At the sound of the cry, Grey's expression said, "Knew it."
Vast yet tangled Aura meant the Pokémon was tied closely to Aura.
Which Pokémon fit that bill…?
Only Riolu.
If he'd merely guessed before, that cry sealed it.
Grey turned.
A small, blue, pup-like Pokémon stood there on two legs, black mask-like markings on its face—staring at him…
No—staring at the bulging bags behind him.
"Rio…"
Riolu's eyes were hungry enough to bore holes, but when it noticed Grey in the way, it pressed its lips together and shuffled half a step back.
Even so, it held its ground and met his gaze.
"Little guy, did you swipe these bags?"
Grey asked.
"Rio."
Riolu nodded—no lies.
"I see. But what's inside is a bit pricey."
Grey narrowed his eyes, then tested, "Tell me—did you escape from someone?"
Riolu froze a moment, its body trembling, head lowering on its own, unable to meet Grey's eyes.
No answer—and also an answer.
"I get it…"
Grey let out a long breath.
When he'd first realized his fridge was raided, he'd been furious.
But learning this Riolu fled the black market washed most of that anger away.
"Raalts."
Ralts hopped down from Grey's shoulder and scampered up to Riolu, like meeting an old friend.
They'd both been sold into the black market.
The only difference: Riolu ran; Ralts was sold to Youmu and then tossed aside.
But they shared one more thing—
They both met Grey.
"Rio?"
Seeing Ralts, Riolu remembered the Ralts that had been bought not long ago.
But the buyer's Aura hadn't matched this human's—neither had the feeling behind it.
Grey felt warm, anger restrained under the surface.
Hearing Grey's questions, Riolu understood why he'd come.
It had stolen from his home.
"All right—don't do that again."
Grey lifted the bags, then placed a bottle of Moomoo Milk and an Oran Berry in Riolu's hands. "Eat. If it's not enough, say so."
"Rio!"
Riolu visibly perked up; even its ears swayed.
It nibbled the Oran, and in a few bites polished off a third of the milk+berry combo.
Two thirds remained.
"Hm? Not hungry anymore?"
When Riolu suddenly stopped, Grey blinked.
The bags hadn't been touched—only the food he handed over.
By rights Riolu should be starving. Why quit after a few bites?
"Rio!"
Riolu turned, carrying the berry and milk back toward the hideaway.
Grey arched a brow and followed.
Two more Pokémon came into view.
One looked like a mushroom; the other, an orange-red chick.
Shroomish and Torchic.
The classic chicken-with-mushrooms combo.
Grey swallowed.
He hadn't expected a bonus like this.
"Tor…"
"Shroo…"
Seeing Riolu return, Torchic and Shroomish brightened—
—then their eyes slid up and froze on Grey.
Who's this?
Unlike Riolu, they couldn't read Aura. Their time in the black market made them wary of humans.
If Riolu hadn't kept them from bolting, the two would already be gone.
"Hey there."
Grey smiled, fishing out two bottles of Moomoo Milk and offering them to Torchic and Shroomish. "A little something to say hi."
"Tor?"
Confused, Torchic sniffed the sweet milk—and reason bailed.
Gulp, gulp…
In no time it drank a third.
Then passed the remaining two thirds to Shroomish.
"Shroo…"
Shroomish's eyes brimmed; fat tears rolled down.
The three passed the milk around, none taking more than their share.
It moved Grey.
"Raalts."
Ralts tugged Grey's sleeve; the bright eyes under its fringe said plenty.
"I know."
Grey rubbed Ralts's head, then handed over the rest of the food from the bag.
"Eat up. After what you've been through, you must be starving."
"Rio!"
"Tor!"
"Shroo!"
At his words, the three burst into fresh tears, eating while brimming with gratitude.
Grey just watched them quietly until the bag was empty.
"Rio—"
Riolu patted its belly and burped.
"Okay. Since you're done, I'll get going."
Grey stood, masked up, and waved goodbye to the trio.
He walked a few dozen meters.
"Raalts?"
Ralts was puzzled.
From the feelings it sensed, Grey clearly liked them.
So why say goodbye?
Questions or not, Ralts kept quiet.
Back in the depths, Riolu, Torchic, and Shroomish looked from the stuffed bags to Grey's retreating back, then to one another.
They nodded in unison.
And cried out in Grey's direction—
"Rio!" (Wait!)
"Tor!" (Us too!)
"Shroo!" (Please stop!)
One after another, their voices halted him.
"All right. In that case… let's go together."
The corners of Grey's mouth lifted. He set three Poké Balls on the ground.
Thunk, thunk, thunk…
All three entered. Captures, clean and instant.
"Woohoo!"
Grey clipped the balls to his belt and headed for the Fighting Dojo.
…
The dojo was unusually quiet.
"Huh. Why is it empty today? We had two challengers yesterday."
Seeing no one at the door, Grey figured maybe his stream hadn't boosted reach and didn't overthink it.
Popularity takes time; one stream won't make you explode.
He gave himself a mental thumbs-up, slid the key into the lock, and opened his video dashboard.
A tidal wave of DMs hit him.
[Grey-Only Fan: Whoa—Stamina + Encore as a combo? Is that a Fighting-type trainer strat? Noted.]
[Cerulean Gym A-Four: That Primeape has weight behind every punch. Solid training.]
[Onlooker: Did the dojo change leaders? I passed by and a woman opened the door. Looked familiar, too.]
[Glory of Pallet—Blue: ? No way. I challenged yesterday—it was Leader Grey.]
[Just-a-Deer: Random passerby here—heard Sabrina's staying at the dojo. What's their relationship?]
That last message detonated the thread with "???" replies, and more than a few demanded Grey "explain himself."
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