After discovering the new "Companionship" option in his system, Kenji realized that training his Pokémon in battle wasn't enough. If he wanted them to fight well together in the future, they needed to get to know each other and build a bond of trust.
"If I want them to fight well together, they first need to get along."
With that idea in mind, he decided to take a day off to strengthen the bond between Charmander and Ursaring.
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The sun had yet to fully rise when Kenji stepped into the small yard behind his house. He took the Poké Balls from his belt and tossed them into the air.
"Come out, guys!"
A reddish glow illuminated the area, and in an instant, Charmander and Ursaring appeared.
Charmander, with his small agile body and fiery tail, blinked a few times before yawning and stretching. Ursaring, on the other hand, emerged with his imposing size, shaking himself off vigorously and snorting, making it clear he didn't like being inside the Poké Ball for too long.
Kenji watched them with a smile.
"Alright, guys. Let me officially introduce you." He first pointed to his starter companion. "Charmander, this is Ursaring, our new ally."
Charmander tilted his head and took a step forward, observing the massive bear with curiosity but also slight tension. The size difference was overwhelming; Ursaring could easily crush him with a single blow.
"And Ursaring, this is Charmander, my first companion."
Ursaring lowered his gaze to the small lizard and let out a low growl.
Charmander tensed slightly, ready for any sudden movement.
Then, to Kenji's surprise, instead of attacking, Ursaring simply extended one of his enormous claws and gave Charmander a light tap on the head with unexpected gentleness.
Charmander blinked in surprise, but then his expression changed, and he smiled, tapping Ursaring's paw lightly with his small claw in acceptance.
Kenji chuckled in relief.
"Well, at least they didn't try to kill each other in the first minute."
"Alright, guys, today is going to be different. No battles or intense training. We're just going to get to know each other better."
Charmander swished his tail excitedly, while Ursaring simply crossed his arms, though he seemed to agree.
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🌆 Exploring the City
After breakfast, Kenji decided to take his Pokémon into the city.
The streets were filled with merchants and passersby, and many stopped to look at the boy walking with a small fire lizard at his side and a massive bear trailing behind him.
"Look at that!"
"Is that beast his?" a woman whispered.
"It looks dangerous, but pretty well-trained…" another commented.
"Are those his battle companions?"
"That's the kid who defeated Renjiro!"
The fame of his fight had spread quickly. Although Kenji tried to ignore the murmurs, he couldn't help but feel a bit proud.
Kenji ignored the comments and continued on his way. He wanted to find something special for his Pokémon, something that could help them improve.
After walking for a while, he found a store specializing in equipment and accessories for beasts.
Upon entering, he was greeted by an old man with a white beard and wise eyes.
"Welcome, young man. Looking for something in particular?"
Kenji glanced at the shelves filled with items: reinforced bandages, collars, wristbands, and even small pieces of armor for certain beasts.
"I'm looking for something that can help my companions improve."
The old man nodded and showed him some interesting items:
🔹 Sharp Claw Bracelets: Slightly increased the power of physical attacks for clawed beasts.
🔹 Vitality Pendant: Helped a beast recover faster from fatigue.
🔹 Fiery Scarf: Enhanced fire-type attacks by increasing the beast's body temperature.
Kenji thought for a moment and then chose the Fiery Scarf for Charmander and the Sharp Claw Bracelets for Ursaring.
"Good choice," the old man said with a smile. "These items can make a real difference in battle."
Kenji paid with the coins he had left and exited the store.
As soon as they were outside, he handed the scarf to Charmander, who tied it around his neck with pride. Then, he adjusted the bracelets on Ursaring's front paws.
"Now we're better equipped."
"And you guys look awesome."
Charmander let out a small flame of excitement, and Ursaring growled approvingly.
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🍖 A Special Lunch
After shopping, Kenji took his Pokémon to a nearby park. He bought food from a street stall, and they sat under a tree.
🍖 Grilled meat for Ursaring.
🌶 Spicy skewers for Charmander.
🥙 A simple onigiri for himself.
They sat on the grass and enjoyed their meal. Ursaring devoured his meat with satisfaction, while Charmander licked the spicy sauce off his food with delight.
As they ate, Kenji noticed something curious:
Every time Ursaring finished a piece of meat, he dropped a few bits for Charmander, who at first looked surprised but then started accepting the gesture.
"Looks like they're getting along," Kenji murmured with satisfaction.
After a while, Kenji lay back on the grass and closed his eyes, enjoying the fresh breeze. His Pokémon relaxed as well.
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🏛 Visiting the Tamer's Plaza
Before heading home, Kenji decided to take his Pokémon to the Tamer's Plaza, a special area where young tamers could watch exhibitions and learn about rare beasts.
There, a group of instructors demonstrated the use of advanced skills with their beasts.
One of them, a mid-ranked tamer, was showcasing an electric-type beast, a Lightning Fox, which fired sparks at practice targets.
Kenji watched in fascination.
"My Pokémon will also learn advanced skills someday..."
Charmander and Ursaring seemed just as interested in the demonstration, confirming Kenji's belief: he needed to expose them to real situations to strengthen their bond.
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🌙 An Important Decision
As the sun began to set, Kenji felt satisfied with the day. However, there was still the matter of improving his Pokémon's teamwork.
That's when he remembered a place...
"The Forbidden Forest."
It was the area near the city, full of wild beasts and considered dangerous for novices, where he had first trained Charmander.
Plus, Kenji still had pending system missions he could complete there. It would be a great opportunity for Charmander and Ursaring to fight together for the first time in a real situation.
Kenji stood up and looked at his Pokémon.
"Guys, I think it's time to test your teamwork in a real situation."
Charmander tilted his head curiously. Ursaring just stared silently.
"Tomorrow, we're going to the Forbidden Forest."
Charmander wagged his tail excitedly, and Ursaring showed a serious expression.
Kenji smiled.
"It'll be a good challenge."
With that decision made, they returned home, ready for the test that awaited them the next day.