Miss Jenny's efficiency was off the charts—by early the next morning, Kawaki's daycare had already received a delivery of Pokémon eggs from the Hoenn League.
Layla Jenny helped Kawaki move the eggs up to the second-floor incubation room. The room was outfitted with special incubators—nests designed to mimic the natural environments of bird Pokémon.
During renovations, Kawaki had installed fifty of them. Half were now occupied.
The Hoenn League had sent a total of twenty Pokémon eggs.
As the two of them placed the eggs into the incubators, Layla said, "Alright, for now, these are all the suitable eggs available. But the League's aware of your situation. If more become available, they'll send another batch."
"Thanks for everything, Layla-jie." After thinking it over overnight, Kawaki had decided that constantly calling her 'Miss Jenny' felt too distant. But calling her 'sis' felt too intimate, so this halfway title seemed best.
Layla was momentarily surprised, then smiled warmly. "Any time. Just let me know if you need help."
Clearly, she was in a good mood today.
Kawaki smiled in return and offered, "My daycare just got started, so I don't have much to repay you for everything you've done. But… if you don't mind, stay for lunch?"
Layla blinked in surprise. "You can cook?"
"Just learned." Kawaki said it with a straight face.
Layla beamed. "In that case, I'm looking forward to it."
That settled it—she'd accepted his invitation.
Yesterday afternoon, Kawaki had asked Bewear to accompany him into town for groceries. Now those ingredients would come in handy.
At noon, Kawaki stir-fried a few simple dishes and sat down at the table with Bewear, Growlithe, and Layla.
Layla looked at the food in amazement. "Looks like your talents don't stop at raising Pokémon—you've got a knack for cooking too!"
Kawaki replied, "Well, I live alone now, and it's not just me. I've got Bewear and Growlithe to look after too."
Layla understood. She picked up a slice of mushroom with her chopsticks and was surprised by how tasty it was.
Then she glanced at Kawaki. "I've been wondering… why didn't you want to return to the family back then?"
Surely the Jenny clan would've been better than an orphanage.
Kawaki paused.
He wasn't sure what the original Kawaki's reasoning had been.
After thinking a moment, he answered, "Because this place… this is where I grew up. My parents were here too. I just couldn't bring myself to leave."
The original Kawaki had returned here often. Maybe he really couldn't let go.
Layla nodded, saying no more.
They chatted while eating. After lunch, she said goodbye and rode her motorcycle back to Fallarbor Town.
Once she was gone, Kawaki went to the incubation room and scanned each of the twenty eggs.
Information began appearing in his mind.
[Lotad Egg: A Pokémon egg that will hatch into the Water/Grass-type Pokémon, Lotad.]
[Health: Healthy]
[Father: Ludicolo (Elite-level)]
[Mother: Tropius (Elite-level)]
"Lotad, huh… elite-level parents, at best..."
Kawaki continued checking.
[Glameow Egg], [Poochyena Egg], [Zigzagoon Egg], [Wurmple Egg], [Trapinch Egg], [Cacnea Egg], [Chingling Egg], [Bonsly Egg], [Solosis Egg]...
All fairly common Pokémon. Many were duplicates. The strongest parents among them were only Gym Leader-level. Not a single Champion-tier lineage.
Still, for wild Pokémon, that was already impressive.
He reviewed their incubation periods—some would hatch in days, others in months.
For the rural kids of Fallarbor Town, these eggs were a solid starting point.
Far safer than braving the wild to catch a Pokémon with no partner at your side.
As he looked at the eggs, Kawaki immediately thought of the boy who had come asking for a starter Pokémon.
That boy, Conan, had a particular love for Dragon-types.
Dratini, Dragonair—Kawaki didn't have anything that rare. But among the current batch, there was one that technically counted.
Trapinch.
Though it started as a Ground-type, when it evolved into Vibrava and then into Flygon, it gained the Dragon typing.
Technically. Close enough.
Four decimal places rounding—we'll call it a Dragon. Should satisfy the kid's dream.
Kawaki pulled out the contact Conan had left and dialed him on the newly-installed landline.
The moment Conan heard that the daycare had unhatched Pokémon eggs, he hopped on his bike and raced over from Fallarbor.
"Boss!"
The boy burst through the door, eyes wide with excitement.
Kawaki was behind the counter brushing Growlithe's fur.
The moment he stepped in, Conan noticed how different the place felt compared to his last visit.
It was lively!
Last time, the daycare had just been Kawaki, Bewear, and Growlithe. Now, the place was full of Clefairy!
Some were resting on the couch, others sweeping the floors, some tending flowers by the window.
So many Clefairy!
Conan was stunned. Were all these the boss's Pokémon?
"Long time no see, Conan. The daycare got a new batch of eggs this morning. Maybe you'll find one you like," Kawaki said, pausing his brushing.
"I wanna see!" Conan said eagerly.
Kawaki nodded and led him to the incubation room. As soon as they entered, Conan gasped at the sight of the twenty eggs cradled in their cozy nest-like incubators.
"Wow! So many!"
With too many to go through one by one, Kawaki asked, "What kind of Pokémon do you want?"
Conan answered immediately, "I want a Dragon-type! I love Dragon Pokémon—they're so cool!"
Kawaki thought, just as expected.
He led Conan to the Trapinch egg and said, "Out of this batch, this is the only one that matches your preference."