Eevee was about to hatch.
Owen's dark pupils were fixed on the Pokémon egg, his heart surging along with the rhythm of the glowing light.
Crack...
As the light flooded Owen's entire field of vision, a sharp sound rang out. He felt a sudden flash before his eyes, and then everything returned to calm.
The white-and-brown-patterned egg was now covered in a web of spiderweb-like cracks. Then, as the cracks spread, the shell gradually shattered away.
"Vee~"
Just as Owen's heart nearly leaped into his throat, a tiny living creature finally emerged from the egg, beginning to look around its surroundings with curiosity.
Compared to the pictures, a living Eevee was even more endearing.
It had smooth brown fur and a fluffy tail that curled at the cream-colored tip, which brushed against the floor as it moved.
Looking up, the Eevee noticed Owen. Its brown eyes were bright and full of life. When Owen offered a smile, the Eevee extended its short, slender legs and nudged toward him with its pink paw pads.
"Nice to meet you," Owen said with a smile, gently picking up the Eevee.
Treating the first creature they see upon hatching as a figure to depend on is a common instinct for most Pokémon, and little Eevee was no exception.
Held in Owen's arms, Eevee's long, rabbit-like ears twitched slightly. Its tiny black nose sniffed Owen's scent deeply, as if trying to etch every detail of him into its memory.
"Vee, Vee~~"
Slowly, Eevee grew bolder, nuzzling Owen even more firmly, seemingly finding it very comfortable.
"Eevee, from now on, we'll be each other's most important partners, okay?"
"Vee~"
Eevee looked at Owen affectionately. It might not have fully understood what he was saying, but it subconsciously nodded and let out a cheerful cry.
At this moment, it wasn't just Eevee feeling a sense of kinship; Owen, who had guarded the egg for days and witnessed its birth, had also fallen deeply in love with this clingy little fellow.
The First Bath
For a newborn Pokémon, it's best to give them a quick rinse with warm water.
Owen didn't forget this precaution. He soon brought Eevee to the bathroom and got to work. Fortunately, Eevee's species was indeed gentle by nature; Owen found interacting with it very easy and comfortable, requiring almost no effort.
After he finished rinsing its body, Eevee shook its fur and suddenly gave a little shiver. It seemed that even though the water was warm, being a newborn made Eevee susceptible to the slightest chill.
"Almost forgot."
Seeing Eevee's reaction, Owen slapped his forehead. He carried Eevee back to the bedroom and picked up the Silk Scarf from the bedside.
"Wrap yourself in this, you'll be warm in no time."
Owen explained as he personally wrapped the scarf around the neck of the curious Eevee. However, it was a comical sight—because Eevee was a newborn and quite small, the scarf looked oversized on it.
Owen was momentarily dazed by how cute it looked.
To his amusement, the large scarf actually provided better insulation; it could practically serve as a blanket. Simultaneously, Eevee let out another satisfied cry.
Owen continued to stare blankly.
"Vee?"
Seeing Owen in a daze, Eevee tilted its head in confusion.
"Ha, it's nothing. I'm just wondering when you'll grow up enough to actually wear it like a real scarf," Owen laughed, stroking Eevee's head.
Moomoo Milk and Sweet Dreams
Being a newborn, Eevee was curious about everything and very active. Owen didn't restrict its movements, following it around and introducing things one by one.
Lamps, mirrors, the fridge, the TV... these simple everyday objects kept Eevee entertained for a long time. Seeing Eevee so happy made Owen feel joyful as well; interacting with such a little creature made him feel young, even though he was only sixteen...
"Are you hungry? I've prepared some milk for you."
After playing for a while, Eevee began to show signs of fatigue. Being so active right after birth was already impressive.
Owen brought over the warmed milk. Even from a distance, Eevee caught the scent and immediately put on an expectant expression.
"Come here, drink slowly..."
Owen placed the container on the table and picked up Eevee, offering a gentle reminder.
"Vee~~"
Eevee blinked at Owen's instruction and jumped onto the table, eager to start. But just before taking a sip, it looked up at Owen with big, pleading eyes and pushed the container toward him. "Vee?"
Owen scratched his head, not understanding at first. After thinking for a moment, he guessed, "Do you want me to drink it?"
"Vee, Vee~" Eevee nodded vigorously.
"It's okay, I have plenty more. This is for you," Owen said, his heart nearly melting. He rubbed Eevee's head again, deeply moved by the little creature's gesture, unable to stop smiling.
Hearing this, Eevee obediently lowered its head and began to enjoy the premium Moomoo Milk.
Glug... glug...
As it drank, Eevee wore an intoxicated expression. It was clear that the deliciousness of the milk had instantly captured the little one's heart.
A large bowl of milk was the perfect nutritional intake for a newborn Eevee, and it finished it all in one go.
Immediately after, a classic scene occurred: tired from playing and full from eating, Eevee became drowsy and started nodding off.
Owen shook his head helplessly, wiped Eevee's mouth, unfolded the Silk Scarf, and placed the sleeping Pokémon on the bed, covering it with the fabric.
In its sleep, as if having a wonderful dream, Eevee rolled over and wrapped itself tightly in the Silk Scarf, wearing a satisfied smile as it drifted deeper into slumber.
The Reality of Upkeep
Owen swore he had been completely captivated by Eevee in an instant. He felt incredibly lucky to have chosen this little one as his starter.
While Eevee slept, Owen watched over it for a long time before quietly sitting down at his desk.
Ideally, Owen should have started studying seriously... but the image of Eevee kept lingering in his mind, making him look forward to the moment the little guy woke up.
"So hopeless," he muttered to himself before pulling out a recipe sheet.
Eevee was currently in its "Newborn Phase."
Three bowls of Moomoo Milk a day would suffice for the first three days. After that, he could start adding some solid supplements. After a week, the menu would need another update.
Owen had prepared materials including fruits, vegetables, porridge, and even some meats. Theoretically, these food combinations would allow Eevee to pass through the newborn phase smoothly and build a solid foundation.
Owen had invested a lot of money to prepare all this; his little "treasury" was nearly empty.
"I don't even put this much effort into feeding myself, and I have to do all the cooking too..." Owen grumbled, though his face told a different, much happier story.