Chapter Thirty-One: The Issue of Treasured Possessions

Heath sat on his bed, gazing at the Zorua beside him, feeling at a loss. He knew this little girl was just an illusion conjured by Zorua, but regardless of how much he understood, the sight was so lifelike that he couldn’t sleep at all.

When Heath asked Zorua to return to her original form, she completely ignored him, even pretending to be fast asleep, which left him with a headache.

“Sigh, Farfetch’d, sorry to trouble you,” Heath sighed, patting Farfetch’d’s head. Compared to Zorua, Farfetch’d was the best Pokémon in the world—obedient, considerate, and always making things easier for him.

Farfetch’d puffed out his chest, then picked up his leek, ready to knock Zorua out and drag her off the bed. But before he could swing, Zorua leapt off the bed, looking at Heath with a wounded and incredulous expression.

“How strange, such a cute little girl lying in your bed, and you actually want to knock me out,” Zorua reverted to her true form, glanced around, and jumped onto Heath’s desk with a glare.

Heath rolled his eyes. He had no intention of constantly pondering the legal dilemmas of infamous outlaws, such as the minimum sentence of three years, the maximum of capital punishment, or philosophical questions about relationships between a man and a fox.

“Go to bed early, we still have to set up the stall tomorrow,” Heath yawned, climbed into bed, and turned off the lights.

“Wait! What do you mean, ‘get up early to set up the stall’? Aren’t you a trainer? Aren’t you supposed to take me to fancy restaurants and travel with me?” Zorua suddenly sat up, her face full of disbelief.

Heath pulled the blanket over his head, suddenly regretting his decision. Farfetch’d, who couldn’t speak or use telepathy, was so adorable—at least he didn’t have to hear complaints.

“Hm? You mean this guy gets up early every day to sell breakfast?” While Heath was feeling frustrated, he heard Zorua’s voice. Peeking out, he saw Farfetch’d sitting on a chair, chatting with Zorua.

“You’re actually thinking about becoming a chef? Trainers cooking every day—there’s nothing about you that looks like a trainer!” “Leek!” Hearing Farfetch’d’s voice, coupled with telepathy in his mind, Heath desperately covered his ears.

He regretted it so much at that moment. If only he hadn’t brought Zorua home—this little one was far too talkative.

When Heath woke up the next morning, he felt an unusual urge to stay in bed. He’d gone to bed extremely late; usually, he slept at ten-thirty, but last night’s lively conversation between Farfetch’d and Zorua had stretched his sleep time endlessly. In the end, he didn’t fall asleep until after one o’clock.

“You two...” Heath yawned, looking at Zorua sleeping comfortably in the wardrobe and Farfetch’d snoozing atop the wardrobe door, feeling his anger about to burst.

“Get up, now!” Heath shouted at the top of his lungs.

Farfetch’d jumped in fright, nearly toppling over with his leek, while Zorua instantly bristled, transforming into the form of a Cofagrigus and glared fiercely at Heath.

“Get up, wash up, and then set up the stall,” Heath said with a deadpan expression, knocking both Zorua and Farfetch’d on the head, then got dressed and walked out.

“Does he wake us up like this every morning?” Zorua rubbed her aching head, feeling the force was too much.

“Leek...” Farfetch’d tiredly rubbed his eyes and followed Heath.

Heath had never wondered whether Pokémon needed to use the bathroom, had urgent needs, or what their daily lives were like. But now he knew.

He wasn’t sure about other Pokémon, but he’d always treated Farfetch’d according to human standards, and now he had to add Zorua to the routine.

Heath took a new toothbrush from Sister Maple’s cabinet and quietly glanced at Officer Maple’s door. All was silent; Heath breathed a sigh of relief. He’d feared waking her up—her morning temper was terrifying. Thankfully, the room’s soundproofing was good.

Heath then took the toothbrush and toothpaste out to Zorua, who was curiously surveying her surroundings.

“Brush your teeth, wash your face, and if you want to use the bathroom, hurry up,” Heath handed over the toothbrush and toothpaste, then started brushing his own teeth.

Farfetch’d, beside him, dutifully brushed his teeth with the seriousness of a scholar. Only Zorua looked confused, watching Heath and Farfetch’d; she had never heard of a trainer’s partner having to endure such things.

But seeing Farfetch’d’s earnest manner, Zorua grew curious, picked up the toothbrush and toothpaste, and began her first ever toothbrushing experience as a Pokémon.

Heath glanced at Zorua, who had transformed into a little girl, brushing her teeth with a focused expression—she looked quite cute. Heath smiled and left her be.

After the morning wash-up, Heath packed away the toothbrushes and toothpaste and began organizing his small cart. Farfetch’d went to use the bathroom, and Zorua found an excuse to check it out and went too.

Yes, Pokémon needed to use the bathroom—they were living creatures, after all, with all the usual needs. Heath wasn’t surprised. He remembered when Officer Maple first brought him home, he’d wondered why Growlithe needed to relieve itself, earning him a sigh from Officer Maple and a look of pity from Growlithe.

After Farfetch’d and Zorua finished their personal hygiene, Heath packed the cart and set out with them for another day of work.

“Farfetch’d can be put in a Poké Ball, but what about you?” Heath looked at Zorua, who, in the form of a little girl, clung closely behind him.

“Hmph, I’m not going into a Poké Ball!” Zorua snorted, turned away and pouted, her face full of indignation.

Heath touched his face, surprised—the little one had a hint of pride, almost like a spoiled child.