Thanks to the spectacle of Hayashi and Erina's intimate moment being witnessed by a crowd, Erina—after just one day of rest—eagerly urged Hayashi to hurry to the next world. As for the promise to teach Hayashi some knowledge after meeting Chairman Rose? Naturally, that was forgotten by Erina, who was too busy mentally digging her way to Azeroth with her toes.
But it wasn't a big deal. They could always study next time they returned.
Right now? Right now, they just needed to live in a different world!
...
...
"So, is this really okay?"
Hayashi clipped a Poké Ball onto his belt as he glanced at Erina beside him. "We're leaving after just one day of rest."
"I can't stay in this world for another second!" The mere thought of yesterday afternoon's incident made Erina's expression twist with horror. "From yesterday until now, every time they see me, they make that face..."
What kind of face, exactly? Well, roughly, maybe, probably, something like...
Anya's signature "I know everything" smirk would be a good reference.
Who could stand this?
"Ahem, actually, everyone was just teasing us in good fun—" Hayashi coughed awkwardly with a complicated expression. "They all genuinely wished us well."
Erina paused briefly while packing her luggage, then replied expressionlessly, "I understand what you're saying, but that doesn't change my determination to move to another world."
"Alright, alright—"
Hayashi nodded with a wry smile, realizing he had overestimated his girlfriend's tolerance for embarrassment. It seemed some of their more... unconventional play would have to stay strictly private from now on!
"Done—"
After stuffing all her belongings into the travel backpack brought from the Pokémon world, Erina clapped her hands and turned to Hisako standing by the door. "Hisako, are you ready?"
"Yes! All set, Erina!" Hisako quickly stepped forward, patting the backpack on her back and showing off the Poké Balls at her waist. "I've brought everyone along too!"
"Good!" Erina nodded, then looked at Hayashi. "Hayashi, let's go now—to that place you mentioned where we can train and grow stronger!"
Feeling the weight of Erina's determination, Hayashi helplessly raised his hands in surrender. "Fine, I'll take you there right away."
...
...
World: History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi.
Timeline: Sixteen years before the main story begins.
Location: Hokkaido.
As soon as they stepped through the Interdimensional Gate, the trio shivered violently from the biting Hokkaido snowstorm.
"Brr, so cold—" Hayashi, dressed only in a thin T-shirt, hastily tossed a Poké Ball. "Arcanine, come out!"
"Woof—!"
A massive dog towering over two meters tall materialized behind them, panting happily with her tongue lolling out, completely unfazed by the freezing winds.
"Whoa—"
The next moment, all three of them wrapped their arms around Arcanine's warm fur, their expressions melting into bliss.
"So warm—" Hisako murmured.
"Arcanine is absolutely amazing," Erina praised.
"That's my good girl," Hayashi said with a grin.
"Woof—!" Thrilled by the compliments, Arcanine wagged her tail vigorously and licked Hayashi's face.
"Ahahaha, good girl~" Hayashi laughed, ruffling Arcanine's head before patting her shoulder. The giant dog obediently lay down in the snow, allowing him to easily climb onto her back.
"By the way—" Hisako pressed closer to Arcanine's fur. "Hayashi, why did we specifically appear in a place like this?"
"Well, how should I put it—" Hayashi first pulled Erina into his arms, then positioned Hisako in front of her. "To save a life that's about to be taken."
Hearing this, Erina immediately turned her head. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's hurry!"
"Right." Hayashi smiled at her reaction and tossed another Poké Ball. "Come on out, Corviknight!"
"Screech—"
Standing over two and a half meters tall, a blue raven seemingly clad in armor flapped its wings as it appeared before Hayashi, its crimson eyes fixed on its trainer as it awaited instructions.
"Corviknight, I need you to search the skies for a mother and daughter pair. The daughter was just born and is still in swaddling clothes," Hayashi said quickly. "They should be in a state of being pursued!"
"Screech!"
Corviknight nodded immediately, then with a powerful beat of her massive wings, she soared into the sky.
"I'll help too."
Erina tossed out her Poké Ball, releasing Dragonair and Klahh. "Dragonair, Klahh! Please search the area for a mother and daughter..."
