Erika looked a bit ill at ease.
Kaname saw this and only thought she was afraid of the computer.
After all, to children nowadays, computers of this era indeed seemed very mysterious.
The constant humming of the tower as it ran gave the illusion that the machine was overheating and about to explode at any moment.
Kaname shifted her bottom on the large leather chair, making room for half of it, and then patted the spot beside her.
“Come sit next to me.” A smile now appeared on Kaname’s small face, which usually lacked expression.
Because of the difference in mental age, her mind was always filled with thoughts that were isolated from those of children.
But only in front of Erika did Kaname not have to put up much of a front.
After all, their physical ages were almost the same, and Erika was simple-minded, so she wouldn’t mind if Kaname occasionally showed traits that didn’t match her age.
“…Mhm!” Erika’s eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously.
She felt that the familiar Kaname was back.
Erika ran over with small steps, unceremoniously climbed onto the chair, and sat tightly against Kaname.
The two children of similar age leaned against each other, shoulder to shoulder.
Although the chair was large, it was still a bit cramped for two people.
Erika could even feel the body heat coming from Kaname and her reassuring, steady breathing.
In the room filled with the noise of the unfamiliar machine, Erika’s heart beat a little faster, and a faint blush colored her cheeks.
In the next moment…
Erika felt it was a bit tiring to sit up so straight, so she simply leaned against the edge of the computer desk, resting her face on her side, her big eyes unblinking as she watched Kaname, who had refocused her gaze on the monitor.
“Computers really are great things.” Kaname stared straight ahead, her fingers resting on the keyboard, unaware of the wild thoughts running through the little girl’s mind beside her.
She simply watched the blinking cursor on the screen and let out a heartfelt sigh, taking the opportunity to impart some secret prophecies about the future to Erika.
“In just a few years, everyone might become inseparable from computers.
Whether it’s work, study, or daily life, everything will rely on computers to be completed.” “Why do you say that?” Erika blinked, asking curiously.
“Because the network can bring people closer together for communication.” Kaname explained while typing in commands.
“In reality, we are separated by thousands of mountains and rivers, but in the network, distance doesn’t exist.
For example, right now, even while sitting here, I can communicate with someone far away in the Hoenn region.” It had been a long time since she used a computer.
Kaname subconsciously logged into the Trainer Forum she used before.
She had just remembered she was supposed to write an email to Dr.
Oak, but her gaze was drawn to the list on the screen.
The post she had previously left a reply on had actually been bumped to the very top of the section, becoming a hot topic, followed by a red icon representing “Hot.” After all, the post was related to the extremely rare Pokémon, Beldum.
Kaname wasn’t surprised that the post had become lively.
She clicked in and saw that the poster “Steven” was quite persistent.
During the two days she was gone, he had updated Beldum’s status almost every day, recording various physical data in detail.
At the end of every post, he would ask for the opinion of Mr.
“X.” However…
The “X” who had first diagnosed Beldum’s refusal to eat and was held in high regard by the poster had yet to appear.
Looking at the screen full of calls for her, Kaname, who hadn’t touched a computer for two days, felt a slight bit of embarrassment at the other party’s persistent enthusiasm.
In that case…
It wouldn’t hurt to delay the letter for a moment.
She might as well use the other person’s Beldum for some practice.
Kaname chatted with Erika beside her while tapping the keyboard to open the reply box.
…
At the same time.
Hoenn region, Rustboro City.
Sitting in front of the computer, Steven was boredly pressing the refresh key, mechanically scrolling through the post.
Actually, Beldum’s refusal to eat had improved as early as two days ago after he followed the advice.
Although the little guy’s energy wasn’t quite there yet, it was just the weakness following a recovery from illness.
As long as he knew Beldum didn’t hate eating, the rest just needed time to slowly recover.
But for Steven, this wasn’t enough.
Steven himself wasn’t very satisfied with his current progress.
Even as the company executives and the butler beside him were exclaiming, “The young master is truly talented,” and “As expected of the heir to the Stone family,” praising him for easily finding the crux of Beldum’s problem that even experts found difficult.
Hearing these compliments, Steven only felt his face flush with heat, feeling vaguely troubled.
Because only he knew that the key answer had been given by someone else.
Furthermore…
There were truly too few Pokémon Trainers skilled at raising Beldum.
One must know that Pokémon like Beldum were already very rare, mostly living in dangerous areas with special magnetic fields.
If one could raise them to their final stage, Metagross, across the entire Hoenn region, those with such strength were only a handful of Superior Trainers.
And without exception, all of these Trainers only dared to try capturing and raising Beldum after they had rich experience and a fully formed team.
—There simply were no rookies who would directly choose a high-difficulty start like Beldum as their starter Pokémon.
Steven had the honor of becoming the first.
Because of this…
Even if he could find a senior who also owned a Metagross to ask for advice, the experience between the two would be difficult to use as a reference.
Steven also had a streak of pride in his bones.
He wanted to solve all the problems together with Beldum and walk a path that belonged to him.
Even if it meant racking his brains and searching through countless materials, the sense of accomplishment from raising it with his own hands couldn’t be bought with money or by asking others.
“…So please appear quickly, Teacher X!” The silver-blue haired boy was having a bit of a breakdown, collapsing onto the computer desk.
Ding-dong.
A crisp notification sound rang out.
Steven snapped his head up, the movement so fast he almost twisted his neck.
His eyes widened as he stared intently at the new reply box that popped up on the screen.
[X: Follow-up advice for raising Beldum?] [X: Since it has resumed eating, its current weakness is likely because the magnetic energy accumulated in its body cannot circulate effectively.
The problem of excess nutrition can be solved by practicing more moves—don’t rush to learn any big moves.
Start with Tackle, which Beldum is naturally good at.
Let it get used to using its body to hit objects, and then slowly let it try the advanced version, Take Down.] [X: As for moves like Zen Headbutt or Iron Head, these are powerful moves that can play a major role all the way to the Metagross stage.
If your finances allow and you can get these precious TMs, as a Pokémon Trainer, you should also preview the principles of these moves beforehand to assist it in its comprehension.] ————————
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”