After returning to the Pokémon Center, Tetsuya first went to the housekeeping department and spoke with a Nurse Joy there, extending his stay to 40 days.
While his Pokémon were still receiving treatment from Nurse Joy, he took out several of his packages, packed them into his space backpack, and carried them into his room one by one.
Even though the high-tech space backpack could reduce the weight of objects to a certain extent, making them easier to carry, and even though his own strength—honed through years of training—was enough to knock out a boxing champion from his previous life with a single punch, it still took him four or five trips to move the rock worth eight million.
After thanking Nurse Joy, he retrieved the Poké Balls of his three recovered Pokémon.
Once he was back in his room, he barely had time to sit down and rest before he began preparing dinner for his team.
The recipe ratio for Boldore's food varied depending on the type of rock it consumed, but its diet was relatively simple. For Blaziken, he had to carefully adjust the energy block intake, mix different berries to create salads to prevent boredom, swap out some Chople Berries for Sitrus Berries, and tweak the auxiliary ingredients accordingly. Pidgeot's diet also required modification based on the day's training. The mix of Passho and Lum Berries had to be adjusted, additional bone meal and vitamins had to be included, and other supplementary ingredients had to be recalculated.
Honestly, without Zero's organizational capabilities, he could still manage these tasks, but it would be far more difficult, time-consuming, and prone to error.
By the time he finished preparing the meals, another hour had passed. Tetsuya called over his three Pokémon, who had been staring at him eagerly the entire time, waiting for their food.
With his approval, the three Pokémon quickly moved to their custom-shaped bowls, designed to fit their final evolutionary forms, and dug in.
Even now, Tetsuya couldn't rest. He had to check on Boldore and Blaziken to ensure they hadn't sustained any unnoticed injuries during the afternoon's training.
Even though Nurse Joy had already treated them, he preferred to double-check himself.
Circling the two Pokémon as they ate, he carefully inspected details like Boldore's core structure, joint stability, Blaziken's leg muscles, the growth of the three plumes on its head, and any other potential concerns.
Once he cross-checked everything with Zero's report and confirmed that there were no issues, he finally allowed himself to relax.
His own dinner was provided by the Pokémon Center and delivered by staff. Used dishes simply needed to be placed into a designated cleaning chute.
Tonight's menu? Beef curry with two sides of vegetables and rice, accompanied by a bowl of hot milk that Tetsuya had prepared himself—delicious.
How did he heat the milk, you ask? Well, just look at Blaziken, lounging nearby after eating. That was the best natural heat source.
With Pokémon technology, there was no need for stoves or microwaves.
Whenever Tetsuya wanted warm milk, he would simply hold it in his arms against Blaziken's feathers for about two minutes. The intense body heat from his Fire-type Pokémon was more than enough.
If he ever raised an Ice-type Pokémon in the future, he wouldn't need a refrigerator either—just a well-aimed Ice Beam.
After disposing of his dishes and tidying up the floor, he collapsed onto Pidgeot's soft body.
Pidgeot fluttered its wings slightly to avoid accidentally smacking its trainer before settling back down, closing its eyes again.
The training earlier had exhausted it. While it had felt fatigued before, today had been on another level.
Tetsuya rested his head lightly on Pidgeot's belly. This had been one of his dreams in his previous life, and now, it was a daily occurrence.
Of course, it would probably be even more comfortable to use a Snorlax as a pillow, but that wasn't an option. Even with carefully managed energy blocks, feeding a Snorlax was a financial nightmare.
Blaziken reclined on the sofa, lazily rubbing its full stomach and letting out the occasional burp. Perhaps he had fed it a little too much.
Boldore observed the scene for a moment before hopping onto the platform and retracting its limbs and horns, transforming into what looked like an ordinary dark-green rock. Despite appearances, this was how it rested best—completely still but hyper-aware of its surroundings.
Tetsuya had encouraged it to develop this habit as a precaution for the wild. While the Pokémon Center was safe, vigilance would be crucial for survival in more dangerous environments.
With a satisfied smile, he put on his headphones and turned on his watch. His daily study routine wasn't finished yet.
Three research papers awaited his review, two battle analysis videos needed to be watched, Chapter Three of the Breeder's Exam required studying, and he had to go through additional materials provided by Pewter Gym.
Outside, the moon hung high in the sky, casting its soft glow over the silent Pokémon Center.
Room by room, the building grew darker as lights flickered off, one by one.
Only a few rooms, including his, remained lit through the night.
As the sun began to rise, Tetsuya's internal clock woke him up precisely on schedule.
Stretching, he carefully got out of bed.
His three Pokémon stirred at the same time, reacting instinctively.
Boldore extended its limbs and adjusted its core balance. Blaziken removed the two claws it had rested on its chest. Pidgeot opened its sharp eyes, tilting its head slightly to stretch its neck.
Tetsuya smiled at them before heading straight to the bathroom to freshen up.
By the time he emerged, his Pokémon had already begun their morning warm-up exercises, following their usual routine.
Blaziken would run alongside him, though, of course, with weighted gear strapped on. The current set was nearly at its maximum limit—he'd need to invest in a heavier one after its next evolution, which would be another significant expense.
Even now, he struggled to keep up. Though they technically ran together, by the end of each session, Blaziken would always leave him far behind.
The point wasn't speed, though. It was about fostering a strong bond between them. Training together helped deepen their connection.
Pidgeot would undergo flight endurance training with weight restraints as well. Unlike the others, it had to complete its drills alone—after all, Tetsuya couldn't exactly fly beside it.
Lastly, Boldore's training focused on mastering its Gravity move and improving energy control.
With a snap of his fingers, Tetsuya and his Pokémon set off into the morning light, ready to push themselves further than the day before.
The first rays of sunlight in the early morning emerged from the sea level, and Tetsuya and Blaziken kept running along the beach.
"Pay attention to your breathing. Running on the beach will make you more tired. Focus on your glutes, hamstrings, hip flexors, and legs.
Pay attention to the different roll angles and adjust your body when turning back."
He reminded Blaziken.
Although Pokémon can adjust themselves during daily exercise, it is often slow and not always the most efficient way to reach peak performance.
One of the main jobs of a trainer is to help their Pokémon make adjustments as quickly as possible to maximize the effectiveness of training and warm-ups.
After going back and forth seven or eight times to complete his warm-up, he waved his hand, signaling Blaziken to continue on its own, and returned to Rockruff.
The Blaziken's powerful legs propelled it forward as it sprinted down the beach, leaving a cloud of dust in its wake.
When Tetsuya entered the range of Rockruff's Gravity move, he immediately felt the weight pressing down on every part of his body, even his internal organs.
After assessing the effect, he nodded slightly. Rockruff's control over Gravity had improved significantly. It seemed likely that once its evolution was near, it would be ready to begin the second stage of Gravity training.
He instructed Rockruff to practice Gravity manipulation for 30 minutes before taking a break, then assigned it a new training task.
Although Rockruff didn't make any visible response, Tetsuya, familiar with its personality, knew it had understood. Feeling reassured, he continued his own workout beside it.
More than half an hour later, when Pidgeot and Ninetales returned to the beach after finishing their warm-up, he stopped and began assigning the day's tasks.
"Pidgeot, your task this morning is to master a combination technique. Fly low over the sea, use Steel Wing or Wing Attack along with the wind pressure from your speed to separate the water, creating an artificial wave. Then, use Twister to rotate the water and finish by cutting through it with Air Slash.
If you encounter naturally high waves, use Brave Bird to break through, just like yesterday.
Also, you need to work on differentiating between Double Team and Substitute...
Rockruff, after resting, use your Sand Force ability to sense the properties and flow of sand. Sand is essentially part of the rock element.
Use the Sand Tomb technique to control a portion of the sand and refine your abilities. Also, work on perfecting Stealth Rock...
Blaziken, today's focus is explosive power training, but now you'll be doing it on sand.
