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Chapter 0628: Sandstorm Squad(Two-in-One)
🕑 Added 2025-06-27 03:42:10 +0000 UTCFriday, June 25th
Nearly a week had passed since Natsume arrived in Kalos.
If Alain and his Water Absorb Charizard counted as the first guests, Bonnie and Clemont were undoubtedly the second pair.
As for the "Kalos Region" mission issued by the System, Natsume decided to put it out of his mind for now.
The scorching summer heat lingered.
Cool air whispered through the café, now fully renovated and radiating a cozy, serene atmosphere.
White wooden tables were draped with flaxen tablecloths, while checkered windows let in soft light. A pot of pothos sat on the windowsill, its tender green leaves swaying gently in the sunlight.
Natsume’s gaze drifted from the understated black-and-gold style counter before settling near the entrance, where he sat stroking the Sylveon in his lap.
The snow-white Sylveon stretched its ribbons lazily, letting out a tiny yawn.
"Sylveon~~"
In front of Natsume, a little blonde girl gripped her pencil, her homework notebook spread neatly across the table as she wrote in tidy script.
Her bangs were carefully braided, a small ponytail tied at the back of her head. Dressed in a short-sleeved dress, she suddenly lifted her baby-blue eyes and pointed at the notebook with the eraser end of her pencil.
"How do I solve this one?"
Natsume, half-turned away from Bonnie, replied lazily, "Little Rotom, explain the steps to her."
"Beep… Roger that, Rotom~"
The Rotom Pokédex levitated beside Bonnie, dutifully walking her through the problem like a private tutor.
Bonnie nodded vaguely, then glanced at Natsume and whispered, "Can I have some Watmel Berry later?"
(Watmel Berries, resembling watermelons, grew on Watmel trees.)
Natsume gave a slight nod.
"Finish your homework first."
"Yay~!" Bonnie grinned, squinting happily before bending over her notebook again with renewed focus.
Clemont was busy with his inventions, and Bonnie kept bothering him—so he’d asked Natsume to "babysit."
Since Bonnie loved hanging around the café anyway, the arrangement had somehow stuck.
Even before its official reopening, the café had turned into a summer daycare… Natsume was exhausted just thinking about it.
Watching Bonnie scribble away, Natsume mused silently.
Once she turned ten, Bonnie wouldn’t need to study these basics anymore.
But aside from embarking on a journey, there was always the option of continuing her education to enroll in a Trainer Academy.
Given Bonnie’s personality, though, she’d probably prefer traveling.
The café was quiet, save for the hum of the AC and the soft scratching of pencil on paper.
Outside, a woman passed by under a parasol, a suited man strode briskly down the street, and one of Team Rocket’s "Gogoat Delivery Service" Gogoat clip-clopped along the road.
Natsume savored the tranquil summer afternoon, idly petting Sylveon before remarking,
"Sister Cynthia’s coming by later."
"Really?!" Bonnie’s lively nature instantly took over, her eyes sparkling. "When?!"
"Probably this afternoon," Natsume said. "She’s coming from Undella Town in Unova."
"That’s amazing! I’ve always wanted to meet Sinnoh’s Champion, Miss Cynthia!" Bonnie cheered.
"The Sinnoh Champion is me," Natsume said flatly.
"Ehehe, don’t be jealous, Natsume-sensei~" Bonnie nudged him playfully, eyes half-lidded.
"Sirfetch'd~( ￣ ￣)σ" (Homework isn’t done yet, y’know~)
Under Sirfetch’d’s stern gaze, Bonnie obediently returned to her seat.
Inside the café…
Gengar balanced a stack of plates on its head, wiggling its hips as it wiped the counter and hummed: "GengarGengar~?"
It cleaned these plates daily—household chores brought the ghost pure joy.
The moving vacuum cleaner, however? Gengar’s sworn nemesis!
"Arcanine…" Arcanine lay sprawled on the rug, tongue lolling, tail wagging lazily.
Togepi leaned against Arcanine’s fluffy belly, holding up a handheld console: "Togepi doo-ee~o(￣︶￣)o"
Larvitar, punished with a "no chips" ban, stared longingly at the bags in the glass cabinet, fighting back tears: "Larvitar…"
Togepi set down the console, glanced at the napping Natsume, then cautiously waved a tiny finger.
Confusion!
Click.
The cabinet lock quietly opened, and a chip bag floated toward Larvitar in a blue glow. The little Pokémon blinked.
"Larvitar?"
"Togepi doo-ee!" Togepi pressed a finger to its lips. "Shhh!"
Larvitar grinned and nodded vigorously.
Meanwhile, Natsume was deep in thought about pseudo-legendary breeding strategies.
Mega Stones could be eaten—but not recklessly.
A Tyranitarite, sharing the same energy as Larvitar, was safe. Other Mega Stones? Probably problematic.
