Chapter 64: Cats and Dogs

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The Li family had a rather enjoyable weekend. If they had more time, they might have even gone on a trip.

As a result, the newly arrived Riolu got to bask in the warmth of a loving family.

However, it didn't get along well with Mrs. Yin's Pokémon.

Why? 

Because they were all cats.

The only exception was the Florges, who had the reclusive personality of a couch-loving plant enthusiast and rarely appeared.

Mr. Li's Pokémon however, were a different story.

Hardened by battles at sea, they were tough and seasoned. The leader, Feraligatr, had a legendary feat of taking down ten Sharpedo in a single battle.

Floatzel had defeated three pirate Pokémon and thrown a savage pirate overboard.

Pelipper wasn't much of a fighter but excelled in support and disruption.

Riolu admired these battle-tested veterans immensely.

Feraligatr and the others were happy to bond with it, even offering to teach it a move.

What move?

Ice Punch, of course—a technique they all knew and had mastered.

Li Xiang didn't mind at all. He even encouraged it. However, the relationship between Riolu and Litten gave him constant headaches.

The dog and the cat seemed to have been in a cold war since their first meeting. Even though one slept on Li Xiang's left side and the other on his right, they barely communicated.

This was problematic.

As teammates, mutual understanding was crucial. While battles were predominantly one-on-one in this world, double battles were also a thing.

Riolu could be a key part of a doubles strategy.

Its Prankster ability was invaluable for moves like Helping Hand, Copycat, Final Gambit, Follow Me, or even weather-setting strategies. So, Li Xiang deliberately created opportunities for them to interact and grow closer. 

Unfortunately, his efforts were largely unsuccessful.

The primary issue lay with Riolu.

No matter how warmly Litten approached, Riolu remained aloof, even subtly rejecting it.

Litten wasn't the type to keep trying after being snubbed multiple times. Frustrated, it began ignoring Riolu altogether, despite Li Xiang repeatedly urging it to get along.

Then there was that night.

Li Xiang was jolted awake by a sudden kick from Riolu.

The reason?

Litten had rolled between Li Xiang's legs in its sleep, and its tail accidentally brushed against Riolu.

Reacting as if it had encountered a nightmare, Riolu instinctively lashed out, delivering a hard kick to Li Xiang's right leg.

Had Riolu been at a higher level or more physically robust, Li Xiang might've ended up in the hospital instead of school.

Even so, his leg was badly bruised.

Li Xiang was in pain and a bit shaken. Thank goodness he wasn't facing Riolu at the time, or the Li family's legacy might've been in jeopardy.

Litten woke up confused, startled by Li Xiang's shout.

Later, Riolu apologized profusely, deeply ashamed for injuring him in sleep.

Li Xiang wasn't upset, though. He was understanding toward Pokémon and saw the incident not as a matter of apology but as a sign of an exaggerated reflex.

"This can't continue," he thought.

He decided to address it through communication.

Though seeking a professional like a Pokémon psychologist was an option, it could hurt Riolu's pride, given its strong sense of self.

Instead, Li Xiang planned to take a gradual approach.

He'd talk to Riolu when Litten wasn't around and, with its consent, share his insights with Litten.

The ultimate goal was for the two to forge a genuine friendship.

Li Xiang saw himself as the bridge between them. As for whether they'd continue sleeping together…

Clenching his teeth, Li Xiang resolved to persist. Riolu wasn't doing this on purpose, and he could tell Riolu wanted to change her bad habit.

Thus, he decided to trust Riolu.

Building trust with Pokémon was a trainer's duty.

If he couldn't trust them, how could they trust him?

Riolu was deeply moved by this but, also reluctant to risk hurting Li Xiang again, tried to decline.

However, once Li Xiang made up his mind, he wouldn't change it.

And so, he safely made it to Monday.

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At school, Riolu curiously observed the surroundings.

The environment was entirely new, filled with other Pokémon, yet it felt so different from where it had been before.

The feeling was strange, almost unsettling.

But before it could ponder further, it moved closer to Li Xiang's side, seeking refuge from the curious or admiring gazes of others.

Even though Li Xiang didn't intend for this to happen, Riolu at his feet quickly drew attention.

"Are there Riolu in First Middle School?"

Of course, but not more than three. Li Xiang's might well be the third.

It wasn't just the students who coveted a Riolu. Even experienced trainers had a strong interest in them.

"Whoa! A freakin Riolu!"

As soon as they entered the classroom, Yang Tianwang approached with a slightly surprised expression. "From out of town? Haven't heard of any Riolu hatching recently at the breeding center. I'd know."

The younger generation certainly had their own unique focus points.

