Pokémon: Grand Contest: Showdown

Early in the morning, Haimer arrived at Shinji's door with a box of nearly dried-out sandwiches.

Immediately afterward, just as Haimer was about to knock on Shinji's door, the door suddenly slammed open.

At that moment, as the door opened, Shinji, dressed in casual clothes, appeared before Haimer.

Seeing that Shinji was wearing the same clothes and pants as yesterday, Haimer asked in confusion.

"You didn't change your clothes?"

Faced with Haimer's question, Shinji naturally guessed what Haimer was thinking.

Then, Shinji coldly replied.

"It's none of your business."

After Shinji finished speaking, he took the sandwich from Haimer's hand. However, after looking at the sandwich, Shinji immediately asked helplessly.

"Is this the only thing you can make?"

Seeing Shinji's disgusted expression, Haimer shook his head and answered softly.

"Oh no, I didn't make this. It's a brand I often eat. But this sandwich can be kept for a long time, and even if it dries out, it tastes almost the same as when I first bought it."

After listening to what Haimer said, Shinji glanced helplessly at the sandwich in his hand and then looked at Haimer and said.

"What a piece of junk, I want it made fresh."

At this moment, faced with Shinji's request, Haimer gritted his teeth a little angrily, then tried to smile and nod in agreement.

"Okay, what kind do you want?"

Upon hearing Haimer's question, Shinji calmly answered as he opened the sandwich box, took out a sandwich from inside, and began to answer.

"The portion size must be sufficient, the nutrition must be balanced, and it must be completed within half an hour."

After Shinji finished speaking, he closed the door, and Haimer, seeing this, muttered a little complaints.

"That annoying guy."

Afterwards, Haimer borrowed the kitchen at the Pokémon Center and made a decent breakfast before the half-hour deadline.

However, when Haimer brought breakfast to Shinji's door, Shinji opened the door, glanced at the breakfast Haimer had brought, and immediately spoke coldly.

"too slow."

Upon hearing Shinji's words, Haimer immediately complained, sounding somewhat angry.

"Hey, I had a fever yesterday, shouldn't you be a little more understanding of me?"

Faced with Haimer's complaints, Shinji remained silent for a moment before stepping forward and flicking Haimer on the head.

"Ah! It hurts!"

As Haimer finished speaking, Shinji addressed him expressionlessly.

"Get ready and come to the training ground within five minutes to start training."

After that, Shinji closed the door and went to the training ground.

Just as Shinji closed the door, Haimer immediately noticed an open suitcase on Shinji's floor.

The suitcase contained the exact same clothes and pants that Shinji was wearing.

This means that Shinji did change out of the clothes and pants that were soaked with lake water yesterday; however, he usually wears the same clothes and pants when he goes out.

Same color, same size, same combination.

Seeing this, Haimer muttered helplessly to himself.

"I see. A guy like him, who's so focused on winning, wouldn't waste time on clothes."

When Haimer finished getting ready and arrived at the Pokémon Center's training area, he saw that Shinji had already begun training with his Pokémon.

Shinji's training involves having the five Pokémon he possesses attack the remaining Pokémon simultaneously.

This training can indeed bring out the limits of a Pokémon.

However, for the Pokémon that was surrounded, it was truly a challenge from hell.

At this moment, it was only after Haimer got closer that he realized that Shinji's Pokémon, except for Chimchar, all seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the process of becoming stronger.

Even though they were covered in wounds, Shinji's Pokémon never showed any signs of retreat or giving up.

And just as Shinji said, he and his Pokémon are standing here for victory.

However, to Haimer's surprise, Gyarados, which Shinji had only recently captured, obeyed Shinji's orders so quickly.

This is progressing really fast. It seems that Gyarados and Shinji have the same goal.

Seeing the Pokémon covered in wounds, Shinji stopped the training and went over to spray some medicine on Torterra, which was the most seriously injured.

