When Leyn woke again, the sun had that was in the east side of the house now sits right at the top of it indicating that it was now noon The faint hum of the house surrounded him, mingled with the quiet chirping of Pidgey outside.
He blinked the sleep from his eyes and sat up slowly. His head felt clear now, the dull ache from before completely gone. Feels… normal again.
He stretched his small arms, his fingers brushing the air. The Poké Ball-shaped clock on the wall caught his eye. The hands pointed at 12:02 PM.
"Twelve already?.."
Just then, the familiar sound of footsteps echoed up the stairs. They were light, careful steps — his mother's.
"Leyn?" Rhea's gentle voice called from the hallway. "Are you awake, sweetheart?"
"Yeah, Mom," he answered, his voice still a little sleepy.
The door opened, and Rhea peeked in, smiling softly when she saw him sitting up.
"Ah, you're awake. I was about to come ask if you wanted to eat here or downstairs."
Her sky-blue hair shimmered faintly in the light, tied back in a loose bun. The apron she wore was dusted with flour, and a faint scent of baked Oran pie followed her in.
Leyn tilted his head. "Downstairs sounds nice. I feel better now anyway."
Rhea looked him over carefully, her expression still full of concern. "You're sure you can walk around? No dizziness?"
He nodded. "Promise."
"Alright," she said softly, a hint of relief in her tone. "Let's go then."
The stairs creaked beneath their steps as they made their way down together. The living room was bathed in soft afternoon light, and the air carried the gentle aroma of food cooling on the table.
Rhea guided him to a chair and placed a plate before him — rice, warm vegetable soup, and a slice of Oran pie for dessert.
Leyn clasped his hands together out of habit. "Thanks for the food."
Rhea smiled, taking the seat across from him. "Eat slowly, okay?"
As they ate, the quiet hum of the house felt almost comforting. The window near the table overlooked the path that led toward the distant outline of the Oak Research Lab. The light glinted faintly off its glass panels.
Leyn's eyes lingered there for a moment before he spoke. "Mom?"
"Yes, dear?"
"I was thinking…" He paused, choosing his words carefully. "Tomorrow, can I go to Professor Oak's lab? Just to say thank you — for helping with the fever, I mean."
Rhea blinked in mild surprise, then smiled gently. "That's very thoughtful of you, Leyn. I'm sure the Professor would be happy to see you."
Her eyes softened, pride flickering beneath her calm tone. "You really are growing up fast."
Leyn rubbed his neck, cheeks turning faintly pink. "Not that fast…"
She laughed lightly, shaking her head. "Maybe not. But you have that look your father gets — the kind that says he's already thinking about his next project."
He smiled quietly, spooning another bite of soup. If only she knew what I'm really thinking about…
After lunch, Rhea insisted he rest again, but Leyn had other ideas. Once she was busy cleaning up in the kitchen, he slipped away quietly to wander the house again.
He explored every corner — the bookshelves stacked with research journals, the small framed photos on the walls, the scent of coffee and paper lingering near the study.
This place… feels warm. Lived-in.
His small hands brushed against the furniture as he walked. Everything still felt too big — the height of the cabinets, the size of the chairs — but it didn't bother him. In a strange way, it made him feel safe.
He ended up near the window again, watching the clouds drift lazily across the sky. The distant sound of Wingull cries carried faintly through the wind.
By the time dusk fell, the house was bathed in a soft orange glow. The sun dipped low behind the trees, casting long shadows across the floor.
The sound of the front door opening broke the calm.
"I'm home," Gerald's deep voice called from the entryway.
Rhea's voice followed from the kitchen. "Welcome back! Dinner's almost ready!"
Leyn peeked from the hallway as his father stepped in, hanging his white lab coat neatly by the door. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and his violet eyes — the same shade as Leyn's — softened the moment they met his son's gaze.
"There's my little researcher," Gerald said with a faint grin, kneeling down slightly. "How are you feeling?"
"Better," Leyn said, smiling back. "Way better."
Gerald nodded approvingly. "Good to hear. You gave us quite a scare yesterday."
"Sorry…"
"No need to apologize," his father said, ruffling his hair gently. "Just focus on getting your strength back. If you need anything — and I mean anything — tell me, alright?"
Leyn nodded. "Okay."
Gerald smiled and stood, glancing toward the kitchen. "Now then, let's eat before your mother scolds both of us."
Leyn couldn't help but laugh. "You first, Dad."
"Smart boy," Gerald chuckled.
As the family gathered around the table that evening, the soft murmur of their voices mixed with the clinking of dishes and the faint hum of the night outside.
Through the window, the stars were beginning to appear — one by one, twinkling faintly over the quiet town of Pallet.
