Elf: Rewriting the script, starting with Black Stocking Hanako

Xia's sudden closeness startled Hanako, who was combing her hair!

Hanako was still holding a leaf she had just plucked from her hair, and she froze completely.

Those gentle eyes widened as she looked at the distance between Xiaoxia and Jiang Chuan's face, which was almost touching hers, and her heart skipped a beat.

Hey?

This girl... how did she suddenly...?

They're about to kiss, aren't they?

Hanako's cheeks flushed slightly, and a strange, bittersweet feeling welled up inside her. But more than that, she felt a sense of shock and embarrassment at how bold and direct young people were these days.

She instinctively gripped the comb in her hand, standing there, somewhat at a loss.

From Jiang Chuan's perspective at this moment.

Xiaoxia's face was very close.

Hanako had just carefully combed her short orange hair, which now lay softly against her ears, the ends still damp, probably from the night's dew.

The warm light from the flickering campfire shone on her face, revealing smooth, firm skin with a healthy flush from exercise, and a few fine beads of sweat on the tip of her nose.

Her facial features are clear and three-dimensional, her big eyes are bright and expressive, and her long eyelashes are like small brushes.

Her pink lips parted slightly, and her breath, carrying the aroma of food, gently brushed against Jiang Chuan's face.

Jiang Chuan calmly made his assessment.

She looks much prettier than in the anime.

As expected, the outdated animation quality of the original series completely overshadowed the true beauty of this mermaid.

With that kind of looks, she'd definitely be a top-tier beauty in real life.

Especially this distance, this unadorned sense of realism.

The delicate texture of her skin, the firelight reflected in her pupils, and even a tiny grain of rice stuck to the corner of her mouth were clearly visible.

It is full of vibrant life.

Xiaoxia stared into Jiang Chuan's eyes for several seconds, seemingly trying to find traces of a joke or bluff.

But she failed.

Jiang Chuan's eyes were calm and deep, like a still pond, revealing no ripples.

Suddenly, Xiaoxia's lips curled into a sly and curious smile.

Her pink lips parted slightly, her voice lowered, tinged with a hint of teasing:

"I'm really curious..."

"How can you say such big things with that little mouth of yours?"

She deliberately emphasized the words "small mouth" and "big talk," breathing warm air onto Jiang Chuan's lips.

Jiang Chuan smiled faintly.

He knew Xiaoxia's personality: competitive, unwilling to admit defeat, and very curious.

This kind of personality is easy to guide.

You don't believe me?

Jiang Chuan leaned back slightly, creating some distance between them, but his gaze remained fixed on Xiaoxia.

"Do you think I'm bragging?"

"Hehe, I've never seen a rookie trainer dare to consider the Indigo League championship as a 'small goal'." Xiaoxia also sat up straight, crossed her arms, and had a "let's see how you make this up" expression.

"That's simple."

Jiang Chuan picked up his water glass, took a sip, and spoke casually as if he were discussing the weather.

"You can join us and travel together."

"See for yourself how I did it."

Provocation tactic.

Straightforward, but effective.

Sure enough, Xia's eyes widened instantly.

"Join you?"

"Yes." Jiang Chuan nodded. "Aren't you going to become a Water-type Pokémon Master? You'll encounter all sorts of Water-type Gyms, lakes, and rivers on your travels. Follow us, and it won't interfere with your training."

"and……"

He glanced at the frying pan still warming on the fire.

"You've already tasted Hanako-nee's cooking."

That statement hit the nail on the head!

Xiaoxia's throat bobbed involuntarily, and she secretly glanced at the frying pan with its lingering aroma.

My stomach cooperated by making another soft "gurgle".

Hanako-nee's cooking is really... incredibly delicious!

The sausages were fried to a perfect crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, and the mushrooms were so delicious they made your tongue tingle...

If only I could eat this every day...

She shook her head abruptly, temporarily suppressing her "foodie" thoughts, and coughed lightly, feigning composure:

"Hmph! I mainly want to see if you have any real skills! Not, not for a meal!"

