You're not allowed to play Pokémon!

Chapter 348 Cattleya is sleeping

June 21th, Saturday, sunny.

Today is the last day before the start of the Superpower Masters Tournament.

It was also the day that Orchid would come to the Johto region to cheer on Aoba and Cattleya.

Skillfully covering the vibrating screen of Rotom's phone, Qingyu groggily woke up from her dream and quickly sat up on the bed, letting out a long yawn.

Am I a little late? The 7-hour time difference isn't going to be so easy to adjust to...

After muttering something to himself, Qingyu immediately stretched out his hands and patted his cheeks, trying to awaken his dormant spirit in this way.

After stretching, Qingyu, fully recharged, glanced at the weather outside.

Well, as expected.

After casually taking the teru teru bozu (a Japanese doll-shaped ornament) that was hanging outside the window back in, Qingyu nodded in satisfaction.

Indeed, sometimes a sunny day is quite necessary.

Sinnoh and Johto are very close to each other, so much so that the Battle Frontier was even set up between the two regions, with the Battle Castle in Cattleya being a well-known example.

Therefore, it is much more convenient for Zhu Lan to come to the city than for Qing Yu, at least she does not need to take a plane for several hours.

Moreover, compared to Milton, which does not yet have the ability to fly, Cyndaquil's Garchomp is said to be no less efficient than a passenger plane in terms of flight efficiency.

Therefore, they agreed to meet directly at the arcade.

While it may seem a bit far-fetched to be neglecting your studies before a major competition, it is well known that relaxation before a big exam is always necessary and helps relieve stress.

"You're right, aren't you, Sylveon?"

"Buy?"

After washing up, Qingyu turned to look at Sylveon and asked a question out of the blue, unsurprisingly receiving a puzzled look in return.

"nothing."

Qingyu smiled and patted its head, then asked in a low voice.

"Speaking of which, would you like to come with me to see Zhu Lan today?"

"Buyi!"

To Qingyu's surprise, Sylveon, who hadn't seen Cyndaquil for a long time, shook her head decisively, her head twitching like a rattle drum.

"Ok."

Seeing this, Qingyu could only nod helplessly.

It seems that my thoughts are not entirely the same as those of the Pokémon. Perhaps they still prefer to hone their skills a little more one last time?

"Well then, I'll be heading off now. You all need to stay in your rooms and, even if you go out, don't wander too far, or you might get lost in unfamiliar places."

"Buyi!"

Qingyu instinctively offered a reminder, immediately earning an impatient glare from Sylveon.

He could only scratch his head in exasperation.

I feel like Sylveon is acting unusually impatient today? Maybe it's just my imagination...

Qingyu didn't think much of it and quickly pushed open the door. After the door closed with a muffled thud, the sound of footsteps walking away became increasingly faint.

"Buyi..."

After confirming that Qingyu had left, Sylveon suddenly breathed a sigh of relief for some reason.

"Luca!"

Lucario, who was quietly training in the training room, immediately poked its head out and gestured to Sylveon with its eyes.

After receiving confirmation, it immediately put down the weight it was holding and let out a low growl to the other Pokémon behind it.

"Mwah~"

In a corner of the blind spot, Mewtwo, whose mouth had been covered, immediately broke free and let out its signature giggle.

"..."

Mewtwo breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt a little fortunate.

Thankfully, the other Pokémon remembered that Mew might cause trouble, otherwise it would have been interesting if Blue Feather had found out.

"Buyi!"

After Qingyu left, Sylveon, as the eldest sister of the family, obviously had absolute say.

After letting out a powerful growl, even the unserious Mew immediately stood at attention in the air, quietly awaiting the "Commander Eevee's" instructions.

The reason why Qingyu's Pokémon would gather together is quite simple—

It's a rare opportunity for him to get closer to Cynthia, but given Sylveon's understanding of his trainer, he definitely wouldn't be able to seize it!

So many years have passed, how come we're still stuck in the same place...?

Our own trainer is really just a nobody!

Therefore, the whole family must pitch in as a support force to provide him with all kinds of off-field assistance!

If Sylveon's plan is discovered by Qingyu, he certainly won't allow his Pokémon to watch him "date".

For various reasons, these "helpful" little guys finally resorted to this last resort, choosing to secretly follow Qingyu after he left.

"Buy~"

With Sylveon's command, the "Blue Feather Support Force," temporarily formed and spearheaded by Sylveon and Lucario, was officially deployed!
……

Walking on the main road of Manjin City, Qingyu's mood was complicated.

Thinking back to when Zhu Lan suddenly arrived in Xiaochi Town and caught him off guard, he must have been a little nervous.

However, after spending so much time together, Qingyu was unusually calm this time.

