The old man sighed helplessly. "You never let up, always teasing your grandfather."
With laughter in the air, the old man and his granddaughter walked upstairs, chatting as they went.
Back to Tetsuya.
Naturally, he had no idea what transpired after he left. After retrieving the three Pokémon's Luxury Balls, he returned to his room.
Glancing at the schedule Brock had sent him earlier, he noted that including tonight, the trip would last six days and seven nights. The tournament was scheduled for the fourth and fifth days of sailing, just before the return journey.
The format was a simple elimination tournament. Opponents would be decided by drawing lots, battling in pairs until the top eight were determined on the fourth day. This meant each participant needed to win just two matches that day. The semi-finals and finals would be held on the fifth day, with the champion emerging after five consecutive victories.
"So, I can relax as much as I want for the first three days."
That was the first thought that crossed Tetsuya's mind.
After all, life had been tough for him these past ten years, and even in recent months, he hadn't had much downtime. A chance to unwind was rare and precious.
Besides, training and learning required balance. Overworking without rest would only yield diminishing returns.
Lounging lazily on the bed, he released all three of his Pokémon. The room was spacious enough to let them stretch out, so there was no need to keep them cooped up in their Poké Balls.
"Pidgeot!" "Combusken!" "Boldore!"
The three Pokémon emerged with energetic cries, happy to be free.
Tetsuya smiled at their enthusiasm. "You guys can take it easy for the next three days. Just a bit of light training to keep in shape—about an hour a day should be enough."
That sounded like heaven.
Although his Pokémon were accustomed to rigorous training, that didn't mean they didn't appreciate a break.
The trio perked up at their trainer's words, clearly pleased.
Tetsuya got up and took out three identification tags, which he had requested from a waiter earlier. The tags were necessary for allowing Pokémon to move freely around the ship—especially for Pidgeot. Without one, Pidgeot flying around might be mistaken for a wild threat and attacked by the ship's security Pokémon.
Like a doting father, Tetsuya carefully assigned each of his Pokémon their tags and instructions.
"Pidgeot, there's a perch on the balcony for you. You can rest there or in the room, but don't stray too far when flying. Be back in time for meals."
"Combusken, Boldore, you two can use the designated Pokémon relaxation area. Just don't forget your tags when heading out."
He turned to Boldore specifically. "And you—be careful not to get lost, and for Arceus' sake, don't fall into the ocean."
The three nodded fervently, then dispersed.
Pidgeot stretched its wings and soared to the balcony, perching comfortably on a tree-trunk-style climbing frame.
Combusken took Boldore to the small Pokémon playroom, where a variety of Pokémon toys awaited them.
Satisfied, Tetsuya lay back on his bed and dozed off.
"Woooo~"
The deep sound of the ship's horn echoed through the air, stirring Tetsuya and his Pokémon from their slumber.
He groggily sat up, rubbing his messy hair and squinting against the sunlight filtering through the curtains.
Outside, the scenery was breathtaking.
The endless blue sea stretched beyond the horizon, sparkling under the morning sun. Flocks of flying-type Pokémon glided through the sky, calling to each other. In the distance, the silhouette of a lighthouse stood tall against the backdrop of the ocean.
The soft warmth of the early morning sun, the salty breeze—everything was peaceful, refreshing.
A perfect way to start a new day.
Tetsuya yawned, stretching lazily before heading to the bathroom to freshen up. After washing up, the once disheveled boy transformed back into his usual sharp, refreshed self.
After feeding his Pokémon breakfast, he let them roam freely again.
Pidgeot wanted to go for a morning flight, while Boldore opted to stay behind and rest in the room.
Combusken hesitated for a moment before deciding to follow Tetsuya outside for some exercise.
Reminding Pidgeot to return by noon, Tetsuya slipped on a casual outfit, donned a pair of sunglasses, and made his way down to the first deck with Combusken by his side.
Many passengers had their Pokémon with them, though most were small, pet-like species—Pokémon like Pichu, Eevee, or Meowth. These were companions rather than battle partners.
However, a few trainers had combat-ready Pokémon with them, though even they tended to favor smaller ones.
