The morning sun filtered through the clouds, casting a warm glow over Liyue Harbor. Today, the hustle and bustle of the market seemed a bit calmer, and the city had settled into a gentle, productive rhythm. It was on days like this that the unique dynamics of the people of Liyue became most apparent, as everyone went about their duties in their own distinct way.
At the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Hu Tao was excitedly bouncing around, her usual enthusiasm in full force. She had an idea, and that was always dangerous—but also entertaining. Her Shuppet hovered beside her, mimicking her bounces in midair. They were on a mission: it was time to officially introduce Pokémon to the funeral parlor's daily routine.
"Come on, Shuppet!" Hu Tao exclaimed, her voice a mix of excitement and mischief. "We're going to make today unforgettable! Everyone's too used to things being gloomy here—let's liven it up a bit!"
Shuppet let out a ghostly cheer, swirling around in a circle as if to say, "I'm ready!"
Hu Tao led the way inside, finding Zhongli sitting at his desk, as usual, going over various contracts and the day's administrative work. He glanced up as Hu Tao approached, raising an eyebrow at her overenthusiastic grin.
"Good morning, Director Hu," Zhongli greeted, his voice calm and steady. He looked at her and Shuppet, as if already preparing himself for whatever Hu Tao had in mind. "You seem particularly lively today. What do you have planned this time?"
Hu Tao placed her hands on her hips, puffing out her chest proudly. "Oh, just a little something to bring some extra cheer to the parlor! I thought we could make things more interesting by letting Shuppet help out around here. You know, lighten the mood!"
Zhongli blinked, glancing at Shuppet, who looked very enthusiastic about this new mission. He sighed softly, though there was a trace of amusement in his eyes. "I see. And how exactly do you propose Shuppet will 'help out'?"
"Glad you asked, Zhongli!" Hu Tao clapped her hands, and Shuppet floated over to the large stack of paperwork that Zhongli had been working on. With a flick of its ghostly body, Shuppet lifted some of the papers, making them hover in mid-air as it floated them towards Zhongli's desk in a neat, orderly fashion.
Zhongli observed this with a curious expression. "Impressive. Shuppet does seem to have an aptitude for organization," he admitted. He looked at Hu Tao, his lips curling slightly into a smile. "Though, I suspect there's more to your plan than simply assisting with paperwork, isn't there, Director?"
Hu Tao gave a playful wink. "You know me so well, Zhongli! Of course, I want Shuppet to do more than just organize papers. We're going to brighten everyone's day—a little playful spook here, a cheerful surprise there. Nothing too extreme, just some fun to make people smile!"
Zhongli shook his head, though he couldn't hide his amusement. "Very well, but do try to keep the mischief to a minimum. We wouldn't want to disrupt any important ceremonies."
"No worries, no worries! Shuppet knows where to draw the line." Hu Tao gave a thumbs-up before dashing off, Shuppet following closely behind.
---
The first target of Hu Tao's plan was Qiqi, who was busy in the back, sorting herbs. Qiqi, with her calm and collected demeanor, often moved slowly through her tasks, meticulously checking every herb to make sure they were arranged perfectly. Her Pokémon partner, Chikorita, was sitting beside her, its leaf-tipped head swaying gently as it helped Qiqi organize the herbs.
Hu Tao peeked around the corner, a mischievous grin on her face. "Alright, Shuppet, let's give Qiqi a little surprise—but nothing too scary!"
Shuppet nodded, floating silently towards Qiqi. It hovered above her for a moment before letting out a soft, ghostly "boo."
Qiqi paused, her eyes slowly looking up to see Shuppet. Her expression remained blank for a moment, and then she blinked. "Oh... hello, Shuppet," she said in her soft, monotone voice. "Are you here to help?"
Hu Tao couldn't help but giggle as she stepped out from her hiding spot. "Aw, Qiqi, you're no fun! I was hoping for at least a little jump!"
Qiqi looked at Hu Tao, her face as expressionless as ever. "I don't get scared easily... but Shuppet can help. We have many herbs to sort."
