Silas collapsed into a deep sleep after returning to the Pokémon Center. When he woke the next morning, he woke to find a pile of slips and notes stuck to his door.
He blinked, reached out, and peeled one off.
"What the-these are all contact cards!" he groaned. The doorframe was plastered with stickers and business cards; among them, a neatly folded card from the Rustboro Gym caught his eye.Someone had even left a small calling card with a polite, overly eager note: "If you ever have a free afternoon, please visit. The Joy Family".
After clearing the notes away, Silas took his Pokémon down to the Center's dining hall for breakfast.
The Pokémon Center cafeteria hummed like it always did; people ate, chatted, and glanced up at the big-screen news now and then. It didn't take long for him to feel the ripple of whispers.
"Did you hear? The seventeen year old prodigy - the one who passed the Breeder assessment? He lives here."
"Seventeen? He's seventeen and already a breeder? Imagine the connections you could make."
Silas kept his head down and ate in silence. The attention made him uncomfortable, but he felt relieved the crowd hadn't recognised his face. He'd had enough attention for one week.
A soft voice spoke behind him. "Excuse me, Silas. Do you mind if I sit here?"
He looked up. Nurse Joy - hair tied neat, a warm but slightly tired smile - had a tray in her hands. Her uniform made her look every bit the caregiver everyone knew, but there was an alertness to the way she carried herself today.
No one nearby seemed to be watching, so Silas nodded. "Not at all, Miss Joy. How can I help you?"
Joy sat and lowered her voice. "Don't be so formal - we met at the Breeders' Guild yesterday. Call me Joy."
Silas blinked. "Ah - of course. Congratulations on becoming a Breeder, by the way."
Joy laughed and waved it off. "Please. I'm almost twenty-five. Compared to you, I'm practically ancient."
Silas blinked again; Joy's youthful face belied twenty-five. Whether it was good genes or something else, she aged very slowly.
After a short, easy conversation, Joy's expression grew serious. "Silas… would you consider joining the Joy family?"
Silas froze mid-bite. Joy's gaze was calm but intent -the look that left most men speechless.
"You mean… marriage?" he asked carefully.
She hesitated, then leaned in a shade closer. "My-my family heard about the news of your certification. last night. They've asked me to approach you. I thought honesty would be best, so I told you outright."
Silas took a breath to steady himself. This was sudden; a family offer at seventeen? Still, the thought of backing and resources made his pulse quicken. A Breeder's ascent required more than talent - it needed support, materials, and knowledge.
"I… I need to think," Silas said. "Seventeen is too young for marriage. I still want to travel and become a Trainer. That's my goal."
Joy's cheeks rose a faint pink, but she didn't press. She smiled, then leaned forward with a new proposal. "If marriage is too soon, how about investment? The Joy family can provide funding and guidance to help your Breeder career."
Silas thought of the Petalburg Gym's earlier support; another backer wouldn't be strange.
"Why me?" he asked gently. "There are so many talented people you could pick."
Joy's eyes softened. "Because you passed by merit. Quietly. No family cover. That's rare. My family would like someone who can become their pride -not for status alone, but to actually be trained. We can give you access to things most trainers never see."
Silas exhaled. "I don't want to marry," he said finally, and his tone was firm but kind. "I'm not ready. But… investment might help. If your family invests, I want conditions. I'll remain independent. I won't be a puppet. I'll accept help for tools, tutors, and lab access nothing more. I'll still travel and challenge gyms. If your family wants a stake in my career, fine - but I remain me."
Joy's face lit up like dawn. Relief, hope, caution - all at once. She nodded, tentative and grateful. "I'll tell them. They'll be pleased. And I'll be honest with them: you're your own person."
She stood, left a delicate smile, and walked away. Silas watched her go, then turned back to his food, thoughts tumbling like loose Poké Balls.
Silas finished his breakfast a little faster. He'd never felt comfortable with favors that came with strings.
After a few days of quieter visits -Joy presenting herself as a friend and fellow Breeder rather than a suitor - Silas grew comfortable with the idea of help rather than handfasting.
On the fourth day Joy returned, expression more open than before. "So… marriage aside, are you open to the Joy family investing in you?"
Silas considered the offer. Investment meant resources, training, and access to rare materials things that could elevate his Pokéblock craft and long-term prospects. After a short, careful negotiation, he nodded.
Joy's face lit up with relief and satisfaction. She stepped out of his room as if unburdened, a small, wistful smile lingering as she murmured to herself, "It's done. I completed my family's task."
But even with the mission finished, Joy felt an unexpected tug of regret. She had met someone who made her heart beat faster and now he was letting her down gently.
She smoothed her expression and touched her cheek, wondering ruefully whether she had lost some charm, or if twenty-five simply made her feel old next to someone so young.
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(End of chapter)