Chapter 0119: Dog Food for Free, Huh?
The first Tōtsuki Culinary Academy Pokémon Battle Tournament came to a successful close.
After a series of amateurish skirmishes, Jōichirō's Nidoking emerged victorious thanks to its excellent type coverage. Meanwhile, Gin, who had been clamoring for a rematch to restore his reputation, was flatly rejected.
"Sorry," Jōichirō adjusted his collar. "I'm the champion now! Not just anyone can challenge me—if you want a battle, defeat the runner-up first!"
Runner-up Kobayashi blinked innocently. "Um, in that case, please defeat the third-place winner first!"
The third-place winner deferred to the semifinalists, who deferred to the quarterfinalists, until finally...
"Huh?"
Yūki pointed dumbfoundedly at herself, then glanced at the expressionless Gin standing before her, forcing an awkward yet polite smile.
Then she proceeded to obliterate Gin again with her Togekiss.
"Damn it—"
Gin shed manly tears. Is type disadvantage really so insurmountable?
Lance, who lost to Diantha: Yes, absolutely. Stop struggling!
"Alright, time to award the champion's prize!" Hayashi solemnly pulled out a golden feather from his pocket, shimmering with a rainbow-like radiance, sacred and magnificent. "This is the feather of Ho-Oh, the legendary Pokémon symbolizing life and fortune in this world. Known as the 'Rainbow Wing,' it represents luck and righteousness!"
"Something this incredible!?"
Jōichirō reverently accepted the feather with both hands. "I will treasure this as one of my most prized possessions!"
"Good!"
Hayashi nodded. "Ho-Oh will be delighted to hear that!"
The Fletchinder perched on Hayashi's head visibly rolled its eyes, then irritably scratched its rear with its wing before pecking Hayashi's scalp in annoyance.
Happy my foot! It's not your feathers being plucked, is it?
Damn it! My Rainbow Feather was meant for a handsome young man, not some weird uncle!
Kisama!
...
...
After the first Pokémon Trainer Tournament ended, Hayashi didn't immediately return to the Overlord world. Instead, he took his team members, along with Yūki and Ryōko, who had followed out of admiration, and Megumi, who had been reluctantly dragged along, to Unova's Nimbasa City.
"So amazing, it's really her!" Yūki widened her eyes.
"She's truly beautiful!" Ryōko sighed with heartfelt admiration.
"Mhm!" Megumi was so envious she couldn't even speak.
Hayashi also nodded in agreement. "That's for sure!"
The Pokémon world was indeed abundant with beautiful women, but even in such a world, Elesa's charm still shone brightly.
"Long time no see."
Elesa spread her arms with a smile and hugged Erina affectionately, pressing her cheek against hers. "How have you been lately?"
"Absolutely wonderful." Erina couldn't help but show a hopeful expression at the thought of soon having a guild base. "I'm looking forward to tomorrow—that kind of feeling."
"Really? That's great to hear." Elesa smiled, then glanced at the girls behind Erina and asked curiously, "Are they your friends?"
Erina nodded. "Yes, they're Yūki Yoshino, Ryōko Sakaki, and Tadokoro Megumi—all my friends."
Sniff…
Megumi was so moved she was on the verge of tears. She sobbed inwardly, "Mom, Mom, do you see this? The young mistress called me her friend! I've made it!"
If Hayashi and Erina knew what Megumi was thinking, they'd probably tell her to take it easy—there was no need to be so dramatic.
"Come on in."
Elesa stepped aside and said, "I've already prepared ingredients at home—though it's a bit rude for the host to say this, I've been craving your cooking for ages. You get what I mean, right?"
"Hahaha, don't worry." Hearing Elesa's words, Erina was delighted. She rolled up her sleeves and declared, "Today, I'll show you all what I'm really capable of!"
"Yay!"
Elesa let out a playful cheer. "Erina, my stage is where I shine, but the kitchen is where you shine!"
"Hah? Don't be ridiculous!" Hayashi interjected confidently. "My Erina shines brightly every single moment, no matter where she is, ya know?"
"Wow—"
Elesa covered her mouth in exaggerated surprise. "So lovey-dovey, huh?"
"You have no idea!" Yūki said with a pained expression. "Do you know how much dog food we've had to endure on this trip?"
"Do tell!"
"They stick together whenever they have time. Holding hands is one thing, but they insist on leaning against each other. Even though there are apps for watching videos together, they refuse to use them and squeeze in front of the same phone screen—"
"Wow—"
"Especially Master Hayashi, it's really—when his socks go missing, he'll yell, 'Erina, where are my socks?' When he's hungry, he'll call out, 'Erina, I'm hungry, feed me!' Even when he wants to sleep, he'll say, 'Erina, time for bed, I want a lap pillow!'"
