Elf: Rewriting the script, starting with Black Stocking Hanako

Hakron paused for a moment.

It raised its head, looked at Jiang Chuan, and a hint of surprise flashed in its eyes.

Then it shook its head, let out a few soft cries, and sounded a little embarrassed.

"I...I'm not very good at fighting."

"Humans capture Pokémon for battle, don't they?"

"I've been hiding in this lake all these years and have hardly ever fought other Pokémon. My battle skills are poor and my potential is limited."

As Hakron spoke, his voice lowered further, carrying a hint of embarrassment.

"And... I ate a little too much."

"I eat so many aquatic plants and tree fruits every day, much more than my daughter. I consume too many resources."

"A Pokémon like me, with low combat power but a big appetite... will be a burden to you."

After Hakron finished speaking, he stepped back a little, sinking slightly into the water, with only half of his head showing.

It was waiting for Jiang Chuan to say, "Okay then."

Jiang Chuan looked at Haklong and couldn't help but smile when he heard the words "This is a burden to you." It was a soft smile, tinged with a hint of helplessness.

"Hakuron".

"The relationship between Pokémon and humans is not just about fighting."

Hakron blinked.

"To me, Pokémon are our partners."

"No matter how strong you are, no matter how much you eat, you can become an indispensable member of our team."

"Fighting is part of being a comrade, but not the whole thing."

"Spending time together is one of them."

"Living together is also an option."

"Growing up together is also an option."

"What's this about being a burden or not?"

"There are other paths to success for Pokémon besides battling, aren't there?"

Jiang Chuan then turned to look at Pikachu beside him and said, "Besides, my team has quite a few gluttons, you know?"

Pikachu stretched out a little paw and pointed at the little Eevee next to it, meaning it was a glutton!

Little Eevee was rolling around in the grass when it saw Pikachu pointing at it. It tilted its head, puffed out its cheeks, and barked twice...

"Aren't you a foodie too? How dare you point that at me?"

Pikachu barked, indicating that it ate less than you.

The two little ones started pushing each other around, shouting and yelling, their voices rising and falling, sounding like they were arguing or being affectionate at the same time.

Jiang Chuan watched the two of them making a ruckus, and the corners of his mouth curved up again.

"See?"

"There are more than just one or two foodies in our team, and more than one or two people with big appetites."

"But look, they're all perfectly fine, aren't they?"

"Since you're such a good eater, you could totally be Hanako's helper. Try out the new foods and feeds she's researching, give her suggestions, and be our team's food connoisseur."

As Jiang Chuan finished speaking, he pointed to Hanako beside him.

Hanako was squatting on the shore, holding a bag of feed in her hand, when she was stunned when Jiang Chuan suddenly mentioned her name.

"Huh?"

Jiang Chuan turned his head to look at Hanako, his eyes smiling, and his tone somewhat formal.

"Hanako has been researching Pokémon food and kibble recipes, and she needs a Pokémon that's good at eating to taste them."

"And I just noticed she tried to touch you; she likes you too."

"Then, you can go with her. The two of you will be perfect partners in the food field."

"Let's work together and improve together on the path of Pokémon cuisine."

Hanako's eyes widened, and she almost dropped the feed bag in her hand.

She opened her mouth, her voice slightly stuttering.

"Jiang Chuan...you mean...you want me to subdue Hakron?"

"But... this is a Dragon-type Pokémon, so rare... you were the one who caught it... it's much more valuable than what we originally reserved."

Hanako's voice trembled slightly, and a warm feeling suddenly welled up in her eyes.

Dragonair, a Dragon-type Pokémon.

It is extremely rare in the entire Kanto region, and is something that countless trainers dream of.

If Jiang Chuan were to subdue them himself, it would be a huge boost to the strength of his team.

But he just casually gave it to himself.

It was only because when she saw Hakron earlier, there was a hint of longing in her eyes, and that was all.

Hanako was so moved she almost cried.

She bit her lower lip, her eyes were red, and her gaze towards Jiang Chuan was full of tears.

Besides emotion, there was something else in the shimmering water. Something she usually kept hidden in her heart, something she dared not reveal.

"Jiangchuan..."

Hanako's voice was soft, hoarse, and slightly nasal.

"You're so good to me..."

Jiang Chuan met Hanako's eyes, and the watery light in them made him pause for a moment.

Hanako's eyes were slightly upturned, and although she usually looked dignified, her reddened eyes added a touch of softness to her appearance.

Her lips were slightly parted, and her lower lip had a faint tooth mark from being bitten, making it rosy and somewhat alluring.

Jiang Chuan's gaze lingered on her face for a second before casually looking away.

Xiaoxia, watching this scene from the side, chuckled and said:

"Oh dear~ Hanako-nee~ she's about to cry~, this is the first time I've seen that~"

Hanako blushed even more after Xia said that. She quickly lowered her head and pretended to tidy her hair behind her ear, but the blush spread down her neck and even her collarbone was slightly pink.

