Chapter 770: The Otaku Boy

Jiro and Meowth had many people they didn't want to see.

But if you asked who they most dreaded meeting,

aside from that scheming, bespectacled woman who exploited her position as the boss's secretary to boss them around, there was only this young man before them—whose smile seemed gentle, yet sent chills down their spines.

"W-welcome…"

Jiro's smile was stiff; Meowth's forehead dripped with cold sweat.

Logically, they weren't the type to be easily frightened—but what could they do when their secrets were in someone else's hands, especially now that they'd encountered yet another force they couldn't resist.

If not for their dreams, they'd have long since given up and surrendered.

The ox-cart driver frowned, "You know them?"

"We've crossed paths a few times. I never expected them to be selling—three-honey donuts here?" All All Baimu suddenly noticed the Team Rocket food cart wasn't selling Darmarada.

The driver quickly glanced at the sign and saw the Pokémon depicted was Wearing Bear, not Fat Sweetie, and awkwardly laughed it off: "Sorry, sorry! Didn't see clearly in the dark!"

He hurried to add: "But everything in Alola tastes amazing! You won't regret buying it!"

"Moo—"

Tauros let out a long lowing, as if mocking its own Trainer.

Jiro and Meowth stayed silent as mice, their faces frozen in fake smiles, daring not to utter a single extra word.

All All Baimu turned to the expectant Corsola and said:

"I'll take four."

"Right away, sir!"

Meowth jolted, nudging Jiro beside him.

Jiro instantly snapped to, forcing a awkward grin as he began operating.

Four dough balls dropped into the hot oil.

Ssssshhhh—

The oil instantly boiled, releasing a mouthwatering aroma.

Hot steam brushed against his face.

All All Baimu gradually recalled many things from the Sun & Moon anime involving Team Rocket.

For instance, this Wearing Bear food cart.

Because Team Rocket sold three-honey donuts instead of Darmarada, no one bought anything and they lost money daily—Jiro had even complained about it.

Even though Darmarada and three-honey donuts were both fried dough treats at their core.

Also, in the forests of Melemele Island, there was a wild Wearing Bear—essentially a comic relief character, yet absurdly powerful.

It could perform qigong to walk on water and use one hand to spin a propeller, pretending to be a helicopter.

It had once wrestled with the Ultra Beast Buzzwole and held its own against Kingdra, earning many anime fans nicknames like "Bear God" and "Kapu-Bearbear."

Ever since it appeared, Team Rocket had never been able to finish saying "I hate this feeling"—each time, it rescued them in some absurd way.

Thanks to Wearing Bear's outstanding performance in the anime, All All Baimu had once held a strong fondness for it.

"Where are Musashi and Gourmand?"

He peered into the cart but saw no sign of the other two members of the trio.

Meowth's voice wavered: "Musashi… um… Musashi she… meow…"

Jiro, flipping the donuts with metal tongs, was drenched in sweat.

But he finally gathered his courage and whispered: "We didn't go to the Alola region, and Boss Sakaki never gave us orders to go there."

Months ago, they made a deal involving Team Rocket's possible invasion of the Alola region.

But since Sakaki never mentioned it again,

and instead assigned them the task of capturing Alola-exclusive Pokémon, they'd long since forgotten it in the back of their minds.

"Don't worry—I'm not here to cause you trouble, and I don't have time to bother with you."

All All Baimu gave a simple reply.

Clearly, it didn't reassure Jiro and Meowth at all.

He didn't plan to explain further. He took the wrapped three-honey donuts from Meowth, glanced at the price on the sign, placed the money down, and returned to the Tauros cart.

The driver immediately urged: "Giddyup!"

"Thank you for your patronage…"

Jiro and Meowth's smiles remained stiff until the Tauros cart vanished completely—then they each exhaled a long breath, exchanging glances.

"That guy came to Alola too, meow."

"We must tell Musashi right away!"

Their fear of All All Baimu outweighed even the joy of finally opening their business—proof of how terrifying it was to have your secrets held hostage.

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

Inside the rumbling Tauros cart.

The driver continued enthusiastically introducing Alola's tourist spots.

All All Baimu pulled out a donut and bit into it, handing the other three to Corsola, who waited eagerly.

"Hmm…"

The taste was indeed excellent.

The steaming donut was drizzled with three-honey and filled with sweet, sticky paste.

Hu Pa would love it.