But her bright eyes betrayed her.

"So?" Jiang Chuan raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, sure!"

Xiaoxia agreed almost without hesitation.

She agreed so quickly that she was even taken aback after saying it herself.

Uh...did I agree too quickly? Does it make me seem too casual?

Her face flushed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure.

Anyway... I'm just curious! I want to see what makes this guy so arrogant!

By the way... it really was just by the way... I got to eat Hanako-nee's cooking...

After agreeing to Jiang Chuan's request, Xiaoxia remembered that there was another person beside her.

She quickly turned her head to look at Hanako, who was still holding the comb and somewhat dazed. Her face immediately lit up with a sweet smile, and her tone became slightly coquettish:

"Um... Hanako-nee!"

"Can I join you? Will I be bothering you?"

Although Hanako is older than Egawa, she is a little woman at heart.

From the moment Jiang Chuan entered, Hanako basically handed everything over to him, and most decisions were made based on his wishes.

She recognized that Jiang Chuan had inspired Xiao Xia to join the team, so she nodded in agreement.

"Of course you can."

A gentle smile returned to Hanako's face. She stepped forward, gently patted Xiaoxia's shoulder, and brushed the last bit of grass off her collar.

"A larger group makes the trip more lively and safer."

"That's great! Thank you, Hanako-nee!"

Xiaoxia happily hugged Huazi's arm and rubbed against it affectionately.

that's it.

The meal wasn't even finished yet.

Xiaoxia's first task in the route—"become a travel companion"—was easily completed.

【Ding! 】

The system notification sounded crisply in Jiang Chuan's mind.

[Task 1 Completed!]

[Harmonious family halo, successfully loaded!]

A warm current quietly flowed through Jiang Chuan's body; it was subtle, but it was definitely there.

He looked at Hanako and Kasumi, who were huddled together talking.

Hanako smiled gently and asked Xia if she was afraid of getting cold at night and if she wanted an extra blanket.

Xia looked touched and waved her hand repeatedly, saying no, but her eyes sparkled as she looked at the soft blanket that Hanako took out of her backpack.

The atmosphere between the two was harmonious and natural, without any awkwardness or distance as if they had just met.

It was as if they were meant to be sisters.

Is this the effect of a halo...?

Jiang Chuan secretly praised him.

The travel group has officially expanded from two to three people.

The successful application of the "harmonious family" halo has laid the most solid and harmonious foundation for the potential expansion of the "family size" in the future.

.....................

Silent all night.

Inside the tent, Hanako and Misty slept on the inside, while Jiangchuan slept on the outside. Pikachu and Eevee were curled up on a soft mat in the corner of the tent.

Xiaoxia was probably exhausted; she started breathing softly and evenly almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Hanako lay on her side, looking at Jiang Chuan's blurry outline in the darkness. After a while, she slowly closed her eyes.

…………

The next morning.

With a fragrant breakfast prepared by Hanako, the three of them packed their belongings in high spirits, extinguished the fire, and set off on their journey.

The team officially became a trio.

Xiaoxia walked at the front, her steps light and full of energy.

Hanako walked in the middle, gently responding, with a small notebook in her hand, recording the edible tree fruits and mushrooms she saw along the way.

Jiang Chuan then took the lead, scanning the surrounding environment while keeping an eye on the system map and script information in his mind.

Pikachu perched on his shoulder, while Eevee followed at his feet.

The atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant.

However, as noon approached, the sky suddenly darkened.

Large swaths of dark clouds gathered without warning.

"Oh dear, it looks like it's going to rain." Hanako looked up at the sky.

No sooner had he finished speaking than large raindrops began to pelt down.

The rain came suddenly and had a strange quality to it. It wasn't particularly heavy, but the clouds were a somber, dark gray, with faint, indescribable iridescence.

"Quick! There's a cave over there!" Xiaoxia, with her sharp eyes, shouted, pointing to the mountain wall not far ahead.

