The heat from Aim to Be a Pokémon Master! continued to rise.
Galar, Unova, Kalos… The song skyrocketed to the top of major league music charts, reminiscent of the days when Natsume-sensei's new games dominated the rankings.
"Elesa's new EDM album only made second place?"
"As everyone knows, Natsume-sensei isn't just a chef and game developer—he's also a musical genius!"
"He doesn't just dominate the Baby Cup… He's sweeping the music charts and game rankings too!"
Comments flooded in as fans swarmed the Pokémon Company's official site, growing even more excited for Pokémon.
"Holy— I came from the MV! Red, Blue Oak, Lance… What kind of god-tier licensing is this?!"
"Feels like playing a 'Star Trainer' gacha in the PTCG. I'm buying this the second it drops!"
"Stop. I whaled ten pulls for 'Red' and got nothing!"
"If I can't pull a UR, it's Natsume-sensei's fault. Streamer, can you apologize?"
Pallet Town, Oak Research Lab
Natsume skimmed through online comments with a strange expression.
So just because I can't pull the UR "Red" card myself, it's my fault?
Though, when he happened to glance at Togepi's account this morning, it seemed almost fully collected…
"Wait a second."
A sudden realization struck Natsume.
"How did it even spend money on this?"
A chill crept up his spine.
"Togepi doo-ee~ヽ(￣▽￣)ノ"
Togepi toddled past Natsume, clutching a tablet, its tiny fingers tapping away.
[Wow~ A golden legendary!]
An exaggerated sound effect played. Natsume gulped.
Whatever… With Togepi's luck, a full collection probably won't cost much.
"The promotional campaign was a huge success."
Oleana's voice came through the phone, crisp and professional.
"Our goal of building hype for Pokémon has been achieved."
"Great work, everyone."
Natsume smiled faintly.
This MV project had a bit of personal motivation behind it.
Aside from having Ash himself sing that classic childhood theme song,
getting Pidgeot back was another one of Natsume's wishes fulfilled.
Of course, there was still one last thing left—
Natsume pulled out a notebook and scribbled:
March 22, Monday. No wind.
Revenge will be mine today!
...
In the group chat…
Gold, wearing goggles and riding on Togekiss's back, spoke through his Bluetooth headset:
"Natsume-sensei, I'll be there soon!"
Silver, dangling from Honchkrow's talons with one hand, replied flatly:
"...I was forced to come."
"Hahaha! You'd just be watching tokusatsu at home anyway. Let's go challenge Natsume-sensei together!" Gold laughed.
"You call two against one a fair fight?" Crystal sighed.
"What's the big deal? I can't beat Natsume-sensei alone, so I dragged Silver along." Gold said shamelessly.
So you're here to mooch food AND challenge me to a card game?
Natsume's eye twitched.
But Gold's wild battle skills were terrifying—even Pryce had suffered a crushing defeat at his hands.
Last time, Natsume had barely scraped by a win, and that was only thanks to his bond with Hypnosis…
"Wait."
Natsume looked down at his palm, slowly clenching it.
"Now… I'm an expert in close combat too, right?"
"Seems like there aren't many people coming to the party tonight." Ash scratched his head.
"Everyone's preparing for the new League Tournament," Erika explained gently. "Celadon School is even holding special training sessions."
"I'd love to come…" Lucian adjusted his glasses with a sigh. "But I'm stuck working overtime."
Natsume's heart clenched.
Whether I get a date with Moe-Moe! depends entirely on you now!
Thank you in advance, Elite Four Lucian!
"@Red, you coming back?" Blue Oak asked Red, who was still at Mt. Silver.
As "The Battler," Red's anticipation was already maxed out. He grinned.
"Bruno challenged me to a fight. Can't make it back yet."
"Watch out for his giant Onix—it uses Natsume-sensei's strategy system."
Blue Oak's voice was serious. "If you need backup, I can lend you Charizard."
"No need." Red tilted his cap. "I'll win."
The bond between Pallet Town's twin stars, Red and Blue, was unmistakable.
Auntie Lorelei couldn't help but grin, teasing: "Not bringing Blue Oak along?"
Blue Oak rubbed his temples. "I've got to teach Ash aerial combat tonight… That Pidgeot of his has serious potential."
"Blue Oak Master!" Ash's eyes burned with determination. "My Staravia's about to evolve too!"
Then, he could challenge Paul to a full-on battle!
Blue Oak gave a slight nod. "Gold's coming tonight. You can battle him."
"Really?!" Ash's eyes lit up. "I can team up with Natsume-sensei for a doubles match against Gold and Silver!"
Natsume blinked.
