Reiji woke up early to prepare breakfast. After his Pokémon had eaten, he returned them to their Poké Balls, leaving only Poliwhirl and Spinarak outside.
Before heading out, he put on his jacket and face mask, then went to the market to buy fresh meat, fruits, and vegetables. Carrying the groceries, he made his way straight to the orphanage.
When he arrived, the children were already awake and waiting in the yard. As soon as they saw him, they rushed forward.
"Big Brother is here!"
"Big Brother brought lots of food again!"
"Yay, we're having barbecue again today!"
"Nana, I bought more fresh meat. Wash and cut it into pieces, then prepare barbecue for the kids," Reiji said, handing over everything he'd bought to Nana, who had adopted the Caterpie yesterday, along with two other boys.
"Big Brother, we'll get to it right away," Nana said, carrying fruit to distribute to the children, before taking the meat to the faucet with the two boys to clean it.
The noise woke up the rest of the kids, who had been sleeping in.
"Big Brother, you came this early?"
Before the kid could say more, a boy tugged him away with a teasing grin. "Didn't you say he was a fake? Then why are you calling him Big Brother Umi too?"
"Shut up!" Skinny blushed furiously, shoved the boy away, and ran back inside to put on clothes.
"How about we go ask Big Brother later to teach us how to train Pokémon?" one boy suggested to another, smirking.
"Sure, but let's finish the barbecue first," the other replied.
Once the old director came out, the whole orphanage bustled with activity. The children who got fruit happily munched away, while Nana and her helpers washed the meat. Skinny also stayed near the grill to help.
The courtyard filled with the smell of roasting meat and children's laughter, creating a warm, almost idyllic scene.
Reiji went to the gazebo, where the director was already waiting with tea. It was a better brew this time, freshly bought, not the poor leaves from a few days ago.
"Director, this will be my last visit. I've made some enemies at the black market. If they find out I've been coming here, the orphanage might get dragged into it…"
He was thinking of the stalker from the previous night, likely that burly man. Reiji truly feared the children being taken hostage against him. That would leave him with only one impossible choice—rescue them, no matter what. But that would mean exposing himself to danger. He hoped it never came to that.
To avoid such risks, he resolved to seek out the man's group himself and cut the problem off at its root.
"I understand," the director nodded lightly. Conflicts were part of a trainer's life.
Back then, he and his companions had once emerged victorious before retiring from the public eye—one becoming the orphanage's director, another making fake documents, another running a tavern.
They said no more, just quietly sat in the gazebo, watching the children enjoy the food.
Later, after everyone had been served barbecue, two boys—both trainers—ran over with plates, eager smiles on their faces.
"Big Brother, we made this! You and the director should try it," one said, grinning sheepishly.
Reiji didn't take a bite immediately. He looked at the two boys, who seemed to have something else on their minds.
"Big Brother, could you teach us how to train Pokémon? Mine is a Bellsprout," one boy asked after being nudged by the other.
"Mine is an Oddish. Could you teach me too?"
"Bellsprout and Oddish?" Reiji raised an eyebrow. He wasn't very familiar with these two, so he asked to see them.
"Let me take a look at your Bellsprout first."
"Here, Big Brother." The boy handed over his Poké Ball.
Reiji opened the interface to check its stats.
[Bellsprout]
[Type: Grass/Poison]
[Sex: Female]
[Potential: 35%]
[Level: 15.34%]
[Ability: Chlorophyll / 7.18%] [Hidden Ability: Gluttony / 3.27%]
[Known Moves: …]
Seeing the potential, Reiji knew its ceiling was already set—mediocre at best, unless it received some miraculous boost from a rare treasure or even a Legendary's blessing.
Still, it had Gluttony as a hidden ability, which gave it some hope.
"Your Bellsprout isn't bad, just malnourished. Bellsprout has digestive acid, right? Have it use that more often to digest plenty of food, especially meat. Feed it well, then train it—its strength will follow."
This method, he recalled, came from an online discussion in his previous life: using Gluttony to push the evolutionary line of Bellsprout–Weepinbell–Victreebel further, even letting them metabolize toxins to boost Poison-type moves.
