The next morning, the man and the Pokemon continued on their way.
By around noon, they finally emerged from Viridian Forest and stepped onto a wide stretch of open plains.
With Fuyuki on its back, Entei looked out into the distance. At the far edge of the plains stood a human settlement.
That was their destination.
Once it delivered the Little One there, Entei planned to leave.
Just then, a sound came from its back.
"Gurgle…"
Entei: "..."
It quietly set Fuyuki down in a safe spot, then turned and sprinted back toward the forest.
Watching the fire-type vanish from sight, Fuyuki knew what that meant. Entei had gone to find food for him again.
But… once Entei brought him to a town where humans lived, they would part ways, wouldn't they?
They had been together for three days. For three days, Entei had taken care of him.
Fuyuki felt surprisingly reluctant to say goodbye to such a smart, dependable Pokemon, one who knew how to look after others.
What would he do after this?
All told, he had been in this world for less than ten months. With his parents gone, his age alone made living on his own impossible.
He had no grandparents or other relatives either. In the end, he would probably be sent to live in an orphanage.
That was… pretty miserable.
"Ugh…"
He couldn't help but sigh.
"Hiss!"
From the grass nearby, a slender purple snake Pokemon, about a meter long, silently slithered toward him.
It was an Ekans.
Still a juvenile, it kept its eyes locked on its prey while gently flicking its tongue, tasting the air for scent and danger.
A perfect opportunity.
The prey hadn't noticed its approach, and there was no danger nearby.
Sensing the moment, Ekans quietly circled behind its target. Just as it was about to strike, a furious roar thundered from not far away.
Entei returned with several Berries clenched in its jaws, only to see a wild Pokemon preparing to hunt the Little One.
Its eyes went wide with rage. Its voice boomed like rolling thunder.
"Get lost!"
An overwhelming pressure burst outward from it.
Ekans instantly sensed the danger. Abandoning the hunt, it panicked, dove into the grass, and disappeared in a blink.
When Fuyuki finally realized something was wrong and turned around, all he caught was the snake's retreating tail.
Entei strode over, placed the Berries in front of him, then lifted its head to glare in the direction Ekans had fled.
Only then did Fuyuki realize, a bit belatedly, that the Ekans had mistaken him for prey.
The wilderness of the Pokemon world… really was dangerous.
"It's over now." Entei's solemn voice echoed in his mind.
It withdrew its gaze and sat down in front of the child, watching him with a dignified expression.
Fuyuki finally relaxed. Thank goodness Entei was here…
This was already the second time Entei had saved him.
Without Entei, Fuyuki would probably have died alongside his parents in that car accident.
But as he looked at Entei, and then at the town standing on the plains behind him, he knew it.
The moment of separation was close.
"Ugh…"
If only he were a Trainer. Then he could catch Entei and stay with him forever, he thought.
Unfortunately, that was impossible.
With a heavy heart, he ate the Berries.
Entei had already risen to its feet and was waiting nearby.
Fuyuki suddenly reached out and hugged it tightly.
Entei froze for a moment, startled by the Little One's action.
It looked down at the child, who seemed unusually downcast, and found itself at a loss.
Was the Little One reluctant to part with it too?
Entei stayed silent. Without a word, it gently grabbed the back of the child's clothes, lifted him onto its back, and broke into a run toward the human town.
This time, it didn't stop to rest. Carrying Fuyuki, it soon arrived at the town's entrance.
"We're here. This is where you belong."
It lowered the child onto the street.
It was a very small town.
At midday, most residents were inside eating lunch. The streets were almost completely empty.
Surrounded by unfamiliar sights, Fuyuki had no idea where he was.
It didn't feel like Viridian City at all. It was more like Pallet Town, a quiet rural settlement.
He looked around, taking in his surroundings.
But when he turned back to Entei, he only saw the legendary beast's back.
At some point, Entei had already turned away, as if preparing to leave.
Fuyuki froze, staring straight at it.
Entei walked forward on its own. On the surface, it looked calm, but inside, its thoughts were in turmoil.
Scenes from the past three days kept flashing through its mind.
The Little One feeding it Berries, his face bright and earnest. The child curled up against it, sleeping peacefully. The way he waited in place for Entei to return, trusting it completely.
He relied on it that much.
Maybe the Little One already saw it as family.
Entei had never felt anything like this before. The feeling was unfamiliar, unsettling.
If it left now… would the child cry?
The Little One's parents had died protecting Pokemon. Now, the child had no family left.
And all of it was for the sake of Pokemon.
Entei hesitated.
Its steps slowed, then stopped. It turned and looked back.
The Little One sat there alone, eyes fixed on it, unblinking, as if he couldn't understand why he had been left behind.
He looked pitiful. And a little foolish.
Entei stood there, stunned.
Voices echoed in its mind, one after another.
"The Little One has no family. Even among humans, he has nowhere to go."
"His parents died protecting Pokemon. We Pokemon should look after their child."
"If I leave now, won't the Little One cry until his voice gives out?"
Entei clenched its teeth and shut its eyes. After a brief struggle, it made its decision.
It opened its eyes, turned around, and ran back.
Gently, it picked the child up by the back of his clothes and, without looking back, carried him away from the town.
Fuyuki: "?"