Pokémon, Ash's art style is off!

Beside them, the severed shadow had already swum along the fence of the training ground into the depths of the backyard.

It stopped at the edge of the open-air training field.

In the center of the field, Ash was squatting on the ground, drawing something in the mud with a twig.

Gengar squatted opposite him, gesturing with its short arms, while Pikachu chimed in every now and then.

A corner of the shadow peeked out quietly.

Using the shadow as a springboard, it leaped directly into Gengar's shadow.

"Gag?"

Gengar shuddered and suddenly froze.

Ash: "...Didn't you understand? Shall I explain it again?"

He scratched his head, feeling a bit of a headache.

He had specifically discussed this explanation with the PhD, and the wording had been streamlined to the point of being extremely concise.

"Pikachu~"

Upon hearing this, Pikachu shook its little head, patted Gengar, and looked like a wise old man who had experienced many vicissitudes of life.

Young people still need to practice.

It doesn't look like a mouse at all; you'll understand after just one listen!

Gengar waved its short arms, frowned, and looked around.

It wasn't that it didn't understand; it's just that for a moment, a chill suddenly ran down its back, as if something wanted to ambush it...

Wait, a sneak attack?

Thinking of this, it turned its head and looked at the Charizard practicing its starting speed against the dummy not far away.

Gengar narrowed its eyes.

"Gag!"

you!

It's you!

Are you up to some wicked idea again?

It is, after all, a fire-breathing dragon.

If there's anything you can't understand, just blame it!

Charizard slowly turned its head and glanced at Gengar.

His eyes were full of disdain.

"Roar!"

If I really wanted to mess with you, you wouldn't have had the chance to yell at me.

They've had their claws on them for ages!

The Pokémon present were silent for a moment, then nodded in unison.

Well-reasoned and supported by evidence!

That's well-reasoned and supported by evidence!

After all, Charizard never disappoints when it comes to Dragon quality!

........

As night fell, the lights of the athletes' village swayed gently in the evening breeze.

At this moment, Ash's room was bustling with activity.

Not only was the dining table filled with Hanako's signature dishes, but even the plates for the Pokémon, each with its own unique flavor, were overflowing.

Hanako picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks and put it into Satoshi's bowl.

"Eat more, you must be tired from the competition~ Speaking of which, is Ah Hong leaving today?"

Xiao Zhi's mouth was stuffed full. He mumbled an "Mmm" and swallowed hard before speaking.

"He said he had to rush to the next game and didn't even have time for lunch."

"But Ahong will definitely be fine, his Charizard is very strong!"

"Pikachu~"

Pikachu looked up and commented as well.

That's true, but that mouse isn't as strong as me.

Xiao Gang sat opposite him, poking at the rice grains in his bowl with his chopsticks, his eyes vacant, as if his soul had been taken away.

"Teacher Gang, what's wrong?" Xiao Zhi asked curiously, "The food is getting cold."

"Ugh!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Gang let out a heavy sigh.

"Don't even mention it, I spent ages with Nurse Joy at the Pokémon Center today..."

"This...this is pretty good, isn't it?"

...For Mr. Xiaogang...

Lillie blinked, puzzled.

"That's it!"

"But I just saw the news, Lorelei! Lorelei spawned near the training grounds today!"

"Just as I was busy moving the medicine box!"

He looked heartbroken.

"That's Lorelei, the Queen of Pop! I've always wanted to see her in person... but I missed it again!"

"Pikachu?"

Pikachu lifted its shiny little face from the bowl, puffed out its cheeks, and let out a shout.

Xiao Zhi scratched his head.

"Oh, Teacher Gang, you mean Elite Four member Lorelei? Actually, I met Pikachu today."

".......What did you say?"

Xiao Gang froze instantly.

"She's over at our training ground," Ash said calmly. "After you and we split up this afternoon, I took Pikachu and the others to practice tactics."

"Then Kona was nearby, and I even said hello to her."

He thought for a moment, then added another sentence.

"Oh, right, Brother Du and Brother Shiba are here too."

"But I was entangled with a lot of people and couldn't get away."

Two out of the four ran away, both at the last minute.

Therefore, the cloak's physical cloaking ability is quite remarkable.

Xiao Gang slowly turned his head, his narrowed eyes filled with shock, indignation, and jealousy as he stared at Xiao Zhi.

"You...I...Oh dear!" He exclaimed, his face contorted with grief and despair. "It's truly a case of heaven being jealous of talent, and fate playing cruel tricks on us!"

"It's your fault for not going," Xiaoxia added. "If you had just followed Xiaozhi, you would have seen him twice."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Gang felt even more distressed.

"Oh right, Teacher Gang, I forgot to give you this."

Seeing that Xiao Gang was almost petrified, Xiao Zhi seemed to remember something. He put down his bowl, took something out of his pocket, and handed it over casually.

Xiao Gang glanced at it, and then sat up straight in an instant.

That's an autographed photo!

Xiao Gang presented it with both hands, his voice trembling as he asked.

"This, this, this is—"

"It's Lorelei's autographed photo," Ash said casually while eating. "I asked her if she could sign one, and she was really nice, so she just signed it for me."

"Xiao Zhi—!" Xiao Gang grabbed Xiao Zhi's shoulder. "From today onwards, you are my half-brother!"

"From now on, I'll cook whatever you want to eat! I'll cook whatever time you want to eat! And whatever you want to..."

"Wait a minute, why does this photo look so familiar?"

This style...it looks like a photo from my own album!

"Really? Pikachu just gave it to me."

Xiao Zhi said casually.

"Oh, by the way, when Kona asked me how I got this photo, I specifically mentioned your name to her..."

"Pickup!"

Pikachu patted Brock.

The hamster found this in your house, you don't need to thank the hamster!

"...Even after Kona found out you were a fan of hers, she was very concerned about you and told you to be careful lately."

Xiao Gang's smile froze on his face.

..........

As night deepened, the group helped Hanako clear away the dishes and then went their separate ways to rest.

Ash and Pikachu snuggled under the covers and soon drifted off to sleep.

But Gengar secretly slipped out of the Poké Ball.