"Huh? It's kind of cute… What is it? A little water snake? A loach? Or maybe an eel?"
Emma leaned closer to the Pokédex screen the store manager had turned toward them, curiosity written all over her face.
"It looks like a snake… but it has tiny wing-like fins near its head. It's actually really adorable."
Lily let out a long breath of relief.
Snake, eel, whatever — as long as it wasn't a Bug-type.
If it had turned out to be another Bug-type, she swore she would've gone straight to a temple to pray for better luck.
"…Boss?"
Emma noticed Ren hadn't spoken yet. She blinked at him suspiciously.
Ren's expression was slightly strange.
"Miss Lily… it seems like all that showering, changing clothes, and praying you did today really worked."
"Huh?" Lily frowned. "Boss, don't tell me you're making fun of me again— wait… what do you mean?"
"I mean exactly what I said," Ren replied with a faint smile. "This Pokémon is very good."
Lily froze.
Very good?
Her eyes slowly widened.
"What is it?"
Ren looked at the small blue figure displayed on the screen and said clearly:
"Dratini."
"…Dratini?"
"Dratini?!"
Emma and Lily spoke at the same time.
But their reactions were completely different.
Emma was stunned.
Lily looked like she might faint from happiness.
Dratini.
One of the nine pseudo-legendary Pokémon Ren had mentioned before.
A true Dragon-type.
Not something with "dragon" in its name.
A real one.
"I—I actually got Dratini?!"
Lily didn't even know whether she wanted to laugh or cry. Her hands hovered awkwardly in the air, not knowing where to put them.
Emma's face darkened instantly.
You've got to be kidding me.
Ren shook his head with a soft chuckle. Lily had been hoping for a Dragon-type for so long. At least this time, luck was finally on her side.
After a few seconds, Lily was still frozen in place.
Ren coughed lightly.
"Miss Lily… about the purchase?"
"Yes! Yes! I want it! I want Dratini!"
She didn't even ask the price. She immediately pulled out her credit card and shoved it toward Ren.
Ren took the card helplessly.
"It's not going to run away. Please wait a moment."
He stepped into the back room.
Half a minute later, he returned.
And at his feet, slowly slithering forward, was a light-blue Pokémon about one meter long.
Lily gasped.
"So cute…"
Dratini's back shimmered with fine blue scales. Its belly was white. Its eyes were a soft lavender, clear and gem-like. Small white fins flared from the sides of its head.
It looked nothing like a cold, frightening snake.
It was gentle.
Delicate.
"mi~"
Dratini lifted its head slightly, looking around with innocent curiosity.
"Emma! Look at it!"
Lily grabbed Emma's arm and shook her excitedly.
Emma tried to maintain a calm expression… but her eyes were clearly bright.
It really was adorable.
Ren crouched slightly and gently patted Dratini's head.
"From now on, that young lady will be your trainer. Get along well with her."
"mi~"
Dratini blinked and looked at Lily.
Lily knelt down carefully and picked it up.
"Let's grow stronger together, okay? I'll make you the strongest Dragon-type ever!"
Dratini tilted its head.
It probably didn't understand.
But after a moment, its eyes curved into happy crescents.
"mi~!"
Lily's heart completely melted.
"You're too cute! How are you this cute?!"
She pressed her cheek against Dratini's smooth scales, looking like she might cry from happiness.
Ren smiled.
"Dratini are known for having very pure temperaments. Many of them are actually shy."
"It's small and cute right now," Lily said proudly.
"For now," Ren corrected gently. "Dratini has tremendous life energy in its body. As it grows, it sheds its skin repeatedly. Each time it molts, it becomes larger and stronger."
"How big can it get?" Emma asked.
"At least two meters," Ren replied calmly. "Possibly more."
Lily's eyes sparkled.
"It keeps growing?! That's amazing!"
Emma, however, quietly raised her Pokédex.
"Dratini. Dragon-type. The Dragon Pokémon.
Ability: Shed Skin.
Moves: Wrap, Leer, Twister, Aqua Jet, Dragon Rush.
Once believed to exist only in legends due to its rarity."
Emma blinked.
"Once believed to exist only in legends?"
Ren nodded.
"For a long time, Dratini was so rarely seen that people thought it was imaginary. Its existence wasn't officially confirmed until someone actually caught one."
Emma fell silent.
Meanwhile, Lily had already lifted Dratini high into the air like a trophy.
"As expected of me!"
Dratini stared at her with wide eyes.
It seemed to be wondering whether its new trainer was slightly… strange.
"There's good news that must be shared!"
Lily suddenly gasped and pulled out her phone.
Ren immediately had a bad feeling.
Click.
A selfie of Lily and Dratini.
Chat group: Pokémon House.
Lily: @Everyone
Lily: Look who got DRATINI!!!
Lily: From today onward, the strongest Dragon-type trainer has officially arrived!
Lily: Tremble before me!
Ren's phone began vibrating nonstop.
Emma's face darkened further.
She didn't even want to look.
How can someone be this smug?
Meanwhile, Lily hugged Dratini tightly, laughing like she had just won the lottery.
And Dratini, confused but comfortable in her arms, let out a soft:
"mi~"
-------------Author---------------
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