Childhood friends, a new member

August 16, after lunch, at Gengar's Paradise (Pokémon Day Care).

Fang Yan picked up the honey water Gengar had prepared for him and Shauna and took a sip, then lifted the Pokéblock handbook in his hands and continued studying with keen interest.

Meanwhile, Gengar held the photos Fang Yan had taken and printed over the past few days, putting them into frames and arranging them everywhere.

At the counter, on the walls, in the rooms, in the lounge, and along the stairs, Gengar bustled about nonstop.

One moment, Gengar asked Fang Yan to go upstairs and take a look; the next, Gengar asked him to move over.

Fang Yan had just been about to say there was no need to go to so much trouble when a look from Gengar silenced him.

It was best not to provoke Gengar in this state, so Fang Yan could only cooperate unconditionally.

Gengar clapped his hands and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Geng-"

All done.

The group photo taken yesterday hung at the turn in the stairs, while the photos of Gengar and Fang Yan went on the counter and the bedside table in the bedroom. The day care's family portrait sat on the bedroom dressing table, together with Great-Aunt's photo.

The photos on the counter were mainly of Pokémon, and Gengar decided that from now on, it would be used to display photos of customers and Pokémon Eggs, as would the walls.

What? You wanted to know why, if all the photos on the counter were of Pokémon, there was a photo of Fang Yan and Gengar?

Gengar offered the following explanation:

"Geng-"

This was his home, and he could do what he liked.

Fang Yan handed his honey water to Gengar and said, "How about we take a photo every time we get a new member?"

"Geng-"

Gengar finished the honey water he had mixed for Fang Yan, then nodded.

"Drake wasn't lying to us. This place really has reopened."

The voice outside drew Fang Yan's and Gengar's attention.

"Let's go in."

Two figures walked in right after that.

A boy and a girl, both about Shauna's age.

"Hello, I'm the owner here. What can I help you with?"

Fang Yan walked over and asked.

The boy was a little shy when he saw Fang Yan, but after glancing at the girl beside him, he swallowed and said:

"I... we'd like to buy two Pokémon Eggs."

"I see. Are there any Pokémon you have in mind?"

Fang Yan smiled at the boy's expression.

"But I want to challenge Gyms and enter the League Conference, and she wants to enter Pokémon Contests."

The boy slowly grew bolder.

He saw Gengar floating beside Fang Yan and thought this Gengar looked really cool.

"I see. Then come over and fill in your information."

Fang Yan nodded and led them to the counter to register their information.

The boy was named Xiaochuan, and the girl Xiaoting-names characteristic of the Pokémon world.

"Wow, so cute!"

Xiaoting exclaimed at the photo of Petilil on the counter.

"S-sir, is this one of your day care's Pokémon too?"

"Yes. This is Petilil, a Pokémon from the Unova Region, and one of our companions."

Fang Yan explained with a smile.

"Then... could I meet Petilil?"

Fang Yan nodded, and Gengar passed through the wall into the backyard.

Before long, Shauna appeared through the door behind the counter, holding the egg, with Petilil beside her.

At the sight of strangers, Shauna hid behind Fang Yan. He patted her little head to show her it was all right.

Once they had finished chatting with Petilil, he took them to the hatching room.

"By the way, sir, do you have any starter Pokémon here?"

Looking at the various Pokémon Eggs, Xiaochuan suddenly asked.

"No. Starter Pokémon generally don't turn up at day cares. At least, I don't have any here."

After answering, Fang Yan began introducing the Pokémon Eggs to them.

"If you want to challenge Gyms, you could choose a fairly strong Pokémon, such as Shinx. Its final evolution, Luxray, is pretty powerful too. As far as I know, Volkner, the Gym Leader of Sunyshore City, has a Luxray."

"Or Buizel. Its evolution, Floatzel, is also quite strong. Crasher Wake, the Gym Leader of Pastoria City, has one too."

"Other Pokémon like Aipom and Buneary are also ones I'd recommend."

Seeing Xiaochuan struggle to decide, Fang Yan did not rush him, instead turning to Xiaoting.

"For Pokémon Contests, you could choose a Pokémon that's well suited to them, like Aipom."

Fang Yan suddenly thought of a certain Aipom who possessed considerable strength but only wanted to enter Pokémon Contests. He smiled and continued.

"There's also Glameow, who combines elegance and beauty, or Wurmple. Its final evolution, Beautifly, is quite beautiful too, and very well suited to Pokémon Contests."

"Of the remaining ones, Kricketot and Budew are also my personal recommendations."

After saying that, he left them to discuss it together at their leisure. Fang Yan went over to Shauna, who was hiding by the doorway, and gently talked her through it, encouraging her to take that step past her inner barriers.

"I've decided, sir. I'd like Shinx."

Xiaochuan's words drew Fang Yan's attention back. He stood and walked over to them.

"Sir, I don't know which one to choose. Could you help me pick one?"

Xiaoting could not make up her mind, and Xiaochuan only had a vague understanding of these things, so she decided to ask the day care's owner. After all, he had such a cute Petilil; his judgment could not be wrong.

"If I were choosing... I'd recommend Glameow. After all, someone has won a Pokémon Contest championship with one."

Thinking of the mother of Diamond and Pearl's female protagonist, Fang Yan made his recommendation.

After all, Glameow really was elegant and beautiful, with a relatively gentle temperament.

"Okay, then I'll choose Glameow!"

Fang Yan nodded, then took the stethoscope Gengar handed him and examined the two Pokémon Eggs in front of them.

[Shinx Egg] [Hatching progress: 21/30]

[Glameow Egg] [Hatching progress: 23/30]

"They're both very healthy. They'll hatch soon."

Fang Yan put away the stethoscope and smiled.

"Then I'll entrust these two little ones to you. Remember to take good care of them."

"Yes! Don't worry!"

"Leave it to me!"

He gave them some care instructions, then made a point of telling Xiaoting that if she wanted to enter Pokémon Contests, she must not let Glameow evolve.

As everyone knew, Glameow evolved into Purugly. Since it was no beauty, it had put on weight, which simply would not do for Pokémon Contests. Still, it was not impossible; after all, Pokémon Contests were competitions of Pokémon's appeal.

"Um... sir, we didn't bring much money. Could you lower the price a little?"

At that moment, Xiaochuan spoke up awkwardly.

"Don't worry." Fang Yan joked, "If you don't have enough, you can stay here and work off your debt."

"Huh?!"

"Are you an idiot? Can't you even tell he's joking?"

Xiaoting tugged Xiaochuan's ear, exasperated with him.

Fang Yan shook his head and calculated the bill.

The Shinx Egg cost a hundred thousand League Coins, and Glameow's cost eighty thousand, making a total of a hundred and eighty thousand League Coins.

"That'll be a hundred and seventy-five thousand League Coins."

Fang Yan gave them a small discount.

Xiaochuan breathed a sigh of relief. They had brought three hundred thousand League Coins with them this time.

After they paid, Fang Yan took a photo of each of them holding their Pokémon Egg, then printed a copy for them.

"May victory be with you."

After seeing them to the door, Fang Yan offered them his well wishes.

"Thank you, sir. We wish you a thriving business too."

After seeing them off, Fang Yan hurried back into the day care, brought out a Pokémon Egg, and placed it in front of the counter. He had Gengar call Dali and the others over while he took the camera and started recording, then stared intently at the Pokémon Egg together with the Pokémon.