Pokemon: I refuse to be a supporting character!

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A cat's jealousy, no matter the world or species, is always particularly intense.

This is likely tied to their territorial instincts, competitive nature, and lack of security.

So, does jealousy decrease when cats evolve into Pokémon?

Not at all.

On the contrary, their jealousy often intensifies, thanks to the more complex emotional systems they gain, resembling those of humans.

And it's not just cats. Other animals (or Pokémon) can feel jealous too.

Learning how to ease their jealousy and provide them with a sense of security is a fundamental task for trainers, breeders, and even ordinary people who care for multiple Pokémon.

...

Late at night.

At the Pokémon care facility.

"Come on now, can't you two be a bit more generous? Be more considerate toward the younger ones! You've grown into big, mature cats alongside me—don't you know what magnanimity is?"

On a quiet patch of lawn illuminated by a bright overhead light, Li Xiang sat cross-legged, slapping the ground as he scolded the two older cats.

In his arms was Litten, its expression wary, brows furrowed as it pressed its body tightly against Li Xiang, seeking security. The young Pokémon's wide eyes fixed nervously on Purugly and Meowstic.

The two older cats, who had been eager to assert their dominance over the newcomer, exchanged puzzled glances.

They hadn't expected Li Xiang to bring home such a young kitten.

Realizing this, their initial reactions now seemed a bit excessive.

"Meow…"

Purugly lowered its head slightly, letting out a soft cry, while Meowstic returned to its usual serene, silent demeanor.

Seeing this, Li Xiang knew they'd realized their mistake. Smiling in satisfaction, he nodded. "That's more like it. Litten is only a month old and doesn't know much yet. You two need to take care of it and teach it well."

Compared to teaching Litten human societal norms himself, Purugly and Meowstic were far better suited for the job.

One was clever and resourceful, trusted enough by Mrs. Yin to act as her bodyguard, and the other was a naturally intelligent Psychic-type Pokémon.

Not to mention, Pokémon generally shared a common language. Besides, humans and Pokémon might interpret certain things differently.

"Meow~"

Purugly nodded. At heart, it was an extremely gentle-natured female cat. Otherwise, it wouldn't tolerate being called "chubby" by Li Xiang every day or take responsibility for waking him up and ensuring his safety.

As for Meowstic, though it was male, its temperament was as mild as Purugly's.

When Li Xiang was very little, it often used its psychic powers to make him float through the air, keeping him entertained.

Both were fully qualified to look after a child-like Pokémon.

"Come here."

Li Xiang beckoned the two older cats closer.

But as Purugly and Meowstic approached cautiously, the uneasy Litten lowered its body and let out a low growl, attempting to use Intimidate.

Unfortunately, it only managed to growl for two seconds before Li Xiang cupped its sides and turned it to face him, locking eyes with the little kitten.

"Don't be scared. I'm here. I'll protect you. They're good cats and won't bully you."

Li Xiang spoke earnestly to Litten while gently scratching its chin with his fingers.

He knew from studying its information that this spot was Litten's sensitive area. A light touch here would instinctively relax its body.

Sure enough, as a highly regarded young Pokémon, Litten had its charms.

With Li Xiang's firm reassurance, the little Pokémon seemed to understand and gradually relaxed, letting down its guard against Purugly and Meowstic.

Even though it remained somewhat wary of them, it didn't lash out. When Purugly licked its head affectionately, it closed its eyes and tolerated it rather than biting at Purugly's chin.

In the feline world, the one being licked is the junior, while the one doing the licking is the senior.

Even when Meowstic, curious, pressed its face against Litten's, the young Pokémon pretended not to notice, suppressing its instinct to retaliate.

See?

Could there be a better cat than this?

Li Xiang watched the scene with a smile. He didn't want Litten to be excluded by Purugly and Meowstic, nor did he want it to reject them.

Even though Purugly and Meowstic technically belonged to Mrs. Yin, Li Xiang had always regarded them as part of his family.

Still… Fire-types. Not exactly a good match with his Dad's Pokémon.

Thinking of his father's team, Li Xiang's expression turned odd.

A former sailor, Li Zhehan, like Mrs. Yin, owned three Pokémon:

- Feraligatr, powerful and capable of unloading and transporting heavy cargo.

- Pelipper, able to sense weather changes, predict storms and undersea whirlpools, fly long distances while carrying passengers, and serve as an aerial transport.

- Floatzel, which could inflate its air sac to function as a lifeboat in emergencies.

All three were specialized for maritime environments.

Of these, Pelipper had joined after Li Zhehan started his company. The other two, like Purugly and Meowstic, had watched Li Xiang grow up.

But unlike the gentle-natured cats, these two were rough and straightforward, becoming a source of "childhood trauma" for Li Xiang.

Of course, there were happy memories too.

....

The next morning.

Li Xiang groggily woke to Mrs. Yin's soft voice. Still half-asleep, he stumbled toward the bathroom to wash up.

