The late afternoon sun filtered through the cherry blossoms, casting pink petals into the flowing river. The peaceful atmosphere stood in stark contrast to the focused tension in the air as Silver and Ponzu searched for the red carp.
Buzzing filled the air as Ponzu's bees fanned out like golden darts. They zipped beneath the Sakura Bridge, skimmed the riverbanks, and investigated hollowed logs, clusters of reeds, and even hovered ominously near floating paddleboats, causing a few riders to shout and swat in panic.
Silver, meanwhile, paced along the edge of the stone bridge and nearby grassy trails, peering into the shallows and shadows. His makeshift spear rested across his shoulder, eyes sharp and alert for the flash of crimson scales.
Fifteen minutes had passed.
A bee returned to Ponzu, dancing in the air with an urgent rhythm. Another followed. She watched their signals, narrowing her eyes and nodding.
"Silver!" Ponzu called out, waving to him from farther down the path. She stood near a thick patch of cattails and tall grass, her bees buzzing low to the ground.
Silver jogged to her side, panting slightly. "You found it?"
Ponzu pointed across the shallow stretch of the river to a hollow log nestled into the muddy bank, its entrance submerged halfway in water. Her bees hovered near it, circling restlessly.
"There," she said, eyes locked. "They won't stop signaling. Whatever's in that log... it has to be what we're looking for."
Silver's eyes lit up. The thrill of the hunt surged through him once again.
Ponzu crouched near the edge of the river, observing the buzz of her bees as they darted in frustrated circles.
"It's no good," she muttered. "They can't catch the fish. It's underwater. My bees can't go after it down there."
Silver furrowed his brow, eyes locked on the hollow log where the red carp with yellow fins was hiding. The water around it was still, deceptively calm. A direct approach would surely startle the fish. If he crept close, the ripples alone might give him away. It would vanish before he even raised his spear.
He scanned the area for options.
A small boat rocked gently in the center of the river, the boatman distracted and humming a song. Too far. Calling him over might send the fish darting away from the vibrations.
Then Silver turned and noticed the tall tree behind them. One of its long, arching branches extended out directly above the log's position, stretching like nature's diving platform.
His mind clicked into place.
"That's it…" he whispered to himself. "If I can get above it... I won't make a single ripple."
Without hesitation, he jogged to the tree, planting his spear in the soft dirt and testing the bark. Rough enough to climb. He hoisted himself up, muscles tensing with each pull. The bees buzzed in anticipation beneath him.
Ponzu watched from below, confused at first. Then her eyes widened in realization.
"You're going to jump?" she realized, then pass the spear to Silver up the tree.
Silver didn't answer. He inched his way across the thick branch, crouching as he edged toward the river. The log sat just a few meters beneath him now, murky water gently lapping at its sides.
He gripped the branch tight, eyes narrowing on the surface below.
It had to be perfect.
One shot.
One chance.
He positioned himself, spear clenched, waiting for just the right moment.
Then it happened, a carp with red scale and yellow fin bobbed out of the river surface to swallow a long winded petal that looked like a worm if the angle is right.
Silver didn't hesitate and dropped on top of it. No shout, no extra movement, it was swift and efficient. A second later a splash.
Ponzu waited with abated breath. Then silver stood up from the river, the water up to his chest, in his raised hand a spear. Near the tip is a Red Carp, with yellow fin and two long golden whiskers pierced right in the middle and is still straggling.
"I got it!"
"You got it!"
Ponzu looked at the time and they only got 7 minutes left to return to the park. "Come up quick, no time to dry yourself. Time is almost up!"
With a rush, Silver got up from the river. And without wasting any time, the two of them run back to the park.
...
Panting, soaked, and victorious, Silver and Ponzu trudged back to the park bench—barely two minutes to spare. The red carp with yellow fins still dangled from the crude wooden spear, its tail twitching weakly in the air.
Silver scanned the area frantically.
"Where is he?" he asked, eyes darting between the empty paths and nearby trees. "He said he'd be here..."
Ponzu wiped water off her cheek. "Maybe we took too long? What if—"
Before she could finish, a voice came from behind the bench, smooth and smug:
"Meowth~ That is the right fish. And you made it just in time."
They both jolted and spun around. There, perched casually on the backrest of the bench, was Meowth, licking his paw. The red carp had already vanished from the spear—somehow—and was now half-eaten in the bipedal feline's claw.
"H-How—?" Silver blinked.
Ponzu leaned closer, dumbfounded. "We didn't even see you take it..."
Meowth didn't answer. He was too busy tearing into the crispy flank of the fish, humming a satisfied tune. They waited in awkward silence, watching the strange cat finish his meal down to the bones. He licked the last flake of meat from his claws, burped lightly, then finally turned to them with a sly grin.
"Alright, rules are rules." He handed them a folded note. "Your next clue."
Silver unfolded it.
It read:
Greasy Spoon Diner
2-5-10 Tsubashi Street
Order the Red Carp Special
When asked how it's cooked, say:
"Add magic to it."
Silver read it twice, then looked at Meowth, puzzled. "And what happens when we do that?"
Meowth smirked, eyes glinting.
"You'll see, kid. Hunter exam ain't just about brute strength."
With that, Meowth leapt down from the bench and strolled off into the shadows of the park, tail swishing behind him.
Ponzu turned to Silver.
"Finally... the hunter Exam."
Silver chuckled, gripping the note.
"Then let's pass it together."