Pokemon: I refuse to be a supporting character!

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The Next Morning.

The cargo ship carrying the head of the Li family, Li Zhehan, arrived early at Qingcheng Port. Driven by his eagerness to reunite with his family, he quickly wrapped up his duties, hopped into his monstrous pickup truck, and sped all the way home.

"Li Xiang! Honey!"

He shouted as he entered, announcing his return.

Both mother and son were having breakfast when they heard his voice, surprised by his early arrival.

"Weren't you supposed to come back this afternoon? Why so early?"

Mrs. Yin walked over, taking the large bags and packages from his hands.

"Haha, the original route got blocked, so we had to take a shortcut. Luckily, the water police permitted it and even helped clear the way."

Li Zhehan winked at his wife. Cargo ships weren't usually allowed to stray from their routes, as many waterways were restricted.

Unable to contain his excitement, he reached out to hug his wife.

Mrs. Yin pushed him away, scolding, "You're covered in sweat! I can smell you from miles away. Go take a shower!"

"Exaggerating much? I just showered yesterday!"

Li Zhehan sniffed his shirt as he walked into the living room, stripping it off. "Okay, maybe a bit… Li Xiang!"

The nearly six-foot-three muscular man lit up at the sight of his son. He strode over and swept him into a bear hug.

"Dad's back! Aren't you happy?"

Li Xiang barely had time to call out "Dad!" before the hug squeezed the air out of him. A powerful mix of sweat and raw masculine scent hit him like a truck.

Given the conditions on most cargo ships, skipping a day or two of showers was par for the course. And in summer, the accumulated sweat could be overwhelming.

Of course, in a few years, the living conditions on these ships would gradually improve—everything in due time.

"Come on, let's have a father-son bonding session in the bathroom!"

Laughing heartily, Li Zhehan slung Li Xiang over his shoulder and marched toward the bathroom.

...….

On the Couch.

Holding down the restless Litten, Purugly gently lectured the smaller Pokémon.

"That's the boss of this house. Don't mess with him. Even Li Xiang listens to him."

The boss?

Like in The Godfather?

Curious, Litten meowed at Purugly.

The unexpected question left Purugly momentarily stumped. The concept of a "family" versus a "crime family" was quite different, and it wasn't entirely sure.

In the end, Purugly just nodded.

Litten's eyes lit up, practically sparkling.

A family boss!

"Meow~~" it purred in admiration.

...….

The Bathroom.

The bathroom was designed to accommodate Pokémon, making it exceptionally spacious.

"Oh-taaa!"

The massive, crocodilian Feraligatr let out a satisfied growl, its guttural tone almost sounding like "all die" to human ears.

Behind it, the sun-kissed Li Zhehan was scrubbing its tough skin, working out the dirt hidden beneath its scales.

Next to them, a Floatzel with a life-preserver-like ring around its neck was happily messing with Li Xiang's hair, ensuring the shampoo lathered into a bubbly froth.

Under the showerhead, a Pelipper, its beak disproportionately larger than its body, alternated between drinking water and playfully spraying it onto Li Xiang's legs.

"So, after all this time, you still haven't met even one girl?"

Li Zhehan, brush in hand, looked at his son with a mix of disappointment and exasperation. "Do you know how many single men and women there are these days? Li Xiang, haven't I taught you to plan ahead?"

"Dad, I'm only eleven! Pfft—"

Li Xiang spat out a mouthful of soap bubbles and gave the Floatzel a light slap. "Besides, didn't you meet Mom in high school?"

"Don't twist the story! I fell in love with your mom at first sight back at the Trainer Academy! Why else would I have transferred to her high school?"

Li Zhehan launched into a romanticized retelling of his past, painting himself as a devoted lover. But Li Xiang knew the truth.

Back then, both had been students at a Basic Trainer Academy, though in different classes.

Mrs. Yin, realizing after three years that being a trainer wasn't her calling, decisively transferred to a regular high school, bypassing even the chance to apply to any Advanced Trainer Academies.

Li Zhehan, however, wasn't as fortunate.

Having failed his exams, he ended up at a regular high school under the strict orders of Li Xiang's grandfather. Dejected and aimless, it was only by chance that he ended up seated in front of Mrs. Yin, which eventually led to their relationship.

