The Hidden Boss and the Streaming Star [552]

Naoki pulled out his Rotom Phone, opened the PichuTV app, and tapped on his follow list. Navigating to Iono's channel homepage, he checked the latest numbers, and just as he feared, her follower count was dropping.

Becoming a beloved streamer had always been Iono's dream. Seeing this now, Naoki's brows furrowed. He had to do something.

But what? What could he possibly do to help her in a situation like this?

Just as he was lost in thought, the number on the screen ticked upward.

Naoki blinked.

"Huh?"

He watched as her subscriber count climbed—first by dozens, then hundreds.

Confused, he scrolled down to her latest video and dove into the comment section.

He didn't have to look long to find the reason.

[Mai]:

"Ugh! Iono has a boyfriend?! This is so heartbreaking!"

[Pipichu]:

"For those who don't know, the guy who showed up is named Naoki. Yup, THAT Naoki—owner of the Naoki Ranch, the one who uses Dragonite to deliver packages!

Also, fun fact—he's known as the 'Hidden Boss of Paldea!' Students at Naranja Academy definitely know who he is. Some even say he's stronger than the Champion herself!"

That particular comment was already blowing up, ranking second in the "Hot Comments" section with thousands of likes.

But sitting at number one was something far more curious.

Naoki raised an eyebrow as he read it.

[Scooby Don't]: "Streamer, please take a look at your husband. 🥺"

Naoki: "…"

What kind of weird comments are these?

He scrolled through the replies, momentarily at a loss for words.

It seemed his appearance hadn't caused Iono to lose fans—if anything, she might have even gained a few.

Well, to be more precise, the number of followers who unsubscribed and those who newly joined seemed to balance out almost exactly. So, in the end, her total follower count hadn't really changed.

Apparently, the title "Hidden Boss of Paldea" still carried some weight!

Outside, the rain had grown heavier. Koraidon stood quietly by the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing curiously at the stormy skyline of Levincia.

Iono's Pokémon didn't seem fazed by the sudden downpour.

Rainy days were perfect for naps, after all.

Bellibolt let out a wide yawn, then curled up inside its cozy nest and dozed off almost immediately.

Luxio sprawled lazily across the carpet like a lounging feline king, eyes half-lidded as it stared at the drizzling glass.

Meanwhile, Wattrel chirped quietly from its perch.

With nothing else to do for the moment, Naoki decided to check in on the ranch.

He opened the video call app and dialed.

Within moments, the screen lit up, and the face of the Calyrex appeared.

"Is it raining back home?" Naoki asked casually.

The crowned Pokémon shook its head gently.

"The weather's still great. Not even a drizzle." 

Calrex then paused and seemed to realize something.

Come to think of it, it hadn't rained heavily at the ranch in a long time. Sure, there'd been light showers from time to time, but never a proper thunderstorm.

It relayed this to Naoki with a curious tilt of its head.

Naoki, however, already had a good idea why.

"It's probably because of Dragonite and Dragonairs," he said thoughtfully.

Pokémon like Dragonairs, he knew, could release an unusual kind of aura, storing massive energy within the crystalline orbs embedded in their necks and tails.

These Pokémon could subtly manipulate weather patterns to suit their preferences, focusing their power through those crystals.

Because of that, the ranch had enjoyed two years of unusually mild, pleasant weather.

If it were an older, more rural village, a Dragonair like that would probably be worshipped like a weather god. Farmers would throw offerings into the lake, believing it to bless their crops and chase away storms.

Of course, the World Tree above the ranch also played a role. Its presence amplified the Dragonair's aura, subtly influencing the surrounding climate. 

After exchanging a few more updates with Calyrex, Naoki ended the call.

Just then, a delicious aroma drifted in from the kitchen.

It wasn't long before Iono emerged, carrying a steaming dish with a proud sparkle in her eyes.

"Come and try it!" Iono said brightly, placing a steaming dish on the table. "I learned to make stir-fried green pepper pork and mapo tofu from a food show!"

Naoki stepped into the kitchen to help bring out the remaining plates. Iono followed behind with two bowls of rice and set out a few dishes made especially for the Pokémon.

Once everything was prepared, the two sat at the table. The food was fresh off the stove, steaming invitingly.

