There's a saying:

  When you're weak, even yer seem adorable to others.

  That perfectly described the current state of the Mino.

  Though it appeared furious, its cute demeanor only made it look endearing—like something you’d want to scoop up and cuddle.

  “Sand?”

  The ued situatio Sandshrew momentarily at a loss, its previously waving paw now frozen in mid-air, unsure of what to do.

  Meanwhile, the bushes behind the Mino rustled, and a Buneary emerged.

  The Buneary rao its friend, grasping the Mino's arm nervously and whispering something to it.

  Judging by its expression, it was either trying to persuade its friend not to meddle it to quickly distaself from humans.

  Thanks to years of “dedication” by trainers, human Pokémon trainers now had quite a “reputation” among wild Pokémon.

  Yes, the bad kind.

  To wild Pokémon, trainers were often synonymous with chaos:

  Invadiories and attag i Pokémon.

  Stealing treasures while Pokémon were away.

  Kidnapping baby Pokémon and tearing families apart.

  When viewed in this light, trainers must seem like the vilins of their world.

  The appearance of Buneary seemed to calm the Mino slightly, though it still gred at Sandshrew with evident displeasure.

  “Hello, Mino, and you too, Buneary,” Natsume greeted them softly. “I’m Natsume, and Sandshrew here is my partner. Is there something you need from him?”

  Stepping forward, he squatted down to their level, speaking in a geone.

  From the moment the Mino appeared, Natsume had a pretty good idea of what was going on.

  It was nothing more than the cssic case of a freak entering something dirty and losing its cool.

  As for Buneary, it was likely trying to calm its overly emotional friend.

  “Mi-mi!”

  The Mino, previously a bit calmer, suddenly grew agitated again upon hearing Natsume’s words.

  It poi Sandshrew and began chirping rapidly, clearly expressing its distent.

  Beside it, Buneary looked bad forth between Natsume and the Mino, on the verge of tears.

  Knowing its friend’s character all too well, Buneary was certain that if it didn’t step in, the Mino would unch itself forward at any moment.

  Not that it seemed like it could hold its friend baow, either.

  “Alright, alright, I get it,” Natsume said, attempting to pcate the agitated Mino. He g Sandshrew, noting its dirt-covered fur speckled with bits of grass and roots. It was indeed quite the mess.

  ---

  A few mier...

  “Mi~”

  The Mino, its fur slightly disheveled, wiped sweat off its forehead with a satisfied smile, a look of pride and fulfillment on its face.

  It was as if a long-standing internal pressure had finally been released—like the joy of putting on fresh underwear on New Year’s Day.

  Behind it stood a freshly ed Sandshrew, utterly dazed.

  pared to its earlier appearance of being literally “freshly dug up” from the ground, Sandshrew now looked immacute, like it had just rolled off the produ line.

  ---

  Meanwhile, Buneary, happily mung on a Pokéblock, sidled up to the Mino.

  Yes, it only took a short while for Buneary to be thhly “won over” by Natsume.

  This artly due to Natsume’s natural affinity and partly due to the deliciousness of the Pokéblock. For Buneary, it was the first time it had tasted something so good.

  But there was another, even more critical reason.

  As Buneary chatted with Mino , it stole a g Natsume, its eyes lingering on his face.

  Although still bearing the youthful features of a teenager, his facial tours already showed promise. He might not be devastatingly handsome, but he was undoubtedly one of the standouts among his peers.

  Even now, Natsume could easily be described as -cut and pleasant to look at.

  When Natsume’s questioning gaze turoward it, Buneary hurriedly turned away, as if startled, her cheeks faintly flushed with a hint of crimson.

  Yes, Buneary had been “vinced” primarily because it liked Natsume’s face.

  Seeing him simply put it in a good mood.

  Creatures like this are often referred to as "fathusiasts."

  Buneary recisely that.

  Of course, it justified its choice by telling itself that Natsume was a genuinely kind person.

  Watg her “defected” friend, the Mino seemed helpless.

  I know you’re smitten with this human’s face, but ’t you show a little restraint?

  To this, Buneary seemed to reply, When a girl sees what she wants, she strikes first! e on, join me—you wouldn’t want to lose sight of me, would you?

  At least, that was what Natsume imagined based on the Pokémon’s versation and body nguage.

  Though he embellished a bit, the overall meaning wasn’t far off.

  “Mi!”

  Mino looked at its friend, then at Natsume, and finally made its decision.

  If it was going to follow a human, they’d have to earn it in battle!

  “Alright, it’s a deal,” Natsume responded with a smile, notig the determined gleam in the Mino's eyes.

  His gaze shifted to his team of Pokémon.

  Persian was out—it was to, making the battle unfair.

  Butterfree was also unsuitable, as its move set wasn’t friendly to Mino.

  Sandshrew wasn’t ied in fighting, which it had made clear when it joihe team.

  That left oion.

  “Go, Rookidee!”

  Hearing its he little bird Pokémon, which had been doing its best to appear indifferent to the situation, immediately perked up and flew to Natsume’s side, ready for a.

  I k! If I py it cool, the boss will se to fight!

  From now on, I’m going to be a cold and Ruthless Pokémon. That way, I’ll get more opportuo battle!

  Though its ihoughts ran wild, Rookidee maintained a posed exterior, fixing its oppo with a sharp, pierg gaze.

  Starting today, I’ll be a ruthless, emotionless Pokémon.

  With that resolution in mind, Rookidee prepared for its battle.

  Gcell