Perhaps this can be considered progress in some sense?
Like Celadon City in Kanto, Goldenrod City also boasts a massive arcade, offering everything from arcade games to various casual games, making it a favorite among young people.

In theory, it is an ideal dating spot.

After Qingyu followed the road signs and walked around the corner, a huge, technologically advanced building immediately came into view.

However, compared to the backdrop behind him, his gaze was almost entirely focused on the slender, beautiful woman in a trench coat not far away, with her long, flowing blond hair swaying in the wind.

Even though he was wearing sunglasses to conceal his identity, he recognized the person at a glance.

This clumsy disguise might be useful to others, but... I'm not a native of the Pokémon world!
As soon as Qingyu noticed Zhulan, Zhulan, who was waiting, looked up as if by telepathy, and quickly smiled and waved to him.

"Sorry for the waitting."

As Qingyu stepped forward and spoke with a smile, she began to wonder if she had set her wake-up time too late.

Shouldn't it?
We agreed to meet at 10 o'clock, and I was already early at 9:30, but I was still a step behind Zhu Lan...

"No, that's not true. I just arrived too."

Zhu Lan smiled and shook her head, then spoke playfully again.

"Besides, the thought that it's been a while since I last saw you, Qingyu, has already made me look forward to today."

"Me too."

Qingyu nodded in strong agreement.

At first, he would blush because of Zhu Lan's words, but after spending so much time together, he gradually got used to Zhu Lan's straightforward way of speaking.

Isn't it better to be more straightforward? At least it will make things easier for both parties to get along.

Stepping into the arcade felt like entering a completely new world. The strange atmosphere created by neon lights and noise quickly made Zhu Lan look uncomfortable.

"With so many attractions, which one should we go on..."

"How about we go play the claw machine first?"

Qingyu was well aware of Zhulan's "minor flaws".

This is someone with severe decision-making difficulties who can seriously ponder for one or two hours just by choosing an ice cream flavor!
Therefore, he decisively made the choice for Zhu Lan, pointing his finger as he spoke.

"Hmm...not bad either?"

After someone provided the answer for her, Zhu Lan, who had been frowning, instantly felt much happier.

After passing through a special passage that seemed to separate rooms into different facilities, Qingyu and Zhulan were the first to arrive at a room with many claw machines.

Perhaps because we arrived too early, most of the facilities were not crowded at this time.

Looking around, the different models of claw machines are neatly categorized by region, and the first thing that catches Cynthia's eye is the Kanto and Johto brand, featuring the extremely popular Pokémon—

Pikachu!
"Speaking of Johto, Pikachu is undoubtedly the most popular character."

As Cynthia smiled and spoke, she had already stepped past the neglected "popularity king" and arrived in front of the claw machine in the Sinnoh region.

"However, I prefer Pachirisu from our Sinnoh region to Pikachu."

Just as she was about to try it out, she suddenly realized that no matter how much she pushed the joystick, the claw inside the claw machine remained completely still.

Just as Zhu Lan was completely baffled, Qing Yu, who had disappeared for a short while, quickly reappeared, now holding a basket of game coins.

"Haven't you ever been to an arcade before?"

Seeing her curious look, Qingyu couldn't help but ask with amusement.

"No, because I rarely think about going out. Even if I'm invited by Cattleya, I'll most likely go to a more 'elegant' place?"

After recalling for a moment, Zhu Lan spoke softly.

"Hmm...it seems quite reasonable."

Qingyu couldn't help but shake his head inwardly.

No wonder she's a noble lady from high society; her family must own a castle. She probably doesn't even know that entertainment venues like this exist.

Speaking of which, it seems that Cynthia initially planned to come to the Johto region to cheer on Cattleya...

And she even specifically invited me to come along.

Then the question comes-

Where is Jia Deliya now?

Thinking of this, Qingyu's eyes suddenly became subtle.

It's almost 10 o'clock now, and based on his understanding of Cattleya, this night owl...

She must have just finished staying up all night and is sleeping soundly, right?
I don't know why, but I suddenly feel like laughing.
But as the "culprit," it would seem a bit too despicable to laugh at this moment.

Therefore, Qingyu chose to use her already incredibly skilled facial expression management.

"Do I need to insert coins to use it?"

"Yes, it takes two coins to make one grab."

After receiving Qingyu's explanation, Zhulan curiously observed the claw machine and quickly reached out to take out two coins.

As the coin was inserted into the machine, a catchy electronic voice quickly began to play.

“It’s amazing!”

Seeing that the machine had finally started, Zhu Lan examined the dolls inside and immediately locked onto her target—

"I'm going to catch this Patchlitz."

Qingyu simply smiled and waited quietly for her to begin.

As we all know, claw machines are a game that requires a lot of skill; it's almost impossible for a beginner to master the advanced techniques!

