Chapter 38
Mike entered the Pokémon Center with Gengar.
When Nurse Joy saw him, she stood from her chair behind the front desk and walked over.
"You brought food again?"
She looked at the bag in his hand.
"We’ve already packed everything. We’ll be leaving after this, so this should be the last meal."
Mike smiled.
"But..."
Nurse Joy hesitated.
"I know. It’s cold, so it has zero calories. Don’t worry and enjoy it."
"Really? Then I can eat it without worrying. Thank you."
Nurse Joy accepted the food and placed it on the counter.
"Come with me. I’ll take you to Glameow so she can be discharged."
Mike nodded.
Nurse Joy led Mike into Glameow’s room, where Chansey was removing her bandages.
Glameow had been happily chatting with Chansey, but the moment Mike and Gengar entered, her little face tightened and she turned her head away.
Mike and Gengar exchanged glances and laughed.
"Her leg shouldn’t suffer any lasting damage," Nurse Joy explained. "However, for the next week, she should avoid standing or walking for too long. She also shouldn’t run or jump, or the injury may cause problems later."
Chansey finished removing the bandages and applied fresh medicine. Then she wrapped a clean bandage around Glameow’s leg and tied it into a bow.
As soon as Chansey released her, Glameow stood on all fours on the bed and lowered her body, preparing to jump.
Before she could leave the bed, she suddenly found herself in the air.
"Meow?"
[Huh?]
Glameow looked confused until she saw Mike’s face directly in front of her.
He had slipped a hand beneath her stomach and lifted her.
"Didn’t you hear Nurse Joy? No running or jumping around. Do you really want to spend the rest of your life limping?"
"Meow!"
[Put me down!]
Glameow’s fur stood on end, and the claws hidden inside her paw pads came out as she prepared to attack Mike’s face.
"Wait..."
Nurse Joy reached out to stop him.
She knew Glameow’s habits too well. The Pokémon normally refused to let any human touch her.
"Gengar."
Mike called out.
Gengar’s face suddenly appeared in front of Glameow.
She immediately closed her eyes.
"Don’t cause trouble. Have you forgotten who saved you?"
Mike looked down at her.
"I know you hate me. Don’t worry. I’m leaving Sandgem Town today, so you won’t have to see me again."
"Meow?"
Glameow opened her eyes and looked at him.
Confusion appeared in her beautiful blue eyes.
’Leaving?’
’Where is he going?’
Even Glameow herself did not realize that there was a hint of reluctance in her gaze.
Mike stared into her eyes for a long moment, then grinned.
"Gengar and I are continuing our journey, of course. You can relax now. No one will come here to bother you or threaten to pull out your fur anymore."
"Meow!"
[You liar!]
Glameow angrily scolded him.
Chansey had already told her that the fur Mike had held back then had not been plucked out at all.
It had fallen out because she was malnourished.
"All right. I’ll carry you outside."
Mike reached out to stroke her head, but Glameow pushed his hand away with one paw.
Mike moved her slightly in his arms, judging her weight.
"Not bad. You’ve gained quite a bit."
She was much heavier than when he had first held her, though she still felt rather bony.
Mike wasn’t sure whether Glameow were naturally slender or if she was still somewhat malnourished.
Being handled like a toy made Glameow open her mouth and bite at Mike’s hand.
Mike quickly pulled it away.
"Wow, still that fierce? Keep it up and I’ll have Gengar teach you a lesson!"
"Meow!"
[Try it!]
Glameow stared straight into his eyes and growled.
Nurse Joy pressed her lips together and exchanged a glance with Chansey. Both of them were trying not to laugh.
"All right, I’ll stop teasing you."
Mike looked at Glameow.
"Say goodbye to Nurse Joy and Chansey."
Glameow turned her head away and ignored him.
’Still such a little tsundere.’
Mike smiled and shook his head before turning to Nurse Joy and Chansey.
"Thank you for taking care of her. I’ll take her with me now."
"Gar—"
[Thank you for your hard work~]
Kakuna: [Blinking.jpg]
"It was our responsibility."
Nurse Joy nodded.
Chansey looked at Mike reluctantly.
’Once you leave, who’s going to bring me food...?’
Mike carried Glameow to the entrance of the Pokémon Center, then turned and nodded to Nurse Joy and Chansey.
"Mike."
Nurse Joy called out to him, Mike looked back curiously.
She gave him a gentle smile and bowed slightly.
"May fortune follow you on your journey."
Mike’s eyes curved into a smile.
"Thank you."
...
Mike walked out of the Pokémon Center with Glameow in his arms.
Professor Rowan looked curiously at the Pokémon he was carrying.
So the friend who supposedly hated Mike was a Glameow?
Mike carried her back to the place where they had first met, then bent down and placed her on the paved road.
Glameow stood there and looked at him with her beautiful blue eyes.
Mike crouched and reached out to stroke her head, naturally earning another attempted bite.
