The morning after receiving the Mobile Home, Sasuke woke to the sound of footsteps overhead. His phone showed five-thirty, earlier than planned, but apparently his companions were too excited to sleep. Victini still dozed beside him, the Victory Pokemon having burned through its energy reserves yesterday and finally crashed around midnight.
He dressed quietly and made his way to the kitchen. The coffee maker was already running, someone had figured out the controls and started a pot. Sasuke found fresh grounds in one of the cabinets and began preparing breakfast while waiting for the others to emerge.
Miyuki appeared first, descending the stairs with Shaymin floating beside her shoulder. She'd dressed in comfortable clothes suitable for organizing, leggings and an oversized sweater. Her silver hair was pulled back in a practical ponytail.
"Good morning," she said. "I hope you don't mind that I started coffee."
"I was grateful." Sasuke gestured to the stove where he'd started preparing rice. "Breakfast will be ready in about twenty minutes."
"I'll help." She moved to the refrigerator and began pulling out ingredients. "What are you thinking?"
"Traditional breakfast. Rice, grilled fish, miso soup, pickled vegetables."
"Perfect." Miyuki worked alongside him with practiced ease, preparing the soup base while he handled the fish. They moved around each other in the kitchen space without collision, a small miracle given they'd never cooked together before.
Kasumi emerged next, yawning widely. Her crimson hair stuck up in multiple directions and she'd thrown on pajama pants with a tank top. "Is that coffee I smell?"
"On the counter," Sasuke confirmed.
She poured herself a large mug and added an alarming amount of sugar. "I'm not a morning person. Fair warning to everyone. Don't expect coherent conversation before I've had at least one cup."
"Noted," Miyuki said, hiding a smile.
Kiyomi descended last, somehow looking completely put-together despite the early hour. She'd already dressed for the day in fitted jeans and a casual blouse, her auburn hair styled and makeup applied. "Morning. What's the plan for today?"
"Finish organizing our spaces," Sasuke said. "Then figure out the logistics of actually living together."
"Practical. I approve."
They ate breakfast around the dining table, a surprisingly comfortable group meal despite the early hour. The food was simple but good, and the coffee helped everyone achieve functional consciousness. Afterward, they established a basic cleaning rotation for kitchen duties and decided to tackle their respective spaces.
Miyuki headed upstairs first. "I'm going to organize my room properly. Shout if anyone needs me."
Kasumi followed with significantly more enthusiasm. "I need to make my space perfect! First impressions matter, even to myself!"
Kiyomi went up last with her tablet and several bags of equipment. "I'll be in my office for a few hours. Try not to disturb me unless something's on fire."
That left Sasuke on the ground floor with Victini, who'd finally woken up and was now demanding breakfast with insistent chirps. He fed his Pokemon, then turned his attention to his own space.
The ground floor sleeping area was essentially a large alcove off the main living space, not a separate room, but distinct enough to provide privacy when needed. A full-size bed occupied most of the space, with built-in storage drawers underneath and shelving along one wall. A small closet held hanging space for clothes. It was minimalist but functional, which suited Sasuke perfectly.
He unpacked methodically. Clothes went into drawers and the closet, organized by type and season. His Pokeballs went on the charging station he'd set up on the shelving. The pendant from the Uchiha clan stayed around his neck, he'd taken to wearing it constantly rather than storing it. And most importantly, his father's knife set went into a secure cabinet in the kitchen, where he'd have easy access but they'd remain protected.
The kitchen became his primary focus. Sasuke had cooked in various conditions during his Crown Tundra training, over campfires, on portable stoves, with whatever tools he could scavenge. Having a full professional kitchen available was luxurious, and he intended to utilize it properly.
He organized the space with the precision his father had taught him for strategic planning. Knives in a magnetic strip within easy reach of the cutting board. Spices arranged alphabetically in a dedicated cabinet. Pots and pans hung from overhead racks for accessibility. The refrigerator contents organized by type and use-frequency, fresh ingredients at eye level, frozen items in labeled sections, condiments and long-lasting items in door storage.
The pantry received similar treatment. Dry goods sorted by category, grains, pasta, baking supplies, snacks. Everything labeled and dated. Rotation system established so older items would get used first. Emergency rations stored separately in case they got stranded somewhere without access to fresh food.
Victini watched the entire organization process from its claimed spot on the living room couch, occasionally offering chirped commentary that Sasuke interpreted as either encouragement or mockery depending on tone.
An hour into his kitchen organization, footsteps sounded on the stairs. Miyuki appeared, carrying several boxes that she set on the dining table.
"Your room ready?" Sasuke asked.
"Getting there. I wanted to show you something." She opened the first box to reveal extensive medical supplies, bandages, antiseptics, pain medications, specialized tools for Pokemon treatment. "I brought comprehensive medical equipment. Figured it would be useful for the journey."