Upon seeing this, Haimer stepped forward and exclaimed in surprise.

"I thought you weren't going to treat the Pokémon."

Upon hearing Haimer's words, Shinji, while examining the wounds on the Turtle's body, coldly replied.

"You've finally arrived, you lazy bum."

After treating Torterra's injuries, Shinji immediately continued speaking to the Pokémon.

"continue."

Seeing that Shinji only treated Torterra, Haimer stepped forward and stood in front of Shinji, asking in confusion.

"Hey, wait a minute, aren't you going to treat the other Pokémon?"

When faced with Haimer's question, Shinji responded with his usual indifference.

"It's none of your business."

After saying that, Shinji continued training with the Pokémon.

Although Shinji didn't answer Haimer's question just now, through spending time with Shinji these past few days, Haimer has gradually discovered a characteristic of Shinji.

That is, Shinji is often someone who is unwilling to explain himself to others.

For example, now, Haimer has realized that Shinji is not incapable of treating Pokémon.

In other words, Shinji has a yardstick in his heart to measure the severity of his injuries.

To push Pokémon to their limits and unleash their potential, Shinji would have them battle with severe injuries.

Shinji only intervenes to heal Pokémon when their injuries are on the verge of irreparable damage.

This training method is really excessive and really dangerous.

After all, many times, Pokémon do develop serious problems because Shinji doesn't treat them.

At that moment, looking at Shinji's Pokémon covered in wounds on the training field, Haimer quickly noticed the little Chimchar among them, its body covered in injuries, not a single spot unscathed.

Even so, the little chimpanzee continued to grit its teeth and persevere.

Upon seeing this, Haimer, who had originally planned to try to improve his Pokémon's strength using Shinji's method, was stunned.

A short while later, as Chimchar fell to the ground, Shinji coldly spoke to Electabuzz after seeing Chimchar fall.

"Wake him up with 100,000 volts."

Upon receiving Shinji's instructions, Electabuzz immediately rotated its arms to gather electricity.

Seeing this, Haimer instinctively wanted to step forward to stop him, but at that moment, a voice that Haimer was very familiar with suddenly came from behind him.

"stop!!"

As the voice faded, Haimer turned around to look, but that one turn immediately plunged him into deep regret.

Because the person who shouted "Stop!" was none other than Ash Ketchum.

At this moment, because Haimer wasn't wearing a mask, he was immediately recognized by Xiaozhi after Haimer turned around.

Upon seeing Haimer, who had been missing for so long, appear here, Ash's face immediately showed an expression of surprise and joy.

"Haymer!"

As Ash finished speaking, Haimer looked at Ash, who was smiling at him, and the emotion in his eyes was not happiness, but countless fears.

This panic stemmed from the fact that Haimer had only now suddenly realized that he had embarked on a path from which he could no longer stand shoulder to shoulder with Ash.

Previously, driven by emotions, Haimer made his current choice numbly and impulsively, temporarily forgetting about these things.

However, looking at Ash standing before him, the belatedly aware Hammer suddenly realized that he had embarked on a... terrifying path.

Now, those choices that Haimer made under the influence of his emotions, the moment Xiaozhi recognized him, immediately and one by one, brought devastating blows to Haimer in the form of branding.

He joined Star Palace Fall in an attempt to obtain power from the God of Time and the God of Space, and also tried to train Pokémon in his own way, together with Shinji.

At this moment, as all the decisions he had made in the past surfaced in Haimer's mind, an accusation that utterly shattered him suddenly appeared in his mind, acting on instinct.

"Regardless of whether the Pokémon accept it or not, you inflict all violence and indifference on exploiting their power. Haimer, you actually chose this path. Is victory gained at the cost of shattered souls the only thing that matters to you?"

As this inner voice slowly rose, Haimer immediately took a few steps back in a panic.

Seeing this, Xiao Zhi walked towards Haimer while asking worriedly.

"what happened?"