And for the first time since waking up, Leyn felt a deep, quiet peace settle inside him.
"Tomorrow, I'll go to the lab.." he thought, smiling faintly. ".And maybe… see my first Pokémon up close.."
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Morning sunlight spilled through the curtains, painting golden streaks across Leyn's room. The gentle warmth coaxed him awake, his small hand rubbing his eyes as he sat up. The faint chirping of Pidgey outside the window greeted the new day, the familiar sound oddly comforting.
He stretched a little, his movements still sluggish from his recent illness. The clock on his bedside table ticked quietly—7:45 a.m. He sat there for a while, taking in the calmness of the morning. Everything felt so serene… almost too serene.
A soft knock came at the door.
"Leyn? Are you awake, sweetheart?"
"Yeah, Mom," he answered. His voice was small, still sleepy.
Rhea opened the door, smiling as she peeked in. "Good morning, dear. Feeling better?"
"A lot better," he said, smiling back.
"That's wonderful," she said, stepping inside with a neat bundle of clothes in her arms. "Come on, let's get you changed. Remember, you wanted to visit Professor Oak today."
At the mention of the professor's name, Leyn perked up a little. "Right!" He hopped off the bed, wobbling a bit as his feet hit the floor. He was still getting used to how small he was compared to everything around him—the furniture, the doors, even the shelves that looked so high up now.
After getting dressed and washing up, he followed his mother downstairs. The smell of breakfast wafted from the kitchen—warm bread, eggs, and a light stew that Rhea had made. His father, Gerald, was already at the table, reading something on his tablet with his lab coat hanging over the chair.
"Morning, son," Gerald greeted without looking up at first. Then he met Leyn's eyes and smiled. "Feeling much better today, I see."
"Yeah," Leyn replied cheerfully, taking a seat. "I wanted to say thank you to Professor Oak for checking on me."
Gerald nodded approvingly. "That's a good thought. He'll be happy to see you up and about."
Rhea placed a plate in front of Leyn and gently ruffled his hair. "Eat well first before we go, okay?"
He nodded and began to eat, occasionally glancing toward the window where sunlight streamed in. The thought of going to the lab filled him with a quiet excitement. There was a strange sense of nostalgia he couldn't quite explain—like the idea of Pokémon and the people who studied them held a deep, familiar comfort.
After breakfast, Rhea helped him put on his little blue jacket, and together they left the house. The breeze was soft, carrying the faint scent of flowers and grass. Pallet Town stretched before them in peaceful stillness—small houses, winding dirt paths, and the distant chirp of Pokémon hidden among the trees.
As they approached the lab, the large white dome-like structure stood proudly atop a small hill. Its wind turbine turned lazily in the morning air. Leyn slowed down a bit, his eyes widening.
"It's… big," he whispered.
Rhea smiled at his awe. "It's your father's workplace too, remember? You've been here before, though you probably don't remember much."
They climbed the small slope leading to the entrance. Before they could knock, the door opened with a cheerful click!
"Ah, Rhea! Leyn!"
Professor Oak's warm voice greeted them as he stepped out, his white lab coat fluttering slightly from the breeze. His kind eyes softened as he looked at Leyn. "You're looking much better now, young man."
"Thank you, Professor," Leyn said politely. "For helping me before."
Oak chuckled, waving a hand. "No need to thank me. I'm just glad you're all right."
He bent down slightly to meet Leyn's eyes. "You know, you've always been quite the helper around here when you visit. The Pokémon missed you."
Leyn blinked. "They did?"
"Of course," Oak said with a grin. "Why don't we go see them? I'm sure they'll be happy to say hello."
Rhea smiled softly as Leyn's face brightened. Together, they stepped into the lab—past rows of books, machines humming quietly, and a few curious Pokémon wandering about. A Poliwag slid across the floor nearby, and a sleepy Bulbasaur lifted its head from a corner to watch them pass.
Leyn felt a small flutter in his chest. There was something about seeing them up close—their movements, their gentle eyes—that stirred something inside him.
"...They're amazing," he murmured under his breath.
Professor Oak chuckled. "They certainly are. Pokémon have a way of touching our hearts without even trying and why not go to them to say Hello I am sure that those Friends of yours are also missing you now. "
Hearing that Leyn expression looked lost in wonder but still shook his head and said." I just got sick so I don't want to Get close to and let them be infected, " Leyn's eyes Radiated with childlike innocence.
Rhea watched her son's expression soften with quiet wonder. She couldn't help but smile—seeing him like this, curious and gentle, reminded her of why she loved working with Pokémon too.
As the morning went on, Leyn stayed by Oak's side, asking little questions here and there about the Pokémon and how we're they doing.