Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Equality is the Best Way to Get Along
"Good morning…" With panda-like eyes, Gary listlessly held a toothbrush while staring at the blonde girl in front of him.
"Gary!" A head of fluffy blonde hair floated in mid-air as Caitlin levitated gracefully, with Gothitelle waving gently beside her using its psychic powers. Various skincare products lined up one after another, and soon enough, a youthful and well-dressed girl completed her transformation.
"I'm tired of saying the word envy…" Gary spat out mouthwash and took out concealer to cover his dark circles.
Yesterday, he had played Elite League with Caitlin, and they had to hide like cowards, only to be headshot by others in the final circle…
Unconvinced, they continued to play until midnight before finally going to sleep.
"Gengar~" Gengar wagged its tongue in the hotel kitchen and then floated over with two cups of coffee.
"Thank you…" Taking the mug, Gary examined it. This Gengar could actually brew coffee—what kind of skill tree was that?
"I made you a cappuccino; I want an espresso." He handed Caitlin the cappuccino disguised with cocoa powder. Gary gulped down the bitter black coffee.
His whole body shuddered as he gave Gengar a thumbs up. "Very effective, I feel energized."
"Gengar~" Gengar bounced around happily like a ball.
Breakfast consisted of buttery croissants filled with cheese, perfectly paired with coffee—a standard English breakfast.
Caitlin disdainfully took a small bite before putting down her bread. "Ew~ This isn't good; I want wonton noodles or tofu pudding with sesame cakes~"
Gary broke into a cold sweat. Could it be that she had too much medicine… or too much commoner food? The proper little princess had developed a slight Kanto countryside accent…
"How about we eat Kantonese food after the match? There's a restaurant in Saffron City that specializes in Kanto cuisine, and it seems pretty good," Gary suggested.
"Hooray ≧▽≦! Let's hurry up and set off. Let's take down that woman and then eat something delicious!" Caitlin cheered with both hands raised.
With Caitlin's mood resolved, they set off towards the Saffron Gym in downtown Saffron City.
The giant dome-shaped sports venue housed the Saffron Gym and also served as a training camp for Kanto psychics.
Psychics of various levels trained here; stronger ones could move objects with their minds or teleport instantly, while weaker ones could only bend a spoon…
In any case, psychics gathered here to study how to enhance their powers, and they were all admirers of Sabrina~
Arriving at the gym entrance, Caitlin couldn't help but pout. "Why are there so many weak psychic energies radiating out? It's really annoying~"
Gary shrugged. "Probably those psychic apprentices are training."
"The strength of psychic powers is determined by brain regions; this is innate. Who says it can be improved through training?" Caitlin looked incredulous.
"Ahem… young people shouldn't speak so harshly. Psychic powers can certainly be trained," said an uncle in orange sanitation worker attire who was sweeping the street as he approached Gary and Caitlin.
"What? Can't people speak the truth?" Caitlin wasn't one to take nonsense from anyone~
"Uncle… you'd better not provoke this young lady," Gary kindly warned.
"Hmph! Are you here to challenge the gym? I advise you not to be too arrogant; psychic powers are terrifying!" The uncle's eyes glinted with a dangerous crimson light as he glared at Gary and Caitlin.
Gary rolled his eyes. "Just so you know, I warned you~"
In an instant, Caitlin stepped in front of Gary as a powerful psychic wind formed, rebounding the sanitation worker's psychic attack!
Boom! The uncle's eyes widened as his body flew backward, crashing through a small tree before he flickered and teleported to safety.
"Pfft~ This power even surpasses Sabrina's psychic strength! How is that possible?" The uncle spat blood, looking incredulously at Caitlin.
"Uncle, I warned you in advance. You insisted on provoking Caitlin; you can't blame us," Gary said, shaking his head.
"How can this be? It's terrifying. Sabrina's talent only appears once in a hundred years; this girl looks about the same age as Sabrina and can reach such a terrifying level?" The uncle continued to ramble in disbelief.
Gary couldn't take it anymore and interrupted, "Can you stop rambling? You keep saying 'terrifying' and 'scary.' Can't you see that Caitlin is upset?"
Gently stroking Caitlin's silky long hair, Gary smiled warmly. "Don't worry; no one will be afraid of you. Everyone loves the psychic beauty, right?"
"Yeah~ right~" Caitlin pouted, nodding with a pitiful expression.
"Incredible, to be able to tame a psychic of this level, you really are brave~" The uncle gasped in awe.
"What's wrong with psychics? Aren't you a psychic too? Why say such things?" Gary frowned and scolded. "Those two holes under your eyebrows aren't for venting frustration, are they? Caitlin and Sabrina are just delicate girls at heart. Even though they have great power, if you communicate with them sincerely, they can also treat the world gently."
"Impossible! Those powerful psychics are all closed off inside," the uncle instinctively retorted.
"That's because you haven't made an effort to understand them!" Gary shouted angrily. "You're just afraid of their power! Even if they've never harmed you, you keep talking about how dangerous they are! Ask yourself honestly: have you ever viewed them as equals, as people? You haven't—so you don't deserve to comment here."
"Gary~ it's okay; let's go inside," Caitlin said softly, having never seen Gary so angry before. She gently tugged at his sleeve.
Gary responded with a warm smile, "Okay, let's go in."
Watching Gary and Caitlin chat and laugh together, the uncle stood there in shock. Can SSR-level psychics really live so down-to-earth? Can they really have such pure smiles? Do they also have hearts, livers, and emotions?!
What have I been doing all these years?!
The uncle couldn't help but recall his moments with Sabrina…
That's right; this man disguised as a sanitation worker who loitered outside his door every day but never dared to enter is Sabrina's father—the previous Saffron Gym trainer.
It seems that ever since Sabrina displayed her exaggerated psychic talent, he couldn't help but show fear. The uncle painfully held his head. That kind of guarded and fearful gaze must have deeply hurt young Sabrina…
That's why Sabrina would use her powers to keep everyone close to her—why she closed her heart and played with dolls instead…
"Uncle~ I hope you can treat girls like Caitlin and Sabrina equally." As he pushed open the door, Gary spoke slowly, "What they need is equality—not pity, not admiration, and certainly not fear~"
Watching the backs of Gary and Caitlin, the uncle sighed in self-reproach. "I didn't expect that I haven't lived as clearly as a young person. Well—time to go home!"
With determined steps, the uncle turned towards a villa on the back street of the gym. That was his home he hadn't visited for years…