The doctor's attention was on Ash, and he failed to react in time. Ash and Beldum, however, both went pale and lunged forward. Beldum was a little faster, flying beneath Bounsweet to support it, while Ash arrived a moment later and steadied it with both hands, his body twisted into an awkward pose.
"Boun?" Bounsweet blinked its tiny eyes and tilted its body in adorable confusion, then began laughing and bouncing with cries of "Boun, boun."
"It's been looking for you all this time." The doctor smiled wryly. "It even sneaked out when we weren't paying attention."
Ash felt helpless. He hadn't expected this either.
Bounsweet looked up at Ash. It said nothing, but its tiny eyes curved into happy crescents. It was clearly delighted.
"Bounsweet, do you want to come with me?" Ash asked gently.
"Boun!" Bounsweet cried, bouncing hard on Beldum's body.
"Then you need to be good and rest here. Otherwise, how am I supposed to take you home?"
Ash cupped Bounsweet's tiny body in his hands and placed it back on the hospital bed.
"Boun..." Back on the bed, Bounsweet wriggled its little body, reluctant to stay put.
"Be good. Every morn... I'll come keep you company every day." Ash smiled as he coaxed Bounsweet, while Beldum silently backed him up from the side. "Listen to the doctor, okay? The sooner you recover, the sooner I can take you home, right?"
"Boun." Bounsweet gave an aggrieved little cry, but stopped wriggling.
It looked like things were fine now.
Ash breathed a sigh of relief. He had no idea why Bounsweet was so attached to him.
"Doctor, sorry for the trouble. I'll leave it in your care."
"Don't worry. Bounsweet is doing well. A few more examinations, and it can be discharged. As for you, make sure