As Qingyu had predicted, things turned out just as he had expected.

After several attempts, Zhu Lan's gripper failed to grab the items, let alone bring them to the exit.

Zhu Lan pouted, and after careful consideration, decisively chose to give up her place. "You can do it now, I'll learn first!"

"Okay."

Qingyu nodded, a confident smile on her face.

"Actually, I'm quite the expert!"

He might not be that good at other arcade games, but he's an absolute pro at claw machines!
In his previous life, there was a shopping mall near his home, and Qingyu would often go there with his friends to play various games on weekends.

So much so that later on, I didn't have room at home for all the Pokémon plushies I caught, and I had to give them to other friends.

Of course, Qingyu, who could still win so many plush toys despite not having much pocket money, is clearly a master at winning plush toys!

"The technique for playing claw machines is actually very simple. It's just like Pokémon battles. You just need to press the command at the right time, like this."

As Qingyu spoke, she skillfully used two fingers to move the joystick while keeping her eyes fixed on the Patchlitz doll.

The moment the grab handle came into view, Qingyu decisively pressed the button!
Following his command, the mechanical grappling hook opened and quickly reached down, landing with perfect precision directly above the doll.

Upon touching the Patchlitz doll, the gripper immediately begins to retract and lock it firmly in place.

Become!

Qingyu's smile became even more confident.

Sure enough, the skills for winning at claw machines are universal, even in different worlds!

However, just as he was feeling smug, an unexpected event occurred—

As the mechanical gripper returned to its original position, the swaying hand quickly began to loosen, seemingly poised to fling the duck it had already caught away at any moment.

"..."

Seeing this, Qingyu couldn't help but curse inwardly:
No, even the claw machines in the Pokémon world are this slippery?
Is this correct???
Now that things had come to this, there was nothing he could do to remedy the situation. He could only watch the constantly swinging mechanical claw with a tense expression, praying in his heart that he wouldn't embarrass himself in front of Zhu Lan.

Perhaps his prayers had an effect.

Under Qingyu's expectant gaze, the previously swaying handle suddenly straightened up and remained motionless until it returned to its correct position, steadily tossing the Patchlitz doll, which had almost slipped away, into the inlet and outlet.

"awesome."

Zhu Lan, who had been observing quietly from the side, clapped her hands in perfect unison and offered a heartfelt compliment, directly conveying the emotional value she was giving.

Seeing this, Qingyu silently breathed a sigh of relief, but soon smiled again.

After taking the Patchlitz doll out of the exit, Qingyu handed it to Zhulan beside her without thinking.

"Here you go, consider it a gift for our long-awaited reunion."

Zhu Lan seemed unsurprised by this. After blinking her bright eyes, she reached out and took the doll.

"Thank you~"

After flashing a sweet smile, Zhu Lan played with the doll in her right hand, then quickly looked up again with a serious expression, pointing to another claw machine not far away.

"Then, as a return gift, let me personally grab a doll and give it to you."

"Qingyu, what do you think of this electric flying squirrel plushie? Isn't this child cute? It looks a lot like this Patch Liz too."

This time, Qingyu was a little surprised.

However, he quickly recovered and smiled as he spoke:
"Anything is fine, I'll like anything you give me."

"Okay, I'll try it again!"

After receiving Qingyu's affirmative answer, Zhulan nodded slightly, then immediately grasped Qingyu's wrist and led him to a new location.

"Buyi..."

In the corner of the claw machine room, a soft, cute voice suddenly rang out, completely drowned out by the noisy background noise of the arcade.

however……

If you shift your gaze to the direction from which the sound came, you will find that there is clearly no trace of any living creature present.

This is certainly not a paranormal event, and the principle is very simple—

In the Pokémon world, there really is a Pokémon that can change its body color at will, possessing the special ability to blend into its surroundings.

The Kecleon is mostly found in the Hoenn region and likes to block roads and play pranks!

Of course, the Johto region is theoretically not a habitat for Pokémon like Kecleon.

But for Mew, which can transform into any Pokémon, doing so would be a piece of cake.

After using its superpowers to analyze this special way of using energy, it can even make other companions share this disguise effect.

"Should we continue helping Qingyu win prizes next?"

Mewtwo, which had been invisible, withdrew its hand, and the striking light blue light in its eyes gradually dissipated.

It immediately lowered its head and looked at Sylveon, the decision-maker for this operation.

"Buyi!"

Sylveon nodded decisively, while also thinking to itself:
Superpowers are really convenient, they've been a huge help!

Fortunately, it had anticipated this and knew that the trainer might falter at crucial moments, so it promptly had Mewtwo come to the rescue...

However, the support they can provide is actually quite limited, and it mainly depends on the trainer themselves.

With that thought in mind, Sylveon quickly refocused its gaze on Blue Feather.

