Chapter Eighty-Four: Zoroaster’s Doubt About Baosheng

Heath had another nightmare, but this time it was a jumble of illogical, frightening images, all leaping out at once. When he awoke, he realized the main cause of his distress.

"I was wondering why my chest felt so tight and my limbs were cold, turns out—it was you," Heath chuckled helplessly at Zorua, who was curled up asleep on his chest, then tucked his hands and feet under the blanket.

The warmth of the blanket tempted Heath to stay in bed a little longer. Early spring mornings were still cold, and to be able to indulge in a cozy nap was the greatest pleasure imaginable.

But after a glance at his phone, Heath reluctantly dragged himself out of bed and switched on the light.

"Has Charmander gone off to train again?" Heath surveyed his bedroom. Zorua was still burrowing stubbornly into the blanket, only to be hauled out by Heath’s iron hand—not the infamous E... whatever, just a merciless grip.

Farfetch’d opened its eyes the moment the light came on, looking lively and alert. Heath couldn’t help but smile; Farfetch’d had clearly developed a routine of waking up at the same time every day.

"You lazybones, Charmander’s already out training," Heath poked Zorua’s head in mock exasperation.

"I’m on my period today, I just want to sleep..." Zorua yawned miserably, making Heath feel like yawning himself.

But Zorua’s words left Heath momentarily stunned. It was the first time he’d heard of Pokémon having periods—wasn’t that absurd?

Yet, thinking it over, Heath realized he wasn’t a biologist, nor did he study Pokémon. Whether foxes had periods was something he genuinely couldn’t be sure of.

He remembered reading some useless trivia, which mentioned that female foxes, horses, and seals had a first membrane. In that case, a fox having a period seemed reasonable enough.

"Really?" Heath instinctively reached to lift Zorua’s tail for a look.

He’d had a golden retriever before, which had periods and could be checked easily enough.

But before Heath’s hand touched Zorua’s tail, she leapt up from the bed in terror, clutching her rear and retreating under the blankets, while Farfetch’d stared blankly at the scene.

After a moment’s hesitation, Farfetch’d quietly left the room, thoughtfully closing the door behind Heath.

Then Heath emerged, holding Zorua by the scruff. She was definitely lying, and Heath resolved to study up on all these strange Pokémon facts to avoid being duped again.

Farfetch’d looked at Heath with sympathy—trainers were so quick.

Entering the living room, Heath saw Charmander sweating and working out. Judging from the sweat pouring off him, he’d been at it for a while. Heath quickly poured him a glass of protein powder and called him to the bathroom for washing up.

After they finished, Heath led his Pokémon out of the dormitory. Just as they reached the main road, he spotted Junsha Ling in her sportswear coming their way.

"Ling!" Heath called out happily.

If there was anyone in the Junsha family whose knowledge was unrivaled, it was Ling. No one else could claim that honor. Ling was famous for her academic prowess—even Sister Feng once said the research lab was the best place for Ling, not here.

Yet Ling had come here without hesitation, proudly becoming Officer Junsha.

"What’s up, Heath?" Ling took out a towel and wiped sweat from her brow—clearly just back from a workout.

"Ling, do foxes... do Pokémon have a menstrual cycle?" Heath hesitated but asked. Ling’s hand froze mid-wipe, and she gave Heath a look that was hard to read, almost as if she were regarding a pervert.

"I’m just curious! My Pokémon knowledge is too weak," Heath hurried to explain, not wanting to be labeled as a furry.

"For females, yes, but generally only during estrus," Ling nodded, answering with certainty.

Heath thanked her and left with his Pokémon, while Ling watched him go, scratching her head. Maybe she could recommend Heath buy a Pokémon encyclopedia—expensive, but full of useful information.

"Hmph, pervert, you really went and asked," Zorua walked ahead, glaring at Heath in displeasure.

Ever since Heath tried to check if Zorua was having her period, she’d jumped off his head and insisted on walking, expressing her protest.

Heath thought the longer this protest lasted, the better—carrying a heavy weight on his head was tiring.

"It was you who said you were on your period," Heath yawned and climbed into the cafeteria car. Today, the break room wasn’t full of oddities, which made things easier.

Looking at Zorua’s pouting face, Heath felt inspired.

"You see, girls have periods, but boys have their hardships too—especially humans," Heath said wistfully. Zorua looked at him in curiosity—why was Heath saying this?

"You probably don’t know, human males have a ‘egg-changing period.’ Every three months, the eggs fall off and regrow. It’s really painful!" Heath declared with a straight face. Zorua’s expression turned to shock and disbelief.

"Leek?" Farfetch’d quacked.

"You’re lying! Farfetch’d says he’s never experienced that!" Zorua jumped up triumphantly, pleased to have caught Heath in a lie.

"I told you, it only happens to human males; Farfetch’d is a Pokémon, how could he have it?" Heath sighed, giving Zorua a look of gentle pity.

Now Zorua was thoroughly confused. None of the novels she’d read ever mentioned this—did human males really have an ‘egg-changing period’?

"My novels..." Zorua tried to find proof.

"Novels are inspired by life but transcend it—they’re all fiction. Like going to the bathroom: if I wrote a novel about it, would you read it?" Heath cut her off. Zorua instinctively shook her head.

Then Zorua fell into deep contemplation, and watching her, Heath smiled with satisfaction.