Director Bao Ba descended the stairs, and the boy immediately noticed him. He quickly but gently pressed down on the Growlithe's head, which had been excitedly trying to climb onto his lap again. "Sit!" He commanded softly but firmly.
Instantly, the previously boisterous Growlithe settled down, squatting obediently at the young man's feet, tail giving only a slight, expectant thump against the floor.
Only then did the young man stand up and greet Bao Ba respectfully. "Grandfather."
Bao Ba acknowledged him with a slight nod, then turned to Xiu. "Xiu, this is my grandson, Yuto."
Before Xiu could respond, the boy, Yuto, stepped forward enthusiastically, extending his right hand with a wide, friendly grin. "Hi! I'm Yuto! Nice to meet you!"
Surprised by his forwardness, Xiu instinctively reached out and shook the offered hand briefly. "I'm Xiu."
Unlike his grandfather's initial reserve or Shirley's indifference, Yuto radiated an open, energetic friendliness. He seemed completely lacking in pretense, almost overly familiar, launching into easy conversation with Xiu within moments of the introduction. Xiu found the contrast between the two grandchildren, presumably raised in the same household, quite striking.
"You two chat," Bao Ba said, seeing his grandson engaging easily with Xiu. He patted Xiu's shoulder again. "I'll go prepare dinner." He turned and headed towards the kitchen area.
"So, Xiu," Yuto continued immediately, turning his full attention back, "what Pokémon do you have? Mine's Growlithe, obviously!" He gestured towards the canine Pokémon sitting patiently beside him. As if on cue, the Growlithe perked up, saw Yuto looking at it, and immediately bounded forward again, tail wagging furiously, clearly eager for more attention, perhaps hoping to jump on Xiu this time.
"Okay, okay, down boy!" Yuto laughed, intercepting the overly enthusiastic Pokémon, wrestling it gently but firmly. The Growlithe seemed to interpret this as play, its energy levels somehow increasing further.
"He seems to like you," Xiu observed with a small smile, noting the genuine affection between the boy and his Pokémon, despite the boisterousness.
"Haha, sorry about that," Yuto said sheepishly, finally managing to get the Growlithe settled again, hugging it close while squatting on the floor. He seemed practiced at handling its exuberance. What struck Xiu, however, was the ease with which Yuto controlled the surprisingly strong-looking Pokémon.
'Even though it's playful, Xiu noted inwardly, that Growlithe looks solid, powerful. Yet Yuto handles it effortlessly.'
"Alright, no more bothering the guest!" Yuto playfully ruffled Growlithe's mane, then gave it a gentle push away. "Go play."
As soon as Yuto released it, however, the Growlithe bounded directly towards Xiu, not aggressively, but with clear curiosity. It circled him once, sniffing intently at his clothes, perhaps catching the faint lingering scents of Abra, Happiny, and Scyther. Then, seemingly satisfied, it gave a happy bark and trotted off to explore the large living room.
Yuto watched it go, shaking his head with mock exasperation. "Honestly! Scaring our guest! Just wait till later…"
Xiu smiled genuinely this time. "It's alright. He just seems playful."
"So," Yuto turned back, curiosity bright in his eyes, "are you one of Grandpa's students? He rarely brings visitors home, especially younger ones."
"Ah, no, not exactly," Xiu admitted, feeling slightly awkward again. "I used to work part-time at the park's Rescue Station. I ran into the Director at the Certification Center today, just came by to pay my respects." He kept the explanation vague.
"Certification Center?" Yuto's eyes widened slightly in realization. "Oh, right! Today's the Breeder exam results, isn't it? No wonder Grandpa seemed preoccupied the last few days. I completely forgot!"
"Well," Xiu offered, finding a safe topic, "the assessment format changed quite a bit this year. The Director probably had a lot to manage…"
Finding common ground in discussing the exam, Xiu and Yuto fell into conversation. Xiu quickly realized that Yuto, despite his youth and seemingly carefree demeanor, possessed a surprisingly deep well of Pokémon knowledge.
On certain topics – particularly battle strategy and Pokémon physiology related to performance – his understanding seemed even more comprehensive than Xiu's own, gleaned mostly from books and limited practical experience.
