Elf: Rewriting the script, starting with Black Stocking Hanako

Xiao Mao's self-esteem had already been shattered by his grandfather's repeated comparisons with Jiang Chuan. Now that he finally had a chance to hold his head high, Jiang Chuan actually questioned his abilities.

Can this be tolerated?

Xiao Mao took a deep breath, puffed out his chest, and raised his chin almost to the same level as his forehead.

"ha!"

He let out a short, sharp laugh.

"Don't compare your level as a novice trainer to my strength."

Xiao Mao stretched out a finger, pointed at Jiang Chuan, and then pointed at himself, drawing an uneven arc in the air with his finger, meaning—you are on the ground, and I am in the sky.

"Watch closely."

He withdrew his finger, turned around, his back to Jiang Chuan, and then slightly tilted his head, revealing what he considered to be a very handsome profile.

"I will bring the green badge to you tomorrow."

After saying that, Xiao Mao waved his hand casually and walked towards his group of female cheerleaders.

His steps carried a sense of impending triumph, each step taken with extra force.

Walking up to the cheerleaders, Xiao Mao put his hands on his hips and said in a loud voice.

"Let's go back and get some rest."

He paused, as if remembering something, and then changed his words.

"Tomorrow morning, we'll take on the challenge..."

He stopped halfway through his sentence and shook his head.

"No, we can't use 'challenge'."

Xiao Mao raised his head again, his face bearing an expression that said, "I've already won."

"Let's crush the Evergreen Dojo."

The word "crush" was pronounced with particular emphasis.

Several female cheerleaders immediately let out a scream.

"Young Master Mao is so domineering!"

"Young Master Mao is the best!"

"We absolutely must go cheer for Young Master Mao tomorrow!"

Xiao Mao turned around amidst screams, gave Jiang Chuan one last look, and then swaggered away.

The cheerleaders behind him strode along, their long legs carrying them closely. Every now and then, they would turn around and glance at Jiang Chuan, whispering amongst themselves, their conversation a mystery.

After Xiao Mao's figure disappeared around the street corner, Xiao Xia finally couldn't hold back any longer.

She stomped her foot suddenly, and the ground shook.

"That arrogant young master!"

Xiaoxia's voice sounded like it was being squeezed out from between her teeth, each word dripping with anger.

"What's there to brag about!"

She clenched her fists and held them in front of her chest, her whole body trembling slightly with anger.

"I really want to see him defeated and utterly dejected!"

As Xiaoxia spoke, she stomped her foot again, her heel hitting the asphalt with a dull thud.

She turned to look at Jiang Chuan, about to continue complaining about Xiao Mao's various misdeeds, but then she froze.

Jiang Chuan, however, was smiling, the curve of his lips perfectly positioned.

Finally, he persuaded his good friend Shigeru to go and stir up trouble at the Viridian Dojo.

He was already planning the next steps in his mind.

Let Gary trigger Giovanni's Mewtwo incident first, then wait a day or two before challenging the Viridian Gym. By then, Mewtwo will most likely have escaped, Giovanni's Team Rocket will be in complete disarray, and the gym's defenses will be practically non-existent.

Without the unexpected factor of Mewtwo, I can completely control the difficulty of regular challenges at the Viridian Gym.

Then I'll easily get the green badge, complete the mission objectives, obtain the Charizard's Mega Evolution Stone, and then take Mega Charizard X to the Indigo League and dominate the competition.

Every step of this plan was meticulously executed.

And most importantly, Xiao Mao jumped into this pit willingly.

He not only jumped in himself, but also jumped in with a great deal of confidence and a sense of superiority.

When he challenges the Viridian Gym tomorrow, he will most likely run into Mewtwo.

Although Gary is quite strong, the outcome is obvious when facing a legendary Pokémon like Mewtwo.

Jiang Chuan was initially considering whether to remind Xiao Mao, but after thinking about it, he decided against it.

Anyway, Giovanni won't act too recklessly in the dojo.

Moreover, letting Xiao Mao experience some hardship is a good thing for his growth.

He had been pampered since childhood, which fostered his arrogant and disdainful nature. Being given a harsh lesson from reality before the Quartz Conference would actually help him realize his place in the world.

………………

Xiaoxia looked at the smile on Jiang Chuan's face and felt more and more uneasy.

She stepped forward, reached out and took Jiang Chuan's arm, leaned against him, and looked up at him.

Her cheeks were chubby, and her lips were slightly pouting, like a cat that had just been ruffled but was still a little resentful after someone had stroked it.

