Before he transmigrated, Su Bai had been a die-hard Pokémon fan.
From Gen I to the latest Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet)—he might not have memorized every detail, but he could guess most Pokémon just from a small silhouette.
So when the Friend Ball still glowed in the air, he already had a hunch based on the outline within.
His heart practically leapt out of his chest—it was pounding so hard!
"No way... the system is this generous?!"
"Melo~ Melo~!"
With a voice as sweet as a song, a tiny figure leaped from the ball and dove joyfully into Su Bai's arms!
"It's… Meloetta!!"
Staring at the mythical Pokémon now snuggling and affectionately nuzzling into his chest, Su Bai felt his heart melting into a puddle.
Meloetta's petite, humanoid body had delicate limbs, a flowing dress-like skin, and a pair of large, expressive eyes. Her long green hair floated gently behind her, and on her forehead sparkled a gem-like pendant. A ribbon-like accessory resembling a headset adorned the side of her face.
Meloetta—often hailed as one of the most elegant and adorable Pokémon ever.
Not only that, but she was also one of the rare mythical Pokémon capable of transforming into two distinct forms—something only she and Shaymin could do.
Her singing voice could alter emotions and calm even the most chaotic minds.
And now, Su Bai could clearly feel her joy and trust simply through her melody-like cries.
He lifted her gently and laughed.
"I can't believe I actually pulled Meloetta!"
"I thought I'd end up with a Jynx or something!"
Given that Rotom—his first Pokémon—was already doubling as a cashier, he'd guessed the next one might be some kind of helper or server.
There weren't many humanoid Pokémon suited for that kind of task. He'd have been thrilled with something like Gardevoir, Primarina, or Tsareena.
But if he had drawn a Jynx or a Grimmsnarl… well, no offense to them as Pokémon, but he wouldn't have been this happy.
"Meloetta's basically the perfect draw!"
Seeing her in real life was even more breathtaking than in the games or anime.
Her big, shimmering eyes roamed the room curiously, and her mouth kept singing gentle "Melo~ Melo~" notes as she expressed her delight.
"No wonder the Friend Ball starts with 200 friendship points."
Su Bai chuckled as he carefully placed Meloetta on the table.
"Be a good girl, okay? Wait here while I finish tidying up. Then we'll play."
He rolled up his sleeves and got to work.
The store's business strategy, he knew, would be unlocked once the shop officially opened.
If it were any other Pokémon, he might've asked them to help out a bit.
But this cute little mythical being? Asking Meloetta to clean felt almost… unethical. Like some sort of child labor.
Just as he was about to grab a broom, Meloetta tilted her head, her green hair swaying.
Then her expression suddenly shifted.
She had understood.
"Melo~ Melo!"
With a determined cry, energy suddenly surged from her!
Before Su Bai could react, the cleaning tools flew from his hands—wrapped in psychic energy!
Water faucets turned on by themselves.
Cloths Su Bai had prepared floated over, soaked themselves, and began wiping down every surface with surgical precision.
Old tools were stripped of rust, sorted, and placed in orderly sections.
The entire store came alive with bustling, magical activity—scrubbing, wiping, polishing.
And through it all, Meloetta's heavenly voice served as the perfect soundtrack.
Su Bai stood frozen, jaw agape.
By the time he snapped out of it, Meloetta had already leapt onto his shoulder, smiling with pride and squinting her eyes like she was waiting for praise.
The store that had once been a dusty mess now sparkled like new.
(Well—except the wooden counter that was still missing a chunk from earlier...)
"Holy crap... You did all that?!"
Su Bai nuzzled Meloetta's cheek in gratitude.
A Normal/Psychic-type mythical Pokémon—and clearly one with precise control over her powers.
His theory had been right.
The system had given him a cashier and a server—except this "server" was basically overqualified.
Beautiful.
Capable.
And mythical?!
"Okay... now for this part…"
Su Bai winced as he retrieved the broken piece of the counter from the trash.
Under Meloetta's curious gaze, he grabbed some glue and delicately patched the chunk back into place.
"Melo~?"
Her puzzled little chirp made him laugh.
Finally, the store was clean, the furniture fixed (mostly), and Su Bai stood proudly at the front door.
He wiped some imaginary sweat from his brow.
Meloetta, still perched on his shoulder, mimicked him with a little paw-to-forehead gesture.
It was unbearably cute.
Beside them sat a neat pile of iron cages—Su Bai's next task.
"These cages... are useless now."
He looked at Meloetta with a grin.
"How could I keep Pokémon locked in cages, right?"
"Melo~ Melo~!"
Meloetta nodded in agreement. [Insert: Meloetta nodding .GIF]
"One last thing: the sign."
He dragged over a stool, hoisted the shop's sign, and effortlessly climbed up to install it.
Sure, Meloetta could have done it too.
But for Su Bai, this moment was ceremonial.
He had finally fulfilled the promise he made to his father.
As soon as the sign clicked into place and Su Bai stepped down—
[DING!]
[Congratulations, Host! "Su's Pet Shop" is now officially open!]
[The Pokémon Habitat System is now operational!]
[Inside this shop, the host is in an invincible state!]