Pokémon: Helping Pokémon Pays Off [28]
In the commercial district, umbrellas brushed past one another, their owners stepping aside instinctively, as if they had seen something unsettling.
Hoshino walked through the crowd alongside his Cyclizar. His body was wrapped in bloodstained bandages, covering even one of his eyes. The signature goggles hanging around his neck were now cracked.
He looked absurdly edgy, but under the gloomy sky, his appearance was downright eerie. Halloween was already over, after all...
"Even if I've turned into a battle-damaged limited edition... my daily check-in is non-negotiable!"
Hoshino had his own principles. Despite being even more injured than last time, he had stubbornly snuck out of the hospital. Not because the rooms charged by the hour—though that was a factor.
That wasn't the main reason, though. Just ten minutes ago, while eating at the hospital, he received a message from the claw machine store's owner.
Apparently, someone had pried open the machine and stolen the Gengar plushie when no one was around. Hoshino didn't even bother removing his bandages before dashing over.
"Those brats finally made their move!"
He didn't even have to think—he knew exactly who was responsible. They had been eyeing the prize every time he worked. To think they had the patience to wait half a month…
Upon arriving at the store with Cyclizar, he saw that it was still far from closing time. Yet, the customers were gone, leaving only a few employees doing maintenance before heading home.
When they spotted him, they jumped in shock. Hoshino ignored them, placed his umbrella at the entrance, and walked straight to the machine. Sure enough, the Gengar plushie was gone, with clear signs that the machine had been forced open.
"Cyclizar!"
Cyclizar pointed towards the store's surveillance cameras. Hoshino nodded and headed to the counter.
The cashier, who had been feeding her Cutiefly some honey while preparing to leave, nearly dropped the jar when she saw him.
"Uh… I need to check the security footage. Thanks."
"Y-Yes, of course…"
Clearly shaken, she quickly pulled up the footage. The angle wasn't great, so the culprit wasn't visible.
But ten minutes before the theft, a kid had run into the store and stayed until just after the crime. And that kid looked familiar.
Half a month ago, this brat had been yelling about the machine being rigged. Hoshino had seen him lurking around countless times.
Looks like this had been planned in advance. The kid had just been waiting for the right moment to strike.
"He left 21 minutes ago… that's a bit of a head start. But he didn't take an umbrella. He couldn't have gone far. Let's go! The thing I protect won't be stolen by some little punk!"
"Cyclizar!"
That Gengar plushie had taken them half a month to win, and now it had been stolen? Unforgivable! A severe punishment was in order—three times over!
Hoshino rushed out with Cyclizar. The commercial district's map appeared before him. The entrance's security cameras had caught the direction the thief left in. He just needed to follow the trail!
Meanwhile, in a dark alley outside the shopping plaza, a group of kids screamed and ran away in terror.
In their panic, they threw the pink Gengar plushie into a puddle.
The rain poured relentlessly from the overcast night sky, splashing against the plushie's body. The water level in the puddle rose steadily.
As the doll absorbed the rain, its cute pastel pink color darkened into a murky gray. It became so waterlogged that it couldn't even roll over.
Lying on its side, its eyes emitted a faint red glow, watching the children vanish into the distance…
Time passed.
At the corner of a street on the other side of the commercial district, Hoshino finally caught the plushie thief.
Moments earlier, he had spotted the kids running through the rain. With sharp reflexes, he reached in and yanked one of them out.
"You're bullying a kid! Have you no shame?"
"If I cared about shame, I wouldn't be here. Now, hand over what you stole from the store!"
Cyclizar held the umbrella for him, looking equally displeased. No way was it happy about this situation.
"Stole what? I don't have anything! You're accusing me without proof! You're supposed to be a Trainer—I'm reporting you to Officer Jenny!"
Seeing the kid still trying to deny it, Hoshino didn't bother arguing. Instead, he grabbed the boy's ear and coldly said, "Oh? Want to come back with me and check the security footage? Or should I call your parents?"
"Waahhh! He's hitting me!"
