For 600 powerstones.
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"Ka-kah~~"
Haunter phasically drifted through the door, unlocking it from the inside. Johan had more or less gotten used to Haunter's methods by now.
Just… as long as it wasn't someone else's door.
"Is this where you live?" Cynthia asked, curiously glancing around Johan's modest home.
The place wasn't very big, but it was cozy, tidy, and organized, radiating a warmth that was uniquely Johan's.
"Small space, but make yourself comfortable," Johan said, gesturing to a seat.
"I don't mind at all."
Johan hung up his jacket, then gently set down his backpack. From it, he retrieved the incubator containing the Pokémon egg, placing it back in its usual spot.
The incubator's progress bar was almost maxed out now.
"A Pokémon egg?" Cynthia asked, a little surprised.
She hadn't realized Johan carried it with him all day.
"It's close to hatching, and I'd rather keep it nearby until then," he replied.
"Do you know what it is?" she asked, her interest piqued.
"I don't, actually," Johan admitted with a shrug. "Joseph Stone gave it to me, but he didn't know what it would hatch into either. Apparently, he found it during one of his trips."
Cynthia's eyes sparkled with interest as she, Haunter, and Vulpix all leaned in close, watching the egg wobble slightly.
She smiled, "It seems like you'll have a new partner soon."
Or another mouth to feed, Johan thought as he carried the groceries to the kitchen.
"Ka-kah~~"
Haunter, snickering, eagerly darted off to fetch some snacks for Cynthia.
Meanwhile, Vulpix dashed over to the cabinet and retrieved several bottles of Moomoo Milk.
"Thank you," Cynthia said, not minding the unusual assortment. In fact, Haunter's chosen snacks were quite good, and Moomoo Milk was a staple drink known across the Pokémon world.
"Can I look around?" she asked, peering curiously toward the kitchen entrance.
Johan pointed to a note taped on the kitchen door, which read:
"Haunter and any unrelated personnel are strictly prohibited from entering."
Cynthia laughed at the message, noting how the last character in "Haunter" was a recent addition, written in bolder text.
It seemed Haunter had a bit of a reputation when it came to fiddling with the gas stove.
"Ka-kah~~"
Floating just outside, Haunter stuck out its tongue at the kitchen.
Who cares about some silly rule anyway? I could sneak in anytime… when he's asleep.
Johan's kitchen might have been off-limits, but there were plenty of other things to explore.
Cynthia's attention was quickly drawn to his Berry Blender sitting on the counter.
"So he knows how to make Pokéblocks too," she mused.
"Oowu~~" Vulpix nodded enthusiastically.
His Pokéblocks were delicious!
It was becoming clear that Johan was more than a knowledgeable Pokémon psychologist—he was also a skilled Trainer and a capable breeder.
And with a kitchen like his, he might even be a talented cook.
As Cynthia continued her little tour, she spotted a few items placed thoughtfully around the living space: bowls of Leppa, Pecha, and Rawst Berries on the nightstand, alongside some neatly folded blankets.
Her mind flashed to the morning when Haunter's Lick woke Johan up, followed by Vulpix's chilly greeting. She chuckled at the thought of this amusing but tender morning ritual.
"Such a warm and lively scene," she murmured.
She moved over to Johan's desk next, glancing over his various notes.
He had carefully documented training plans for Haunter and Vulpix, drafts of research papers, records of Pokémon psychology case studies, and notes on Pokéblock recipes.
The writing was precise and orderly.
"Hmm."
Respectful of his privacy, Cynthia only skimmed over the pages. Her gaze shifted to a briefing lying nearby, which turned out to be from Rustboro Academy, where Johan taught.
The briefing explained that the academy would soon conduct evaluations of its teachers' skills, with assessments tailored to each department. Battle instructors would participate in tournaments, and breeding instructors would have their Pokémon care skills tested. There were also exams for history, psychology, and other specialized subjects.
Rustboro Academy, being Hoenn's premier Pokémon school, held rigorous standards for its faculty. Teachers who didn't meet these standards would either be reassigned or dismissed, but outstanding teachers could earn promotions, pay raises, and generous bonuses.
