Chapter 118

"Mmm, so relaxing!"

Suzie stretched comfortably in the hot spring pool. After easing her fatigue, she realized that Misty, who had promised to join her for a bath, still hadn't arrived.

"Huh? Is feeding the Pokémon taking this long today?"

"I wonder what Kazuki's up to… Has he gone to the hot spring yet?"

Left alone, Suzie's thoughts inevitably drifted to Kazuki. She glanced down at herself.

"I wonder if Kazuki would like… someone like me?"

"How do Kazuki and Misty usually get close to each other?"

While Suzie was lost in her vivid imagination, Kazuki and Misty were, in fact, getting very close at that very moment.

"Try this… down here—"

"Mmm~!"

After tasting Kazuki's "special treat," Misty had moved to the washing area, her mouth… occupied.

Feeling guilty about not being able to help Kazuki "relax" last time due to her drunken state, she obediently agreed to his additional request today—something she had never tried before.

Once freshened up, Misty slipped back into the hot spring, snuggling up against Kazuki.

"You liar! It's bitter!" She pouted, lightly smacking his chest before nestling back into his arms.

"Hahaha! Really?" Kazuki chuckled, wrapping an arm around his girlfriend. "But it's nutritious! Good for your health!"

"Next time, I'll eat some pineapple first—then you can try again!"

"Next time?!" Misty bit his arm lightly. "You bad guy! Once you start, you never stop! You said it was just this once!"

Kazuki grinned, gently rubbing her arm. Ah, innocent girlfriends were the best—so easy to coax.

"I'll just go inside for a drink of water" → "I'll just hug you" → "I'll just kiss you, nothing else" → "I'll just—"

Having already gotten what he wanted, Kazuki knew that dwelling on the topic would only make the next breakthrough harder. So, he smoothly changed the subject.

"Hey, weren't you supposed to be soaking with Suzie? Aren't you going over there?"

"What?" Misty frowned, narrowing her eyes at him. "They say some people forget everything once they put their pants back on—but yours aren't even on yet, and you're already dismissing me!"

"Oh, so now that you've had your fun, you're kicking your pretty girlfriend out, huh?!"

"Hahaha! Where did you even learn to talk like that?" Kazuki laughed, pinching her cheek. "You're getting sassier by the day!"

Misty playfully bumped her head against his shoulder. "You're the one who taught me all this during our late-night chats!"

"Now that you've corrupted me, you're pretending you don't know me? No way! I'm watching you!"

She clung to him tightly.

Kazuki gently smoothed her hair. "Of course I know you. I'd give you a few more rounds if you wanted—how could this be 'post-climax clarity'?"

"I'm just saying, you promised Suzie you'd soak with her. If you don't show up, she might start overthinking things."

"Good! Let her overthink!" Misty suddenly grinned. "I can tell she's starting to develop feelings for you!"

"I want her to imagine what we're doing. That way, when the time comes, you can… hehehe…"

"Oh ho! Look at you!" Kazuki pinched her cheek again. "My little girlfriend's a mind-reader now!"

"Alright then, Suzie's conquest is in your hands!"

"Why me?!" Misty smacked his chest in mock frustration. "I'm just the support! You're the main attacker! It's not like I'm be the one enjoying her!"

"You'd better step up your game! If Suzie gives you a bad review, I won't help you fix it!"

"Review?" Kazuki smirked. "Oh, I'll make sure to leave a glowing five-star rating in her little comment section!"

"Huh? Wh-what kind of dirty talk is that?!" Misty's mind short-circuited, completely unable to keep up with his innuendos.

Just then, a loud noise interrupted them.

Kazuki immediately activated his Aura Power, sensing numerous fast-moving figures in the distant forest.

"The time has come!"

"What time?" Misty blinked in confusion.

Kazuki scooped her up and carried her out of the hot spring. "Get dressed, grab Suzie, and meet me at the entrance! I'm taking you both to see something amazing!"

Seeing his urgency, Misty didn't ask further. After a quick rinse, she threw on her clothes and rushed to Suzie's pool.

"Suzie! Suzie!"

