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In the night.
For an entire afternoon, Jacob and Nina spent time by the stream, fishing with rods, yet all they caught were Magikarp—not even a single Goldeen. All these Magikarp were of common or rare quality. Besides that, there was no other catch at all, which made Jacob sigh!
It would be best if it was a baby Kyogre with the aptitude of a Legendary Pokémon and the strength of a rare species, Jacob fantasized.
After fishing, Jacob and Nina enjoyed a sumptuous country dinner. Although it was rustic cuisine, the taste was excellent, with authentic country flavors, and more importantly, the ingredients were extremely fresh, all harvested directly from the fields.
After dinner, the two had different opinions. Jacob strongly insisted on enjoying the hot springs before leaving, but Nina said they had to return immediately because they needed to attend training tomorrow morning.
"Trainer Nina, we can go back later tonight. We finally made it out here, so we should enjoy ourselves," Jacob urged. "Let's go take a hot spring bath."
"No." Nina shook her head firmly, strongly disagreeing. On one hand, training would indeed start tomorrow, Monday, and on the other hand, how could a single man and a single woman be together? They were in a trainer-student relationship—how could this be appropriate?
Jacob naturally understood Nina's concerns, and he hurriedly said, "We'll go back immediately after we finish at the hot springs. It doesn't matter if we're a bit late, as long as we can get back tonight. Trainer Nina, I heard the hot springs here are famous, and even Pokémon can bathe together. It's said the waters can heal Pokémon's hidden injuries."
"That's just a rumor, false advertising for promotion." Nina still firmly refused. "Besides, I didn't bring a swimsuit."
"You can buy one. There's a hot spring resort right there," Jacob said.
"..."
"Trainer Nina, it's rare for you to come out. You usually work so hard; you really should relax," Jacob flattered. "As long as we can make it back before training tomorrow morning. My Pokémon have been training so hard lately, and I want to give them a chance to unwind. It's rare for your Pokémon to relax too."
"Trainer Nina, appropriate relaxation between work periods makes your training more efficient."
"Soaking in hot springs helps you sleep better and has body-shaping benefits as well."
...
After much persuasion from Jacob, Nina was ultimately defeated and was dragged to the hot spring hotel in a daze.
"Excuse me, would you like to use the public hot spring area or a private hot spring suite?" asked the receptionist.
"Private suite, please book a hot spring room," Jacob naturally chose a private suite. He didn't want Trainer Nina bathing with strangers. He just wanted to appreciate her figure by himself.
While checking into the room, Jacob also visited a nearby store to select a swimsuit for Nina. It was obvious this store was set up to profit from unprepared customers. If you didn't have swimwear, you had to buy it. The prices were almost twice as expensive as in the PokéMart, and they were all brand-name items, with the cheapest costing over a thousand Pokédollars.
Moreover, Jacob noticed that the less fabric there was, the more expensive the price was. He gritted his teeth and bought the most expensive swimsuit for Trainer Nina while selecting the cheapest pair of swim shorts for himself.
Money should be spent where it matters most.
...
Women always take longer to change clothes, unlike Jacob who simply needed to remove his clothes, put on a pair of shorts, and enjoy the hot spring right away.
Jacob had rented the best hot spring suite, which featured three rooms, a kitchen, two bathrooms, and a recreation room for board games and cards.
The hot spring was very spacious, about half the size of a basketball court, with enough room for more than a dozen people to soak comfortably.
Since it was a rare opportunity to relax, Jacob also released three Pokémon. Grovyle, Noibat, and Charmander all emerged to enjoy the hot spring together.
Even the Fire-type Charmander submerged its body in the hot water, clearly enjoying it, though keeping its flame-tipped tail raised above the surface.
After five or six minutes, Nina finally arrived. She appeared beside the hot spring with a flushed face. Jacob only took a quick glance at her before Nina immediately dove into the hot spring, leaving only her head above the water. Then she followed Jacob's example and released all her Pokémon.
As soon as Pokémon like Haxorus, Kommo-o, and Hydreigon appeared, they immediately filled the spacious hot spring, making it somewhat crowded. Jacob, meanwhile, set out the snacks and drinks he had prepared earlier on a nearby table.
"Trainer Nina, have something to eat and enjoy a few drinks."
"No." Nina looked at the snacks and beverages Jacob had brought out. She frowned and eyed him suspiciously, feeling that Jacob had ulterior motives. "I still need to drive later."
"It's okay, Trainer Nina, don't worry. Just have a few drinks," Jacob encouraged. Noting that it was getting late, he had his own plan in mind. If Trainer Nina agreed to stay overnight, he could sneak to the cemetery while she was asleep and retrieve the treasure. "We can call for a designated driver later. When you go out to have fun, you should enjoy yourself fully. Don't worry, I'll wake you up early tomorrow morning. We'll set an alarm and make it to the training facility before nine o'clock."
Nina didn't have many hobbies, but drinking was one of them. Whenever she wasn't busy, she would enjoy a few drinks with her other friend who also appreciated good beverages. After hearing Jacob's suggestion, she felt somewhat tempted. Especially while soaking in the hot spring, with warmth enveloping her body and feeling so comfortable, she couldn't help wanting to have a few drinks, and unconsciously licked her lips.
As Jacob spoke, he took two wine glasses, poured the drinks, and without giving Nina a chance to refuse, handed one to her.
"Just a little, then," Nina said, licking her lips. She looked at Jacob and couldn't shake the feeling that he had some hidden agenda, but she wasn't concerned at all. First, she could handle her alcohol quite well. If Jacob had any inappropriate intentions, he would only end up suffering the consequences. How could an eighteen-year-old boy like Jacob possibly be a match for her?
...
The two of them drank while soaking in the hot spring. As they continued, Jacob began to realize something wasn't going as planned. The scenario he had expected—Trainer Nina becoming intoxicated—did not materialize. Instead, Nina became increasingly animated as she drank. She shed her initial shyness and poured drinks frequently. Jacob himself was feeling a little dizzy, while Nina appeared completely unaffected.
Damn it, I miscalculated. I never expected to fail like this. I'm afraid I won't be getting Trainer Nina drunk tonight—I'll end up drunk myself. How will I make it to the cemetery to look for the treasure then?
"Trainer Nina, let's stop while we're ahead. Just get a little tipsy, not completely drunk," Jacob couldn't help but suggest. Seeing Nina's condition, he was genuinely worried.
"This is just the beginning. Don't worry, I'm not drunk at all," Nina replied, her face flushed—not only from the alcohol but also from the heat of the hot spring.
"..."