Chapter 21: Evening Free-for-all
After confirming that Darkrai “belonged” to Zuo Hang, Huohuo changed her tracking target to Wang Wenchuan.
This guy, even more indifferent than Zuo Hang, didn’t seem to fall for Huohuo’s “gentle big sister” act either. Her charm as a senior student had no effect on these two men, leaving Huohuo feeling somewhat defeated.
Huohuo didn’t get too close to Wang Wenchuan; it was “hidden” tracking. But Wang Wenchuan had many little brothers, so even if he hadn’t noticed, the others in F Class had long since spotted her.
That’s the advantage of a group—you’re never fighting alone.
Wang Wenchuan didn’t deliberately show off in front of Huohuo. With his main Pokémon Riolu injured, he still had Pancham. This little guy replaced Riolu, completing the remaining two training sessions in the afternoon, and successfully used Tackle at the end-of-third-session check, leading the F Class crowd.
On the other side of the Sports Field, at the A Class team’s position.
“Hahaha, this is killing me, this Caterpillar.”
“Sorry, I couldn’t help it, hahaha. This bug… it’s so fat it can’t even use Tackle.”
Hoshino Ryuji’s Caterpillar successfully broke the eerie silence among the A Class crowd, becoming the undisputed “hero” of A Class.
A group of people who had barely communicated all day instantly hit it off.
Even Zuo Rou, who struggled to fit in, couldn’t help laughing. Seeing her sister smile after so long, Zuo Hang suddenly found Hoshino Ryuji much more agreeable.
After class, White Dragon Academy had no evening classes or self-study for the time being, meaning from 18:00 at night, the remaining time of the day was all free to dispose of.
There were plenty of places to eat on the artificial island of Academy City. He suddenly remembered Jiang Xia mentioning a place called Nanchuan East Road.
Checking the map on the terminal, the road opposite White Dragon Plaza was Nanchuan East Road. Exit the school gate, walk right 300 meters, turn two corners, and you’d see a Japanese noodle shop hidden in an alley.
Breakfast and lunch were cafeteria food; going out for meat at night made sense.
Zuo Hang pulled Zuo Rou along, the siblings walking down the street. Zuo Rou had overcome her class attendance issue, but going out to eat was still something very distant for her.
Once, even eating required Old Man and Zuo Hang to feed her from the doorway. When the two went out, Aunt Li next door took care of Zuo Rou. Being able to go out to eat like normal siblings—this scene seemed to only appear in Zuo Rou’s dreams.
Lifting the small curtain at the shop doorway, a wave of noodle aroma hit them, and two people were sitting inside.
Hoshino Ryuji and Jiang Xia.
Heh… hehehe.
Zuo Hang dry laughed twice, his mood shifting subtly.
It made sense for Hoshino Ryuji to eat some hometown flavor, and for Jiang Xia to eat her favorite Squid Pancake Noodles. Zuo Hang suddenly felt like he was the unreasonable existence instead.
When Jiang Xia saw Zuo Hang, her mood instantly darkened. The chopsticks in her hand made a “crack,” seeming about to break.
“Hey, if you were coming, you should’ve told me—we could’ve come together.” Hoshino Ryuji’s expression contrasted sharply with Jiang Xia’s. This guy, who struggled to get along with the A Class crowd, seemed particularly fond of Zuo Hang—after all, he was the clear stream who classed and gamed with him.
The restaurant had only ten seats. The shop owner, in a short-sleeved shirt, stood in the middle, with a rectangular table in front. The side closer to him was for making noodles, the other side a long table for guests to eat at.
A very standard Japanese street noodle stall, but in China it had an added storefront and two card seats on either side of the glass door.
Next to Uncle was a Mismagius tied with an apron, helping to knead（huo）dough.
“Today’s special is Squid Pancake Noodles. Side dishes can be swapped, but not the noodles—this shop offers only one flavor a day,” said Uncle, who was busy with his head down.
Zuo Hang had seen a sign at the door when entering: 【Squid Pancake Noodles（30）: The only item supplied today】
“Do you have Pokémon specials?” Zuo Hang asked.
Uncle said, “Yes, Mondays are Double Skin Milk, mung bean paste, blueberry Puff Pastry, and snowflake cheese.”
“Hm? Why do the Pokémon get four?”
Uncle looked up, pulling the kneaded dough from Mismagius into thin strands. “Because the noodles you eat are made by me, but the Pokémon eat what Momo makes. Momo knows a lot, but Uncle here only knows how to make noodles.”
Momo
Probably the name of this Mr. Mime. When Uncle mentioned Momo, Mr. Mime friendly waved at Zuo Hang.
Mismagius is a natural mime artist, expressing all emotions through body movements. That earlier wave was probably “hello” or “welcome.”
“Pika~” Pikachu said to Zuo Hang.
“Then one Double Skin Milk and two Squid Pancake Noodles, one large bowl and one small bowl.” Zuo Hang asked, “Uncle, do you have drinks?”
“There’s an icebox, pick whatever you want, settle at the end.”
Zuo Hang took two bottles of Happy Water from the icebox.
【ID:250829006（Lin Ping） initiated a Public Duel against ID:250829129（Yuan Wenfeng）. Watch Battle?】
After returning to the seats with the Happy Water, all four terminals received the message at the same time.
Zuo Hang was just about to tap reject—he had no interest in this level of battle—but before he could, the next message popped up.
【ID:250829602（Wang Wenchuan） initiated a Public Duel against ID:250829011（Heichuan Nagi）. Watch Battle?】
Wang Wenchuan?
Zuo Hang suddenly got interested. He’d heard the spectators that afternoon say the trainer of that Riolu was apparently named Wang Wenchuan.
This kid could still battle?
Zuo Hang tapped accept on the second message. Meanwhile, quick-fingered Hoshino already had the first battle screen up on his terminal.
On Hoshino Ryuji’s side, Yuan Wenfeng was the small rock trainer who popped up in the first afternoon class. Lin Ping was the front-row squinting guy who asked Xi Ran a question in the first morning class.
Wang Wenchuan’s opponent Heichuan Nagi was a very poised beauty. If Zuo Hang remembered right, she was the one sitting next to him? Student ID ending in 011—yes, that was the aloof girl Hoshino directly gave 10 points to.
After these two battles, the terminal top kept popping with Public Duel notifications.
“What the heck? Don’t these guys eat?” Hoshino grumbled, swiping a few times above the screen. Sure enough, he found the cancel prompt’s little dot and decisively swiped it away, instantly quieting the terminal.
Zuo Hang and Zuo Rou did the same.
Noodles hadn’t arrived yet—perfect time to watch a battle for fun.
Wang Wenchuan’s Pokémon was a Pancham, Heichuan Nagi’s was a Natu.
Fighting vs Psychic Flying.
Pancham’s situation was very unfavorable.
Zuo Hang rubbed his chin, feeling like Wang Wenchuan did this on purpose.
That girl Huohuo might be staring at him somewhere. If Fighting could beat Psychic Flying, the Student Union’s attention on him would undoubtedly rise another level.
Another day of the usual double ticket request~