The key points remain the same as when you were running earlier. Don't strain your body—be mindful of your power and control.
You also need to improve the concentration of Flamethrower and Overheat. Specifically...
Later, train with Pidgeot for Heat Wave synergy. During this, focus on the accuracy of the attack radius and temperature control..."
After running through the entire morning's training regimen in one breath, Tetsuya's throat was dry.
Motioning for Pidgeot to move to a slightly farther training spot, he grabbed a bottle of water from his backpack and took a long drink.
Blaziken obediently fastened the training equipment designed to enhance its explosive power and began sprinting across the sand again and again.
Tetsuya observed from the sidelines, correcting a few minor mistakes before Blaziken's technique became nearly flawless. From there, it was just a matter of repeating the drills.
Changing into swim trunks, he ran toward a calmer section of the water and dove in, beginning his swim workout.
Swimming is an excellent way to relax the mind, improve circulation, and reduce muscle strain while strengthening cardiovascular function. It engages the entire body without putting stress on the joints.
As time passed and the sun climbed higher, more and more trainers arrived on the beach, many of them also training their Pokémon.
Each trainer instinctively found their own space, dividing up the area without conflict.
The once quiet beach gradually became filled with the sounds of commands, battle cries, and the crashing of waves.
Different trainers had different training philosophies. Tetsuya preferred to assign tasks and allow his Pokémon to train independently, stepping in only when adjustments were necessary.
Others preferred a more hands-on approach, guiding their Pokémon through every step of the process.
Time flew by. It felt as though only moments ago the sun had risen, and now it was already hanging high in the sky.
Though it was spring, the heat was undeniable.
After his swim, Tetsuya dried off, pulled out his supplies from his backpack, and started preparing lunch for his Pokémon. The afternoon training session was sure to be just as tough.
A trainer's job wasn't just about battles—it also meant handling logistics and making sure their Pokémon were well cared for.
The relationship between a trainer and their Pokémon is difficult to define. It's a bond that is part partnership, part friendship, and part family. Regardless of how one interprets it, the feelings involved are undeniable.
The smell of food soon filled the air, blending with the salty sea breeze. The beach was dotted with trainers and Pokémon enjoying their meals. Replenishing energy and stamina is a crucial part of getting stronger.
As the sun dipped lower and the tide began to rise again, Tetsuya called Rockruff and Blaziken back to his side.
Many of the weaker trainers had already packed up, knowing their Pokémon weren't strong enough to handle what was coming.
Some stubborn trainers who ignored the warnings and attempted to challenge the waves were promptly swept away by the ocean's force, carried off by the relentless currents.
This scene wasn't meant for Rockruff and Blaziken to experience directly yet, but they couldn't be recalled into their Poké Balls either. They needed to witness Pidgeot's struggle against nature firsthand.
This was essential for building their drive to grow stronger. The subconscious desire for strength often stems from the need for security, but true motivation comes from a trainer providing their Pokémon with a clear goal to strive for.
Once they evolved into their final forms, Tetsuya believed they would be able to accomplish feats as impressive as Pidgeot's.
As expected, watching Pidgeot's powerful form take on the waves, Blaziken's eyes lit up with determination. Even the usually reserved Rockruff let out a rare cry of excitement.
In Tetsuya's team, Pidgeot was the oldest and strongest. It had naturally taken on the role of a big brother to the others, guiding and protecting them.
With a smile, Tetsuya turned to Blaziken and Rockruff. "Do you see it? One day, you'll be just as strong as Pidgeot—and even stronger."
Their cries were filled with enthusiasm and longing.
After a long day of grueling training, Tetsuya returned to the Pokémon Center with his team, handing them over to Nurse Joy for recovery.
While waiting, he finally had a moment to rest. Nearby, several other trainers sat in exhausted silence, sharing the same weary but satisfied expression.
The life of a true Pokémon trainer was nothing like the easy adventure people imagined—it was relentless, demanding, and exhausting. But for those who pursued it with passion, it was also the most fulfilling life one could ask for.