"Oh, Numby. You came at just the right time!"
Topaz pulled Numby over in front of Pikachu so they could face each other, then smiled and said, "Come on, this is Pikachu. They'll be your new friend from now on. You two need to get along, okay?"
"Uh!"
Hearing Topaz's words, Numby not only failed to calm down—it was utterly horrified.
Not just one meal? This is for life?!
It suddenly realized that its position at Topaz's side was facing an unprecedented challenge—one even more dangerous than when Topaz was still a minor employee and had been harassed by superiors with rules like "organic pets are not allowed in the workplace," by at least a hundredfold.
Because this time, Topaz might not be standing on its side at all!
This was the first time in Numby's entire life something like this had happened!
Watching Numby brimming with a sense of crisis, Sylvester—leisurely sipping tea behind the counter—suddenly had a strange feeling.
Mm…
It's like you've gone wild playing outside all day, dreaming of coming home to a good meal, only to walk into the restaurant and see your distant cousin has already eaten all the good dishes—and then your parents solemnly introduce him to you: "Little Numby, you're back. Come on, meet him—this is someone else's kid…"
Sylvester shot Numby a deeply sympathetic glance, then continued calmly savoring his ten-rounds-per-tael crushed tea.
Numby stared at the yellow-furred rodent in front of it with open hostility, letting out tense grrrr-grrrr sounds.
Pikachu scratched its head in confusion.
When did I offend it?
It looked at Topaz with eyes full of grievance.
Facing this situation, even Topaz felt a bit troubled.
Numby having a mood swing with her was something that had never happened before.
She tried to reason with it. "Numby, you can't treat a new friend like this."
"Whine, whine!!"
Being scolded by its owner, Numby bounced around in panic.
It had only gone out for one short flight—and in that time, this thing that crawled out of a trash can had stolen its home!
What would happen tomorrow? It didn't even dare imagine it.
It had to think of a way to overshadow this rival!
Then, under the gazes of Sylvester and the others, the little trotter actually fell into deep thought—and before long, its forehead practically lit up, as if a lightbulb had suddenly been switched on above its head.
It got it.
At times like this, it naturally had to show its value and utterly crush the competition!
Numby strode forward with its tiny legs, standing tall before Topaz with dignified presence.
It raised one forehoof, pointed at Pikachu, and asked confidently, "Jili-gulu?"
Can it smell money?
"No." Topaz understood Numby perfectly and shook her head decisively.
When feeding Pikachu earlier, she had already received detailed information from Sylvester. While Pikachu was extremely intelligent—at least at the level of a human elementary schooler—it was indeed far inferior to Numby in comparison.
"Grrr~" Seeing this, Numby smugly shook its plump body.
"Pika… chu." Pikachu lowered its head slightly in disappointment, then glanced at Numby with a hint of envy.
Numby decided to press its advantage while the iron was hot. It continued, "Jili-gulu?"
Does it have powerful combat ability?
"Hmm, it's really not that strong."
Recalling Pikachu's earlier electric display and combining it with Sylvester's explanation, Topaz estimated that Pikachu's current combat power was probably even weaker than that of an entry-level Pathstrider.
Even if it could grow stronger and had the ability to evolve, it likely wouldn't surpass Numby even at its upper limit.
"Pika…" Pikachu was visibly more dejected now, both ears drooping.
"Grrr!"
Numby hopped excitedly in place twice.
It couldn't help Topaz with work, nor did it have strong combat power—this was locked in!
Feeling its advantage was overwhelming, Numby charged straight in!
It asked impatiently, Then isn't raising just me enough?
In its view, who was more valuable was already obvious. To smooth over this little incident, all it needed was this final decisive hoof!
Then, under Numby's intense gaze, Topaz pulled Pikachu closer.
She stroked its soft fur and smiled. "That won't do."
"? Grrr!" Why?
Numby's head was full of confusion. It couldn't understand—when the other party had no advantages at all, why was it even necessary to keep it?
Topaz smiled brightly, lifted Pikachu up, and said as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "Because being cute is all it needs."
"Pikachu!" Pikachu, lifted high into the air, instantly regained its vitality and cried out energetically.
Numby, on the other hand, stood frozen in place, as if its soul had left its body.
"???"
So… being cute means you can do whatever you want?
This world is far too unfair!
Numby's huge mouth trembled slightly.
Even from afar, Sylvester could feel the sorrow flowing backward into a river.
Sigh… pigs really can't outthink people.
Numby was still too young—it hadn't thought things through.
You may have your irreplaceable value, but when it comes to pets, it's always looks first—whoever is cutest and clingiest gets favored.
Ah, of course, if there were a pet that could help sweep the floor, wash clothes, cook meals, and even wash the dishes afterward, he wouldn't mind either.
But that was never a necessary condition for a pet.
The one and only essential quality of a pet had always been this—
Cute is justice!
And in that arena, Pikachu truly had Numby beat.
Sylvester looked at Numby with a pitying expression.
He almost wanted to comfort it: Even though you've lost exclusive affection, at least you still have a job, right? You can still squeeze out your remaining value to attract Topaz's attention, can't you?
Huh? Why does that sound so… pathetic?
Sylvester smacked his own head and shook those thoughts away. He was a fine young man of the new era—he would never be a bootlicker!
Eh? That still doesn't feel right…
Why am I empathizing with a pig in the first place?
Mm… it must be because I've seen Stelle too many times and got infected by her abstract virus.
"Tsk~Who would've thought a Pokémon could carry such a terrifying memetic virus. I need to draw a clear line between us!"
Sylvester watched the spectacle unfold, his mind spinning off in all directions.
At last, Topaz noticed Numby's anxiety. She brought Pikachu over and comforted it gently. "Don't worry, Numby. I won't abandon the old for the new. You're also my best partner."
Also…
It's already "also"? I was the one who came first, wasn't I?
With its mentality completely shattered, everything Topaz said now felt wrong to Numby. Even the entire world seemed to lose its color, turning gray and white.
"Sniff, sniff."
Just as it was about to cry, it suddenly caught a particularly wonderful scent.
Looking up, it saw Pikachu approaching with a fresh-keeping container in its arms. Inside was a box filled to the brim with that same irresistibly enticing—ah, irresistibly pig-enticing—food from earlier!
It was a temptation that came straight from the depths of the soul, almost impossible to resist.
Logic told it that it shouldn't be swayed by food.
Even if I jumped down with the [Bamboo-copter], fell to my death, and died outside, I wouldn't eat a single bite of your food!
That was what it meant to say.
But the food told it that it didn't need logic.
By all common sense, this was the moment to showcase the brilliance of rationality.
But after struggling for a whole second, it chose to trust the food.
Numby opened its mouth, picked up one piece of food, chewed it a few times without thinking—
And then couldn't hold back anymore, swallowing it straight down.
So good~
===BREAK===
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