The three of them quickened their pace and rushed into the small natural cave.

We had just entered the cave and hadn't even had time to dry ourselves off from the rain.

Suddenly, a dazzling seven-colored light pierced the gloomy sky without warning!

It was as if a hole had been torn open in the thick clouds!

The light shimmered, sacred and majestic, carrying an indescribable ancient aura that instantly drew everyone's attention.

"What is that...?" Xiaoxia stared blankly at the sky, her mouth agape.

Hanako covered her mouth, her eyes filled with shock.

Jiang Chuan's pupils contracted slightly.

Without hesitation, he quickly pulled out his Pokédex from the side pocket of his backpack.

Hold up the picture book and aim it at the direction where the seven-colored light disappeared.

Although he could no longer see it with the naked eye, he knew what it was.

The script clearly states that Ho-Oh was briefly seen near Pallet Town, early in the protagonist's journey.

"Snap!" "Snap!" "Snap!"

Jiang Chuan pushed the continuous shooting function of the encyclopedia to its limit, frantically capturing the residual energy trails in the sky and that fleeting, noble figure with his high-speed lens.

Rain and fog affected visibility, and Ho-Oh's speed was beyond imagination.

Ultimately, only three photos with varying degrees of blur were successfully captured on the screen.

"You're this excited about just a flashing toon?"

Xiaoxia's puzzled voice rang in my ears.

She had somehow moved closer to Jiang Chuan, standing on tiptoe and curiously looking at the photos on the encyclopedia screen.

Rainwater dampened her short orange hair, and a few strands clung to her smooth cheeks.

Because we were so close, the fresh scent of her, a mixture of rain and the fragrance of a young girl, wafted over.

The hem of her cropped top was also a little wet, clinging tightly to her slender waist and abdomen, outlining her alluring curves.

Jiang Chuan turned his head and could see her profile so close to his face, as well as her long eyelashes that trembled slightly with curiosity.

"A shiny Finch?" Jiang Chuan smiled, looked away, and glanced at the Pokédex: "This isn't a Finch."

"What is that? Pidgeot? Or some kind of bird Pokémon I've never seen before?" Xiaoxia's knowledge of non-water-type Pokémon was clearly limited.

"What it is is not important." Jiang Chuan did not explain directly, after all, the existence of Ho-Oh was too distant and mythical for ordinary trainers.

"The important thing is that the footage of this thing is very valuable."

"valuable?"

"If I post it on a forum, people will be willing to pay for it."

Before gaining sufficient fame and securing a stable source of funding, the path of training in Pokémon is actually extremely expensive.

Pokémon food, medicine, various items, travel expenses, equipment maintenance...

Many trainers from ordinary families work odd jobs along the way, stopping frequently, and sometimes even need to take on escort or search missions to make ends meet.

Hanako had said that she had some savings from working for many years, and that if she was frugal, it would last her a long time.

But Jiangchuan doesn't intend to rely on Hanako's money forever.

Firstly, a frugal trip will inevitably restrict one's movements and affect the efficiency of spiritual practice.

Secondly, I always feel a little awkward spending a woman's money.

Therefore, using the "information gap in the script" to create wealth was part of Jiang Chuan's long-planned strategy.

Rare Pokémon should be caught as much as possible.

If you can't catch them for the time being, or if you only catch a fleeting glimpse of them like Ho-Oh, you should still try to extract value from them—for example, by selling rare footage.

Trainer forums are never short of researchers, collectors, and wealthy enthusiasts who are full of curiosity and desire for all kinds of rare and legendary Pokémon.

A clear enough photo of a phoenix, even just a distant view, is enough to cause a stir and generate bidding in a small area.

"People actually pay to see photos of toucan? That's strange~"

Xiaoxia pouted, clearly still finding it hard to understand.

She only has a soft spot for Water-type Pokémon. In her opinion, it would be better to use that spare money to buy Vaporeon scales or Milotic feather models for collection.

Jiang Chuan didn't explain much, simply put away his Pokédex and continued towards Viridian City...