The early morning sun bathed Liyue Harbor in a golden glow, and the usual hustle of merchants setting up their stalls filled the air. It was the perfect start to another day for Hiroshi and his Pokémon Emporium. He looked out from the shop, a satisfied smile on his face as he watched the Liyue locals bustling about. Today, he had a feeling that more people would come to learn about Pokémon, especially after Xiangling, Chongyun, and Ningguang had all walked out with new partners the previous day.
Zekrom stood near the door, watching over Hiroshi as always. "Hiroshi, I sense excitement in you today," Zekrom said, his deep voice echoing in Hiroshi's mind.
Hiroshi gave him a half-smile. "Of course! Yesterday was a great success. And besides, I think we're about to see some familiar faces again. Look, here comes Xiangling!"
Xiangling practically skipped into the shop, her Charmander walking by her side with its tail flame flickering brightly. She waved at Hiroshi, her cheerful grin brightening the room. "Morning, Hiroshi! Charmander and I had so much fun yesterday. I even tried to use his fire for cooking—though, maybe I should practice a bit more before I let him near the hotpot again," she said with a laugh.
Hiroshi chuckled. "Did it get a little out of hand?"
Xiangling's face flushed slightly. "Just a little! But it's okay, no one got hurt! And the soup tasted... well, let's just say it had an extra smoky flavor," she added, causing Hiroshi to laugh.
"That sounds about right. Charmander's fire is strong, but it takes practice to control it just right for cooking," Hiroshi said. Charmander gave an enthusiastic nod, clearly proud of its fiery capabilities.
As they chatted, the doorbell chimed again, and Chongyun entered, followed closely by his ghostly partner, Duskull. Chongyun looked as serious as ever, though there was a small hint of a smile on his face as he greeted Hiroshi.
"Good morning, Hiroshi," Chongyun said. He glanced at Xiangling and her Charmander. "I see you've brought Charmander along today. How's it going with your new partner?"
Xiangling beamed. "Great! Though I'm still getting the hang of using fire for cooking without... well, almost burning down the kitchen. But it's been fun! How about you and Duskull?"
Chongyun glanced at Duskull, who floated beside him with an eerily amused expression. "Duskull has been... helpful," Chongyun said, though his voice carried a hint of exasperation. "He keeps trying to play pranks on me when I'm not looking."
Duskull's eye glowed mischievously, and Xiangling couldn't help but giggle. "Oh, come on, Chongyun! Duskull's just trying to have some fun!"
Chongyun sighed. "I suppose. But I think we need to work on setting some boundaries. The last thing I need is for Duskull to scare some poor passerby while I'm in the middle of an exorcism."
Hiroshi smiled at the dynamic between the two. It was clear that, despite their differences, Chongyun and Duskull were already developing a bond. And that was precisely what Hiroshi hoped to see—people and Pokémon working together, learning from each other, and growing closer in the process.
The door opened once again, and in walked Ganyu, the half-qilin secretary of the Liyue Qixing. Her usual calm demeanor seemed a little shaken as she entered, her eyes darting around nervously.
"Hello, Hiroshi," she greeted him softly, her gaze falling on Zekrom for a moment before she quickly looked away. "I've heard about the Pokémon shop, and I thought... well, maybe I could see if there's a partner that would be suitable for me."
Hiroshi smiled warmly. "Of course, Ganyu. I'm sure we can find a Pokémon that would be a great partner for you. Come, let me show you some that I think might be a good fit."
He led Ganyu to a part of the shop where several Pokéballs were neatly arranged. He picked one up, giving her an encouraging nod. "This one might be a good match. Let's see." He released the Pokéball, and in a flash of red light, a small Snorunt appeared, its cone-shaped body shivering slightly as it looked up at Ganyu.
Ganyu's eyes widened as she looked at the Snorunt, who gave her a cheerful smile despite its constant shivering. "Oh, it's so cute!" Ganyu exclaimed softly, her gaze softening. She knelt down, reaching out to the Snorunt. "Hello there..."
Snorunt gave an enthusiastic nod, moving closer to Ganyu, who couldn't help but smile. "I think... I think we'll get along very well," she said, her voice warm.
Hiroshi nodded. "Snorunt is an ice-type Pokémon. It's gentle and loves cold places, which I think matches well with your own affinity for Cryo."
Ganyu looked at Hiroshi, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Hiroshi. I'll take good care of Snorunt."
As Ganyu continued to bond with Snorunt, Ningguang entered the shop, her presence commanding attention as always. She looked around, noticing Xiangling, Chongyun, and now Ganyu, each with their new Pokémon partners.
"It seems I've come at a busy time," Ningguang said, a small smile playing at her lips. "I see everyone is getting acquainted with their new companions."
Xiangling waved at her, her usual cheerfulness evident. "Lady Ningguang! You have to see how amazing these Pokémon are! Charmander here is going to help me with cooking—though, I still need to practice a bit more so I don't burn anything again," she added with a laugh.
