Looking at the message on the Pokédex, Xinhai smiled, closed it, and set it on the corner of the coffee table. Then he sat down on the sofa, leaned back, and let out a long breath.
The twilight outside the window gradually deepened, and Rustboro City's clear silhouette slowly melted into the backdrop of night.
Streetlights came on one after another, joining into winding ribbons of light along the roads. From above, they looked like glowing rivers flowing through the city.
Eevee crawled out from the cushions, jumped onto his lap, and curled up in a comfortable position. Its big brown eyes were half-closed, and a soft purr rumbled in its throat.
Charmander and Axew ran over as well, squatting to either side in front of the sofa. They tipped their heads up at him, their tails swaying gently behind them.
Xinhai reached out and rubbed the two little ones' heads, then gently stroked Eevee's fur. His gaze fell upon the open doors of the three bedrooms.
"Rest for a while. I'll go make dinner." He got to his feet and rolled his shoulders. "Get to bed early tonight. We need to wake up early tomorrow."
The scent of Pokémon food soon filled the room—a blend of fragrant Pokéblocks and specially prepared Pokémon food that whetted his partners' appetites.
The partners sat in a circle on the living room carpet, each holding their own small bowl and eating without even lifting their heads.
Xinhai made himself a simple pot of Berry porridge as well. As he slowly drank it and watched his partners' satisfied expressions, the corners of his mouth unconsciously lifted.
After dinner, he cleaned up the dishes, filled the bathtub with hot water, and carried the little ones in one by one to wash them.
Eevee sat in