Ihroom on the first floor, warm water flowed steadily as steam began to fill the space. Outside the door, a group of curious yet hesitant Pokémon gathered, none of them brave enough to be the first to go in.

  The lineup included: the shiny Furret, Sandssh, two Zorua, Togepi, Persian, Butterfree, Mightyena’s older brother, and even Corvisquire, who had been coaxed down from the sed floor.

  Initially, Corvisquire had been tent to stay upstairs, refleg on life. But upon hearing there was a challenger earlier in the day—one who even trashed-talked—it was utterly fbbergasted.

  What? Someone dared to provoke us?

  Why didn’t anyone call me? This is my specialty!

  Corvisquire, eager to prove itself, was frustrated to have missed its moment. A regret as bitter as missing out on KFC’s Thursday deals.

  “Mi?”

  Mino appeared, a towel draped over its shoulder and carrying its bathing supplies, looking puzzled at the gathering Pokémon outside the bathroom.

  “What are you all doing here?”

  “Ssh.” Sandssh raised its paw. “We’re waiting for the first brave soul to step forward.”

  Sandssh had no iion of being first, especially si was a Ground-type Pokémon. The thought of being bathed in front of everyone? Absolutely not.

  The rest of the Pokémon nodded in agreement, sharing the same sense of embarrassment. After all, out in the wild, who cared about bathing, let alone queuing for it?

  inally, the rest of Mightyena’s family and Pangoro’s crew were supposed to join, but Natsume decided it was too much for one evening. Besides, those groups adamantly decred that wild Pokémon didn’t themselves with such trivial matters.

  As fhtyena’s older brother? He was simply there for the spectacle but got roped in by Natsume anyway.

  Persian didn’t mind. Having been with Natsume si was young, it was used to this. Baths? It had even shared a tub with Natsume before. The typical feline fear of water simply didn’t apply to it. In fact, Persian was already pting a nice soak ter.

  “Mi.”

  After hearing Sandssh’s expnation, Mino’s expression turned disdainful.

  A bunch of dirty Pokémon, refusing to bathe. Disgusting.

  Without hesitation, it flicked its tail, turned, and walked into the bathroom. The unique warmth of the bath filled the air, prompting Mino to take a deep breath.

  Ah, this is the life.

  “First one’s you, huh, Mino?” Natsume chuckled.

  “Mi.”

  “Alright then, you go ahead. I’ll deal with the others ter.”

  Mino climbed into a specially prepared basin, rexing as the warm water soaked its fur. The soothiion of the water running down its body made it close its eyes in te.

  “Here.” Buneary, with its ears ed in a special head towel, handed Natsume a bottle of Pokémon shampoo. It had volunteered as Natsume’s assistant for the night.

  “Thanks, Buneary.”

  Natsume poured a bit of shampoo into his hand aly worked it into Mino’s fur, creating soft white suds. Using massage teiques he had picked up, he earned a satisfied hum from Mino. It seemed his efforts to learn were paying off.

  After rinsing off the bubbles, Natsume was about to apply ditioner and fur softener when Mino insisted it wao soak a little longer. With a smile, Natsume set the basin aside and called toward the door:

  “!”

  From outside came a otion before the door creaked open, and Persian sauntered in with a casual, self-assured gait.

  “Meow.”

  “They were all hesitant, so I decided to go first,” it expined as it walked to the shower, its movements practiced and precise.

  No one here had bathed as many times as Persian. If anything, it could lord its liness over all the others. A true oisseur.

  The bath routine proceeded smoothly. No Pokémon dared to resist. Eveer-averse Sandssh obediently sat on a stool, enduring the process.

  Togepi and the Zorua, however, proved to be mischievous. They spshed water at Natsume with their tiny paws, one of the Zorua even using Water Gun to drench him.

  “You’re quite the troublemaker, aren’t you?” Natsume said, wiping his fad smiling. He retaliated by ruffling Zorua’s head fur pyfully.

  “Ehehehe!” Ziggled, wagging its fluffy tail eically.

  Finally, when all the Pokémon were ed up, it was Buneary’s turn.

  “Bun.”

  “Alright, your turn, Buneary,” Natsume said, rinsing the soap from his hands.

  Buneary eagerly removed its head toerched on a small stool, patiently awaiting its bath. As Natsume’s hands worked through its fur, Buneary began humming a tune—o had heard from Natsume’s phone.

  Natsume seemed to like the song, so Buneary had memorized the melody. Though it couldn’t sing, it could hum the notes perfectly, showg its musical talent.

  “All done.”

  After rinsing the suds, applying ditioner and fur softener, and drying with a towel, Buneary looked at its refle in the mirror. Its well-groomed appearance filled it with happiness.

  It was then that a soft white light enveloped Buneary’s body, overtaking the glow of the bathroom lights. The transformation was impossible to ignore.

  The petite figure grew taller, its silhouette reshaping into something new.

  When the light subsided, a different Pokémon stood before them.

  “gratutions, Lopunny,” Natsume said with a smile.

  The newly evolved Lopunny, now more elegant and humanoid, rubbed against Natsume affeately.

  “Lopunny~”

  Please tio take care of me, Natsume.

  Gcell