Chapter 2: Adoption Is a Big Deal hu
"Don't be in such a hurry, Cawky."
Alex looked helplessly at the Primeape before him.
This little guy was also one of the abandoned Pokémon. He had once suffered from neurological meningitis, which caused erratic behavior, loss of coordination, and uncontrollable bursts of speed.
When Alex had first taken him in, his condition had been far worse. After weeks of rest and rehabilitation, the Primeape had improved slightly—at least now he no longer punched himself in the face without warning.
Cawky tilted his head and cawed softly as the Primeape waved his fists, then shuffled over to the table, climbed onto a chair, and began to eat his breakfast.
From the corner of his eye, Alex saw a plate twist slightly, then vanish from sight. He didn't even react.
"Still shy as ever, Abra," he said quietly, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Next, a Poochyena and a Meowth trotted into the dining hall together. They ran to Alex's side and rubbed against his legs affectionately. After a few pats and words of praise, the two happily went off to eat.
Alex chuckled as he watched them. Both were perfectly healthy—the only reason they'd been abandoned was the note left beside their Poké Balls:
> "They're too weak to be worthy of me."
He sighed, shaking his head. "There's still one more…"
It had been two months since Alex had begun managing the Pokémon Welfare Institute. During that time, he had taken in several strays and abandoned Pokémon. Some had been adopted into new homes, but those who remained were often the more difficult cases.
A large Purugly waddled into the hall, her dull eyes half-lidded. The moment she spotted Alex, she walked straight up to him, opened her mouth—and out tumbled a trembling Rattata, drenched in saliva.
The Purugly's tail swished proudly. Alex sighed, torn between amusement and exasperation. He gently scooped up the Rattata and called toward the doorway, "Shadow, could you toss this one outside, please?"
A Mightyena padded in obediently, took the frightened Rattata carefully by the scruff, and carried it outside.
The Institute had a dedicated food storage room, and occasionally a few hungry Pokémon would sneak in to steal food. Ever since this Purugly had joined, she had taken it upon herself to guard the storeroom.
"Well done, Purry," Alex said warmly, patting her head. "Go eat now."
Purry's tail flicked happily as she meowed and waddled over to the food trays.
Large-bodied Purugly weren't popular Pokémon—nothing like their sleek and graceful pre-evolution, Glameow. Purry's former trainer had abandoned her simply because he couldn't accept that his elegant, pretty cat had evolved into a chubby one.
Alex's gaze shifted to the Poochyena and Meowth eating side by side. "According to the schedule, their adoption should be this afternoon," he murmured.
Those two were lucky. Someone had taken a liking to them and wanted to adopt them. It was a small but meaningful victory for the Institute.
Though the system allowed the facility to expand and upgrade over time, Alex's greatest hope was that one day it wouldn't need to exist at all. After all, every Pokémon here was one that had been abandoned.
Once the Pokémon finished eating, Alex began clearing the plates. The Institute had no regular staff and little income, so whenever volunteers weren't available, he handled nearly all the work himself.
"I was planning to save up my Happiness Points for an assistant robot to help with chores…" Alex muttered as he washed the dishes.
Just then, a clean plate floated gently into his hands—slowly, delicately, as if placed there by invisible fingers.
Alex smiled. "Thanks, Abra."
He glanced toward the empty air where the Psychic-type Pokémon always hid, then shook his head fondly.
Outside, Cawky's caw echoed through the courtyard, signaling the arrival of a visitor. Alex dried his hands and turned toward the sound, a faint smile forming on his face.
"It seems our day's about to get busier."