A no-holds-barred battle? Me and Ash versus Gold and Silver?
I'll just sit back and let Ash carry. One punch each—make it quick!
Above Pallet Town's airspace…
Gold and Silver exchanged glances, both swallowing hard.
"That kid… the one with the red cap from Pallet Town?" Silver muttered.
"That guy's a monster," Gold said bluntly. "Feels like his wild battles are on par with Senior Red's."
"I'm backing out. You fight him alone." Silver's face was deadpan.
"WHAT?! We're partners! Comrades! Battle buddies!"
Amid their bickering, the duo—"The Dumb One and The Grumpy One"—drew closer to the research lab.
The tiny figures below grew larger.
Professor Oak in his lab coat… Natsume-sensei cooking outdoors… Blue Oak guiding Ash…
"Gengar! (￣▽￣)／"
Gengar spotted them first, waving excitedly from the ground.
"Togekiss!" Togebo, usually fierce, softened instantly upon seeing Togepi playing below.
"Togekiss?"
"Togebo, what's gotten into you? This isn't like you!" Gold yelped.
"Togekiss! (〝▼皿▼)"
Togebo plunged into a steep dive, Gold screaming all the way down.
Silver, still dangling from Honchkrow's talons, landed leisurely with a sigh.
"…" Blue Oak gave Silver a slight nod.
"…" Silver nodded back expressionlessly.
Neither was much of a talker. Meanwhile, Gold—ever the chatterbox—slung an arm around Ash's shoulders.
"Hey, little buddy! Long time no see!"
"Senior Gold!" Ash greeted earnestly, then brightened. "Natsume-sensei said we should battle tonight!"
"Uh." Gold's smile stiffened. He scratched his head awkwardly. "Haha, not tonight. How about pool instead?"
Natsume stirred the broth casually. "If you win, I'll play a card game with you."
"Deal!"
Gold perked up—then scowled. "It's not just a card game! I just lose too fast!"
We used to suspect Gold was throwing matches. Turns out…
This guy just sucks!
But Gold wasn't a bad person.
Thinking about it… aside from being a troublemaker, loving food, drinks, and gambling, he didn't have any real vices.
Natsume gazed at the sky, deep in thought.
Wait, then why does my notebook have so many entries about Gold?
...
Nightfall. Pallet Town, quiet under the stars.
BAM!
A sudden battle cry erupted in the backyard.
"Watch out!" Gold swung his pool cue, launching a Poké Ball behind Ash.
Sudowoodo emerged, its branch-like fist aimed straight at the trainer.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu jumped to block the attack, but Ash grabbed it protectively instead.
Sudowoodo's punch sent Ash stumbling back—but he was unharmed!
"Yikes—!" Gold paled.
Even Silver's stoic expression cracked as he glanced at Natsume-sensei.
"Don't look at me," Natsume said, raising his hands. "I'm shocked too."
"Ahem. Let's… eat first." Blue Oak stepped in. "I'll go feed the Pokémon."
Fighting head-on wasn't Gold's style, and sneak attacks didn't work.
"Gold the Fifth" has surrendered!
"Even Natsume-sensei and Senior Red would have a hard time beating him!" Gold muttered.
"I'd just use Hypnosis," Natsume mused.
"As for Red…"
A simple "I'll win" summed it up perfectly.
Dinner time.
The aroma of cooking filled the air. Professor Oak wandered over, sniffing appreciatively.
"Smells amazing!"
Crystal watched Natsume-sensei's technique curiously.
"Natsume-sensei, why's Rotom recording this?"
"Oh, I figured this ingredient's rare enough for a Night Kitchen special episode."
Natsume diced a Babiri Berry, its crimson spice glistening.
"Beep… Recording, Rotom!"
Rotom Dex flashed a peace sign, snapping a selfie with its phone.
"What's the flavor like?"
Professor Oak leaned in—then broke into a sweat at the sight of the fiery red curry.
"Is… is this actually edible?"
The curry simmered in a crimson broth, steam twisting into the phantom shape of Moltres!
But this wasn't the usual orange-flamed Moltres—it was the Galarian variant, a hellish bird wreathed in black and scarlet!
"Definitely… Moltres-level cooking," Blue Oak said, wiping his brow.
"But it feels like Natsume-sensei's skills have leveled up again…"
"I'll go first!" Gold declared bravely, though his Adam's apple bobbed nervously. "I trust Natsume-sensei's cooking!"
"Dig in."
Natsume ladled the curry into a pristine bowl. Purple steam curled ominously…
This was dark cuisine at its finest!
Yet the aroma was irresistible.
Gold's spoon trembled as he took a heaping bite—
BOOM.