"Definitely useful. Where are you storing it?"
"There's a Pokemon care station on the ground floor near the bathroom. Built-in cabinets and a treatment table. I'm converting it into a proper medical bay." She smiled. "I might have gotten a little excited about the organizational possibilities."
"I organized the entire kitchen by alphabetical and frequency-based systems. No judgment here."
"We might both be slightly obsessive about organization."
"It's a survival trait."
Miyuki laughed and carried her boxes toward the Pokemon care station. Sasuke returned to the kitchen, making final adjustments to his system. By the time he finished, everything had a designated place and clear logic governed the layout. Cooking here would be efficient and enjoyable.
Upstairs, sounds of activity continued, footsteps moving between rooms, occasional conversation between Kasumi and Kiyomi, music playing from someone's speaker. The Mobile Home was becoming lived-in, accumulating the particular energy that came from multiple people occupying shared space.
Sasuke decided to check on their progress. He climbed the stairs to the second floor and found a hallway with three doors, two open, one closed. The closed door had a handmade sign reading "Kiyomi's Office - Knock Before Entering Unless Emergency."
He knocked on the first open door. Miyuki's room.
"Come in," she called.
Sasuke entered and immediately understood why she'd claimed this space. Large windows provided excellent natural light, and the attached bathroom's position meant morning sun would illuminate it perfectly. The room was already organized with characteristic precision.
Medical supplies occupied one bookshelf, sorted by type and clearly labeled. Breeding reference books filled another shelf, arranged by topic and author. Her desk held a laptop, tablet, and neat stacks of research papers. The bed was made with crisp white linens and several decorative pillows in shades of blue and silver. Personal items were displayed thoughtfully, photos of her family, awards from her work with Professor Oak, a small terrarium with carefully maintained plants.
The bathroom door stood open, revealing gleaming fixtures and perfect lighting exactly as she'd wanted. Specialized grooming tools were arranged on the counter, everything she'd need for maintaining her Pokemon's appearance and health.
"It's very you," Sasuke observed.
"Organized and functional?" Miyuki asked.
"I was going to say elegant and thoughtful. But organized and functional works too."
She looked pleased. "I like having everything in its proper place. Makes it easier to focus on work when my environment isn't chaotic."
"Same. That's why I spent an hour organizing the kitchen."
"I noticed. The spice organization was particularly impressive." She adjusted one of her desk items slightly. "Did you want something specific, or just checking on everyone?"
"Just checking. Making sure everyone has what they need."
"I'm good. Thank you for asking."
He moved to the next open door, Kasumi's room. Knocking seemed unnecessary given how open the door was, so he just called out, "Can I come in?"
"Yeah! I'm just decorating!"
Sasuke stepped inside and immediately understood that Kasumi's definition of decorating was significantly more enthusiastic than Miyuki's. The room was an explosion of color and energy, Contest posters covered one wall, magazine cutouts featuring famous Coordinators adorned another, and a corkboard held what appeared to be choreography notes and Appeal combination diagrams.
Her vanity station occupied prominent space near the window, professional lighting, multiple mirrors, organized makeup and grooming supplies. Gardevoir stood beside it, apparently helping arrange items with psychic precision.
The bed was dressed in vibrant red and coral bedding with decorative throw pillows that matched her aesthetic. Her closet door hung open to reveal an extensive collection of clothes organized by color and style, Contest outfits in one section, casual wear in another, athletic clothes folded on shelves.
But what caught Sasuke's attention was the growing area she'd established in one corner. Berry plants in various stages of growth sat in specialized containers under artificial growth lights. Soil testing equipment was arranged neatly on a small table, and notebooks detailed her cultivation experiments.
"Your room is very energetic," Sasuke said.
"That's code for 'wow, this is a lot of color,' right?" Kasumi grinned. "I know it's intense. But I like having visual stimulation. Helps me think creatively."
"It suits you. And the berry cultivation setup is impressive."
"Thanks! I'm testing three different soil compositions to see which produces optimal berry characteristics. The results should be ready in about two weeks." She gestured to her vanity. "And this is where I'll do Contest preparation work. Gardevoir's been helping me arrange everything for maximum efficiency."
The Psychic-Fairy type bowed slightly, acknowledging the compliment.
"How's your bathroom?" Sasuke asked.
"Amazing! The lighting is perfect for checking Pokemon grooming quality, and the shower has incredible water pressure. I tested it immediately." She bounced slightly. "I'm so excited about this room. It's like having my own little Contest preparation studio."
"Glad you're happy with it."
"Are you checking on everyone? That's sweet." Kasumi moved to her vanity and began adjusting items. "Kiyomi's been locked in her office for like two hours. You should probably make sure she hasn't buried herself in research papers."
Sasuke moved to Kiyomi's closed door and knocked. "Kiyomi? Just checking in."
