While Arceus was berating the Hoenn trio, Ho-Oh had already transformed back into a Fletchinder and perched on Hayashi's head, letting out a long sigh. "Phew, there's really a subtle sense of security here, huh."
Hayashi couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. He pulled out his phone, turned on the front camera, and observed the Fearow on his head through the screen. "So, what's up with you? Instead of chilling in Bell Tower, you're squatting on my head?"
Ho-Oh looked at him with disdain. "You just don't get it! Even if I'm in Bell Tower, Arceus's Judgment Stone Edge comes flying at me, making me howl in pain! But if I'm here? He wouldn't dare use Judgment Stone Edge—heck, he probably wouldn't even use Sand Attack! Still think there's no sense of security?"
Hayashi: Ah! So that's the kind of security you mean? Damn it!
He twitched his lips and suddenly said, "Isn't it more like the security of a pet returning to its owner?"
"?!"
Ho-Oh froze, then immediately fluffed up its feathers and flew off Hayashi's head, pecking wildly at his scalp. "Pet!? Pet?! I'll show you pet, I'll show you pet!"
"Ow ow ow, my hair roots, my hair roots! My head, my head!" Hayashi clutched his head, dodging Ho-Oh's attacks, but Ho-Oh's shamelessness had already hit rock bottom under Hayashi's influence—if you cover your head, I'll peck your butt! I'll give you a few extra "eyes"!
"Hey now, that's too much, too much!" Hayashi, unable to protect both ends, yelped as he covered his round, perky rear. He quickly put some distance between himself and Ho-Oh. "Keep this up, and I'll fight back, you hear me!"
"?"
Ho-Oh tilted its head, then flashed a mocking grin reminiscent of a certain green ogre's smirk.
"Hah—"
There was no denying it—that expression was extremely taunting. So much so that Hayashi's face darkened instantly as he clenched his fists and pointed at Ho-Oh. "The me of now is not the me of before! I've grown through hellish training into a Super Saiya—"
Wait, wasn't this kind of declaration Prince Vegeta's specialty? And didn't saying "kono Vegeta" usually mean an imminent humbling?
No way! Absolutely no flag-planting at a critical moment like this—that's just asking for a beatdown!
"My ninja way is to never go back on my word!"
"I'm gonna be King of the Pirates!"
"There's only one truth!"
"Because we're Fairy Tail!"
Instantly, Hayashi unleashed four lines that would never lead to defeat but instead signaled the protagonist was about to power up.
This round is in the bag!
Hayashi clenched his fists, placing them in front of him one after the other, then focused intently on Ho-Oh before him and declared, "Come on! Let me show you the strength I've gained through my growth!"
Ho-Oh snorted as she glanced at Hayashi. She had to admit, there was indeed a different aura about him now. But thinking he could stand against her, the mighty Ho-Oh who had mastered Bael, was nothing short of arrogance!
Time to teach you a lesson!
Ho-Oh flapped her wings, hovering mid-air. Just as she was about to—like Susan's slipper next door—peck Hayashi's rear end with her beak, she noticed he had closed his eyes.
"Hey, hey—"
Ho-Oh twitched her beak in annoyance and grumbled, "This guy, does he think I won't go all out and is just using me as a training dummy? What an unlikable brat!"
If you wanted me to spar with you, all you had to do was sweetly say, "Sister Ho-Oh, please train with me!" Would I really refuse? At most, I'd make you massage my legs, shoulders, and back, then leave you hanging for ten days to half a month—just so you'd understand that guidance from a master isn't so easily obtained...
What? What? Why are you looking at me like that? Isn't this the usual routine of a master? That's what Hayashi said, wasn't it? Something like "a master's wings" or "reserved" or whatever!
"Come at me, Ho-Oh—"
Hayashi shifted his fists into open palms, adopting a defensive stance, then fully concentrated on the Aura he had spread out. "Attack me!"
"Chirp!"
Such arrogance!
Ho-Oh flapped her wings once, arcing around Hayashi's side. Once behind him, she swiftly lunged straight for his backside.
'From behind…'
Hayashi's left hand shot backward, intercepting Ho-Oh's path in advance. Then, twisting his body to disperse her momentum, he caught her in his grasp.
"Oh!"
Ho-Oh widened its eyes in surprise and said, "Not bad at all! You've only just awakened your Aura powers, yet you're already using them so skillfully!"
