Saturday. Clear skies and warm sun. Another peaceful morning dawned on Solaceon Town.
Caleb couldn't wait to get back home.
He wasn't sure if Green had properly watched the place while he was away…
But thinking about it, that was basically impossible.
He'd already prepared to dock her five days' pay.
As for Chansey… well, he already had the whip in hand.
Solaceon Gym—the best gym in the world.
Caleb glanced into the security room. Sure enough, the seat was empty.
Great. Abandoning post during work hours? That's five days of wages gone.
He stepped inside the gym and cautiously pushed open the gate to the backyard.
He'd braced himself for a scene of utter devastation.
But when he opened his eyes… he was stunned.
The grass was neatly trimmed, the path lights stood straight, the berry trees were full and healthy… the backyard was lush and peaceful.
Nacli and Naclstack played in groups, Skarmory occasionally soared overhead, and even the usually chaotic Gliscor gang was calmly hanging from tree branches.
"This isn't possible! No way!" Caleb's face was full of disbelief.
Maybe I opened the wrong door?
He closed the gate and opened it again.
Still the same.
"No way!" he shouted again.
Where's the battlefield wreckage I was expecting?
Naclstack and Dusknoir, you two made up behind my back?!
This place didn't feel like home anymore.
He walked further in, suspecting this was all a surface-level disguise set up by Green to cover her laziness.
Trying to dodge her salary deductions with a trick like this? Very clever, Green.
But the deeper he walked, the worse his expression became. Everything was just as pristine and orderly as the entrance.
"No way!"
Yes, he had to say it three times.
An illusion. That had to be it. He was caught in one of Dusknoir's illusions!
Yes. That had to be it!
Definitely!
Just as he was about to fully convince himself, a familiar voice echoed from ahead.
"Weavile, use Blizzard!"
Someone was inside the gym?
Caleb hurried toward the source and saw a purple-haired boy commanding Weavile against one of the backyard's tyrants—Gliscor.
A biting wind whipped through the field, but Gliscor raised a shimmering green barrier.
Protect!
Hmm, looks like she hasn't slacked off while I was away. She's mastered the Substitute + Protect + Toxic strategy.
Then came—
"Weavile, use Ice Shard!"
A priority Ice-type move—four times super-effective against Gliscor!
Caleb turned to look at the boy.
Paul!
Paul sensed the gaze from behind. He glanced over his shoulder and, hands still in his pockets, said casually, "You sure are bold—leaving the gym unattended for five days."
That tone. That attitude. Caleb instantly knew—this was no Ditto in disguise.
That cold gaze, the one that looked down on everything… If Chansey saw it, she'd probably get excited on the spot.
Gliscor, knocked out by Ice Shard, scrambled across the field toward Caleb with a tearful face, sobbing as she crawled into his arms.
Caleb sidestepped the desperate Gliscor.
Now that he thought about it, this was the first time he'd ever seen Gliscor scared of anyone other than Chansey.
Usually, she was one of the backyard's biggest troublemakers alongside Naclstack and Dusknoir.
"Your Pokémon sure are lazy," Paul said flatly.
Caleb ignored the jab and focused on what Paul had just said.
I left the gym? For five days?
Then… what about Green?
He turned to Paul. "You haven't seen a girl around here, have you? Kind of short—she's usually in the gym…"
Paul replied, "You mean her? I saw her five days ago when I came to challenge the gym."
"Yeah, so where is she?"
"She left."
"…Huh?"
"She gave me the key and walked out."
Paul casually tossed the gym key back at Caleb.
Caleb: "..."
Ah. So that's why the place looks so perfect.
Next time I see you, Green, your whole paycheck's gone!
He turned back to Paul. "So you've been running the gym the past few days?"
"Mm."
"And you've been training the Pokémon too?"
"Yeah."
Caleb: "..."
"Paul… you're a good man." Caleb suddenly said.
Paul: "???"
Of course, Caleb wasn't giving Paul a friendship badge—he genuinely meant it.
Watching over a stranger's gym for five days and even helping train the Pokémon? That kind of responsibility deserves a badge.
Meanwhile, Gliscor tugged on Caleb's sleeve, eyes brimming with tears.
"Glaaa~!"
You have no idea what he put us through!
Training starts at 5 a.m. sharp! Ends at 10 p.m.!
Even Tauros and Mudsdale don't live like this!
Naclstack and Dusknoir bailed—no loyalty at all!
You have to stand up for us, boss!