The pain made the kid wail, but Hoshino's gaze landed on his wrist—a Kid's Smartwatch. Without hesitation, he snatched it off. His lips curled into a smirk.
The boy instantly panicked and lunged to grab it back.
But compared to Hoshino, who had battled countless Pokémon and earned his "battle-damaged limited edition" state, the kid was no match.
Holding the boy down, Hoshino pressed the quick-dial button on the smartwatch. After a few beeps, the call connected.
"Hello? Son, why aren't you home for dinner yet? Your mom made your favorite Daguitobazai. Hurry back."
Hearing his father's voice, the boy paled and immediately gave in.
"I'll tell you! I threw that haunted plushie in an alley outside the shopping plaza! Just don't call my dad!"
"Haunted plushie?" Hoshino frowned.
"Yeah! Its eyes glow—"
"…"
After a moment of silence, Hoshino casually told the person on the line,"Your parenting's a lost cause. Start over with a new kid."
"Who the hell are you?! Where's my son?!"
Ignoring the furious shouting, Hoshino let go of the kid and tossed the smartwatch back. Then, without another word, he and Cyclizar left.
What happened next wasn't his concern.
The night deepened. Rain continued to wash over the streets, thinning out the crowds. But under the neon glow of Hau'oli City, the urban scenery had a peculiar beauty.
In a dark, desolate alley, the Gengar plushie lay half-submerged in a puddle, battered by the downpour.
It still hugged its belly, its face frozen in that mischievous grin. Its eyes glowed faintly red as it watched people walking freely under the neon lights.
A raindrop slid down its cheek—
Then, through its blurred vision, two figures rushed toward it. Excited voices rang out.
"Found it, found it!"
"Cyclizar~!"
"That kid wasn't specific enough, so I had to search for the glowing spot."
Hoshino picked up the cold, soaked plushie from the puddle. He didn't care how dirty it was and cradled it in his arms.
"It's completely drenched. I need to dry it properly… Looks like this little dress can be removed—"
"Gengar…"
Seeing the familiar face holding it, the plushie's eyes glowed a little brighter, as if it were about to cry.
"Hey, don't cry. You should be smiling at a time like this."
Hoshino squeezed some water out of it, staring curiously into its glowing eyes. "So… are you actually a Pokémon?"
"Gengar~"
"No wonder. Then why were you just sitting there? Don't you have anywhere else to go?"
"Gengar…"
"I see…"
Hoshino roughly understood its meaning. Smiling, he asked, "Wanna come home with me? It's not big, but there's enough room. And you can visit downstairs anytime."
"Gengar…"
After a long pause, Gengar finally let out a low sound—clearly a refusal.
Seeing its ever-present mischievous grin, Hoshino understood.
"Cyclizar…"
"Alright, let's head back. Since it was stolen from the store, it should go back to its rightful place. That's our job."
With Cyclizar holding the umbrella, Hoshino carried the Gengar plushie back to the claw machine store.
He wrung out the plushie's water before placing it back in the machine. Looking through the glass, he met its gaze again.
Cyclizar tilted its head in confusion and wanted to break the glass to get it out.
But just then, Hoshino returned, sat down, and inserted two freshly exchanged coins. With a serious expression, he operated the machine.
The claw easily grabbed the plushie. This time, it didn't struggle.
As the claw moved over the prize chute and released it, a delighted voice seemed to echo—
Finally, after half a month, Hoshino had completed his goal.
Hugging the Gengar plushie, he gently stroked it and smiled.
"If it's a prize you truly love, you should win it yourself… and take it home."
"Cyclizar~"
"Let's go home together!"
"Gengar~"
For the first time, the plushie's grin looked truly joyful.
-----
To Unlock Bonus Chapters:
10 Powerstones - [1 chapter]
50 Powerstones - [3 chapters]
100 Powerstones - [5 chapters]
500 Powerstones - [7 chapters]
1000 Powerstones - [10 Chapters]
All bonus chapters will be released on friday!
Resets every Friday!
------------------------------
Check out my patreon for more chapters
patreon.com/phaeron