Pokemon Dawn

No.153 The 'truth' revealed by that sentence

Early morning on the fifth day of work.

"Were you attacked again?" Shunta's eyebrows knitted together.

"Yes, that's what my mother said last night." Momono nodded, "Two staff members were attacked while moving equipment in the warehouse and fell off the shelves. They are now being observed and treated in the hospital. The injuries are the same as last time.

There are also signs of burns.”

"Why did this happen again..." Junta scratched his head, "Are you guys okay?"

"It doesn't appear to be life-threatening."

Saya and the other three who had just arrived at the door of the training ground happened to hear the conversation between Shunta and Momono, and they immediately looked at each other.

"So, it was because of this incident that Midoko Normal Dai left in a hurry yesterday...?" Perhaps it was because the news he received was so shocking that Tongye, who was always drowsy in the morning, became energetic.

"That should be it." Xiaoye nodded.

The three of them walked towards the venue, preparing to ask Momono about last night's incident in detail. Unfortunately, just after saying hello, Momono said she had something to do and left in a hurry, leaving Shunta standing there in embarrassment.

"No, it doesn't matter. You want to know what happened yesterday, right? I've heard the general situation, and I'll tell you!" the red-haired boy said.

The early morning preparation time passed in a noisy manner. It was not until eight o'clock approached that Midoko appeared at the training ground and confirmed what Shunta and Momono had said before.

Fortunately, several injured staff members have been discharged from the hospital and have returned to work, so that the operation of the kyu dojo will not be paralyzed.

And, there is also good news.

The real chef finally returns to the dojo, and the students finally no longer have to undergo the terrible baptism of taste.

"——In short, that's what happened."

"Hey...who is it? The person who always attacks our dojo is so despicable."

"It must be the other side again. Unfortunately, there is no evidence..."

"Should we go to the hospital and visit?"

After the morning training, everyone sat around and listened to Shunta's detailed account of what happened yesterday. It was still the same as last time, "falling after being hit by the scalding wind." Since it happened in the evening when the light was dark, this happened.

The staff member who was attacked the second time also did not see the face of the enemy.

"Speaking of which... Shunta, where did Momono go? Aren't you two always together?"

Hearing the question from the person next to him, Shunta suddenly froze, and his eyes glanced in Xiaoye's direction intentionally or unintentionally, "Ha, well, Xiaotao seems to be quite busy today... I guess she went to help Midoko Normal University?"

Before he finished speaking, Tao Nao's voice sounded from the door.

"Xiaoye." The brown-haired girl's eyes focused on the threshold at her feet, "If mother wants to see you for something, please go to the empty training room to the west."

Let’s continue yesterday’s duel—Saya thought naturally when Momono called her out.

However, when Xiaoye walked to yesterday's training room, she saw Midoko standing at the door without a bow and arrow in her hand.

"Xiaoye, here you go." Midoko smiled, "Come with me for a walk in the backyard."

Noon is also lunch break time for Pokémon. The huge backyard is empty. Walking under the shadow of the trees, you can only hear the faint sound of stepping on the grass.

"Mr. Tanaka, are they okay?"

"Well, although the fall was severe, it is not life-threatening and I will be discharged from the hospital soon."

The two chatted as usual, but Xiaoye could feel the difference in the atmosphere.

Is there something you want to say on behalf of Meiduzi Normal University?

Walking to the farthest position from the dojo, Midoko stopped and said, "Xiaoye."

"Speaking."

Midoko's light-colored pupils were locked tightly on the face of the girl in front of her, "What do you think about yesterday's sparring session?"

"Yes, it is really a very special battle." Hearing this expected question, Xiaoye answered with a smile, "If I guessed correctly, you are a superpower, right?"

Midoko said slowly, "Why do you say that?"

This cheerful orange-haired woman rarely fails to smile, but at this moment her expression was extremely serious.

Midoko is in a very anxious mood now. Even she herself doesn’t know the specific reason, but this feeling of anxiety has indeed only started after her battle with Xiaoye yesterday. Because of this, Midoko called Xiaoye out as soon as the get out of class was over.

She felt that she had to talk to this girl.

"I felt it when I was fighting with you." Xiaoye said her feelings calmly, "Your ability should be to use arrows as a medium to inflict the emotion of 'fear' on the opponent. Indeed, I have never

The moves I’ve seen are very powerful.”

"So, you can feel it."

"Eh?"

"You feel 'fear', right?"

"Yes."

Taking a deep breath, Midoko stared at her temporary employees. She actually admired people with stable personalities, but seeing the calm expressions of the people in front of her at all times made her feel irritated.

"But I can't feel it."

"What do you mean?" Xiaoye asked doubtfully.

"You feel 'fear', I don't feel it!" Midoko's suddenly intense tone made her feel a little dazed.

"Well, this is because," Xiaoye explained with a smile, "we were fighting at that time."

Midoko was speechless for a moment, while Xiaoye continued, "Emotions are useless for fighting. All I need to consider at that time is how to respond to your attacks and how to organize my own attacks, that's all."

After a long moment of silence, Midoko leaned against the tree trunk and covered her eyes with her hands.

