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👉 Support now: year's Eating Contest is crucial! Everyone, stay sharp and give it your all!"
Among the staff, the manager barked orders through a megaphone. The trio saluted in unison. "Understood!"
Only after the manager left did the three finally relax.
"I thought getting this job meant free meals… Didn't expect it to be this tough, meow~" Meowth wiped his teary eyes.
"Don't be ridiculous, Meowth!" Jessie snapped. "This is a funding operation! We're preparing for the future!"
"Exactly! A few more gigs like this, and we'll have enough to build our next robot!" James added.
Suddenly, Meowth's jaw dropped. "Executive!" he stammered.
"No slacking off!" Jessie bonked Meowth on the head. "Using the Executive as an excuse won't work!"
"Good day, Executive!" James immediately straightened up.
Jessie froze, whirled around—only for James and Meowth to tackle her and clamp a hand over her mouth.
"What brings you here, meow?" Meowth rubbed his paws nervously.
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" Natsume sighed. "Last time, I let you handle the Trainer Card sales. You shouldn't be struggling enough to take odd jobs."
During the P1 Fighting Prix before Christmas, James—channeling his merchant family's instincts—had combined PTCG with League Cards.
Under their 70-30 split agreement, Natsume held onto 30% of the profits while the Trio kept the rest as funding.
It had been a decent sum.
Yet now…
Natsume eyed the gaunt, exhausted Trio and twitched his lips. "Did you go after Pikachu again?"
"Well, not exactly for Pikachu this time," James scratched his head. "We used the funds to build a new robot to deal with the twerp."
"But just as I was making my grand entrance, meow," Meowth continued, "we ran into some poachers trying to snatch Pikachu."
"So we teamed up with the twerp and took those poachers down!" Jessie declared proudly, hands on her hips—before slumping. "But then the robot exploded… and our funds went up in smoke."
"Don't worry, Executive! We'll definitely bring Pikachu to you next time!" James vowed, eyes brimming with tears.
"Wobbuffet!!"
Natsume blinked. Good grief… The classic team-up plot from the series!
Thanks to these well-meaning goofballs, Team Rocket's reputation might actually improve.
But resorting to part-time jobs because they ran out of funds… That's just tragic!
"How many times do I have to say it? I don't need Pikachu. Just focus on taking care of yourselves."
Natsume pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'll transfer that 30% to your account. But no spending it on weird inventions!"
The Trio froze.
"Executive!??(｀Д｀)"
"Oh, and keep an eye on the League Tournament," Natsume added casually. "Setting up a stall might turn a profit."
"You're competing, right? Don't worry, we'll gather intel on your opponents, meow!"
"We'll use the Trainer Card excuse—they'll never see it coming!"
"Hehe, what a glorious plan~"
Natsume cut off their scheming and glanced toward the main stage, where crowds were gathering.
"The event's about to start. Shouldn't you be working?"
"Crap! The Manager's gonna yell at us!" James clutched his cap and bolted.
"That sneak James, getting a head start, meow~!"
The three idiots scrambled toward the kitchen to prep food for the Eating Champ challenge.
Inside, Brock—dressed in a chef's apron—narrowed his eyes at them.
"You three… look familiar."
The Trio broke out in a cold sweat.
"Never mind." Brock shook his head, his expression turning grave. "This year's got a real monster. We need to be fully prepared!"
"Really? That kid Ash's Snorlax didn't seem all that impressive," Jessie remarked.
"No." Brock's voice was solemn as he looked up at the kitchen monitor.
On-screen, a girl with pale yellow pigtails and a dress stood shyly, her cheeks pink as she stared at her feet.
Ampharos waved its stubby arms at the media. "Ampharos~"
"That's the reigning champion—winner of three consecutive Eating Champ titles!" Brock murmured.
...
The contestant tunnel buzzed with energy.
Gengar bared its fangs, taunting the Snorlax beside it.
