Underwater sound effects: "Glub glub glub~"
(So it's a Pyukumuku!)
Hayato Sora poked it with his finger.
Pyukumuku's body was extremely soft, and its surface was coated with a sticky layer of slime that looked rather unpleasant.
No wonder the beaches often had Pyukumuku-cleaning activities—they really ruined the beachgoing mood.
Although Pyukumuku's slime actually had natural sunscreen properties, aside from Alolan locals, very few tourists liked them.
One interesting thing about Pyukumuku was that even if they were thrown far away, they would still slowly make their way back to their original spot.
Hayato Sora didn't mind them much.
He poked the Pyukumuku again. Seeing that it didn't react, he gently lifted it into his palm and signaled Veluza to surface.
"Blub blub~"
Veluza blew out a string of bubbles and quickly swam upward, carrying Hayato Sora back to the surface.
Back above water, Hayato Sora took several deep breaths.
Looking around, he realized he was still near the edge of the bay.
He then glanced toward the vast blue ocean in the distance and hurled the Pyukumuku far out into the deep sea.
Pyukumuku: "How selfish can you be—ptoo! ptoo! ptoo!"
From afar, its white internal organs formed a fist, weakly punching the air in protest.
"Hahaha!"
Seeing this, Hayato Sora burst into laughter.
After all, visiting an Alolan beach without throwing a Pyukumuku just wouldn't feel complete.
He was in an excellent mood.
Just as Hayato Sora was about to dive again—
A Popplio suddenly leaped out of the water nearby while chasing a Wishiwashi.
In midair, it spat out a stream of bubbles, trapping the Wishiwashi.
It quickly swam forward, bit down on the fish, and then paddled straight toward Hayato Sora.
Climbing onto the side of Veluza's riding harness like it belonged there, the little Pokémon looked completely at ease.
Noticing Hayato Sora staring at it curiously, Popplio glanced at the Wishiwashi.
Then it seemed to understand.
He must be hungry.
"Oo-oo!"
(I'll share half with you! It took a lot of effort to catch this!)
This was Popplio, the Water-type starter Pokémon of the Alola Region.
Seeing that Hayato Sora still didn't take the fish, Popplio looked confused and swam closer.
Then it jumped onto the front of the harness and tossed the entire fish into Hayato Sora's arms.
Hayato Sora stared blankly.
This little guy was way too friendly.
Popplio clapped its flippers together with a "pap pap pap" sound.
"Oo-oo!"
After saying that, it jumped back into the sea.
Its small eyes scanned the surroundings.
Soon it spotted a Wishiwashi that had strayed from its school.
This time, Popplio's bubbles hit the target perfectly.
The Wishiwashi became dizzy.
Before it could recover, Popplio had already bitten it and caught it.
"So this fish is for me, and that one is for Veluza. What about yours?"
Holding the two still-flopping Wishiwashi, Hayato Sora smiled and asked.
Popplio raised a flipper proudly and slapped its chest.
"Oo-oo!"
(I can catch fish anytime. I'll always have food.)
"Is that so?"
Hayato Sora smiled.
After catching two Wishiwashi in a row, Popplio collapsed onto the water's surface in exhaustion.
Yet it still stubbornly pretended to be fine.
Shaking his head, Hayato Sora handed the two fish back.
If he accepted them, Popplio might end up going hungry today.
Judging by its exhausted state, it might not be able to catch another fish.
"You should eat them yourself," Hayato Sora said.
"Veluza and I aren't hungry right now."
"Oo-oo?"
Popplio tilted its head.
It looked at the fish it had caught, then at the human and the big fish beneath him.
Ah.
The fish must be too small.
Probably not enough for them to even fill their stomachs.
Popplio suddenly looked troubled.
With its small body, the Wishiwashi it had caught were already the smallest ones available.
If they were any bigger—
the fish would be chasing it instead.
Seeing Popplio's discouraged expression, Hayato Sora explained:
"If we eat them, you might not have anything left to eat today."
"Oo-oo!"
(That won't happen! I'm very strong!)
Popplio stubbornly insisted.
It kept gesturing for Hayato Sora to accept the fish.
When Hayato Sora still refused—
Popplio suddenly made up its mind and dove back into the sea.
Putting on his goggles and holding his breath, Hayato Sora tapped Veluza.
"Let's follow it."
Veluza descended slowly, then sped up toward the direction Popplio had swum.
After passing a coral shelf that blocked their view—
Popplio's panicked cries echoed through the water.
"Oo-oo… oo!"
(I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'll never try to eat you again!)
Chasing Popplio from behind was a brightly colored fish with sharp fangs.
Wherever it swam, other Pokémon and fish quickly scattered.
None dared provoke it.
This was a fierce Alolan Pokémon—
Bruxish.
Other Pokémon avoided it because of its natural ability.
By grinding its teeth, Bruxish stimulated its brain to generate psychic energy, forming a mental pressure field around itself.
Anyone who entered the area would suffer headaches—or even faint.
Hayato Sora signaled Veluza to pursue.
As they got closer, the grinding sound of Bruxish's teeth became painfully loud—even underwater.
Hayato Sora waved his hand beside Veluza and tapped three times.
This was their agreed signal.
Veluza suddenly accelerated like an arrow.
Then—
It bit down hard on Bruxish's backside with Psychic Fangs.
Bruxish let out a miserable shriek.
The bite landed on its body—
but the pain felt like it went straight to its soul.
Even Hayato Sora instinctively clenched his legs together, feeling phantom pain.
Bruxish turned to look behind it.
Then it twisted away and fled, hiding among the coral to lick its wounds.
The Popplio that had fled earlier soon returned.
It still looked terrified.
It had almost been caught by that monster earlier.
A bite from that thing would probably hurt for a very long time.
The fear only lasted a moment.
Soon Popplio swam around Veluza in circles, its eyes shining with admiration.
"Oo-oo!"
(You're amazing! You scared away the bully in one move!)
Veluza didn't respond.
"Oo-oo~"
(How did you chase it away? Can you teach me? Then it won't bully me anymore.)
Veluza still ignored it.
Hayato Sora scooped Popplio up to stop it from bothering Veluza.
Then he returned to the shore with it.
After eating the two Wishiwashi, Popplio regained some energy.
It followed closely behind Hayato Sora, curiously observing the people and Pokémon walking along the beach.
It was its first time visiting this place.
So many unfamiliar Pokémon.
So many humans!
Walking ahead, Hayato Sora turned back and asked:
"Popplio, did you not live in this sea before?"
He asked because he had noticed how curious Popplio looked.
"Oo-oo~"
Popplio shook its head.
It explained that it used to live near another island, but it had been carried here by a ship.
It still remembered how hungry it had been back then.
So it secretly stole a fish from a human fishing box.
It had been shocked.
The fish in the box were smaller than the ones it could catch itself.
That was when it realized—
Humans were terrible at catching fish.
That's why it had tried to feed Hayato Sora earlier.
After hearing the story, Hayato Sora smiled helplessly.
The ship Popplio encountered must have been a fishing boat.
Humanity's reputation among wild Pokémon had been completely ruined—
by unsuccessful anglers who caught nothing all day.
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