It all started while Teacher Luke was still stuck in exams.
Haunter had been home alone, gripping a photocopy of the Toxic Experience in both hands, tongue extended, meticulously licking every line of fine print from top to bottom.
"Kojie~ (⊙~⊙)"* It nodded thoughtfully, ready to pass along its newfound wisdom to Eevee — only to remember Eevee was still sealed inside its Poké Ball.
Haunter drifted over to the ball, scratched its head, then deflated into a flat sheet, sinking dejectedly through the air.
Then, all at once, its eyes lit back up. It puffed back to full form with a poof and floated excitedly toward the door.
"Kojie!" — guard the house! — it called back at the sealed Eevee.
Inside the ball, Eevee clawed furiously at the walls. Training in secret AGAIN, and not even bringing me?!
Eevee: ヽ(`Д´)ง
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Compared to Luke, Haunter had grown considerably more familiar with the local training scene by this point. The nearby construction site functioned almost like a low-difficulty dungeon at this point — easy enough it could've walked Eevee through it without a scratch.
For a genuine challenge, though, Haunter's mind went straight to that one Superior-tier Poison specialist. Just picturing that ferocious Arbok sent a visible shudder through it.
Haunter: (﹃) That thing was legitimately terrifying.
Still, it made its way eagerly to Bull Coliseum, phasing directly through the glass entrance door — leaving the front desk attendant utterly bewildered.
"You... um... hello... battle, or training session?"
"Kojie!" Haunter poked a finger at the $410 Training Package listed on the counter display. Master picked this one last time. Should still work, right?
"Kojie! (ノ￣▽￣)" — flashing a confident grin, despite not carrying a single cent.
First time serving a Ghost-type client, the attendant pursed her lips, intrigued. "So, little guy — which Pokémon are we training today?"
Haunter pointed proudly at itself.
She pulled out a tablet, scrolling with a smile. "Here's the list of available coaches. Pick one, and payment processes online afterward."
"Kojie!" Haunter nodded, chin in hand, browsing with exaggerated seriousness.
Right then, Vera walked past carrying a watering can, tight training gear doing little to hide an athletic build — and froze mid-step at the sight.
That laugh. I KNOW that laugh.
Wait. That's the Gastly that nearly hospitalized my Arbok last time. It EVOLVED?!
She glanced around nervously, only relaxing once she confirmed the handsome young Trainer wasn't anywhere in sight.
"Good, he's not here training today... hopefully it won't specifically request me either."
"Coach Vera! Perfect timing, we've got a client specifically asking for you."
"...Huh?"
"Kojie!" Haunter grinned, scratching the back of its head with mock bashfulness.
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Haunter trailed Vera out to the training field.
"First time I've seen a Pokémon this eager to book its own session," she muttered.
"Kojie kojie!"
"You don't actually have any money, though, do you?" Vera frowned. "Skip out on payment and you're getting blacklisted."
Haunter: Σ(っ°Д°;)っ
Its face went sheet-white, ghost-pale in the most literal sense, and it started drifting dejectedly toward the exit, an almost visible cloud of resentment trailing behind it.
Vera hesitated, then sighed. "Fine — I've got an idea, come back."
"Kojie?" Haunter did a complete emotional one-eighty mid-flight, shooting her a look of pure disdain. You had a solution THIS whole time and let me suffer first?
"With your skill level, you'd actually make a solid part-time coach here yourself." Vera raised an eyebrow. "Free training on top of picking up actual work — interested?"
"Kojie! o(≧▽≦)ツ"* Haunter burst out laughing, clapping her on the shoulder. Should've led with that — we're basically coworkers now!
Vera's expression twisted. They say a Pokémon's personality drifts toward its Trainer's over time. This one's shamelessness alone tells me plenty about who's raising it.
"Kojie!" Haunter struck a pose, visibly eager to get started, throwing a few practice jabs with dramatic sound effects.
Vera, expression complicated, called the front desk attendant over to add a new coach profile to the system.
"Are we sure this is fine?" the attendant asked, surprised.
"Why not, it's one more line on the tablet."
Haunter did some quick mental math — Luke's exam should wrap in about an hour. Which meant exactly one hour of legitimate paid work ahead of it. The thought of actually contributing to the household budget made its eyes light up.
"Kojie kojie (`▽´)"
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Vera stood at the edge of the field, watching Haunter's first lesson unfold. Honestly, even as a Superior-tier Trainer herself, she couldn't fully gauge the depth of what she was looking at. Its conditioning alone suggested a diet built on supplements well beyond what she could personally afford. And technique-wise, her own Toxic work looked amateur next to whatever Haunter was running.
What kind of background does that young man even have, she wondered. Building a Pokémon up to this level in barely a month?
...Though, to be fair, he was genuinely good-looking.
Maybe next time I should actually make an effort to be the one he requests.
"Tch." She flushed slightly, spitting to the side — and by the time she looked back up, Haunter's first match was already over.
A genuine teaching bout, no less — the client's Nidorina hadn't lasted two moves against it. If anything, that only underlined how strong the "coach" actually was.
"Heard the club picked up a new coach — apparently it's an actual Pokémon."
"No way, is it that Mr. Mime from before?"
"No, a Haunter! Way stronger than your average Superior-tier Trainer, from what I saw."
An hour passed in what felt like minutes. Haunter drifted over to the vending machine by the field, phased its hand straight through the glass without bothering with coins, and pulled out a soda, chugging it down happily.
"Kojie!"Bully weak opponents, train for free, AND get paid? Does a better job even exist?
"Here, little one — your membership card. Don't lose it."
"Kojie!" Haunter took it gleefully, waved at Vera — arms crossed against the wall — and floated off, thoroughly pleased with itself.
Vera blinked, instinctively waved back, then tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, faintly flushed.
"...Okay, that was kind of cute."
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Back home, Luke raised an eyebrow, comparing the ID photo on the card — Haunter mid-goofy-grin — to the Pokémon currently floating in front of him.
"You genuinely didn't spend a cent?"
"Kojie!"
"So how'd you manage this?!" Luke's tone carried real disbelief.
Haunter just chuckled, head held high with pride.
"...Yeah. That tracks. That's completely you." Luke sighed. "Still — if you ever actually need money, just tell me. I can cover training fees just fine."
Backstabbing aside, Luke wasn't about to dampen this kind of enthusiasm. Even with both his Pokémon on a slow, steady path toward demolishing the apartment, he couldn't bring himself to be mad about it. A Trainer and their Pokémon operated as equals, in his mind — he respected Haunter's choices, and Haunter, in its own chaotic way, kept trying to give back to the household.
"Kojie (´▽`〃)" Haunter scratched its head, grinning sheepishly.
"Alright. Good work today." Luke smiled, patting its head. "Let's eat — made your favorite tonight."
"Kojie! (ω)"