feet that Squirtle realised it was in trouble and tried to dodge.

  But by then, its momentum was too great. The inertia carried it forward, and it couldn’t avoid Snivy’s Vine Whip.

  Bang!

  The loud thud of Squirtle’s head hitting the cobblestones echoed sharply, prompting Ethan to let out a soft “tsk” as he winced.

  That sound… so crisp. Almost makes you think, “A good thud must mean a good head.”

  “Snivy…”

  Snivy sighed, rubbing its own forehead with a small hand as realisation dawned.

  So that’s why these two ended up together...

  Like Trainer, like Pokémon.

  “Squirtle!?”

  On the other side, Emma watched in alarm as Squirtle landed heavily on the ground. She immediately shouted, “The battle’s just starting! Get up! Hang in there!”

  “Squirtle… Squirtle…”

  Rubbing the large bump on its head, a dazed Squirtle wobbled to its feet. It looked around in confusion, finding no one in front of it except Ethan.

  For a moment, it seemed utterly lost as to where Snivy had gone.

  It wasn’t until Ethan subtly pointed behind it and Emma yelled, “Behind you! It’s behind you, with Vine Whip!”

  Realisation struck Squirtle, and it hurriedly turned around.

  But by then, two vines were already within ten centimetres of its back.

  In the next instant, the vines wrapped tightly around its body, lifting it into the air. No matter how much it thrashed, it couldn’t break free from Snivy’s grip.

  With a quick flick, Snivy sent Squirtle flying.

  Glancing at its Trainer, Snivy looked slightly exasperated.

  Helping the opponent in the middle of a battle? Really?

  “Cough, cough. You know, just trying to give them a bit of a battle experience,” Ethan said, clearing his throat in a feeble attempt to mask his embarrassment.

  Though, clearly, that “experience” wasn’t working out as intended.

  Meanwhile, Squirtle, who had been flung through the air, landed heavily on the ground and took quite a while to recover.

  It couldn’t wrap its head around why Snivy had somehow ended up behind it mid-battle.

  “Are you okay, Squirtle?”

  Emma quickly ran to its side, her voice filled with concern.

  “Squirtle, Squirtle…” Squirtle initially wanted to say it was fine but then quickly changed its tune, flopping dramatically and looking utterly drained. “Squirtle, Squirtle…” (I’ve got no strength left…)

  Emma, ever the trusting one, didn’t pick up on Squirtle’s act. She sighed in regret but then turned to Snivy with shining eyes.

  What an amazing Snivy! As expected of Ethan’s Pokémon!

  Ethan walked over with Snivy at his side. “Done already?”

  Though Squirtle was a newly caught Pokémon, it shouldn’t have been out of commission from just a couple of throws. Ethan wanted to check on the situation.

  “Squirtle says it doesn’t have any energy left,” Emma explained earnestly.

  Emma sighed, rubbing her temples.

  This left Ethan momentarily puzzled.

  Squirtle looked perfectly fine—its energy and spirit were clearly intact.

  Then it dawned on him, and a faint smile crept onto his face.

  “Ethan! How was my performance just now? Wasn’t it pretty good?” Emma suddenly looked up, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. She was clearly hoping for some positive feedback.

  “Hmm… not bad,” Ethan replied thoughtfully. “Though next time, it’d be even better if Squirtle lifted its head when using Tackle.”