"I’ll ask Cynthia or Steven later where to find another Tyranitarite," Natsume decided.
As for his Kalos itinerary, things were settling into place.
Time to revive his old routine: climbing back to #1 in Pokémon: Battle this season.
His starter rank was already high, and he’d just snagged some easy points off Leon—shouldn’t take too long.
He’d also finalized the theme for his next video.
A team built around Garchomp and Tyranitar—dubbed the "Waifu Squad" (crossed out)… no, the Sandstorm Team!
Sandstorm teams were a classic composition, the epitome of brutal efficiency. Garchomp’s Earthquake was infamous for KO’ing allies and foes alike.
Of course, Garchomp was just for fun.
The real sandstorm terror? Enter Excadrill (×)… a.k.a. "Drill Rat" (√)!
In doubles, Excadrill typically ran the Sand Rush ability, granting blistering speed. After a Swords Dance, it could sweep entire teams.
Rock Slide and Iron Head’s flinch chances were just icing on the cake.
It even had the one-hit-KO move Horn Drill—a lucky shot could turn the tide instantly!
…Not that Natsume would ever rely on it.
Horn Drill might as well be "Miss: The Move" for him, much like Lapras’s Hydro Pump. Some things were just destined to fail.
"No big deal," Natsume reassured himself. "This is just to set an example for Larvitar!"
In sandstorm teams, Tyranitar wasn’t the main attacker.
With weather wars against rain, sun, and more, its job was simple: survive long enough to set sand.
Thus, as a Strategist, Natsume-sensei held modest hopes for his pseudo-legendary.
Desert tyrant? Menacing powerhouse? Rock Slide sweeps? Nope.
The goal was clear:
Just win the weather war.
Crunch.
The crisp sound of chip-munching snapped Natsume from his thoughts.
He glanced over—then froze.
"Larvitar… (￣～￣)" Larvitar clutched a chip bag, cheeks stuffed.
Bonnie set down her pencil, cupping her face in her hands. "Larvitar’s so cute too…"
Natsume stared at the now-open cabinet, speechless.
"Larvitar… (°ー°〃)"
Larvitar stiffened under his gaze, unsure what to do.
"Togepi!" Togepi blinked innocently, stepping protectively in front of Larvitar.
Natsume chuckled helplessly. "Don’t let it happen again."
Maybe he spoiled them too much—but seeing how they turned out, he couldn’t bring himself to regret it.
With a sigh, he patted his own shoulder.
"A great Trainer raises great Pokémon!"
"Gengar! (￣▽￣)／" Gengar bounced cheerfully.
Natsume: "Wasn’t talking about you!"
……
Dusk settled in.
"Whew—" Bonnie kicked back her chair, stretching with a satisfied grin. "Done with homework!"
Natsume glanced outside the window at Prism Tower standing tall in the twilight. "Bonnie, you should head back now."
"Eh?" Bonnie puffed her cheeks. "But I haven’t even gotten to try the Watmel Berry!"
"Next time, definitely next time," Natsume said earnestly.
"Fine." Bonnie placed her hands on the chair, swinging her legs cutely. "You’re forgiven~"
Ding-dong—
Just as he was chatting with the little girl, the wind chime at the entrance jingled softly.
A dazzling golden hue filled the room as Cynthia stepped inside, dressed in a blue blouse and black wide-leg pants.
"Welcome, dear guest," Natsume feigned professionalism. "What would you like today?"
Cynthia’s delicate, snow-white face showed a hint of seriousness as she crossed her arms, resting a slender hand on her chin.
"Hmm… let me think."
Her beautiful brows furrowed, her expression solemn—yet the dilemma was over something trivial.
Natsume found her even more endearing. Smiling, he mirrored her pose.
"Take all the time you need. A lifetime, even."
Hearing his voice, Cynthia instinctively replied, "Mmm..."
"Ooooh—"
Bonnie’s drawn-out tone snapped Cynthia back to reality. The little girl was glancing between them, covering her mouth to stifle a giggle.
"So this is how adults flirt~"
Natsume froze. The atmosphere shattered instantly. He sighed.
"Why do you know about these things, Bonnie?"
Bonnie planted her hands on her hips, puffing her chest proudly. "Because I have to think about my big brother’s future!"
Cynthia chuckled softly, eyeing Bonnie with mild curiosity. "And this is…?"
"I’m Bonnie~" Bonnie waved cheerfully. "Nice to meet you, Miss Cynthia!"
Natsume added beside her, "She’s the younger sister of Lumiose City’s Gym Leader, Clemont."
"Nice to meet you too, Bonnie."
Cynthia’s eyes curved as she bent down to shake Bonnie’s hand. Then, she said warmly, "You’ll grow into a wonderful Trainer."
Bonnie’s eyes widened slowly, her voice tinged with disbelief. "R-Really?"
"Of course." Cynthia’s gray eyes gleamed with quiet confidence. "My judgment is never wrong."
