Everyone Else Awakened, But I Just Opened a Pokémon Pet Shop

"Cubone!"

Cubone was clearly exhausted now. As Xiao Zhang slowly approached with that strangely cheerful smile of his, Cubone backed away cautiously, full of hesitation and distrust.

"Don't be scared, Cubone. You won't be alone anymore!"

Xiao Zhang took another step forward, relentless in his pursuit.

His posture, his expression—it all resembled a shady delinquent cornering a helpless girl. The viewers watching the scene couldn't help but shake their heads.

"This guy definitely has a knack for comedy…"

Su Bai sighed helplessly.

Xiao Zhang truly was a man of contradictions.

He called himself "Arrogant Zhang" with pride, was cocky with his peers, yet always respectful toward his teachers. His appearance screamed delinquent—dyed hair, nose ring, earrings—but deep down he was all emotion.

Among the first wave of Trainers, he was undoubtedly the team clown.

"But now that Cubone's out of energy, he should be able to catch it…"

Su Bai had just begun to relax, thinking the capture would be smooth.

But suddenly, Cubone raised its tiny foot—

Boom!!

Tiny legs, massive power!

With a thunderous crash, Cubone stomped down, splitting the solid ground beneath it and launching chunks of earth and stone toward Xiao Zhang!

Stomping Tantrum—a Ground-type physical move with 75 base power.

Gasps echoed through the Pokémon Center!

No one expected an exhausted Pokémon to launch such a powerful final attack.

Xiao Zhang hesitated.

To a bystander, those flying chunks of rock looked terrifying—but Su Bai knew the truth.

Cubone had burned through most of its stamina. This last move, launched more out of instinct than strategy, lacked proper form or force.

Wild Pokémon without a Trainer's guidance couldn't execute skills to their full potential—especially not when tired.

The rocks were slower, more scattered. Xiao Zhang could dodge them.

But after less than a second of hesitation…

He crossed his arms in front of him and charged straight through!

In a heartbeat, dust and debris engulfed him. The full-dome hologram flickered with static from the chaos.

Both Xiao Zhang and Cubone vanished into the cloud of dust and rubble.

"…He tanked it? That's just reckless."

Su Bai shook his head.

Xiao Zhang had taken multiple hits already. And while he always defended himself, taking hits was still taking hits.

Cubone's attacks weren't weak by any means.

"Machamp! Machamp!!"

From within the thick smoke, Machamp's urgent cries rang out.

Then—four massive arms swept forward, stirring the air like turbo fans!

Like a living wind tunnel, Machamp blew away the smoke with raw force.

And when the dust finally settled—

The entire Pokémon Center fell silent.

Xiao Zhang stood there, looking battered and beaten. His clothes were torn, dirt smeared across his face.

But he still wore that goofy, sincere smile.

In his hand—was a Poké Ball.

"Well, Cubone?" he said, panting. "Wasn't that pretty cool of me?"

"Come with me. From now on… we're family!"

With a gentle hand, Xiao Zhang reached out and touched Cubone's head.

Cubone could have dodged. Even exhausted, it still had the strength for that much.

But this time—it didn't.

Behind the skull helmet, its large eyes shimmered with confusion… and something else—connection.

Pokémon could sense human emotions. Even a wary and stubborn Cubone could feel the genuine warmth in Xiao Zhang's actions.

"…Cubone?"

It tilted its head slightly.

And just like that, Xiao Zhang pressed the Poké Ball gently against its body.

With a flash of red light, Cubone was drawn into the ball.

No struggle.

No resistance.

Not even a single shake.

Click.

Capture complete.

The entire Pokémon Center burst into cheers.

Sure, Xiao Zhang's method was… unconventional.

But it was raw, emotional, and deeply human.

He didn't overpower Cubone.

He reached it.

He showed everyone that Pokémon were not beasts to be dominated—but sentient creatures with feelings and will.

That beyond force, there were other ways to bond.

Xiao Zhang's approach might not work for most people—he was one of a kind—but that only made it more inspiring.

This… was the magic of Pokémon.

Yet just as the crowd was soaking in the emotional high, another scene popped up across the multi-screen broadcast.

While Xiao Zhang had just captured his second Pokémon, trouble was brewing for Murong Nan and Liu Yunlan!

Each of the five groups had chosen a different route.

Haicheng, being a coastal city, had a varied terrain—plains, rivers, and hills.

Murong Nan and Liu Yunlan had taken the path toward the seaside.

Now, they had reached a large river that flowed into Haicheng's bay. Following the water downstream, they were heading closer to the coast.

And what showed up on the screen next—

Even the viewers gasped.

Even Su Bai widened his eyes.

Psyducks.

So many Psyducks!

On the riverbank, countless yellow, waddling Psyducks were playing, splashing about in their usual clueless fashion.

"…This is a mass spawn?" Su Bai muttered, his brain pulling up a term from the games.

In the newest generations, such events were called Mass Outbreaks—where certain Pokémon would spawn in large numbers at specific times.

Usually, they were a test of patience… or of shiny hunting skills.

Though this batch of Psyducks seemed standard—no rare blue ones among them—one very noticeable Psyduck stood out.

It wasn't yellow.

It was a sleek, confident Golduck—the evolved form, with a ruby gleaming on its forehead.

"Um… what's up with this guy?" Liu Yunlan frowned.

She and Murong Nan hadn't intended to approach the group of Psyducks—large gatherings of wild Pokémon could be dangerous.

But unexpectedly, Murong Nan's own Psyduck, which she hadn't returned to its Poké Ball, suddenly waddled straight toward the crowd!

Its little legs swung with surprising speed as it approached the wild Psyducks.

Left with no choice, the girls followed—and what they saw stunned them.

The confident Golduck stepped out from the crowd, chest puffed up, glaring at Murong Nan's Psyduck.

It began quacking aggressively, as if scolding it.

Murong Nan's Psyduck, meanwhile, hung its head like a child who'd just been punished, swaying side to side in embarrassment.

"…Is it being bullied?" Murong Nan's voice sharpened with anger.

Sure, a horde of Psyducks could be dangerous if provoked.

But watching her own Pokémon get publicly bullied by a wild one?

Absolutely not!

Her Empoleon—normally stoic—let out an annoyed grunt and was about to march over.

But just then, Su Bai's voice crackled through the broadcast system:

"Wait! Don't move yet! Diancie has something to say!"