Chapter 84 - Chapter 84 - Second Set of Electronic Pets

The initial batch of store owners granted "Pokémon Center" licenses weren't entirely confident at the outset.Sega's requirements for the Pokémon Center's unified decor were near-draconian.From signboard fonts and colors to shelf arrangements and even the size of wall posters, everything was meticulously specified.The hefty costs for signage and renovations, plus a substantial "good faith" deposit, weighed heavily on their minds.What if this craze was just a flash in the pan?Such murmurs surfaced during private gatherings among familiar store owners, floating up with the bubbles in their drinks before fading.But when Jigglypuff's evolution demo exploded like a bomb in the kids' world, everything changed.The noticeably increased foot traffic made these owners the brightest stars on the commercial strip.The cash register's crisp chimes rang nonstop from opening hours.Excited squeals from kids, indulgent yet helpless parental smiles, and the spending from Pokémon-driven crowds proved the license's worth.Grumbles about renovation costs and deposits vanished, washed away by soaring daily revenues.Store owners now walked with a swagger, faces beaming with irrepressible smiles.They proactively trained staff in Pokémon knowledge to ensure professional answers for every customer.Store cleanliness surpassed Sega's standards, floors gleaming enough to reflect kids' eager faces.They feared any slip-up might cost them this money-making license.As Pokémon anime episodes aired, December arrived unnoticed.The air carried the festive Christmas spirit.The anime's plot hit its stride, each episode sparking new discussions among kids.In this expectant month, Sega released the second batch of Pokémon electronic pets, dubbed "Set B."It included Nidoran♀, Nidoran♂, Clefairy, Vulpix, Growlithe, Oddish, Paras, Venonat, Zubat, Diglett, Mankey, Poliwag, Abra, Machop, and Eevee—fifteen in total.Alongside Set B, Pokémon Centers introduced new services.Counters now displayed four gleaming evolution stones: the fiery "Fire Stone," the electric "Thunder Stone," the serene "Water Stone," and the verdant "Leaf Stone."A compact device called the "Trade Machine" also appeared on shelves.This gadget allowed trainers to trade Pokémon, mimicking the exchange system on the anime's S.S. Anne.Kids' worlds ignited once more.Episode fourteen pushed the anime's plot forward, with Ash's Pikachu challenging Gym Leader Lt. Surge's Raichu at Vermilion Gym, only to suffer a crushing defeat. Onscreen, the Raichu—twice Pikachu's size—unleashed unstoppable attacks, felling Pikachu in a flash of lightning. The visual impact hit every Pikachu pet owner hard, as if their own partner had been defeated. In the anime, Ash clutched a Thunder Stone, grappling with whether to evolve Pikachu, his pain and reluctance palpable to viewers.This scene seared into Kyosuke's heart. He looked at his pet's screen, its black experience bar full, faintly glowing with pent-up energy. His Pikachu was at the evolution threshold, needing only a trigger. The new Thunder Stone at Pokémon Center counters was both a beacon of hope and a daunting hurdle. Keep Pikachu's lively, familiar form, cherished through countless days, or evolve it into a mightier Raichu to defeat rivals in battles with other kids? Kyosuke's small hand rubbed the pet's shell, its screen Pikachu chirping questioningly, sensing his turmoil. His brow furrowed, mirroring Ash's dilemma, a tangle of pure love spreading like vines among Pikachu-owning kids.Meanwhile, Set B's Eevee brought a different "sweet burden." Fire Stone, Thunder Stone, and Water Stone offered three distinct, alluring evolutions: Flareon's passion, Jolteon's speed, Vaporeon's grace. This unprecedented choice made Eevee the star of Set B, outshining all others."What should my Eevee evolve into?" became the daily obsession for Eevee owners, some even zoning out in class, staring at Eevee's pixelated face.At Pokémon Center counters, evolution stone debates buzzed."I'm definitely going for Flareon—red's so cool!" a baseball-capped boy declared, envisioning a majestic Flareon."No way, Jolteon's the best—it's like lightning!" a twin-ponytailed girl retorted."Vaporeon's the prettiest, like a mermaid," a quieter girl murmured.Wealthier kids, with parents in tow, boldly vowed at counters to "get them all," planning to buy three Eevees and all three stones to collect every form, earning envious stares.Beyond Pikachu and Eevee, Set B's Vulpix and Growlithe used Fire Stones, Oddish needed Leaf Stones, and Poliwag required Water Stones. Their owners, equally excited, joined the massive lines at Pokémon Centers for stones and services. Cashiers were swamped, yet their smiles matched the owners'—genuine and bright. The new Trade Machine drew curious crowds, kids imagining swapping beloved or coveted Pokémon with friends. With Christmas approaching, the Pokémon world boiled over with evolution and trading.The pre-Christmas sales rush turned Sega's production lines into money-printing machines.Takuya Nakayama's Hong Kong factories, planned months earlier, hit full capacity, ensuring ample supply and avoiding the first batch's shortages.Partnered merchandise vendors, sensing opportunity, rolled out plushies, stationery, and apparel tied to new Pokémon and evolutions, capitalizing on anime and game hype.Pokémon goods dominated toy store displays.This nationwide Pokémon frenzy, like a giant sponge, quietly siphoned budgets meant for traditional console games in the year-end market.