Heath found himself at the Pokémon Center once again. Lately, he felt like he was spending a lot of time there. In the past four years, apart from occasionally delivering food, he rarely visited the Pokémon Center.
After all, he didn't have any Pokémon and had a mountain of debt to pay off. Fortunately, things had improved a lot now, and Heath finally had his own Pokémon—soon to be his third one.
"Nurse Snow, how's Charmander doing?" Heath asked Nurse Snow, handing her three breakfast crapes he made with the leftover ingredients from today.
Medical staff are always busy, no matter the world. Heath knew how hard Nurse Snow and her team worked, so he wanted to thank her for her help with these pancakes.
"Charmander is recovering well, but for some reason, he gets very upset when he sees whips or candles," Nurse Snow said, writing in a medical record as she spoke.
Heath's expression became odd. He could guess why Charmander reacted that way. It seemed that Little Adams had some peculiar hobbies. The sight of such equipment would make anyone think it belonged to a professional.
"Can I take Charmander home today?" Heath asked, looking at Nurse Snow with anticipation. Whether Charmander could be discharged depended on her approval.
"Of course, just remember what I said. Charmander shouldn't engage in intense training until his skin heals properly," Nurse Snow nodded and then irritably scratched her head before returning to her work.
Heath quickly left, sensing that Nurse Snow was a bit agitated. Even someone as kind as her could lose her temper. No one in the world was immune to anger.
With Nurse Snow's approval, Heath headed to the ward and saw Charmander sitting on a chair, holding an orange and lifting it repeatedly.
Heath watched curiously, noticing that Charmander seemed to be a very focused Pokémon. Last time in his food truck, Heath had opened the cabinet without Charmander noticing.
Now, even with Heath standing behind him, Charmander was still lifting the orange. The action looked familiar to Heath.
"Isn't that the exercise Farfetch'd used to do?" Heath mused, touching his chin. When he had taught Farfetch'd to use that set of fitness equipment, Farfetch'd had lifted dumbbells in the same manner.
But Farfetch'd had stopped using that equipment long ago. It seemed that whims couldn't sustain long-term habits.
"Char!" Charmander was so startled by Heath's presence that he crushed the orange in his hand. Heath couldn't help but laugh.
"Charmander, I'm here to take you home," Heath said, squatting in front of Charmander and smiling as he extended his hand.
Charmander hesitated, then cautiously placed his paw in Heath's hand. Heath felt a slight tremble when Charmander's paw made contact.
It seemed Charmander was still a bit nervous, but Heath wasn't in a rush. Trust was something built over time.
"I'm going to put you in a Poké Ball, okay?" Heath took out a regular red-and-white Poké Ball. Charmander nodded, and Heath sighed in relief.
One Zorua was enough. If he had another Pokémon like Charmander, he might worry about being targeted by Pokémon hunters during his travels.
After bringing Charmander home, Heath prepared dinner for Officer Jenny and her team, as well as his own Pokémon.
To welcome Charmander, Heath made a special barbecue, though without any alcohol. He took out red and blue sodas from the food truck's fridge.
"Welcome, Charmander," Heath said with a smile, pouring a glass of Charizard Soda for Charmander, who nervously accepted it.
"Hmph, another unlucky one joins the team. Such misfortune," Zorua sighed while munching on her meat skewer.
Heath tapped Zorua on the head, feeling like she made him sound like an abusive trainer. But Charmander didn't seem to notice, too engrossed in eating the roast duck Farfetch'd had cooked.
Farfetch'd, tired from practicing its new technique, had decided to help Heath by cooking roast duck. Heath had supervised and guided Farfetch'd through the process.
"Looks like we have a little foodie on our team," Heath chuckled, watching Charmander devour the duck meat faster and faster.
"Farfetch'd~" Farfetch'd proudly waved its wing, clearly pleased with itself. Heath glanced at it, noting that its roast duck cooking skills had improved.
"Farfetch'd, how's your mastery of the new technique coming along?" Heath asked, deciding to curb Farfetch'd's arrogance a bit.
"Farfetch'd says its wings are sore and it'll practice more tomorrow," Zorua said, still munching on her meat skewer, her fur smeared with grease.
Heath sighed, feeling helpless. Farfetch'd was so lazy despite its earlier confidence. It seemed the new technique would be a long-term project.
Just as Heath was about to say something, he noticed that Charmander had finished eating and was now standing beside Farfetch'd, staring intently at its legs.
Heath glanced at the roast duck. Both legs were gone.
"You're so lazy. How can you be a chef like this? You promised Sister Feng that you'd learn for sure," Heath scolded, but his main attention was on Charmander.
Charmander's mouth began to water. He wiped it away, swallowed, and then aimed his mouth at Farfetch'd's legs.
"Farfetch'd! Farfetch'd!" Farfetch'd flapped its wings, seemingly arguing, completely unaware of Charmander.
The next second, Charmander spit out a small flame, igniting a tuft of feathers on Farfetch'd's leg.
Heath watched the scene unfold, his expression growing even more peculiar.
(End of Chapter 75)