Flint stepped forward, removing his hat and fake mustache. "Brock… I'm truly sorry for being gone all these years."
Brock froze for a moment upon seeing him, then called out with mild surprise, "Dad."
There wasn't much emotional fluctuation in his voice—probably because years of caring for his younger siblings had worn his edges smooth.
"Huh? Flint is Brock's dad?" Misty finally pieced it together. All the strange talk between Kazuki and Flint along the way suddenly made sense.
"I'm sorry. I've been running from this for far too long."
"Today, after witnessing this new Trainer battle so brilliantly against type disadvantages, I finally found the courage to face things."
"I'm back now—to take on my responsibilities."
"Brock, you can go chase your dreams."
After hearing Flint's heartfelt confession, Brock smiled faintly, then turned to Kazuki and gave a respectful bow.
"Thank you, Kazuki. Not only did you show me an incredible counter-type battle, you also brought my father back to me."
"Here—this is the Boulder Badge. You've earned it."
"I believe you'll become a Pokémon Master someday!"
Kazuki accepted the badge and asked, "So what do you want to do next, Brock?"
"Me? I've always wanted to be a Pokémon Breeder," Brock said, pulling out a can of Pokémon food.
"Once I pass the family responsibilities to my dad, I'm going to go out and learn more about Pokémon care and training."
"Here, take this can—it's food that Rock-type Pokémon love."
"Maybe it'll help you catch a Rock-type!"
This time, the reward included a Metal Coat, and Kazuki had already been planning to capture an Onix.
Maybe even a Giant Onix, or a Crystal Onix…
Ha! Might as well dream big.
After all, he had the system on his side—so of course Kazuki accepted the gift gladly.
After chatting for a while, Brock began giving Flint instructions on caring for the younger siblings.
Meanwhile, Kazuki and Misty headed to the Pokémon Center to rest and heal their Pokémon.
As they stepped out the stone gate, a delightful string of notification chimes echoed in Kazuki's ears.
[Ding! Master of Type Disadvantage mission progress: 1/3 completed. ]
[Ding! Defeated Pewter Gym. Received Boulder Badge. Reward item "Metal Coat" added to system inventory. ]
[Ding! Enlightened Flint and restored him to his family. Reward "Aura Power" has been granted!]
The moment the Aura Power prompt ended, Kazuki felt as if time and space around him had frozen.
Thump, thump, thump…
His heart pounded rapidly. Every rustle of grass, every breath of wind—he could perceive them all in crystal clarity.
"Pika?"
Even Pikachu seemed to sense the surge in Kazuki's strength, tilting its head curiously at him.
"Shh!"
Kazuki's mental power had grown absurdly strong. Just a single hush conveyed everything to Pikachu, who instantly understood the silent command.
"Pika pika!"
Pikachu nodded obediently.
With the boost from Aura Power, Kazuki's spiritual strength and sensory perception had improved drastically. It was time to start considering Psychic-type and Fairy-type Pokémon.
"Hmm? What are you two whispering about again?" Misty, though unable to sense the aura, had grown familiar enough with Kazuki to catch subtle expressions.
"Nothing much! I was just saying that now that I've earned my first badge, I'm treating you to dinner," Kazuki casually fibbed.
"Oooh! In that case, I want a feast!" Misty quickly latched onto Kazuki's arm and started listing food: "Beef… Ice cream…"
Perhaps Misty herself hadn't noticed—now that they'd left Viridian Forest and she was no longer startled by bugs, she had grown used to holding Kazuki's arm. It no longer felt strange; it simply felt… right.
Kazuki glanced at Misty and smiled with satisfaction. Looks like their intimacy hadn't diminished after that incident—in fact, it had only grown stronger.
It seemed the Romance Side Mission was well on its way to completion!
After dropping off their Pokémon for treatment at the Pokémon Center, Kazuki took Misty out for a big meal.
Along the way, Misty skipped about, wandering left and right, only to bounce back to Kazuki and naturally hold his arm again. They truly looked like a couple out on a date.
After eating their fill, the two returned to the Pokémon Center to rest.
The next morning, Misty challenged Pewter Gym herself. As a Water-type Trainer, she couldn't miss the chance to win a badge with type advantage.
But even with the advantage, her battle wasn't any easier than Kazuki's.
When Misty finally earned the Boulder Badge after a hard-fought match, she truly understood how strong Kazuki already was.
Still, she didn't feel nervous anymore. In fact, the idea of showing off her swimsuit in front of Kazuki didn't bother her at all—it even felt like a good chance to show him her beauty.
It was as if, deep in Misty's heart, she had already accepted that her relationship with Kazuki had progressed.
After restocking their supplies in Pewter City, the two of them set out once more—continuing their journey together.
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Omg, can we hit 200 power stones?! If we reach the goal, I'll upload oneextra chapter! Every vote helps so much! Thank you! 😊
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