Chapter no.32 New Gear

Austin raised an eyebrow as he read the passage in the camping guidebook.

It outlined how clothing was often an overlooked aspect of training for those who traversed various regions to refine their skills.

The book emphasized the harsh reality for new trainers: The entry barrier into the gym circuit is formidable. Approximately 80% of novice trainers do not succeed against the first gym leader, and the dropout rate only increases as the league progresses.

This statistic struck a chord with Austin; his own encounter with Brock had been a formidable challenge.

Unlike his portrayal in anime, Brock was a tough opponent who likely required several attempts for most newcomers to overcome.

Austin shuddered at the memory.

He was grateful for all the reconnaissance and preparation he had undertaken beforehand.

Without it, he was sure he would have faced a crushing defeat.

Just then, a plaintive cry interrupted his reading.

"Eevee! Vee!"

Austin looked down to find his Eevee gnawing at its paw, an expression of annoyance etched across its furry face. Concerned, he quickly set the book aside and knelt to inspect his companion. Eevee's small, rounded paw was upturned, revealing three adorable toe beans. It became evident that the fur around them had grown too long, irritating the sensitive pads.



The boy gently examined the paw, confirming his suspicion about the fur.

Austin retrieved the small, battery-operated trimmer from his meticulously organized grooming kit. The Evolution Pokemon's eyes followed Austin's movements with a mixture of curiosity and a slight hint of nervousness. Sensing his friend's apprehension, Austin offered a reassuring smile.

"This will be quick and easy, Vee.'

The pokemon's ears twitched as the trimmer buzzed to life, a soft, humming sound filling the air. Austin carefully positioned Vee's paw in his hand, spreading the small toes. With precise, gentle motions, he guided the trimmer around the sensitive areas, the fine blades neatly clipping away the unwanted fur.

Vee remained surprisingly still, its trust in Austin evident as it occasionally glanced up to meet his reassuring gaze.

After a few minutes, Austin turned off the trimmer and examined Eevee's paw, ensuring no stray hairs were left to cause irritation. Satisfied with his work, he brushed off the tiny clippings and gave the brown furred pokemon a soft pat.

"All done, how does that feel?"

Vee responded with a joyful "Eve! Eve!" stretching its newly groomed paw out and then playfully batting at Austin's hand.

Austin paused as he peered into his grooming kit as his gaze shifted to Vee, who seemed to sense what was coming next.

"That fur's looking awfully fluffy," Austin remarked with a grin, watching as Vee took a cautious step back, eyeing both the kit and his trainer.

"Vee!"

"No, I'm totally not just making excuses to use to test the grooming gear on you," Austin said in a monotone voice, catching the pointed look from Vee. "Come on, there's even a hot bubble bath in it for you afterward!"

That offer, however, seemed to be the last straw that broke the camerupt's back as Vee darted towards what he thought was an escape route, only to find the door firmly shut. Thwarted, he turned back with a look of sheer betrayal.

Austin couldn't help but chuckle as he picked up more tools from the kit—an ergonomic brush and a tiny, gentle spritz bottle filled with Pokémon-friendly fur conditioner.

"Let me make you pretty!"

Vee took several exaggerated steps backward until his back pressed against the door. He stood on his hind legs, shaking his head vigorously, the expression on his face cartoonish.

"Vee! Vee! Vee!" he cried out, which could either mean a plea for mercy or an attempt to summon any Pokémon deity listening.

Austin, fully embracing the moment, let out his best imitation of a favorite supervillain's laugh, "Zehahahaha!"

....

An hour later, Austin strolled through the bustling streets of Pewter City, Vee at his side, sporting Austin's hat—a sight that brought smiles to the faces of passersby. However, the mood between the human and Pokémon was less jovial. Vee shot Austin heated glares, while the boy bit his lip, struggling to contain his laughter.

The grooming session earlier had not gone as planned.

Austin had clipped a bit too much fur from Vee's top, and now the Eevee resembled a middle-aged balding uncle in the middle of a messy divorce.

Without warning, Vee's tail whipped out, smacking Austin lightly.

