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Chapter 77 - The Coolest Kid
🕑 Added 2025-09-24 11:40:40 +0000 UTCThe Poké Ball opened slowly, and Kyosuke’s breath caught.
A yellow head with pointed ears and red cheeks appeared—a Pikachu sticker!
Kyosuke’s eyes widened like saucers, his mouth forming an “O,” frozen in place.
The next second, he leaped like a cat with its tail stepped on.
“Waaah! It’s Pikachu! Dad! It’s Pikachu! I got Pikachu!”
His voice, high-pitched with excitement, nearly blew the roof off the toy store.
His father, caught up in his joy, patted his head with a grin. “Told you, good kids get good luck.”
Eagerly, Kyosuke pressed the power button. A round, spotted figure with a lightning-bolt tail appeared on the screen.
“Pika! Pika!”
The crisp, iconic electronic chirp rang out like music to his ears.
Nearby kids picking out electronic pets turned at Kyosuke’s shout.
Seeing the yellow electric mouse on his screen, they gasped in envy.
“Wow! It’s really Pikachu!”
“Such luck!”
A chubby kid sidled up, pleading, “Big brother, will you trade your Pikachu for my Rattata? I’ll add two candies!”
Kyosuke clutched his Pikachu protectively, shaking his head like a rattle. “No way! Not for any candies!”
His face beamed with unprecedented pride and satisfaction.
Monday morning, sunlight lazily spilled into Class 2 of third grade.
Kyosuke practically floated into the classroom.
He stuffed his backpack into his desk, then gently pulled his new treasure—his Pikachu electronic pet—from his uniform pocket.
He planned to “casually” show it off when his desk-mate Kobayashi arrived.
But a small group of early classmates was already huddled, buzzing excitedly.
Their voices were low, but their enthusiasm carried across the desks.
Curious, Kyosuke edged closer.
At the group’s center, heads bent together, each kid held—an electronic pet!
“Look at mine! It’s Charmander!”
A usually reserved boy with black-rimmed glasses proudly raised his device, showing a Charmander wagging its flaming tail.
He beamed, as if he owned a real fire-breathing dragon.
“Mine’s Squirtle!” said Komi, with pigtails, not to be outdone, flashing her blue turtle.
The screen’s Squirtle, adorably chubby, blew tiny bubbles.
“Wow, Squirtle’s so cute!”
“Charmander’s cooler!”
The kids chattered, trading stories about their Pokémon.
“My Bulbasaur learned to nod yesterday!”
“My Jigglypuff sings!” a soft-voiced girl said, mimicking the electronic tune, “Bop-bop-lolo-bop-bop-lee-bop-bop-lee!”
They compared whose looked better, whose pet did cooler moves, sharing weekend moments with their digital companions.
Pokémon electronic pets had swept the class overnight, becoming the new hot topic and social currency.
Kids without one could only watch enviously, unable to join in.
Kyosuke’s mild surprise gave way to eager anticipation.
His Pikachu wasn’t just any Charmander or Squirtle!
He cleared his throat, deliberately slow, and under their gazes, lit up his electronic pet.
“Pika!”
A piercing electronic chirp rang out.
On the screen, the chubby yellow electric mouse shook its long ears energetically.
The kids, mid-debate about Charmander and Squirtle, fell silent.
All eyes locked onto Kyosuke’s palm.
“It’s… it’s Pikachu!”
The glasses-wearing boy was the first to react, his voice full of disbelief.
“Wow! Really Pikachu!”
“Kyosuke, you’re amazing! You got Pikachu!”
“The TV show’s main Pokémon!”
Exclamations and envious looks flooded toward Kyosuke.
The Charmander and Squirtle kids’ bravado faded, their eyes on Pikachu complex.
Kyosuke stood taller.
He tried to keep a straight face, but the grin creeping up betrayed his inner glee.
Being the center of attention felt amazing!
The spotlight didn’t last long—class started soon.
First period was Japanese.
Teacher Kinoshita’s sweet voice filled the room, explaining new kanji, strokes, and readings.
But Kyosuke’s mind flitted like a freed bird to the little gadget in his pocket.
Pikachu.
His Pikachu.
Just thinking the name sent a sweet warmth surging through him.
The class’s envious stares, Kobayashi’s jaw-dropping shock, and that crisp “Pika!” when he lit the screen replayed in his mind.
His lips curved into a satisfied smile.
He couldn’t resist slipping a hand into his pocket, fingers brushing the Poké Ball’s cool, smooth surface.
He could almost feel the lively yellow mouse through the plastic. Sega’s design included a tiny vibrator, letting the Poké Ball shake when interaction time arrived. Each tremor tempted Kyosuke to pull it out.
He imagined his Pikachu shaking the Poké Ball with its paws, reminding its trainer to feed it.
On the podium, Kinoshita wrote a new kanji, chalk scratching softly.
The classroom was quiet, save for her voice and the occasional rustle of pages.
A sudden urge gripped Kyosuke.
He wanted to see his Pikachu.
Just a peek.
To check if it was hungry, if a berry icon had appeared.
Or if, like him, it felt lonely and wanted to play a mini-game.
The thought took root, wrapping his mind like vines.
He glanced around cautiously. Classmates focused on the board; Kinoshita was writing.
He slid his open textbook forward, creating a small barrier.
Holding his breath, he quietly pulled the red-and-white Poké Ball from his pocket.
His movements were feather-light, avoiding any sound.
He hid it under the textbook, exposing just a corner, eyeing the power button.
His fingertip pressed gently.
The screen lit up.
A chubby yellow mouse with pointed ears and red cheeks appeared, lively, shaking its ears, eyes sparkling as if smiling at him.
Kyosuke’s heart swelled with pure contentment.
As he prepared to sneak a feed or interaction—
“Pika!”
The unmistakable electronic chirp pierced the quiet classroom.
