Elf: Rewriting the script, starting with Black Stocking Hanako

The day's intensive training yielded substantial results.

Binu City is a tourist city after all, and the wild Pokémon in the sea are completely different from those in ordinary cities with gyms.

Those guys haven't been toughened up by society, so when they see a trainer's Pokémon, they don't run away. Instead, they rush towards it head-on, and some even actively jump out from the crevices of the rocks to fight.

Jiang Chuan stood on the shore, with the waveguide running the entire time, and the command and dispatch never stopped.

Blastoise spearheaded the attack, taking down wild Pokémon one by one with its water cannon, sending them flying far away. Kingdra circled at mid-range, alternating between Dragon Breath and Bubble Beam, specifically targeting those attempting to flank. Krabby was the most active in the reef area, its pincers crushing the shells of countless shell-type Pokémon.

Jiang Chuan called the three elves back just as the sun was about to set.

Jiang Chuan nodded in satisfaction and put the Pokémon into his Pokémon. He planned to stay in Piru City for a week; at this rate of leveling up, the gains would be substantial.

Evening comes quickly at the seaside. The sun presses down on the sea level, dyeing the entire sea orange-red, and even the waves look like they are churning on fire.

Xiaoxia and Hanako played in the shallow water all afternoon. Pikachu and Eevee took turns lying on the float and pushing Togepi around. In the end, all three little guys were exhausted and lay on the beach, their fur wet and clinging to their bodies, not moving at all.

We had a seafood feast for dinner.

Behind the wooden cabin was the chef, who set up a grill right on the beach. Prawns, scallops, squid, sea urchins, and a whole freshly caught sea bass were brushed with sauce, grilled over charcoal, and the aroma mingled with the sea breeze.

Xiaoxia's mouth was glistening with oil as she ate, a skewer in each hand, and she even tried to snatch a piece of grilled fish from Eevee. Pikachu was gnawing on a scallop bigger than its face, its cheeks bulging out. Togepi couldn't chew it, so it sat on Hanako's lap, taking small bites of the shrimp pieces Hanako fed it.

Jiang Chuan opened two bottles of ice-cold beer and leaned back in his chair to drink them slowly.

The sea breeze was cool, and the charcoal fire on the table reflected the faces of the two women.

Hanako wore a sheer blouse over her swimsuit, and the white swimsuit underneath was still damp with water stains.

Xiaoxia simply wrapped a large bath towel around her waist, still wearing her light blue bikini top, with the shoulder straps slipping down a bit, but she didn't seem to care.

Jiang Chuan's gaze lingered for a moment on the two thin straps at Xiaoxia's lower back, then moved away.

As night deepened, Hanako took the three little ones back to the house to take a bath. The lights in the wooden house came on, casting a warm yellow glow through the windows.

Xiaoxia lingered on the beach, refusing to leave. She lay sprawled on a deck chair, her legs dangling back and forth, humming softly. Jiang Chuan sat down next to her, but she didn't turn around; instead, she buried her face in her arms, her voice muffled.

"Jiang Chuan, I had so much fun today!"

"Um."

"The seawater feels so good... the sand is so soft... and the grilled shrimp tonight is so delicious..."

Her voice grew softer and softer as she spoke, carrying a hint of drowsiness and a touch of lazy coquetry.

Jiang Chuan reached out and hooked his fingertips around the thin bikini strap at the back of her neck. Xiaoxia's shoulders trembled slightly, but she didn't flinch.

"Have you forgotten how you provoked me during the day?" Jiang Chuan's voice was low, revealing no emotion.

Xiaoxia's nape slowly flushed red, and she turned her head with a grin, saying, "I...I didn't, did I..."

"No?" Jiang Chuan's fingers slid down the thin rope, across her spine, and landed in the hollow of her lower back, where he gently pressed.

Xiaoxia's breathing immediately became erratic.

The sea breeze blew from the side, carrying the sound of the rising tide at night, lapping against the beach one wave after another.

The lights from the cabin shone from behind, casting the shadows of the two people onto the sand.

Jiang Chuan leaned down and whispered something in Xiaoxia's ear.

Xiaoxia's earlobes were so red they looked like they were about to bleed, and her hands were gripping the edge of the recliner so tightly that her knuckles were white.

What happened next, only the sea and the lamp know.

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

The next morning, Xiaoxia indeed behaved herself.

For the first time ever, she didn't come to play with Jiang Chuan, nor did she jump and make a ruckus on the beach like the day before. At breakfast, she sat across from him at the table, sipping her porridge slowly, her eyes occasionally glancing towards Jiang Chuan, but immediately lowering her head when their eyes met, her ear tips turning red. Her legs were pressed tightly together, her posture as dignified as a lady attending a tea ceremony class.

