Bulbasaur's gaze was locked firmly onto Yuuto.
Especially seeing this strange male Trainer standing next to its most trusted master, Kusui.
The tightly closed flower bud on its back vibrated slightly, and four Vine Whips silently extended from its sides, pulled taut and ready to strike at the tips.
Its eyes were filled with undisguised vigilance and hostility.
This human male… why is he here?
And he's so close to Master!
Is he trying to do something bad to her?
Images of its former Trainer's cold face and its scarred companions abandoned in the forest flashed through Bulbasaur's mind.
It had an instinctive distrust of human Trainers, especially male ones.
It lowered its thick forelimbs slightly, taking a standard charging stance, while a low, intimidating growl rumbled in its throat.
"Bulba!"
It used its Vine Whips to gently scoop up the timid Oddish beside it, carefully placing it into the safety of the shrubbery's shadows behind.
The gentleness of its movements stood in stark contrast to its tense battle posture.
Once Oddish was settled, Bulbasaur had no more reservations.
Its hind legs kicked off the ground with a burst of power!
The dark green figure shot forward like an arrow from a bow, charging straight at Yuuto!
It moved with incredible speed, the force of its movement whistling through the air!
"Bulbasaur! Wait!"
Kusui's expression changed, and she rushed forward a few steps, spreading her arms to block Yuuto.
"They aren't bad people!"
Her voice was clear and urgent, carrying a soothing tone.
"This is Yuuto, and inside the house are Misty and Sister Delia. They are my friends, and they're here to help!"
Bulbasaur's charging form came to a screeching halt right in front of Kusui.
It looked up at Kusui's anxious and sincere face, then turned its suspicious gaze back to Yuuto behind her.
Yuuto stood his ground, neither retreating nor taking an offensive or defensive stance. He simply looked back at it calmly, his eyes devoid of malice, reflecting instead a hint of appreciation and curiosity.
Bulbasaur's nostrils flared slightly.
From this human male, it truly did not smell any of that loathsome hypocrisy, greed, or violence.
Instead… there was a very comfortable, fresh scent — like a mix of sunlight and soil from deep within the forest — and an indescribable aura that made Pokémon instinctively feel safe and close.
The hostility in Bulbasaur's eyes receded slightly, but its vigilance did not vanish entirely.
It slowly retracted its ready Vine Whips, though its body remained slightly tensed, ready to react at any moment.
It gave a low cry, tentatively accepting Kusui's explanation.
However, it did not approach Yuuto. Instead, it turned silently and walked to a relatively secluded corner of the yard, lying down while facing the entrance.
Its lapis-colored eyes continued to sharply scan every movement inside and outside the yard.
It was the picture of a dutiful guardian.
Kusui finally breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Yuuto apologetically.
"I'm sorry, Yuuto. It… it's very wary of stranger Trainers."
"It's alright, I understand."
Yuuto waved it off, but his gaze never left the Bulbasaur in the corner.
Its lying form was steady and powerful. Though the bud on its back was tightly closed, he could feel the vibrant life and a certain suppressed power within it.
"It looks very reliable," Yuuto said sincerely.
"It is. It's the strongest, and also one of the most heartbreaking children I have here."
Kusui followed Yuuto's gaze, her eyes soft yet filled with complexity.
She hesitated for a moment, then lowered her voice.
"Yuuto, about this Bulbasaur… there's actually a more troublesome problem."
"Oh?" Yuuto looked back at Kusui. "What kind of problem?"
Kusui sighed, her gaze landing on the flower bud that had never bloomed.
"It's the issue of its evolution."
"The bud on its back should have reached the blooming stage long ago."
"When it was first abandoned, its injuries were severe. Even the seed on its back looked withered. It had major defects, making it very difficult to evolve and bloom!"
"I used some herbal recipes, both internal and external, and managed to save it with great effort. I also restored the health of its bud and accumulated enough evolutionary energy. It could have tried to evolve."
"Originally, everything should have happened naturally. But…"
"It refused to evolve."
"Refused to evolve?" Yuuto looked at Bulbasaur once more.
"Yes." Kusui nodded. "It's stayed here for a long time and has seen many abandoned Pokémon. There was one that, after evolving… underwent a complete personality change. It forgot the bond it shared with its companions and even became quite violent."
"Bulbasaur… it's afraid."
"It's afraid that once it evolves into Ivysaur, it will become like that. It's afraid it will forget this place, forget the children it needs to protect, and forget… me."
"So, it has been using its own will to stubbornly suppress the urge to evolve, refusing to let the bud bloom."
"I've tried to persuade it many times, telling it that evolution is part of growing up and a necessary path to becoming stronger. But it's too stubborn, and it cares too much about everything here."
"By now, my herbal recipes can only help it maintain basic health; they can no longer help it channel that suppressed evolutionary energy."
She looked up at Yuuto earnestly, her eyes filled with hope.
"Yuuto, if you can really capture it and take it with you… please, find a way to help it."
"Help it resolve this mental block and find a way to guide its evolution safely without losing itself. Let it truly unleash the greatest power that belongs to it."
"I believe that if it's you… perhaps you can do it."
Yuuto met Kusui's gaze and nodded seriously.
"I promise you, Kusui. If it's willing to go with me, I will definitely find a way to solve the evolution problem."
This wasn't just a hollow promise.
He possessed the affinity of a "Friend of Nature" and a keen perception of energy. Combined with his knowledge of this world, finding or figuring out a way to help Bulbasaur evolve safely was not impossible.
"Thank you, Yuuto." A look of relief appeared on Kusui's face, as if a heavy burden had been lifted…
As evening approached, the setting sun draped the forest and the small yard in a warm, golden veil.
Yuuto took the initiative to stay and help Kusui care for the Pokémon in the yard.
