Pokémon: Starting with a Bound Entry System

Chapter 210: How Did This Turn Into a Bonding Session?

"Garde?" (What about you, Hikaru? What fulfills you emotionally?)

Gardevoir tilted her head slightly, deep in thought, before asking her question.

Her words caught Hikaru off guard. He blinked, then let out a chuckle.

"Me? My emotional fulfillment is pretty simple. Look at us right now. We're eating noodles, while the other two trainers are still struggling against Ghost Pokémon outside."

"Doesn't that thought make you feel pretty good?"

"What about you, Gardevoir? What do you enjoy? Last time I asked if you had any goals, you didn't say anything."

Hikaru slurped up the last bite of noodles, then lifted his bowl to drink the soup. Once satisfied, he turned back to Gardevoir.

He had asked her before.

Drawing had been a training exercise—it helped young Ralts refine her psychic abilities. But once she evolved into Gardevoir, she stopped drawing altogether.

That alone told Hikaru that art wasn't really her thing.

But what was?

What truly made her happy?

"Garde?"

Gardevoir seemed startled by the question. She hesitated for a moment—then, much to Hikaru's confusion, she stood up and placed a hand on his head.

And then—

She messed up his hair.

Her delicate fingers ruffled his already-too-long bangs, completely messing up his vision.

"What the—Gardevoir?! What are you doing?!"

With his sight completely blocked, Hikaru was beyond confused. He quickly grabbed her hand, pulling it away from his face.

"Garde~" (Hehe~)

Gardevoir giggled, her green eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Garde~" (That's my emotional fulfillment!)

"…Messing with me?!"

Hikaru stared at her, stunned.

Was she seriously saying that her greatest joy was pranking her own trainer?!

"So I have to be on guard around you now, huh?"

"Garde~" (Hehe~)

She didn't answer, just grinned.

She knew Hikaru wouldn't really be mad at her.

"Still… I really do need a haircut soon."

Hikaru ran a hand through his messy bangs, mumbling to himself.

Meanwhile—

Outside, Ghost Pokémon continued drifting past his house.

Though they lurked nearby, they no longer attacked.

Even those that lingered at his window—like the three tiny Phantump staring hungrily at his noodles—didn't dare barge in.

They were too weak.

Even if they wanted to, they lacked the confidence to compete with the stronger Pokémon attacking the other two houses.

So—

They just sat there, their little ghostly eyes filled with longing.

"Sorry, guys. No more food. And I don't have any Ghost-type energy cubes for you either, so you should probably go."

As soon as Hikaru spoke—

The three Phantump yelped in fright and vanished into the shadows.

With them gone, Hikaru stood up.

"Alright, you two hold down the fort. I'm gonna wash the dishes."

Seeing both Pokémon finish their food, Hikaru nodded approvingly.

There was no greater joy for a chef than seeing their food completely devoured.

But before he could even take a step, a mysterious force pushed him back into his seat.

He blinked.

A gentle voice followed.

"Garde~" (I'll do it, Hikaru.)

She didn't even wait for a response.

The empty bowls and chopsticks floated into the air—

And smoothly glided into the kitchen under her Psychic control.

Hikaru blinked again.

"Uh… Thanks?"

Gardevoir hummed softly as she levitated the dishes to the sink.

The true power of Psychic-types—Automatic Dishwashing.

As the weight of her Psychic grip lifted from his body, Hikaru shrugged.

She wasn't wrong—her telekinesis was way more efficient than handwashing.

"Alright, just make sure you dry them properly."

"Garde." (Understood.)

With that, Gardevoir floated into the kitchen.

Which meant—

For the first time in a while—

Hikaru was alone with Latias.

As Gardevoir busied herself with the dishes, Hikaru turned toward Latias.

She had flown over to the window, staring outside.

Curious, Hikaru approached.

"Latias? What are you looking at?"

But before he could get close—

She grabbed his hand excitedly and pulled him forward.

"Hikaru, look at the sky!"

Latias pointed upward, eyes shimmering.

Hikaru followed her gaze.

And he saw it.

The sky—

Which had been shrouded in heavy clouds for days—

Was suddenly clearer than before.

The dense black fog that had covered the town thinned, turning into wisps of mist in the air.

Through the gaps, faint stars twinkled—

Scattered like gems on a darkened canvas.

The contrast between the shimmering starlight above—

And the glowing Ghost Pokémon below—

Created a breathtaking image.

A world of light and darkness intertwined.

"Hikaru… I want to go see it up close."

Latias turned to him, her crimson eyes filled with wonder and excitement.

"Can I?"

Hikaru chuckled.

"Why are you asking me? If you want to go, then go."

"Really?! Yay~"

Latias nuzzled against his cheek before soaring out the window, vanishing into the night.

At that moment—

Gardevoir floated back into the room, dishes cleaned and dried.

The flowing white fabric of her dress made her look eerily ghostlike in the dim lighting.

Hikaru smirked.

"You kinda look like a ghost right now."

Gardevoir's cheerful smile immediately fell.

She floated closer, her voice suddenly taking on a playful threat.

"Garde." (Then I'll haunt your dreams tonight, Hikaru.)

Hikaru burst out laughing.

Gardevoir huffed, but instead of retaliating, she simply pulled over a chair—

And sat beside him at the window.

Outside, Ghost Pokémon continued to roam the town.

Compared to the first night, their average level had risen significantly.

Instead of mostly entry-level Pokémon, there were now more elite and gym-level Ghost-types.

But—

There were far fewer of them.

Even so—

There were no unexpected incidents tonight.

And so—

Hikaru and Gardevoir simply sat together, gazing at the night sky.

Eventually—

Latias returned, transformed into her human form, and quietly picked up her sketchbook.

She began to draw.

The image she painted was exactly what she had seen—

A world where two "skies" existed.

One below, where the Ghost Pokémon glowed like fallen stars.

One above, where real stars shimmered faintly beyond the mist.

In the monitoring room—

The elders stared at the screen in silence.

And after a long pause—

Someone finally muttered—

"How did this challenge… turn into a bonding session?"

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