A fsh of white light burst forth, and three figures emerged from it.

  "Persian, Butterfree, Rookidee, e and check out our new home," Natsume said with a smile as he withdrew his hand.

  Among these three Pokémon, Persian had beeo him by his parents—a panion that had been by Natsume's side since childhood.

  Butterfree was caught by Natsume himself during high school, inteo serve as both an assistant and a utility Pokémon.

  As for Rookidee, it had been gifted to him upon graduatio to be trained as his main partner.

  Including the incubator he carried in his arms, Natsume currently owned four Pokémon in total.

  After being released from their Poké Balls, the three Pokémon each reacted differently.

  Persian gracefully stretched its body upon nding, elegantly walking over to sit at Natsume's feet, looking utterly disied in its so-called "new home."

  In trast, Butterfree and Rookidee seemed brimming with curiosity about their surroundings.

  Especially Rookidee—it couldn’t stay still even near Natsume, always appearing ready to dart off and explore the world.

  Butterfree, by parison, was much calmer. After its initial curiosity subsided, it quietly hovered by Natsume's side.

  "They're all such spirited little ones," the mayor said, smiling warmly as he observed Natsume's Pokémon.

  The demeanor of a trainer's Pokémon often revealed much about the trainer's character.

  Seeing how rexed and close these Pokémon were with Natsume reassured the mayor.

  ‘A good sign indeed.’

  Perhaps due to his age, the mayor no longer ed himself with whether the younger geion achieved fame reatness.

  What mattered to him now was their character—he wished for them to be upright, kied individuals rather than prodigies.

  ‘But still…’

  The mayaze lingered on Persian for a moment. He couldn’t help but feel that this particur Pokémon seemed even strohan those trained by the town's gym apprentices.

  Don’t ask how he knew—chalk it up to a veteran trainer's intuition.

  ‘Ba the day, I too assionate young trainer!’

  If Natsume could read minds, he would undoubtedly agree with the mayor's assessment.

  Persian was ihe main batant of his team.

  Without Persian, Natsume might not have dared to take on the farm iance.

  After all, managing a farm required at least some basic ability for self-defense.

  ---

  "I’ll give you a tour of the farm," the mayor said, leading Natsume and his Pokémon to explore the grounds.

  Sisume was to i the pce, it wouldn’t do for him to be clueless about his own farm.

  "That used to be the ste shed.

  This area was on orchard frowing Berries.

  Over here, they po cultivate ypes of crops.

  And this ke? It's rumored to ect to a river underground, and sometimes wild Pokémon from the river will show up here."

  Meanwhile, the mayor's Mr. Mime persistently tried to esume's Pokémon in versation.

  Persian, however, barely aowledged it, flig its tail with an air of disi and occasionally letting out a zy yawn.

  Rookidee and Butterfree, oher hand, were much friendlier and happily chatted with the enthusiastic Mr. Mime.

  Aside from the mayor's expnations, the journey was filled with the chirping and calls of the Pokémon—particurly Rookidee's loud, raspy "Caw! Caw!"

  Eventually, the group stopped in front of a slightly dipidated two-story house.

  "This is about the state of the farm," the mayor said.

  "As you see, it's rather run-down at the moment. You could stay iown for now until the repairs are plete."

  Given the farm's dition, the maygested it might be better for Natsume to live in town temporarily.

  Earlier, as they approached the house, they had even spotted a dark green Pokémon darting out of a sed-story window.

  "No need, Mayor. I came prepared," Natsume replied, smiling as he politely deed the offer.

  Before ing here, he had already made arras for repairs, including hiring a stru team.

  He wasn’t oo act rashly—this decision had been carefully pnned.

  "Well, if you say so," the mayor ceded with a ugh.

  "If you need anything, don't hesitate to find me."

  With his hands csped behind his back, the mayor chuckled, while Mr. Mime mimicked his pose.

  After seeing the mayor off, Natsume stood before the two-story house with his Pokémon.

  When he opehe door, a cloud of dust rose into the air. Sunlight filtered through the gss, illuminating the floating particles, which danced like tiny fairies.

  "Looks like the first thing we’ll do in our new home is a thh ing," Natsume decred, rolling up his sleeves and grinning at his Pokémon.

  His enthusiasm alpable.

  "Persian, you watch over my bag and the incubator.

  Butterfree, help me up.

  Rookidee, scout the area for other Pokémon nearby.

  And remember—no pig fights!"

  Pulling a variety of ing tools from his small bag, Natsume assigasks to each of his Pokémon.

  When it came to Rookidee, however, he hesitated slightly.

  He hadn’t had the bird for long and, despite intending to train it as his main partner, it had only learned a few basic moves so far.

  Its bat prowess was nowhere near impressive—hardly enough to take on even minor challenges.

  "Caaw!" Rookidee eagerly responded and flitted off to patrol the area.

  Persian gave a dismissive grunt aled o the incubator, zily lig its paw.

  Butterfree, meanwhile, began using its psychic abilities to float ing tools into the air.

  "Thanks for the help," Natsume said gratefully.

  Unbeknownst to him, a small figure in the shrubbery watched curiously as Natsume and his Pokémon bustled about the house.

  Seeing its old territory occupied, the little Pokémoated, torweeand an inexplicable yearning.

  "Caaw!"

  Suddenly, Rookidee's sharp call echoed from above—it had spotted the figure.

  "Eeek!"

  Startled, the Pokémon bolted into the nearby forest, leaving Rookidee tilting its head in fusion, w why its presence had caused such a otion.