But in his sleepy state, he accidentally dragged Litten, who had been sleeping beside him, off the bed.

Thankfully, Purugly reacted quickly, darting over to catch Litten on its back. Otherwise, the poor kitten would've learned the hard way what "trainer's love" meant on its second day.

"Ah! I'm so sorry! Are you okay?"

Hearing the commotion, Li Xiang turned and saw the scene, instantly wide awake. He rushed over, apologizing profusely to both Litten and Purugly.

However, Litten, just startled by the sudden loss of balance, looked around in confusion, not understanding what had happened.

Why was it on Purugly's back?

"Meow!"

Purugly, less forgiving, raised a paw and swatted Li Xiang on the thigh. Its expression clearly said - 

'Can you show a little more responsibility as a Trainer? This is unacceptable!'

"I'm truly sorry."

Li Xiang clasped his hands together, covering half his face. He didn't bother rubbing his leg; the pain wasn't that bad. "I promise it won't happen again."

His subconscious hadn't fully adjusted yet—he wasn't used to the idea of having a Pokémon companion. It would take some time.

In the bathroom, hearing the commotion, Mrs. Yin poked her head out and asked, "What happened? Hurry and wash up; it's almost seven. Mom's shift is about to end."

The night shifts at the daycare facility required 24-hour availability. Because of this, Mrs. Yin usually only managed short naps and had to wait until she got home to catch up on sleep.

With Florges by her side, ensuring her mental state remained optimal, she had nothing to worry about.

Li Xiang gave a quick "Oh" in response and dashed into the bathroom.

But no sooner had he stepped in than the sound of a door opening sent a chill down his spine.

"Xiao Xiang~ Big Sister is here to see you again!~"

'Crap! She's up this early?!'

Li Xiang shivered and sped up his washing routine.

But when it came to Su Yiliu, there was no escaping her.

By the time he stepped out, freshly cleaned up, the woman was already playing with Litten using a cat teaser toy.

"Good morning, Xiao Xiang~"

Su Yiliu patted the large bag of snacks beside her. "I brought the goodies I promised you. There's even some for Litten!"

Ugh, my past self got this chubby probably because of you!

Though Li Xiang grumbled internally, outwardly, he sweetly greeted her, "Good morning, Big Sister. Thank you so much!"

Mrs. Yin, who was packing up nearby, couldn't help but smile helplessly at the scene.

She understood that Su Yiliu was projecting the care she once received from Mrs. Yin onto Li Xiang.

But what harm was there in that?

Wasn't it a good thing for Li Xiang to have one more person in his corner?

Meanwhile, Li Xiang—who had long since matured emotionally—endured Su Yiliu's "torment." Luckily, her focus was solely on his cheeks; she had no other peculiar interests.

Litten, watching this unfold, had a puzzled expression on its adorable face.

Why does this human enjoy squeezing Li Xiang's cheeks so much?

Are they really that fun to touch?

Litten glanced down at its own paws, recalling how Meowstic had smacked Li Xiang on the leg earlier. It felt as though a whole new world of possibilities was opening up.

Back at home.

Li Xiang took a deep breath, savoring the scent of the air freshener.

While the daycare facility didn't reek of formalin or have the cold, sterile air of a hospital, the smell of disinfectant there was something he could never quite get used to.

"Meow?"

Perched on his shoulder, Litten curiously surveyed its surroundings. As a Pokémon, it naturally didn't need the same adjustment period that ordinary cats might require in a new environment.

It remained calm and composed.

Li Xiang set Litten down and led it around the house, helping it familiarize itself with its new home.

If all went as planned, this would be where Litten would spend the next three years.

Mrs. Yin, preparing to catch up on sleep in her room, reminded him not to play with fire indoors. If he wanted to train Litten, he should head to the backyard and be mindful of safety. She also added that he should spend less time on the computer—healthy eyesight was crucial for an aspiring Trainer.

Li Xiang agreed readily.

He wasn't foolish enough to start training a Pokémon in such cramped quarters.

Meowstic and Purugly each found cozy spots to rest. Although they had their own designated rooms, they rarely used them, preferring to nap wherever they pleased around the house.

Li Xiang quietly checked the lollipop in his pocket. Purugly still didn't know that Litten had already gnawed on it. Otherwise, it would've been furious.

But given the circumstances, there hadn't been a choice.

Thankfully, among the snacks Su Yiliu brought, there were two gold-wrapped catnip-flavored lollipops. He could use one to smooth things over with Purugly.

Shouldering his bag, Li Xiang quietly snuck upstairs with Litten. Most of the items he had prepared in his bag hadn't even been used—what a waste.

For now, his top priority wasn't training Litten to improve its combat abilities. It was to spend quality time interacting with it and figuring out just how much of his words it could understand.

Young Pokémon like Litten couldn't instinctively comprehend human language. It typically required a gradual process of learning and adaptation.

And for a Trainer, communication and interaction with their Pokémon were essential.

Those two elements mattered the most.

A language barrier would make everything much more difficult.

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