My Childhood Friend Is Mei

As a thousand-year-old ancient city, Zhijiang had its own principles and pride, one of which was preserving the old city district in its original form as much as possible.

But principles required sacrifices. Imitation antique architecture meant it was difficult to construct the kind of highly advanced modern buildings found elsewhere.

Thus, there was no Pokémon Center near Xia Chen's home, despite such facilities already being widespread in most cities. This Mingyi Clinic was the first choice for local residents.

Xia Chen stood in line with the unusually docile Eevee in his arms, waiting for his turn.

Most of the people ahead of him were elderly men and women carrying pet-like Pokémon such as Skitty and Yamper.

Only they had the leisure to queue up at this small Pokémon clinic so early in the morning, seeking treatment for their beloved Pokémon that might have done nothing more than sneeze.

Xia Chen was a famously handsome young man throughout the old city district. The uncles and aunties waiting in line chatted warmly with him and fussed over the Eevee in his arms.

"Little Chen finally got himself a Pokémon! Oh my, and it's an Eevee too. What a cute little thing."

"Eevee is great. It has so many evolutions, so you can pick whichever type you like. Evolution Stones are a little expensive, though."

"How expensive can Evolution Stones be? If Little Chen marries into our family, raising an entire Eevee family would be no problem."

"Old Madam Lu is still thinking about that, huh? If you keep saying things like that, Marnie will get angry."

In this place without towering skyscrapers, the neighbors got along remarkably well. Xia Chen had to deal with the elderly folks' concern and teasing while keeping part of his attention on the Eevee in his arms.

"Eevee."

The little Eevee seemed to sense Xia Chen's concern and burrowed deeper into his embrace.

Meanwhile, the other target of the teasing—the girl seated behind the consultation desk—had a faint blush on her pretty face.

Pretending to remain calm, she observed the Yamper on the table, which seemed to be having trouble breathing and occasionally twitched, acting as if she had not heard the neighbors' good-natured teasing.

After checking its eyelids, Marnie roughly determined the cause of Yamper's symptoms.

She lifted Yamper off the table and said gently, "Dumpling, get down and walk a few steps."

"Woof."

The Yamper named Dumpling laboriously stretched its four little legs and slowly paced around the open space.

Marnie crossed her arms and nodded thoughtfully. "Dumpling, try using Tail Whip on Chansey again."

Yamper stuck out its tongue, its lightning-shaped yellow tail swaying back and forth as an invisible wave of energy washed toward the Chansey beside Marnie.

"Lucky~" Chansey felt the change in its condition and nodded at Marnie.

"Use Tail Whip once more." Marnie gave Yamper another command.

Yamper wagged its tail again, but this time it had to stop the Pokémon move halfway through with a frown.

Marnie smiled slightly, picked Yamper up and placed it back on the table, then rapidly scribbled something down.

As she wrote, she said, "Dumpling probably inhaled some Stun Spore accidentally scattered by a Grass-type Pokémon. Chansey, prepare some paralysis medicine."

"Woof."

Yamper looked pitifully at Marnie with wide eyes, clearly resistant to this diagnosis.

Xia Chen, who was waiting behind them, added with a smile, "If it doesn't like medicine, a Cheri Berry will work too. Ordinary berry shops might not have them, so you'll need to check a large Pokémon department store."

Marnie froze for a moment, then nodded rapidly. "Mm-hmm, Xia Chen is right. Eating a Cheri Berry can cure paralysis too."

The moment Yamper heard that it would not have to drink that bitter medicine, it perked right up.

Its little tail shot upright, and it bounced toward Xia Chen, intending to leap into his arms and thank him.

The Eevee that had already claimed Xia Chen's embrace widened its eyes, and an invisible pressure frightened Yamper back.

Before Xia Chen could lower his head in surprise to look at it, its aura shifted, and it returned to its listless appearance.

The change was so fast it rivaled a Sichuan opera face-changing act.

"All right, Grandma Lu, go buy some Cheri Berries. Also, although I know you don't plan on having Dumpling battle, appropriate training will make Pokémon healthier and improve their resistance to abnormal conditions and illnesses."

Watching Marnie give such earnest instructions, Old Madam Lu nodded with a smile. "Got it. Marnie, you really are getting more and more like Little Chen. I think your father can rest easy leaving this clinic to the two of you someday."

"What are you talking about? I-I'm going to become the Donghuang Region Champion!"

Marnie's pretty face flushed crimson, her chest rising and falling as she hurriedly replied. It was impossible to tell which teasing remark she was denying.

Fortunately, Old Madam Lu did not understand internet slang. Otherwise, one "Someone's flustered!" would have been a killing blow.

After the laughter and teasing, it was finally Xia Chen and Eevee's turn.

"Morning, Marnie. Did Uncle Ming go out on a house call again today?" Xia Chen greeted the familiar girl with a smile.

Marnie stuck out her tongue playfully. "Yep, so I'll be mooching lunch at your house again."

The two had grown up together, and even their parents knew each other well. Calling them childhood friends would not have been an exaggeration.

And for Xia Chen, who had inherited two sets of memories, Marnie was familiar in another sense as well.

That was right. This Marnie was Mei, the female protagonist from Pokémon Black and White in his memories of his previous life.

How should Mei be described?

Well, if Gardevoir was the Pokémon with the most fanbooks, then Mei was the female character with the most fanbooks.

Her twin side buns, exquisite features, and almost absurdly good figure made the girl before him look like a heroine who had stepped straight out of a comic book.

She was also the only other person Xia Chen knew who came from another world.

Although Xia Chen did not know why the female protagonist of Unova Region in the games had appeared in the Donghuang Region in this world.

Pulling himself from his thoughts, Xia Chen handed the Eevee in his arms over.

"Eevee."

Eevee's little claws hooked onto Xia Chen's clothes, looking reluctant to leave him.

"Is this Eevee your starter Pokémon? When did you begin raising it?" Marnie was puzzled by Xia Chen's suddenly appearing starter Pokémon.

Although it was summer vacation, the two did not see each other every day, but they still met once every few days. That was why Marnie found it strange.

Xia Chen shook his head. "No. Actually, I've known it for less than half an hour. I found it by the roadside while grocery shopping earlier."

"Eevee."

The Eevee lying on the table muttered softly. What do you mean, half an hour? We've known each other for ten years!

Marnie understood, but a new question arose. "Only half an hour, and it already depends on you this much?"

Xia Chen spread his hands helplessly. "I don't know. Maybe because I saved it."

That was the only explanation. Marnie put the matter aside and began examining Eevee properly.

As usual, she pulled back Eevee's eyelids, but what she saw was a complicated look directed at her.

Displeasure, nostalgia, and even the joy of seeing a long-lost friend?

The tangled emotions in that gaze startled Marnie, and she asked instinctively, "Do we know each other?"

"Eevee?"

Eevee's eyes instantly became blank as it tilted its head at Marnie, seemingly unable to understand why she would ask that.

"It might have always lived in the old city district. It's possible you happened to see each other before, right?"

Xia Chen had not seen Eevee's expression and made a guess.

"Mm... maybe I saw it wrong?"

That look in Eevee's eyes had lasted only an instant, and its acting afterward was far too convincing. Looking at the innocent-faced Eevee, Marnie could only tell herself that.