She had once recognized the destined rivalry between Ash and Paul.
This was the Sinnoh Champion—gentle with newcomers, fierce as winter in battle, and always regal yet kind in daily life.
Bonnie’s sparkling gaze wavered. For once, the usually lively girl found herself speechless, her cheeks flushing as she hid her hands behind her back.
"Th-Thank you, Senior Cynthia!"
"Haha, I only speak the truth."
Cynthia smiled, ruffling Bonnie’s hair before straightening up to look at Natsume.
"What is it?" Natsume asked.
"I’ve decided," Cynthia declared, her eyes sharpening.
Natsume blinked. "That fast?"
With an air of finality, Cynthia nodded firmly, her gaze locked onto the café’s menu.
"I’ll have the Beartic Ice Cream!"
Natsume: "..."
Natsume sighed. "No need to overthink it. I knew you’d pick that."
Cynthia tilted her head slightly. "Was it that obvious?"
"Well… prediction is one of my talents," Natsume boasted.
Cynthia’s smile softened, her eyes glinting with playful competitiveness. "Oh really?"
Natsume cleared his throat.
Seemed like tonight was going to be a tough battle.
Behind Natsume, Gengar locked eyes with Cynthia’s Garchomp, sparks flying between them.
"Garchomp! (〝▼皿▼)" Garchomp’s crimson gaze burned with arrogance.
"Gengar! (▼皿▼#) " Gengar threw shadow punches at the air.
The fight for household dominance was just as intense!
…Wait, I don’t have household dominance? Never mind then.
Natsume straightened up. "What flavor do you want?"
"Mm…" Cynthia hesitated, falling deep into thought again.
Counterattack successful!
Bonnie: "I want strawberry! (≧ω≦)"
Natsume grumbled, "I never agreed to treat you."
Cynthia smiled. "I’ll cover Bonnie’s too."
Bonnie: "Hehe~ ( ﾟ∀ﾟ) ﾉ♡"
……
Night deepened.
Bonnie licked her ice cream, like a kid just out of school, and returned to Prism Tower under the watchful eye of an "invisible" Gengar.
Cynthia visited the Pokémon Café and remarked, "I really like the atmosphere and style here."
"It has this... hmm, soothing vibe where both Pokémon and humans can relax," she added with a smile.
"You can also leave your Pokémon in the gardens."
Natsume said, "The café’s gardens are pretty spacious."
Cynthia met Natsume’s gaze, her tone serious. "My house in Undella Town is also quite large."
The night was quiet, Cynthia’s eyes deep and mysterious, a faint curve lingering on her lips.
Studying Natsume’s expression, she asked, "Why are you blushing?"
"Full of energy… Wait, no—that meme’s too old," Natsume said. "The bed size doesn’t matter. I’m just worried you might get scared at night."
Cynthia shot him a glare before replying, "I’m serious. You could stay in Undella Town during the World Tournament Youth Tournament."
Natsume paused, then sighed. "Oh..."
"You sound disappointed?"
"I thought we’d be sharing a bed," Natsume said.
Cynthia froze, averting her gaze. A faint blush spread across her snow-white neck as she tucked a strand of golden hair behind her ear, murmuring:
"Tonight… would be fine too..."
"Not tonight."
"?"
"I’ve got a strategy livestream. Can’t bail on my fans." Natsume struck a righteous pose. "A real man isn’t judged by whether he slacks off—but by whether he chooses to slack off when he could!"
Cynthia tilted her head slightly, musing, "That sounds like a very firm principle..."
"Or you could co-host with me and do a comedy duo," Natsume offered.
Cynthia’s eyes lit up with interest.
"What’s the strategy for this stream?"
"… Ahem, Sandstorm Team!"
Pretending not to hear, Cynthia’s cheeks flushed faintly in the dim light as she replied earnestly:
"I do have some advice for Sandstorm Teams..."
"Also, ‘Pokémon: Battle’ just updated. You can now choose between Mega Evolution or Dynamax environments."
She glanced at Natsume and hesitated. "Will you be okay adjusting?"
Due to Natsume’s dominant performance in Dynamax battles, Devon Corporation—whose young master could no longer secure the world’s #1 spot—opted to reintroduce Young Master Steven’s invincible Mega Metagross (White).
Steven’s character card boasted exclusive effects, custom models, and even a victory line:
"In the end, I remain the strongest and most exceptional."
Cool as hell. Strong as hell. Rich as hell.
Meanwhile, Oleana from the Pokémon Company was considering a collaboration with Devon Corp. to give President Natsume his own character model—plus a victory quote:
"As expected of you, Natsume-sensei!"
Since balancing Dynamax and Mega Evolution stats proved difficult, the solution was to split them into separate ranked modes.
Natsume blinked. "So it’s Wild Mode and Standard Mode now?"
Cynthia: "What?"
"Never mind. I’ll crush them all!"