"Yeah, it's from out of town."

Li Xiang nodded, suddenly turning his head just as Qu Sheng walked in with his backpack. But Li Xiang's attention quickly shifted to Qu Sheng's shoulder, where a small Pokémon composed of screws, iron balls, magnets, and a single large eye was perched.

— A Magnemite, an Electric/Steel-type Pokémon.

"You guys really have some tacit understanding, both choosing to pick Pokémon over the weekend?"

Yang Tianwang clicked his tongue in admiration.

Qu Sheng replied, "Pure coincidence. But Riolu… huh, so your family really isn't just an ordinary household."

He glanced at Li Xiang with a betrayed look.

Previously, Li Xiang had always claimed that his family was just a regular, working-class one, running a small company while his mom worked as a mid-level manager.

So this is what "ordinary" looked like?

"I'd like to know even more than you how my dad managed this," Li Xiang shrugged. A trip to the Archipelago region not only brought back a Riolu but also some high-grade aged tea bricks—a tea not even native to that region.

It was absurd.

"Hmph!" Qu Sheng snorted and walked off. He hated being lied to the most.

Considering both their family backgrounds, they could acquire a Riolu if they wanted. They simply weren't interested in such a Pokémon.

Not everyone cared about the enigmatic powers of Aura.

Yang Tianwang gave Li Xiang a pat on the shoulder and sighed. "Sigh, that guy's sulking again. You'd better go explain things to him. He really can't stand being lied to."

???

What kind of "soothing a sulking girl" logic was this?

"I didn't even lie… never mind, it doesn't matter." Li Xiang scratched his head and moved to sit beside Qu Sheng.

Luckily, the usual occupant of the seat wasn't there yet, or Li Xiang wouldn't even have a place to sit.

Qu Sheng, seeing Li Xiang sit down, shot him a sidelong glance but didn't say a word, instead pulling out his textbook.

What the heck.

Are you a girl?

For the first time realizing Qu Sheng could be this petty, Li Xiang sighed and began a heartfelt explanation, appealing to both logic and emotion.

He laid bare his family situation: a modest household, a mom with limited authority at the breeding center, and a dad running a freight company with just three shipping routes—nothing compared to the two "young masters" he was talking to.

Qu Sheng, ever the soft-hearted type, finally softened his attitude after hearing Li Xiang's sincere account.

"Don't lie to me again," he said solemnly. "Being lied to really doesn't feel good."

The kid looked genuinely scarred by some past betrayal.

Li Xiang promised, and the friendship crisis was temporarily resolved.

Returning to his own seat, Li Xiang noticed Song Jie was still nowhere to be seen, but Lin Feng from the neighboring class popped over instead.

"So this is your Riolu? It looks kinda short."

Lin Feng observed Riolu curiously, raising his hand to compare its height with his own.

Riolu frowned slightly, finding Lin Feng's gestures a bit rude.

Li Xiang, meanwhile, was massaging Litten's back muscles. "It's 65 cm tall—what were you expecting? Don't tell me your Charmander is suddenly 170 cm tall."

The two had already talked about Riolu on WeChat, with Li Xiang even sending Lin Feng a photo.

"Hehe, let's have a battle this afternoon? We haven't fought in days." For some reason, Lin Feng seemed unusually eager, even taking the initiative to challenge Li Xiang.

The guy was probably just curious about Riolu. After all, it wasn't a Pokémon you saw every day.

Li Xiang readily accepted. He wasn't about to turn down any battle that offered rewards like candies.

After chatting briefly, Lin Feng returned to his own class.

Two minutes later, Song Jie finally arrived, albeit fashionably late.

"So you really went with a Steel-type, huh."

The boy expressed mild surprise at seeing Riolu, though his focus seemed to be on something entirely different.

Li Xiang was a bit more relaxed around Song Jie and joked, "Of course, it's all to counter you—Rock and Steel to crush your team with Fighting moves."

"I'm looking forward to it," Song Jie replied with a smirk. "Just don't complain if you lose badly. I'm warning you now—no tantrums afterward."

"Wow, you're awfully confident, huh?"

Li Xiang playfully grabbed Song Jie by the neck and gave him a gentle shake.

Song Jie, who could take a joke, didn't mind the teasing. "A Pokémon battle isn't about trainers wrestling each other. Even if you strangle me, it doesn't mean you've won."

The two bantered and laughed, their friendship evident.

Riolu glanced at Song Jie's pale complexion and white hair, then at Li Xiang, silently concluding that its trainer was still the best.

"Ri~olu!"

It let out a soft sigh of relief, reaffirming its belief that Li Xiang was, indeed, the greatest.