Wanderer of the Pokémon World

Chapter 251: Shifting Perceptions

The intense morning training session with Scizor and Abra left Xiu physically drained, his back soaked with sweat despite the chill morning. He flopped down in a patch of shade, leaning against the rough bark of the withered tree and pulling out his research notes. This was a brief respite before the afternoon heat would make things unbearable.

He noticed Daisy watching him from her spot nearby, but he paid her little mind. He needed to review the Scizor potion formula to ensure he hadn't overlooked any critical variables. Theoretical perfection is one thing; practical application is another entirely.

He was soon engrossed, sketching diagrams and scribbling calculations, mind a whirl of equations and observed properties. After a while, a shadow fell over his notes. He looked up. Daisy had quietly moved closer, now sitting a respectful distance away, observing him with curiosity.

"Is something wrong, Daisy?" Xiu asked, his tone neutral, though his earlier annoyance resurfaced. Can't a man study in peace?

"I was just watching you train your Pokémon earlier," Daisy began, her voice soft, almost hesitant. "Are you… a professional Trainer, Big Brother Xiu?"

"No," Xiu replied, his tone dismissive. He closed his notebook. "I'm not a Trainer. They're just… getting some exercise. Keeping them active." He then deliberately picked up one of his journals, signaling his desire to be left alone.

Daisy, however, seemed to recall her grandfather's advice from the previous night. Instead of pressing him further about his training methods, she deftly shifted the topic. "It must be interesting, working so closely with Grandpa," she began sharing her own visits to the institute, amusing stories about Professor Oak's eccentricities, and his deep love for Pokémon.

Xiu, despite his initial resistance, found himself listening. Daisy's stories painted a different, more human picture of the renowned Professor Oak. It wasn't particularly deep or insightful, mostly just gossip, but it offered a glimpse into their lives.

She spoke of her school, her classmates, and the pressures and expectations that came with the surname 'Oak.' Everyone has their own burdens, I suppose, Xiu mused, his cynicism softening. Her life wasn't entirely without its own unique challenges.

As she spoke, Xiu became a listener, offering some responses here and there. He found her perspective… interesting— a window into a world so different from his own, both in this life and the last.

"You know, Daisy," Xiu interjected, a genuine question forming in his mind, "you're over ten now. Why don't you have a Pokémon of your own? Surely, as Professor Oak's granddaughter, obtaining one wouldn't be difficult."

Daisy smiled, a slightly wistful expression on her face. "I'm not a Trainer, Big Brother Xiu," she replied, echoing his earlier deflection. "I'm not really interested in battles and in competitions. It all seems so… aggressive. And in the end, it's always the Pokémon who get hurt."

Xiu found himself nodding in agreement. "I share your sentiment, to some extent. Using Pokémon as mere tools for sport and entertainment… there's just something I don't like about it."

"Then why do you train yours so rigorously?" Daisy challenged, her earlier deference gone, replaced by a sharp, intelligent curiosity. "What I saw this morning… I'm sure that wasn't just an ordinary exercise routine."

Xiu met her gaze, a flicker of respect in his own eyes. She's not as naive as she sometimes appears. "You're right," he conceded. "It was. I don't seek out conflict, Daisy. But in this world… conflict has a tendency to find you, whether you want it to or not. All I can do is try to avoid unnecessary fights and ensure that if a fight becomes unavoidable, my companions and I come out on top."

Understanding crossed Daisy's face. She was old enough and had seen enough, especially from her privileged vantage point. In an era where Pokémon battles were glorified, where gangs and grunts running rampant and Trainers were lauded as heroes— battles were inevitable. If she knew the full extent of the things I've done to survive… she might not even dare to talk to me.

In the days that followed, a strange bond seemed to settle between Xiu and Professor Oak's grandchildren. Daisy, perhaps heeding her grandfather's advice or sensing Xiu's boundaries, no longer pressed him with personal questions. Gary, after his initial display of arrogance, seemed to adopt a policy of grudging, watchful silence whenever Xiu was present.

Their presence, however, did alter the daily rhythm of the institute. After his morning training and research, Xiu would often find Daisy and Gary observing him from a distance. Gary's attention was invariably fixed on Scizor, his gaze a mixture of undisguised admiration and possessive longing.

That black and gold carapace, the sheer power and grace of its movements… it's definitely a boy's dream Pokémon, Xiu acknowledged with pride. Gary had apparently tried to approach Scizor on several occasions, only to be met with an indifferent stare or a subtle, warning shift of its pincers. Scizor had no interest in the attention of a spoiled child.

Daisy, on the other hand, seemed more interested in Xiu himself. She watched him as he worked with his Pokémon, her expression thoughtful. She observed his interactions with Xiaochun and his patient attempts to teach and guide her. The harsh, almost brutal training methods he employed with Scizor, which initially might have seemed cruel, now began to make some sense to her.

Slowly but surely, a new dynamic began to emerge. After his training sessions, Xiu, needing a break from the intense physical and mental exertion, would often find himself sitting on the grass, reviewing his notes, while Daisy and Gary sat nearby.

Sometimes, Daisy would ask him questions – not about his past, but about Pokémon care, training, and the strange herbs and minerals he was studying. Her questions were insightful, and Xiu, finding her genuine interest, would often engage in lengthy discussions with her.

To his surprise, Daisy proved to be a capable assistant in her own right. She began to help with the daily chores around the institute, feeding the Pokémon in the backyard corrals, and assisting Xiaochun with her tasks.

She even took over most of the cooking, and Xiu had to admit, her culinary skills were surprisingly good. He even learned a few new recipes from her, traditional Kanto dishes he'd never encountered before.

Her presence, initially an unwelcome intrusion, gradually became… welcome. Xiu found himself with more free time and more energy to devote to his research and Abra and Scizor's increasingly complex training regimen.

The atmosphere at the institute became a little lighter, a little less… solitary.