He turned to look at Corsola beside him; its cheeks bulged as it chewed rapidly, like Pachirisu, occasionally flashing a happy expression.

"Kichido~"

"Eat slowly," All All Baimu said, smoothing its wind-tousled bangs.

The first familiar face he'd met upon arriving in Alola was Team Rocket—it made him marvel at how small the world was, and he was sure he'd encounter them again.

After all, the Alola Island Trials required venturing into the wild to challenge Ultra Beasts.

Melemele Island wasn't that big; wandering east and west, you'd inevitably bump into the Wearing Bear foraging for fruit and honey—and then stumble upon Team Rocket.

Shortly after.

All All Baimu's rented house arrived—

A large wooden cottage, just a short walk from the beach, resembling Professor Kukui's lab but larger.

"Not bad."

He thought it looked better than the photos.

He'd specifically consulted the agent when renting.

He requested a house with no other dwellings nearby, adjacent to an open beach, facing the sea with a view of the sunrise.

For the agent, everything else was easy—but the condition of having no neighboring houses was difficult; luckily, they delivered in the end.

"Have a great time in Alola! Don't miss the sunrise in one hour!"

"Moo—"

The driver and Tauros chorused together before driving off.

"Kichido!"

Corsola sprinted joyfully toward the cottage.

It had long dreamed of living in a seaside house, and unusually, it had voiced its preference when All All Baimu booked the place.

This changed their original plan to stay at a resort hotel to renting a seaside villa.

"The key's in the umbrella basket!"

All All Baimu shouted after Corsola's retreating back, his fingers deftly pulling out Poké Balls and enlarging them one by one before tossing them skyward.

Pop! Pop! Pop!

A series of white flashes erupted.

All All Baimu's entire Pokémon team appeared, each reacting differently to the new environment.

The most excited was Gigalith.

It spotted the sandy ground and immediately wanted to dig a hole—even though it was right by the sea.

"Dig, then fill it back!"

All All Baimu blocked Gigalith's charge and sternly warned it not to dig and leave like before.

Gigalith nodded dumbly: "Roar!"

Filling the dirt wasn't difficult.

"Meeelo~"

Shiny Milotic cheered, using its tail to grab Boldore's paw, dragging it into the sea to swim together.

Alola was warmer than Hoenn, but the air was sufficiently humid.

It loved this place.

"Guhhh…"

Boldore helplessly let Milotic drag it along—it actually preferred quietly admiring the moon.

For some reason, the moon here looked more beautiful than any it had ever seen before.

There's only one moon, right?

As Boldore plunged into the sea, it guessed it was probably just its imagination.

Maybe I'll ask the well-traveled Poliwhirl later.

Happiny and Poliwhirl II chased Gulpin into the wooden house, while Dracozolt and the recovered Shiny Gengar went to play in the sand.

Dracozolt scanned the surrounding environment.

Ah!

No strangers or unfamiliar Pokémon—perfect!

"How's it going?"

After equipping Gyarados with the vehicle, All All Baimu picked up the Galarian Sunflora lying on the ground like a rock and asked Dracozolt with a smile.

Another reason he rented this place was considering this guy's social anxiety.

At this stage, it has gradually grown accustomed to the presence of Bonsly and the others, occasionally peeking out even outside meal times.

It no longer pretends not to hear Happiny's concern, nor secretly begs it to leave.

It can now calmly accept care from its companions, aside from All All Baimu.

It sounds absurd.

Yet Dracozolt has already put forth effort beyond what any ordinary Pokémon could imagine.

As a result, every night before sleep, hearing its Trainer say, "You did great today, keep going tomorrow," fills it with determination.

"Ruuu~"

Dracozolt flicked its tail and floated toward the wooden house.

"Sshaa! Sshaa!"

Gyarados nudged All All Baimu's back with its three heads.

Ever since learning it could freely carry its Trainer through the air without fear of being stopped, it had been ecstatic.

"We'll talk when it's light. We'll talk when it's light!"

All All Baimu forcibly held down Gyarados, suppressing this overexcited giant.

Inside the wooden house.

Furniture was fully equipped and spaced apart according to his requirements, enough for Bonsly to move freely—

Of course, the Giant Steelix would prefer living outdoors.

All All Baimu walked around the house, confirmed internet and communication with Poliwhirl II, then arrived at the kitchen clattering with noise.

Happiny was sterilizing all the tableware.

"Happy!"

