“Find a way? What do you mean?”

  Iono tilted her head, looking fused as Naoki’s words sank in.

  She had only been introdug Grusha’s situation to Naoki and hadn’t expected him to suggest helping.

  And… was something like that even possible?

  Naoki didn’t dwell on her rea. He returo the kit, bringing out the freshly prepared dishes aing them oable.

  As they begaing, Iono couldn’t help but g Naoki repeatedly. Her hesitation to speak was obvious. Naoki noticed and decided to address the situation directly. Turning to Grusha, he asked, “I heard you injured y some time ago. How is it feeling now?”

  Grusha froze for a moment, caught off guard by the question.

  After a brief pause, he responded, “I walk normally, but I o longer harenuous activity.”

  Even a slight push could bring a sharp, throbbing pain to his leg.

  “I see,” Naoki murmured, nodding thoughtfully. “Well, let me take a look after lunch. Maybe I help.”

  Grusha blinked, surprised. “Are you a dor. Naoki?”

  “No,” Naoki replied with a small chuckle. “But I have a remedy that works wonders for both humans and Pokémon alike. It’s worth a try.”

  Grusha’s usual calm demeanan to waver. He could sehe genuine care in Naoki’s voice. While he had little hope of recovery after so many failed treatments, he nodded politely. “Thank you. I appreciate the effort.”

  Naoki offered a reassuring smile before fog ba the meal.

  After lunaoki approached Calyrex, who was loungihe ranch garden, and expined Grusha’s dition.

  Calyrex, intrigued, agreed to help. Floating gracefully toward the living room, the legendary Pokémoed a faint blue glow as it sed Grusha’s right leg with psychiergy.

  Grusha sat on the sofa, uo hide his astonishment as a soothing blue light enveloped his injured leg.

  After a few moments, Calyrex opes eyes and spoke telepathically. “The injury was severe. I see evidence of fractures that never healed properly.”

  Grusha stared at his leg in disbelief before looking back at Calyrex, his mind rag.

  “ it be healed?” Naoki asked, his voice steady but hopeful.

  Calyrex nodded calmly. “With my Heal Pulse and a dose of Gogoat’s Life Milk, his injury be fully restored.”

  Without hesitation, Naoki fetched a bottle of Life Milk from the refrigerator, pg it oable.

  Grusha’s disbelief deepened. Did Calyrex just say his injury could be healed? How could that be possible after years of pain and unsuccessful treatments?

  But… what if it were true?

  Grusha felt a flicker of hope he hadn’t dared to eain for years.

  Iono, who had been silently, finally spoke up. “Wait… Grusha’s injury really be healed?!”

  Naoki smiled fidently. “Calyrex believes so. The bination of Heal Pulse and Life Milk should do the trick. Go ahead and drink this while Calyrex begins treatment.”

  Grusha hesitated, eyeing the bottle. The bel depicted an adorable illustration of a Gogoat, and he reized it as the same milk Naoki had used earlier to restore an injured Pokémon.

  Taking a deep breath, Grusha picked up the bottle and began drinking. The milk was rid soothing, filling him with warmth.

  Calyrex floated closer, its body radiating soft pink energy as waves of healing power emanated from it. The magical energy enveloped Grusha’s leg, seeping deep into the bone and tissue.

  Seds ticked by. Then, with a serene smile, Calyrex announced, “It is done.”

  Grusha stared at his leg in stunned silence. A f warmth coursed through his limb, unlike anything he had felt sihe act.

  Tentatively, he stood up. The movement was smooth and free of paiook a step, then another. His pace quied until he was running and jumping, his joy evident in every movement.

  Naoki, watg the transformation, couldn’t help but smile. “Why not take a proper run outside?” he suggested.

  Grusha nodded eagerly, and the group followed him out to the ranch. Surrounded by Pokémon, Grusha tested his leg by sprinting across the field and perf agile leaps. His face, often stoid cold, now bore a radiant smile.

  For the first time in years, he felt whole.

  Naoki observed the se a out a tented sigh. “At this rate, I might bee Paldea’s most famous doctor.”

  Hearing this, Iono turo him, her expression pyful. “With skills like that, maybe you already are!”

  Naoki ughed, scratg the back of his head. But when he g Iono, he noticed her eyes sparkling with admiration.

