Pokemon: I refuse to be a supporting character!

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Medical Office

"Why are you in such a rush? Just because someone else evolved?"

Li Xiang held the inexplicably anxious Litten in his arms, pinching the scruff of its neck lightly.

After witnessing a Charmander evolve at level 14 and seeing the massive boost in its power, the self-proclaimed "Charmander nemesis" Litten had become visibly uneasy.

It had fallen behind.

Despite reaching level 14 not long ago after a growth spurt, why could others evolve while it couldn't? Litten, with its highly competitive spirit, couldn't understand or accept the idea of individual differences.

Once the Charmander evolved into Charmeleon, its base stats skyrocketed. Factoring in Lin Feng's training, the Charmeleon's progress likely rivaled Litten's, closing the gap and even hinting at the possibility of keeping pace.

While the specifics were unclear, the sheer power of its moves suggested significant growth.

Moreover, the effects of training supplements diminished with overuse. Since it was impossible to achieve instant results, progress would inevitably slow.

Litten could feel its own stagnation, so its frustration was understandable.

"Meow!"

It protested, pressing its paw pads against Li Xiang's stomach. It resembled the motion of a cat kneading but was, in fact, venting its anger.

The force was heavier than it appeared.

Though Li Xiang outwardly seemed calm, his stomach had already started to cramp.

"If I throw up my lunch, I'll shave off all your fur, leaving only your paws, face, and tail—just like that Meowth we saw earlier," he whispered.

Litten froze mid-motion, recalling the photo Li Xiang had shown it earlier. It stopped immediately.

Even cats had their pride! Besides, if it really got shaved, Riolu would definitely give it one of its signature condescending looks. That would be utterly infuriating.

"Meow~"

Litten chose to rub its head against Li Xiang's stomach in an attempt to make amends.

"Rubbing won't change anything. When you evolve isn't up to me," Li Xiang said, placing Litten on the ground.

Since the temperature had dropped, its strength had decreased, but its level had risen slightly faster. In just two months, it had gained four levels—a growth rate only possible at lower levels.

"It won't be long now. There are still a few months left before winter break," Li Xiang estimated.

Litten wouldn't make it this year, but evolving before winter break in February was highly likely.

The Pokémon Academy had a break half a month earlier than regular schools, giving them plenty of time.

===================

A soft "ding" sounded as the medical room's door opened.

Li Xiang turned to see a Chansey pushing a small cart. On it sat Riolu, its right arm wrapped in a bandage and an odd expression on its face.

"Chansey~"

Chansey wiggled its small ears and approached Li Xiang.

"Thanks!" Li Xiang said, extending his hand. Instead of lifting Riolu off the cart, he inspected its injury. A small patch of skin was faintly visible.

...It was shaved!

Li Xiang glanced at Litten, who returned a puzzled look.

"Rio!"

Riolu pulled its hand away and leapt off the cart, trying to avoid Litten's gaze on its injured arm.

However, its overly stiff movements only drew more attention. When it came to curiosity and observation, Litten was unmatched.

"Meow?"

Sure enough, Riolu's awkwardness successfully caught Litten's attention. Its gaze landed squarely on the bandaged arm.

Though the wound was concealed, Litten couldn't see what was underneath.

You can't hide it forever, pup.

Li Xiang sighed internally. A minor wound like this would likely heal by the evening.

===================

That evening, Riolu attempted a bold move. It grabbed Li Xiang's wristband—made from Arcanine fur with slight fire resistance—to cover its arm.

It was the classic "hiding in plain sight" ploy.

Since starting its silent rivalry with Litten, Riolu's cleverness had taken a nosedive.

Who would fall for this?

Certainly not Litten. During night training, it burned the expensive wristband to ashes, exposing Riolu's bare, shaved arm.

The result was both comical and ridiculous.

A faint snicker escaped, though not from Litten—it hadn't even had time to laugh before Riolu, humiliated, leapt at it in anger.

In battle, losing composure was a major misstep. While anger might boost a Pokémon's attack power, it also clouded judgment.

The enraged Riolu was no match for Litten, who promptly knocked it down.

"Ah… what am I supposed to say to you? You used to be so aloof," Li Xiang said helplessly, tying a scarf around Riolu's arm to cover the shaved spot.

"Let's call it a day for now."

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January 1

The start of a new year and a day for family reunions.

Li Xiang and his parents headed to their hometown to visit his grandparents, whom he hadn't seen in a while.

The last visit had been a brief half-day trip the previous month.

—Qingzhu District, Building 13, Seaside.

The area had transitioned from a rural town to a district years ago. Along with the change, old villages were reconstructed into rows of six-and-a-half-story vertical housing units.

The uniform rows were orderly and neatly aligned.

Why hadn't this kind of development existed in his previous life?

Li Xiang mused that it would've saved him over twenty years of renting.

As they got out of the car, a small orange-and-black figure panted heavily, rushing toward Li Xiang.

"Woof!"

It barked in a slightly hoarse voice.

Li Xiang grinned and rubbed the Growlithe's head and chin. This Growlithe belonged to his grandfather, Li Huan, and had been with him for over forty years. 

It was an old dog in every sense of the word.

Each time they visited, it would wait downstairs and pounce as soon as Li Xiang stepped out of the car.

From the top-floor balcony, a voice called out, loud and clear.

"Aha! I knew it was your car I heard!"

"Grandma!" Li Xiang looked up, spotting her round, rosy-cheeked face framed by dark curls.

Beside her stood a chubby pink-and-white Pokémon—an Audino!

His grandmother, Zhao Feng, only had one Pokémon. Unlike Li Xiang's parents, who owned three each, his grandparents felt one was enough.

They didn't farm or fish. In their youth, they had run a small restaurant catering to dock workers, serving all three meals and earning a decent income.

But cooking all three meals daily was exhausting. Once Li Xiang's father, Li Zhehan, started his company, they transitioned to serving only breakfast, effectively semi-retiring.

"Come grab the stuff," Li Zhehan called out.

Li Xiang pushed past the Growlithe and retrieved several bags from the car's back seat. His father had always been insistent about carrying their own things and had drilled that habit into Li Xiang without ever providing a reason.

Eventually, Li Xiang stopped questioning it.

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The lower floors of the vertical housing were typically rented out, with the owners living on the top one or two levels.

At his grandparents' home, a middle-aged man with a few strands of gray hair at his temples sat on the sofa reading a newspaper. Upon seeing Li Xiang, he set the paper aside and waved him over.

"Li Xiang, come here and let me see if you've gotten stronger."

Having married early, his grandparents were only in their early fifties. Given the average lifespan in this world, they were still relatively young.

Li Xiang approached with a smile. His grandparents, like his parents, hadn't changed at all. Their familiar faces brought a flood of warm memories.

Meanwhile, Litten and Riolu deliberately kept their distance—one went to the sofa, and the other headed to the balcony.

They'd been giving each other the cold shoulder ever since the "shaved arm" incident.

Then again, their relationship had never been good to begin with.