Chapter 116: Daily Life
After hearing Professor Oak's confirmation that Abra's Pokéblocks were acceptable, Xiu felt a wave of relief. He'd been genuinely worried Oak might reject his formula entirely.
"Right then," Professor Oak said, clearly eager to move past the food discussion. "Back to work. Data doesn't analyze itself."
As Oak turned back towards the lab stairs, Xiu, feeling slightly emboldened, couldn't resist a parting shot. He casually picked up the beaker containing the sample Abra Pokéblocks he'd brought for Oak to inspect.
"You know, Professor," he remarked thoughtfully, swirling the small, nutrient-dense cubes, "these are packed with brain-boosting compounds. Excellent for cognitive function." He paused, then added with feigned seriousness, "People in high-stress research fields, especially those prone to late nights… they really should supplement their diet. You know, uh, preventive care. Otherwise," he shook his head sadly, "stress-induced hair loss… premature baldness… it's a real risk. Tragic, really."
He saw Professor Oak stiffen slightly on the stairs. "Go play outside," Oak grumbled without turning around, his voice tight, clearly annoyed. "And don't disturb my work." He then hurried up the stairs and disappeared into the lab.
Xiu smirked, immensely satisfied. "Hey! Professor, you can't just dismiss preventive health!" he called playfully after Oak, knowing the Professor would choose to ignore him. He carefully sealed the beaker of Pokéblocks and placed it back on the kitchen counter.
Alone again in the living room, Xiu reflected on the interaction. 'Professor Oak's resistance to the idea of eating Pokémon food, even high-quality, high-grade ingredients formed into pellets… it was strange.' Director Bao Ba, during their brief ration-making lessons back at the park, had occasionally sampled ingredients or even finished products without hesitation, purely out of curiosity or to check the taste profile.
'Why was Professor Oak so different? Maybe just a personal aversion? Or perhaps… he grinned inwardly, …my 'cookie' trick embarrassed him more than I thought.'
He recalled his own initial skepticism about Pokéblocks, then remembered their surprisingly pleasant, nutty flavor after being roasted. 'Honestly, they're pretty tasty.'
He had been eating the leftover Abra test batches himself for days to avoid waste – the bitter Persim Berry flavor thankfully mellowed by the roasting process into something subtly complex, almost aromatic. 'A fascinating discovery, actually. Perhaps other berries undergo similar transformations with different preparation methods?' Heat altering chemical compounds, changing flavors, maybe even enhancing certain effects? It was an area ripe for experimentation, perfectly aligning with his Breeder studies.
'And Professor Oak's comment... maybe… just maybe… did they have a minor effect on humans too? Probably placebo,' he admitted realistically. But the thought reminded him of another potential avenue: specific berries rumored to affect mental states. He recalled reading descriptions – possibly in one of the Stationmaster's more esoteric notebooks – of a rare berry, supposedly shaped like a small purple gourd, called… Payapa Berry, said to enhance resistance to psychic influence.
'Could that help me mitigate the effects of Abra's effecrs?'
While he didn't fear death itself anymore, the prospect of slow neurological decline, of becoming a 'mess' as Oak had bluntly put it… that did worry him. Living two more years, or even ten, but as a vegetable? Unacceptable. Finding some way to counteract the psychic contamination felt crucial, but rare berries like that… were likely expensive and hard to source. He'd probably need Professor Oak's help, leveraging his connections.
'Another favor to potentially ask… another negotiation.' He sighed.
Pushing those thoughts aside for now, Xiu headed towards the warehouse to start his afternoon duties.
— — —
"Professor!" Xiu called out later that day, finding Professor Oak back in his study, seemingly taking a break from the lab.
"What is it now, Xiu?" Professor Oak replied, sounding slightly weary, looking up from a journal he was reading.
"Brought you something, Professor," Xiu said cheerfully, stepping forward. "Some proper snacks this time." He placed two sealed glass jars on the desk beside Oak's teacup.
Oak eyed the jars suspiciously. "More 'cookies'?"
"No, no!" Xiu laughed. "Preserved fruits. Made them myself." He gestured to the jars. "This one," he pointed to a jar filled with bright red slices, "is mainly Cheri Berry based. Sweet, good for energy. This one," he indicated the jar with pale yellow crescents, "uses Pecha Berries. Slightly tangy, good for digestion." He added proudly, "Good stuff! My own recipe. You won't find these anywhere else."
"You made these?" Oak picked up one of the jars, examining the contents with genuine curiosity this time. "Preserving berries… requires specific techniques to maintain their properties."
"Learned a few things," Xiu replied modestly. He'd indeed spent some of his 'free' time experimenting with preservation methods described in the Stationmaster's notes, wanting to find ways to store beneficial ingredients long-term.
Oak opened the Pecha Berry jar, sniffing cautiously, then tried a small piece. His eyebrows rose slightly in surprise. "Hmm. Not bad. Quite palatable." He seemed genuinely impressed. "So," he set the jar down, looking at Xiu shrewdly, "what's the catch? What favor do you need this time?" He clearly suspected an ulterior motive behind the gift.
"No catch, Professor!" Xiu insisted innocently. "Just thought you might enjoy a snack. A small thank you for your help, for letting me stay here." He kept his expression open, friendly. He did eventually want to ask about sourcing Payapa Berries, but knew timing was crucial— pushing Oak now, while the Professor seemed slightly annoyed or tired, would be foolish. Better to build goodwill first. Play the long game.
"Really?" Oak regarded him skeptically for another moment, then seemed to accept Xiu's explanation at face value, perhaps too tired to probe further. He picked up the Cheri Berry jar. "Well then. Thank you, Xiu. Thoughtful of you."
"Haha~" Xiu just offered an awkward laugh in response. "Well, enjoy the snacks, Professor. I should get back to my duties." He quickly excused himself, leaving the study before Oak could change his mind or ask more questions.
As Xiu left, Oak popped another piece of the preserved Cheri Berry into his mouth, savoring the sweet taste. He looked at the two jars, then glanced towards the now-empty beaker on his desk where Xiu's 'Pokéblock cookies' had been earlier. A thoughtful expression crossed his face. "Thoughtful indeed," he murmured again, a complex smile playing on his lips.
Xiu, meanwhile, hurried back towards the warehouse, relief washing over him. 'Dodged that bullet.' Dealing with Professor Oak required constant vigilance and careful maneuvering, but for now, peace offerings seemed to be working.
He mentally reviewed his plans. Stabilize Abra. Train Scyther. Research evolution paths. Find Payapa Berries. Pass the next level Breeder exam. Earn enough money to be truly independent. And somehow, eventually, find a way to live freely, fully, in this strange new world, for however long he had left.
'So much to do.' He sighed, then squared his shoulders. 'One step at a time.'