Feeding, changing water, checking on recovery progress, and adding insect-repelling herbs… Yuuto worked efficiently and patiently, quickly earning further trust from all the Pokémon. That Pidgey even tried to land on his shoulder for a while.
Kusui watched this, and her opinion of Yuuto rose even higher.
By the time they finished, the sky had darkened.
Warm light shone from the small wooden cabin.
Since Kusui lived alone, there was only one spacious wooden bed in the house.
She generously gave the bed to Misty, who needed to rest her injured leg.
Delia naturally stayed inside to look after Misty, while also exchanging tips on nursing and herbs with Kusui.
Yuuto, carrying the spare bedding Kusui had found, prepared to set up a simple tent in the yard for the night.
Kusui felt a bit bad about it and brought out some tools to help.
The two of them chatted while working together to set up the tent.
The night breeze was cool, carrying the characteristic fragrance of forest greenery.
Not far away, Pikachu was carrying out the "special mission" Yuuto had assigned — building a good relationship with the Bulbasaur in the corner.
Pika~chu!
Full of energy, Pikachu pulled its most beloved treasure out of the backpack Yuuto had left aside — an unopened bottle of ketchup.
It skillfully twisted the cap open with its small paws, brought it over to Bulbasaur, and offered it eagerly.
Its big eyes blinked repeatedly, the meaning clear: Want a taste? It's delicious!
Bulba?
Bulbasaur looked doubtfully at the bright red, gooey liquid, then at the expectant Pikachu.
This thing… looks weird. Is it really edible?
Pika! Pika-pi!
Pikachu patted its little chest, its tail wagging like a flagpole, giving its utmost guarantee.
Seeing Pikachu so enthusiastic, Bulbasaur hesitated. Out of politeness, it carefully extended the tip of a Vine Whip, dipped it into a tiny bit of ketchup, and brought it to its mouth.
Bulba!!!
The next second, Bulbasaur's entire face scrunched up!
Sour!
Sweet?
No, it was mostly just sour and tangy! And it had a strong, incomprehensible taste of seasoning!
What kind of strange texture was this!
It quickly shook its head, trying to get rid of the weird taste in its mouth.
Pikachu looked at it expectantly: How is it? Great, right?
Looking at Pikachu's taste, which was clearly different from normal Pokémon, and then thinking of its other companions in the yard with various physical defects… Bulbasaur suddenly "understood".
So this Pikachu… has a severe defect in its sense of taste!
No wonder it likes such a strange thing.
At this thought, Bulbasaur's gaze toward Pikachu instantly shifted from doubt to sympathy, even gaining a touch of softness from a sense of shared misfortune.
It extended a Vine Whip and gently patted Pikachu's head, giving a low cry as if to comfort it: It's okay, I understand. Even though what you eat is weird, we are still companions.
Pikachu was a bit dazed by the patting, but feeling Bulbasaur's attitude become noticeably friendly and kind, it was overjoyed.
Success!
It turned its head triumphantly toward Yuuto, who was setting up the tent, and wagged its lightning-bolt tail, its little eyes full of boasting.
Master, did you see that? Who said this guy was hard to handle?
When I step in, I'm worth two! It's settled in one go!
As expected of me!
After gloating, it happily hugged the ketchup bottle and took a big gulp, its face showing an expression of pure, intoxicated happiness.
This only further convinced Bulbasaur that its "taste defect" was severe, and the sympathy and desire to care for it in its eyes increased a few more notches…
Yuuto took all of this in. Seeing Pikachu complete its task, he also began to focus on persuading Kusui.
The tent was soon set up.
Kusui sat on a rock by the tent, and Yuuto sat down as well.
The forest at night was very quiet, with only the chirping of insects and the occasional distant cry of a Pokémon.
As they chatted, the topic naturally turned to Kusui herself.
"I actually have an ideal too…" Kusui hugged her knees, gazing at the starry sky, her voice sounding a bit distant. "It's actually very simple. I want to learn more professional knowledge about caring for and healing Pokémon."
"I use old folk recipes passed down from the older generation or experiences I've figured out myself. Many times, I feel powerless."
"If only I could go to a Pokémon Center in a big city to study, or visit some famous Breeders and Doctors."
She paused, her voice dropping, filled with obvious disappointment and conflict.
"But… I can't leave them."
She looked back at the quiet wooden cabin and the figures resting peacefully in the yard under the night sky.
"If I leave, what will happen to them? Who will find and care for those poor, injured children that arrive?"
"Capturing them all and taking them with me… setting aside that I can't afford so many Poké Balls and daily expenses, many of the children's injuries aren't suited for long-distance travel."
"Sometimes when I think about it, I feel really lost. It's like I'm trapped here, unable to move forward or back."
The night breeze blew the hair on her forehead, and her profile looked somewhat fragile in the moonlight.
Yuuto listened quietly.
He could understand Kusui's predicament and the shackles brought by her kindness.
After thinking for a moment, he had a general idea in mind.
"Kusui," Yuuto began, his voice clear and steady in the night air. "Perhaps there's a middle-ground solution."
"Huh?" Kusui turned her head, looking at him expectantly.
Yuuto didn't say it immediately. Instead, he first cautiously checked the situation in the yard.
Bulbasaur seemed to have closed its eyes for a nap, and Pikachu, tired from playing, was dozing off nearby. The other Pokémon were also quiet.
To ensure that his plan and mood weren't detected by those sensitive Pokémon — especially Bulbasaur — Yuuto leaned his body slightly toward Kusui, closing the distance between them.
Kusui didn't seem to expect Yuuto to lean in so close, and her body stiffened almost imperceptibly.
Yuuto leaned close to Kusui's ear and began to recount his strategy…
--------------Author---------------
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