Looking at the two boys before him, Kawaki didn't forget his real goal—
—to farm rewards.
He turned his gaze toward their dirty, scruffy Zigzagoon and Poochyena, then offered with a smile:
"The day care also provides Pokémon cleaning services. These two little ones are a bit messy—would you like me to give them a bath?"
Ben and Randy glanced at their Pokémon and immediately showed embarrassed expressions.
"Yes, please!" they said.
Kawaki smiled. "No trouble at all."
He went to the backyard, filled two large basins with warm water at the tap, then placed the furry Zigzagoon and Poochyena into them.
First, he rinsed off the dust and dirt with warm water. Then came a good lathering with Pokémon-safe shampoo. Finally, he wrapped them in towels and carefully dried their fur.
There wasn't a hair dryer in the day care—but there was Growlithe.
Under Kawaki's command, Growlithe used Ember to start a small controlled flame. With the heat, it didn't take long for their coats to dry.
The two freshly cleaned Pokémon stared at their own reflections in the mirror, looking neat and shiny—and both had little sun icons pop up over their heads.
[Zigzagoon's mood improved. Joy +50. You received Zigzagoon's gift: Ability "Pickup."]
[Ability: Pickup – A special ability that sometimes lets the Pokémon find useful items after battle. This is Zigzagoon's specialty. Because you cleaned its coat and fed it, it's happy to teach you the technique. Usable: 1/1. Can only replace Pokémon that can naturally learn Pickup.]
[Poochyena's mood improved. Joy +45. You received Poochyena's gift: TM "Odor Sleuth."]
[TM (Odor Sleuth): A Normal-type move. Makes evasive or Ghost-type Pokémon easier to hit. Enhances a Pokémon's sense of smell, allowing for tracking, detection, and location. Uses remaining: 9999/9999.]
"Pickup and Odor Sleuth, huh…"
Both were utility-oriented traits and moves.
Kawaki didn't have a use for Pickup yet—especially since it was a replacement, not an addition. It functioned more like an Ability Capsule and only worked on eligible Pokémon.
As for Odor Sleuth—that was perfect for Growlithe.
Kawaki was planning to head to Meteor Falls to check things out and hopefully bring back a few Clefairy to help at the day care.
Thanks to Randy's intel about the Clefairy habitat, Growlithe's newly enhanced tracking ability, and Bewear's protection, finding them shouldn't be hard.
As night fell, the time crept toward 7 p.m.
After finishing their ramen, Ben and Randy headed to their room to rest early.
Bewear stayed behind in the kitchen, cleaning dishes.
It was Kawaki's fifth day in the Pokémon world, and he was slowly adjusting to life here.
He sat in the lobby, holding Growlithe in his arms, pondering the current situation and planning for what came next.
He hadn't expected that providing good food and hospitality to guests could also earn him gifts.
With that in mind, he figured the inn side of the business deserved more attention.
His cooking wasn't bad to begin with—he could start developing more recipes to add to the menu.
But doing all the work alone was exhausting.
Bewear could help with cleaning and chores, sure, but it wasn't enough.
So here came the next question—were there any Pokémon good at cooking?
A few silhouettes flashed through Kawaki's mind.
Oranguru—there was an Oranguru in Alola that ran a bar in the forest, cooking for Pokémon customers.
Gourgeist—Jessie from Team Rocket once had a Gourgeist that made apple puree and other treats to comfort her when she was sick.
Cutiefly and Ribombee—these two Fairy-types were experts at making sweets, crafting pollen puffs from collected nectar.
Mr. Mime—Ash's mom's Mr. Mime was practically a live-in butler, a master at both cleaning and cooking.
And of course, Meowth from Team Rocket.
While Meowth couldn't use moves, his survival skills were top-notch after years of traveling and his time in Hollywood. He could cook up a storm—whether it was snacks or full meals.
Ash and the others once raved about his shaved ice. Later, when he worked at a noodle shop, customers lined up for his cooking.
Unfortunately, apart from Mr. Mime and Meowth, the others were from different regions.
Even though Hoenn had native species, that special Meowth from Team Rocket couldn't be replicated.
And Kawaki didn't have any way of traveling to other regions—unless another day care was willing to collaborate.
After finishing the dishes, Bewear returned to the living room. Seeing Kawaki sitting there lost in thought while holding Growlithe, she didn't disturb him. Instead, she grabbed a broom and began her nightly chores.
Meanwhile, Kawaki used the TM to teach Growlithe Odor Sleuth.
The moment Growlithe learned the move, its nose twitched with heightened sensitivity.
It sniffed curiously in every direction, clearly fascinated by its new skill.
Then it turned its attention to Kawaki.
That smell—his scent—memorized!
No matter where Kawaki went, Growlithe could find him now!
"Alright, time to hit the books!"
Kawaki gently set Growlithe on the counter, then pulled a book from the shelf below.
These were ones he'd bought earlier from town:
"On Pokémon Breeding and Egg Formation,"
"Complete Pokémon Care Manual,"
"Comprehensive Herbology,"
"Basics of Pharmacology,"
"Field Ecology,"
...and so on.
To truly become a top-tier breeder and day care owner, the knowledge from his previous life just wasn't enough.
Even with his system, that was just a bonus—not his own strength.
And if it ever stopped working?
He had to rely on himself.
Which meant he had to keep learning.
Under the warm glow of the lamp, Kawaki quietly flipped through the pages while Growlithe ran in circles chasing its tail beside him.
Out in the courtyard, Oddish basked in the moonlight, enjoying life.
It was peaceful. Harmonious.
Bewear paused in her sweeping, watching the quiet scene.
Her gaze softened.
This moment, she thought, I'll remember forever.
This… this is happiness.