"Gengar!"
"Snorlax…(￣—￣)" Snorlax rubbed its belly, utterly unfazed.
Hotheaded Ash clenched his fists, eyes blazing. "Even if it's Natsume-sensei, we won't lose!"
Natsume nodded in agreement.
According to the rules, trainers had to compete alongside their Pokémon.
Clearly, he was the one dragging Gengar down.
With his superhuman physique, he'd probably be a monster at eating too.
"I'm just here to fill a slot," Natsume shrugged, glancing sideways. "The real challenge for you should be Miss Jasmine."
"U-um…" Jasmine's face burned crimson as she barely managed a nod. "G-good afternoon, Natsume-sensei… Ash…"
"Hey, Jasmine-senpai! Long time no see!" Ash grinned broadly. "But don't expect me or Snorlax to go easy on you!"
"Snorlax~(￣—￣)" Snorlax yawned—then suddenly sniffed the air.
"Gengar~(╯▽╰)" Gengar pulled a Pokéblock from its pocket and lazily licked it.
"Snorlax…(╥﹏╥)" Tears of longing streamed down Snorlax's face.
"Yo, Natsume-sensei!"
A pink-haired girl in a sleeveless top strode into the tunnel, her Medicham close behind.
"And you are…?" Ash blinked—he hadn't been to Sinnoh yet.
"Martial artist Maylene!" She grinned, offering a handshake. "Nice to meet ya!"
Suddenly, Maylene shivered, rubbing her bare arms.
Natsume glanced at her, mildly impressed.
Wearing a tank top in this cold? That's dedication…
"Miss Maylene, I won't lose to you either!" Ash declared.
"Heh. Medicham and I haven't eaten for three days to prep for this!" Maylene boasted.
You just wanted to save on groceries, didn't you?
Natsume sighed, turning toward the roaring crowd outside.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" The announcer's voice boomed. "The annual Eating Champ Challenge begins now! Prizes include rare held items, TMs, and incense—who will take them home? Let's find out!"
"First up—Ash from Pallet Town and his Snorlax! Wow, this rookie's a heavyweight contender!"
Ash adjusted his cap and nodded at Snorlax. "Let's do this, Snorlax!"
It's just eating. Why so serious?
Natsume cleared his throat and stepped onto the stage. Gengar, meanwhile, had somehow acquired two spoons.
"Gengar! Ψ(￣ -￣)Ψ"
"Did you steal those from the Psychic Gym?"
Gengar nodded shamelessly.
Natsume sighed.
Every spoon used means one less Kadabra…
No demand, no supply!
The crowd erupted as Natsume appeared.
First, because the man was distractingly handsome.
Second, because Vermilion City had plenty of his fans.
"Go, Natsume-sensei~!"
"Look, it's Miss Jasmine!"
The ordinary-looking Jasmine and her Ampharos drew even louder cheers.
Jasmine stared at her shoes, then mustered a smile for the cameras.
"Miss Jasmine!!"
"I'm deceased!!"
Below the stage, James rubbed his chin. "Is this the power of a three-time champ?"
"Nah, meow. She's just cute," Meowth sighed, hearts in his eyes.
"Ew, Meowth!" Jessie gagged.
"Honestly?" James admitted, scratching his head. "I kinda agree…"
As the referee's flag dropped, staff wheeled out a feast: berry stew, pies, curry rice, tonkotsu ramen, chocolate crepes…
Maylene gulped, visibly shaken.
Why so much gourmet food?!
This must've cost a fortune!
"Medicham…" Medicham, used to one berry a day, froze in awe.
"Maylene's already falling behind!" the commentator noted.
While she hesitated, Ash was already devouring red bean buns.
"Snorlax~(￣～￣)" Snorlax shoveled curry into its mouth by the plateful.
"Incredible! Ash is keeping pace with the Pokémon!"
Natsume glanced at Gengar, who was picking at its food.