Jiang Chuan found it amusing, but didn't show it on his face, simply finishing his breakfast slowly. Hanako, confused, asked Xia with concern if her skin was bothering her because of the sun exposure yesterday. Xia waved her hands repeatedly, her voice even softer than usual.

"It's okay, it's okay, Hanako-nee, I... I'm just a little tired."

"So we're not going to the beach with Jiangchuan today?" Hanako asked.

"No, no, I'm not going." Xia shook her head vigorously. "I'm taking a day off. Hmm...yes, a day off. Let's go shopping, Hanako-nee, stay away from that bad guy."

Hanako gently replied with an "okay".

So Xiaoxia and Hanako went shopping.

The commercial street in Binu is not far from the beach. A ten-minute walk along the main road will take you to rows of small shops with colorful roofs. There are shops selling swimwear, seashell handicrafts, fruit smoothies, and a few dessert shops that look like popular Instagrammable spots.

Xia couldn't take her eyes off the first swimsuit store she entered; she plunged in headfirst, trying on and selecting items, and finally came out carrying two bags. Hanako, on the other hand, picked out a string of seashell wind chimes in a handmade jewelry store, saying she would hang them at the entrance of her wooden house.

The two spent the afternoon shopping, and when they returned, Xiaoxia was still holding a box of macarons. When she saw Jiang Chuan, her expression was more natural than yesterday, but she still lacked that fierce and aggressive demeanor and was quite well-behaved.

Jiang Chuan didn't expose her, and smiled, saying, "Looks like you're recovering well."

Xiaoxia glared at him, but her gaze was soft and gentle, without any threat whatsoever.

On the third day of the special training, Jiang Chuan decided to take a half-day break to do what Professor Oak had asked him to do.

The three of them tidied up quickly and went out.

The sea breeze in Binu City was much wetter than in Pallet Town. As we drove along, the buildings outside the window became increasingly sparse, and finally we turned onto a small road by the sea. The Nishino Mori Research Institute was built on a slope at the end of the road, covering a considerable area. With its white exterior walls and light blue roof, it looked more like a seaside villa.

"People who do research are rich." Xiaoxia looked out the car window and couldn't help but click her tongue. "I think I'll go get a research license someday."

"Do you have the patience for that kind of research?" Jiang Chuan teased.

"I can take care of feeding the elves," Xiaoxia said confidently.

The car stopped in front of the research institute, and the three of them got out and rang the doorbell. A moment later, the door opened from the inside, and a chubby little old man with half-bald hair, wearing a white coat, came out. His face was fleshy, but his features were quite kind, except that when he smiled, his eyes behind his glasses narrowed into slits.

"Who are you looking for?" He glanced at the three of them.

Jiang Chuan stepped forward: "Professor Nishinomori, hello. I was introduced by Dr. Oki. My name is Jiang Chuan. We communicated before."

Upon hearing the name "Professor Oki," Professor Nishino's eyes lit up. Then, upon hearing the name "Egawa," his mouth opened as if he had suddenly remembered something.

"Hey! It's Jiang Chuan!" He slapped his thigh excitedly, took two steps forward, and gave Jiang Chuan a big hug, his chubby arms encircling him firmly. "Professor Oak has told me about you several times! He said you're not only skilled at training Pokémon, but also have great talent in Pokémon research! Amazing, amazing! And now that I see you, you really are a handsome and talented person!"

Their enthusiastic display startled both Hanako and Kasumi. Hanako covered her mouth, laughing as she took a half-step back. Kasumi, on the other hand, moved closer to Hanako and whispered, "Why are all these old research professors so easily startled..."

Hanako smiled gently, turned to look at Jiang Chuan, her gaze as soft as water: "Perhaps it's because our Jiang Chuan is too outstanding."

Xiaoxia tilted her head and pouted, "Sister Huazi, you always flatter him like this, he's going to get all high and mighty."

Hanako didn't reply, she just smiled, her eyes filled with nothing but Jiang Chuan.

She doesn't understand, and is too lazy to understand, the subtle arrogance and flirting of young people.

All she knew was that she thought Jiang Chuan was good in every way, from head to toe, so good that she couldn't hide it.

After Professor Nishino Mori released him, Jiang Chuan coughed lightly, straightened his clothes, and said naturally, "Professor, you're too kind."

"Come on, come on, let's go inside and talk!" Professor Nishino Mori warmly invited the three of them inside.

The institute's interior appeared larger than its exterior. The corridors were spacious, lined with various certificates and old photographs, and glass cabinets against the walls displayed numerous elf fossils and models. A faint smell of disinfectant lingered in the air, mingled with a gentle sea breeze drifting in through the half-open windows.

