Despite Xiu's encouragement, Pichu remained hesitant, eyeing the offered Sitrus Berry but refusing to take it directly from his hand. It still seemed wary of accidental discharge.
Xiu sighed, a faint, resigned smile playing on his lips. 'Stubborn little thing.' He placed the berry on the bench beside him instead. "Alright, have it your way. It's right here if you want it. So you won't be afraid of shocking me."
He leaned back against the cool iron of the bench, the long day of walking, shopping, and constant low-level anxiety finally catching up to him. His eyelids felt heavy. He closed them for just a moment, the weariness washing over him, his spine slumping slightly against the backrest. He really should have pushed on back to the suburbs, back to his apartment, but stopping here… he was just too exhausted.
"Pichu~?"
A soft chirp beside him made him open his eyes slightly. Pichu had hopped onto the bench and was now peering at him, its head tilted, looking… concerned?
Xiu managed a weak chuckle. "Don't worry," he murmured, his voice thick with fatigue. "I'm okay. Just… tired."
Seeing its worried expression, Xiu acted on impulse, subconsciously reaching out to gently stroke its long, floppy ears, wanting to offer reassurance. The fur felt just as soft and velvety as before, surprisingly pleasant. A faint, almost imperceptible tingling sensation emanated from the contact point, not unpleasant. For a fleeting moment, petting the small Pokémon felt remarkably like stroking a cat back in his old life. The simple tactile comfort seemed to momentarily melt away the accumulated stress, leaving him feeling strangely peaceful, healed even.
Lost in the comforting sensation, Xiu momentarily forgot he was petting a Pichu, not a placid housecat. His touch became slightly firmer, perhaps a bit clumsy due to his exhaustion. He accidentally pinched one of Pichu's sensitive ears.
"Pii-CHUU!" The little Pokémon yelped in surprise and pain, instinctively tensing up. Sparks flew uncontrollably from its cheek sacs again, a stronger surge this time, flowing directly up Xiu's arm.
"Ah~!"
Xiu cried out, jolted fully awake as the current surged through him. His muscles clenched involuntarily, then just as quickly relaxed, leaving a strange, buzzing aftereffect.
Surprisingly, after the initial intense shock faded, the residual sensation wasn't entirely unpleasant. A warmth spread through his limbs, accompanied by a lingering numbness, almost… comfortable? Invigorating, even? The deep fatigue he'd felt moments before seemed lessened, replaced by a strange alertness. 'Getting electrocuted actually woke me up?'
"Good grief!" He thought, flexing his tingling hand. "Have I discovered some bizarre new form of energy therapy?"
He quickly dismissed the absurd notion, his attention snapping back to Pichu as he realized the implications of the shock.
Just as he'd feared, the little Pokémon looked utterly mortified, shrinking back on the bench, ears drooping, radiating guilt.
"Hey, hey, it's okay," Xiu said quickly, gently scooping the trembling Pichu into his arms. "I'm fine, really. You didn't mean it. It was my fault, I wasn't paying attention." He offered it the Sitrus Berry again. "Here, eat something. It's alright. Besides…" he added thoughtfully, an idea forming, "I think I might have an idea…"
Pichu looked up at him uncertainly. 'Why is this human so strange? Laughing after being shocked and saying weird things?'
But the berry smelled good, and it was still hungry. It cautiously began nibbling on the fruit while Xiu mused aloud.
'That electric shock… it didn't really hurt, but it definitely had an effect. Could controlled electrical stimulation actually benefit Pokémon? Maybe stimulate muscle growth? Enhance nerve responses? Unlock hidden potential?' The idea felt both intriguing and dangerous. Controlling electricity precisely seemed incredibly difficult, and the potential risks were unknown. Still… something to consider later, perhaps.
Pichu finished the berry, its earlier fear seemingly forgotten, replaced by drowsiness. It snuggled into Xiu's arms, letting out a soft yawn. Xiu sat there on the park bench, holding the small, warm Pokémon as the last rays of sunset painted the sky in fiery hues. The sounds of the city seemed distant. He gently rubbed Pichu's soft belly, much like one would pet a cat. A quiet moment of unexpected peace. 'I wish time could just stop right here,' Xiu thought wistfully.
— — —
"Pichu! Pichu!"