Only a handful brought out massive Pokémon, like a Snorlax. Fortunately, the St. Ann's deck was reinforced to handle their weight.
Grabbing breakfast from a stall, Tetsuya decided against eating inside the restaurant. Instead, he headed out to the deck, leaning against the railing as he enjoyed his meal, the sea breeze ruffling his hair.
He took slow bites of his sandwich, occasionally sipping from a bottle of rich, creamy milk. The laid-back pace of the morning was intoxicating.
Beside him, Combusken attempted to imitate his relaxed posture.
Unfortunately, standing at only 1.35 meters, the Fighting-type couldn't quite see over the railing. Only the top of its feathered head peeked through.
After struggling for a moment, it gave up and tugged on Tetsuya's sleeve. "Combusken!"
Tetsuya followed its gaze to a designated Pokémon beach—a man-made sandy area built specifically for land-dwelling Pokémon that couldn't swim. Various Pokémon were playing there.
"Go ahead. Just remember to come find me at noon."
Combusken chirped happily in agreement before dashing toward the beach.
Tetsuya shook his head with a chuckle, finishing his meal before tossing his trash into a recycling bin.
Now, it was time for his real morning agenda.
Heading up to the third deck, he made his way toward the battle arenas.
"Raticate, use Hyper Fang!"
"Butterfree, dodge and use Psychic to push it back!"
"Scyther, finish it off!"
"Leavanny, counter with Iron Tail!"
The moment Tetsuya stepped into the battle area, a cacophony of commands and cheers filled the air.
Trainers barked out orders, their Pokémon clashing in intense duels, while onlookers cheered and jeered from the sidelines.
Tetsuya took his time scanning the area, observing the battles with keen interest.
Among them, one stood out—a Scyther, its emerald body gleaming as it darted around with incredible speed, slicing through opponents with deadly precision. It had already taken down three or four opponents in a row.
"Not bad," Tetsuya murmured.
Its trainer was likely one of the Gym Leader heirs with elite-level Pokémon, participating in this competition.
"Looks like I've found someone worth watching."
With that, Tetsuya continued surveying the battlefield, looking for his next potential rival.
Tetsuya quickly scanned the faces of several powerful trainers, but unfortunately, none of the notable names appeared.
Checking the time, he saw it was 8:30 in the morning. Most trainers would likely be at the training grounds at this hour.
He found a place to sit down, pulled up the watch interface, and started watching battle videos. Since he planned to spend the next three mornings here, he might as well pass the time by observing battles while keeping an eye out for potential future opponents. He had no intention of being like Reiji, who recklessly challenged unfamiliar trainers just to gauge their strength. That was a surefire way to expose your own abilities unnecessarily.
Thinking about it, Tetsuya couldn't help but scoff—no sane person would do such a thing.
For the afternoon, he considered asking Pidgeot to accompany him while he fished for wild Pokémon in the sea. He figured that after a fun morning, Combusken would likely drag Boldore along to continue playing in the afternoon. He knew his Pokémon well. Occasionally, he could also take a break and go for a swim to unwind.
Simply perfect.
Tetsuya had no idea that his routine was slowly starting to resemble that of a middle-aged man.
The entire morning passed uneventfully—none of the trainers he was watching out for had shown up.
He shut off the video and stretched, shaking the numbness from his legs after sitting for three hours. But he wasn't disappointed—after all, most trainers had probably boarded the St. Anne to enjoy themselves. Training sessions were private affairs, and people tended to keep their regimens under wraps.
In this world, prying into another trainer's training methods was considered a serious offense—akin to trying to steal someone's family secrets in ancient times. If it hadn't been Brock last time, someone he trusted, and if Brock hadn't made his intentions clear, Tetsuya would have been far less receptive.
Otherwise, had it been someone else, Tetsuya might have found an opportunity to deal with them in the wild.
Coming up to someone out of the blue and asking about their Pokémon training methods? That was practically a death wish.
After stretching, he decided to call Combusken back and return to his room. By the time he arrived, Pidgeot was already standing on the balcony.
"Hey, you're back. Had fun flying?"
"Beep!" Pidgeot let out a cheerful cry.
Tetsuya chuckled. It seemed like it had a great time. Birds of prey needed the open sky to stretch their wings.
