Chapter 284: Sharing with Senpai
"I-I-I-I-I—Ceremony?"
"What ceremony?"
Hikaru wasn't too surprised to hear that word. When he left Kyoto last time, he had vaguely heard about it but didn't get the chance to ask.
Sakura hesitated, looking troubled.
"I really want to tell you, but I don't know if I'm allowed to..."
Hikaru shook his head and smiled.
"It's fine. If you're not supposed to say, don't worry about it."
But Sakura bit her lip and made up her mind.
"No... Since Dad agreed to let you come along, it should be fine to tell you. Come closer."
Hikaru raised an eyebrow, but before he could respond, Sakura leaned in, her warm breath brushing against his ear.
"It's actually... our family's Dragon Force isn't something we're born with."
"Eh?"
That revelation stunned Hikaru.
The world always assumed that the Dragon Force wielded by the Ryū clan was innate—passed down through bloodlines. This piece of information completely flipped his understanding.
"So... it's not something you're born with?"
Sakura nodded seriously, her voice hushed.
"Yeah... It's acquired through a special ritual. Only those acknowledged by Dragon Island can obtain it. Not every member of our clan can have it, either."
Hikaru's mind raced, piecing the new information together. The legendary reputation of the Ryū clan came not just from their natural talent but from their connection to the ritual. No wonder they were so closely tied to Dragon Island.
Seeing Hikaru's thoughtful look, Sakura seemed worried.
"Is it... bad that I told you?"
Hikaru smiled warmly and patted her head.
"No, it's fine. Thanks for trusting me."
Sakura blushed slightly but tried to play it off by straightening her posture.
"Well, you're going to know in three days anyway, so it's not a big deal. Just... don't tell anyone else, okay?"
"Promise."
Satisfied, Sakura was about to invite him to dinner, but Hikaru waved it off, mentioning he'd already eaten. She pouted a bit but didn't push it further, knowing he had things to do.
After she left, Hikaru sighed and leaned against the door.
"So that's how it works... A ritual, huh? No wonder it's considered sacred."
---
For the next two days, Hikaru was buried in his work. With all the materials spread out in the training room, he focused solely on producing energy cubes. He barely took breaks except for eating and sleeping.
His main goal was to make as many Master-level stamina energy cubes as possible. After two days of almost non-stop effort, he had successfully crafted 656 cubes, using around 35% of his precious life essence. The success rate was close to 50%, which was quite satisfying given the complexity.
He separated the cubes into five portions:
1. Personal Use (Largest Portion) - Enough to last a month.
2. Sakura's Portion - For helping out and always being around.
3. Senpai's Portion - A thank-you gift for sharing the Arctic Bird Feather and risking so much on that snow mountain.
The remaining two portions were intended for sale. Hikaru had to admit, despite his reluctance, money was essential. Urban life was expensive, and his Pokémon's needs were growing rapidly. Plus, Latias still needed more Psychic-type resources to fully restore her strength.
The problem was how to sell them without attracting too much attention. A 17-year-old Master-level breeder wasn't something the world would overlook.
"If I just put these on the market, people will come swarming to my door," Hikaru muttered.
"Looks like I'll have to ask Teacher for help..."
His mind made up, Hikaru decided to contact Professor Qingfeng later and ask for advice on how to handle the sale discreetly.
---
Just as Hikaru was planning to call his teacher, his phone buzzed with a message from Senpai, Yukina.
Yukina:
Hey, are you home? I heard about your record-breaking performance in the training camp. Congrats!
Hikaru:
Yeah, just got back. Thanks. Want to come over?
A few moments later, Yukina replied.
Yukina:
Sure! I'll bring some snacks.
A smile tugged at Hikaru's lips. He hadn't seen her since they left for the training camp. Maybe it was a good opportunity to give her the energy cubes.
---
A little while later, Yukina arrived at Hikaru's apartment, carrying a bag of homemade snacks.
"Yo!" she greeted with a cheerful smile.
"Smells nice," Hikaru said, taking a whiff of the aroma wafting from the bag.
She grinned.
"I figured you'd be exhausted after the camp, so I made some energy-boosting snacks."
They sat down on the couch, and Yukina passed him a small box filled with neatly arranged rice balls and baked treats. Hikaru tasted one, and his eyes lit up.
"Delicious as always."
She looked pleased, but then gave him a teasing smirk.
"Word around campus is that you dominated the training camp. You even made some of the senior students cry. What's up with that?"
Hikaru scratched his head sheepishly.
"Just luck, I guess."
Rolling her eyes, Yukina nudged him lightly.
"You and your modesty. I heard about the stash of rare fruits you scored. What are you going to do with all of them?"
Hikaru handed her a small box.
"Actually, I wanted to give you this. It's part of what I made from those fruits."
Yukina opened the box and found a batch of perfectly shaped stamina energy cubes.
"Whoa... These are Master-level, right? You made all these from the fruits you gathered?"
"Yup. Consider it a thank-you for the snow mountain and the Arctic Bird Feather."
She looked genuinely touched, but then crossed her arms with a playful pout.
"You could've just told me directly that you were planning on making these. I wouldn't have worried so much about how you'd use the fruits."
Hikaru chuckled.
"I didn't want to raise your expectations. Besides, it was a lot of trial and error."
Yukina looked at him, a hint of pride in her eyes.
"You know... you're really something, Hikaru. Not just a battle genius but also a top-notch breeder. Your talent is kind of scary."
He shrugged.
"I just do what I can."
They spent the rest of the evening chatting and laughing, enjoying the snacks she brought. Yukina couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth from the thoughtful gift, and Hikaru felt content knowing he had properly thanked her.
Deep down, though, he couldn't shake the feeling that his peaceful days were slowly coming to an end. The more he grew in skill and power, the more attention he would inevitably attract.
For now, though, he decided to simply enjoy the moment.
---
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