Chapter 55: Springtime of the Ribbithead Frog~

"As expected, even with a higher base stat, I still lost……"

With a worried frown, Pulumiye sincerely praised, "Truly worthy of being Mr. Ash!"

"Huh? Do you know me?"

Ash was somewhat surprised,

Based on Pulumiye's previous behavior, he had thought she didn't know him at all.

"Of course I know! Mr. Ash is a proper five-time champion, and the kids at our school constantly talk about your battle history with Pikachu."

"Since that's the case, there's no need to hide it any further—come down, Latias! Please heal Fairy Eevee."

Ash called out,

Latias instantly canceled its invisible state and flew from the sky to everyone's side.

"Wow! Is this Latias? This is the first time I've seen one in person!"

Pulumiye's eyes were full of excitement, and while looking at Ash, she seemed to have something to say but held back.

Her cautious demeanor caught Ash's eye, and he immediately understood the key.

In my impression, Pulumiye is actually a teacher at a nearby kindergarten,

the children there are very enthusiastic about Pokemon,

therefore Pulumiye often catches passing trainers nearby, bringing the defeated captives to show their Pokemon interacting with the children.

This is also the truth behind the 'dates' Pulumiye mentions,

Pulumiye naturally wanted to ask Ash to let those little ones also see Latias, Ribbithead Frog, Pikachu, and Ash.

But having just lost the battle, Pulumiye felt embarrassed to bring it up.

At this moment,

Latias had already arrived beside the fallen Fairy Eevee, a pale green light continuously pouring down from Latias,

as the green light entered Fairy Eevee's body, her wounds gradually healed and disappeared, and her mosquito-coil-shaped eyes regained clarity.

"Eevee?"

Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?

Having gotten back to her feet and shaken her head, when Fairy Eevee's gaze fell on Pulumiye, Ash, and Ribbithead Frog,

she then remembered what had just happened,

"Eevee~"

After thanking Latias, Fairy Eevee gracefully approached everyone,

or perhaps, more accurately, she approached Ribbithead Frog!

Fairy Eevee extended her flowing ribbons, wrapping them around Ribbithead Frog's arm and pressing her head against his forearm.

"This……"

Everyone was shocked!

Is Fairy Eevee taken with Ribbithead Frog because she was defeated?

Noticing the crowd's surprised or dazed looks, Ribbithead Frog's old face flushed red, and he immediately tried to pull his arm free,

but since this wasn't a battle and his level was lower, he was naturally locked tight by Fairy Eevee's ribbons, unable to pull free at all.

Everyone seeing this burst into teasing glances, even Pikachu joining in the mockery of Ribbithead Frog.

"Pikapi~!" Not bad~

"Ribbit!!!" No way!!

Struggling in vain, Ribbithead Frog shyly turned his head to the side,

it seemed he didn't dislike the contact with this Fairy Eevee either.

Having withdrawn his gaze from the two Pokemon's interaction, as an old father Ash naturally couldn't miss the chance to create more opportunity for them.

He immediately looked at Pulumiye.

"You just mentioned the school and kids—what are they?"

"Well, that's a long story……"

Pulumiye first briefly introduced her job as a kindergarten teacher,

and then explained in full her reasons and purposes for actively challenging passing trainers and wild Pokemon in the surrounding area.

"It's to bring Pokemon back for the kids to broaden their horizons and enrich their after‑school lives! What a kind teacher!"

After feeling moved, Yurie showed a fluttering expression,

"I want Teacher Pulumiye! Please take my brother!"

She lunged forward at lightning speed, Yurie dropped to one knee and raised both hands,

"Yurie!!!"

Clemont's grating voice sounded from behind the crowd, his mechanical claw extending and yanking Yurie backward.

Ash gave an embarrassed laugh,

"Cough cough… Sorry, kids are just energetic, please bear with us!"

"No way! Don't forget, I take care of an even younger, more rambunctious bunch of kids every day!"

She said this while playfully winking at Ash,

My old heart feels like a maiden's!

This woman…… really isn't simple!

Serena thought to herself.

As they talked, everyone arrived at a kindergarten filled with greenery,

As soon as Pulumiye and Fairy Eevee appeared, a large group of children swarmed over.

"Ah! It's Teacher Pu Lu Mi Ye!"

"Teacher Pu Lu Mi Ye, is the Pokémon you brought today a Croakhead Frog?"

"Ma Sa Ka! Is this Croakhead Frog the boyfriend of fairy Eevee?"

"Croakhead!!!" Not at all! At least not yet!

The Croakhead Frog aloofly turned its head away.

However, the children's enthusiasm was not dampened by the Croakhead Frog's aloofness; instead, it grew even more fervent,

wanting to earn the Croakhead Frog's direct gaze,

and at the same time the children finally spotted Ash and Pikachu behind them.

"Huh? It's Pikachu!"

"And there's Latias and Ash!"

"Ash!"

"Ash!"

"Ash, can you give me an autograph?"

"Ash, can we take a group photo?"

"Ash, may I pat you?"

For an instant, the kindergarten doorway was bustling with voices, the noisy sounds echoing in everyone's heads.

Ash patiently dealt with each of these adoring brats' requests one by one,

while also not forgetting to press down the hand of the last little girl reaching for his vulnerable spot, averting the emergence of a female lecher.

"Ash is really liked by the kids!"

Serena, silently watching this scene, eyes sparkling, already imagined a future where the three of them frolic on a sunlit meadow.

"So warm! What a wonderful feeling!"

…

On a tree about a kilometer away from here,

the three members of Team Rocket each held a telescope, covertly peeking.

Xiao Cilang: "Ash's staff went to the kindergarten to pay a visit!"

The response to Xiao Cilang came from Wu Zang's iron fist,

Bang!

"What are you calling him, Ash? Have you forgotten our mission is to provide cover? Call him 'little brat', little brat, understand!!!"

"By the way, Miao Miao, why aren't you speaking?!"

Xiao Cilang, his face swollen and red, looked puzzled at Miao Miao between the two.

After pulling away the telescope, he suddenly realized Miao Miao's eyes were already filled with two red hearts.

"Ah~ how can that fairy Eevee be so cute, meow!"

Wu Zang rolled his eyes, "Honestly, even Miao Miao got captured; what on earth should we do?"

"In short… today's mission is also to catch Pikachu, then get blasted away!"

"That's right, completing the undercover support mission is the duty and mission of us Team Rocket elite operatives!"