Aaron recalled Exeggutor, clearly dejected.
Julian walked over to him.
"Your Pokémon lack enough willpower. You may need to spend more time tempering them before challenging Veilstone Gym again."
"Remember, the willpower of both Trainer and Pokémon is one of the most important factors in battle."
As a Fighting-type Gym, guidance for challengers naturally had to centre on mindset, spirit, willpower, and physical conditioning.
Those were the standard lines.
"Thank you for the guidance. I’ll come back again."
Aaron bowed, then turned and left Veilstone Gym to take his Pokémon to the Pokémon Centre.
Because Hitmonlee was not Julian’s own Pokémon, Julian could not control the precision of its attacks properly.
Every strike was full force.
For a beginner Trainer like Aaron, Hitmonlee’s attacks were a little too heavy.
It was normal that his Pokémon could not endure them.
As expected, for battles below four Badges, it was better to use the hardworking Machop and Machoke.
Primeape, with its explosive temper, was a different matter. Julian only ever used it against Trainers challenging for their seventh or eighth Badge.
Primeape was the one that truly had no sense of restraint.
Once its anger rose, it did not care who the challenger was.
Every punch was full power.
It had almost earned Veilstone Gym a complaint.
Aaron was the only challenger that morning.
Julian continued training with Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, and Hitmontop.
The martial artists of Veilstone City also gradually arrived with their Pokémon to train.
When they saw Julian, they were all surprised and praised him.
"Julian, you’ve filled out!"
At noon, Hitmonlee and the others enjoyed the Fighting-type Pokémon food Julian had prepared.
As for Julian and Maylene’s lunch, it was chicken curry.
Maylene appeared at the kitchen doorway, nose twitching.
"It smells so good. Julian, when are we eating?"
Julian smiled.
"Are you a Growlithe now? You smelled food and came running."
Maylene rubbed her nose with one finger and grinned.
"I learned a little from Riolu."
One pot of chicken curry.
One pot of rice.
That was lunch for Julian and Maylene.
After the morning’s high-intensity training, Julian felt as though he could eat a whole Tauros.
Especially now that Maylene’s appetite had exploded after turning ten, the food at home was no longer enough.
Julian took out two large bowls.
First, he filled more than half of each with rice, then covered them with chicken curry.
"After lunch, we’ll go to Veilstone Market and buy some ingredients."
"Yes! I want beef!"
"Does the chicken curry not keep your mouth busy enough?"
Julian ate one and a half bowls.
Everything else went into Maylene’s stomach.
It was a shame livestreaming had not taken off yet.
Otherwise, Maylene could genuinely try being an eating streamer.
There was more money in that than being a Gym Leader.
After the meal, they both put in their shoes and went out.
The noticeboard at the entrance to Veilstone Market had been updated.
Maylene excitedly pointed at the notice.
"Julian, look! Veilstone Department Store is holding its forty-fifth anniversary celebration in half a month. There’ll be a Pokémon battle event, and the winner gets a chance to battle the newly appointed Elite Four member, Cynthia!"
Julian nodded.
"We can go and take part when the time comes. For now, let’s buy groceries."
Entering Veilstone Market, Julian looked as comfortable as if he had returned home.
"Aunt Mary, what fresh vegetables do you have today?"
Mary smiled.
"Carrots and onions from Snowpoint City. Green peppers, tomatoes, and potatoes from Eterna City. Wild rice stems, water celery, and lotus root from Pastoria City."
Julian nodded.
"Fifty pounds each of carrots, onions, and potatoes. Twenty pounds each of green peppers and tomatoes. Five pounds each of wild rice stems, water celery, and lotus root."
Maylene’s face fell.
"Julian, can we not buy green peppers? I don’t like green peppers."
Julian glanced at her.
"Children can’t be picky."
Julian bought everything Aunt Mary listed not because he was thinking about balanced nutrition, but because Aunt Mary knew his tastes and only mentioned vegetables he liked.