In the following period of time, Zhu Lan tried several more times.

Although there has been some progress, at least I can touch the doll with my hands every time, but each time it ends in failure.

"Ugh...this is so hard!"

Just as she was feeling a little discouraged, Qingyu, who was beside her, also noticed the change in her expression.

After a moment's thought, Qingyu stammered as she spoke:
"How about... I teach you step by step?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Lan was slightly taken aback, but quickly smiled.

"Okay."

For her, this gift only has meaning if she receives it in person.

Qingyu's suggestion, however, happened to exploit a bug—

If the two of them did it together, it might have a more special meaning.

After receiving Zhu Lan's permission, Qing Yu no longer hesitated and took the initiative to approach her.

As the distance between the two quickly closed, his large hands soon covered Zhu Lan's slender, warm hands.

For Qingyu, this was a very delicate pose.

As soon as he looked down, Zhu Lan's smooth, snow-white nape came into full view, and at the same time, a faint scent of violets quickly entered his nostrils, making Qing Yu blush instantly.

No, I can't think about it too much!
I still need to help Zhulan catch the doll, so if I get flustered and my hands shake, it will be difficult to make a move!
Qingyu subconsciously took a deep breath.

However, this action did not calm him down at all; on the contrary, the overly strong "bamboo orchid scent" made his heart beat faster.

Oops, it’s a heart-pounding feeling!
"..."

In Qingyu's blind spot, Zhulan also remained silent at this moment.

On the surface, both of them seemed focused on controlling the joysticks in their hands.

However, Zhu Lan's cheeks had clearly become rosy at this moment, and the corners of her mouth had unconsciously turned up slightly.

If Qingyu observes closely, she might notice that Zhulan's neck and the area below her neck are also tinged with a slight blush.

With their combined efforts, they successfully captured the target in several subsequent attempts.

By the time Qingyu let go of her hands, the accumulated dolls were almost filling the exit.

"Here you go, the electric flying squirrel plush toy we agreed on earlier."

When she turned back, Zhu Lan's expression was the same as always, unchanged, still smiling gently.

"As for Miss Gothic's doll, I'll give it to her when I see Cattleya tomorrow."

Qingyu reached out and took it; he had calmed down by now.

However, he also smiled when he saw the Patchlitz doll in Zhu Lan's hand.

After waving the doll in his hand, he and Zhu Lan exchanged a smile.

"Luka..."

Seeing this scene, the friends who were "observing intently" in the corner couldn't help but smile like doting aunts.

Perhaps the one who felt this most deeply was Lucario.

Cynthia and her Lucario were her guides on her path to growth, while Blue Feather was her most trusted partner and a reliable trainer she could entrust her back to.

And when two joys combine, creating a brand new bond...

Even Lucario couldn't help but smile.

Perhaps this is what Qingyu once referred to as "the bond of fate"?

What's next?

After the two tacitly ignored what had just happened, the claw machine challenge came to an end.

Faced with Zhu Lan's question, Qing Yu stared at the sign in front of him and quickly came up with an answer after a moment's thought.

"Hmm... how about trying out the dance machine?"

"It is said that Alola has a magical Z-Move that requires the trainer to perform a corresponding dance in order to use it, and the power of the move will be amplified according to the trainer's level of dedication."

"Furthermore, it seems that Kommo-o has a very special exclusive Z-Move, which you might be able to use in the future."

This is a lie.

While that's certainly part of the reason, Qingyu's real purpose...

I know everything!

"I see. If the information is accurate, then it is indeed necessary to practice in advance."

Zhu Lan quickly understood and nodded. When she looked at Qing Yu, her eyes were like two crescent moons, yet they were still lively.

She seemed to be in a very good mood.

"However, I've never practiced dancing, so don't laugh at me if I don't dance well."

"Of course! I'll always be your loyal fan."

Qingyu patted his chest and gave his assurance.

So, for the rest of the noon and afternoon, Qingyu and Zhulan were engrossed in the various games at the arcade, completely oblivious to the world around them.

Happy times are always short-lived, and evening soon arrived.

As Qingyu and Zhulan bid each other a reluctant farewell, a little girl with disheveled blonde hair suddenly opened her eyes in a villa, her expression clearly showing lingering fear.

"It feels like I had a nightmare..."

"Qingyu and Zhulan are very close, they even play claw machines together..."

"He was probably just half asleep."

After rubbing her sleepy eyes, Cattleya quickly forgot almost all of the contents of her dream.

He must have been preparing his killing move against Qingyu these past few days, which is why he even thought of that guy in his dreams...

After coming up with a reasonable explanation, a confident smile quickly appeared on Cattleya's face:
"Just you wait, Zhu Lan!"

"I will prove to you who the stronger trainer is!"

(End of this chapter)