Seeing Ash's concern, Haimer fell to the ground in a panic. Just then, Pikachu, Brock, and Dawn arrived.

Seeing Pikachu and Brock running towards them from a distance, Haimer quickly stood up and fled the scene in a disheveled manner.

"Hey! Haimer!"

Hearing Xiaozhi's call, Haimer did not stop or turn around. Instead, he rushed to the forest near Ningyu Lake at the fastest speed he could reach.

Not long after, when Haimer hurriedly hid in a patch of grass, he covered his face and began to try to calm himself down by taking deep breaths.

However, as his breathing became heavier, Xiao Zhi's smile from just now began to deepen in Haimer's mind.

Gradually, Dr. Birch, the Lizard King, Hiro, and Victor slowly appeared in Haimer's mind.

Besides these, there are Chang'an and Xianglan, and also Frandi and Lingfei...

Thinking about all this, guilt grew wildly in Haimer's throat like dark vines, the pain so intense that he couldn't cry out, and the suffocation caused tears to stream down his face.

Now, Haimer dares neither to return to the Pokémon Center nor to leave this place easily.

The reason for this is that Haimer is afraid of meeting Ash and afraid of letting Ash know what kind of person he is now.

At that moment, with a sense of atonement, Haimer took out a utility knife from his pocket and began cutting his arm.

In a short while, as the blood spread along with the pain onto Haimer's arm, Haimer gradually emerged from the heavy feeling of guilt.

This method of relief, though it may be a way to die.

But for Haimer, it was precisely because he might die that this method allowed him to somewhat let go of all his guilt.

After all, when the blade sliced ​​across Haimer's arm, he felt that the time he had left might be his last day, his last few hours, or his last few seconds before he died.

For Haimer, it was only when today became his last day before he died that he felt he could be a little selfish.

After all, I'm about to die. So, being a little selfish and letting go of everything should be okay, right?

Only after he had completely calmed down did Haimer slowly stand up.

However, looking at the slightly dried blood on his arm, Haimer stood there stunned, somewhat dazed.

"Hey!"

Upon hearing this very familiar voice, Haimer turned around and realized that it was Shinji who had come looking for him.

Facing Shinji, Haimer lowered his head, his expression a mixture of emotions.

Just then, Shinji walked towards Haimer, looking at the blood on Haimer's arm and coldly spoke.

"Did you suddenly run away to a place like this just to do something like this?"

Upon hearing Shinji's question, Haimer remained silent for a moment before calmly uttering a single word to Shinji.

"roll."

After saying "get lost," Haimer, with blood all over his arm, staggered toward Ningyu Lake.

However, because of his unsteady gait, Haimer fell to the ground after walking only a short distance.

Seeing this, Shinji stepped forward, grabbed Haimer's arm, and helped him up.

Faced with Shinji's actions, Haimer forcefully shook off his hand, sat on the ground, and shouted at him while crying.

"I don't need your pity! You're laughing at me in your heart right now anyway, aren't you!"

Upon hearing Haimer's words, Shinji looked at Haimer in silence without saying a word.

Seeing Shinji's response, Haimer wiped the tears from his face, stood up, and continued crying as he spoke to Shinji.

"What's wrong? Speak up, you useless thing, trash, garbage, don't you always say these things? Don't be polite, just say it!"

At that moment, as Haimer finished speaking, he too began to sob more and more uncontrollably.

Afterwards, seeing Haimer's face covered in tears, Shinji still didn't say anything, just waited expressionlessly for Haimer to finish crying.

Not long after Haimer finally finished crying, Shinji slowly took off his coat and draped it over Haimer's shoulders.

Faced with Shinji's actions, just as Haimer was about to ask a question, Shinji spoke to him expressionlessly.

"Wrap yourself up tighter, use your coat to cover the bloodstains, and go back."

After saying this casually, Shinji grabbed Haimer's arm and pulled him toward the Pokémon Center.