Pokémon: Start with an Admiral Crab!

"The Golden City Pokémon Appraisal Exam is this week..."

Wang Yao picked up a Pokémon appraisal exam schedule from Shizuka's desk.

The exam date above was circled by Shizuka in red.

"But even if you can pass the test, it will be difficult for you to get a good ranking in the conference..."

Wang Yao looked at the furnishings in Shizuka's room and said in a low voice.

Shizuka's only Pokémon is Chansey... Even if you count Owl, it's probably going to be hard for her to make it to the preliminaries.

There is not much meaning in taking the appraisal exam to qualify for the Quartz Conference.

After thinking for a moment, Wang Yao folded the exam schedule, put it in his pocket, walked out of the room, and then closed the door again.

"Haah~"

"Ms. Min Jiang, what was making so much noise just now..."

Xiao Feng walked down from the second floor yawning.

For some unknown reason, she suddenly suffered from insomnia last night... and didn't fall asleep until two in the morning.

Xiao Feng, who was awakened by the sound of the helicopter, was still a little groggy.

"You didn't just wake up - it's already half past ten!"

Wang Yao glanced at the communicator on his wrist, which showed the current time.

"Ayao!"

Xiao Feng was startled instantly.

Then I realized that I hadn’t combed my hair, washed my face, or brushed my teeth after getting up... I looked so unkempt!

Whoosh! ∑(??д??lll)

Leaving an afterimage behind, Xiao Feng instantly returned to the guest room on the second floor.

……

Ten minutes later, Xiao Feng, who had finished washing up, came down from the second floor dragging her luggage.

"..."

Xiao Feng kept his head down the whole time, looking as if he had lost all hope in life. He had completely lost the high spirits he had during the video call yesterday.

"Give!"

Wang Yao handed over a bag of chicken sandwiches.

This was made by Miss Min Jiang.

He also had a similar sandwich in his hand - to be honest, it tasted better than Shizuka's.

Min Jiang uses more precise amounts of sauce, and the stacking of lettuce, tomatoes and steaks is more neat and beautiful.

It is obvious that the other party was more attentive when making it.

Wang Yao is a gourmet and he won't lie about this.

"Um...thank you."

Xiao Feng took the sandwich, tore open the package, put it in his mouth, and chewed it in small bites.

"After we eat, let's go to Golden City together - but before the gym match, I have to go find someone."

Wang Yao took a bite of his sandwich and was not in a hurry to leave.

"Oh."

Xiao Feng nodded after listening, and didn't care who Wang Yao was going to look for.

Not to mention, this sandwich is pretty delicious... If she had known, she would have ordered one to try yesterday.

"By the way, let your Articuno out for me to see later."

Wang Yao swallowed his food, stood up and poured himself a glass of water from the water dispenser in the corner.

"Oh……"

Xiao Feng didn't react to what Wang Yao said for a moment.

"Um--!?"

"Ahem--ahem--ahem!"

But the next second, Xiao Feng, who reacted quickly, almost choked to death.

He snatched Wang Yao's water cup and drank it all in one gulp.

“Hoo! Alive!”

Putting down the cup, Xiao Feng breathed a sigh of relief.

"——How do you know that!?"

"I clearly didn't say that on the phone!"

Xiao Feng questioned Wang Yao loudly.

"…All the good citizens of Kanto know that someone used Articuno to challenge the Leaf Gym yesterday, okay?"

Wang Yao calmly poured himself another glass of water.

"Ah? Why is this happening..."

Xiao Feng raised one hand to support his head and sat down, not knowing how to describe his current mood.

"No - I won't show it to you!"

After thinking for two seconds with his brain working at high speed, Xiao Feng felt that he should still keep some mystery for his Articuno.

"If I'm not mistaken... when we get to the Golden Gym, you'll send out Articuno again, right?"

Wang Yao asked slowly.

"Yes... so what!"

Xiao Feng's face turned red all the way to her neck because of what Wang Yao said.

"Okay, don't be so stingy~"

Wang Yao said in a coaxing tone.

"…I just treated you to a sandwich!"

"In exchange, let me see Articuno. Isn't that reasonable?"

"..."

Xiao Feng looked at the half-eaten chicken sandwich in his hand and was stunned.

Can this be considered a favor?

"Oh, all right, all right!"

Xiao Feng had no choice but to surrender.

"Really? That's the legendary Articuno - you better straighten your attitude!"

Xiao Feng was speechless when Wang Yao asked her to release Articuno in exchange for a sandwich.

After finishing the rest of the sandwich in a few bites, Xiao Feng and Wang Yao came to the backyard of the Pokémon Center.

"Look carefully—this is the legendary divine bird!"

Xiao Feng's nose is almost up to the sky.

"Ordinary people only get to see this once in their lifetime, so you're lucky this time!"

biu——!

As Xiao Feng finished her boastful words, a red light emerged from the Poké Ball in her hand and instantly condensed into an ice-blue figure in the open space.

“Mm——!”

Articuno spread its wings and a gust of cold wind blew instantly.

The temperature in the entire backyard dropped by several degrees in an instant, and it was as comfortable as staying in an air-conditioned room in summer.

After coming out of the Poké Ball, Articuno chirped, stretched out its wings, then retracted them and stood quietly in place.

"It doesn't seem to be very close to you... How do you command Articuno to fight?"

Wang Yao elbowed Xiao Feng.

"Who said we're not close anymore? Articuno and I have a great relationship!"

Xiao Feng slapped Wang Yao's elbow away and walked to Articuno with confidence.

Pulling open Articuno's wings, Xiao Feng curled herself into its armpits and looked at Wang Yao triumphantly.

"Can Articuno, who is in such close contact and has a bad relationship with you, do this?"

Sure enough, Articuno just looked down at Xiao Feng, but did not show any impatience.

"You actually managed to subdue him... You're quite capable!"

Wang Yao looked around Articuno and Xiao Feng curiously.

"Of course I am the 'cool girl' from Shuijing City!"

Xiao Feng is actually quite popular in his hometown, Shuijing City.

Her title of "Cool Beautiful Girl" is not self-proclaimed like Xiaoxia's "Mermaid Girl in the Water".

But it is recognized by the residents of the hometown.

"Okay, I know you're awesome~"

Wang Yao has determined the identity of this Articuno by the shape of the scars on its claws.

"Put away your precious Articuno, we should go to Golden City."

Before leaving, Wang Yao touched Articuno's long tail.

It feels cool to the touch, and the feathers are very soft...

I feel like Articuno would be a great pillow to hug on a hot summer day.

And don't tell me - this thing is better looking than Zapdos~