He carried a tray of assorted berries and poffins (little Pokémon pastries) into the living area, distributing them like a doting parent handing out morning treats. "Breakfast time, everyone," he announced cheerily. Immediately, ears and tails perked up around the room. Wartortle, who had been dozing in his shell by the couch, poked his head out at the mention of food, his ears twitching. The aquatic turtle scrambled upright, his blue tail wagging as he trotted over to Hiroshi with claws clacking eagerly on the hardwood floor. "Easy there," Hiroshi laughed, tossing a poffin into the air. Wartortle caught it deftly in his mouth and gave a muffled cry of victory around the treat.
Watching from beside the couch, a sturdy Lairon thumped his steel-covered front paws expectantly. The weight of the armored Pokémon made the floor tremble ever so slightly as he shifted in excitement. Hiroshi stepped over and placed a small handful of polished metal nuts and bolts (scavenged from a hardware kit) onto a dish on the floor. "And breakfast for you too," he said with a grin. Lairon let out a rasping yet pleased sound – something between a purr and the grinding of gears – and eagerly lapped up the metal pieces, crunching them like hard candy.
As Hiroshi made his rounds, a graceful figure floated into view behind him, levitating a few inches above the floor. Daisy the Gardevoir drifted serenely across the room, carrying two steaming mugs of tea with the aid of her psychic powers. The white gown-like frills of her body swayed slightly as she moved. Despite the domestic setting, Daisy retained an air of elegance and poise – though that poise was currently being tested by the smaller figure stalking at her heels. Akemi the Kirlia, Daisy's pre-evolved counterpart and self-appointed little sister, followed with arms crossed and a stubborn pout. She kept pace with Daisy, huffing as she tried to levitate the television remote control out of the taller Pokémon's reach. The remote wobbled in midair, ensnared in a tug-of-war between two psychic minds.
"Gardevoir!" Daisy admonished telepathically, her mental voice audible to Hiroshi as a gentle woman's tone colored with exasperation. Akemi, enough— she began, but Kirlia was already leaping up to snatch the remote with her tiny hands instead, breaking the psychic stalemate. With an acrobatic twirl, Akemi landed on the couch clutching her prize and stuck her tongue out at Daisy. "Kirli-yaa!" she proclaimed triumphantly, clicking the TV on.
A dramatic theme song immediately flooded the living room's speakers: it sounded like the climax of some soap opera or idol drama. On screen, a dashing actor in a suit was reaching desperately toward a tearful actress on a rainy street. Daisy's crimson eyes widened. That's last night's episode! she sent emphatically, gliding forward in alarm. You skipped ahead! The Gardevoir's composure cracked as she realized Akemi had navigated to the recorded dramas on their device.
Akemi, the Kirlia, gave an impish grin and hugged the remote tightly. She teleported in a blink – disappearing from the couch and reappearing atop the far bookshelf – to keep the remote literally out of Daisy's reach. From her high perch, Akemi chirped something cheeky in Pokémon tongue that sounded like a rebuttal. Daisy planted her hands on her hips, forgetting all about the floating tea mugs (which Hiroshi hurriedly caught with quick reflexes before they spilled). The Gardevoir narrowed her eyes at her little sibling. Young lady, we agreed to watch that together! Daisy scolded, her telepathic voice ringing in the heads of everyone in the room who cared to listen. No spoilers!
Kirlia only giggled and pointed at the remote, increasing the volume as the two actors on screen embraced in the rain. Daisy let out a dramatic gasp – whether at the on-screen twist or her sister's audacity, it was hard to tell. With a flourish, Daisy raised one slim arm. The television screen suddenly flickered and the image froze, courtesy of her psychic interference. "Gar-devoir!" she declared aloud, as if issuing a formal challenge.
Kirlia stuck out her lower lip in a stubborn pout and refused to relinquish the remote. She waved her free hand, and the playback unfroze – only to have Daisy freeze it again a split-second later. The two psychic Pokémon fell into a hilarious battle of wills over the poor television: the show alternated between playing and pausing so rapidly that the actor's anguished face on screen began to jerk comically. Raichu and Dragonair momentarily forgot their jealousy to watch the spectacle; Raichu chittered in laughter, electricity crackling in his cheeks, while Dragonair hid an amused smile behind a coil of her body.
Hiroshi could not hold back a laugh either. He set the mugs of tea down safely and then stepped between the feuding "sisters." With one hand, he gently took the remote from Akemi's grip – lifting Kirlia off the bookshelf and into his arms in the process – and with the other, he gave Daisy a light pat on the shoulder. "Alright, alright, break it up, you two," he said in a warm, paternal tone that immediately softened both Pokémon's expressions. Akemi quit squirming and allowed Hiroshi to hold her, though she still shot a playful glare at Daisy. Daisy lowered her arm and let the screen return to its normal state, the paused drama now showing a single frame of two characters inches from a kiss. She gave an embarrassed huff, realizing she'd lost her cool. Hiroshi held back a grin; seeing the usually composed Daisy get so invested in a TV drama was a treat in itself.
He clicked off the television and handed the remote back to Daisy for safekeeping. "You can watch your show later – together. Promise," he said kindly. Daisy nodded, smoothing an imaginary crease in her flowing "skirt" and regaining her elegant posture. Kirlia relaxed in Hiroshi's arms, already distracted by the plate of berry treats he still carried. She levitated one over and nibbled it contentedly, her earlier indignation forgotten.
Watching all of this from a quiet corner was Machop, the newest addition to Hiroshi's team. The small gray Fighting-type sat on a folded blanket near the wall, one leg stretched out stiffly in front of him, wrapped in bandages. Machop's red eyes were wide and marveling. In all his young life, he had never witnessed anything like this morning's playful chaos. Humans and Pokémon – interacting as equals, as friends… as family. For Machop, who until recently had known only chains and cruel experiments, the scene was almost surreal. Just days ago, he had braced himself to fight tooth and nail for a chance at freedom. Now here he was: free, safe, and surrounded by other Pokémon who laughed and played instead of cowering in fear. And at the center of it all was their human, Hiroshi – not a harsh taskmaster or indifferent trainer, but a gentle guardian who joked with them, fed them treats, and broke up their squabbles with patient smiles. Machop absently touched the fresh bandages on his arm, remembering how those wounds came from trying to protect frightened children back in that nightmare lab. The bruises and cuts still ached dully, but even that pain was a reminder of why he'd wanted to join Hiroshi. He fought to save the innocent – human and Pokémon alike. Machop's determination to grow stronger, to help prevent what happened to him from happening to others, burned brighter each time he looked at his new family.