The days that followed slipped into an easy rhythm.
Each morning, the Caelum house filled with the comforting sounds of home — the gentle clatter of dishes, the hum of a kettle, and Rhea's soft voice calling, "Leyn, breakfast's ready!"
He'd come down the stairs, his sky-blue hair still slightly messy, rubbing the sleep from his violet eyes. After eating, he would tag along with his mother to Professor Oak's lab, always eager to help however he could.
At first, his "help" consisted mostly of small things — refilling water bowls, wiping tables, carrying boxes of food pellets. But soon, the aides began to notice something remarkable.
The Pokémon listened to him.
Even the more cautious ones — like the Oddish that always hid behind its pot, or the feisty Meowth who batted away anyone who got too close — relaxed whenever Leyn was around. It wasn't that he did anything special. He just… treated them like friends.
"Leyn, could you bring that clipboard over here?" one of the assistants called.
"Coming!" he replied, jogging carefully between a pair of Rattata that scurried by.
Professor Oak watched the boy work from his desk, his usual calm smile softened by amusement. "He's quite diligent, isn't he?"
Rhea chuckled, hands on her hips. "He's been like that all week. I can't even get him to take an afternoon nap anymore."
Professor Oak laughed heartily. "That kind of curiosity should be nurtured, not scolded. Tell you what — why don't we make it official?"
He scribbled something on a small card and handed it to Leyn, who blinked in surprise.
"What's this, Professor?"
"Consider it a little allowance," Professor Oak said. "For your help around the lab. You've been doing real work, after all. It's only fair."
Leyn looked at the card, eyes wide. "Allowance…?"
Professor Oak chuckled. "Just don't spend it all on snacks, alright?"
Rhea sighed fondly. "You're spoiling him already, Professor."
"Not spoiling — investing," Professor Oak said with a wink. "One day he might be the one running this place."
Leyn grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Thank you, Professor! I'll do my best."
"Good lad," Oak said warmly.
From that day on, Leyn became something like a part-time helper at the lab — a small figure always bustling around the grounds, earning a modest allowance and a growing trust from everyone, Pokémon and humans alike.
---
One afternoon, while he was organizing feed bags near the open yard, a soft rustling caught his ear.
He turned toward the sound and froze.
A small, yellow Pokémon stood near a stack of crates, its long ears twitching and tail flicking lightly like a lightning bolt. It was watching him — cautious, curious, and… a little mischievous.
Leyn blinked. "...Pikachu?"
The Pokémon tilted its head slightly, as if confirming his recognition.
"Hi there," he said softly, crouching down. "Are you lost?"
"Pika?"
It took a step closer, nose twitching, before stopping just short of his reach. Its eyes were bright, intelligent, and a little wary.
Leyn slowly placed a small berry he had in his pocket on the ground between them. "You can have this if you want. I won't hurt you."
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, Pikachu's nose twitched again. It crept forward, grabbed the berry, and nibbled on it with visible delight.
Leyn smiled faintly. "You like those, huh?"
The Pokémon looked up at him mid-bite, then chirped, "Pika!" — tail flicking in what looked like approval.
From a distance, Professor Oak watched quietly with a small, knowing smile. "So that's where it wandered off to…"
Rhea approached beside him. "One of the newer ones?"
"Yes," Oak said. "A rather spirited Pikachu. It's been hard to get it to warm up to anyone. But it seems Leyn has that effect on Pokémon."
They watched as the Pikachu finished the berry, then cautiously climbed onto Leyn's knee, curling its tail neatly as it looked up at him. Leyn froze, then laughed softly.
"You're pretty friendly when you want to be."
"Pika!"
From that day forward, the Pikachu started showing up more often whenever Leyn was at the lab. It would perch on a table while he worked, peek out from behind shelves, or tug gently at his sleeve for attention.
Sometimes, it even followed him partway home before dashing back toward the lab when Rhea turned around.
"You really like that Pikachu, don't you?" she teased one evening as they walked.
Leyn smiled. "Yeah. It's… different from the others. Like it wants to talk, but can't figure out how yet."
Rhea chuckled softly. "Then maybe you just have to keep listening."
----—-------—-------------------------------
The morning sun draped Pallet Town in a warm, yellow glow. The dirt path leading toward Professor Oak's lab shimmered faintly with dew, and the sound of Pidgey cooing in the distance gave the air a calm, sleepy rhythm.