When Julian was young, he had been just as troubled as Maylene was now.
Only after growing up did he realise the truth.
Adults never bought food they hated.
Naturally, they were not picky.
"Uncle Jack, what fresh meat do you have today?"
"Snowpoint marbled beef and Eterna lamb. Both arrived fresh today. How much do you want?"
"Fifty pounds of each. And chop up two chickens for me too."
"You got it!"
"Uncle Ben, any freshwater recommendations?"
Ben held a scoop net in one hand.
"There are only two of you siblings. Can you even finish all that?"
"Don’t worry. With my sister here, any amount can disappear."
"Julian!"
Being teased in public made Maylene angry enough to punch him.
"Maylene, your punch really is heavy."
Maylene flushed slightly.
"That’s what you get for saying nonsense!"
"Little girls grow up and start getting embarrassed."
Ben laughed.
"Blackfish, green-feathered duck, and river prawns from Pastoria City. Which one do you want, Maylene?"
Maylene blinked.
"Really? Then I want river prawns!"
Ben nodded.
"Pastoria wetland prawns. Best eaten boiled. Very fresh and sweet."
Julian smiled.
"Uncle Ben, weigh us ten pounds of prawns."
"Sure. Once Mary and Jack have packed everything, I’ll send it all to the Gym together."
When they reached a Berry stall, Maylene shouted.
"Aunt May, Julian’s here to support your business again!"
Aunt May walked out, waving a fan.
"I know, I know."
She casually picked up a Pecha Berry and handed it to Maylene.
"Eat up, poor child. Julian, you have to take better care of your sister. Look how thin she’s become."
The corner of Julian’s mouth twitched.
"She’s growing taller, that’s all. She only looks thinner because she’s stretching out. She usually eats more than a Munchlax."
Maylene bit into the Pecha Berry and glared at him.
"You’re the Munchlax!"
Aunt May waved her fan.
"A good appetite is a blessing. Julian, same as usual?"
"Yes. Add another ten pounds of Chople Berries."
Julian was growing now, and Jangmo-o’s food consumption would also increase. He needed to prepare more.
"Done."
After leaving Veilstone Market, Maylene spotted an ice cream cart by the roadside.
"Julian, I want ice cream!"
"Then go buy some."
Maylene rushed to the cart and raised her hand.
"One chocolate ice cream, please!"
Only after speaking did Maylene notice a beautiful older girl standing nearby, staring at the cart’s menu in a daze.
"Miss, you’re so pretty."
"Thank you."
The older girl smiled gently, and Maylene’s face immediately turned red.
Julian walked over just in time to see it.
Then he froze.
Blonde high ponytail.
Round black-framed glasses.
Sleeveless blue blouse.
Black suit trousers.
Pointed black leather shoes.
She was exactly his ideal type!
What are the chances?!
Only yesterday, he had described his ideal type to his online friend.
He had never expected to meet someone like that in Veilstone City the very next day.
Maylene looked at the woman in front of her, then at her hopelessly stunned older brother and her eyes rolled.
"Miss, I’ll treat you to ice cream. What flavour do you like?"
"Well..."
The elegant blonde woman smiled.
"I actually haven’t decided yet."
Julian stepped forward.
"This shop’s specialities are chocolate and mango from Hoenn. You could choose one of those."
"Well..."
The elegant woman still seemed a little torn.
Seeing her hesitate, Julian said directly to the shop assistant, "One chocolate and mango ice cream, please. The bittersweetness of dark chocolate and the rich fragrance of mango balance each other well. The sweet and sour taste should make it more interesting than either flavour alone."
Once the shop assistant finished making it, Julian handed the ice cream to the elegant blonde woman.
"Try it."
Holding the ice cream, the woman took a bite of chocolate first.
Then she tasted the mango.
Her eyes instantly lit up.
"It really is delicious!"
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