Pokémon: I picked up a reborn Eevee at the start of the game

It's Cynthia again... It's Cynthia again!

Karuni suddenly felt a little tired. She'd come all this way to this godforsaken place, and she hadn't mentioned that woman once...

This boy I just met is comparing himself to her again!

As trainers who debuted around the same time as Cynthia and made their mark in the World Youth Championships, the two are often compared.

Strength, appearance, achievements in side businesses... the two are very similar in many ways, and some even call Cynthia and Karune the twin beauties of the elf world.

But after the movie "Miare Holiday" became a hit, her fame in the entertainment industry soared, and Karen found that she was spending less and less time on training.

Even so, thanks to her extraordinary talent, her strength has continued to improve by leaps and bounds. Last year, she passed the league's gym-level assessment.

But... that woman, during the time she was lax, became the new champion of the Sinnoh region!

At first, Karuni could comfort herself by thinking that Karuni was a year older than her and it was normal for her to become the champion earlier.

But the Masters Tournament that opened a few days ago made her realize one thing: she had fallen too far behind that woman on the path of becoming a trainer.

So she naturally began to think about a question: should she give up and try to catch up?

When Karune saw Cynthia defeat Leon from the Galar region and stand atop the world on television yesterday, she realized her truest feelings—

They continued their journey on that long road with Gardevoir and the others.

For this, even the performing arts career that one loves is worth giving up.

Having made her decision, Karuni immediately decided to train in the Albil Mountains, the largest wilderness area in the Carlos region.

Next year's Luna Tournament, she will overcome all obstacles, achieve victory, and then challenge the Four Heavenly Kings to become champion and reach the pinnacle of Carlos.

Then... in the next Masters Tournament, I will challenge that woman.

She had already prepared herself to abandon all external trivialities and focus wholeheartedly on the training and experience.

But who would have thought that before her heart could fully settle down, she would be pulled up by this stranger she had just met.

…………

Karuni stared at the handsome young man with a dark expression. No wonder he was so good-looking; he must have traded his emotional intelligence for it.

She was inwardly complaining and was about to find an opportunity to say goodbye when she heard the young man in front of her sigh softly.

"I understand."

He said so.

What do you understand?

Karuni thought to herself, "With your emotional intelligence, please don't even think about comforting others!"

"Miss Karuni must also have this problem, right? Being endlessly compared to a complete stranger by those around her."

Karuni paused, and the words she was about to say goodbye remained on her lips.

He seems to... really understand me?

“I also have a similar comparison in Donghuang. Her name is Mingyi. We are about the same age, have similar strength, and even our appearances are equally outstanding.”

Xia Chen's face gradually became filled with sorrow. "From childhood to adulthood, I have never been able to compare with her. Although she never said anything, the strange looks from the people around me have always made me live in pain. So I left Donghuang and came here."

Eevee squinted at its dramatic trainer.

I learned most of my acting skills from him in my past life, and sure enough, I've recently started to awaken to them...

Ibu understands Xia Chen, but Karini doesn't. She looks at the melancholy boy with a sense of shared suffering, as if she sees another version of herself in the world.

Xia Chen abruptly changed the subject, saying, "But I came to Carlos not to escape, but to grow!"

He looked at Ibrahimovic with unwavering determination. "Although we are temporarily behind, our spirits have never been broken. Even in the face of difficulties, we will persevere and strive forward! Don't you agree, Ibrahimovic?"

"Bu...Bu-ee!"

Ibrahimovic twitched his lips and reluctantly cooperated with Xia Chen to finish the act.

…………

Karuni, however, did not notice Eevee's unusual behavior; she muttered to herself, repeating Xia Chen's words.

"Even if the journey is difficult and arduous... we must persevere and strive forward... How well said, Gardevoir, did you hear that?"

"Sana!"

Gardevoir responded to its trainer with sparkling eyes and nodded firmly.

Karuni turned to look at Xia Chen and said sincerely, "Thank you..."

"My name is Xia Chen."

The name "Tauro" almost slipped out, but thankfully Xia Chen stopped himself in time, preventing the legend of the Ultra Prince from being left in this world.

"Thank you, Xia Chen!" Karuni said again, expressing her gratitude sincerely.

After thinking for a moment, she handed over her phone. "Add Piplup, I'll send you my tips on raising Gardevoir when I get back."

Xia Chen was overjoyed and handed over the phone without any hesitation.

Who is Karuni?

The future champion of the Kalos region, and the world's most famous Gardevoir trainer.

Just like Garchomp is to Cynthia and Metagross is to Steven, when Gardevoir is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is Diantha.

This level of training experience for Pokémon is invaluable.

"Thank you. I believe you will become the best Gardevoir trainer in the world."

