Pokémon: Helping Pokémon Pays Off [30]
"So, the pinker she is... the harder she hits, huh?"
Drenched from head to toe, Hoshino limped into the store under the stunned gazes of the customers inside.
Seeing the mess she'd made with just one punch, Gengar hurriedly rushed over, only to step into thin air and fall off the bar counter—fortunately, Cyclizar caught her with his tail.
"Geng...ar?"
Gengar slid smoothly onto Cyclizar's back, and the next moment, she was cradled gently in Cyclizar's hands. Even though she was a Pokémon, she was only the size of a plushie, easy to hold.
"Cylci~"
Cyclizar held Gengar close, looking utterly delighted. It was clear that he really liked this little sister—finally, the household had a new member.
Hoshino sat back down at the bar, only to be met with Slowking's disapproving stare. Then, out of nowhere, he commented, "Boss Slow, your pink isn't pure enough. Last time, your Mega Punch didn't hit as hard as Gengar's casual jab just now. Maybe you should try going even pinker?"
"No thanks. I'm pink enough."
Slowking responded flatly before glancing at Gengar, who was still being hugged by Cyclizar. "That little rascal is quite strong, but she's still way too young—basically a freshly hatched kid. Don't go teaching her any nonsense."
"Relax."
Hoshino watched Gengar play around with Cyclizar, a fond smile on his face—almost like a parent looking at their child. Even though he'd never been in a relationship…
But since Gengar was now his Pokémon, he had to raise her properly. Starting from scratch? So what? That's the fun of nurturing!
As for training direction, he hadn't decided yet—but it was definitely going into melee combat. That punch just now was no joke. Plus, with the right held item… would a sword work?
Though it was odd that this Gengar wasn't Poison-type but Fairy-type instead… what if he got Zacian's Rusty Sword for her? That'd be such a beautiful sight—she'd basically be the Queen of Blades!
(P.S.: A reader suggested this in the last chapter, so I changed Gengar's typing to Ghost/Fairy. Pink totally fits Fairy-types…)
[T/S: she still retains her poison-type moves]
With that thought, Hoshino turned to Gengar and asked with a grin, "Hey, little guy, do you like swords?"
"Gengar?"
Gengar tilted her head in confusion, nibbling on her hand. Hoshino pointed toward Ceruledge, who was resting against the wall, and explained, "Like that cool sword man over there—using a sword, looking awesome!"
Before Gengar could even react, Ceruledge had already opened his eyes and looked straight at them. Under his intense gaze, Gengar flinched.
"Gengar…"
For a brief moment, the two Pokémon stared at each other in silence. Gengar remembered how Ceruledge had used his spectral energy to help her adapt to her body earlier. Gradually, her gaze shifted from nervousness to admiration.
"Gengar!"
"So, you want to learn swordplay?"
"Gengar!"
Slowking, sucking on a lollipop, lazily glanced at them and muttered, "That's some wishful thinking. You planning to have Ceruledge train your kid for you? Keep dreaming. That thing doesn't just hate humans—he hates kids too. Unless you want to see your little rascal get sliced in half, better drop the idea."
Hearing this, Hoshino frowned and shot back, "I'll raise my own kid, thanks!"
He just wanted Gengar to get familiar with swords—she still had to focus on punching. But a weapon would be a nice addition too, no point in wasting her potential.
If Gengar really did get the hang of it… maybe a trip to Galar to snatch Zacian's Rusty Sword wouldn't be out of the question.
After dinner, they all headed back upstairs. Hoshino had repaired the second-floor door multiple times already, and upon opening it, he could see that the interior was slowly coming together.
Near the entrance, a shoe cabinet held several Substitute Dolls. Walking further inside, the living room now had a cheap sofa and a coffee table.
In front of the window blinds stood a wooden desk and chair, also decorated with a few Substitute Dolls. Above this area, near the ceiling, hung a blank signboard…
Who knows what would be written on it?
...
