Chapter 343: A Few Things About Asher and Sabrina’s Romance

Just as the chat group was buzzing with excitement—Click.

The screen suddenly froze on the exact frame where Ho-Oh disappeared into the clouds.

[Ding! Question Time!]

[Question: In this parallel world, what was the event that first brought Asher and Sabrina together?]

[A. He marched straight into Saffron Gym, challenged Sabrina to a psychic showdown, defeated her, then demanded that she date him.]

[B. Sabrina turned Asher into a doll inside the Gym. Asher transformed himself back through sheer ability, which made Sabrina interested in him.]

[C. To pursue Sabrina, Asher specifically became a magician, held a magic show meant only for her, and successfully made her smile.]

[D. Sabrina lost control while training, and Asher stabilized her psychic power with a kiss.]

[The buzzer round begins in thirty seconds!]

The moment the question appeared, the chat group immediately erupted into heated discussion.

[VIP Chat Group]

[Volkner]: What the hell is Option D?! A kiss can stabilize psychic power? Does Asher’s mouth seriously have that kind of effect?!

[Flint]: If D is actually true, psychics won’t even need Pokémon Centers anymore. They can just line up and kiss Asher.

[Caitlin]: Does it really have that kind of effect...? (Deep in thought.)

[Misty]:@Caitlin, he absolutely does not have an ability like that! You really shouldn’t think too deeply about this!

[Caitlin]: Huh? Oh... Don’t misunderstand. I didn’t mean it like that.

[Gardenia]: Come to think of it, hasn’t Tiana been unusually quiet for a long time?

[Valerie]: You’re right. If this were before, she would’ve started flooding the chat the moment a buzzer question appeared.

[Elaria]: Big Sis Tiana already returned to the future.

[Lucian]: What?! Tiana left?!

[Aaron]: Isn’t that a good thing? Without Tiana around, this next part comes down purely to reaction speed.

[Flint]: Holy crap. I’m fired up!

[Raihan]: Today, this buzzer belongs to me, Raihan!

[Leon]: Heh. We’ll see about that.

[Countdown: 3, 2, 1—]

[Ding! Buzzer Round Begins!]

Nearly everyone slammed the buzzer at the same time.

The golden countdown numbers on the giant screen were struck by a storm of inputs—

Then suddenly froze on a single name.

[Congratulations! Steven has won the buzzer!]

[Volkner]: HOLY SHIT!!! WHY IS IT STEVEN AGAIN?!

[Flint]: I nearly broke my finger hitting that button! Steven, are you cheating?!

[Raihan]: I demand a system audit! Steven absolutely paid the screen!

[Screen]: Ciallo~ (∠?ω＜ )⌒★

[Raihan]: DON’T "CIALLO~" ME! HOW IS THAT AN EXPLANATION?!

[Steven]: Hahahahaha! Do you see this?! This is the power of bonds! At this moment, I am not fighting alone! Behind me stand Metagross and every mineral in my collection!

[Wallace]: Ruri already moved most of those minerals away. Just answer the question.

[Sidney]: Knowing Steven, he’ll probably choose the most ridiculous option.

[Volkner]: Then he’s definitely picking D. D is the most absurd, and he loves absurd things.

[Steven]: Heh. You’re thinking too much. When it comes to questions about Brother Asher, there is absolutely no way I can answer incorrectly.

[Volkner]: Steven, cut the empty talk. If you’re so confident, answer correctly and prove it!

[Steven]: I choose C!

[Screen]: Correct answer!

[Steven]: HAHAHAHAHAHA!! WHAT DID I SAY?! When it comes to Brother Asher, I, Steven Stone, cannot possibly answer incorrectly!

[Volkner]: ...Damn it. He actually got to show off.

[Wallace]: Steven, tone it down.

[Flint]: It’s over. Steven’s ego is about to leave the atmosphere. Someone hurry up and punish him!