"Xiaoxia, stop messing around. I'm just naturally sensitive about Jiang Chuan..."

Hanako's voice was soft and low, lacking any confidence.

Xia chuckled twice, walked over to Hua Zi, gently nudged her with her elbow, and whispered in her ear.

"Hanako-nee, your face is so red, it can't just be from being touched, right?"

Hanako's body swayed as she was poked, and she bit her lip and glared at Kasumi, but her eyes weren't fierce at all; instead, they showed a kind of embarrassment at being exposed.

Xiaoxia saw through it but didn't say anything, just chuckled and stepped back.

Jiang Chuan ignored their little antics and turned his head back to look at the Hakron in the water.

"What do you think, Hakron?"

The Mini Dragon also chimed in from the side.

It swam to its mother, nudged her chin with its little head, and called out, "Mommy, Mommy, let's go together!"

"Don't you always say it's dangerous here? I hear you say every day that there are a lot of bad people and trainers outside, and I'm worried about leaving you here alone."

"Let's go see what it's like outside, okay?"

The dwarf dragon's voice was soft and sweet, with a childlike coquettish tone. Its tail slapped against the water's surface, and its eyes sparkled as it looked at its mother.

"And Mom said there are lots of delicious things outside. Didn't you just try some? There must be even more and better things outside!"

When Hakron heard the word "delicious," its ears twitched slightly. The image of the honey-scented feed that Hanako had just held in her hand flashed through its mind.

It's really delicious.

I've been eating aquatic plants and ordinary tree fruits in this lake for thirty years, and I've never tasted anything like that before.

Haklong lowered his head, looking at his daughter's expectant eyes, and then at Jiang Chuan.

Then it looked at Hanako. This brown-haired woman had been looking at it with gentle eyes since earlier.

Her eyes were still red, and the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, giving herself a friendly and warm smile.

That smile made Hakron feel very relaxed.

"There's one more thing," Hakron silently added in his mind.

The woman named Hua Zi and the young man named Jiang Chuan seem to have a very close relationship.

If my daughter stays with Jiang Chuan, and I stay with Hua Zi, it's the same as being with my daughter all the time.

Hakron was silent for a few seconds, then raised his head and called out softly to Jiang Chuan and Hanako.

It nodded and said okay.

Xiaoxia was the first to react.

"Yay!! We've subdued them!! We've captured both the mother and daughter dragons!!"

Xiaoxia jumped up from the ground, raised her hands above her head, and cheered loudly.

"A Dratini and a Dragonair!! This trip to the Wild Area was such a steal! Nobody will believe it!!"

Xiaoxia's laughter echoed through the woods, startling a flock of fluffy birds that fluttered away.

She ran to Jiang Chuan's side, grabbed his arm, and pressed her body against him, feeling his soft, bouncy body.

"Jiang Chuan, you're amazing! You're practically a god! No one in the Wilderness has been able to catch a Dratini for so many years, and not only did you catch one yourself, but you also helped Hanako-nee catch a Dragonair!"

Xiaoxia's voice was full of admiration, and her eyes shone like little stars.

She was incredibly excited.

After all, one is my sister and the other is a man. From now on, she can touch these dragons as she pleases!

Hanako finally stepped forward, squatted by the water, and reached out her hand to Hakron.

Hakron looked at Hanako's hand, then at her eyes.

Hakron lowered his head and gently touched Hanako's fingertips with his forehead.

Hanako's eyes reddened again, her lips pressed into a thin line, desperately trying to hold back her tears.

Jiang Chuan walked to Hanako's side and took her hand.

"Subdue them."

Jiang Chuan held Hanako's hand, placed a field ball into her palm, and then helped her hold it tightly.

"It's willing to stay with you."

Hanako looked down at the field ball in her hand, then glanced at the Hakuryu in the water.

She took a deep breath and gently pressed the field ball onto Hakron's forehead.

The ball opened, a flash of red light. Hakuryu transformed into a beam of light and shrank into the ball, which dangled once, twice, three times in Hanako's hand—ding!

Hanako stared at the baseball in her hand, and tears finally streamed down her face.

"I've captured Hakron..."

Hanako's voice was so soft it sounded like she was talking to herself.

Xiaoxia jumped over and slapped Hanako on the back.

"Hanako-nee, why are you crying! This is a good thing! Cheer up!"

Hanako stumbled forward after being slapped, quickly wiped away her tears, and smiled through her tears.

"Yes, yes, I'm happy... happy..."

She held the baseball, the most precious treasure in the world that Jiang Chuan had given her.

After subduing them, Jiang Chuan and Hanako released both dragons so that the mother and daughter could have a good chat.

The Dragonair lowered its head and rubbed its nose against the Dratini's little head, calling out repeatedly in an incredibly gentle voice.

The dwarf dragon nuzzled against its mother's chin, and the sight of the two dragons snuggling together was so heartwarming that Hanako's tears, which she had just wiped away, welled up again.

Xiaoxia finished speaking with a smile, ran a few steps to Hakron's side, and reached out to touch the smooth scales on its neck.