Boldore also emerged from the small Pokémon room, greeting its trainer before being pulled aside by Combusken. The two whispered about something, clearly conspiring.
Tetsuya didn't bother interrupting them. Instead, he started preparing lunch for his Pokémon. He ordered room service to bring up some bread, beef, lettuce, tomatoes, and potatoes.
Today, he decided to make burgers.
Come to think of it, hamburgers didn't seem to be a common food in this world—or at least not in the Kanto region. He wasn't entirely sure. The world was vast, with different customs and cuisines, and he hadn't traveled much yet.
Still, sandwiches and burgers seemed like obvious foods to exist.
Of course, many traditional Chinese dishes were definitely absent in this world, which leaned heavily towards Japanese and Western cuisine.
"Maybe I should become a restaurant tycoon in the Pokémon world. How about calling myself the Pokémon Food Supplier?" Tetsuya mused, smirking as he worked in the small kitchen.
He quickly assembled two beef burgers and a side of fries, grabbed a cold drink from the fridge, and headed to the balcony.
Basking in the sunlight, burger in hand, sipping a refreshing iced drink, and munching on fries—this was the blissful life of a lazy trainer.
Adjusting his sunglasses, Tetsuya caught a glimpse of someone stepping onto the neighboring balcony. The figure seemed oddly familiar.
"Hey, Uncle Chiharu lives next door? Good afternoon!" he called out in surprise.
The middle-aged man stretching his muscles turned to look.
"Well, if it isn't Tetsuya! I didn't expect this." Chiharu Asakawa, the man who had asked Tetsuya about his family last night, grinned.
Tetsuya sipped his drink before realizing it was empty. He gestured to Combusken for another bottle. "Uncle, are you going fishing for Pokémon this afternoon?"
"Yeah, I'll head there in a bit. Why, you coming?" Chiharu responded while subtly appraising Tetsuya's Combusken.
Even though he wasn't a professional breeder, his experience as a veteran trainer allowed him to recognize a well-trained Pokémon when he saw one. Tetsuya's Combusken was in exceptional condition—its power and discipline were evident.
"Of course! I'll show you what it means to be the king of Pokémon fishing!" Tetsuya said confidently, finishing his meal and clapping his hands.
Chiharu chuckled. "Alright, we'll see about that."
As they left the room, chatting and laughing, Combusken and Boldore discreetly snuck off towards the amusement park.
"Be back in time for dinner!" Tetsuya called after them. The two Pokémon stiffened briefly before pretending not to hear and scampering away.
Chiharu laughed. "You've got a good bond with your Pokémon."
"Of course," Tetsuya replied without hesitation. "They're my family."
Chiharu gave him an approving nod. "That's exactly how it should be. Pokémon are more than just partners; they're our most trusted companions."
By the time they reached the fishing area, the place was already bustling with activity.
"Hey, the old man's still here," Tetsuya noted.
"Hello, Uncle Fuji," he greeted politely.
Chiharu, on the other hand, was far less formal. "You old geezer, the sun's going to roast you alive!"
"Dias, you damn vampire, you show up in the afternoon like always!"
Compared to Tetsuya's respectful approach, Chiharu's greeting style was more... rowdy.
"Asakawa Chiharu, you bastard, act like an adult for once! Look how polite Tetsuya is!"
"Who the hell are you calling a vampire, you damn lizard?!"
The bickering began instantly. Chiharu's strongest Pokémon was a Sceptile, so people often called him the "Dead Lizard." Meanwhile, Diaz—nicknamed "Vampire"—was known for his Gengar, a Pokémon whose battle tactics could sap an opponent's strength without them realizing.
The two were old rivals—and old friends.
Tetsuya ignored the childish argument and picked up a fishing rod. He whistled, and Pidgeot, soaring overhead, descended gracefully to his side.
The nearby trainers, seeing the identification tag on Pidgeot, paid no mind—registered Pokémon were allowed to be free here.
As he casually stroked Pidgeot's feathers with one hand and cast his fishing line with the other, Tetsuya exuded an effortless coolness.
An older trainer next to him sighed nostalgically.
"Ahh, to be young again..."