A volcano erupted behind him. A black Moltres burst forth, its wrathful flames scorching the sky!
"DELICIOUS!!"
Gold's eyes watered as he shoveled more into his mouth. "BUT SO SPICY!!"
"Let me try!"
Ash scooped a spoonful and swallowed it whole.
BUZZ—
His mind blanked. He was suddenly in Charicific Valley, trapped between two dueling Charizards' flamethrowers!
"Did you… overdo the spices?" Professor Oak asked nervously.
"Not at all." Natsume smirked. "I tweaked the recipe."
The heat remained, but the burn was gentler.
As the chef, Natsume had taste-tested it himself…
This Black Moltres Curry, made with Babiri Berries, was legendary—spicy, but unmatched in flavor!
"SO GOOD!!" Ash and Gold howled in unison, lips swollen.
"Chimchar?" Chimchar tilted its head, watching.
Exbo opened its mouth to taste the spoonful of curry Gold offered. Flames surged from its neck, its eyes widening before it suddenly shot fire into the sky!
The blaze lit up the night, leaving everyone stunned.
"Natsume-sensei's Cooking... and the effect of the Training move?!"
"Chimchar, you try it too~!"
"Chimchar!" Chimchar scrambled onto Ash's shoulder, tasted the spoon, and its eyes slowly turned gold.
This was a flame born from fury, strikingly similar to Galar Moltres's signature move, "Fiery Wrath."
"Chimchar!!"
Chimchar leaped down, arms spread, its tail flame soaring meters high before suddenly painting the sky red!
Then, a dazzling white light erupted from Chimchar's body!
"E-Evolution?!" Ash's jaw dropped.
Blue Oak stood frozen.
Natsume-sensei's Cooking can also make Pokémon Evolution?
Now that he thought about it, this wasn't the first time for Natsume-sensei, was it…?
This Breeding Prodigy—why don't you take the title instead!
"What priceless research material!" Professor Oak laughed heartily. "Berries inherently contain energy, usable for moves like Nature Power."
"It seems the stimulation from Spicy Berries doesn't just train moves—it can even trigger Evolution!"
Natsume-sensei looked utterly lost.
I just came to cook… and somehow made Chimchar evolve?
No wonder last time, Arcanine learned "Fire Blast" after eating my food.
"Guess my cooking's just that good…" Natsume muttered.
The light faded, revealing a defiant Monferno, arms spread as it roared at the sky.
Ash suddenly frowned, a deep worry rising in his chest.
Back when Charmander evolved… it was just like this…
"Don't worry."
Blue Oak clapped Ash's shoulder, smirking.
"Your strength as a Trainer now… it's more than enough."
Ash nodded firmly and stepped toward the defiant Monferno.
Then, he extended his hand, smiling. "Welcome to the team, Monferno!"
Monferno paused before slowly placing its hand in Ash's palm, its fury fading into a grin:
"Monferno!!"
"So… touching!" Gold stood teary-eyed beside Natsume, lips swollen from spice. "This… this is the bond between comrades!"
Natsume startled. "Whoa, that spicy?!"
Gold glared. "Aren't you gonna try it yourself, Natsume-sensei?"
"Nah, my stomach's acting up today. Maybe next time!"
Natsume laughed. "Gengar, time to head back to Sinnoh!"
"Gengar~!"
Gengar flashed a mischievous grin, sticking out its tongue and pulling down its eyelids at Gold. "Gengar!（ㄟ(≧◇≦)ㄏ ）"
Gold clenched his fists, tears streaming.
"D-Damn you, Natsume-sensei! o(╥﹏╥)o"
...
With Chimchar's Evolution, their Kanto journey was coming to an end.
After the commotion, Professor Oak sipped Moomoo Milk while eating the Spicy Curry—surprisingly, he could handle it just fine.
Meanwhile, Rotom recorded and edited the cooking livestream, titling it:
[Natsume-sensei's Night Kitchen: Black Moltres Curry!]
With Rotom as the editor, Natsume didn't even have to do the cutting himself!
Natsume chuckled and had Rotom upload the video to major sites before boarding their flight back to Sinnoh.
"Natsume-sensei, isn't Team Rocket coming with us?"
Ash asked nervously mid-flight.
"What, you miss them already?" Natsume laughed.
Ash scratched his head and grinned sheepishly.
"It's just… feels like something's missing without them around!"
"They'll build their own hot air balloon and drift back to Sinnoh."
Supposedly, it was to (help the Executive) save on funding.
Since they insisted, Natsume didn't push the matter.
Natsume looked outside the window and smiled helplessly.
"What a bunch of idiots..."