“Oh, Sprigatito, you’re awake?” Xia Chi, who had been keeping an eye on the situation, spun his chair around and wore a mischievous grin.
“The surgery was a complete success.
You’re no longer a girl.” Sprigatito’s face froze.
It instinctively lifted its leg to check, and after confirming that nothing strange had grown there, it yowled at Xia Chi in embarrassed rage.
“Meow-feh!” *Give me back my touching moment!* Xia Chi cleared his throat to change the subject.
“Just kidding.
But seriously, Sprigatito, do you really not feel any changes in your body?” Logically speaking, the influence of a Chosen Pokémon was significant.
After the “system update,” Sprigatito should feel some sort of difference.
Seeing that Xia Chi was being serious, Sprigatito hopped onto the bed and tested the waters by throwing a couple of kitty punches.
To its pleasant surprise, it discovered that just as Xia Chi had said, its strength and speed had improved significantly.
Sprigatito knew such changes wouldn’t happen out of thin air.
It turned its head toward Xia Chi in confusion.
“Meow-feh?” *What kind of medicine did you give me to make my body like this?* Xia Chi said calmly, “This is just a meeting gift.
Don’t worry, roll with me and you won’t miss out on benefits.” Sprigatito rolled its eyes.
“Meow-feh…” *More like you won’t miss out on benefits.* Despite its reaction, a wave of warmth washed over Sprigatito’s heart.
Its previous trainer might have been strict, but she had spared no expense in raising Sprigatito—arguably doing more than the vast majority of trainers.
Because of this, Sprigatito was a kitten that had seen the world.
It knew that achieving such a massive leap in strength in such a short period was impossible through ordinary means.
Xia Chi must have put a lot of thought into this and likely paid a hefty price.
Sprigatito even wondered if Xia Chi had prepared these rare items before he had even caught it.
*Hmph, this guy says such ridiculous things just to hide his efforts and make me feel less guilty, doesn’t he?* Xia Chi watched as the kitten turned its head away, its cheeks growing redder and redder.
His lips twitched.
*Seriously, little cat, what on earth are you thinking?* *The tsundere archetype went out of style ages ago, okay!* *** The next morning.
Inside the Hushi University Pokémon Center.
The receptionist handed over the trainer card to Xia Chi with a sweet smile.
“All set!
From now on, you two are officially recognized as a legal trainer and Pokémon pair!” Taking the newly issued trainer card, Xia Chi flipped it open.
Below his handsome passport photo was the cute, smiling face of Sprigatito.
Xia Chi couldn’t help but feel a wave of emotion.
He had been in this Pokémon world for three years.
Today, he was finally qualified to say, “My goal is to be a Pokémon Master.” In the words of typical Donghuang parents, he had already lost at the starting line!
But then again, he didn’t have parents anyway…
With that thought, Xia Chi waved at his new family member at his feet.
“Well then, from now on, please look after me.” Sprigatito raised its head and responded, “Meow-feh!” Reality wasn’t a game.
A rival didn’t immediately jump out of the bushes to challenge him the moment he obtained his starter Pokémon.
In fact, by the time the human and cat reached their classroom, barely anyone had spared them a second glance.
The classic combination of a trainer and a starter Pokémon was incredibly common at a school like Hushi University.
However, once they entered the classroom, someone did express surprise.
“Xia Chi, you actually caught that Sprigatito?” The speaker was Xia Chi’s newly-declared “son,” Chen Zhenze.
He teased with a grin, “Nice!
I saw you two flirting all the time, and you actually ended up together!” Xia Chi chuckled.
“Please watch your tone when speaking to your father.” Chen Zhenze was about to fire back instinctively, but then he remembered the shiny Ultra Ball rank badge Xia Chi had helped him carry the night before.
Suddenly losing his nerve, he muttered, “Uh…
fine.
But are you sure you want to keep it?” He glanced at Sprigatito, who was staring straight at him, and leaned in close to Xia Chi’s ear to whisper, “Did I tell you about its past?” Xia Chi glanced down at Sprigatito, who was pretending to look around the room while keeping its pointed ears perked.
He nodded.
“Are you talking about how it was abandoned by a blind, cold-hearted trainer who only treated Pokémon as tools for battle?” Chen Zhenze scratched his head anxiously.
“No, I mean, Lin Lange might have a cold personality, but she is really strong, okay?
She’s the absolute favorite to win the Hushi Cup this year.” [Triggered Combat Round 2-1: The Hushi Cup.
Host may choose whether to participate.] Xia Chi: “…” *Wait, is this right?* *So my bro is just an NPC used to trigger combat rounds?* *Isn’t this setting a bit too disrespectful?* The system voice that suddenly rang in his head left Xia Chi somewhat speechless.
He naturally knew what a “round” meant—it was the matchup mechanic from the Golden Spatula game.
In the game, players with assembled champion boards fought against each other.
Translating that to the real world, did it mean Pokémon battles and tournaments?
[Including, but not limited to, battle tournaments.] System Bro offered a timely explanation.
Xia Chi raised an eyebrow.
Including but not limited to?
Then what else could be incorporated into the system’s rounds…
“Hey, Chi, what are you spacing out for?” Seeing Xia Chi suddenly lost in thought, Chen Zhenze waved a hand in front of his face.
“Nothing, just thinking about something.” Xia Chi temporarily shelved his communication with the system and snapped back to reality to steer the conversation.
“Even if Lin Lange is strong, it doesn’t contradict my description of her.” Unlike many Pokémon fans who liked cold, rational trainers like Paul— To put it bluntly, it was just because the Diamond and Pearl anime was well-produced, had a great plot, and Dawn’s…
fanart was top-tier.
Cough, cough, got off-topic there.
Besides, Paul actually had a redemption and growth arc.
Otherwise, Xia Chi felt Paul wouldn’t be much better than that later junior named Goh.
In short, Xia Chi preferred Ash, who valued the bonds of emotion shared with his Pokémon.
Consequently, he harbored no goodwill toward Lin Lange for abandoning Sprigatito.
Xia Chi waved his hand.
“Alright, don’t worry about it, Old Chen.
Sprigatito and I have already completed the registration.” Since his best friend had put it that way, Chen Zhenze could only drop the matter.
At his feet, Sprigatito wore a faint, subtle smile without him noticing.
*** Returning to his seat, Xia Chi finally found the time to look at the notification System Bro had just issued.
Without a doubt, he had to participate in the first round to see what it was all about.
Xia Chi thought, *Start the round.* System Bro, who was always online, replied instantly.
[Round 2-1: Hushi Cup has begun!
The system will grade the host’s performance at the end of the round and award corresponding prizes!] Xia Chi’s eyes lit up.
“What are the rewards?
Do they include a Prismatic Orb?” The Prismatic Orb from his first Hextech choice had been incredibly powerful.
If he could open another Prismatic Orb, he would gladly catch Rayquaza and marry Cynthia!
However, the system’s response quickly shattered his unrealistic fantasy.
[This event is a minor round.
The highest reward is a Gold Orb.]