Knock, knock, knock.
The sound of a door being knocked.
"Come in."
Hearing the voice, Johan was a little surprised but responded nonetheless.
With a soft "click," a middle-aged man, dressed in light brown archaeologist attire and wearing round glasses, walked in, looking somewhat haggard.
"Professor Cozmo."
Upon seeing the visitor, Johan quickly recalled the man's name from his memories.
Professor Cozmo, full name Cozmo Takao, was a researcher specializing in meteorites and rocks. He was also a history professor at Kanaz Pokémon University, with his office right next to Johan's Pokémon Psychology Consultation Room.
Like Johan, Professor Cozmo's history class was one of those rarely sought-after courses, and his focus on meteorites and rocks was an even more niche topic than Pokémon psychology.
The difference was that Professor Cozmo was a genuine Ph.D.
"Johan." Professor Cozmo forced a smile. "Could you make me a cup of coffee?"
Watching Professor Cozmo slowly walk over to the table, pull out a chair, and sit down—especially noting the dark circles under his eyes—Johan asked in surprise, "Don't you dislike coffee?"
Despite saying that, Johan still got up to prepare the coffee.
"Don't mention it." Professor Cozmo shook his head wearily. "I haven't had a good night's sleep these past two days."
In no time, Johan skillfully brewed a cup of coffee and placed it in front of him.
The rich aroma wafted through the room.
"It shows." Johan gestured toward Cozmo's thick dark circles.
Professor Cozmo chuckled bitterly, picked up the coffee, hesitated for a moment, then took a big gulp.
In the next instant—
His entire face scrunched up like a crumpled piece of paper.
"Hiss, it's so bitter." Putting the cup down and frowning, he said, "I don't understand how you people can enjoy this stuff."
Soon after, his brow relaxed, and he seemed to regain a bit of energy.
"It's all about the bitterness waking you up, isn't it?"
"But it does help a little."
Johan smiled silently.
"Once you get used to it, you'll like it. You can apply to the administration for a coffee machine by then."
Professor Cozmo shook his head.
"Forget it. I'm rarely in the office anyway, so no need to waste resources."
Johan shrugged and changed the topic:
"So, what's the new discovery that's kept you up for two days?"
At the mention of his discovery, Professor Cozmo's spirit lifted. He adjusted his glasses and said:
"This time, we did indeed find an interesting rock—highly valuable for research. One of my students actually found it. But the lack of sleep isn't because of that."
After briefly describing the newly discovered stone, Professor Cozmo's enthusiasm quickly faded, and he slumped again.
Scratching his hair, now resembling a bird's nest, he said in frustration:
"I don't know what's going on. Ever since I got back, I've been having nightmare after nightmare for the past two days. I can't get a good night's sleep at all."
Nightmares?
Johan paused.
After glancing over Professor Cozmo, he spoke seriously, "You didn't happen to disturb something you shouldn't have, did you?"
"Something I shouldn't have disturbed?"
Professor Cozmo's face went pale instantly, and he stammered, "You, you mean… a ghost?"
As an archaeologist who often dug into ancient sites, Professor Cozmo had heard many stories about people uncovering "ghosts," but he had never encountered one himself.
And in the world of Pokémon, "ghosts" weren't exactly rare.
Johan chuckled slightly, "Don't worry, it's more likely that some situation during your exploration caused anxiety or fear, triggering your subconscious to protect itself by manifesting those fears in dreams."
He continued to reassure him, "If there really was a ghost, it wouldn't just be showing up in your dreams, would it?"
Saying this, Johan stood up and walked toward the corner of the consultation room, where there was an extremely comfortable armchair.
It was where he usually took his afternoon naps.
He patted the back of the chair. "How about I help you take a good rest?"
Professor Cozmo hesitated for a moment but quickly slapped his cheeks, then downed the rest of the coffee in one gulp. "Maybe later. Now that I feel a bit more awake, I need to finish my lesson plans before the semester starts."
Hearing this, Johan let him be and lay down on the sofa himself.
"Better hurry up, then."
His lesson plans were already finished.
There weren't that many, after all.
Professor Cozmo slapped his cheeks again and, after thanking Johan, strode out of the consultation room.
Judging by his posture, it looked like another case of "one pen, one person, one night, one miracle."
Rain softly tapped against the window, leaving specks of droplets like stars.
"Ugh..."
Johan opened his groggy eyes.
He realized, without noticing, that he had slept until evening, and the sky had already grown dim.
The once sunny afternoon had turned into a gray, misty scene. Raindrops danced in the air, casting a thin veil over the city, adding a touch of mystery.
"Johan..."
Suddenly, a low, raspy voice echoed faintly.
Startled by the weak, eerie voice, Johan jolted awake and shouted, "Who's there?!"
"It's me, Cozmo."
Only then did Johan see the figure standing in the dim light.
He exhaled in relief, rubbing the goosebumps on his arms as he slowly stood up. "Professor Cozmo, still not off work?"
Cozmo sighed. "I just finished. Even if I go home, I doubt I'll sleep. Since you're still here, I was hoping you could help me out."
"Now?" Johan glanced outside. "Not heading home?"
"Got used to it."
When Johan stood up, Cozmo immediately laid down on the sofa.
After all, he was a bachelor, and to save time for research, he often slept at the university.
"Alright."
Johan rubbed his dry eyes, yawned, and pulled up a chair to sit beside him.
Professor Cozmo seemed ready, clasping his hands over his chest and closing his eyes.
"...Slowly, take a deep breath, hold it, and exhale... Now, you're relaxed. You're lying on a soft lawn, the warm sunshine..."
Johan's soothing, gentle voice, rich and calming, felt like a spring breeze brushing across the heart, helping the mind naturally relax.
It was hypnosis.
With Professor Cozmo's cooperation, it was fairly easy for Johan to lull him into a simple sleep-aid hypnosis.
In fact, according to the original owner's memories, this wasn't the first time he had helped Professor Cozmo fall asleep.
Soon enough, steady breathing came from Professor Cozmo.
"Rest well."
Seeing Cozmo peacefully asleep, Johan stood up and carefully closed the door behind him.
Time to clock out.
However, what Johan didn't know was that after he left, a faint red glow appeared on Professor Cozmo's chest.
Next, tendrils of black smoke swirled and began to gather.
A pair of eyes emerged.
They stared at the sleeping Professor Cozmo with displeasure.
Soon, the look of displeasure gave way to curiosity.
Then, the figure turned to gaze at the closed door, curiosity growing stronger in its eyes.
"Ka-kah?"
How could that man do it?
After a brief moment of hesitation, the creature, like a puff of smoke, effortlessly slipped out through the door to follow Johan.