บท 9: Watch Your Back!
I have changed the "Gengar" to something else, previous chapters have also been edited to include the new change.
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"Ka-kah, ka-kah—"
In the consultation room, Johan sat at his desk, discussing his thoughts and noting Gastly's progress.
From his perspective, Gastly didn't seem to have any major issues.
Johan had already developed a basic understanding of Gastly's abilities.
Overall, Gastly had learned a lot of moves, but its mastery of them was... concerning.
However, Johan wasn't too worried. He believed he had plenty of time to train and nurture Gastly. As a Pokémon psychology tutor, even when the academy started, he'd still have plenty of free time. A day like today, where he was busy from morning until night, was rare.
Of course, while Johan had been a huge Pokémon fan in his previous life, his understanding was limited to the two-dimensional games and images. He only knew the effects and combos of moves, which was quite different from the reality of the Pokémon world.
So, not only did Gastly need to learn, but Johan also needed to learn how to train a Ghost-type Pokémon.
At Johan's apartment.
Man and Pokémon were nestled on the sofa, watching a video playing on Johan's old laptop with rapt attention.
"See? This is how Ghost-type Pokémon battle."
The screen showed footage from the 34th Silver Academy Championship, featuring a battle between a Ghost-type trainer and an Ice-type trainer.
The Ghost-type trainer was using a Haunter, Gastly's evolved form.
Gastly blinked, its misty form transforming into a hand, pointing at the frozen Haunter lying on the ground.
"Ka-kah?"
But it lost.
"Ahem," Johan coughed awkwardly, "That's only because its opponent was too strong, but its battle strategy wasn't wrong."
The victorious Pokémon on-screen was a Lapras, and the Ice-type trainer was a tall girl with long, orange-red hair, glasses, and a well-coordinated outfit.
Her name was Lorelei, one of the future Elite Four of the Kanto region!
Losing to her, Johan thought, was completely normal.
In fact, the Ghost-type trainer had once been quite famous at Silver Academy.
"Ka-kah—"
Oh—
Gastly nodded, somewhat understanding.
Johan turned off the video, revealing a long list of other "Ghost Pokémon Battle" videos he had searched.
"You keep watching for now, I'll go make dinner."
After setting the laptop on the coffee table, Johan donned an apron and headed for the kitchen.
Soon, the sound of sizzling food filled the air.
"Ka-kah~~"
Meanwhile, Gastly floated in front of the laptop, its eyes darting back and forth across the screen. It quickly figured out how to use the mouse and clicked on a video with a high view count.
The title? "Agatha the Elite Four: I Am Fear"
As the video began, Gastly's eyes lit up at the sight of a Gengar.
But as it watched, its expression slowly turned blank.
"Ka-kaah?"
You can fight like that?!
Gastly was absolutely stunned!
When Johan finished cooking and came to call Gastly for dinner, he found it glued to the screen, eyes almost pressing against it.
"So focused?" Johan chuckled as he walked over.
At the same time, on the video, a hunched old woman with graying hair, a dark complexion, and a raspy voice spoke ominously:
"The strength of Ghost-type Pokémon lies in their speed and trickery. You must always..."
"Ka-kah! Ka-kah!"
Gastly nodded enthusiastically in agreement.
"Direct combat is child's play. Always remember, if a Ghost-type can attack from behind, don't confront the enemy head-on. If it can stay in the shadows, avoid the light..."
"Ka-kah? Ka-kah!"
Attack from behind? Fight in the dark?
It gets it now! Gastly had a sudden realization.
Agatha of the Elite Four? Johan raised an eyebrow as he glanced at the video Gastly was watching.
And the things she was teaching...
"Even the brightest day will end in night. Even in light, shadows lurk nearby. Dance in the shadows, and on nights when the cold wind blows, always watch your back..."
Johan: "..."
Why does this sound more and more off?
"Gastly." Johan called out.
"Ka-kah!"
Hearing a voice behind it, Gastly jumped in surprise. It turned around sharply, only to see Johan standing there. Gastly sighed in relief, but its misty form remained unsettled.