Later, with her encouragement, Li Zhehan regained his confidence and resolved to pursue his dream of becoming a trainer by applying to an Advanced Academy again.

Mrs. Yin, meanwhile, discovered her talent as a Pokémon breeder.

Supporting each other, they made rapid strides toward their respective goals.

Until—

In their final year of high school, an unexpected event occurred.

A wild Li Xiang appeared.

Just like that, at the most critical moment of their lives.

The news struck like a bolt from the blue, leaving the young couple stunned and sending both families into a frenzy.

In the end, Li Zhehan paid the price for his youth and recklessness.

He gave up on his dream of becoming a Pokémon Trainer, choosing instead to become a sailor. He worked tirelessly from dawn to dusk to provide for his wife and child.

As for Mrs. Yin, she ignored the judgmental stares of those around her and, through sheer determination, earned a spot at the Breeder Academy, ultimately graduating successfully.

But now, all of that was in the past.

Even the time when Li Xiang's grandfather nearly tore Li Zhehan apart with his bare hands was no longer worth mentioning.

One thing was certain, though: Li Xiang had no intention of following in his father's footsteps.

...…

Earlier that day.

Li Zhehan had mentioned bringing back a gift, sparking Li Xiang's curiosity about what it might be.

He never expected—

"A Pokémon?"

Li Xiang stared at the luxurious PokeBall in front of him, momentarily dazed.

"That's right. But this one's a bit tricky to handle. You'll need to be patient… Treat it well, and it won't let you down."

Li Zhehan smiled. "In some ways, it's a Pokémon that's a perfect match for you."

Perfect match?

Li Xiang's expression turned peculiar. Before he could ask more, Li Zhehan had already gone upstairs to spend time with his wife, leaving the living room filled with Pokémon of various shapes and sizes—and Li Xiang, holding the PokeBall in deep thought.

A new Pokémon.

To be honest, Li Xiang wasn't entirely ready to raise another one.

According to his original plan, he would wait until Litten evolved before considering his next addition.

With the stash of Special Attack-enhancing PokeBlocks he had left, it was likely that his next Pokémon would be a Special Attack-oriented one. The exact choice would depend on how much he felt a connection to it.

Thanks to the PokeBlocks, he didn't need to worry much about base stats. Even Pokémon not naturally inclined toward Special Attack could be trained if they had a deep enough move pool.

"If I don't like it, am I supposed to give it away? Dad would probably blow a gasket."

Li Xiang sighed. This gift was both surprising and stressful.

Giving it away wasn't an option, so he could only hope it turned out to be a good one.

"Let's go to the backyard."

Li Xiang called out to Litten. Since his father had mentioned that it might be difficult to handle, he needed to be fully prepared.

Feraligatr and Floatzel instinctively followed him, while Purugly glanced over but didn't move.

Ever since Li Zhehan returned, Purugly considered its role as the family babysitter officially retired.

....]

In the Backyard.

Li Xiang stood with Litten by his side, Feraligatr and Floatzel positioned behind him.

"When I release this Pokémon, if it tries to attack or run, I'll need your help," he instructed.

"Fera!"

"Floo!"

The two towering Pokémon responded promptly. Like Purugly, they had acted as guardians while Li Xiang was growing up, and they naturally followed his every command.

"Make sure to protect my little kitty. My safety is in your hands."

Li Xiang reminded Litten again. After a confident meow in response, he took a deep breath.

"Here we go!"

With a decisive motion, he pressed the button on the luxurious PokeBall.

Boom!

A muffled sound echoed as a dark figure emerged in a burst of white light.

Then, without hesitation, it dashed straight toward Litten!

Yes—its target wasn't Li Xiang but Litten!

"Awoo!"

The petite, humanoid creature let out a howl that resembled a puppy's cry.

Its fur was blue with black legs and chest, a mask-like patch of black fur on its face, and two spindle-shaped tufts that weren't quite ears on either side of its head.

On the back of its hands were gleaming silver bones, and it wore a yellow "collar" around its neck. Its crimson eyes gleamed, and it stood at just under two feet tall.

It was—

"A Riolu!"

Li Xiang exclaimed in shock.