Deciding to raise a Deino is one thing.
Deciding which Deino to raise is quite another.
The six little cuties were huddled together, snoozing on a plush rug. Each one looked like a Husky puppy—the kind that could present him with a multi-million-dollar renovation bill at a moment's notice.
However, their personalities differed, as did their physical conditions.
Kashiwagi couldn't take them to the Pokémon Center for individual testing, so he had to rely on his own judgment to choose his partner. Fortunately, he had recently purchased a decommissioned Pokédex from the Underdome that didn't require an ID login to function.
The Pokédex could display their moves and a basic six-dimensional stat chart—showing leanings toward HP or Attack. While it didn't show specific numbers, it was enough to gauge which areas a Deino excelled in.
Currently, Kashiwagi and Takeshi were sitting cross-legged nearby.
"Are they really only two months old on average?"
"Yes."
Hearing Takeshi's confirmation, Kashiwagi began scanning the Deino for levels and move sets. Their levels were fairly consistent, hovering around Level 15, with no more than a two-level gap between them. At such a low stage, a level or two didn't make much difference.
What mattered were the stat leanings and the move pool—especially the latter. According to Takeshi, they weren't all from the same parents, meaning they might have inherited some interesting moves.
As Kashiwagi browsed the Pokédex, one Deino dazedlly lifted its head, twitched its nose, and trotted over. It naturally clamped its jaws onto his palm with that familiar, moderate pressure.
As if feeling its mother's embrace, the little fellow held onto his hand and fell asleep in a bizarrely contorted pose. This was the same one Kashiwagi had calmed earlier.
"...Heh." He chuckled softly, scratching the Deino's chin. "Are you volunteering yourself?"
"Deino~"
The Deino let out a faint purr, loosened its grip slightly, then quickly clamped down again, licking his palm with its rough tongue. It was like a baby clutching its favorite bottle.
"Why does it have this habit?" Kashiwagi asked.
Takeshi shook his head. "I... I'm not really sure. Maybe it's just its personality? Do you hate it?"
"No, having some character is good."
Kashiwagi continued navigating the Pokédex with one hand. It was clear why the auction house had set their starting prices so high. Almost every Deino had excellent Egg Moves, with most possessing seven or eight moves in total. The Dragon-type Pokémon of the Dragon Village were truly extraordinary.
When the Pokédex displayed the data for the one currently gnawing his hand, Kashiwagi's eyes lit up.
"This kid is quite impressive."
"Let me see?" Takeshi leaned over, glanced at the screen, and nodded in agreement. "Purely in terms of skills, it's outstanding."
"Right?"
----
Pokémon: Deino
Type: Dark / Dragon
Gender: Male
Height/Weight: 83cm / 18.3kg
Ability: Hustle
Level: 17
Moves: Tackle, Dragon Rage, Bite, Headbutt, Dragon Breath, Double Hit, Dark Pulse, Earth Power
----
Dark Pulse and Earth Power. These two were core moves for a competitive Hydreigon. Learning them while still a Deino meant skipping years of difficult training.
"It feels like destiny. Since you chose me, I'm definitely choosing you."
Kashiwagi already had a soft spot for this hand-nibbling Deino. Finding out it had such great inherited moves was the icing on the cake.
"Decided?" Takeshi asked softly.
He nodded, stroking the Deino's head. "Yeah. It's him."
As they spoke, the sleeping Deino lifted its head, tilting it in a confused, dazed expression. Kashiwagi knew the two-month-old wouldn't fully understand, but he continued to pet it gently.
"From today on, you're part of our family. You okay with that?"
"Deino?"
"I'm your Trainer. Can you understand that?"
"Deino?"
"Me, Trainer. You, Deino. Partners. Friends."
"Deino?"
Watching the two of them talk past each other, Takeshi couldn't take it anymore and got up to take a nap.
----
The news of Kashiwagi getting a Deino soon reached the ears of his other Pokémon. The three of them had very different reactions.
Aggron gave Kashiwagi a stern warning: keep the Deino in check. They could not touch his trees or shrubs. These brats had only been here a day and had already chewed through three chairs! Aggron couldn't imagine the heartbreak if his beloved garden was ruined.
He acted tough, giving Kashiwagi a "final ultimatum," but immediately after, the 500kg steel giant started trembling as if he were about to cry. It was clear that if Kashiwagi favored the 20kg baby over him, the "Big Baby" was going to throw a tantrum.
Mawile was a bit firmer. She pointed at her plush doll, then at her princess bed, giving Kashiwagi a "you know the drill" look before walking away. The message was simple: the bed was her sovereign territory. If the doll disappeared, the Deino would "disappear" too. That was the raw pressure of a Fairy-type.
Chansey was the only one genuinely thrilled about the arrival of a hyperactive "Husky" dinosaur. Every time she fed the six Deino, her face radiated a maternal glow. To her, this made life worth living. She immediately wanted to hold a celebration.
The differing attitudes made Kashiwagi realize that he couldn't just add members to his small group willy-nilly; he had to listen to the existing "committee." They were a collective, after all.
----
Meanwhile, Takeshi began his life as a "shut-in." Fearing he might cause trouble for Kashiwagi, he didn't even go into the backyard, staying indoors all day. When Kashiwagi went to the shop, Takeshi took the Deino down to the basement.
This lifestyle was set to continue for a while. Takeshi was frustrated, having never expected it to take this much time, but Kashiwagi understood.
The Mayor had indeed stepped up patrols in the wilderness around Pyrite Town, strictly inspecting all vehicles carrying minerals or personnel. The whole town was in an uproar.
Yamamino told Kashiwagi over the phone that they weren't the only ones who had struck during the auction. Even though the Mayor had sealed the Underdome immediately, nearly 1.5 billion worth of auction items had vanished.
Fortunately, some items were on consignment—Pokémon or antiques sold through the auction house for a commission. The Deino had been poached by a specific group that had just been wiped out by the Mayor's forces after they tried to steal some antiques themselves during the blackout.
Unfortunately for the Mayor, his auction house had lost all public trust. With security so porous, who would ever return?
In Yamamino's words, the Mayor had become the laughingstock of Orre's high society. Furthermore, due to his previous actions of "soft detention," several powerful backers of the guests had lodged formal protests. Buckling under the pressure, the Mayor had to rush to Phenac City to explain the situation to his superiors.
"He's finished," Yamamino suddenly declared.
"Eh? Why?" Kashiwagi was puzzled. "He's in a mess, sure, but is it really game over?"