Chapter 3

Lu Ye's live stream had just started, and the chat messages began to flood the screen.

"Let's eat, everyone!"

"Are you here? Why isn't the camera on, streamer?"

"From Bilibili video, the toxic meta is really dirty!"

Lu Ye opened "Pokémon: Battle" while reading the chat messages.

"Why isn't the camera on, streamer? — I'll only show my face after reaching 100,000 subscribers."

In an instant, a series of question marks flooded the screen.

"???"

Is this streamer so unique?

Although the voice is nice, aren't you just a tank player, Beta?

"Ten-year-old fan, Teacher Lu is definitely a handsome streamer!"

"Really, is there anyone who follows Teacher Lu just for his looks? No way, no way!"

"There are recordings of Teacher Lu on the Tieba forum. Although he only appears for less than five seconds, he's definitely a god-level figure!"

"God is an exaggeration. I'm just average, barely reaching the level of a film star."

Lu Ye's face didn't even turn red.

"Thank you, 'When is Teacher Lu's new movie coming out,' for the plane... It's coming soon, wait for me to discuss the script with Karuni."

"Thank you, 'Teacher Lu and the female Machamp,' for the ten cards... We won't talk about the female Machamp today."

"Today, I'll continue to bring you Pokémon battle tutorials."

The chat messages were surprisingly consistent.

"Please give us a toxic substitute tutorial, streamer!"

"My starter Pokémon is Bulbasaur, please give us a detailed tutorial!"

Lu Ye glanced at the chat messages.

"Thank you, 'How does Bulbasaur use toxic substitute,' for the plane."

"Those who can afford the starter Pokémon shouldn't have a problem evolving into Venusaur... So let's talk about Venusaur's tactical positioning."

Lu Ye opened the team editor and dragged Venusaur into the team.

"Venusaur has many playstyles, such as the Sunny Day team system, which uses Chlorophyll to speed up and deal damage."

"Or, on the basis of toxic substitute, learning Synthesis and Parasite Seed to play a field control role."

"Talking is pointless, let me show you a demonstration."

The game screen cut in, and Lu Ye matched with an international friend from the Johto League, with the ID "The Ball Kid Like the Wind."

"Konnichiwa."

Lu Ye greeted in Japanese, while locking in Venusaur.

The opponent's first Pokémon was a Rapidash named "Bakutaro."

---

Kanto, New Bark Town.

A girl with an orange ponytail gently patted her blushing cheeks and took a deep breath.

"It's fine, it's just watching a movie together, he probably won't think too much of it..."

Gathering her courage, Fuji Tsugumi nervously pressed the doorbell. After a moment, a male voice came from the intercom.

"It's you." Akai smiled, "The door is open, come straight to the second floor."

Going into Akai's house?

Fuji Tsugumi felt her cheeks burning, but she was also a bit curious.

He should be training at this time, right?

Pushing the door open hesitantly, a figure leaped down from the second floor and quickly pounced into Fuji Tsugumi's arms.

"Pikachu~!"

"Long time no see, Pikachu."

Fuji Tsugumi smiled and gently stroked Pikachu.

"Pika!"

Pikachu happily leaped down and nimbly climbed up the stairs along the wall.

Lifting her head, Fuji Tsugumi's face turned red instantly.

At the entrance to the hallway, a young man with short black hair and determined eyes caught Pikachu, placing him on his shoulder, and smiled.

"Little Yellow, I found a very interesting trainer today!"

In Akai's room.

The room was clean and tidy, with a shelf full of trophies, but the furnishings were simple, with only a bed and a computer.

"Sit anywhere!"

As soon as the words were out, Akai awkwardly realized that the only chair was occupied by himself.

"I, I'll sit on the bed..."

Fuji Tsugumi blushed and said in a soft voice.

"That's fine."

Akai scratched his head, then his eyes lit up.

"Right, Little Yellow, come look at this!"

Fuji Tsugumi leaned in, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, and asked curiously, "Isn't this the game you often play?"

"Pokémon: Battle."

Akai smiled, "It's very similar to real battles, requiring real-time voice commands. I use it to relax when I'm tired from training."

"You... even when resting, you're always thinking about battles."

Fuji Tsugumi's cheeks turned slightly red.

But Akai didn't notice, and excitedly said, "Come look at this person's live stream!"

"This person's understanding of Venusaur's tactics is really spot-on!"

"Unless they are a powerful trainer in real life, they wouldn't have this level of awareness."

"Ah, I really want to battle them and exchange breeding tips for Venusaur!"

"Pikachu~!"

"Haha, Pikachu, you want to battle them too, right?"

Fuji Tsugumi curiously looked at the live stream.

A classic 6V6 battle, a Master Ball level match, with the ID "Teacher Lu, did you eat today?" facing "The Ball Kid Like the Wind."

Since it was an international live stream, the platform provided real-time subtitle translation, allowing the two to understand "Teacher Lu's" commentary.

"How dare this person send out Rapidash! It's called Bakutaro, I'll just use Toxic and that's it!"

Despite the type disadvantage, Venusaur used "Toxic + Protect" to wear down Rapidash.

Then, Venusaur defeated Dusclops and Sunflora one after another.

From start to finish, the red team's "Teacher Lu" only sent out Venusaur, achieving a three-for-one victory.

A series of question marks flooded the screen.

"I'm stunned, type disadvantage and still full health against Rapidash!?"

"Teacher Lu is not disappointing, my youth is over!"

"Stop, this isn't a Pokémon battle!"

Fuji Tsugumi murmured, "Akai, this ID, could it be..."

"Yeah, it's probably Jin." Akai coughed, "I remember he likes playing this game too."

In the virtual image, Venusaur's Parasite Seed formed vines that dug into Porygon's body, continuously draining energy.

Porygon let out a cry, flapping its wings, but the Air Slash was blocked by a crystalline barrier.

In the live stream, Lu Ye's commentary came through: "Protect, Protect, Protect, the opponent explodes on the spot!"

"Toxic can be replaced with Parasite Seed, using both together is even better!"

Porygon's body turned purple, indicating poisoning, and it continued to be tormented by the vines formed by Parasite Seed.

Even when an attack hit by chance, the wound on Venusaur was no bigger than a thumb, and Lu Ye had Venusaur use Synthesis...

A flood of chat messages appeared.

"Please be human!"

"Is this the toxic substitute? Love it, love it!"

"Four-for-one! Venusaur four-for-one!"

With a thud, Porygon fell from the sky in the live stream.

In contrast, Venusaur was not only in high spirits but also ready to use Synthesis for a spa session...

Fuji Tsugumi couldn't help but praise softly, "The timing is controlled so well!"

"Yeah." Akai nodded, "Even Jin is no match for him."

Amateurs see the excitement, experts see the depth.

"Pokémon: Battle," as a real-time command simulation, reflects a trainer's tactical skills.

Unlike ordinary viewers, Akai and Fuji Tsugumi, two powerful trainers, saw something deeper—

Behind the "toxic substitute" tactic, there is precise timing control, which is a significant test of a trainer's command ability.

It can be confirmed that the streamer with the ID "Teacher Lu, did you eat today?" is definitely an experienced trainer.

Even... Jin is no match for him!

"Now you know why I didn't go training today." Akai smiled.

"Observing trainers' battles is an important part of training!"

Fuji Tsugumi wanted to tease, this is just a game!

But even in a game, it's no different from a high-level Pokémon battle.

Curiosity burning, Fuji Tsugumi and Akai focused intently on the live stream.