The sun rose over the mountains, painting the sky in hues of gold and orange. Morning mist slowly dissipated, revealing the thatched rooftops of Kyoten Village.
Aiko pushed open her window, letting the crisp morning air brush against her face. The familiar scent of freshly baked bread drifted in, a comforting reminder of home—her family's bakery.
Down below, the village was already alive with energy. Children raced across the square, laughing as they chased V-Monsters, the small creatures bounding playfully between them. A group of tiny, fur-covered monsters with spiky pelts crackled with static electricity, clinging to the rooftops like mischievous sparks.
"Hey! He likes you!" a girl shouted, giggling as one of the creatures latched onto a boy's head.
Aiko smiled. The village was always lively in the morning. But she didn't have time to watch—there was bread to bake.
She hurried downstairs into the warmth of the bakery, where the heat of the oven wrapped around her like a familiar embrace. Her father was already hard at work, flour dusting his hair as his skilled hands shaped the dough.
"Finally awake, sleepyhead," he teased, not looking up from his work.
"I was dreaming about food," Aiko retorted, tying her apron around her waist.
Her father chuckled. "So that means you're not tired of baking just yet."
She grabbed a basket of freshly baked bread, carefully arranging the loaves on display.
"Never! One day, I'll open my own restaurant."
Her father paused for a moment, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"I'd be proud to see that happen."
Warmth spread through Aiko's chest. Her father had always been her biggest supporter.
The door creaked open. Aiko didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
"Well, look who's here."
"Hah! If I ever stop showing up, assume the world is ending."
With a graceful hop, Pulsebun landed on the counter. The small electric V-Monster had sleek, silvery fur that shimmered under the morning light. His long, thin ears twitched as he dropped a small leather pouch onto the counter. His blue eyes sparkled with mischief.
"The usual, please."
Aiko smirked. "You really never get tired of these rice buns, do you?"
"A genius needs fuel," Pulsebun declared dramatically, taking a big bite. "You think great inventions appear out of thin air?"
Aiko laughed. "At least none of them have blown up the village yet, so I guess I can trust you."
Her father leaned over the counter. "That's not exactly a compliment, Pulsebun."
Pulsebun made a face but grabbed another bun anyway. "You two should have more faith in me."
Aiko wiped her hands on her apron before wrapping up another rice bun in a cloth.
"I'm taking this to Kenji before he forgets to eat again."
"Hah! Good luck. He's probably locked himself in the library, buried in some weird scroll."
Pulsebun hopped off the counter, following Aiko out the door. The cool morning air carried the sounds of village life—chatter, footsteps, the occasional call of a merchant setting up for the day.
"So, what are you working on now?" Aiko asked as they walked along the cobblestone street.
Pulsebun raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Now you're interested? After years of calling me crazy?"
"I never called you crazy," Aiko defended. "I just said you should test things before slamming them into my house."
"Details."** He stretched his paws dramatically toward the sky. "But lucky for you, I just invented something that'll help in the bakery!"
Aiko blinked. "Oh? And what's that?"
"I call it… a mixer!" Pulsebun puffed out his chest. "It kneads dough automatically, so you don't have to do all the hard work!"
Aiko's eyes widened. "That would be amazing!"
"Right? The only problem is… it only works as long as I'm actively powering it. The moment I stop supplying electricity, it shuts down."
Aiko tilted her head, smirking. "So… it's a machine that only works if you stay plugged into it?"
Pulsebun huffed. "Okay, when you put it like that, it sounds bad."
Aiko laughed. "But if you figure out how to store electricity, it could be used for anything, right?"
"Exactly! Lights, tools, machines—even advanced mechanics."
"So all you need now is a way to store power."
Pulsebun kicked a small rock along the road. "Yeah, and that's the tricky part. I've tried conductive stones, rare metals… but nothing holds a charge long enough."
Aiko gave him a reassuring look. "If anyone can figure it out, it's you."
Pulsebun grinned, but before he could respond, they arrived at the village square.
The place bustled with activity—merchants setting up stalls, villagers chatting as they moved about their morning routines.
"Alright, this is where I head off," Pulsebun said.
"Going straight to your workshop?"
"Of course! I've got more tests to run."
Aiko sighed. "Just try not to blow anything up."
Pulsebun winked. "No promises!" With a playful salute, he bounded off toward his workshop.
Aiko watched him disappear into the crowd before tightening her grip on the wrapped rice bun.
The sun had risen higher now, casting warm golden light over the village.
She took a deep breath, then stepped into the library, ready to check in on Kenji.