Pokemon: My Trainer Simulator

The Underground City was vast.

Kashiwagi wandered around with Aron for a long time but couldn't figure out the specific zones or their purposes.

Most places were locked, with neon signs of unclear meaning flashing endlessly. They probably opened at night. But judging by their appearances, they weren't ordinary shops—

The signs featuring bunny girls, gold coins, and similar icons made that quite evident.

"Ah! There you are!"

The sudden shout startled Kashiwagi. He turned to see two blurry figures quickly approaching.

He was just about to run with Aron when the flashing colored lights revealed their faces.

A tan-skinned woman with ash-colored hair, ordinary features, and slightly large lips, but she had long legs that supported her 1.8-meter-tall frame. She moved with the sleek grace of a humanoid leopard, her face adorned with a wild and carefree smile.

However, Kashiwagi's attention was drawn to the figure behind her.

A massive Swampert!

He couldn't help but sigh inwardly. A Swampert that stood 1.8 meters tall was rare. Its broad, wall-like build was intimidating at first glance...

Although, upon closer inspection, it looked more silly than scary.

"Good morning, Lady Ayana."

Kashiwagi quickly turned his attention back to the woman and greeted her politely. She was one of the four officers of the Sand Division within the Quicksand Team, known among the lower-ranking members for her relatively kind demeanor.

"You're Kashiwagi, right?"

Ayana studied him for a moment and, without waiting for a response, grabbed his arm. "Come with me! You're the last one we need!"

"Lady Ayana—"

"Call me Big Sis! And no backtalk! Just follow me quietly, or I'll beat you up!"

The serious tone made Kashiwagi shut his mouth. He glanced at Aron, only to see it being held by the huge Swampert. Aron was flailing its tiny legs in mild panic.

Their eyes met, and Aron gradually calmed down.

Clearly, in the short time they had been together, the two had developed a bond of trust.

Ayana led Kashiwagi through numerous alleys to an area resembling a basketball court. It was brightly lit by giant floodlights on all sides and surrounded by orderly iron mesh fences separating it from the walkways.

It was a battle arena.

Kashiwagi peered inside and saw several Quicksand Team members, both male and female, battling each other with their Pokémon.

Unlike the formal style of Trainers standing on the sidelines seen in typical animated battles, these people stood inside the arena, close to their Pokémon.

This was a signature feature of battles in Quincy Street and the broader Orre region—a combat style where Trainers and Pokémon endured hits together, reminiscent of the Pokémon Special manga.

"Stop! Everyone, stop!"

Ayana let go of Kashiwagi's arm and clapped loudly. "Gather around!"

The battling members of the Sand Division within the Quicksand Team ordered their Pokémon to halt and quickly assembled near her.

Kashiwagi took Aron back from Swampert and exchanged glances with the young men and women lined up in a row.

There were about a dozen of them.

They all seemed to be around his age, 15 or 16, with bright eyes, well-proportioned builds, and mostly rough, tanned skin marked by exposure to the elements.

Clearly, not all of them came from wealthy or privileged families.

As for their Pokémon, they were diverse in species. Their strengths were unknown, but they appeared full of energy. Even after halting their battles, they didn't show signs of exhaustion, exuding a battle-hardened aura.

Special Operations Unit?

No, this was likely a team assembled specifically for next week's battle against the Mad Dogs.

Kashiwagi realized why he had been dragged here. Was his inclusion in the team planned all along?

Could someone who had just become an official member really have that kind of value?

He couldn't understand the intentions of the Quicksand Team's big shots. He could only hope for the best—perhaps they truly appreciated him.

"What are you standing around for? Say hello! Do I have to tell you everything?!"

Ayana lightly kicked his leg.

"Uh, good morning, everyone." Kashiwagi greeted the group of young men and women, whose gazes were a mix of emotions.

Immediately, a round of applause echoed through the arena.

Ayana seemed satisfied with the scene. "This is Kashiwagi. He'll be one of the participants in next week's battle. He's your temporary teammate, so get along with him."

With that, she left with Swampert, not bothering to introduce Kashiwagi to the group or explain what he was supposed to do.

The young men and women and their Pokémon stood in formation until Ayana disappeared from view. As soon as she was gone, they dispersed.

"Ugh, what a hassle."

"My move was already in progress. That counts as your loss, got it?"

"Loss? My foot! Who saw it? Show me the evidence!"

The group turned away without paying any attention to Kashiwagi.

Kashiwagi tried to approach them, but no one responded. They completely ignored him.

Exclusion?

Had he offended them somehow?

Walking to the edge of the arena with Aron, Kashiwagi heard a derisive laugh behind him. His situation became clearer—he was an outsider.

Instead of reacting, he silently observed their battles, occasionally chatting with Aron.

Aron would nod occasionally, its glowing blue eyes darting around. It was unclear if it understood anything.

Ten minutes passed.

Kashiwagi's self-contained behavior eventually drew the group's attention.