"Come in," her muffled voice called.
He opened the door and found organized chaos. Maps covered every available wall space, historical maps, topographical maps, archaeological site locations marked with pins. Her desk was invisible under layers of tablets, laptops, printed research papers, and specialized equipment. Boxes of supplies sat stacked in corners, and filing systems occupied every shelf.
But despite the apparent disorder, Kiyomi moved through the space with clear purpose. She knew exactly where everything was and could access any item immediately.
"Your room is very... comprehensive," Sasuke said.
"This is organized chaos," Kiyomi corrected. She gestured to the maps. "Everything has a system. These are sites I've already investigated, these are potential targets for future research, and these are locations connected to myths about sealed ancient power."
"Connected to what we discussed about the Aether Foundation?"
"Exactly. I'm creating a database of every potentially relevant site across Kanto and Johto. If they're searching for ancient artifacts, I want to know where they might go next." She tapped one map. "This is Mt. Moon. Major historical significance, ancient ruins beneath the mountain, and references to sealed technology. It's on our route to Pewter City."
"We should investigate it."
"Agreed. But carefully." Kiyomi pulled out her tablet and showed him files. "I've been compiling everything I know about pre-modern Pokemon civilizations. The more I research, the more concerned I become about what the Aether Foundation might be trying to access."
"My brother said he'd inform the Elite Four."
"Good. But we should still stay alert." She saved her files and looked around her space. "Sorry about the mess. I promise I'll keep it contained to this room and not spread throughout the Mobile Home."
"As long as you're comfortable, I don't care how you organize your space."
"That's refreshing. My mother's always trying to impose order on my research areas." Kiyomi smiled. "Your room is probably immaculate, isn't it?"
"Minimalist and functional."
"Called it."
Sasuke left her to her research and descended back to the ground floor. The Mobile Home had taken on distinct character zones, Miyuki's elegant organization upstairs, Kasumi's vibrant energy in the middle, Kiyomi's controlled chaos on the left, and his own practical minimalism on the ground floor. Each space reflected its occupant while still maintaining cohesion as a unified home.
By early afternoon, everyone had finished their initial organization. They gathered in the living room to discuss logistics.
"We should establish some house rules," Miyuki suggested. "Nothing rigid, just basic guidelines for living together."
"Agreed," Kiyomi said. "I propose we rotate cleaning responsibilities on a weekly basis. Each person takes a week being responsible for common areas, then we rotate."
"That works," Sasuke confirmed. "And cooking?"
"I vote Sasuke does most of the cooking because he's actually good at it," Kasumi said. "But we should all help with prep and cleanup."
"I can cook," Sasuke agreed. "But I'm not doing it every single meal. Everyone should know basic cooking skills for emergencies."
"Fair. How about you cook dinner most nights, we handle our own breakfasts and lunches, and we all rotate helping with meal prep?" Miyuki suggested.
They agreed on that system. Additional rules emerged through discussion, quiet hours after ten PM on weeknights, shared expenses tracked in a group fund, bathroom schedules to avoid conflicts, and a general principle of respecting each other's space and time.
"We should also establish a no-judgment policy," Kasumi added. "Like, if someone has a bad day or needs to vent or just wants to be left alone, we don't take it personally."
"Emotional safe space," Miyuki said. "I like that. We're going to be together constantly for months. Having permission to not be okay sometimes seems important."
"Agreed," Kiyomi said. "And on that note, if anyone's research keeps them up late or they need to have video calls with professors at weird hours, just let the others know in advance."
"Same for Contest practice," Kasumi said. "Sometimes I need to run through routines with Gardevoir at odd hours when inspiration strikes."
"And I'll probably have early morning training sessions with my team," Sasuke added. "I'll try to be quiet about it."
With house rules established, they moved to discussing their immediate travel plans. The route to Pewter City would take approximately three days of driving with stops. They'd pass through Viridian City, worth exploring despite lacking a gym, and then through Viridian Forest before reaching Pewter.
"We should shop for travel supplies before leaving tomorrow," Miyuki said. "Medical supplies, food staples, camping equipment in case we need to stop somewhere without facilities."
"I need to hit the berry market," Kasumi added. "Pallet Town supposedly has cultivars that don't grow well in other regions."
"And I want to visit Professor Oak's lab briefly," Kiyomi said. "He has archaeological archives I'd like to access."
They planned their afternoon accordingly, coordinated shopping trips and quick visits to relevant locations. But first, Sasuke wanted to cook their first official meal in the Mobile Home's kitchen. A proper dinner that would mark the beginning of their journey together.
"Give me three hours," he said. "I'll make something appropriate for the occasion."
"Can we help?" Miyuki asked.
"Prep work, yes. But let me handle the actual cooking." He stood and moved to the kitchen. "This is sort of a personal thing. My father gave me those knives specifically for cooking on this journey. I want to use them properly."