Hearing the handsome young man's sincere praise, Karuni's smile deepened.

She was about to say something modest when she saw Xia Chen staring at his Ralts in thought for a moment, and then she changed her words, saying, "I'm sorry, with my Ralts around, you can probably only rank second best."

"Ralts~" Ralts raised its little hand in response to Xia Chen's harsh words.

Karuni's face stiffened, then she suddenly burst out laughing.

She proudly raised her head, "I'll also give you this quote, the future second best Gardevoir trainer in the world."

She tapped Ralts' cheek with her finger again. "And you, little one, I hope that next time we meet, you'll be a big girl who doesn't have to sit on a trainer's shoulders anymore."

"Ralu..."

Can't I sit on Xia Chen's shoulders anymore...? Ralts's feelings were complicated. She couldn't tell whether she was looking forward to it or afraid of that day coming.

But it doesn't matter, as long as Xia Chen likes it, I can become whatever I want.

Chapter 124 Learning foreign languages ​​is great! I also want to learn another foreign language.

The encounter with the future champion was just a fleeting moment in their journey; after one night, the two continued on their respective paths.

After cycling north for two more days, a weary Xia Chen finally arrived at the first city on his journey, Xiangxun City.

If the Prism Tower is the landmark of Miare City, then this towering ancient tree, whose top Xia Chen can't even see when he looks up, is undoubtedly the symbol of Aroma City.

Aroma City is a city with a wonderful atmosphere, but its wonder does not lie in the tranquility it brings.

Conversely, the different colors of tea green and lemon yellow distributed on the grass in the city, and the pink and white wildflowers swaying in the wind everywhere, all fill the city with wonderful vitality.

Seeing Ralts and Vivado playing happily on the grass, and even Eevee, who usually finds them childish, joining in, Xia Chen keenly sensed that there was a strange atmosphere in Aroma City that made Pokémon lively and restless.

Obviously, it would be impossible to achieve such a significant effect simply by creating a beautiful streetscape.

Xia Chen looked thoughtfully at the tree in front of him, which was rumored to have existed for 1,500 years. Its origins must be extraordinary.

"Legend has it that over a thousand years ago, people were guided by this ancient tree and gathered to establish the Aroma City!"

A melodious voice, as sweet as a nightingale's, rang in Xia Chen's ears, so enchanting that it seemed to draw colorful butterflies from the flowerbeds into a fluttering dance.

Xia Chen turned his head and saw a woman dressed in a brightly colored long dress with extremely wide sleeves standing beside him.

Her butterfly-shaped dress made her figure appear extremely slender, and her long hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall.

The most captivating feature of her pretty face was her eyes. Her large, jet-black pupils, almost two-thirds the size of her eyes, exuded a bewitching beauty.

Undoubtedly, such striking features belong to Ma Xiu, the owner of the aromatherapy academy.

If I'm not mistaken, she is also the online friend I'm planning to meet in person [Fragrance Girl].

Xia Chen asked, "Miss Ma Xiu? Or rather, [Scented Girl]?"

Ma Xiu raised her sleeve to cover her mouth and chuckled, "You're even more handsome than you look in the video, Mr. Xia Chen."

…………

The atmosphere at the meeting wasn't as awkward as Xia Chen had imagined.

Although Ma Xiu's clothing style is somewhat unconventional, she is a great conversationalist, making people feel comfortable around her.

But Xia Chen knew that this was only the surface of Ma Xiu's personality. Compared to being with people, she preferred elves, and even wanted to become an elf because she liked them so much.

That is why she is one of the few characters in the animation who can communicate with elves in their language.

At that moment, Ma Xiu squatted down and greeted Yi Bu, who was standing at Xia Chen's feet.

"Bu Yi—(Nice to meet you, Master Yi~)"

Eevee, who had never been to the City of Fragrance in his previous life and had never had any contact with Ma Xiu, had an expression of disbelief on his face.

"Bu...Bu-i! (I...I can actually understand your Elvish!)"

Xia Chen, who was seeing shock on Eevee's face for the first time, was also a little surprised. Judging from Eevee's expression, Ma Xiu must really be able to speak Elvish.

Damn it, I wish I had that ability too!

This way, at least we can ask our own Pokémon why each of them possesses unique skills.

Hmm... wait a minute, the anime didn't say it was a superpower, so maybe it's something you can learn?

Xia Chen watched as Ma Xiu and Yi Bu chatted happily, and stroked his chin as he began to have some ideas.

No one knows what the human and the elf talked about, but after a while, a bright smile appeared on Ma Xiu's face, completely different from her standard business smile just now.

Looking at that genuine smile, Xia Chen understood a cruel truth.

It turns out that Ma Xiu didn't want to see herself, but rather Eevee!

…………