  “What?” he asked, his curiosity piqued.

  Iono grinned mischievously. “Your hairstyle looks really ght now.”

  Naoki blushed faintly. pliments weren’t something he was used to. “Well, uh, thanks,” he muttered, trying to brush it off.

  Iono shifted the versatioone more serious. “Have you treated many people like this before?”

  Naoki shook his head. “Not people, no. Grusha was the first. But I’ve helped plenty of traireat their Pokémon.”

  “That Pokémon was seriously injured. With the current state of medical teology, there was no way to fully cure it. If nothing had been do wouldn’t have survived,” Naoki said, his voice soft but firm.

  Iono’s eyes widened as she began to uand. A grin spread across her face as she chimed in, “That trainer must have been overjoyed, right?”

  Naoki smiled faintly, recalling Alder’s heartfelt gratitude. “Yes. He was incredibly thankful—and he even helped me out a lot iurn.”

  At that moment, Grusha came running bato the room. His face was flushed, his expression animated, and without warning, he pulled Naoki into a big, enthusiastic hug.

  Naoki froze in surprise. “???”

  Grusha released him after a moment, his face brimming with gratitude. “Thank you, Naoki. Truly, thank you.”

  Realizing what this was about, Naoki chuckled warmly. “You’re wele. It was just a small favor.”

  Grusha shook his head adamantly. “No. No matter how small you think it was, I o thank you properly.”

  Before Naoki could reply, a group of Pokémon began gathering around Grusha, their excitement evident in their sparkling eyes and eager expressions.

  Naoki gestured toward them. “Your Pokémon were worried about you too.”

  Grusha turo face his Pokémon—his loyal panions who had stayed by his side through thid thin.

  There they stood: Frosmoth, Beartic, Cetitan, Weavile, and Altaria. Eae’s gaze was filled with joy and relief as they looked at their trainer.

  Grusha’s expression softened, and his eyes glistened with uears. “Everyone… I’m sorry for making you worry all this time.”

  “Wooo~!”

  Altaria, standing at the forefront, let out a melodious cry before stepping closer.

  Grusha k down aly stroked its head, his movements tender and full of affe.

  Seeing this, the other Pokémon eagerly crowded around him, their happiness palpable. Grusha reached out to eae, a touch or a word of gratitude.

  Naoki stood back, the heartwarming se unfold. A smile tugged at the ers of his lips. “Is this the real Grusha?” he asked.

  Iono grinned, her vibrant energy returning. “Yep! That’s the Grusha I remember—lively and full of life!”

  “It’s quite the surprise,” Naoki admitted, his tone lighthearted.

  After spending a few more moments with his Pokémon, Grusha approached Naoki and Iono, his expression radiant.

  “gratutions, Grusha!” Iono cheered, her enthusiasm iious.

  Naoki raised an eyebroyful glint in his eye. “So, what are your pns now? Are you going to stay as the Gym Leader of Gseado Mountain, or are you thinking about returning to petitive snowb?”

  Grusha g Naoki, then at Iono, a serene smile grag his face. “I remember something you oold me, Iono—that the past is the past, and we should look forward.”

  Iono nodded enthusiastically. “That’s right! Have you figured things out now?”

  Grusha’s gaze turned resolute. “Yes. The past is behind me. From now on, I’ll focus on the present. I am Grusha, the Gym Leader of Gseado Mountain Gym. I want to live alongside my Pokémon and embrace the challenges of being a trainer.”

  The Pokémon standing behind him let out cheers and cries of encement, eg their trainer’s renewed determination.

  “I’m gd to hear that,” Naoki said with a grin. “Holy, I was a little worried you’d quit being a Gym Leader to return to the petitive se. If that happened, I’m sure the Chief would have e to give me an earful!”

  Grusha ughed heartily, the sound warm and genuine.

  Iono, picturing the sario, chuckled as well. “Oh, the Chief wouldn’t scold you. She’d probably just drag you over to Gseado Mountain and make you run the Gym!”

  The group shared a ugh.

  “Fet it then!” Naoki shook his head repeatedly. “It’s way too cold up there at Gseado Mountain. Cyclizar would never be able to adjust to that kind of enviro.”

  Meanwhile, at the headquarters of the Paldea League…

  Geeta, busy and utterly drained from dealing with reports of wild Pokémon causing havod disrupting the city’s power systems, suddenly sneezed several times in succession.