Hakron narrowed his eyes slightly, but did not dodge.

It feels cool and smooth to the touch, like the feel of high-quality silk.

Xiaoxia chuckled and ran off to pet the Mini Dragon again.

The dwarf dragon squinted its eyes as she touched it, flicked its tail, and looked very pleased.

"Alright, let's go. The sun's about to set, it's time to head back." Jiang Chuan stood to the side for a while, then clapped his hands.

The three of them packed their things. Hanako packed up the remaining feed, and Kasumi slung her backpack over her shoulder, ready to leave.

Before leaving, Jiang Chuan looked back at the shore.

Caesar was still kneeling there. His knees were stuck in the mud, his whole body was covered in mud, his clothes were soaked and clung to his body, and his wig was askew, revealing sparse white hair underneath.

His eyes were empty, staring at the lake, his lips moving slightly as if he were saying something, but his voice was too low for anyone to hear.

From the moment Hakkar and Dratini were captured, Caesar was completely defeated.

What he had protected for thirty years was gone.

He thought he was a friend of the Mini Dragon, only to find that in the Mini Dragon's eyes he was a nuisance, a dangerous person, and the culprit who had kept it trapped for thirty years.

Jiang Chuan looked at Caesar's dejected appearance and remained silent for two seconds. Then he spoke, his voice not loud, but every word was clear.

"Mr. Caesar."

Caesar's shoulders twitched, but he did not look up.

"Protecting something isn't something that can be done just by having the will."

"You also need to be capable."

"To protect someone who is not capable enough is just a nuisance to others."

After Jiang Chuan finished speaking, he turned around and didn't look at Caesar again.

A dull thud came from behind me—the sound of a knee slamming into the mud.

Then came a muffled, hoarse sob, as if squeezed from the depths of a throat.

"After all these years... was it really just troublesome?"

Caesar's voice was broken and intermittent, as if something was choking him.

But no one replied to him anymore.

Jiang Chuan had already led Xiaoxia and Huazi out of the lakeside and through the woods they had come from; their footsteps gradually faded into the distance.

…………

On the way away from Lake Yamanaka, Hanako remained silent the entire way.

She kept her head down, clutching the field ball tightly to her chest with both hands, as if it were the most precious treasure in the world. The ball still carried a trace of the warmth from Hakron's forehead; she could feel it even through her clothes.

Xia walked beside her, tilted her head and glanced at her several times, and finally couldn't help but lean over and bump her shoulder into Hua Zi's arm.

"Hanako-nee~ Still grinning like an idiot?"

Hanako suddenly looked up, her face instantly turning red.

"I...I didn't laugh!"

"Your mouth is practically stretched to your ears, and you still say you're not smiling." Xiaoxia chuckled, reaching out to poke Hanako's cheek. "Tsk tsk tsk, you're this happy just because you tamed a Hakuryu. If Jiang Chuan gives you something nice in the future, you'll probably faint!"

Hanako was poked speechlessly; her lips moved, but she simply hugged the ball tighter.

She wasn't happy because of Hakron.

She did so because it was a gift from Jiang Chuan.

Jiang Chuan personally placed the ball into her palm.

Jiang Chuan held her hand and squeezed it tightly for her.

Hanako's heart started racing again. She secretly raised her eyes and glanced at Jiang Chuan walking ahead.

Jiang Chuan was carrying her forward, with Pikachu perched on his shoulder and Eevee hopping around his feet.

Sunlight shone from behind him, giving him a golden glow.

Hanako looked at that retreating figure, pursed her lips, and her eyes welled up with tears.

She quickly lowered her head, afraid that Xiaoxia would see her.

Xiaoxia had already seen it.

She raised an eyebrow, leaned close to Hanako's ear, and breathed warm air onto Hanako's earlobe.

"Hanako-nee, tell me honestly, is Jiang Chuan all you can think about right now?"

"Xia!" Hanako's voice trembled, her ears burning red. "Don't talk nonsense!"

"I'm talking nonsense?" Xiaoxia chuckled. "Then tell me, when Jiang Chuan passed you the ball just now, did your legs go weak?"

Hanako opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

Her legs did indeed go weak.

It wasn't just my legs that felt weak; my whole body felt weak.

Of course, there was something touching, but it was something else entirely.

Xia glanced at her and smiled meaningfully. She put her arm around Hanako's shoulder and whispered something in her ear.

Hanako's face turned completely red, burning from her cheeks all the way down to her neck, even her collarbone below her collar turned pink.

"W-how could you be like this…" Hanako stammered for a long time before finally managing to utter, "You're the one who wants to!"

"Yeah, that's what I want to do," Xiaoxia readily admitted, shrugging. "Anyway, we've already done it before~"

Hanako and Kasumi were talking enthusiastically in the back, while Jiangchuan was handling the aftermath in the front.

He took out his communicator from his backpack and dialed a number.

"Feed?"

A woman's voice came from the other end of the communicator; it was crisp, clear, and carried a sense of competence.