Any lingering pride Xiu felt about passing the Junior Breeder exam after only a month of intense study quickly dissipated. This kid, likely receiving formal training and growing up immersed in this world, was clearly leagues ahead in practical application.
"Did you take the Breeder exam too?" Xiu asked curiously.
"Me? Nah," Yuto shook his head. "My school focuses mainly on Trainer development. Battle theory, strategy, physical conditioning… stuff like that. Most of us don't bother with the specific Breeder certification. We have a big unified exam coming up soon anyway that covers everything."
"Unified examination?" Xiu inquired.
"Yeah, standard practice just before graduation," Yuto explained. "All the major Trainer schools in the region participate. It covers theory, practical skills, battle simulations… the scores are used as placement benchmarks for advanced academies, university programs, even recruitment by League divisions…"
'Ah, Xiu thought, sounds like this world's version of standardized college entrance exams.' Similar concept, different context.
Before they could delve deeper into the topic, Bao Ba called out from the kitchen. "Dinner's ready! Come eat!"
Before Xiu could react, a blur of orange and black fur shot past him – Growlithe, summoned by the magic word 'dinner'. Yuto, anticipating the reaction, intercepted the excited Pokémon with outstretched arms just before it could crash into the dining area. The Growlithe, tail now wagging like a metronome gone wild, whined eagerly, straining towards the kitchen, practically dragging Yuto with it in its enthusiasm for food.
"Hey! Guests are here! Behave yourself!" Yuto scolded playfully, struggling to hold the surprisingly strong Pokémon back. Seeing the scene, Xiu couldn't help but smile helplessly.
Dinner was a simple, home-cooked meal— pleasant and comfortable. Xiu found himself relaxing slightly in the easy family atmosphere. Strangely, though, Bao Ba ate quickly and then excused himself, claiming urgent business to attend to, leaving Xiu alone with Yuto and the quiet Shirley (who had eaten silently and then immediately returned to her television program).
"Let me get that," Yuto insisted, quickly clearing the plates as Xiu automatically started gathering them. "You're the guest. Relax in the living room, or check out the backyard?"
Feeling awkward intruding further on Shirley's TV time, Xiu opted for the latter. He walked through the house, noticing a back door leading outside. Beyond it lay a beautifully landscaped backyard, quite different from the more formal front garden. A small stream, diverted from the front pond, meandered through it, surrounded by carefully chosen plants and rocks. A set of wrought-iron patio furniture sat invitingly in the center.
"Nice," Xiu murmured, admiring the peaceful setting. 'The world of the wealthy, indeed.' He found a quiet spot on the grass near the stream and decided to let his own Pokémon out for some fresh air after being cooped up in their Poké Balls all day.
He released Abra, Happiny, and Scyther. "Alright guys, stretch your legs."
As they emerged, Xiu began quietly recounting the day's events – the exam, meeting Yuto, the conversation with Bao Ba – partly to organize his own thoughts, partly just to share with his companions.
Scyther, after emerging, immediately began practicing slow, deliberate cutting motions, its presence feeling sharper, colder than before. The intensity of its recent training, combined with the trauma of the battles, seemed to be honing its focus, shaping its personality into that of a dedicated warrior.
Its damaged scythe, Xiu noted, had already regrown significantly during its time in the Poké Ball, the natural healing process aided by the device. The previously chipped and cracked edges were now smooth, sharp, perhaps even stronger than before, the new growth forming subtle, serrated edges along the blade.
'Interesting. From pursuing sharpness to pursuing lethality?' The potential for irregular, tearing wounds from those serrations was considerable.
Abra, as usual, sat cross-legged nearby, eyes closed, seemingly meditating, perhaps listening, perhaps not. Happiny, however, immediately scrambled onto Xiu's lap, demanding attention, occasionally climbing onto his back or trying to peek into his pockets. Xiu patiently removed it and set it down beside him, used to its affectionate clinginess.
"Are these your Pokémon?"
A voice from behind startled Xiu. He turned to see Yuto approaching, carrying the Growlithe, which was now calmer after its meal.