Narrowing of Foes

The interview with YoYo's Day Care was broadcasted on the Lilycove TV station the next day. Consequently, YoYo's Day Care revealed itself comprehensively to all the folks in the Hoenn region.

Due to the interview, the business of YoYo's Day Care's Pokéblocks exploded, and the number of customers at the new store kept growing. Many trainers felt that even if they couldn't get a green-potential Gligar or Trapinch, a yellow-potential one was still serviceable.

Meanwhile, in a villa in the Slateport City, a middle-aged man watched the interview about YoYo's Day Care on TV. Filled with anger, he violently hurled his teacup across the room.

"Shimizu Yuga! YoYo's Day Care! You wait for me!" The middle-aged man's voice dripped with venom.

If Yuga were present, he would definitely recognize this man as an acquaintance he had clashed with before.

On the other hand, in the Rustboro City, a Lairon became visibly excited upon seeing Yuga's image on TV. The Lairon bit onto its trainer's clothes, signaling them to look at the screen.

However, all of this was unknown to Yuga, who was in the town of Verdanturf. He was currently listening to Suzuki Koen's report about the sales of the Pokéblocks over the past few days, feeling secretly delighted.

Because business was booming, the incubators in Yuga's new store were running short. Seeing that Arata Sena was busy, Yuga decided to head out himself and buy some supplies from the Devon's shop.

Yuga had a great deal of faith in the Devon's capabilities. He usually bought the necessary Pokémon items from their store since their reputation was solid, ensuring the quality of their products.

Navigating easily, Yuga entered the Devon's store, intending to purchase his incubators. To his surprise, he encountered someone he'd rather not see.

"Why are you here?" the person on the opposite side said in a hostile tone.

"Why wouldn't I be here? Isn't the entrance open for business?" Yuga retorted, bypassing him and getting ready to buy his items.

"Halt!" The man shouted as Yuga attempted to leave.

"What? You've been to the detention center once, and you think it's not enough? Want to go back in?" Yuga sneered, glancing back at him.

Indeed, the person Yuga encountered was none other than Touya, who had instigated others to cause trouble at YoYo's Day Care and had been thrown into the detention center by Officer Jenny.

Hearing Yuga's words, Touya's face went from red to black and then purple with anger. Being thrown into the detention center was the biggest shame Touya had ever experienced in his life. He had been mocked incessantly, and he still hadn't told his parents about it. It was his uncle who had managed to pull him out of the detention center.

"Anything else? If not, I'm leaving." Yuga glanced at him with a half-smile, seeing that he was rendered speechless in a fit of rage. He then turned and walked away.

Yuga arrived at the incubator section and found a sales representative. He told them how many incubators he needed and asked them to have them delivered to his new store.

Just as Yuga was wrapping up with the sales representative and preparing to leave, Touya's voice once again made its presence felt.

"Hold on!"

Hearing Touya's voice, Yuga instinctively paused and turned around, only to find him standing behind him, somehow having moved unnoticed.

"Is it you who's buying these incubators?" Touya arrogantly touched the incubators, a statement that left Yuga rather perplexed.

Where did this person's innate sense of superiority come from?

"Yes, it's me. Does it concern you?" Yuga had no intention of engaging with him. After speaking, he turned to leave.

"It doesn't concern me, but soon it won't concern you either," Touya said with a smile.

"What do you mean?" Yuga questioned, puzzled.

Without answering Yuga's question, Touya signaled the sales representative Yuga had approached.

"Young Master Touya, is there something you need?" The sales representative walked over to Touya's side, bowed, and cautiously inquired.

Young Master Touya? Could this Touya have something to do with the Devon? Yuga pondered.

Touya pointed at Yuga with an air of superiority and commanded, "From now on, this person is not allowed to buy anything here!"

Hearing Touya's words, Yuga's expression instantly soured.

"Well... That doesn't seem very appropriate..." The salesperson stuttered, unsure of how to proceed.

"What's inappropriate about it? Just do as I say. Where's all this unnecessary talk coming from? Do you want to get fired?" Touya barked at the salesperson aggressively.

Upon hearing the words "get fired," the salesperson immediately fell silent, not daring to speak further. They could only reluctantly inform Yuga, "I'm sorry, sir. We can't sell the incubators to you."

Yuga felt that every encounter with Touya was one annoyance after another. This person seemed to be able to get under his skin like no other.

"How about this? I could crush you with just one hand, a small fry like you!" Seeing Yuga's face darken, Touya arrogantly taunted.

Yuga closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and was afraid that he might accidentally end up "killing" this "jerk" in front of him.

What's the relationship between this Touya and the Devon? How can he control things here?

In reality, Yuga was unaware that it wasn't Touya who had connections with the Devon, but rather his uncle, Kiryu. And Kiryu was the owner of the Devon's branch in Verdanturf.

Yuga had encountered Kiryu before. During a youth Pokémon battle tournament in Verdanturf, Kiryu had served as a referee.

Both Touya and Kiryu were not originally from Verdanturf but from the Rustboro City. Due to Kiryu's exceptional business skills, he had been promoted by the headquarters to become the owner of the Verdanturf branch.

Kiryu hadn't been in Verdanturf for long, and Touya had come to Verdanturf with him at that time.

Although Kiryu was quite busy most of the time, his wife was a full-time homemaker. She took care of Touya and his cousin at home, allowing Touya's parents, who were busy with their League public duties, to entrust their son to Kiryu's care.

However, judging from Touya's ignorant attitude, it seemed that neither Kiryu nor his wife were particularly adept at parenting.

"Crush me with one hand?" Yuga scoffed, "Why don't you give it a try? Let's see if you can actually crush me!"

"Whether you believe it or not, I can make sure your little Day Care won't survive!" Touya declared boldly.

Hearing Touya's bold words, Yuga wanted to burst into laughter. He wondered if this Touya had any common sense at all.