Leaving the Day Care, Eichi stopped by a shop to buy some Moomoo Milk and honey.
While talking with Amelie earlier, he had asked if there were Pokéblocks especially good for Bug-type Pokémon.
Amelie had recommended two kinds.
Pokéblocks are divided into Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Custom grades, based on their effects.
Trainers choose depending on their Pokémon's strength. For example, if a Pokémon is still weak, it should eat Beginner Pokéblocks.
They're easier to digest. Once it grows stronger, or after it evolves, then it can handle Intermediate Pokéblocks.
Only when it's strong enough should it eat Advanced Pokéblocks.
If a Pokémon eats Pokéblocks above its level, its body won't digest the extra energy.
The result could be bloating to death, or even its body bursting apart.
The lesson was clear: always pick the Pokéblock that suits your Pokémon.
If you're not sure which one fits, every store has a machine that measures a Pokémon's body condition.
The staff then recommends the right Pokéblock based on the results.
But those machines are very expensive. Each store only has two.
Custom Pokéblocks are made by Expert Breeders, tailored for powerful Pokémon.
Since they're made on order, the price is sky-high.
Wealthy families and companies often start feeding custom Pokéblocks from the moment a Pokémon is young.
For now, Eichi's Weedle would start with Beginner Pokéblocks to test the results.
If they didn't work, he could try the Intermediate ones.
Amelie had suggested two kinds of Beginner Bug-type Pokéblocks.
The first was light blue, with a mild taste. It increased speed.
The second was red, with a heavier flavor. It boosted defense.
Eichi bought several packs of both, so Weedle could switch flavors each day.
Still, Pokéblocks were expensive. Luckily, Bug-type ones were the cheapest.
The cost of Pokéblocks depended on type. Everyone knew Bug-types were the weakest.
So their Pokéblocks were cheap, unlike Psychic or Ghost-types, whose ingredients were costly.
But none compared to Dragon-type Pokéblocks. Their price was on a different level.
Eichi checked. Even the cheapest Beginner Dragon-type Pokéblock was ten times the price of a Bug-type one.
No wonder people said ordinary families couldn't afford to raise Dragons, unless they wanted to go bankrupt.
Bug-type Pokéblocks were cheaper, but still costly. A pack of 50 cost 5000p.
That was 100p each, one per meal, three per day. A pack lasted about 17 days.
That was for normal Bug-types. Weedle was different.
Its appetite kept growing. Each meal it drank 500ml of Moomoo Milk and 100ml of honey water, along with 600g of food.
It ate a lot, but it grew fast.
Measuring at home, Eichi found Weedle was now 0.38m tall and weighed 4.0kg.
It would keep growing until it evolved.
Counting his gains, Eichi was satisfied. Weedle had fought its first battle and earned him a lot of money.
With these resources, Weedle wouldn't lack anything on its path to Beedrill.
Eichi could train it with peace of mind.
***
The next day was Saturday, with no classes.
Eichi took Weedle out early for training. After yesterday's battle, it no longer resisted.
It even trained eagerly. So Eichi increased the workload.
Weedle was still upset about almost losing to Pidgey and trained hard to have a clear victory next time.
Seeing Weedle's determination, Eichi felt relieved. A Pokémon with ambition was a blessing.
The worst case would be one with no will to fight.
Teacher Arno had once explained that move mastery had four stages: Basic, Skilled, Mastery, and Peak.
Basic meant simply learning a move.
Skilled meant using it easily, with better aim and accuracy.
Mastery meant control at its limit, no wasted energy, and almost perfect accuracy.
Peak was rare. A Pokémon at this level could draw out 120% or more of a move's power.
Right now, Weedle's three moves were at the Skilled stage. Mastery was close.
Eichi aimed to reach Mastery before it evolved.
After running and warming up, they began move training.
Weedle could now use String Shot 17 times, covering up to 10 meters.
Its Bug Bite was stronger, able to tear large chunks from trees.
Its Poison Sting was its most dangerous. With one strike, there was already a high chance of poisoning.
If Weedle reached Mastery with it, the chance would be almost 100%.
Eichi had bought several Antidotes, just in case.
To train String Shot, he no longer used bottle caps. Instead, he tossed marbles.
Marbles were heavier and faster, much harder to catch.
This tested Weedle's reflexes and control.
After training, Eichi took Weedle home to rest and eat.
Once fed, they went to the Viridian City Day Care.
On the surface, it looked like visiting, but Eichi came to learn more about Breeding.
Inside, he greeted Aunt Keiko and Amelie warmly.
Seeing Keiko busy, he offered to help.
She gladly agreed. Eichi spent the afternoon assisting.
While helping, he observed her massage techniques and overheard her advice to customers.
By evening, he was thrilled. Aunt Keiko had taught him a massage method for Weedle.
Pokémon Massagist was a real profession in their world.
Massaging relaxed a Pokémon's muscles, loosened its joints, and boosted its battle performance.
It also supported growth and sleep.
Every major family employed professional masseurs for their Pokémon.
Back home, after Weedle finished dinner, Eichi tried the new massage.
Weedle let out happy cries. Compared to Eichi's old attempts, the difference was like night and day.
***
On Monday morning, before class, Aki came over to chat.
He told Eichi that out of more than 300 students, only about 50 had Pokémon.
Excluding those who disliked battling, there were 30 or so trainers.
In their class, only four or five had Pokémon.
Though Trainers were admired, most families couldn't afford to raise one.
So most kids entered vocational schools after graduation instead.
Then Aki grinned. "Eichi, want to have a Pokémon battle?"
Eichi nodded. "Sure!"
He also wanted to see how Weedle compared against others.
"Great! After school, behind the mountain."
Seeing Aki's excitement, Eichi looked forward to it too.
***
After class, Eichi followed Aki up the mountain.
Several classmates tagged along, curious to watch.
They gathered in a clearing, with one student acting as referee.
He copied TV referees. "Each side may use one Pokémon. The battle ends when one faints or its Trainer forfeits."
Unable to wait, Aki threw a Poké Ball. "Go, Mankey!"
White light flashed, and the Mankey appeared.
Eichi answered by releasing Weedle. "Go, Weedle!"
Weedle jumped out, brimming with fighting spirit.
It faced Mankey without fear.
"Begin!" the referee shouted.
"Use String Shot!" Eichi called.
Aki shouted, "Mankey, dodge!"
But it was too late. A foot was caught by silk.
"Now, use Bug Bite!"
Mankey struggled but couldn't move. Aki panicked.
"Mankey, use Scratch!"
But Weedle was already biting its arm.
Mankey screamed in pain. Aki grew more flustered.
"Finish it with Poison Sting!" Eichi ordered.
Weedle curved its tail and jabbed hard.
The sting struck true.
Mankey collapsed, unable to fight.