Yuuto carried the somewhat dazed Misty on his back, with Delia walking beside them. The three followed Kusui through the last stretch of dense forest.
The view suddenly opened up before them.
On a meticulously cleared woodland clearing sat a simple but clean small log cabin.
A small courtyard was fenced off in front of the cabin.
The most eye-catching thing in the courtyard was a large stone pond. The water was crystal clear, and several Goldeen and Magikarp could be seen swimming leisurely inside. There was even a Poliwag sunbathing on a rock by the pond.
Scattered across the grass next to the pond were several other Pokémon.
A Pidgey, its wing appearing somewhat crooked, was trying to flutter its wings and fly. A Sandshrew with a slow gait and a shallow crack on its shell was napping there. And a weak-looking Rattata was curled up in the shadows under the eaves.
This didn't look like a Trainer's residence. It was more like a… temporary Pokémon rescue and recovery center.
Kusui spoke softly, her gaze tenderly sweeping over the Pokémon in the courtyard.
She pushed open the small picket gate and motioned for Yuuto and the others to enter.
"These little ones were all abandoned in the nearby forest by their original Trainers because they were severely injured in battle or born with certain defects."
"I felt sorry for them, and since I know a bit about herbal medicine and nursing, I set up this place where they can temporarily recover."
As she explained, she led the three into the courtyard.
The Pokémon that had been resting or playing looked up one after another as they heard the movement.
But when their eyes fell on Yuuto, something strange happened.
These injured and abandoned Pokémon, who should have been wary or even fearful of humans — especially strangers — showed very little fear in their eyes at this moment.
The Pidgey with the crooked wing even flapped its wings a couple of times and hopped a few steps closer to Yuuto.
The Sandshrew raised its head and gave a gentle sniff.
Even the most timid one, the Rattata shrinking in the shadows, quietly poked its head out, its glass-like eyes looking at Yuuto with curiosity.
Kusui immediately showed a look of surprise.
These children… had never been so welcoming to a stranger they were meeting for the first time.
Even when she had first rescued them and tried to gain their trust, it had taken a lot of time and patience.
This Trainer named Yuuto… She couldn't help but steal a few more glances at him.
Young, handsome, with clear and steady eyes, he seemed to possess a natural aura that made both people and Pokémon feel at ease and friendly.
Kusui's favorable impression of Yuuto couldn't help but rise a bit more.
"They… seem to really like you,"
Kusui said, somewhat incredulously.
"Maybe I'm just naturally liked by Pokémon."
Yuuto smiled, not explaining too much about the "Friend of Nature" aura he had obtained at Mt. Moon.
His gaze swept across the courtyard, finally landing on the small log cabin.
"That Bulbasaur you mentioned just now…"
"Yes, it's one of them too."
Kusui sighed, her eyes filled with heartache.
"The reason it was abandoned is a bit complicated. It was treated harshly by its original Trainer, and after losing a battle, it was dumped at the edge of the forest."
"When I found it, it had many injuries, but its gaze was fierce. Even when it was too weak to stand, it would still lash out at me with its Vine Whip."
"It took a lot of effort to bring it back and heal it."
Kusui paused before continuing.
"After its wounds healed, it didn't leave. Instead, it stayed of its own accord, as if it had made this place its territory, taking on the responsibility of protecting its other injured companions."
"It's very smart and powerful. That Oddish you encountered earlier was only abandoned nearby a few days ago. It has a timid personality, so Bulbasaur was likely looking after it."
"So, its attack on you might have really been a misunderstanding, thinking you were going to bully the Oddish."
Kusui looked at Delia and said apologetically.
"It's not bad by nature, it's just… it might be a bit resistant toward human Trainers. I'll help explain things to it in a bit, and the misunderstanding should be cleared up."
After saying this, she pointed to the log cabin.
"Let's go inside first. I'll properly treat the injury on Misty's leg. I only applied some simple herbs earlier."
"Thank you for the trouble, Kusui."
Yuuto nodded and carried Misty into the cabin.
Delia followed them inside.
The interior of the cabin was more spacious than it looked from the outside and was organized neatly.
The air was filled with the faint fragrance of herbs and the scent of sun-dried wood.
Several simple wooden shelves stood against the wall, holding various dried herbs, clean bandages, and basic medicines categorized by type.
A wooden bed with plain sheets rested on the other side, and several green potted plants sat on the windowsill.
The overall atmosphere was warm and tidy.
Kusui had Yuuto place Misty on the bed, while she went to the wooden shelves to fetch more professional disinfectant and ointment.
She knelt down, carefully unwound the cloth strips from earlier, and examined the wound closely.
"It's alright, there are no signs of infection, and the wound isn't deep."
Kusui skillfully used a cotton ball soaked in disinfectant to gently wipe around the wound, her movements tender.
Misty bit her lip, enduring the stinging sensation from the disinfectant.
But her gaze unconsciously drifted toward Yuuto.
Yuuto was standing by the window, looking out at the courtyard. His profile was clearly outlined by the sunlight streaming through the window.
As Misty watched, she remembered the feeling of her lips touching his cheek earlier… and her face began to heat up again.
She quickly looked away, only to meet Sister Delia's gentle, smiling eyes.
