At five o'clock sharp, Zack arrived for his usual pickup, but today Naoki had nothing to sell. It seemed that Koraidon's fishing expeditions had drastically reduced the fish popution in the nearby river. Naoki had only mao catch three ordinary Bas.

  Zack, unfazed, offered words of fort. "It's normal," he reassured Naoki. "Fishing is all about luck. You've beey lucky so far. Some folks sit by the river all day and not catch a sihing!"

  Naoki chuckled inwardly. He knew all about "air fishing" from his previous life.

  After selling the three Bas for a meager 600 Pokédolrs, Naoki pted trying his luck at the o west of Mesagoza. The river ractically depleted, and it would take time to recover. With the crops not yet ready for harvest, fishing was his only source of ine.

  However, Naoki wasn't in a rush. The priority was to finish the chi coop.

  After rinsing himself and his Pokémon panions uhe faucet, Naoki returo the and began preparing dinner. With the Feebas gone, all that remained were some smoked sausage and ham, on staples from the Mesagoza Market. They were non-perishable and ideal for situations without refrigeration.

  Unfortunately, sandwiches made with smoked sausage and ham wouldn't trigger any special effects. But Koraidon and Cyclizar still ate their meals with gusto.

  Naoki was reminded of the old saying, "A dog doesn't care if its owner is poor." In this world, Pokémon were like loyal dogs, never judging their trainers based oh.

  But Pokémon were more than just pets. They lived alongside humans, f deep bonds. With their emotions and intelligenaoki felt it was more fitting to sider them family.

  As for Caterpie, Naoki k had been diligently practig its new move in the forest all day, taking breaks to mun leaves whe got tired.

  It hadn't returned for dinner, likely still full from its leafy feast. Naoki checked on it and found it asleep on a rge tree in the pasture. It seemed the Caterpie preferred the outdoors to the fines of the house.

  After dinner, exhausted from the day's work, Naoki decided to retire early.

  ...

  Meanwhile, in the back mountains.

  A ten-year-old boy with blond hair crawled out of a ditch, covered in mud. His e Academy uniform was soiled and damp, ging to his skin with rotting leaves.

  The boy, Carter, a freshman at the academy, had been on a school-sponsored outdoor excursion when he'd gotten lost two days ago. He had hoped to find a town or settlement, but the relentless rain had forced him to take shelter in a cave.

  After the rain stopped, he attempted to tinue his journey, only to fall into the ditot only were his clothes ruined, but he had also scraped his leg. His food supplies were depleted, and he leaned against a tree, hunger gnawing at his stomach.

  "I hope the Delibird found a town nearby," Carter muttered, tears welling up in his eyes. "Ugh, I shouldn't have signed up for this stupid field trip."

  Iernoon, Carter had released his only Pokémon, a Delibird, instrug it to scout the area from the air and locate any signs of civilization.

  Suddenly, a familiar cry echoed through the trees. Carter looked up, his face brightening with hope.

  The Delibird nded in front of him, proudly presenting a blue Berry from the pouch it carried.

  "You found food for me?" Carter excimed, tears of gratitude streaming down his face. He hugged the Delibird tightly, "Thank you so much, Delibird!"

  "Bibi!" the Pokémon squawked, struggling to breathe in Carter's tight embrace.

  Thankfully, Carter quickly released Delibird, took a bite of the berry, and regained his determination. "Alright! Let's keep going!"

  Delibird led the way as Carter followed closely behind.

  After an hour's walk, a solitary wooden house emerged from the darkness uhe moonlight.

  "Is that...a ?" Carter was disappointed. He had hoped for a bustling town. But at least it was a sign of human habitation, a wele sight pared to the wilderness.

  Delibird nodded, firming it had detected signs of activity there earlier.

  "It's better than nothing," Carter reasoned, approag the house and knog on the door. "Hello? Is ahere?"

  Soon, footsteps approached from ihe lights flickered on, and the door creaked open, revealing a tall, slender young man.

  Naoki looked at the mud-covered boy in front of him, surprise fshing across his face. " I help you?"

  "Hello, my name is Carter," the boy introduced himself quickly. "I'm a student at the e Academy. I got lost in the mountains. Could you tell me, is the own far from here?"

  Naoki assessed the situation. "About three hours on foot," he replied.

  "Three hours?!" Carter's face fell. His energy was depleted, and he doubted he could make it that far.

  Naoki noticed the academy badge on Carter's chest and raised an eyebrow. "e inside," he offered. "You're in no shape to travel. You stay here for the night."

  Carter's eyes lit up with gratitude. "Thank you so much! We won't stay for free, though. I'll pay for the room."

  "Don't worry about it," Naoki assured him. "It's just a small favor."

  He knew from the inal owner's memories that hotel prices in this world weren't too expehe cheapest being around 200 Pokédolrs per night. He stepped aside, gesturing for Carter to enter.

  Overwhelmed with gratitude, Carter thanked him profusely. What a kind person!

  He stepped ih Delibird, taking in the cozy interior. The was small but well-furnished, with a single bed, a desk, a cupboard serving as a partition, and a crag firepce. The wooden floor otless, and the entire space exuded an air of warmth and liness.

  "The owner must be very tidy," Carter thought to himself.

  ed about dirtying the floor, he removed his shoes before entering, padding across the room in his socks.

  His eyes were drawn to the two Pokémoing by the bed: a Cyclizar and a crimson-colored Pokémon he had never seen before. Though unfamiliar, his trainer's intuition told him that this Pokémon was extraordinary.