Shuppet looked at Hu Tao, as if asking for confirmation. Hu Tao sighed dramatically, but then smiled. "Alright, alright. Shuppet, you heard her—let's help Qiqi out."
With that, Shuppet began lifting small bundles of herbs with its ghostly energy, floating them over to where Qiqi and Chikorita were organizing. Chikorita looked up at Shuppet and gave a small nod of approval before going back to its task, its leaf swishing back and forth as it worked.
Qiqi, in her usual calm manner, nodded at Hu Tao. "Thank you, Director... this is helpful."
Hu Tao grinned. "Of course, Qiqi! Anything to make your day a little more... lively." She gave a playful wink before dashing off, leaving Shuppet to assist with the herbs.
---
Next on Hu Tao's list was Xiangling at the Wanmin Restaurant. She found Xiangling in the middle of a busy lunchtime rush, with Charmander and Lotad both helping out. Charmander was carefully roasting skewers, while Lotad washed vegetables in a large basin.
"Xiangling!" Hu Tao called as she burst through the door, causing Xiangling to look up, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Hu Tao! What brings you here?" Xiangling asked, wiping her hands on her apron.
Hu Tao grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I thought I'd bring Shuppet over to lend a hand! Or, well, a ghostly... hand?"
Xiangling laughed. "That sounds great! We could always use more help during the rush. Charmander and Lotad are doing their best, but it's a lot of work!"
Hu Tao nodded, and Shuppet floated over to where Charmander was working, carefully observing the small fire-type Pokémon as it roasted the skewers. After a moment, Shuppet began using its psychic abilities to levitate the skewers, turning them gently so that Charmander could focus on keeping the flames steady.
Xiangling watched with delight. "Oh, that's perfect! Now Charmander can keep the fire just right without worrying about turning the skewers. Thank you, Shuppet!"
Charmander looked up at Shuppet, giving it a grateful nod. Shuppet responded with a happy twirl, clearly enjoying being part of the team.
Lotad, not wanting to be left out, gave an enthusiastic splash, sending a small wave of water over the vegetables. Xiangling giggled, patting Lotad on the head. "Great job, Lotad! Everyone's working so well together."
Hu Tao leaned against the counter, watching the Pokémon work in harmony. "See, Xiangling? Pokémon make everything more fun! I think we should do this more often."
Xiangling nodded. "I agree! It's amazing how quickly they learn and how much they enjoy helping out. It makes the work feel... lighter."
Hu Tao smiled, feeling a sense of satisfaction. Her plan to bring some cheer to everyone's day was working even better than she'd hoped.
---
As the day wound down, Hu Tao returned to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, finding Zhongli still at his desk, though the stack of paperwork had noticeably decreased. Shuppet floated beside him, diligently organizing the last few documents.
Zhongli looked up as Hu Tao entered, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Welcome back, Director. I must admit, Shuppet has been quite helpful today. The workload was considerably lighter with its assistance."
Hu Tao beamed, giving Shuppet a thumbs-up. "Great job, Shuppet! See, Zhongli? I told you it'd be fun!"
Zhongli nodded. "Indeed. Though I must say, I was initially skeptical, I can see the value in having Pokémon assist with our daily tasks. They bring a certain... lightness to the atmosphere."
Hu Tao clapped her hands together. "Exactly! That's what I've been saying all along. Pokémon aren't just helpers—they're friends who make everything better!"
Zhongli stood, stretching slightly. "I believe you may be right, Director. Today has certainly been... different, but in a good way."
Hu Tao grinned, looking around the parlor. "And this is just the beginning! We're going to make every day here at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor full of surprises and smiles. Right, Shuppet?"
Shuppet let out a cheerful cry, swirling around Hu Tao in agreement.
As the sun set over Liyue, casting a warm orange glow over the city, Hu Tao felt a deep sense of satisfaction. Today had been a good day—not just for her, but for everyone at the funeral parlor, the restaurant, and even for Qiqi. Pokémon were becoming more than just magical creatures; they were becoming part of the family, bringing joy and a sense of wonder to the people of Liyue.
And Hu Tao knew that this was only the beginning.