"Ka-kah."
That scared the ghost out of me.
Suddenly, Gastly froze.
Could this be... the power of "from behind"?
"What's wrong?" Johan waved his hand in front of Gastly's face.
"Ka-kaah—"
Gastly quickly shook its head, pretending nothing had happened.
The two sat down at the dinner table.
"Ka-kah?"
Gastly sniffed the delicious aroma, looking excited, but also a bit confused.
It smelled something else besides the food.
"I'll buy you some Pokéblocks tomorrow," Johan said, not noticing Gastly's confusion.
Pokéblocks?
Gastly's eyes lit up in excitement.
Earlier, while watching the videos, Gastly had heard a lot about "Pokéblocks."
Johan figured that maybe Gastly's condition was due to nutrient deficiency from sleeping for so long. If the Pokéblocks didn't help, then they'd have to visit the Pokémon Center.
Plus, raising Pokémon required the support of Pokéblocks.
While regular food could provide basic sustenance, it wasn't enough for Pokémon to grow strong.
Good thing the original Johan saved up some money. It should be enough for a while, Johan thought.
Earlier, he had checked his bank account balance—five figures. A comforting number.
Still, I should find some side gigs, he mused.
Johan already had some ideas for extra income.
Gastly devoured the food happily, as if it hadn't eaten in hundreds of years.
After dinner, Johan returned to his desk, searching online for tips on raising Ghost-type Pokémon, especially Gastly.
For many other Trainers, this kind of research might seem tedious, but for Johan, it was an exciting challenge.
He skipped over the simple videos and images, diving straight into research forums and poring over lengthy papers.
Eventually, he found an old paper.
"Thoughts on Raising Ghost-Type Pokémon" — Professor Samuel Oak.
"That makes sense."
Johan hadn't expected the author to be the famous Professor Oak, a leading authority on Pokémon.
But given Professor Oak's connection to Agatha...
"The work of the past benefits the future." Johan smiled as he opened the paper and began noting the important points.
"Ka-kah~~"
Seeing Johan deeply absorbed in his studies, Gastly's eyes twinkled mischievously.
It quietly floated towards the kitchen.
Click.
Carefully, Gastly flipped a switch.
Hiss—whoosh—
"Gastly?"
By the time Johan finished reading the paper, two hours had passed.
A faint white light filtered through the velvet clouds outside, casting a soft glow on the desk.
Johan stretched, feeling accomplished.
Looking around and not seeing Gastly, he called out.
"Ka-kah—"
Gastly floated out from the wall, giggling sheepishly.
"Hic—"
It suddenly hiccupped and quickly clamped its mouth shut.
(￣ω￣;)
"You seem..." Johan eyed Gastly from head to toe. "Fatter?"
As a gaseous Pokémon, Gastly's size wasn't fixed, but Johan could swear it looked bigger than before.
Gastly shook its head, avoiding Johan's gaze.
Am I? No way. Must be your imagination.
Its suspicious behavior didn't escape Johan's notice.
But too tired to investigate further, Johan simply asked:
"Want to watch an intense movie before bed?"
"Ka-kah!"
Gastly responded excitedly, but as it opened its mouth, a strange smell wafted out.
"What's that smell?" Johan wrinkled his nose.
Gas?
Realizing what had happened, Gastly quickly inhaled, and the scent faded.
Since Gastly was a gaseous being, the smell must have come from it.
Johan didn't think too much of it and said, "Turn off the lights."
Click.
The room darkened.
In the faint glow of the computer screen, man and Pokémon huddled together and started a movie—"My Secret with Mismagius."
"Gastly!!"
The next morning, Johan walked into the kitchen to make breakfast and saw the gas meter had hit zero. A vein bulged on his forehead.
Now he knew what Gastly had been up to in the kitchen last night!
"Ka-kah..."
I swear, it wasn't me!
Gastly blinked innocently with big eyes, trying to look convincing.
(｡•́︿•̀｡)
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