Did Sister Delia… see something?
Misty panicked, like a child caught red-handed. She immediately lowered her head, pretending to focus on Kusui treating her wound.
The smile in Delia's eyes deepened, but she said nothing.
Soon, Kusui reapplied the medicine to Misty and wrapped it with clean bandages.
"There, make sure the wound doesn't touch water for the next couple of days. Change the dressing on time, and it will scab over quickly."
Kusui stood up and washed her hands.
"Thank you, Sister Kusui,"
Misty thanked her softly.
"You're welcome."
Kusui dried her hands and looked at Yuuto.
"Yuuto, are you interested in those little ones in the courtyard? Do you want to go out and take a look? I'm just about to prepare today's food for them."
Yuuto's heart stirred.
This was the perfect opportunity to learn more about that Bulbasaur.
He nodded.
"Sure, I was just thinking of taking a look. I'll leave Misty in Sister Delia's care."
"Go ahead, don't worry,"
Delia said softly, sitting by the bed and gently squeezing Misty's hand.
Misty watched the backs of Yuuto and Kusui as they walked out of the cabin side by side. Her lips moved, but in the end, she didn't say anything.
Only that inexplicable sour feeling rose up in her heart again.
Hmph, going out alone with that gentle and beautiful Sister Kusui again… You big pervert!
All you think about is looking at pretty girls!
She thought huffily, not realizing that her jealousy was becoming more and more natural…
In the courtyard, the sunlight was just right.
Yuuto helped Kusui sort out the prepared food suitable for the different Pokémon.
That Pidgey hopped over and cautiously pecked at the specially made energy pellets from Yuuto's palm.
The Sandshrew also edged closer, rubbing against Yuuto's leg before lowering its head to eat its portion.
Even that Rattata slowly emerged from the shadows, nibbling the food placed before it in small bites, occasionally looking up at Yuuto.
"They really are close to you,"
Kusui sighed again as she watched this scene, her gaze soft.
"I can feel that you are someone who truly loves Pokémon."
"They are all wonderful children; they just had bad luck."
Yuuto stroked the Sandshrew's head, and the latter narrowed its eyes comfortably.
"You're even more impressive, being able to take such good care of so many injured and abandoned Pokémon and helping them regain their health and vitality."
Yuuto praised her sincerely.
However, upon hearing this, Kusui did not look happy.
Instead, she sighed softly, a hint of worry touching her smile.
"Regaining health… is a good thing."
Kusui knelt down and stroked the fur on the back of the quietly eating Rattata, her voice dropping.
"But sometimes, I worry even more."
"Look at them now, staying here comfortably with food, a safe place to live, no battles, and no pressure."
"In the short term, this allows them to recover from their injuries and illnesses. But over time…"
She looked up at Yuuto, her eyes somewhat lost.
"They will become more and more dependent on this place, losing their wildness and competitiveness."
"Their battle instincts will atrophy. Even if they fully recover in the future, they might not be able to adapt to the wild environment again, let alone become a Trainer's partner and challenge higher stages."
"This isn't a good thing for their long-term future."
Kusui paused and cast her gaze toward the depths of the forest, where Bulbasaur often patrolled.
"Especially that Bulbasaur."
"It's different. I can feel that it possesses very powerful hidden strength and an extremely high talent for battle."
"It should belong to a wider sky, to experience trials, to challenge the strong, and to shine in true battles."
"But now, because it's grateful to me for saving it, it has bound itself here, guarding this courtyard and taking care of the other children…"
"While this is certainly touching, it's also wasting its talent and shackling its future."
Kusui's voice was full of conflict and heartache.
"Actually… I've always hoped it would meet a Trainer who truly understands and cherishes it, someone who can guide it and unlock its full potential, leading it into a broader world."
"But I also know it has been hurt by humans and has a psychological barrier toward Trainers."
"Furthermore, it has a proud and strong-willed personality. An ordinary Trainer probably wouldn't even catch its eye, let alone earn its recognition."
At this point, Kusui suddenly stopped.
Realizing she had said too much, she looked at Yuuto a bit sheepishly.
"Sorry, I've said so much all at once…"
"No, I completely understand how you feel."
Yuuto shook his head, his expression serious.
Looking at Kusui, he directly stated his intention.
"Kusui, if I told you that I'm very interested in that Bulbasaur and want to try to catch it and take it on my journey, what would you think?"
Kusui's eyes widened suddenly.
Surprise, followed by irrepressible joy, blossomed on her face.
"Really? Yuuto, you… you want to catch it?"
She almost jumped up, but she quickly forced herself to calm down, a look of worry and gravity appearing on her face.
"Yuuto, I… I'm very happy you have this idea. If it's you… I think it might actually be possible."
"However, I must warn you that Bulbasaur is very, very strong-willed, and its test for a human Trainer will be extremely strict. It won't easily recognize anyone."
"If you want to catch it, you might need to put in a lot of effort and use your sincerity and strength to move it, rather than a simple battle capture. Also…"
Before Kusui could finish her sentence…
The bushes at the edge of the courtyard shook violently.
A sleek, dark green figure leaped out first, landing steadily at the entrance of the courtyard.
It was that Bulbasaur, and it had returned with the Oddish…