“Suosuo!”

  “You know, all of us have teically been caught. At least, we’ve been inside a Poké Ball.”

  From a human perspective, that means we’re captured, right?

  With a sly smile pstered on its face, Zorua zily expined.

  Though it seemed to be expining things, that mischievous grin gave off the impression that it to no good, pnning some prank.

  In trast, the Hisuian Zorua behind it looked like a pitiful little thing—a stark differeween one full of devious ideas and the other filled with grievances.

  This could likely be tied to the ins of the Hisuian Zorua.

  Zorua often jures illusions to bewilder oppos, which led to it being shunned and driven from its habitats elsewhere. Eventually, it migrated to the Hisui region.

  But uo withstand the battles with other Pokémon and the harsh natural enviro, it tragically perished.

  Its lingering spirit, fueled by intered for humans and Pokémon alike, transformed into the ghostly form it has now.

  That’s the backstory of the Hisuian Zorua.

  Thinking about it, its perpetually sad expression is uandable.

  By the way, Zorua’s type is Dark, while Hisuian Zorua is a unique Normal/Ghost bination—currently exclusive to Hisuian Zorua and its evolution, Hisuian Zoroark.

  This exceptional typing grants immunity to Fighting, Ghost, and Normal attacks. It cks a quadruple weakness, with only Dark-type moves hitting it for double damage.

  With well-distributed stats, dual offensive capabilities, excellent ce, and a versatile movepool, Hisuian Zorua is a standout Pokémoher as a team erstone or even a Trainer’s ace.

  Unfortunately, this is Natsume’s farm.

  “So, you’re part of the farm now.”

  “Well the’s get along, okay?”

  After a brief moment of sensing their siy, Natsume smiled.

  Although it was clear they were withholding some details, he didn’t mind.

  As long as there was no malivolved, it was fine.

  After all, Natsume’s primary reason for catg them was to prevent wild Trainers from wandering onto his farm, defeating his Pokémon, and taking them away.

  Don’t talk to Natsume about Pokémon freedom.

  They eat his food, use his facilities, and live on his property. You think you just call them “free” and take them away?

  If you genuinely love a particur Pokémon, e talk to Natsume. Expin your iions clearly.

  Sneaking around and using force to capture Pokémon when he’s not around? That’s uable.

  Suts are bound to happen.

  With the sheer number of Trainers out there, it’s iable that some ck decy.

  Betting on the goodwill of others to ensure your safety is a foolish gamble—osume isn’t willing to take.

  “Suosuo!”

  Zorua nodded, indig it had no problem with this arra.

  After all, it came here for the food.

  And the Hisuian Zorua?

  It just happeo meet this pitiful fellow on the way here and decided t it along—like taking in a little brother.

  “Suosuo.”

  With its “big brother” leading the way, Hisuian Zorua naturally had no objes.

  Food, shelter, and safety—what more could it want? It was already tent.

  “Wooma!”

  After hearing their expnation, Ogerpon still seemed a bit indignant.

  It couldn’t shake the feeling it had been pyed.

  It was clear that for the foreseeable future, Ogerpon wouldn’t have the best impression of these two mischievous foxes.

  Steeoo, was a little upset but eventually sighed in resignation, signaling her acceptance.

  “Chu.”

  “Even though you tricked me, thank you for teag me all this time.”

  Looking at the shadowy little fox, Steenee spoke early.

  At first, Steenee wasn’t particurly strong. The reason she was able to lead her kin all the way here was rgely due to Zorua’s guidance.

  From teag moves to bat strategies, Zorua seemed to know it all—an enigma in itself.

  Steenee had always sensed something off about Zorua, but back then, she had no choice but to trust it.

  “Suo.”

  “It’s nothing, no big deal.”

  Zorua replied casually, sneaking a g Natsume out of the er of its eye.

  It khis human could fully uand okémon said.

  But Natsume showed ion, only smiling at Zorua, as if silently asking, “Anything you’d like to share, little buddy?”

  Faced with that smile, Zorua felt a twinge of guilt.

  But then it thought, I didn’t even lie. Why feel guilty?

  With that thought, Zorua’s fideurned, and it boldly met Natsume’s gaze.

  Natsume chuckled, ruffling Zorua’s head. Theuro Hisuian Zorua.

  “Why don’t you both sider staying at my pce?”

  “With how things are now, it’s probably not a good idea to keep living with Steenee and her group, right?”

  Though the question was directed at Hisuian Zorua, it was clear the decision ultimately rested with Zorua.

  The two foxes huddled together, whispering to each other.

  Finally, Zorua made the call:

  “Alright, we’ll stick with you. From now on, you’re our caretaker!”

  “Good, good.”

  Natsume ruffled both their heads vigorously.

  Hisuian Zorua’s fur was silky smooth, remi of a well-groomed short-haired cat.

  Meanwhile, Zorua’s head felt like a soft, velvety balloon, as though it might float away at any moment.

  Their reas to Natsume’s “head rub of doom” differed greatly.

  Hisuian Zorua, unaced to the gesture, shook its head and quickly escaped.

  Zorua, oher hand, seemed to enjoy it, even closing its eyes in te.

  “Alright, let’s head back.”

  That day, Natsume weled two special new panions.

  The two Zorua, with their adorable appearances, were warmly received by everyone.

  “Bun!”

  Buneary, the self-appointed housekeeper, took it upon herself to expin the household dynamics to the newers:

  Boss Natsume, sed-in-and the Persian, the Pokéblock expert Butterfree, the janitor Mino, the farming specialist Sandssh, the troublemaker Togepi, and the mysterious Corvisquire upstairs, always muttering cryptic phrases.

  Meanwhile, a group of youths arrived in the nearby town of Lianshan.

  “Excuse me, is there a farm nearby?”

  The lead boy asked the mayor while the tter was out for a stroll.

  The mayor paused mid-step, giving the group a suspicious look.

  Gcell