Leyn walked beside his mother, holding her hand loosely as they made their way toward the lab. His other hand swung a small bag of feed he'd insisted on carrying himself. It had been almost a week since he started helping out, and the routine felt like second nature now — morning chores, assisting the aides, and playing with the Pokémon afterward.
But lately, he'd noticed something.
Every time he and his mother walked this path, there was always someone — a girl — standing by the white fence a few houses down. She wasn't always doing the same thing. Sometimes she was watering flowers, sometimes sweeping the porch, and sometimes simply staring into the distance. But each time Leyn glanced over, her gaze always seemed to drift toward him.
Today was no different.
As they turned the corner, there she was again — standing by the fence, sunlight catching the soft brown of her hair. Her eyes widened for a moment when their gazes met, and she quickly looked away, pretending to fix her hat.
Leyn slowed his steps. "...There she is again."
Rhea glanced at him. "Who?"
"The girl," he said quietly, pointing discreetly. "She keeps looking at us every time we pass by."
Rhea followed his gaze, noticing the young girl standing there, perhaps a year older than Leyn. She had shoulder-length chestnut hair, a white hat with a red ribbon, and curious eyes that peeked out whenever she thought no one was watching.
Rhea smiled knowingly. "Maybe she's just shy."
Leyn frowned slightly. "Or maybe she wants to say something."
"Hmm…" Rhea hummed thoughtfully. "Do you want to talk to her?"
He hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yeah. I think so."
Rhea's smile softened. "Alright then. Just be gentle, okay?"
Leyn nodded firmly, then let go of her hand and walked toward the fence. His steps were small but sure, his heart thumping with a mix of nervousness and curiosity.
The girl noticed him approaching and straightened, her hands gripping the fence's wooden rail.
"H-Hi," Leyn said, stopping a few feet away.
The girl blinked. "Um… hi."
They stared at each other for a moment, both unsure of what to say next. The wind carried the faint scent of flowers between them.
Leyn rubbed the back of his neck. "I, uh… see you here a lot."
She tilted her head. "You do?"
"Yeah," he said honestly. "Every morning when I go to the lab with my mom. You're always standing here."
Her cheeks colored faintly. "I wasn't… staring or anything," she said quickly, then added, quieter, "Okay, maybe a little."
Leyn blinked. "Why?"
The girl hesitated before shrugging lightly. "You always look… happy when you're going there. And the Pokémon follow you sometimes. It's kind of cute."
He blinked again, not expecting that. "Oh."
Now *his* cheeks turned a little pink.
She giggled softly at his expression, the tension between them melting away like morning mist.
"I'm Leyn," he said after a moment. "Leyn Caelum."
"Leaf," she replied with a small smile. "I live over there." She gestured toward a nearby house with flower boxes under the windows.
"It's nice to meet you," he said politely.
"You too," she replied, then paused. "Do you really help Professor Oak at the lab?"
"Mm-hmm. Mostly cleaning and feeding Pokémon," he said proudly. "He even gives me an allowance for it."
"That sounds fun," Leaf said, her eyes brightening. "I've only been near the lab a few times. I wanted to see the Pokémon up close, but I never got the chance."
Leyn thought for a moment, then smiled. "Maybe you can come next time. I can show you around if Professor Oak says it's okay."
"Really?"
"Yeah. The Pokémon there are really nice. I think they'd like you."
Leaf smiled, a warm, genuine smile that made her eyes sparkle. "Okay. I'd like that."
From a short distance away, Rhea watched them quietly with a soft chuckle. Her son, standing by the fence and talking so earnestly, looked so much older for his age — though the faint pink on his cheeks reminded her he was still just a boy.
After a few minutes, Rhea called, "Leyn, we'll be late!"
"Coming!" he replied, turning back to Leaf. "I'll see you again tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow," she said, nodding.
As he rejoined his mother, Rhea smiled teasingly. "So? New friend?"
Leyn grinned. "Yeah… her name's Leaf."
"Leaf, hmm?" Rhea said thoughtfully, glancing back at the girl still standing by the fence. "She seems nice."
"Yeah," Leyn said softly, still glancing back. "She does."
And as they continued toward the lab, the wind picked up slightly — carrying with it the faint scent of flowers and something new beginning.