Jiang Chuan handed the data prepared by Professor Oak to Nishino Mori. The fat old man took it and flipped through a few pages, his brows sometimes furrowing and sometimes relaxing, muttering to himself, "Hmm...yes...this data is interesting," completely absorbed in his own rhythm.

After a long while, he finally looked up, took off his glasses, and wiped them.

"That question you just asked, about why Slowpoke needs Shellder to evolve... tsk, I've been struggling with that lately too." Professor Nishino stood up and beckoned to the three of them, "Come on, let me show you something."

He led the three of them through a corridor leading to the back of the research institute, and they arrived at a huge glass wall.

Beyond the glass wall lies a semi-enclosed rocky bay. The water is shallow, its bottom covered with rocks of varying sizes, where waves crash and break into white foam. A sea breeze, carrying a salty, damp scent, blows in through the ventilation openings beneath the glass wall.

A pink and delicate creature lay motionless on a rock. Its limbs were outstretched, its tail dipped into the water, its mouth slightly open, and its eyes glazed over.

Xiaoxia's eyes lit up immediately: "Wow, Slowpoke!"

Professor Nishino Mori nodded, pressed a button on the wall, and a glass door on the side slowly slid open, revealing a path leading to the rocky beach.

"Let's go in and take a look." The fat old man walked slowly down the path with his hands behind his back. "It has a very good temper and won't run away."

The three followed each other out. The rocky beach was uneven, and Xiaoxia, wearing sandals, walked carefully, with Huazi supporting her arm. Jiang Chuan, with his hands in his pockets, walked steadily in front.

Near the shore, Slowpoke had moved to the water's edge. It sat on the ground, legs apart, tail submerged in the shallow water, the tip of its tail swaying gently, its eyes half-open and half-closed.

Xiaoxia tilted her head and stared at it for a while, then couldn't help but laugh: "Slowpoke, Slowpoke, what a fitting name! Look at its expression, it's just as silly as Psyduck!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the Poké Ball hanging from her waist suddenly wobbled. Before she could react, a flash of white light appeared, and Psyduck had already run out on its own.

It stood in front of Xiaoxia, tilted its head and made a "ga" sound, its expression exactly the same as the Slowpoke next to it.

Xiaoxia looked down at Psyduck speechlessly: "Hey, why are you out here again? What, can you figure out how to defeat Slowpoke?"

Psyduck stiffly turned around and slowly walked towards Slowpoke. It walked extremely slowly, each step as if it were contemplating life, its short tail swaying behind it.

Xiaoxia's eyes suddenly lit up: "Hmm? Psyduck went over there. It actually has a way?"

Psyduck walked up to Slowpoke and stopped. Slowpoke also turned its head and looked at Psyduck.

The two elves faced each other, one made a "ga" sound, and the other opened its mouth and also made a sound.

"Gah."

"Do..."

"quack."

"Do...Do."

The two sprites called out to each other, their voices echoing across the rocky beach. Coupled with their identical blank expressions, the scene was inexplicably harmonious yet inexplicably absurd.

After shouting for most of the day, no conclusion was reached.

Psyduck got tired of quacking and plopped down next to Slowpoke. Slowpoke also yawned slightly, its tail continuing to circle in the water.

Xiaoxia's anticipation gradually faded, and she finally gave a dry laugh: "Heh... what was I expecting... why would I believe in Psyduck?"

She stood on the reef, looking down at the two elves standing side by side in a daze. Suddenly, her eyes lit up, as if she had thought of something.

"Hey, Jiang Chuan."

She turned her head, her face bearing a deliberately mysterious expression, with a hint of mischief still lingering in her eyes.

"This Slowpoke seems unusual. Look at its expression, so mysterious and profound, it must be hiding some big secret."

Jiang Chuan raised an eyebrow but didn't reply, waiting for her to continue.

Xiaoxia cleared her throat and said seriously, "Do you want to tame it? I think it's a perfect match for you."

Jiang Chuan smiled and looked at her with interest: "Where are you even worthy?"

"Well... that's kind of silly." Xiaoxia blinked. "Don't you usually study all those superpowers and abilities?"

"You told me before that Psyduck is so clumsy because it has too many superpowers, right?"

"Slowpoke is always spacing out; maybe it's pondering some profound things. If you capture it, who knows what legendary encounter might occur."

Because Jiang Chuan had used some mysterious and enigmatic tone to trick her into catching Psyduck last time, she wanted to use the same tone to trick Jiang Chuan into catching a silly Pokémon as well.

That way, I won't be the only one being laughed at; I can stay with Jiang Chuan then!

Thinking of this, Xiaoxia couldn't help but smile...