The insistent chirping pierced through Xiu's sleep, accompanied by a frantic scratching, rattling sound.
He surfaced groggily from a light, uneasy sleep. Even camping rough in a city park, some part of his mind remained vigilant. The strange noises registered immediately.
He sat up inside the small tent, listening intently. Yes, definitely Pichu's cries, coming from right outside the tent flap, sounding urgent. And that rattling… it was pulling at the zipper.
He reached for the zipper tab just as two long, black-tipped ears poked forcefully through the small gap he'd left for ventilation. Then, with a distinct pop sound, Pichu managed to squeeze its entire head through the opening.
"Pichu! Pichu! Pichu~" Its muffled cries continued as it tried desperately to wriggle the rest of its body inside, twisting its neck awkwardly.
"What are you doing?" Xiu mumbled, still half-asleep, initially thinking it just wanted to come inside the tent. He reached to unzip the flap further, being careful not to catch the struggling Pokémon. "Hold still, don't move…"
Pichu immediately went rigid as Xiu held its head steady. Xiu quickly unzipped the tent flap the rest of the way. Pichu tumbled inside in a heap, then immediately scrambled back up, grabbed Xiu's trouser leg with one paw, and pointed frantically towards the outside with the other.
"Pichu!" Its tone was insistent, alarmed.
"What is it?" Understanding finally dawned through Xiu's sleep-fogged brain. Pichu wasn't trying to get in; it was trying to get him out. He scrambled out of the tent.
The moment he stepped outside, he felt it. The air was thick, heavy, unnaturally still. Looking up, the usual faint city glow was almost completely obscured by roiling, dark clouds that had swallowed the night sky. The wind was picking up rapidly, gusting strongly, whipping his clothes around him and carrying the distinct scent of approaching rain.
'A storm, a bad one.'
With no time to waste, Xiu immediately started dismantling the tent. Hiding inside something this flimsy during a heavy downpour, potentially with strong winds, wasn't shelter; it was a trap waiting to collapse or blow away.
While Xiu worked quickly, folding poles and stuffing canvas, Pichu darted around him nervously, frequently stopping to look up fearfully at the darkening sky, small sparks occasionally jumping unconsciously from its cheeks.
Thankfully, while assembly had been tricky, dismantling the tent was much faster. Within minutes, everything was packed back into the backpack. "Pichu, come here!" Xiu called, holding out his hand.
The small Pokémon stopped its anxious pacing and looked at Xiu's outstretched hand.
"Quickly!" Xiu urged, waving it closer. "The storm's about to hit! You can't stay out here. Come with me!"
"Pichu!" After a heartbeat of hesitation, it made its decision. It darted towards Xiu, leaped onto his offered hand, and scrambled nimbly up his arm to perch securely on his shoulder.
"Let's go!" Xiu adjusted his backpack, securing Pichu with one hand, and broke into a run. He needed to find proper shelter, now.
"Pichu!" Pichu pointed urgently in a specific direction down the street.
Xiu didn't know the area well enough to argue. He trusted the local's knowledge and followed its direction, running through the now deserted suburban streets under the flickering, inadequate glow of the streetlights. The wind howled around him, feeling like a physical force trying to push him back. Tiny, hard drops of water began to sting his face.
The oppressive feeling in the air intensified, making it feel difficult to draw a full breath. Ahead, maybe a few dozen meters down a side street, Xiu saw it – the bright, welcoming sign of a 24-hour convenience store, light spilling from its windows into the gloom. Shelter.
He didn't care about appearances, didn't hesitate. He sprinted the remaining distance and pushed through the glass door just as the heavens opened, unleashing a torrential downpour.
"Welcome!"
A cheerful, synthesized chime sounded as he entered. The lone figure behind the counter, a young man who had been idly scrolling on his phone, looked up suddenly. His eyes widened in surprise, then widened further in something akin to alarm as he took in Xiu's appearance – damp, disheveled, breathing heavily, with a small yellow Pokémon clinging to his shoulder.
The clerk let out a small, involuntary gasp, quickly suppressed. "Ah~~"
His strong reaction caught Xiu off guard. He quickly raised a hand placatingly. "Sorry," he said, trying to sound normal despite his breathlessness. "Just… just came in to get out of the rain."