Bursting into the women's area, Misty found Suzie with flushed cheeks, disheveled hair, and her legs slightly parted in the water.

The moment Suzie saw Misty, she yanked her hands out of the water.

"Y-you're here! Misty! I—"

"Are… are you sick? Your face is so red!" Misty stared at her, momentarily forgetting why she'd come.

Suzie swirled her fingers in the water, stammering, "I-it's nothing! The water's just… really hot!"

"C-come on in! Let's soak together!"

"Soak? Oh! No, Suzie, get ready! Kazuki needs us for something!" Misty finally remembered her mission.

"Kazuki?" Suzie's eyes flicked to Misty's damp hair. So… Misty was 'feeding' Kazuki earlier!

Eager to follow Kazuki's request, Suzie quickly climbed out of the pool.

Misty, meanwhile, froze for a second, her gaze lingering on Suzie's porcelain skin.

Only when Suzie moved to the shower area did Misty snap out of it, her eyes darting away.

"Ugh, should I be overanalyzing this right now?"

"No, no! Kazuki's got something planned—I can't get distracted!"

"But damn, Suzie's so sexy… That guy's gonna be so spoiled!"

"Let's go, Misty!" Suzie called once dressed, snapping Misty out of her daze. The two hurried to the hot spring's entrance.

As they left the steamy area, Suzie spotted the love bite on Misty's neck. She tried to focus on the task at hand, but her mind kept wandering.

"So Misty was with Kazuki!"

"They must've done it in a private hot spring room…"

"I wonder how it feels…"

"How strong is Kazuki, really?!"

"I was just thinking about him when Misty called—I panicked so hard! I must still have some mental barriers…"

"I'll wait for the right moment to talk to him about it."

"Kazuki, what are we doing? Some kind of heroic night mission?" Now that her urges were satisfied, Misty was full of energy, excited for adventure.

Suzie, however, had spent the whole walk imagining Kazuki and Misty's positions. The moment she saw Kazuki, her face burned, leaving her too flustered to speak.

"Follow me. We might even help Suzie catch a Diglett!" Kazuki led the way.

Suzie's heart swelled. "He remembered what I said during the day and is helping me at night… He's too good! No wonder Misty's so attached to him!"

"Ugh… I'm falling for him harder! Will I even be able to sleep tonight after this?!"

Shaking her head, Suzie quickened her pace.

The trio trekked through the woods until they reached a bright, open field.

Dozens of Diglett, each carrying a sapling on their heads, marched in neat lines, transporting them into the field.

Their evolved forms, Dugtrio, tilled the soil in coordinated movements.

The entire Diglett population was engaged in a massive tree-planting operation.

"Wow! So many Diglett and Dugtrio!" Suzie gasped at the breathtaking sight.

"So this is their farmland!"

"A forested farmland, no less!"

"But—oh no!"

She suddenly remembered the reservoir project from earlier. "If that dam gets built, this whole area—the fields, the Diglett, even the forest—will be underwater!"

Now she understood why Kazuki had been so furious earlier.

"He already saw the problem from the start… He really is perfect."

Kazuki's image in her mind grew even more divine.

"Kazuki, this place—"

She turned to him, only to find him recording the Diglett's activities with his Pokédex.

"Is he… documenting their final moments before the reservoir destroys their home?"

"But how could we trainers possibly stop such a huge project?"

"Sigh… I shouldn't trouble him further. I'll just cherish this sight while it lasts."

Instead of begging for help, Suzie quietly joined him in recording.

"Alright! With all this evidence, we can finally halt the reservoir project!" Kazuki exhaled in relief after organizing the data.

"W-what? Kazuki, you can stop the reservoir?!" Suzie's jaw dropped.

"A project this massive… Can you really do it?"

"It seems impossible, but I believe in Kazuki!" While Suzie hesitated, Misty had already placed blind faith in him.

Kazuki pinched Misty's cheek affectionately. "I'll keep the 'how' a secret for now. But first—we've got new trouble incoming!"

He turned toward the bushes. His Aura Power had detected another group approaching the Diglett's fields.

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