"Tsk tsk tsk—"
"And let's not even mention the whole 'ah~' feeding routine during meals. Honestly, I've never seen such an idiot couple before. Is this your first time dating?"
Hayashi averted his gaze: 'Yes, first time dating.'
Erina covered her face: 'Yes, first time dating.'
Hisako snorted twice from the side, then shot Yūki a disdainful glance, thinking: 'What a foolish human! You've only noticed this much?
Haven't you realized that every time Erina is about to stand up, the young master instinctively supports her?
Haven't you noticed that every time Erina sits down, she leans against him, instinctively pressing close?
Haven't you seen that Erina's cooking style has completely shifted to ordinary Chinese dishes now? Stir-fries, rice bowls—she whips them up effortlessly?
This is love!'
At this moment, as the self-proclaimed top shipper of the Hayashi x Erina pairing (self-appointed), a connoisseur of dog food (self-appointed), and the best wingwoman (self-appointed), Hisako felt an overwhelming sense of superiority in her heart.
Indeed, I am the best!
On the other side, after getting a taste of the dog food, Elesa's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she eagerly asked, "More, more! Tell us more details about how they interact!"
"Hmm?"
Hisako's eyes widened as she stared at Elesa, murmuring, "Could it be…"
Is she also a fellow shipper?
At this moment, the spirit of evangelism burned within Hisako. She couldn't help but pull out her phone, open her photo album, and glance at the thousands of "high-sweetness moments" she had captured of Hayashi and Erina in daily life, her eyes filled with determination.
After today, I'll have gained another comrade!
...
...
Hisako's comrades increased—but not just by one.
"I was so foolish, really."
Yūki said with deep regret, "On the ride here, I actually thought that was dog food and didn't want to eat it! That wasn't dog food at all! That was divine grace!!"
Erina, by now, had buried her face in Hayashi's chest, her back turned to Yūki and the others—if circumstances allowed, she would've even covered her ears.
I won't listen, I won't look, I won't speak! Go away, all of you!
Beside her, Hisako placed a hand on Yūki's and gently shook her head, saying, "No, Yūki-chan, that was dog food!"
Yūki: "Huh?"
Hisako declared passionately: "Because I am Erina's dog!"
Yūki: Σ(°△°|||)
Ryōko: Σ(°△°|||)
Elesa: Σ(°△°|||)
No, really, no need! Hisako, you really don't have to say these things!
Hayashi cleared his throat and said, "Hisako, if you keep talking, I'm afraid Erina won't get up today—why don't you spare her and let her get up to make dinner for us?"
"Exactly!" Yūki immediately agreed. "I've been looking forward to Erina's visit since early morning! I'm even willing to double my training tomorrow just to feast to my heart's content today!"
Ryōko and Yūki nodded eagerly, their faces filled with anticipation. They were incredibly curious about how much Erina's culinary skills had improved by now—Heh heh, after all, we're the brave souls who survived Abyss Master's hellish training! Maybe we're just a tiny, tiny bit better than Erina, who hasn't undergone his training!?
The two had even imagined how they would confidently critique Erina's cooking later, then gracefully and modestly say, "Erina, people change over time—we're not the same as we were back in school—"
"Heh heh heh—"
At the thought of this glorious moment, Yūki and Ryōko exchanged glances and couldn't help but let out a sinister chuckle… no, wait, a triumphant laugh!
Just you wait, Erina, today is our time to shine!
…Or so it should have been.
After dinner, Yūki and Ryōko sat back-to-back on the floor, their eyes filled with confusion—Director, this isn't the script we agreed on!? Wasn't this supposed to be our moment to show off and give Erina some pointers, telling her that the God's Tongue is outdated in this meta!? How did it… how did it…
How did it turn into Fairy Tail!? No, at least in Fairy Tail, they had to unlock a Second Origin after seven years to catch up—what's up with Erina!?
Hayashi, picking his teeth with a freshly plucked Rainbow Feather, propped his chin on his hand and said, "Can't you tell? The reason Erina's cooking has become so delicious is because she used new ingredients—"
Yūki and Ryōko: "Nani, new ingredients!?"
Erina instinctively shuddered: 'Why do I have a bad feeling? Is he about to say something weird again?'
Hisako, meanwhile, pulled out a notebook and stared intently at Hayashi, convinced that the young master, as the leader of the EMT cult, must have profound wisdom to share!
Hayashi slammed his hand on the table and declared loudly, "This dish is overflowing with Erina's love for me!!!"
Erina covered her face with both hands: "Ah—"