"Ha, haha... I really can't choose the wrong answer at all." Midoko laughed unhappyly, "I know the power of my fear arrow very well. I never thought that there would be someone as young as you.

of children can completely overcome the fear it brings."

"It doesn't count as overcoming..."

Xiaoye's voice made Midoko raise her head.

In the field of vision, the purple-haired girl was still smiling, "It is too laborious to overcome the negative emotions one by one. Wouldn't it be better to 'put them aside'?"

The moment she heard these words, Midoko suddenly felt that she understood something. The anxiety and sense of disobedience that had been lingering in her mind all this time found their source.

Yes, how could a child in his early ten years be so determined that he could completely overcome his fear?

It's not "overcoming", but "putting aside", that is... "ignoring".

Humans are very complex animals. They have rich emotions and are also bound by their emotions. They feel lonely when they are alone, they feel sad when they lose something important, and they feel fear when they encounter danger. These are human instinctive reactions that cannot be avoided.

People with strong willpower can overcome the impact of negative emotions. They endure sadness and pain, constantly surpass themselves and become better people.

However, the person in front of me has clearly never experienced this process.

That's right. It's not "overcome the influence of fear"...but "not affected by fear at all".

Emotions and actions are completely separated by her and do not interfere with each other. They are as clear-cut as the partitions of a hard drive.

this is not……

"Um," seeing Midoko silent for a long time, Xiaoye couldn't help but said in confusion, "you..."

"Do you understand or not?"

The words were interrupted. The orange-haired woman roughly picked up the girl's collar, and even the color of her pupils seemed to have darkened, "You are just escaping by doing this. You have not overcome anything at all, and you have not surpassed anything!"

Xiaoye was stunned by Midoko's sudden and violent action.

"……Yes I know."

The tight collar restrained her neck, making her breathing heavy. But Xiaoye did not show any pain, and just answered Midoko's questions calmly.

"Because it's more efficient."

The cold word "efficiency" was like a bucket of cold water being poured down on the head, making Midoko shiver all over.

Letting go of Xiaoye's collar, Midoko stumbled back two steps.

Those light-colored pupils, which were always full of energy, revealed an emotion that Xiaoye was very familiar with and the one she least wanted to see.

"fear".

====================

For Xiaoye, the fearful gaze directed at her seems to have become a matter of course.

Not for "Xingyu Night", but for "Liang Xiaoye".

The fear in her eyes was so real that it stung Xiaoye's eyes and even made Xiaoye's ears faintly echo with voices from the past.

That unforgettable sound that can never be let go.

"Taking into account the enemy's psychology, treating this village as an abandoned village and our personnel detouring from the southwest should be able to maximize the results of the battle."

"You...do you know what it means to do this?"

"Yes, I know. Through this step of action, the saved troops will play a greater role in the future than the benefits of village supplies."

"Are you kidding? Have you forgotten that Tianshu is recuperating in the village? He regards you as his best friend!"

"I have not forgotten. Next, when Tianquan leads his troops into the heart of the valley, the enemy will have no way to escape."

"Tianxuan...you..." The trembling voice was filled with fear.

"Yes, please speak."

"You...you are not human..."

"You emotionless monster!!"

====================

The dry leaves were stepped on, making a rustling and cracking sound. Midoko lowered her head, and an inaudible sound came from her mouth.

"What...are you...?"

"Xiaoye, the representative of Meiduzi Normal School."

A sudden voice interrupted Midoko's words. The two of them turned around in shock and looked at the silver-haired boy walking not far away.

"Xiaotian?" Xiaoye felt that she might have exhausted all her doubts today, "Why are you here?"

"During independent training, I saw someone here." Xiaotian said, pointing to his Pokémon in the distance, "What are you doing? I seemed to have heard a loud noise just now."

"It's just a conversation." Xiaoye said, scratching her head in embarrassment, "Maybe I made Midoko's teacher Handai angry..."

Seeing Xiaotian looking over with confusion, Meiduzi waved his hands hurriedly, "Ah, it's nothing serious, I just accidentally made my voice a little louder. I've finished what I want to say, let's go now."

Meiduzi hurried away, while Xiaoye and Xiaotian stood there for a moment.

Turning her head, Xiaoye met Xiaotian with a somewhat searching gaze as expected, and quickly explained with a smile, "We really just talked, we didn't fight."

"oh."

"...I didn't lie to you." Oh, what kind of answer was that? Xiaoye suddenly felt a chill running down her spine, "Well, do you want me to repeat our conversation...?"

"No need, I believe you."

"That's great. As you know, Meiduzi Normal School has always had such a loud voice."

"Yeah, I know. I just heard that the chef in the canteen has returned."

"Really? Does this mean we can eat normal food?"

"That's right."

"Ah, I'm really looking forward to it - I can finally get rid of the devilish dishes of the normal school in Meidu."

"Didn't you say that was cultivation?"

"...Uh, well, this..."

Under the dazzling sunlight at noon, the two walked side by side into the distance.

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small theater:

Side mission [Baptism of Dark Cuisine] is in progress: