Night deepened.
Shiroishi pushed open the wooden door of the Breeding House, greeted by the familiar scent of herbs and timber.
The lamps inside were lit, their soft glow reflecting off the walls, dispelling the damp chill of the night.
He gently closed the door and took a deep breath.
The cool air carried a hint of rain, calming his entire being.
He let out a soft sigh.
As he turned around, a nimble shadow leaped out from the corner.
"Eevee!"
Like a gentle breeze, Eevee jumped into Shiroishi's arms before hopping onto his shoulder.
It tilted its head slightly, gazing at its master with round eyes, its tail swishing with a cheerful sound.
"What's wrong, Eevee?"
Shiroishi reached out, smiling as he rubbed its head.
Eevee didn't speak, merely chirping a few times before standing on its toes to lick Shiroishi's cheek.
The moist, warm sensation made Shiroishi pause momentarily.
He looked down, meeting those clear amber-like eyes.
Reflected in Eevee's pupils was his slightly weary figure.
"Heh..."
Shiroishi chuckled softly, raising his hand to smooth its fur.
"Are you... comforting me?"
Eevee responded with a "Vee," its tail wagging with faint rustling sounds.
Its expression was simple yet carried a comforting warmth.
Shiroishi understood clearly.
Though it couldn't speak, it could sense his emotions.
This spiritual connection ran deeper than words.
Ever since they formed their bond, Eevee had been acutely aware of his emotional fluctuations.
"You like this, don't you?" Shiroishi murmured. "A peaceful life, gentle nights, simple laughter."
His tone was gentle but gradually tinged with resignation.
"But I can't indulge in this."
He walked to the window and pushed open a section of the wooden frame.
The night breeze carried raindrops into the room, stirring his hair and making the candlelight flicker.
Distant streetlights swayed in the rain as water trickled over stone pavements.
Eevee rested quietly on his shoulder, its ears twitching slightly.
It seemed to understand its master's words.
Its usually lively expression softened as it quietly nuzzled against Shiroishi's neck.
The gesture held both a hint of stubbornness and concern.
Sensing this, Shiroishi chuckled softly and stroked its ears.
"You've only been born recently, and you're already worrying about me?"
His voice carried a note of affection.
Eevee looked up at him, emitting small murmurs that sounded both like protest and acting cute.
Shiroishi couldn't help but laugh aloud. The light laughter broke all silence in the room.
"Alright, alright, I understand."
He gently tapped Eevee's forehead with his fingertip.
"I won't let myself fall. You just focus on growing up safely."
Eevee chirped in response again, its tail brushing past his cheek with soft rustling.
As if saying: I believe in you.
Shiroishi paused briefly before letting out a soft laugh.
"So clever."
He turned and walked back to the table, gently hanging his coat over the chairback.
The flickering candlelight cast shadows of him and Eevee against the wall - the silhouette of a human and Pokémon standing together.
The rain continued falling, tapping against the eaves.
Shiroishi looked down at Eevee on his shoulder, his gaze tender.
"Starting tomorrow, we'll be busy again."
The night rain continued falling.
The wind outside lightly tapped against the window frame.
In the quiet, only the sound of rain remained.
Shiroishi was sitting at his desk, organizing the incubation records of a new batch of Ninja Beast Eggs.
He focused intently as he wrote a few lines, when suddenly, the little Eevee on his shoulder stirred gently.
Gazing at Shiroishi, Eevee called out softly...
Its tail swayed slowly, as if sensing something.
Shiroishi looked up, about to ask, when he saw a faint blue glow suddenly appear behind Eevee.
The light was extremely gentle, yet flowed with strange undulations.
Immediately after, a clear stream of water slowly materialized behind it.
"Water flow...? In the air?"
Shiroishi was momentarily stunned.
The water quickly coalesced, forming a crystalline bubble that hovered in mid-air.
The bubble was transparent and smooth, with subtle blue light flowing inside, like a water droplet enveloping Chakra.
"What is this...?"
Shiroishi murmured to himself.
He reached out and carefully touched the water bubble.
The moment his fingertip made contact, he felt a delicate fluctuation transmit through his skin.
It wasn't just ordinary water, but an energy filled with life essence.
Gentle, warm, even carrying healing power.
"Is this... a Chakra reaction?"
Shiroishi frowned slightly, a flash of surprise in his eyes.
He closed his eyes, concentrating on perceiving the flow of that power.
Soon, the Chakra within his body resonated in response. The energy emitted by the bubble not only nourished his skin but was also slowly repairing the vitality drained from him by the World Tree.
This restorative power... seems stronger than Life Dew?
He whispered in amazement.
Eevee tilted its head, looking at him with a glimmer of pride in its eyes.
"Ee—vee!"
It called out softly twice, then flicked its tail again, causing new water bubbles to appear one after another.
One, two, three...
In that moment, the entire room seemed illuminated.
The bubbles floated in the air, reflecting the candlelight, emitting a dreamlike radiance.
Shiroishi's gaze deepened as he prepared to analyze carefully, when suddenly an intangible stream of information appeared before his eyes.
[Eevee's intimacy level has increased. Acquired skill: Lively Bubble]
[Skill description: Lively Bubble is a Partner Skill that can convert Chakra into thrown water spheres for attack.
When the water bubble hits a target, it will absorb a portion of the target's Chakra and restore health or Chakra equal to half the damage dealt.]
[Host has acquired Water Release: Lively Bubble.]
Unlike the purely supportive power of Life Dew.
This Lively Bubble was a multi-functional ninjutsu combining offense and defense.
Water Release?
In that instant, he could clearly feel the changes in his body's Chakra.
A gentle Water Release attribute awakened, flowing slowly from the World Tree's mark into his meridians.
Purer, more resilient, even carrying the warmth of life.
He raised his hand, a faint blue glow appearing in his palm.
As his will flowed, a water bubble condensed at his fingertip.
Water Release: Lively Bubble.
He softly spoke the skill name, then lightly flicked his finger.
The bubble immediately flew out and struck the wooden wall nearby.
With a soft pop, the bubble burst, dispersing into fine mist.
Shiroishi felt his Chakra instantly flow back, truly restoring some of his fatigue.
He looked down at his palm and smiled faintly.
...A Water Release that combines attack and healing?
Eevee looked at him, its eyes full of proud light.
It jumped onto the desk, raising its head as if showing off its new ability.
Shiroishi reached out and gently stroked its head.
"So you're growing up too..."
Eevee let out a soft cry, its tail gently brushing against his arm.
The touch was warm and soft, carrying a comforting power.