After a day of fierce battles, the top sixty-four had been decided. The remaining time would be spent working through their matches until the League Conference champion was finally crowned.
Fang Yan stretched. He had to admit that the competitors at a real League Conference varied wildly in skill.
Some had only just set off on their journeys and had already cleared every Gym challenge to qualify, while others kept challenging Gyms and reworking their teams to enter the conference again.
The later matches would probably be even fiercer and more exciting.
As Fang Yan thought about that, he suddenly found himself looking forward to seeing Ash meet his rival from Sinnoh.
Fang Yan was no Ash fanboy, but he thought Ash's Sinnoh Region lineup was pretty solid, especially Infernape. The way he powered up in a pinch was just so cool.
Fang Yan lay quietly in his chair, going over the original plot in his head.
Ash could have won the championship in Sinnoh, only for a guy with Legendary Pokémon to show up out of nowhere. He could have won in the Kalos Region too, but ended up facing that "Water Absorb" Charizard.
He skipped over the Unova Region in between. That was a baby team.
The more Fang Yan thought about it, the more he looked forward to meeting Ash. When they met, he planned to ask him when he was going to go back for that Pidgeot.
"Uncle."
While Fang Yan was lost in thought, Shauna's voice brought him back.
"What is it, Shauna?"
"Uncle, their matches are so fun to watch! They're so exciting."
"Right? Then we'll keep watching tomorrow. If you like them, we can watch more."
Fang Yan stroked her little head and smiled.
"Uncle, what do you think about us holding a competition too? I remember there are lots of trainers like the ones on TV staying near our home. We could hold a competition for them and have them come enter, and then we could make money too. What do you think?"
Shauna looked at Fang Yan and spoke in her clear little voice.
She already thought of the Pokémon Day Care as her home. She had seen how happily Fang Yan and Gengar smiled whenever he collected money, so when she saw the competition on TV today, she thought of the trainers near her home. If the Pokémon Day Care held a competition too and had them come enter, wouldn't that make money for the Pokémon Day Care?
Of course! Shauna's words were a sudden wake-up call.
If he used the Pokémon Day Care's reputation and worked with Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy to organize a friendly tournament, he could help those trainers who had lost get back into their stride, let them test the strength of their revised lineups, spread the Pokémon Day Care's name, and charge for drinks and meals too.
So many benefits in one go.
"Shauna, you're a little genius."
Fang Yan gently brushed a finger down her nose as he spoke.
"You think it'll work too, Uncle?"
"That's right. We'll decide on a prize for the champion, then sell drinks and meals while they're competing. We can make quite a bit of money to buy you all tasty treats."
Fang Yan smiled as he spoke.
"Yay, yay! Then Shauna will take the drinks around to sell. When they see how cute Shauna is, they probably won't say no to buying them."
Seeing her suggestion accepted, Shauna clapped happily and spoke with delight.
"No!"
Fang Yan rejected that outright. For one thing, Shauna's symptoms had only recently improved, and he didn't dare have her face so many strangers all at once. Even now, when she delivered herbal tea, he only let her take it to people she knew. For another, he wanted Shauna to grow up happily without worrying about making money. Fang Yan, Gengar, and the others would handle that.
All Shauna needed to do was play happily with Petilil and the others at the Pokémon Day Care and slowly grow up.
Shauna's little face immediately fell.
The sight tugged at Fang Yan's heart, and he explained things to her. Only then did Shauna reluctantly agree.
"I'll talk it over properly with Sister Xiaoye and the others over the next few days. Once we make some money, I'll buy you pretty little dresses, okay?"
Shauna nodded happily and threw herself into Fang Yan's arms, her eyes darting about cleverly as she nestled against him.
"Don't pick up Gengar's bad habits."
Gengar was finishing off the remaining cat-ear crackers, taking a sip of soda and a bite of cracker, enjoying himself immensely when he suddenly caught a stray jab.
"Geng?! ((ᵒꈊᵒ᷅ू‖))՞"
What's this got to do with me now?!
"Nothing, nothing. Keep eating."
Gengar shot Fang Yan a glance, huffed, then turned around and continued eating the snacks in his hands.
"Oh, Uncle, can I stay here for the next few days?"
Shauna suddenly asked.
"Of course. Why do you suddenly want to stay here?"
"Because Grandpa's sick, and Mom and Dad have to go take care of him. I see them running back and forth every time, and I'm afraid they'll get too tired, so I don't want them to have to work so hard."
Shauna sniffled and looked at Fang Yan as she answered.
"And I want to play with Petilil and the others a little longer too."
Shauna gave him a great big smile.
After hearing her out, Fang Yan smiled broadly and nodded in agreement.
"That's very thoughtful of you. Then I'll call your mom and dad in a bit and ask them to bring over a change of clothes, okay?"
"Okay. Thank you, Uncle."
With that, Shauna planted a kiss on Fang Yan's cheek.
Fang Yan's heart melted. He took out his phone and called Mrs. Fujino.
Not long after he finished speaking with Mrs. Fujino, the Fujinos brought Shauna's clothes over.
"Thank you so very much, Mr. Fang Yan."
Mr. Fujino gripped Fang Yan's hand tightly, thanking him over and over.
Fang Yan shook his head and said it had been Shauna's own idea.
Mr. Fujino looked toward Shauna, who was nearby playing with his wife, Chingling, and the others.
He wiped at his reddened eyes and said, "Really, thank you so very much."
Mr. Fujino wasn't good at expressing himself, but Fang Yan understood everything he meant.
Nothing could be better than Shauna getting better. No one could dislike such a thoughtful little girl.
After they exchanged a few more words, Mrs. Fujino came over with Shauna.
"Little Shauna, be good and listen to Uncle Fang Yan. Mom and Dad will come pick you up once we're done in a few days, okay?"
Mrs. Fujino bent down and tidied Shauna's hair as she spoke.
Uncle...
Fang Yan's heart gave a twinge, and he consoled himself.
It's fine, it's fine. Uncle it is.
"Okay. Mom, Dad, make sure you get some rest too. I'll be good and listen to Uncle."
Shauna spoke in her clear little voice, then kissed each of her parents on the cheek.
The Fujinos thanked him profusely once more before driving away.
Watching them leave, Fang Yan glanced down at Shauna. There was a trace of reluctance in her bright, dewy eyes, and he smiled and stroked her little head.
"Now you're an employee of my Pokémon Day Care. You have to help me work, understand? Otherwise, I won't give you anything to eat."
Shauna looked up at Fang Yan's pretend-stern face, a brilliant smile spreading across her own.
"Yes, Uncle."
Her salute looked exactly like Dali's and the others'.
"Very good, little Shauna. I now order you to go play with Petilil, Mime Jr., and the others. I need to go upstairs and get your room ready."
Shauna gave another proper-looking salute, then ran off with Chingling to find Petilil and the others.
Watching Shauna gradually regain a child's cleverness and charm, Fang Yan exchanged a glance with Gengar, and they shared a knowing smile.
Children were supposed to be carefree.
He carried Shauna's luggage up to the second floor, opened the door to the room next to his, and went inside. He picked out a set of pink sheets for her, put her clothes away, fitted the quilt into its cover, then took out the Eevee plush Mrs. Fujino had brought and arranged it at the head of the bed.
Looking at the plush, Fang Yan nodded.
I'll find some time to make a few more for Shauna.
Then he closed the bedroom door and went downstairs.
Cynthia's room and Shauna's room were on either side of his own.
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