"Come on, it's not that bad," Austin teased, barely containing his laughter. "I'm sure your fur will settle at least for 50%... of its original volume."

The joke broke through his restraint, and Austin burst out laughing. However, his amusement was short-lived as he noticed Vee looking down, the fun fading from his eyes. Feeling a pang of guilt, the spiky haired boy knelt beside him.

"Look, I'm really sorry about the haircut, buddy. How about this: after we're done here, we'll visit a professional Pokémon groomer to fix it, and I'll get some tips on how not to turn you into a comedy sketch next time, okay?"

Vee nodded.

As Austin scooped up Vee to comfort him, a gust of wind suddenly whisked the hat away, exposing Vee's shiny bald scalp to the world. The cold breeze made Vee shiver, prompting the boy to quickly stuff him into his backpack.

"Bald!"

Austin's heart sank as he turned to see a six-year-old pointing directly at them.

"No, no, no—no bald here," Austin stammered, attempting damage control.

"Bald," the child repeated, undeterred.

Austin retrieved the hat and was about to walk away when the child shouted again, "Bald!"

This time, Austin couldn't resist responding. He marched over to the kid, lowering himself to eye level, and said in seriousness, "Make a note of this: You're bald, your mama's bald, your teddy bear's probably bald..."

He stopped mid-rant, suddenly aware of the absurdity of his words. The little boy's eyes welled up with tears, and Austin realized he'd gone too far. In the next moment, the boy began to cry, and Austin did the only logical thing—he turned and fled.

Austin stepped into a small tailor shop tucked away on a quieter street in Pewter City. The shop was cozy, lined with fabrics of all textures and colors, and the air hummed with the soft buzz of an old sewing machine. A Caterpie, perched nearby, diligently spun silk.

“Yes?” the tailor asked, looking up from his work as the Caterpie handed him another thread of silk.

“I’m looking to have some clothes made from... well, unconventional material."

“Unconventional material?” the tailor repeated, one eyebrow arching inquisitively.

Austin nodded and pulled out a pile of fabric. He had gone through a range of garments he had stolen—ahem—borrowed from Team Rocket grunts that he knocked out on Mt. Moon. With meticulous care, he had carefully removed the seams and detached the Team Rocket insignia, intent on repurposing the high-quality material for his own use while leaving no trace of its original ownership.

The tailor’s fingers brushed over the fabric, his initial skepticism turning to surprise. “This is high-grade stuff—waterproof, fireproof, scratch-resistant, tear-resistant, UV-protected, mold-resistant, and antimicrobial. It’s made from a blend of Pokémon leathers. This could take a hit from a Rhydon and keep the human alive.”

Austin’s eyes widened, surprised by the quality Team Rocket provided their grunts. “Really didn’t expect that.”

“Where did you get this?”

“If I get a good deal, maybe I’ll share the story,” Austin quipped with a smirk.

The tailor paused, then nodded. “Alright, 30% off.”

“Make it 40%, and you’ve got a deal,” Austin countered.

“Let’s settle at 35%,” the tailor proposed, extending his hand to shake on it.

“Deal. Found it in an old WWII crate, sealed up like it was ready for a time capsule,” Austin lied smoothly.

The tailor chuckled, shaking his head slightly. “Alright, what are you thinking of making with it?”

“Some T-shirts, long and short sleeves, and a couple of windbreakers."

“I can do three T-shirts and two windbreakers for 3,000 Pokédollars,” the tailor calculated quickly.

“And some pants? I’ve got six that need resizing."

“Same price for the pants,” the tailor said after a brief pause.

“How long will it all take?”

“One week,” the tailor responded.

“Any chance you could rush it? I’m in a bit of a hurry."

“For a rush job, I’d need to charge an extra 2,000 Pokédollars,” the tailor explained.

“That works for me. Oh, and one more thing—know where I can find a good Pokémon grooming salon?”

The tailor nodded, scribbling down an address.

“There’s a place not too far from here. They do excellent work.”

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

[ Author Note: I hope you all like the more slice of life, less tension filled chapters for a while. Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. ]