His companions understood. They helped with basic preparation, washing vegetables, measuring ingredients, organizing supplies, but left the actual cooking to Sasuke.
He worked with focus and care. The menu came together naturally: seared Magikarp fillet with citrus glaze as the main protein, roasted vegetables seasoned with herbs from the Mobile Home's small herb garden, perfectly steamed rice, and a light miso soup. Simple components elevated through proper technique and quality ingredients.
The professional knives from his father felt perfect in his hands. Balanced weight, razor-sharp edges, handles that fit his grip like they'd been custom-made. Using them transformed cooking from a practical task into something approaching meditation.
Victini supervised from the counter, occasionally stealing vegetable scraps and offering chirped commentary. Sasuke had learned to interpret the Victory Pokemon's various sounds, this particular chirp pattern meant approval of both the food smells and Sasuke's evident contentment.
By evening, dinner was ready. Sasuke plated everything with care, arranging each component for visual appeal as well as flavor. The four of them sat at the dining table with their Pokemon gathered around, Victini claimed a chair, Shaymin floated near Miyuki, Gardevoir stood beside Kasumi, and Ninetales curled at Kiyomi's feet.
"This looks professional," Miyuki said, examining her plate.
"It smells incredible," Kasumi added.
"Stop talking and eat," Kiyomi said. "I want to know if it tastes as good as it looks."
They ate in silence for the first few minutes, everyone too focused on the food to speak. Sasuke watched their reactions carefully, Miyuki's eyes widening slightly after the first bite, Kasumi making a small sound of appreciation, Kiyomi nodding with genuine approval.
"Sasuke," Kasumi said finally. "This is... you're a miracle chef. Like, actually magical cooking skills."
"It's just proper technique and good ingredients."
"No, this is way beyond 'proper technique.'" She took another bite of the Magikarp. "The citrus glaze is perfectly balanced. The fish is cooked exactly right. The vegetables have this amazing char without being burnt. This is restaurant quality."
"She's right," Miyuki agreed. "I've eaten at high-end restaurants in Saffron City. This compares favorably to their offerings."
"Your father gave you those knives for a reason," Kiyomi observed. "He recognized genuine talent. You should take pride in it."
Sasuke felt heat creep into his face. Praise for his battle skills came easily, that was expected given his family background. But praise for his cooking felt different, more personal. This was something he'd chosen for himself rather than inherited.
"Thank you," he said. "I'm glad you like it."
"Like it? I'm already looking forward to tomorrow's dinner." Kasumi grinned. "We're going to eat so well on this journey."
They finished the meal with comfortable conversation about their plans for tomorrow's departure. The Mobile Home had truly become their space now, organized, lived-in, ready to serve as their home base for the coming months.
After dinner, they established the cleaning rotation. Tonight was Miyuki's turn, which she approached with the same systematic precision she applied to everything. The others helped dry dishes and put away items, working together with surprising coordination given how recently they'd met.
By nine PM, everyone was exhausted from a full day of organization and preparation. They retreated to their respective spaces, Miyuki upstairs with her books, Kasumi testing Contest routines with Gardevoir, Kiyomi returning to her research, and Sasuke settling into his ground floor area with Victini.
He lay in his new bed, listening to the sounds of the Mobile Home. Water running through pipes as someone showered. Footsteps overhead as another person moved between rooms. The hum of the refrigerator and other appliances. These were the sounds of home now, not the Uchiha compound's familiar creaks and distant training noises, but something entirely new.
His phone buzzed. The group chat:
Miyuki: Thank you for the wonderful dinner, Sasuke. It was perfect.
Kasumi: Seriously amazing! Best meal I've had in months! 😋
Kiyomi: Agreed. Your cooking skills are legitimately impressive.
Sasuke: Glad everyone enjoyed it. Sleep well. Big day tomorrow.
Kasumi: First day of our journey! I'm so excited I might not sleep!
Miyuki: Try to sleep anyway. We need to be functional for driving.
Kiyomi: Goodnight, everyone. Don't let Kasumi's enthusiasm keep you awake.
Kasumi: Hey! My enthusiasm is a gift! 😤
Sasuke smiled and set down his phone. Tomorrow, they'd finally leave Pallet Town and begin traveling. The real journey would start, gym battles, Contest competitions, research expeditions, and whatever else awaited them on the roads between cities.
But tonight, they had a home. They had established routines and house rules and shared spaces. They had proven they could live together without immediate disaster. And most importantly, they had begun forming the bonds their mothers had hoped for, not forced or artificial, but genuine connections built through shared experience and mutual respect.
Outside, Pallet Town settled into night. Inside the Mobile Home, four young trainers and their Pokemon rested, preparing for the adventures ahead.
The journey was about to truly begin.