Chapter 216:
"What about Serperior?"
Hayashi Kaede asked next, recalling the Pokémon Gardevoir had mentioned earlier.
"Gardevoir..." (It seemed much better after returning today. But you still need to pay attention. Lately, it's been carrying a bit of hidden grievance too, the kind that quietly builds up inside.)
Gardevoir's voice was soft yet thoughtful.
Hayashi Kaede nodded repeatedly.
This was something he had actually noticed. After all, no matter what, Serperior was one of the first Pokémon to be with him.
Coincidentally, just yesterday Serperior had proactively shown him its tail—that certainly called for some proper comforting~
"Gardevoir..." (Well then...)
Seeing Hayashi Kaede agree, Gardevoir smiled warmly. "Gardevoir..." (You don't need to worry too much. I'll help you keep track of the little ones' emotions.)
"Mmhm, thank you, Gardevoir. You're the best."
Hayashi Kaede's gaze softened with gratitude.
Truly, the Breeding House only felt like a real Breeding House because Gardevoir was there.
Otherwise, there were things he couldn't possibly manage on his own.
Thinking back now, pestering Gardevoir to stay had been the best decision he'd ever made.
But Gardevoir's next words made his already moved heart melt even further.
It lifted its hand from his head, then clasped his hands gently in its own, smiling with quiet tenderness. "Gardevoir..." (It's alright.)
"Gardevoir..." (For you, you have many of them. But for most of them, their world consists only of you. So, you are the core of this home.)
The words struck Hayashi Kaede deeply.
He froze in place, lips parting as if to respond, but no words would come.
All he could do was watch as Gardevoir slowly released his hands, waved away the Psychic barrier in the room, and guided him to the door. "Gardevoir..." (Go get some rest now.)
"Oh... okay."
Still in a daze, Hayashi Kaede walked back toward his room. But when he reached the door, he stopped short.
A thought had begun to form.
Had he overlooked something important?
His eyes drifted back toward Gardevoir's room. Then, recalling Jirachi's stories earlier about its past and the people it had met, realization suddenly dawned on him.
That's right.
His Pokémon—aside from Alolan Vulpix, Serperior, the Eevees, Pidgey, Pidgeot, the Indeedee siblings... whose histories he was quite familiar with—
the others all had their own lives before he caught them.
Yet, about the worlds they came from, the experiences they endured, he only knew fragments.
Like Gardevoir—
it had once mentioned being cursed by Darkrai and rescuing young Pokémon.
But before that?
What kind of life had it lived? What kind of people and Pokémon had it met?
With Dragonite, he only knew it had delivered letters for Mewtwo.
But where had it come from originally?
Before Team Rocket captured it, where did it belong?
Had it made any friends?
Salamence and Goodra—both had been experimented on by Team Rocket.
And Bounsweet...
Its mother had been taken, leaving the child behind.
Did it still miss her?
True, in the wild zone, most solitary Pokémon would part with their offspring once they could survive independently, all for the sake of continuing their species.
But there were also Pokémon like Kangaskhan, or Pancham, who chose to raise their young together from the start.
"I've overlooked quite a bit..."
A dull ache began to build in Hayashi Kaede's temples.
After coming to the plantation, most of his Pokémon had focused on life and work there.
However, he hadn't stopped to consider their personal stories.
He suddenly understood Ryō Fū better.
Even with the Viridian Power and as a Breeder, it was easy to overlook such things.
Just as Gardevoir had said—To most of them, he was their entire world. But his world contained many of them.
Yet... shouldn't everyone's world matter?
'I need to pay closer attention...'
He made a silent vow to himself. Even though he had reached his room, he didn't open the door. Instead, he detoured to the plantation. Only after confirming Bounsweet was peacefully asleep did he finally return to his room.
…
October 25th.
The next morning, Hayashi Kaede rose early as usual. First, he prepared breakfast for all the Pokémon, then took to the skies with Dragonite and Salamence.
Today's trip to Nagisuna City would be short—just the morning, before returning.
And now—after two days of elimination rounds, only eight contestants remained in the competition.
The rules had changed as well: the five-minute time limit was removed, and in the semi-finals (top 4), each contestant had to bring two Pokémon for a 2v2 battle. They also had to accept challenges from the audience.
But to be honest, Hayashi Kaede wasn't particularly concerned about any of that.
When he arrived at the competitors' area, he immediately walked to the very back, nearest to the spectator stands.
Takagi Megumi and Jirachi, who had been eliminated yesterday, were already there.
It seemed that losing hadn't weighed too heavily on the young girl. After a night of fun, both she and Jirachi were refreshed and cheerful again.
As soon as they spotted Hayashi Kaede, Jirachi eagerly pulled out a storage ball.
"Jirachi!" (Look! These are the plushies Mew and I won from the claw machine yesterday!)
"Oh?"
Hayashi Kaede raised a brow. "What did you get?" He then realized why Mew hadn't been around when Gardevoir was feeding Blaziken last night.
So, that's where it had gone—out playing with Jirachi.
Seeing his interest, Jirachi grew even more excited.
"Jirachi!" (There's Gardevoir, Bounsweet, Blaziken...)
One by one, it pulled plushies out of the storage ball.
These were all the Pokémon Takagi Megumi had taken it and Mew to win.
They hadn't used any Psychic powers or tricks—just coin after coin, claw after claw. They played until well past 1 a.m., finally managing to collect plushies of all the Pokémon from the Breeding House that had shared food with Jirachi that day.
They hadn't asked it for wishes, but Jirachi felt this should still bring everyone joy~
"Mew~"
The invisible Mew lightly bumped Hayashi Kaede's cheek, announcing its presence.
"Hehe~"
Takagi Megumi, despite the dark circles under her eyes, wore a proud smile. "It took us forever to get them all! I also got ones for my Wartortle and Sprigatito!"
Admittedly, watching Mew and Jirachi burn through her money on claw machines while failing again and again had made her heart ache.
But now, seeing Jirachi so happy and Hayashi Kaede's wide-eyed astonishment, she felt it had been worth every coin.
Hayashi Kaede looked on in amazement, accepting plushies from Jirachi one after another. When his arms could hold no more, he released all the Pokémon he had brought today.
Alolan Vulpix, Goodra, the Eevees, Serperior... each received their own little gift.