After returning home, Kai's parents started to cook, and Kai went back to his room with the Pokémon egg.
After gently placing the incubator on the table, he opened the received guide.
On the first page, a Pokémon's image appeared.
This Pokémon gave the impression of a fox, with most of its fur brown. The tip of its fluffy tail and its neck were a cream color. Its legs were short and slender, each with three toes and pink paw pads. Its brown eyes looked intelligent, and its long, rabbit-like ears made it incredibly cute.
Eevee, the Evolution Pokémon, Normal-type….
No matter how many times he looked, it was still adorable.
It was considered the perfect pet Pokémon—simply charming…
"According to the guide, pressing the buttons in sequence will drain the nutrient solution. After that, the Trainer needs to stay near the egg at all times."
Kai noted the big difference between becoming a Trainer in reality versus in the anime.
In the anime, starter Pokémon were given to new Trainers pre-raised and ready to battle after being caught.
In reality, however, new Trainers like him had to start from the egg, raising the Pokémon themselves.
Of course, the advantage of this system was that it helped form a stronger bond between Pokémon and Trainer. Pokémon tended to imprint on the first creature they saw after hatching.
Kai wasn't in a hurry to operate the device. He continued reading. Later in the guide was information about Eevee, though it amounted to only a few lines—just a brief data entry.
And a list of moves it could learn.
After a glance, Kai lost interest. This was clearly an extremely stripped-down Pokémon guide, roughly on par with the single-species info cards from the anime…
"The only useful part is the food recommendations, but that's common knowledge available online. Still, better to have it than not."
Time passed quickly. After Kai finished reading the guide, lunch was ready.
Kai rarely ate with his parents, usually eating in the school cafeteria. His parents were often busy with work, but today was an exception.
Having the whole family together for a meal felt good.
After lunch, Kai's parents helped him set up the incubation device.
They hadn't been able to become Trainers themselves, both due to timing and finances, so they were also very curious about Pokémon.
Operating the incubator was simple. In less than ten minutes, the nutrient solution was successfully drained.
Looking at the slightly moist egg, Kai decided he would keep it with him at all times—even while bathing and sleeping. He absolutely wouldn't miss the hatching.
Two days later.
Kai, wearing a scarf, took a delivery of fresh milk from the courier and carried it to the living room table.
Don't ask why he was wearing a scarf in summer—it was incredibly comfortable.
The silk scarf was a luxury item made from the silk of Bug-type Pokémon through multiple refining processes. Classified as a held item for Pokémon, its price was equivalent to a high-end brand bag. It was a gift from Kai's parents to the unborn Eevee, and also a disguised congratulatory gift for Kai becoming a Trainer.
When worn, it slightly boosted the power of Normal-type moves, which was perfect for Eevee. Kai had tested it by hitting a wall while wearing it—it hurt, but that wasn't the point….
It was just very comfortable to wear.
This texture… was incomparable.
Quickly opening the box, Kai took out a bottle and examined how it differed from ordinary milk.
This was the food he had prepared for Eevee.
Pokémon were much hardier than animals or humans. Some could fight right after birth.
As for diet, it didn't require extreme care—just needed to be nutritious.
In the anime, Brock's Happiny could walk around right after hatching and even toss an adult meters into the air. While that was likely due to Happiny's innate strength, it illustrated the magical nature of Pokémon.
According to Senior Sister Maya's recommendation, feeding newborn Pokémon Moomoo Milk from Miltank helped them grow healthy and strong.
This was also highlighted in the guide.
Miltank was a cow-like Pokémon, Normal-type and exclusively female. After absorbing enough nutrients, it could produce 20 liters of milk daily. This milk was highly nutritious for both humans and Pokémon, considered a premium product compared to ordinary milk. Consequently, Miltank ranches existed worldwide. This milk was one of the recommended foods for a newborn Eevee.
A 250ml bottle cost 45 yuan. Kai bought a box of 24 bottles; the total after discount was 998 yuan.
Considering the average worker's monthly salary was only 3,000 to 4,000 yuan, this milk was expensive… But the newborn period was crucial for high nutrition, so Kai didn't hesitate. The milk had arrived, and he didn't dare drink it…
Though, in the end, he couldn't resist trying one bottle.
"It's so delicious."
After drinking, Kai licked the white traces from the corner of his mouth. It was sweet with a lasting aftertaste, distinct from any other milk.
"When I have money, I'll make sure my family drinks Moomoo Milk like water…."
Now Kai had a new goal… As a foodie, he could hardly resist delicious temptations.
Milk was just the start. Before Eevee hatched, Kai kept busy. He used the over 6,000 yuan in his bank account to buy various items that might be useful for Eevee.
Over the past two days, Kai felt tired and sleepy every night, which taught him a truth:
If you aren't lazing around during the day, you won't have insomnia at night.
At the end of another day, Kai washed up, refreshed himself, placed the egg beside his bed, and slept.
In his dream, Kai saw himself passing the college entrance exams, becoming the Viridian City Champion, receiving offers from key universities with promises of resources… He and Eevee rose rapidly, passing the Professional Trainer assessment before university graduation, gaining both fame and fortune.
Then he woke up. Sunlight streamed into the room, and the egg also emitted a dazzling light. This dual radiance made Kai open his eyes.
As he watched the slowly cracking Pokémon egg, an expression of eager anticipation appeared on his face.