[Congratulations! Steven has received the reward—"Memory Fragment: A Few Things About Asher and Sabrina’s Romance"! One-time use.]

[Reward Description: Steven will receive a high-definition replay of the events that brought Asher and Sabrina together in this parallel world. He may choose either to share it publicly in the chat group or keep it private.]

[Ding! Reward delivered. Contestant Steven, would you like to make it public?]

[VIP Chat Group]

[Volkner]: Steven, I strongly advise you to share that reward willingly. Don’t force me to get on my knees and beg you.

[Flint]: Same.

[Raihan]: Steven, we’re brothers. You know what I mean, right?

[Steven]: Since when were we brothers?

[Raihan]: From this exact moment onward. Share that reward, and from now on—when you mine stones, I’ll carry your pickaxe. When you dance, I’ll handle the lighting. When you roast Wallace, I’ll hand you water so you can keep your throat moisturized.

[Wallace]: ?

[Leon]: Steven, if you’re willing to share it, the next time you come to Galar, I’ll take you to see the frozen mineral veins deep inside the Crown Tundra.

[Steven]: I’ll think about it...

[Phoebe]: He can actually resist the temptation of rare minerals? Looks like Steven still has some principles after all.

[Steven]: It’s not about principles. The main problem is that this concerns Brother Asher... If I make it public, he won’t silence me afterward, right?

[Skyla]: He won’t! My Master and the others are busy with important business right now. They probably don’t even have time to watch the livestream! Go ahead and publish it without fear!

[Volkner]:@Steven, are you sharing it or keeping it private? Just give us an answer already. Stop dragging this out!

[Flint]: Exactly! Why are you being so indecisive? Who taught you that?

[Raihan]: Steven, if you’re a man, hit "Public." Don’t chicken out.

[Steven]: Fine! As the saying goes—If I don’t enter hell, who will? Today, I, Steven Stone, shall publicly reveal this memory fragment and let everyone here witness what true romance looks like!

[Ding! Steven has chosen to make the Memory Fragment public!]

[Now Playing Memory Fragment: A Few Things About Asher and Sabrina’s Romance]

Saffron City.

Outside Saffron Gym.

The time was roughly three years before Aurelia and Selene were born.

Asher stood in front of the doors.

He had only just raised his hand to knock when—

"Young man, wait."

A middle-aged man dressed in green appeared from seemingly nowhere.

With his hands behind his back and a profoundly mysterious expression on his face, he blocked the entrance.

"If you’re here to challenge Saffron Gym, take my advice."

"Pick another Gym."

"I’m not here for a challenge."

Asher lowered his hand.

"Then what are you here for?"

"I’m here to help Sabrina find her smile again."

The man froze for two seconds.

Then—

He immediately threw his head back and laughed for a full fifteen seconds.

"Help Sabrina find her smile?!"

"Young man, do you even understand what you’re saying?"

As he spoke, the man casually snapped his fingers.

Three trash cans behind him floated into the air simultaneously.

They neatly spun around three times then gently settled back onto the ground.

"See that?"

"Even someone like me can’t fight back against Sabrina."

The man walked up to Asher and patted him on the shoulder.

"Listen to me."

"Leave while you still can."

"Otherwise, Sabrina might turn you into a doll."

Asher said nothing.

He merely raised his right hand and casually waved toward the sky.

Three white clouds drifting overhead suddenly stopped.

Then—

They began rearranging themselves.

Within moments, the clouds had formed the unmistakable shape of a Kadabra.

The man stared upward.

His mouth fell open.

His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

Slowly...

He lowered his head.

Then he suddenly grabbed Asher by both shoulders, his eyes blazing with unprecedented excitement.

"Young man!"

"If you could do something like this, why didn’t you say so earlier?!"

"You didn’t ask."

"Right, right, right!"

The man repeatedly slapped Asher’s shoulder, each pat harder than the last.

"Then here’s the deal!"

"If you can really win Sabrina’s heart..."

"I’ll marry my daughter off to you!"

...