Pokémon: Chef Trainer

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Heath was oblivious to Brock's thoughts as he cheerfully saw him off after selling him some food. Then, he began tidying up his food cart, ensuring it looked spotless and inviting.

For Heath, appearances mattered. Dining wasn't just about taste; hygiene played a crucial role. After all, given a choice between a grimy kitchen and a clean, orderly one, the latter would win hands down.

Back when Heath was on Earth, he had once accidentally stepped into the kitchen of a restaurant he was eating at. The sight alone killed his appetite, and ever since, he had been meticulous about maintaining his own kitchen's cleanliness.

Serving Brock also brought him a small but pleasant surprise.

[You have served Brock. You receive: 1 Full Restore (Game Version).]

Initially, Heath wasn't particularly excited about receiving a Full Restore. After all, they were available at Poké Marts—albeit at a steep price of 10,000 League coins per bottle. But the "Game Version" suffix? That was a game-changer.

Game Version Full Restores were magical items: they could fully restore a Pokémon's health and cure all status conditions instantly, making them incredibly handy.

"Farfetch'd!" His Farfetch'd stared at him eagerly, hoping for another chance to make pancakes or fried rice. However, Heath sternly declined its request.

He had to conserve ingredients for customers. Running out of supplies would mean closing the cart early, and that wasn't ideal.

"Hey, Heath! Got any fried rice and drumsticks today?"

The familiar, aged voice made Heath look up. It was an elderly man accompanied by a weathered Charizard.

"Oh, it's Grandpa Mack! Of course, I do. But you might have to wait a bit," Heath replied, quickly pulling out a chair for the old man to sit.

"You're always so considerate, Heath. Same as usual for me, then," the old man chuckled as he sat down.

Mackenzie was an elderly customer with a full head of white hair, lined wrinkles, and age spots dotting his face. Yet, he carried himself with vigor, standing tall and walking unaided by a cane.

Heath recalled the first time he served Grandpa Mackenzie—during a breakfast rush. The old man had bought a pancake from him and, since then, had become a loyal regular.

Heath skillfully prepared the fried rice, using soft, freshly cooked rice—perfect for someone with less-than-stellar teeth. As for the drumstick, he pulled a tender, braised one from his broth pot, adding it to the fried rice before serving it to Charizard.

Charizard gave a toothy grin, revealing a set of worn, aged teeth. Most of its fangs were gone, save for two canines that remained. It was clear that Grandpa Mackenzie's orders were never for himself—they were always for his old companion.

Heath still remembered their first interaction. Grandpa Mackenzie had asked him why his pancakes were so soft and easy to chew. When Heath explained it was to accommodate elderly customers, the old man had beamed with delight and brought Charizard the next time, asking if Heath could prepare something suitable for it.

Back then, it was Heath's first attempt at cooking for Pokémon. But he realized it wasn't much different from cooking for humans—though Charizard's advanced age required special attention.

As Charizard dug into its meal, it reflexively breathed out a plume of fire, slightly charring the drumstick. Heath chuckled and shook his head. Some things never changed.

Even in its twilight years, Charizard always let out a burst of fire during meals, as if proving to its Trainer that it still had fight left in it. However, Grandpa Mackenzie never indulged this display, often chiding it.

"You're too old for this! One of these days, you'll throw out your back or break your bones in a battle!" the old man scolded, glaring at Charizard.

"Rawr…" Charizard whimpered, munching on its fried rice while bickering with its Trainer.

Heath watched the exchange with a smile. Since arriving in this world, he had noticed that, apart from the existence of Pokémon and some futuristic tech, most things here were surprisingly similar to Earth.

By now, breakfast hours had ended, and the streets of Viridian City were less crowded, giving Heath a rare moment of peace.

[You have served Charizard. You receive: TM35 Fire Punch (One-Time Use).]

Heath rubbed his chin, intrigued. Was it possible to earn TMs by serving Pokémon? The idea excited him. If he could serve Legendary Pokémon like Mewtwo or Mew, would he get their signature moves?

Moves like Precipice Blades or Roar of Time weren't just a dream, then.

By that logic, even Legendary Pokémon would pale in comparison to his Farfetch'd, Heath mused with a grin.

"Thanks a lot, Heath. Here's the payment." Mackenzie left 25 League coins on the counter before strolling away with his Charizard.

Watching the pair bicker as they walked, Heath couldn't help but laugh. The elderly man and his Charizard were endearing.

However, seeing Charizard's hunched figure and Grandpa Mackenzie's deliberately slowed pace made Heath sigh. How much longer could Charizard hold on?

Since arriving in this world, Heath had learned two hard truths: first, he was in the world of Pokémon. Second, both Pokémon and humans here faced the inevitability of death. The Pokémon Tower in Lavender Town stood as a solemn reminder of this reality, housing countless departed Pokémon.

[Serve 10 Trainers to unlock a random important clue.]

Heath stared at the new task that appeared in his system. So, there were quests too?

At least there were no penalties—no ominous phrases like "erasure upon failure." That was a relief.

"Ten Trainers, huh? The fastest way would be… there." Heath glanced toward the Viridian City Gym. Giovanni was still a dutiful Gym Leader at this point.

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