Thanks to all the pranks Gengar had pulled on him, Mike’s reflexes were fast enough to pull his hand away in time.
He smiled at Glameow.
"All right. You can go now."
Glameow did not move.
"Remember what Nurse Joy said. Rest properly and don’t run around too much. You can do whatever you want once your leg has completely recovered."
"I also spoke to Nurse Joy. If those Meowth come after you again, go to the Pokémon Center or Professor Rowan’s laboratory."
Glameow continued staring at him.
Behind them, Professor Rowan stood beneath a tree and smiled when Snivy suddenly appeared on one of its branches.
After giving Glameow many more reminders, Mike remained crouched in front of her.
"Go on."
Glameow looked deeply at him, then turned and headed toward the alley.
Just before entering, she paused.
However, she did not look back and continued inside.
Mike stood, walked over to Professor Rowan, and spoke with him for a moment before suddenly running off.
...
Glameow carefully walked through the shadows of the alley, remembering her time in the Pokémon Center.
Except for the first two days when Mike had entered the room to torment her, he had not come inside again.
But Glameow knew that he had visited her every day.
He had always stood outside the door while she pretended to be asleep.
And there was also the song he had sung...
"Meow."
Glameow gave a quiet cry and shook her head.
’Humans can’t be trusted!’
Having learned her lesson before, she tried hard to drive Mike from her mind and continued walking.
Then she saw the same group of Meowth again.
Glameow’s fur immediately stood on end.
She lowered her body and stared fiercely at them as her sharp claws slid from her paws.
When the Meowth recognized her, they exchanged glances.
Then every one of them dropped to their knees, bowed their heads several times, and fled the alley.
Glameow: "???"
She watched them stagger away and noticed the injuries covering their faces.
Her eyes blinked.
’You really are an idiot!’
’You and Gengar both!’
Glameow turned around and ignored Nurse Joy’s instructions, breaking into a run.
She raced out of the alley and looked over the people moving along the street.
That irritating face was already gone!
So was the hateful purple figure.
Glameow sat at the boundary between the sunlight and the alley’s shadow, silently watching the passing crowd.
A long time later, she stood and turned back toward the alley with her head lowered.
After only two steps, she bumped into someone’s leg.
Glameow looked up angrily, preparing to teach the human in front of her a lesson.
Then she froze.
The irritating face was looking down at her with a smile.
Mike was breathing heavily.
After calming his racing heart, he smiled and said, "I was worried you wouldn’t turn back."
He crouched and placed two small fish in front of her.
"I was also afraid I’d miss you, so I ran all the way back."
"Meow?"
Glameow tilted her head and stared at him curiously.
"Glameow, did you know that where I come from, if you want a cat to come with you, you’re supposed to offer it a gift right?"
Glameow blinked.
"Meow?"
[Are you trying to buy me?]
Mike laughed softly.
"Not exactly. If someone wants a cat to help them with something, they should pay the cat for its work."
"Meow?"
[What could I possibly help you with?]
"Hmm... What could you help me with?"
Mike thought about it.
"There are plenty of things. For example, I could hug you while I sleep—"
He stopped when Glameow gave him a deadly stare.
"Ahem."
Mike coughed twice.
"Keeping me company would already be a huge help."
"Meow..."
[I don’t like fighting... and I don’t know how to fight...]
"That’s fine. You don’t need to battle. Gengar and Kakuna can handle that, right?"
"Gar—"
[That’s right! Leave it to your big brother!]
Kakuna: [Jiiiiii~]
Gengar looked at Kakuna.
"Gar."
[He says you can leave it to him too.]
"Meow?"
[Then I’ll be your cat?]
"No."
Mike shook his head.
Sadness appeared in Glameow’s eyes.
"No one belongs to anyone else. We’ll be family."
Mike looked at her gently.
"Do you know what family means?"
"Glameow will always be Glameow. You won’t be anyone’s possession."
"From now on, we’ll travel together, encourage each other, and help one another. Sometimes you may need my help, and sometimes we may need yours."
"So you can think of these fish as an advance payment for your future help."
Glameow blinked, then lowered her head and began eating the two fish.
They were small and filled with bones.
Yet Glameow felt they were the most delicious fish she had ever eaten.
Of course she knew what family meant.
Once, she had a family too.
In the distance, Professor Rowan watched everything with a smile that did not fade.
After finishing the fish, Glameow raised her head and looked at Mike.
Then she extended one paw and gently touched the Poké Ball.
A Pokémon who no longer trusted humans had chosen to believe in one again.
Ding~
Another perfect capture!
Mike held the Poké Ball and grinned, striking an unnecessarily dramatic pose.
"Glameow—caught!"
"Gar!"
Gengar jumped up with him.
Unfortunately, when Gengar jumped—
"Gengar! You threw Kakuna away again!"
"GAR!"
[No! Little bro, I didn’t mean to!]
Kakuna: "???"
"Meow?"
[What are you idiots doing?!]