In some cases, teachers who excelled might even receive rewards like Pokédollars, rare items, or even new Pokémon.
Although this setup was common in most Pokémon academies, Rustboro's evaluations were among the most competitive.
"Ka-kah~~"
Haunter pointed to the section on "Battle Instructor Qualification Exams" with a mischievous grin.
Rustboro's psychology department had only a handful of faculty members, and Johan, with his expertise, was in no danger of failing. The evaluations hadn't really crossed his mind.
But Haunter had already taken a keen interest in the "Battle Instructor" exams, knowing that the more remarkable a teacher's performance, the bigger the reward.
At Rustboro Academy, teachers could take exams in multiple fields, and having diverse skills was encouraged.
"Are you interested in joining the tournament?" Cynthia asked, amused.
"Ka-kah~~"
Haunter looked over at Vulpix, clearly hinting that both of them were eager for a challenge.
"What about Johan?" Cynthia glanced over toward the kitchen.
An enticing aroma was wafting out, filling the room with the scent of spices and herbs.
Haunter shrugged.
"Ka-kah~~"
He hadn't said yes, but he hadn't said no either. He'd only told Haunter and Vulpix to "think it over."
Cynthia smiled and gave Haunter a little nudge. "Well, if you and Vulpix feel strongly about it, why don't you both try convincing him?"
The two exchanged a look.
Not a bad idea!
"Dinner's ready!"
Just then, Johan walked out of the kitchen, a large serving tray in hand.
Haunter and Vulpix dashed into the bathroom, dragging Cynthia along with them—hand-washing was serious business.
Then, with eager eyes, they took their seats at the table.
"Ka-kah! ψ(｀)ψ"
Haunter picked up a knife and fork.
"Oowu! (˙o˙)"
Vulpix fastened its bib.
They were ready.
The main course was sizzling, succulent lamb chops seasoned with cumin and pepper. Small dishes on the side held an assortment of Berry sauces: Zero Effort Berry for tartness, Lum Berry for a sour bite, and Pecha Berry for sweetness.
Each one tailored to Cynthia's, Haunter's, and Vulpix's tastes.
A seafood stew, rich and savory, simmered beside it, with kombu and bonito broth, shrimp, fish, and clams garnished with shiso leaves.
Finally, each guest had their own serving of glazed eel over rice, topped with sesame seeds, alongside a simple vegetable tempura platter.
And of course, he hadn't forgotten Cynthia's vanilla mille-feuille or Vulpix's cheesy pancakes.
Cynthia looked up at Johan, her eyes filled with surprise and appreciation.
She'd known he could cook, but this… this was something else!
"Stop staring and dig in before Haunter eats everything."
"Oh—right."
Cynthia picked up her chopsticks and took a small bite of the eel, her eyes closing in delight at the flavors.
She could only think one thing:
Being one of Johan's Pokémon seemed… almost like a dream come true.
She tried the crispy tempura, the fragrant seafood stew, and the smoky, juicy lamb chops, savoring each bite.
Before long, she looked just like Haunter and Vulpix, with a happy sheen of oil around her mouth.
Johan smiled, pleased to see her enjoying herself.
Making food that people actually loved—it was nice.
Maybe he should open a restaurant someday… or a small café. That might be even better.
But as he contemplated his culinary future, he noticed Vulpix's ears perk up, and it turned its gaze toward the incubator.
"What's wrong?" Johan asked.
Following Vulpix's line of sight, he realized the egg was moving inside the incubator.
A faint tapping sound echoed from within, the cracking of an eggshell.
"It's… hatching?" Cynthia whispered.
Johan quickly set aside his meal and brought the incubator over to the table, carefully lifting the egg out.
A fine crack ran along the shell's surface.
Haunter and Vulpix, still munching their meals, exchanged a glance of excitement.
Cynthia stood up, stepping back slightly.
When a Pokémon first hatches, they often imprint on the first person they see.
Tap, tap, tap.
The tapping grew louder as the crack spread across the shell.
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Powerstones?
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