Chapter 122. Laramie Clan Sports Meet
Everyone followed Brock as they walked forward.
Before long, Tomiko appeared ahead, riding a Ponyta, with two Tauros fitted with saddles trailing behind her.
"Sorry, everyone. The only ones I have that can pull people right now are these two Tauros."
Tomiko nodded apologetically to the group.
"I'll ride with Miss Tomiko. Ash and Brock can share one Tauros, and Natsume and Honora can share the other."
Misty said this and winked at Honora.
"Wait a second!" Tomiko called out, but it was too late.
"Ah!" Misty's hand got burned.
"Sorry. Ponyta's flames won't burn those it acknowledges."
Tomiko dismounted, deftly took a small tin of milky-white ointment from the leather pouch at her waist, and spread it over Misty's burned fingers.
"Then fine, I'll squeeze in with Ash and Brock."
Misty stepped onto the saddle and climbed onto the nearest Tauros.
"Miss Tomiko, allow me to clear the way for you!"
Brock didn't mount the Tauros.
Instead, he stepped up to Tomiko and took Ponyta's reins.
"Wruff, wruff, wruff!" Growlithe barked at Brock like it was facing down a mortal enemy.
"Ahaha… honestly, Growlithe is enough."
Tomiko smiled lightly, but didn't refuse him.
"Um… Natsume, let's get on too."
Honora tugged at the hem of Natsume's coat.
With her other hand, she pressed down hard on Natsume's Poké Ball.
"Natsume, don't always obsess over efficiency.
Look at this great prairie and these Tauros—this might have a different kind of charm."
"Fair point."
Natsume nodded and gave up on having Gengar fly everyone.
Both Tauros were very sturdy.
When Natsume sat down, he could feel the ridge of its spine rising and falling as it ran.
With the saddle on, though, the sensation was more like sitting on a springy waterbed—distinct in its own way.
"Ah… Natsume."
Honora's face flushed red, and her arms gently circled Natsume's waist.
She threw caution to the wind and pressed her whole face against his back, refusing to let go no matter what he said.
"…"
Natsume felt ill at ease all over, as if a little furnace were stuck to his back.
The sun was about to set, and the Tauros gradually slowed their pace.
Ahead, a market-like place came into view.
Many things were for sale—mostly dairy products and crafts like bone flutes, totem carvings, and the like.
Everyone dismounted from the Tauros.
Honora covertly sized up Natsume and noticed that he looked a bit uncomfortable.
"Natsume?"
Like she had discovered a new continent, Honora leaned in with a beaming smile.
"Do you have a fever?"
Natsume reached out to feel Honora's forehead.
The heat radiating off Honora was odd.
Being pressed against her had left him drenched in sticky sweat, and it felt unbearable.
"This is where our Laramie clan gathers."
Tomiko clapped her hands to draw everyone's attention.
"Miss Tomiko, most people here don't seem to be from the Laramie clan, right?"
Misty had noticed that apart from the stall owners, most people were dressed quite differently from Tomiko.
"That's right. The Big P Pokémon Race is tomorrow, and plenty of spectators have come for it."
With that, Tomiko swung back into the saddle.
"I'm a competitor, so I need to go prepare. I'll head off first."
"Miss Tomiko, wait for me!"
Brock lunged forward.
"Wruff, wruff, wruff!" Growlithe refused to be outdone.
"The Pokémon race—what's that?"
Misty tilted her head.
"I don't know, but the milk here is really good.
Gulp gulp—hic!"
Ash came over, holding a cup of milk.
Center-parted and Pikachu each held a mini cup.
"Pika~" Pikachu nodded in agreement.
"Slurp~"
A yellow head poked over and downed the milk left in Pikachu's cup in one gulp.
"Pika!"
Pikachu glared angrily at center-parted.
"Don't fight, don't fight. I've got plenty more."
Ash said, pulling out another cup of milk.
"Natsume, what is this Pokémon race?"
Seeing Natsume about to leave after Brock, Honora quickly grabbed his hand.
"The race?"
"Like this!"
Natsume struck a running pose and slipped free of Honora's grip in an instant.
"Get back here!"
Misty reached out and yanked Natsume back again.
"Alright, I'll explain."
Natsume was eager to get to Tomiko's place for a shower, but relented.
"It's a competition the Laramie clan holds to determine pasture boundaries.
The higher you place, the better the pasture you get to choose."
Here, Natsume paused.
"This area is considered the outskirts of the Kanto Safari Zone.
Thanks to renovations by Pokémon League researchers, the ecology has improved a lot compared to before, and the differences between pastures aren't that big anymore."
"But the race has been retained.
It's become a symbolic traditional sport of the Laramie clan."
"A traditional sport—can I enter?!"
Ash's eyes lit up.
Natsume didn't answer.
He simply teleported away.
"Of course you can, Contestant Ash.
This traditional sport welcomes outside participants."
A familiar announcer's cadence rang out.
Everyone started and turned to look—then gasped.
"It's you! The host!"
Ash pointed at him.
It was the very same commentator from the P1 Grand Prix.
"Hahaha, you can call me Meisuke.
Running into you all here must be fate!"
Meisuke hopped down from his Magnezone and came up to shake Ash's hand.
"If you enter, I'm sure my commentary will be even more exciting!"
Smiling, Meisuke handed Ash several entry tickets.
"Alright then—see you at the bonfire festival tonight!"
With that, Meisuke took his leave.
"Wow, there's even a bonfire festival!"
Misty craned her neck, eyes full of anticipation.
"Let's hurry and get a shower, then go to the bonfire festival!"
Ash reacted first and followed in Natsume's footsteps out of the market.
Tomiko's home wasn't far from the market, and they arrived soon.
Just as they got there, they saw Natsume step out, towel-drying his hair.
"Ash, I've got an important task for you."
Ash was about to head inside when Natsume stopped him.
"What is it?"
Everyone froze, sensing the odd atmosphere in the house.
Tomiko sat inside with one leg bare, covering her face as she cried.
Brock sat beside her, face full of remorse.
Growlithe barked at Brock.
"Brock, what did you do to Miss Tomiko?!"
Misty stepped forward and yanked Brock by the ear.
"Ow—wait, wait, wait!"
Brock cried out and hurried to explain.
"It's like this.
Miss Tomiko was practicing with Ponyta when she fell into a pit.
She hurt her leg and probably can't compete tomorrow."
Brock waved his hands, looking deeply regretful.
"A pit?
Could it be that lost Diglett?"
Honora suddenly spoke.
"No.
That hole was man-made."
Natsume denied it at once.
He had gone to check immediately, and it was clearly dug with a shovel.
"Man-made?
That's despicable!"
Misty fumed.
"Alright, alright!"
Natsume clapped his hands.
"Speculation won't help.
We need to address the problem."
Natsume had always been a man of action.
He turned to Ash.
"We need someone to take Tomiko's place in the race."
"Huh? Me?"
Ash pointed at himself, instantly realizing what Natsume's earlier 'task' meant.
"Can I really do it?"
The memory of Misty's burn flashed before his eyes, and Ash stared at Ponyta in a daze.
"Natsume, if it's a stranger, their heart must be pure and full of love for Pokémon.
Otherwise, they'll suffer serious burns."
Tomiko's anxious voice rang out.
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