"Car~" — The road is long, only eating accompanies.
On Route 8, on a truck heading to Pewter City, a Munchlax pulled down the curtain and murmured to the sky.
As he spoke, he pulled out a Berry from his furry body and threw it into his mouth.
"Car~" — Life is so good, I wonder what delicious food I'll get to eat following this guy.
Munchlax scratched his belly, looked at the sky, and fantasized with a silly grin about the delicacies he would eat in other cities with Jiang Fan that he couldn't get in Lavender Town.
As for why he followed along?
The reason was simple: he noticed that ever since that darn Charmeleon got a Trainer, he often received extra meals. Although he didn't eat as much as Munchlax, every time he came back, he would get to eat delicious food that Munchlax rarely had.
He tried to snatch it, but he could never win.
It wasn't until yesterday that he overheard Jiang Fan and Fuji discussing going to Pewter City to challenge some Gym.
He felt it was his time to go to other cities and eat delicious food.
Because he knew that if he went out, he would definitely be taken care of. Whatever Charmeleon ate, he would also get to eat.
If they didn't feed him, he would cause trouble and attack humans and Pokémon.
He believed that Jiang Fan, in the end, would also have to yield to his adorable Munchlax face, just like Fuji.
"Car~" — I'm truly a genius.
At this thought, Munchlax's nose twitched.
He felt he smelled food.
He quickly stood up in the truck bed and looked inside through the rear window.
At this moment, the two idiots inside, one was sleeping, and the other was driving while eating biscuits.
"Car~"
The next second, the truck suddenly braked sharply.
Jiang Fan, in his sleep, was directly startled awake.
"What's wrong?"
He looked left and right, finding that Karen, the driver, was frantically patting his chest, as if he had choked on a biscuit, and pointing behind him.
Following the direction he pointed, he then saw a big, flat face pressed against the window due to the truck's inertia.
"Mun... Munchlax?"
One minute later,
Munchlax and Jiang Fan squeezed into one seat, and Munchlax ate Karen's entire box of biscuits in one bite.
"What should we do, Jiang Fan? Should we send him back?" Karen looked at Munchlax with a headache.
"Let's just leave it. We're almost in Saffron City. I'll just send a message to Grandpa Fuji later," Jiang Fan shook his head.
"Then what about his diet? I don't have that much money to buy things for him."
"I'll buy it, and then I'll get reimbursed by Grandpa Fuji."
"Alright then." Karen heard this and continued driving.
Jiang Fan, on the other hand, watched Munchlax, wondering how he ended up here.
What was his behavioral logic?
While thinking, he looked at Munchlax's information panel.
【Pokémon: Munchlax】
【Level: 17 (132 days until next level)】
【Aptitude: Superior】
【Friendship: -21】
【Ability: Pickup】
【Gender: Male】
【Skills: Tackle (20%), Metronome (18%), Defense Curl (15%), Amnesia (15%), Rest (32%)】
【Description: This is a Munchlax that was deceived by its Trainer. Its previous Trainer encouraged it to battle with food, but did not fulfill the promise afterward. The angry Munchlax attacked him, was subsequently abandoned, and after being abandoned, caused public disturbance by snatching food from other Pokémon. It was eventually captured by Jenny and, after the Pokémon system discovered it was an owner-released Pokémon, sent to the Pokémon House.】
"Could it be that he also chose to follow because of food?" Jiang Fan muttered to himself.
Other than that, he couldn't think of any other reason.
After all, in his understanding, for Munchlax, nothing was more important than eating.
"Forget it, I wanted to catch him anyway. I'll just get to know him during this journey."
An hour later.
The truck entered Saffron City.
Jiang Fan and Karen discussed resting for a night in this largest and most prosperous city in the Kanto region before continuing their journey.
"Come out, Charmeleon."
A flash of light, and Jiang Fan released Charmeleon.
Besides having him come with him to find food, he also wanted him to keep an eye on Munchlax, that glutton.
Munchlax's current expression, drooling all over the floor just by looking at the ice cream of passing children, made him very worried.
He was afraid he would suddenly try to snatch it.
"Car~"
At this moment, Munchlax tugged at his pants and pointed to a nearby ice cream stand.
"Munchlax, do you want me to buy you ice cream?"
"Car~" Munchlax nodded.
Jiang Fan raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised that he would actually ask him directly.
He had originally thought Munchlax's normal procedure would be to just start eating, then force him to pay afterward.
He then walked towards the ice cream stand with Munchlax and Charmeleon.
In less than three minutes, all the ice cream from that stand was devoured by Munchlax.
Afterward, he shifted his gaze to the ice cream Charmeleon was eating.
Charmeleon felt his gaze and immediately glared back.
Munchlax recoiled his head; he couldn't beat this guy.
He could only shift his gaze to the ice cream in Jiang Fan's and Karen's hands.
"Car~" He called out to Jiang Fan and Karen.
At the same time, he put his hands beside his cheeks, making an adorable little expression.
Karen didn't give it, directly taking a big bite of his ice cream, causing Munchlax to show an expression of dissatisfaction.
He could only look at the one in Jiang Fan's hand.
Jiang Fan didn't guard his food and gave him the ice cream in his hand.
He wanted to see if his friendship would increase.
"Car~"
Munchlax gratefully bowed to him.
Then,
With a loud slurp, he ate the ice cream in one bite.
Jiang Fan stared at the information panel above his head.
Gradually, his brows furrowed slightly,
Because there was no change in friendship whatsoever.
"He's not putting on an act for me, is he?" Jiang Fan couldn't help but mutter to himself.
He was polite on the surface, and after eating, he looked grateful, but his friendship didn't increase at all.
"Car~"
Munchlax tugged at his pants again, pointing to another hamburger stand.
Jiang Fan agreed.
He took Munchlax to another hamburger stand, still buying out the entire stand for him to eat.
Then, the experience from before was replicated.
After he finished eating, he still wanted more. Charmeleon and Karen refused him, and only Jiang Fan gave him his own.
He still had a very grateful expression, looking as adorable as could be.
But his friendship just wouldn't go up at all.
"Car~"
Munchlax tugged at his pants a third time, pointing to a pancake stall.
However, this time, Jiang Fan decided to try refusing.
"Munchlax, you've eaten enough. Let's call it a day and go back to our lodging to rest."
As soon as these words were spoken, Munchlax's Cute expression instantly changed.
His two small fangs were revealed, and he glared at Jiang Fan with full ferocity.
Then, he dashed towards the pancake stall at full speed, swallowing a pancake that the owner had just finished baking and was about to hand to a customer, mid-air.
Watching this scene, Jiang Fan had only one thing to say.
"Damn it, this is definitely a performance personality."