Kalos, Parfum Palace.
"Lady Mallow, are you preparing to depart for the Sinnoh region?" a geisha asked softly.
Before her, glossy black hair cascaded like a waterfall down to the woman's waist.
The woman's attire was strikingly eye-catching—resembling unfurled pink wings yet blending traditional kimono elements with modern fashion.
Mallow turned around in her tall wooden sandals, bright eyes peeking over her sleeve as she smiled: "Yes, Mr. Wallace has introduced me to a coordination master."
The geisha seemed to realize something and said respectfully:
"Is it the fashion designer from Kizuna City, Miss Melisa?"
Mallow gently shook her head, the long ear-like hair ornaments swaying: "It's Mr. Lu Ye from White Poplar Town—someone on par with Mr. Wallace."
Instantly, the entire Parfum Palace fell so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Maintaining her professional smile, Mallow hid her face behind her long sleeve:
"That champion who faced the Temporal-Spatial Twin Dragons... Teacher Lu..."
A wave of hushed exclamations arose.
Mallow's gaze swept over the blushing cheeks of these girls at the age of budding romance.
Between Wallace's elegant performances, Steven's handsome looks and wealth... Teacher Lu held equally high popularity.
And among male fans, his self-made games and casual tournaments made him feel more relatable.
Mallow suddenly felt curious about meeting this legendary Teacher Lu.
"Lady Mallow, your luggage is ready," another geisha whispered.
Nodding gently, Mallow spoke softly:
"To Sinnoh first... then back to Ecruteak City in Johto..."
The geishas who had come from Ecruteak to Kalos could now briefly reunite with their families—
Though the time would be short, it was enough to fill them with gratitude.
Kimono-clad girls knelt in unison, fabric rustling as they bowed to Mallow.
Her faint smile remained, eyes shimmering slightly.
The weight I carry isn't mine alone.
There's this Parfum Palace... my duty as Fairy-type Gym Leader... Ecruteak's history...
The cherry blossom groves near Masago Town were in full bloom, painting the landscape in swathes of pink.
Lu Ye adjusted his breathing during a leisurely morning jog with his Arcanine, exchanging greetings with townsfolk along the way.
At a fork in the road, he encountered the silver-haired, mustachioed Professor Rowan—not in his lab coat but a tank top showing off muscular arms, with a sweat towel draped over his shoulder:
"Morning run?" Professor Rowan asked.
"Together then." With that, the professor increased his pace, quickly taking the lead.
After a stunned pause, Lu Ye grinned:
"Don't say I'm bullying an old man!"
Catching up instantly, he left the wide-eyed professor struggling in vain to keep up.
"C-can't... run anymore!"
"What... was... that?" Lu Ye shouted from a distant hilltop.
Professor Rowan: "...No sportsmanship!"
By an old bus stop sign, a coach slowly passed by.
Wiping his sweat, the professor accepted the water bottle Lu Ye offered: "Ah, thanks."
"No problem, just ask Haunter if you need more."
"Gengarrr! (￣▽￣)／" Haunter waved from inside a vending machine, arms submerged.
Professor Rowan: "...Isn't that stealing?"
"I-isn't it?" The professor hesitated.
"Must be your eyes playing tricks—that's just Double Team."
Blinking blankly, the professor unscrewed the cap and took a sip:
"Have you finalized your conference paper?"
Surprised, Rowan said: "But I saw your and Cynthia's names on the group list?"
Patting Lu Ye's shoulder, the professor chuckled:
"Youthful matters—I understand... Besides, I helped bring you two together."
He even winked, the playful gesture oddly jarring on his stern, wrinkled face.
Lu Ye coughed awkwardly: "You... knew?"
"Wondered why you suddenly came to Sinnoh," Rowan snorted. "All my previous invitations you declined, yet the moment Cynthia went to Shanghai, here you are!"
"Do you really think I'm like that?" Lu Ye said solemnly.
The professor paused, opening his mouth to say he'd been joking—
"You read me perfectly!" Lu Ye laughed.
Professor Rowan: "..."
Watching the professor stomp off in the wrong direction, Lu Ye called out:
"Doc, wrong way—the lab's over there!"
"How do you know the layout better than me?"
"Coming back this afternoon for training," Lu Ye grinned. "Maybe tell the rangers to expect me...?"
Rowan side-eyed him: "Just don't cause damage."
Lu Ye thumped his chest: "No problem!"
The afternoon would involve tactical drills simulating "Rain Dance + Perish Song" strategies.
With the Pokémon: Battle version update introducing Dynamax, Lu Ye wondered how his skills would translate.
"Did Leon bribe Devon Corp? Instead of buffing Steven's unbeatable Mega Metagross, they powered up Leon's Dynamax Charizard?"
Puzzled at first, realization struck: "Ah... Leon's broke. Never mind."
Another possibility—Leon had signed as Devon's spokesperson to promote Pokémon: Battle in Galar.
To help Galarian trainers adapt, Dynamax became the first major update.
As for why a certain tactical streamer—neither the company heir nor a sponsored creator—got nerfed?
Well... Dynamax fundamentally disrupted battle tactics, reducing matches to pure power struggles where strategy mattered little—
A reason many trainers disliked it compared to Mega Evolution.
Teacher Lu didn't mind though—
Dynamax moves never miss... and Ally Switch still hasn't been patched out!
"Test the waters with A-Jin first, then restart the stream," Lu Ye mused cheerfully. "Game profits aside, can't neglect my roots!"
Perfect chance to promote his upcoming Pocket Monsters game through Pokémon: Battle.
This move? The ultimate cross-promotion—a top streamer shilling for "rivals"!
Returning home, he found the plump Delibird messenger at his door again.
The "penguin" glanced at Lu Ye before waddling away with its sack.
Scratching his head, Lu Ye unfolded the letter—
A metallic object clinked out, making him pause.
[Relic Badge: Resembling three ghostly flames, proof of victory at Kizuna Gym. (When ghost fires burn, _____)]
The letter explained Melisa's absence during White Poplar's crisis and included both an apology and the long-overdue badge.
"Just... three more badges left?"
Frowning, Lu Ye felt an ominous premonition—
Shaking it off, he headed inside when an unknown number called.
"Teacher Lu?" A gentle female voice asked.
"No insurance, thanks."
A pause. "I'm from Parfum City, Kalos—"
"Not interested in real estate either." Lu Ye suddenly added: "Actually, lend me 100K? Triple returns after appreciation!"
The sound of shattered expectations.
Mallow opened her mouth, flushed and speechless before finally whispering: