"Stop! What do you think you're doing?!"
Lucas, who had just returned from the restroom, was so shocked that he roared on the spot when he saw the scene in front of him.
A few minutes later.
"I'm very sorry… truly very sorry, President. I didn't know it was your Pokémon!"
Inside the CEO's office, the secretary bowed deeply, apologizing while Lucas pressed his temples, trying to keep his blood pressure under control.
Behind the secretary stood a group of security guards and male employees, each holding strange weapons—electric batons, mops, even stools.
"It's fine. Those who don't know aren't at fault. You can all return to your posts."
Lucas felt both helpless and speechless.
How could he blame them?
He had only gone to the restroom for a moment. When he came back, the scene in his office nearly gave him a heart attack.
A whole group of people were confronting Larvitar.
What really scared Lucas wasn't the thought of Larvitar being hurt—but the possibility of irritating it.
What if Larvitar stomped the floor and shattered it?
What if it suddenly used Rockfall?
This group would be asking for disaster.
The staff and security guards left reluctantly, still glancing back at the small green dinosaur with curiosity.
"What kind of creature was that just now?"
"It looked like a green lizard, but something felt off…"
"I've never seen anything like it. Its eyes looked so… intelligent."
"And did you notice its teeth? It bit through that table like tofu."
Hearing the whispers, Lucas merely smiled and said nothing.
Turning back, he froze.
"…You little ancestor, stop chewing that!"
Larvitar was once again gnawing on the corner of his desk.
Lucas quickly pressed his hand on Larvitar's head, scolding it with a helpless but indulgent expression.
Hadn't the boss warned him already?
This little guy was a big eater—but Lucas had just fed it a whole box of energy cubes!
Hungry or not, chewing furniture was not acceptable.
"you…"
Larvitar turned its head and looked at Lucas with grievance written all over its face.
"…Alright, alright. I'll get you more energy cubes."
"you~ you!"
Larvitar's mood instantly flipped. It happily hugged Lucas's calf and rubbed against it, squeaking joyfully.
"Haha…"
Lucas couldn't help laughing as he bent down and rubbed Larvitar's head.
This little thing was truly adorable.
The secretary watched silently from the side, blinking.
…Was it her imagination?
Why did this small green dinosaur suddenly seem a little cute?
Lucas placed another box of energy cubes on the floor. Larvitar immediately pounced on it and began eating with satisfaction.
"By the way, President," the secretary said once Lucas sat back down,
"A major university has invited you to attend their 20th anniversary celebration as a special guest."
"My alma mater…"
Lucas thought for a moment.
"Yes. The event is in half a month."
"Help me respond and clear my schedule for that day."
After all, it was his former school.
He could set a good example for the juniors—and more importantly, those students were all potential talents.
"Understood," the secretary nodded.
"What do you think of Larvitar?"
Lucas suddenly said, smiling slightly,
The secretary hesitated, then answered honestly.
"…Very special. Strange. And… kind of cute."
Lucas chuckled.
"Did you ever raise a pet?"
"I had a cat back in school."
"Good. If you're free tomorrow, come with me to a Pokémon shop."
He glanced at Larvitar, now lying on the floor and patting its own belly.
"…I think I've been neglecting it. It needs a companion."
"Huh?" The secretary was confused.
"And why don't you raise a Pokémon too?" Lucas added thoughtfully.
"We can battle occasionally."
The boss had said that besides nutrition, Pokémon also needed training and combat to grow properly.
"Huh…?" The secretary tilted her head, completely lost.
Pokémon?
Battle?
Lucas suddenly glanced at the desk corner that had been chewed away.
"Oh, right. Order a new desk."
"When the new one arrives, leave this one for Larvitar to chew. It seems to like it."
Secretary: "..."
Her brain was officially overloaded.
---
Pokémon Home
"So, do you two want to try this?"
Ren smiled as he held the shop manager's Pokédex, gesturing toward the siblings in front of him.
"Can I draw a Pokémon like Diancie, Charmander, or Vulpix with this?"
Ava blinked her large eyes curiously.
She had calmed down a lot, but her gaze still drifted toward the counter from time to time.
"Yes," Ren nodded.
"And don't worry about Diancie. If you really like it, you can draw one yourself."
Ava pursed her lips in excitement and took the Pokédex.
"Great! I'll try it!"
Her brother Liam remained quiet, standing beside her and watching calmly.
Even after seeing it with his own eyes…
The existence of Pokémon still felt unreal.