The car rumbled along the bumpy country road.
Kyosuke cradled his palm-sized electronic pet, his small feet swinging back and forth.
He'd read the manual cover to cover several times, memorizing every icon and button function.
On the screen, a pixelated bird tilted its head, chirping "Pippi!" in an electronic tone.
It was Pidgey.
Though not the coveted Pikachu, Kyosuke had felt a twinge of disappointment at first.
But when he pressed a button to feed the pixel bird a berry, watching it happily flap its wings, that disappointment melted into curiosity and joy.
Every ten minutes or so, the electronic pet beeped, prompting interaction.
Kyosuke eagerly fed it, cleaned its virtual "droppings," or played mini-games with it.
The usually tedious trip to Grandma's house felt surprisingly short.
"Kyosuke, don't just play—look at the scenery," his mother said, turning back.
"Mm!" he replied, eyes reluctant to leave the screen.
Pidgey was running in circles, its pixel wings flapping up and down, looking adorably like a waddling chicken.
"Pidgey's exercising!" Kyosuke shouted excitedly. "Mom, look! It's getting stronger!"
His father glanced at him through the rearview mirror, chuckling and shaking his head.
"Don't just play with that thing at Grandma's, got it?"
"Got it!" Kyosuke answered halfheartedly.
They arrived at Grandma's house in Ome City near noon.
Sunlight bathed the stone-paved courtyard in warmth.
Kyosuke spotted his cousin Yoko the moment he got out.
She sat alone on the edge of the wooden porch in the yard's corner, her little feet dangling, staring at a line of ants marching by.
Kyosuke cleared his throat, trying to sound calm, but his steps betrayed his eagerness.
"Yoko, Yoko! Look what I brought!"
He waved the Poké Ball.
Yoko snapped out of her daze, slowly turning her head.
When she saw the small red-and-white ball in Kyosuke's hand, her eyes widened.
Proudly, he held the electronic pet close, pressing a button to open the Poké Ball, revealing its buttons and LCD screen.
On the screen, Pidgey flapped its wings, chirping "Pippi! Pippi!" vividly.
"Wow!" Yoko gasped softly, scooting closer, curiously tapping the screen with a finger.
"What's this? A bird?"
Her big eyes sparkled with wonder.
Kyosuke puffed out his chest.
"It's an electronic pet, a Pokémon! From the show this morning!"
To demonstrate, he operated it with flair.
He pressed the feed button, and a berry icon appeared.
Pidgey chirped happily, hopping over to peck it clean, then spun in a circle, flapping contentedly.
Yoko puffed her cheeks, feigning anger. "You never told me about such a fun thing!"
"I just got it this morning!" Kyosuke defended, quickly changing the subject. "Wanna try? It's super obedient!"
Yoko stared, mouth agape, unable to look away.
"It really eats! Kyosuke-nii, it's so smart!"
Eagerly, she reached to try.
Kyosuke, acting generous, handed it over slightly.
"Here, try it, but be careful not to break it."
Yoko took it gingerly, fumbling with the buttons under Kyosuke's "remote guidance."
Pidgey bounced and chirped with her inputs, delighting her with its sounds.
Giggling, she forgot all about the ants.
"Kyosuke-nii, this is so fun!"
She tugged his sleeve, her voice soft. "Where'd you buy it? I want one too…"
Seeing Yoko's pleading, sparkling eyes, Kyosuke's earlier regret over not getting Pikachu vanished.
After lunch, the family gathered in the living room.
Kyosuke, the center of attention, showed Grandma, his uncle, aunt, and Yoko how to interact with Pidgey.
"It can learn moves!" He pressed the training button, and Pidgey struck a pose, flapping its wings as if practicing a gust attack.
His uncle watched with interest. "This thing's pretty neat, cleverly designed."
His aunt smiled. "Kids today are lucky. We didn't have such fun toys growing up."
Grandma asked curiously, "Does this bird get hungry? Does it sleep?"
"It does!" Kyosuke explained enthusiastically. "It can get sick too. You have to care for it, or it'll get mad or weak."
He pressed a button, and Pidgey bowed.
Another press, and it hopped, chirping "Pippi!"
The lively pixel bird intrigued Grandma, his uncle, and aunt.
Then, the electronic pet emitted an unusual beep.
A Japanese message flashed: "Bond level up! Name your Pokémon!"
"Wow! It likes us!" Kyosuke cheered.
Name it?
Kyosuke tilted his head, thinking.
Then it hit him, his eyes brightening.
Last summer, Grandma had nursed an injured magpie in the yard.
She bandaged its wing, fed it daily, and Kyosuke and Yoko often visited, naming it "Miyuki."
Miyuki stayed a month, then flew off after healing.
For days, Grandma looked for it in the yard, a bit forlorn.
Later, Miyuki returned once, lingering on the persimmon tree, chirping as if saying goodbye.
Grandma's spirits lifted, though she still mentioned Miyuki occasionally.
"Grandma," Kyosuke looked up, eyes clear and earnest.
"Let's name this Pidgey 'Miyuki,' okay?"
He paused, a shy smile on his face.
"So 'Miyuki' can stay with you."
Grandma froze, her wrinkled eyes glistening.
"Good boy…"
Her voice held a faint choke.
"Alright, we'll call it Miyuki, as you say." Kyosuke helped Grandma put on her glasses, guiding her to input "みゆき" (Miyuki) into the Poké Ball.
Kyosuke's parents, seeing his thoughtfulness, beamed with pride.
Leaving Grandma's that evening, his mother whispered to his father, "Let's get Kyosuke another one tomorrow. He was so good today."
His father nodded, smiling. "I saw plenty of stock in the store this morning. Should be some tomorrow."
"He gave away something he loves," his mother said, touched.
"Yeah, rare for Kyosuke to be so mature," his father chuckled.
Sunday, bright and sunny.
Kyosuke clutched his father's allowance, palms sweaty.
He stood again at the bustling toy store.
His father followed, a gentle smile on his face.
This time, Kyosuke didn't rush to the shelves.
He took a deep breath, as if performing a sacred ritual.
Then he approached, scanning the rows of Poké Balls.
He picked one up, set it down.
He lifted another, weighing it, as if he could sense his dream Pokémon inside.
His father watched, not rushing him, eyes full of anticipation.
Finally, Kyosuke chose one.
After paying, he couldn't wait, tearing it open on the spot.
The small Poké Ball rested in his palm.
His heart pounded like a rabbit's.
Closing his eyes, he muttered a silent wish, then pressed the button.