"Jiangchuan."

Her voice carried a hint of grievance and confusion.

"Why are you flattering that Xiao Mao like that? Look how arrogant he is!"

As Xiaoxia spoke, she glared again in the direction where Xiaomao had disappeared. Although there was no one there anymore, she still glared very hard.

Jiang Chuan looked down at Xiaoxia's sullen face and couldn't help but chuckle.

He raised his other hand, gently placing his palm on Xiaoxia's head, his fingertips running through her hair, and gently rubbing it a couple of times.

"It's okay, it's okay, don't be angry."

Jiang Chuan's voice was deep and gentle, a stark contrast to her earlier fierce tone.

As he rubbed her ear, he lowered his head slightly and leaned close to Xiaoxia's ear.

"If you want to see him fail and be dejected."

"We'll see it tomorrow."

Xiaoxia was stunned.

She tilted her head, looked up at Jiang Chuan, her eyes filled with confusion.

Her head was tilted slightly at an angle, and her big, round eyes made her look a little silly and cute.

"tomorrow?"

Xiaoxia repeated the word, then frowned slightly and pondered for two seconds.

"You mean he'll fail his challenge against the Viridian Dojo?"

As soon as she finished speaking, a shallow frown appeared between her brows.

"You mean what you just said was true? Is this Tokiwa Dojo really that difficult?"

The anger in Xiaoxia's voice was replaced by doubt.

Although she was carefree, she was quick-witted. She initially thought Jiang Chuan was deliberately feigning weakness to set a trap for Xiao Mao, but now, upon closer reflection—could everything Jiang Chuan said about the Tokiwa Gym be true?

If even Jiangchuan says it's difficult, then what kind of den of dragons and tigers is this Tokiwa Dojo?

Xiaoxia's expression changed from confusion to worry.

At this moment, Hanako, who had been standing quietly to the side, also stepped forward.

Hanako had been listening the whole time without interrupting. She was still holding the parasol in her hand, the handle gripped tightly in her palm, her fingertips slightly white, clearly from squeezing it a little too hard.

Although she wasn't particularly interested in the competition between Shigeru and Egawa, she remembered what Egawa had said about the Tokiwa Dojo.

Hanako walked to the other side of Jiangchuan, gently placed her hand on Jiangchuan's arm, her fingers slightly curled, the warmth of her fingertips passing through her sleeve.

She raised her face and looked at Jiang Chuan.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on her profile, casting a warm golden hue over her soft facial features.

Her eyes were filled with concern and worry.

"Jiangchuan."

Hanako's voice was much softer and gentler than Kasumi's, but every word carried genuine concern.

"Is the Viridian Dojo really that difficult?"

She tilted her head slightly, her gaze carefully scanning Jiang Chuan's face, as if searching for any clues she had overlooked.

"Will you encounter any problems when you take on the challenge?"

As Hanako spoke, she placed her other hand on Jiang Chuan's arm, gently gripping his arm as if afraid he might rush into the Tokiwa Dojo and fight someone to the death at any moment.

"This is your eighth badge at the Viridian Dojo."

Her voice was even lower, carrying the tenderness and worry of a loving wife helping her husband pack his luggage before he goes on a business trip.

"If we don't get it, we'll have to travel to many different places."

She paused, her brow furrowing slightly.

"If this wastes time, your pre-conference training time will be reduced, which will affect your preparation. What if that happens?"

Hanako's words were completely different from Kasumi's.

Xiaoxia was concerned about why Jiang Chuan complimented Xiao Mao, when Xiao Mao would be proven wrong, and whether she would see a good show tomorrow.

But Hanako only cared about one thing from beginning to end: Was Egawa alright?

She didn't care how many badges Gorilla had, how strong the Viridian Gym was, or how interesting tomorrow's events would be.

She only cares about one thing.

Will Jiang Chuan be able to obtain the eighth badge? Will he be able to participate in the Quartz Conference smoothly? Will the lack of time affect his special training?

This concern is pure and without any strings attached.

And Hanako's judgment is indeed very accurate.

She immediately hit the nail on the head—this was the eighth badge, the most important one. If they couldn't get it, they'd have to travel to other cities to find a gym, which would waste at least two weeks. With the Indigo League just around the corner, two weeks of crucial training time was too much of a price to pay.

Jiang Chuan looked down at the two women on his left and right.

Jiang Chuan looked around, then raised his arms, putting one arm around Hanako's shoulder and the other around Xiaoxia's slender waist.

"The Tokiwa Dojo is indeed challenging."