  She frowned slightly but quickly brushed it off as insignifit.

  From her spot leaning against the doorframe, Rika crossed her arms and observed Geeta with an amused expression. Notig the tiny crystal-shaped buds woven into Geeta’s hair, she quipped, “Chief, maybe it’s time you took a break.”

  Without turning around, Geeta replied firmly, “There’s still work that o be done. Speaking of which, did you see the report about the bckout in Levincia yesterday?”

  Rika sighed. “You already assighat task to Tulip this m. She’s probably on-site handling it by now.”

  “Oh,” Geeta murmured, her tone lightening. Putting her pen down, she chuckled awkwardly. “In that case, I suppose I really should take a break.”

  Rika pihe bridge of her nose, exasperated. “You’re impossible sometimes, you know that?”

  ...

  Grusha and Ioually left the ranch, each returning to their respective gyms to tiheir duties.

  Life at the ranch resumed its peaceful rhythm, as though nothing unusual had occurred. However, Naoki began notig something peculiar—Cyclizar had bee increasingly gy.

  After Cyclizar bounded over to lick his hand for the thirty-eighth time that week, Naoki finally reached his limit.

  “Don’t pick up bad habits from Koraidon!” Naoki scolded, trying to sound stern.

  “Gaooo…” Cyclizar responded, its eyes wide and pitiful.

  Meanwhile, Koraidon, who had been lounging nearby, tilted its head ily and chirped, “Raao!”

  It was clear Koraidon didn’t think it had done anything wrong. Well, teically, it hadn’t—because Cyclizar had been copying its behavior all on its own.

  Feeling Koraidon’s guilty gnaoki sighed. “Oh, so it was you who taught Cyclizar this?”

  Koraidon quickly looked away, turning its back to Naoki and pretending to nap. Its body nguage all but screamed guilt.

  Naoki rubbed his temples, exasperated. “Cyclizar, ready for battle!” he called out suddenly.

  Cyclizar blinked, fused by the sudden and. It darted its gaze around the room, searg for a foe but found none.

  Even Koraidon, startled awake, looked around to assess the situation.

  “Cyclizar, use Lick… on Koraidon!” Naoki instructed with mock seriousness.

  “Gao?!” Cyclizar’s eyes widened in disbelief as it turo look at Koraidon, who stared back at it with equal horror.

  her of them moved for a moment, their shared look of disgust palpable.

  Cyclizar finally let out a panicked cry and bolted from the room, heading for a shady er of the ranch. There, it sprawled out zily, relieved to have avoided the ridiculous “battle.”

  Cyclizar was tent. Being close to Naoki was worth all the awkwardness. It silently thanked Iono for the encement that had helped it build this bond.

  Meanwhile, Koraidon stretched leisurely, ambling over to Naoki. Notig Naoki watg Cyclizar run off, it tilted its head and chirped, “Raao?”

  Naoki furrowed his brow. “Have you noticed? Cyclizar’s been ag a little mischievous tely.”

  He paused, deep in thought. “Do Pokémon gh a rebellious phase? Or maybe Cyclizar’s behavior is more like a human teerying to get attention…”

  Hearing this, Koraidon immediately uood what was going on.

  “Ah, gah…”

  At that moment, the videophone in the living r, interrupting his musings.

  Naoki walked over to ahe call. The s lit up with Geeta’s posed face, her usual air of authority softened by a satisfied smile.

  “Well done, Naoki,” she begaone warm.

  Naoki blinked in fusion. “I’m sorry, what?”

  Geeta eborated, “I heard about everything from Iono and Grusha. You helped Grusha heal his injury, overe his emotional struggles, and strehe Gseado Mountain Gym in the process.”

  “I’m gd you were willing to support him. So tell me—what reward would you like? On behalf of the Paldea League, I want to thank you properly.”

  Naoki stared bnkly at the s. “A reward?” he echoed, dumbfounded. Helping Grusha had never been about receiving anything iurn.

  Geeta, however, didn’t let him off the hook. “e on, don’t be modest. Do you want a rare Pokémon, cultivation items, evolution stones? Or perhaps something else? If the Paldea League doesn’t have it, I’ll use my personal resources to ensure you get what you want.”

  ...

  Bonus Chapter