Whatever the reason for their earlier hostility, they were now watching him again.

"Hey! What are you doing?" A buzz-cut blond youth strode over, his tone aggressive.

"Watching your battles," Kashiwagi replied calmly.

"Who said you could watch? Who said you could be here? Get lost!" The youth barked, and his Donphan growled threateningly beside him.

"Doh!"

"Grr!"

Aron immediately returned the growl, unfazed by the massive size difference. Its face showed no trace of fear.

"Well, it's protective of its Trainer. Not bad." The youth sneered. "If you give it to me, I'll forgive you!"

It was clear the youth wasn't genuinely interested in Aron. He was just looking for an excuse to pick a fight.

Typical thug behavior.

While Kashiwagi didn't have high expectations for the Quicksand Team's internal order, he was tired of being constantly harassed.

"I'm not giving it to you. What are you going to do about it?"

His tone was indifferent.

The youth's face turned red with anger. He grabbed Kashiwagi by the collar. "Huh?! You think you're tough, huh? You think you're somebody, rookie? Crawling out of nowhere like the nobody you are!"

"Oh, and you're some big shot? Crawling out of what sewer, exactly?"

Kashiwagi grabbed the youth's wrist with a grip like steel pincers. The youth's face turned red as he clenched his teeth, unable to speak.

"You can't even pick on the Mad Dogs. What's the point of being a bully here? Do something useful for once!" Kashiwagi let go of his hand like snapping apart a cheap toy.

"Doh!"

The Donphan, sensing its Trainer's distress, charged at Kashiwagi. But before it could get close, a silver blur rammed into it, forcing it to retreat.

Boom!

Despite the size difference, the two Pokémon were locked in a stalemate.

"You little—" The youth clutched his wrist in pain, bloodshot eyes glaring. He raised his fist, ready to swing at Kashiwagi.

Kashiwagi prepared to counter, but something in his peripheral vision stopped him.

The youth's fist was caught mid-air by another hand.

"Daitsu, it seems like you enjoy ignoring our words."

The cold voice drained the blood from the youth's face. Sweat beaded on his forehead.

"B-Big Sis…"

Daitsu lowered his head, not daring to meet Ayana's cold gaze.

"Or do you have a problem with the boss's orders? Speak up. Be bold. Say it to my face."

"I'm sorry! Please forgive me!"

Daitsu dropped to his knees, pressing his forehead to the ground as he yelled in desperation.

His Donphan was similarly subdued by Swampert, who pinned it with a deceptively gentle expression.

Kashiwagi could feel the pressure emanating from Ayana.

Ayana turned to Kashiwagi. "What about you?"

He hesitated, then pointed to himself. "Do I need to kneel too? If so, as you wish…"

"Ugh, stop the theatrics." Ayana waved dismissively. "You're as annoying as that glasses-wearing guy."

Kashiwagi straightened immediately, realizing she had no such intention.

"Listen up, you brats!" Ayana barked. "I don't care who you like or hate. If you lose to the Mad Dogs next week and embarrass the Sand Division, you're all going to the mines. You'll dig until you drop dead—no exceptions! Got it?"

"Yes, ma'am!" The group replied in unison.

With that, Ayana left with Swampert, but the atmosphere in the arena grew heavy.

The previously indifferent gazes now turned to resentment aimed at Kashiwagi.

Realizing the hostility would only worsen, Kashiwagi suddenly had an idea.

He crouched in front of Daitsu and poked his arm. "How long do you plan on kneeling?"

Daitsu turned his tear-filled, bloodshot eyes toward Kashiwagi. "It's all your fault. All of it—"

"Sure, it's my fault. So what?" Kashiwagi spread his hands nonchalantly. "What are you going to do about it? Beat me up? Think you can?"

"You—!"

"Can't beat me, huh? Can't do anything? Then suck it up and make peace with me." Kashiwagi grinned. "Or I'll sabotage the match next week. You'd better play nice with me."

The brazenness shocked Daitsu and the others. They had all considered such threats before, but no one dared voice them.

"Just kidding! Why so serious? We're teammates, after all!" Kashiwagi's cheerful tone belied the tension.

He helped Daitsu up, brushing the dirt off his clothes. "Look at you, all messed up. Aren't you supposed to be 16? Act like it."

Kashiwagi finally turned to address everyone, his tone genuine.

"Let me reintroduce myself. I'm Kashiwagi, from Quincy Street. I'll be your teammate for the next week. Let's get along!"

He bowed slightly, his loud voice echoing across the arena.

If they were going to target him anyway, he might as well control the situation.

From afar, the reflection of glasses disappeared into the shadows of a building.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Make Sure to give a Review!

If you enjoy, add this to your library (Collection)!

Send Power Stones! 

10 Advance Chapters: patreon.com/OSAROTL

(P.S. The Patreon is up for real this time it got taken down out of no where)

-----------------------------------------------------------------