"Not hungry?"
"Gengar…" It nodded meekly.
Natsume's cooking had spoiled it.
Plus, the berries here were basic Pecha quality—hardly gourmet.
"Then just eat what Brock or James made," Natsume whispered. "You can tell, right?"
Gengar's eyes lit up. It floated to a ramen bowl and chugged it.
"Gengar! (⊙~⊙)"*
"A comeback! Gengar's scalding its way to the top!"
This commentator's too hype… Natsume sweatdropped.
Other trainers ate frantically but couldn't match Ash's speed.
Then—Natsume's jaw dropped.
"Jasmine's making her move! The true Eating Champ emerges!"
Petite Jasmine chewed elegantly, yet the mountain of rice balls before her vanished at terrifying speed.
How does that tiny body hold so much?!
The crowd roared as Ampharos kept pace with Snorlax.
"Weird…" Natsume muttered, eyeing Jasmine's flat silhouette. "Where does it all go?"
"Halftime!"
Jasmine led by a landslide. Ash and Snorlax trailed in second.
Thanks to Gengar's pickiness, Natsume clung to third.
"Gengar~~" It floated psychic spoons around its teeth.
Ash groaned, clutching his stomach. "Jasmine-senpai… too strong…"
"Oh…" Jasmine looked down—directly at her feet.
Did I eat too much?
But I'm still not full…
Brock patted Ash's back. "Don't doubt yourself. Jasmine's a three-time champ!"
"No need to announce it…" Jasmine mumbled.
Natsume didn't mind.
Third place still gets prizes…
"Since we've got time," Brock suggested, "how about working up an appetite?"
"How?" Maylene tilted her head.
"A battle!" Ash's eyes sparkled. "Jasmine-senpai, let's go!"
"But… intense exercise after eating isn't good for Pokémon," Jasmine fretted.
"Snorlax is already hungry again," Ash admitted.
"Snorlax!" It nodded sleepily.
Jasmine turned to Ampharos. "Are you okay?"
"Ampharos!" It flexed.
She smiled. "Then… let's battle."
"But there's no arena here," Brock frowned.
"No problem!"
Natsume grinned, pulling out his phone.
"I'll call Lt. Surge. We'll use Vermilion Gym."
Who cared about eating contests?
Watching Ash lose was way more fun.
"Perfect," Brock agreed.
Ash rubbed Pikachu's head, eyes blazing.
"Jasmine-senpai—let's do this!"
...
Vermilion Gym.
"Hah?"
Lt. Surge, rudely awakened from his nap, wore an expression straight out of a villain's playbook.
"You wanna battle, so you barge into my gym?!"
Natsume casually suggested: "How about we make it an official gym challenge instead?"
"Fine, use the arena all you want!" Surge boomed with laughter.
Ash and Jasmine took positions on opposite ends of the battlefield.
Natsume, Brock, and Maylene watched from the stands.
"I battled Jasmine once before," Brock remarked. "That was when Professor Oak first proposed the Steel-type as a new classification."
"Wait—so Jasmine-senpai was originally a Rock-type Leader?" Maylene blinked.
Brock nodded. "Though I've done some Steel-type research myself since then."
The combatants: Snorlax versus Ampharos.
Natsume rubbed his chin.
A Steel-type Leader partnered with an Ampharos? Makes perfect sense.
Despite Ash's naturally gifted Snorlax, it fell to the senior trainer's experience.
"So close!" Ash groaned, clawing at his hair.
"Kid, check which gym you're in!" Lt. Surge roared. "Electric-types reign supreme!"
Then he noticed Ash's glare and promptly shut up.
Better not tempt fate.
This brat tanks Volt Tackles with his bare skin!
"Shouldn't the second half start soon?" Natsume checked his watch.
"Thirty more minutes."
Brock stood abruptly, fixing Natsume with a sharp gaze.
"Natsume-sensei, how about we have a sparring match?"