Ningguang raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. "I see. It sounds like you're all having quite the adventure."
Ganyu nodded, gently patting Snorunt, who seemed perfectly content by her side. "They're truly wonderful creatures, Lady Ningguang. I think they'll bring a lot of joy to Liyue."
Ningguang turned to Hiroshi. "I must admit, I am curious to see how Pokémon will integrate into our society. Yesterday, I took Rotom to the Jade Chamber, and I must say, it's already proven itself quite useful."
Hiroshi's eyes lit up with interest. "Oh? How so?"
Ningguang smiled, her eyes gleaming. "Rotom has the ability to interact with and control electronic devices. It's been helping me with some of the more tedious paperwork by managing the devices I use. I've never seen anything quite like it."
Xiangling gasped, her eyes widening. "That's amazing! I wish Charmander could do paperwork... though I guess he's better suited for cooking," she added with a giggle.
Chongyun gave a small chuckle. "I think we're all still learning what our Pokémon are capable of."
Suddenly, the door to the shop burst open, and Hu Tao, the eccentric director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, skipped in, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Hello, everyone! I heard there's a shop selling strange, magical creatures, and I just had to see it for myself!"
Hiroshi blinked in surprise, then smiled. "Welcome, Hu Tao. You're in the right place. This is the Pokémon Emporium, and we sell creatures called Pokémon. They're magical in their own right, and each one has unique abilities."
Hu Tao's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Ooh, sounds interesting! Do you have any ghostly ones? I think something spooky would be perfect for me!"
Hiroshi couldn't help but laugh. "I think I have just the one." He selected a Pokéball and released it, revealing a small ghost-like Pokémon with wispy, ethereal features—a Shuppet.
Hu Tao gasped in delight, her eyes widening as she looked at the Shuppet, which floated in the air, its eyes glowing with curiosity. "Oh, it's adorable! And spooky too! I love it!" She floated towards the Shuppet, giggling. "Hello there, little friend! Want to join me in causing some mischief?"
Shuppet gave an enthusiastic nod, and Hu Tao laughed. "Perfect! We're going to have so much fun together!"
Chongyun eyed Hu Tao and Shuppet warily. "I have a feeling this is going to be... interesting," he said, though a small smile tugged at his lips.
Hu Tao grinned at him, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Oh, come on, Chongyun! You know you're secretly excited to see what kind of trouble we'll get into!"
Chongyun sighed, though there was no real annoyance in his expression. "As long as you don't bring that trouble to me, Hu Tao."
The atmosphere in the shop was lively, filled with laughter and the beginnings of new friendships. Hiroshi watched as each of Liyue's residents bonded with their Pokémon partners, feeling a warmth in his chest. This was what he had hoped for—people of Teyvat discovering the joy of having Pokémon by their side.
Zekrom, standing silently by Hiroshi's side, looked down at him. "You see, Hiroshi? They're already starting to form bonds. It's only a matter of time before Pokémon become an essential part of life here."
Hiroshi nodded, a smile spreading across his face. "You're right, Zekrom. This is just the beginning. I can't wait to see how Pokémon will continue to change things here in Liyue."
As the day drew to a close, the shop quieted down, and the last of the customers began to leave. Xiangling, Chongyun, Ganyu, Ningguang, and Hu Tao all said their goodbyes, each one leaving with their Pokémon by their side. Hu Tao waved energetically as she skipped out of the shop, Shuppet floating close behind her.
"See you all later! Don't forget to come visit me and Shuppet if you ever need some... spooky services!" she called out, her laughter echoing through the shop.
Chongyun shook his head, a bemused smile on his face. "I have a feeling we'll be seeing more of Hu Tao and her... spooky services," he said to Xiangling, who giggled in response.
Ganyu gave Hiroshi a polite bow, her Snorunt mimicking her as best it could. "Thank you again, Hiroshi. I look forward to seeing how Snorunt and I can work together."
Ningguang gave Hiroshi a nod of approval. "I must say, Hiroshi, you have certainly brought something unique to Liyue. I look forward to seeing what comes next."
Hiroshi bowed in return, his heart swelling with pride. "Thank you, Lady Ningguang. I'm excited to see how everyone's Pokémon journey progresses."
As the door closed and the shop grew quiet, Hiroshi turned to Zekrom, a tired but content smile on his face. "Today went well, didn't it?"
Zekrom nodded, his deep voice filled with warmth. "Yes, Hiroshi. It went very well. The people of Liyue are beginning to understand what Pokémon can bring to their lives. And soon, all of Teyvat will see it too."
Hiroshi looked out at the darkening sky, the lights of Liyue twinkling like stars. He knew there was still much to be done, but for now, he was happy with the progress they had made. Pokémon were becoming a part of Liyue, one person at a time, and Hiroshi couldn't wait to see what the future held for them all.