Erina repeated the information Hayashi had provided, and the two Pokémon nodded before disappearing into the snowstorm—one taking flight, the other dashing off.
"Now we wait," Hayashi exhaled, murmuring to himself, "I hope we're not too late."
...
...
Somewhere in the wilderness of Hokkaido.
Shizuha Fūrinji glanced back at the enemies closing in behind her and gritted her teeth. She placed her daughter beneath a tree, then turned and charged toward the armed foes.
"It's Shizuha—she's coming at us—!"
One of them shouted upon noticing her movement, prompting the others to raise their submachine guns and open fire on Shizuha.
'Too slow—'
Shizuha swept her foot across the ground, kicking up a thick cloud of snow to obscure their vision.
"Lost visual on the target!"
"Stay sharp, don't let her get close... Agh!"
Before the warning could even be fully shouted, Shizuha had already appeared behind the group, swiftly taking down several of them. However, the sheer number of pursuers meant that despite her speed, a few still slipped past her.
"Damn woman—!" One of them angrily drew a pistol from his coat, aiming it at Shizuha, who was mid-air with no way to evade. "Die...!"
"Boom—!"
The next moment, with a thunderous shockwave, the gunman was sent flying into the air before he could even pull the trigger.
"Honey!"
Shizuha's face lit up with joy as she spotted the blond man who had appeared. She rushed toward him, calling out, "You came—"
"Thud—"
In an instant, both Shizuha and her "husband" froze.
Shizuha looked down in stunned disbelief—her husband was still in the motion of throwing a punch, and from the force behind it, the blow had clearly been meant to kill her.
The "husband" also lowered his gaze, but his attention was fixed on the space between his fist and Shizuha's abdomen—where a translucent barrier had materialized, firmly blocking his attack. Otherwise, he would have already killed her.
"Why?"
Shizuha lifted her head, her voice trembling with shock.
"Because he isn't your husband at all—" Just then, a voice tinged with relief sounded from beside them. "Looks like we barely made it in time."
"Who's there?"
The "husband" turned his head toward the direction of the voice—only to see a massive, tiger-striped animal carrying three people slowly approaching through the snowstorm.
"A passing Kamen Rider—I suppose that answer wouldn't satisfy you, would it?" Hayashi grinned at the "husband" and said, "But I'm under no obligation to answer your questions—Mr. Senzui."
"Senzui!?"
Hearing this name, Shizuha was startled. She stared intently at the "husband" before her, her voice filled with disbelief. "You're Senzui!?"
"Tch, exposed already?" The "husband" wore an irritated expression as he raised his right hand and tore off a mask from his face, revealing a completely different visage. "How the hell did you figure out my identity?"
"Well—" Hayashi blinked innocently, tilting his head with a playful "Ehehe" grin. "Who knows? Maybe it was divine revelation?"
"Not willing to talk, huh?" Senzui's expression turned cold as he glared at Hayashi. "Then I'll just have to resort to other methods."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Senzui lunged at Hayashi with speed beyond his ability to react. But before he could reach Hayashi to attack, a blue glow locked his body firmly in midair.
"Ghehehe—"
The next moment, Gengar, its eyes glowing blue, emerged from Hayashi's shadow and flashed a mocking grin at Senzui, who was immobilized by its psychic hold.
Hurt my master? Did you even ask Gengar for permission, huh?
"My apologies, Mr. Senzui," Hayashi said with a smile, watching the fear flicker across Senzui's face. "We were well aware of your combat prowess, so we came prepared from the very start—"
"What the hell is this thing…?" Senzui, still suspended in midair, stared at the purple creature that had emerged from the shadows, unable to suppress his question.
"She's Gengar—one of my most trusted partners—"
"Ghehe!"
The bashful Gengar giggled as it rubbed its head, then turned to stare at Senzui with utterly emotionless eyes. Though Hayashi hadn't been able to react, Gengar—trained by Cynthia and enhanced by Arceus, now at level 87—had seen it all too clearly: the man's undisguised killing intent when he attacked her master.
Clearly, the usually cheerful and chubby purple prankster—Big Sis Gengar—was pissed.
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