He didn't know if it truly worked, but at least Gluttony had to be tied to eating. The more, the better—especially items infused with Grass- or Poison-type energy.
But he left out the bit about feeding toxic sacs. That method was banned by the League. If the boy ever stumbled into the black market, he'd discover such practices himself.
"Thank you, Big Brother." The boy accepted the ball back, memorizing Reiji's words.
Next was the Oddish.
Its stats were even lower—33 potential, only Chlorophyll as ability, and an ordinary move pool. In truth, Reiji wouldn't normally waste time on such a Pokémon.
But he couldn't say that outright, or the boy might abandon it. So he put on a reassuring smile.
"Oddish isn't bad either. Its leaves look a bit yellow though. You need to give it more water, more sunlight, and train under the sun to make the most of Chlorophyll."
"Thank you, Big Brother!" The boy gratefully took Oddish back, thinking it sounded easier than training a Bellsprout.
Reiji then placed twenty thousand Pokédollars on the stone table. "This will be support money for you two. The director will use it to buy Grass-type Pokéblocks for your Bellsprout and Oddish."
The boys froze at the sight of so much money, their eyes wide.
"Don't just stare, thank him!" the director scolded, tapping his cane.
"Thank you, Big Brother!" They bowed deeply before being ushered out.
The director chuckled. "Reiji, are you a breeder? You saw their problems instantly."
"No, Director. Just basic knowledge. If they study, they'll learn the same," Reiji said awkwardly, bluffing his way through.
Truthfully, he had only skimmed beginner's books on Water-types. But Bellsprout's poor condition was obvious from the low Gluttony rate, and Oddish's yellowing leaves were a basic plant symptom—lack of water, nutrients, or sun. Anyone who'd grown vegetables would know.
"True enough," the director sighed. "If only the children would study more seriously…"
He glanced toward Nana, a bright, diligent girl with Caterpie by her side. Likely, the orphanage's future would rest with her.
Finally, Reiji rose. "Director, I'll be leaving now. If anything comes up, have Skinny find me. I'll be staying on Kinnow Island for a while."
The director nodded. "I've already updated your records with Officer Jenny. Officially, you're now listed as a survivor of a shipwreck ten years ago, with no traceable family. From now on, you're one of the children who left this orphanage."
"Thank you, Director." Reiji bowed and took his leave with Poliwhirl.
As soon as he stepped out, Nana ran after him, leaving even her barbecue behind. The other children followed too.
Reiji stopped, ruffled Nana's messy hair, and said softly, "Study well, learn about Pokémon, and take care of the younger ones, all right?"
"I will… Big Brother, will you come back?" Nana asked, tears streaming down her face. She sensed he might be leaving for good.
Reiji smiled, wiping her tears away. "Don't cry. You'll grow into a beautiful young woman someday. No more tears then."
He didn't answer her question, only waved goodbye before turning and walking away.
"Goodbye, Big Brother! I'll always remember you!"
"Goodbye, Big Brother!" the children echoed, waving happily—most not realizing what this farewell truly meant.
Reiji raised a hand to wave back but didn't look over his shoulder.
Skinny walked beside him silently. Unlike the others, he knew where he lived, so he wasn't worried. Still, he understood from the director's farewell that Reiji would not return to the orphanage again.
"Kiddo, don't tell anyone where I live. Not even the other kids. From now on, don't bring me up at all," Reiji instructed.
"Why?" he asked, confused.
"You'll understand later," he said simply. Some things were better left unsaid. He would deal with the threat himself.
The two of them walked back in silence.
At the villa, the morning training began. Poliwhirl, Krabby, Farfetch'd, and Rhyhorn ran laps outside.
Butterfree and Slowpoke practiced their psychic powers. Pelipper trained Rain Dance. The Magikarp splashed with Water Gun, Spinarak worked on its aim.
Skinny's own Poliwhirl trained Water Gun accuracy, while Breloom practiced Bullet Seed.
Training continued until eleven, when Reiji returned to the kitchen to prepare lunch, with Skinny helping wash vegetables.
After lunch, they rested briefly, then resumed afternoon training.
(End of Chapter)
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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