Each dish looked vibrant and well-balanced—the green pepper pork was fragrant and spicy, the cucumber salad gleamed with a tangy, refreshing shine, and the mapo tofu shimmered in bright red, its aroma carried on waves of spicy heat and numbing pepper.

The bold mix of scents filled the room, and Naoki couldn't help but swallow instinctively.

"You made all this?" Naoki asked, wide-eyed. "That's… incredible!"

"Yep!" Iono replied proudly. "Amazing, right?"

She'd noticed that Naoki enjoyed these cuisines, so she'd taken the time to study cooking shows that specialized in those recipes, just to make him something he'd love.

"How long did it take to learn?" Naoki asked, genuinely impressed. From the look of these dishes, it wasn't something she could've picked up overnight.

Iono blushed slightly. "Not that long! Anyway—just eat already!"

Naoki picked up a slice of green pepper pork with his chopsticks and took a bite. A burst of meaty richness mixed with crisp pepper and subtle spice filled his mouth.

"It's delicious!" he exclaimed.

Iono beamed. "Then eat as much as you want! Koraidon, you wanna try?"

Koraidon sniffed the air, catching the bold, spicy scent. His nostrils twitched—and then he sneezed several times in a row, recoiling from the strong aroma.

He shook his head and let out a reluctant "Gahh," before turning away and chomping into a sandwich instead.

"Koraidon's not a fan of spicy food," Naoki chuckled.

To be honest, aside from Flareon, none of the Pokémon back at his ranch could really handle spicy dishes.

"Is that so?" Iono laughed.

Just as she was about to say more, a call came through on her Rotom Phone. Iono glanced at the screen, then answered it.

An anxious voice spilled out from the speaker:

"Something's wrong! After you revealed your relationship, your follower count is plummeting!"

Iono stayed calm. "Don't panic. I'm prepared for this. Besides, I didn't become a streamer just for popularity."

Then she smiled and asked, "Do you remember how we met?"

There was a short pause on the other end, and then a soft voice replied, "Of course I do."

Back then, she'd already been one of Iono's fans. During a livestream, she left a comment using her old account, "Trapped-in-the-Room," explaining some personal struggles.

Iono had seen it. Even now, the girl could clearly remember the response she'd received:

"I've struggled with roadblocks too. But just sitting and waiting won't make them go away—so I have to take action. If I'm gonna livestream, then I want my studio to grow wings and fly to every corner of the world."

"And that's why I stream," Iono said with a firm smile. "To share my dreams with others."

"I understand!" came the response from the other end of the call.

"Alright, talk to you later!" Iono replied casually before hanging up her Rotom Phone.

Naoki looked at her, mildly curious. "Who was that?"

"Her name's Belle," Iono answered with a smile. "She used to be my biggest fan. Lately, she's started streaming too—trying to follow the same path I did!"

Belle…

Naoki blinked. The name didn't ring any bells. It hadn't shown up in the games or anime, so he hadn't paid it much attention.

After their lunch, the rain outside still hadn't let up.

Since there were no scheduled battles for the rest of the day, Iono didn't rush back to the Gym. Instead, she and Naoki curled up on the couch with their Pokémon, relaxing in the cozy living room while the storm rumbled beyond the windows.

The TV in front of them was airing an exciting Pokémon battle match, but neither of them was really watching.

Naoki glanced at Iono, raised his eyebrows playfully, and subtly extended his arm in her direction.

Noticing the gesture, Iono's face turned slightly pink.

"What are you doing?" she asked shyly.

"Come here," Naoki murmured. "Just hold me for a bit."

Blushing, Iono quietly leaned into his side and let herself rest in his arms.

Outside, the storm raged on, thunder echoing softly through the sky. Inside, everything felt warm and still.

Bellibolt had long since dozed off in its favorite beanbag chair. The Luxio lay curled on the carpet like a proud housecat, watching the window lazily. 

Surrounded by peaceful Pokémon and the patter of rain, Naoki held Iono close and let his thoughts drift.

He thought of everything they'd been through.

The girl who once ran from the easternmost shore of Paldea all the way to the western hills, just to see him.

The girl who confessed to him during a summer fireworks festival.

The one who nervously handed him flowers for the first time.

The one who studied and practiced cooking food, just because she noticed he liked it.

Naoki lowered his head slightly, his voice soft and gentle.

"Actually… I should've been the one to say it first."

....

Bonus Chapter @2500 PS