Sliding open the door, Hoshino stepped into a tidy bedroom. A cheap double bed was neatly placed against the wall, with the bedding folded properly. On the bedside table sat a Rowlet plushie and a Cyclizar Substitute Doll.
On the other side of the room, near the wall, a blanket was spread out on the floor—Cyclizar's favorite spot to curl up and sleep. It was especially warm there.
If nothing else, Hoshino prided himself on keeping his place spotless. Say what you will about him, but his self-discipline as a lone dweller was top-notch.
"This is our home. It's not big, and it's not exactly lively, but at the very least, it's a place to shelter from the wind and rain."
"Gengar~"
Perched on Cyclizar's head, Gengar glanced around and instantly fell in love with the place. It was far better than being stuck inside a claw machine.
"Alright, don't step into the bedroom just yet. Get yourselves cleaned up first—I'm mopping the floor one last time."
"cycli~"
Cyclizar obediently trotted off to the bathroom. he was always out and about, which meant it was bound to get dirty. After all, Pokémon didn't exactly wear shoes.
Hanging out in the living room was fine, but stepping into the bedroom? If he left a footprint on the blanket, Hoshino might just suffer a heart attack…
He caught Gengar in his arms. Though the little guy could move on her own now, she still wasn't fully used to her body. Despite having the Levitate ability that would make certain Pokémon envious, she had yet to master free flight.
While Cyclizar soaked in a hot bath, Hoshino sat down in his office chair with Gengar in his lap. This was where he'd be running his Everything Agency once it officially opened. Everything was pretty much ready—just needed to get the business going.
Studying the dust-covered Gengar in his arms, he muttered, "Even though you're a Ghost-type, you look way more like a plushie. Kinda like a Stufful… but that debuff is still a problem."
He was referring to how plushies absorb water—just like how an Altaria, once soaked, turned into a drenched bird. A waterlogged plushie would get heavier, hindering movement… not to mention it'd probably become an easy target for Electric-type moves.
Hearing this, Gengar curiously patted her slightly damp body. The texture wasn't great, and it wasn't comfortable at all.
"I'll help you wash up, then dry you off with a hairdryer. You'll feel much better."
"Gengar~"
"But that dress of yours is probably a lost cause. Some brat must've torn a hole in it. I'll make you a new one later. And that bow on your ear—might as well clean that too."
Hoshino took off the purely decorative little dress and was momentarily stunned at the completely bare Gengar.
…Then he remembered—Gengar was already bare.
"Alright, let's get you a hot bath."
Just as he was about to head to the bathroom, Cyclizar zoomed out, freshly washed… but leaving a trail of wet footprints across the floor. Hoshino could feel his blood pressure spike.
Knowing he was about to get scolded, Cyclizar bolted into the bedroom—only to slip and faceplant on the floor upon entry.
Hoshino sighed in exasperation, shook his head, and, with his battered body, carried Gengar into the bathroom.
And just like that, another chaotic day came to an end. Sure, he'd taken some hits, but he'd also gained an adorable little companion.
All in all, it had been a fulfilling day.
Originally, Hoshino had planned to wait until winter break to officially open the yorozuya Agency, but that night, something unexpected happened—
The claw machine shop owner, after apologizing, sent him a termination notice.
Apparently, the kid who stole the plushies had been found by their parents. But instead of confessing, the brat broke down in tears and blamed him instead.
To make things worse, nearby surveillance footage captured Hoshino dragging the kid into an alleyway. Officer Jenny, following up on the case, showed up at the soon-to-be-closed store.
One thing led to another, and under pressure from the kid's parents, the boss had no choice but to fire both Hoshino and Cyclizar.
Just like that, he was jobless again.
But Hoshino didn't really care—he'd been through enough ups and downs to get used to it.
"One job lost, but I found a Gengar and gave her a home—I'd say I came out on top. Since I've got the whole day off tomorrow, no need to look for another job. Might as well get the yorozuya Agency up and running!"
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