"That's mostly thanks to the Hostility Detection skill I've mastered—it works in a similar way to Aura feedback," Hayashi clicked his tongue before releasing his grip on Ho-Oh. "Again?"
"I'll be moving even faster this time."
"Wouldn't have it any other way!"
...
...
In the end, Hayashi left clutching his butt—mainly because the final Brave Bird had struck his left cheek. If Ho-Oh hadn't held back at the last moment, Hayashi might've gained an extra hole.
"Nothing beats a cold treat after a workout," Hayashi muttered as he opened the fridge, pulling out an ice pop. He sucked on it while fishing out his phone to text Erina and Hisako Arato, asking where they were.
Thank goodness this otherworld doesn't have Zhong Xue Gao. Amen.
Buzz—
Hayashi glanced down at his phone and scratched his head. "Is this what you'd call… responsible parenting?"
Turns out, while Hayashi was away in the Pokémon world, the old man, Erina, and Hisako had taken Yunyun to an amusement park, letting the otherworldly mage experience the wonders of modern technology.
But now it was about time to head back, so they were on their way home and would return by five, after which they'd prepare dinner for him.
"Tch, why do I feel like a total deadbeat?" Hayashi crossed his arms, frowning at Erina's message that read, "I'll cook when I get back. Wait for me."
"There's no way I'm a deadbeat…"
'Erina, can I eat the pudding in the fridge?'
'Hisako, can I open the milk in the living room?'
'Gin-san, can I have this bag of chips?'
"...I'm probably not a deadbeat… right?" His tone suddenly wavered with uncertainty. He tried recalling his early days in this world—like the time Gin praised him for not opening the door for a stranger.
No! Thinking about it just makes me seem more like a deadbeat!
Hayashi shuddered, then shook his head vigorously. "Nope, nope, I've gotta prove myself!"
But here's the question—how does one prove they're not a useless lump?
"Housework? Cooking? Laundry? Folding clothes?"
After a moment's thought, Hayashi flopped onto the couch, lazily pulling out his phone and booting up his gacha game. "Actually… being a deadbeat doesn't sound so bad."
Someone's gotta be the deadbeat—so why not me?
Hmph!
...
...
When Erina returned home, hand in hand with Yunyun, the sight that greeted her was Hayashi leaning against Arcanine, with Sylveon sprawled across his lap, a game console in his hands, and chips and cola by his side.
"..."
Erina pressed a hand to her forehead and turned to Yunyun. "Yunyun, you must never learn from Hayashi's habit of snacking before meals, okay?"
Cough—
Hayashi coughed a few times with a peculiar expression, then sat up from the floor while clutching a bag of potato chips, saying, "With that tone of yours, why do I feel like I'm the misbehaving child at home?"
Kao-chan, you mustn't imitate Shin-chan by refusing to eat bell peppers—isn't it the same!? Isn't it!?
"Oh my, I never said that—" Erina walked over cheerfully with light steps, a smile on her face as she leaned against Arcanine beside Hayashi, stretching lazily. "That was all Hayashi's own addition—"
All his own addition!?
"That's exactly what you meant!" Hayashi grumpily pinched Erina's cheek, then waved at Yunyun, saying, "Yunyun, come join us?"
"Ah, Yunyun just came back from outside and hasn't washed her hands yet—" Hisako quickly stepped in, grabbing the confused Yunyun, who had already started moving, and dragged her out of the room. "I'll take her to wash up first. You two chat—"
With that, the ultimate wingwoman Hisako swiftly removed the third wheel from the room, leaving the agonizingly slow couple to enjoy some alone time—quick, type "Thank you, Hisako" in the chat!
"Oh-ho—"
Hayashi clicked his tongue, then leaned against Erina's shoulder with a grin. "Angry?"
"I wouldn't get mad over you snacking." Erina chuckled helplessly, bumping her head lightly against Hayashi's. "You're not a child anymore. Why would I be upset over something like that?"
Kids, after all, don't know their limits—if they eat so much they can't finish their meals, of course parents would be upset!
"I got something good from the Pokémon world this time." Hayashi nuzzled against Erina's soft, eggshell-smooth cheek. "Next time we go back, I'll get one for you and Hisako too."
"Dummy—" Erina pouted, displeased. "When it's just the two of us, you're talking about this stuff?"
Hayashi froze for a moment. Turning to see Erina lightly biting her lips, he gulped and leaned in, whispering, "My bad. Let me savor the taste of God's Tongue then—"