It happily gestured with its eyes toward the fridge, which, as expected, was packed with Alolan-exclusive fruits and vegetables.

The variety of berries hadn't changed much.

All All Baimu withdrew his gaze.

He understood: Happiny, seeing new ingredients, intended to show off.

But its new dishes usually fell into the category of dark cuisine—even Shiny Gengar, the most tolerant, would grimace after eating.

"Use ingredients sparingly."

After careful consideration, he reminded it in a way that wouldn't hurt its feelings.

Happiny was gentle in temperament, not stupid; even if it didn't understand his words, it could read his expression.

"Happy!"

It felt slightly offended and silently vowed to make this new dish a success!

Yet.

Before it could begin preparing the ingredients, All All Baimu called it outside.

Because the sun had risen.

A new day was beginning.

Clouds churned.

The horizon glowed white.

Brilliant sunlight gilded the edge of the sea.

It looked especially dazzling.

"Wishing you all the best."

All All Baimu and his Pokémon watched the beautiful sunrise, their hearts filled with hope for the future.

—

After the sun rose.

Alola awoke as if stirred from slumber, shifting from silence to bustle.

The most obvious sensation was the sudden appearance of numerous wild Pokémon on the beach in front of the house and in the woods behind—

Machamp striding past while punching, Sandshrew with a shovel stuck on its head, Alolan Exeggutor waddling as it walked, and so on.

They weren't afraid of All All Baimu, nor of Bonsly and the others, not even of the Giant Steelix.

They went about their own business.

"No wonder it's Alola."

All All Baimu stood outside, gazing at the small, preening Pikachu and Pidgeot on the roof.

In any other region, would wild Pokémon dare come this close to humans? Only Alola, with its emphasis on harmony between people, Pokémon, and nature, was unique.

N would surely love this place.

"Happy!"

Happiny's call came from inside the house.

He snapped back to attention and replied, "Coming!"

Breakfast time had come; he'd just eaten three honey donuts and wasn't particularly hungry.

But for the day's travels ahead, he needed to eat something.

"Breakfast is ready!"

He shouted to the Pokémon waiting outside, and only after hearing their responses did he enter the house.

Not long after.

The Pokémon returned one by one.

Only Bonsly and the Giant Steelix, the two heavyweights, remained outside.

The former could have entered, but didn't want the Giant Steelix to feel lonely outside, even though the latter never minded.

And when All All Baimu's household began eating breakfast.

Far across the beach.

Several blurred figures approached, moving at a brisk pace.

"Guhhh?"

Bonsly sensed something first, turned its head, and gazed far off—it saw a blond boy in a black hoodie.

Beside him walked a Night Form Lycanroc and a Moonlight Eevee.

They seemed to be jogging for exercise.

Is someone living nearby?

Bonsly felt it should alert All All Baimu, lifted its head, and barked: "Guhhh!"

Meanwhile.

Gragio slowly stopped his morning run.

He gazed far at the enormous Steelix in front of the wooden house, his delicate brow furrowing.

"A dominant Steelix? How could there be a wild Steelix on Melemele Island? And why has it become a dominant Pokémon? And why is it by the sea?"

Then.

He spotted Bonsly, and his first thought was that it was a companion Pokémon of the dominant one.

No, no, no.

A dominant Steelix was already strange enough—its companion being a Bonsly was even more absurd!

Gragio couldn't make sense of it.

Suddenly.

"Awooo!"

"Bulaa!"

Night Form Lycanroc and Moonlight Eevee both called out, alerting their Trainer.

Gragio looked again and immediately saw the "bowl" in front of Bonsly and the Giant Steelix, then noticed the open door of the wooden house—he suddenly understood.

"So there's a Trainer's Pokémon!"

His curiosity was piqued.

A Steelix large enough to be mistaken for a dominant Pokémon was an extremely rare sight—likely incredibly powerful.

Gragio resolved to challenge this Trainer.

But.

He had no intention of confronting them directly; unlike the usual norm of eye contact meaning battle, he preferred issuing a formal challenge.

"Go, Moonlight Eevee! Deliver this challenge to their Trainer!"

Gragio patted Moonlight Eevee's head.

The latter seized the challenge letter and sprinted forward, leaping onto the roof under the curious gaze of Bonsly and the Giant Steelix, then dropped the letter through the skylight.

Bonsly, Steelix: "?"

Gengar, in the house, staring at a sudden piece of paper in the rice bowl: "?"