Jiang Chuan's voice was steady, carrying a reassuring certainty.

"After all, it's a high-level dojo."

He glanced at the two women, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"But I'm determined to get the badge."

His tone carried an undeniable confidence.

When he put his arm around her, most of Xiaoxia's earlier anger dissipated. The warmth of his hand burned her waist, her body stiffened slightly, then softened, and she leaned closer to him.

After he put his arm around her shoulder, Hanako's ears turned a faint pink. She lowered her head slightly, then raised it again, turning her face to look at him. The worry in her eyes was lessened considerably by his words.

"As for praising Shigeru, let him challenge the Viridian Gym."

Jiang Chuan smiled as he said this, a smile that carried a hint of cunning, a hint of calculation, and a touch of mystery that said, "You'll see what happens."

"It belongs to another little plan of mine."

His fingers tapped lightly on Hanako's shoulder twice, as if striking a certain rhythm.

"It's part of my special training, I guess."

After hearing this, Hanako and Jiangchuan exchanged a glance for a moment.

She saw that familiar, confident gleam in his eyes.

Hanako let out a soft breath, her shoulders relaxed, and she leaned closer to Jiang Chuan, her hair brushing against his chin, carrying a faint floral scent.

"It's good that you have confidence."

Her voice was very soft, like a petal falling on the water, creating only a very fine ripple.

Xiaoxia, who was standing next to her, finally understood what was going on.

Jiang Chuan was setting a trap for that arrogant Xiao Mao.

Although she didn't know the specifics of the pit, she trusted Jiang Chuan.

She nodded vigorously, her earlier fierce determination to fight Xiao Mao completely gone.

"Okay, that's good that you're confident!"

Xiaoxia's voice regained its usual vitality and crispness. She raised her hand and waved her fingers in the air, as if issuing some kind of battle order.

"Let's hurry up and eat dinner now, then get some rest!"

Her eyes lit up, sparkling with anticipation, a stark contrast to her earlier angry stomping.

"Let's get up early tomorrow and go to the Tokiwa Dojo!"

Her voice grew more and more excited as she spoke.

"I'm determined to see that arrogant little Mao get his comeuppance!"

After saying that, Xiaoxia quickly grabbed Jiang Chuan's wrist.

Although her hands were small, they were surprisingly strong, gripping Jiang Chuan's wrist like a pair of small pliers.

"Let's go, let's go!"

She shouted as she pulled Jiang Chuan forward, her legs moving incredibly fast, her skirt fluttering with each movement.

Jiang Chuan was pulled forward two steps by her, and with his other hand he took Hanako's hand.

His fingers slipped between hers, clasped tightly, and then he pulled her along, following in Xiaoxia's footsteps.

Hanako's heart skipped a beat when he took her hand. Her hand curled slightly in his palm, then she tightened her grip on his fingers and followed him.

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

The three people walked along the streets of Tokiwa City.

The sun had completely set, leaving only a sliver of orange-purple afterglow on the horizon, which was being gradually swallowed up by the deep blue night.

One by one, the streetlights lit up, their orange glow mingling with the warm white light emanating from the shops on both sides.

The automatic door of the convenience store opened and closed, and an office worker walked out carrying a plastic bag containing a bento box and canned coffee.

White steam rose from the oden stall on the street corner, and the salty aroma of the broth wafted on the wind, making people's stomachs rumble.

Xiaoxia walked in front, still holding Jiang Chuan's wrist, looking around as she went, searching for a suitable restaurant.

"That ramen shop looks good!"

She pointed to a shop with red lanterns hanging on it and shouted.

"No, no, the grilled skewers at izakayas are even better!"

She then pointed to the storefront on the other side.

"Never mind, let's go get some barbecue!"

After changing her mind for the third time, she simply dragged Jiang Chuan and rushed straight to a barbecue restaurant emitting white smoke.

Hanako, holding Jiangchuan's hand from behind, couldn't help but laugh as she watched Xia's energetic demeanor.

Xiaoxia abruptly lifted the curtain of the barbecue restaurant, and the tinkling of wind chimes filled the air, along with the rich aroma of grilled meat and the sweet scent of sauces.

The three people went into the store and sat down by the window.

Outside the window is the nighttime street scene of Tokiwa City, with neon lights flashing in various colors.

In the distance stood a tall black building with a scarlet light shining on its roof—that was the direction of the Tokiwa Dojo.

Jiang Chuan's gaze passed through the window and landed on that building.

Mewtwo, this creation that transcends time, if it weren't for the mission requirements, I would really like to have a go at it!