Again, no one passed by.

Recently, every day is just the boy with his net, forest inhabitants, then Bulbby in the night.

Well, there are several things that changed, though.

A few of new beings appeared in this house. I was terrified on the first time I saw them. They look like a purple floating cloth which somewhat shaped like a cat's head. They have little hands with sharp nails too!

I name them Kitties.

Even though they look scary, they are kind. Some of them like to accompany me watching Bulbby in the night.

We also have a new resident: a little crow. Its nest is near the vent in the library on the second floor. I didn't know when the nest was made. I found it when I heard a loud caw in the night when it was just hatched.

It is so cute! Its head looks like it is wearing a funny hat. I wonder where its parents are.

Oh, we are in the same boat, little crow.

It will caw to me and flap its wings every time I visit it. Its eyes stares right at me as if it can see me.

It is a pleasure to be noticed by anything from the outside.

I hope that one day, its parents will return to feed it and teach it how to fly.

Let us hope for our parents together, little crow.

The orange-haired girl still visits at times. I noticed some changes on her Pokémon. Once, she came by riding a huge tortoise with a large tree and something like spikes in its shell. I have never seen a Pokémon that big! It won't even fit to enter through the door of this house!

Well, I still hope that she will try to come in someday.

I wonder if it relates with the little tortoise with a pair of leaves on its head that she brought once. It took me several days pondering about it.

Does every Pokémon grow and become different?

Do Poppies grow and become Kitties? They have similar color and smell.

If they do, why not all of them become Kitties?

Oh! I once saw her rose-like Pokémon dancing when she visited! It is beautiful! I think they are good enough to enter the contest!

I really wanted to be a performer in the Pokémon contest. Mom and I used to follow the contest show on TV. I was always amazed by those adorable Pokémon and their beautiful moves.

Bulbby sometimes managed to show a bit of the contest show, but I couldn't see it clearly.

Oh, I remember that Mom once mentioned about considering to enter the contest.

Has she entered the contest?

How are my parents doing?

Oh, I saw that person on the TV once! It was something about Pokémon battle. That was all I could get.

It has been a long time since that person visited. I still remember how scared I was in that night.

How is that person doing? I'm sure that person has become stronger.

***

Bulbby couldn't show anything clear tonight. I don't mind, though. The buzzed light is enough for me. At least I know that it is there with me.

Recently, anything that I could get from the TV was about the Champion. Perhaps the Champion was changed. Those things are always a big news. No wonder that they can talk about it for days.

The TV suddenly dims as there is a loud creaking noise from behind.

The door is opened, then that person goes straight to the TV and thumps it.

Oh, that person is really good at surprising me.

The TV glows brighter, then Bulbby charges out.

That person lets out a Pokémon that I have never seen before.

Oh, Bulbby! Say hello to our... No! Don't fight!

Bulbby glows bright, then sparks from its sides strike that person's Pokemon. It moves around very quickly, evading the incoming attacks. Aside from the sparks, Bulbby also makes loud screeches and a glowing ball which distracts that person's Pokémon.

It is surprising that something as cute as Bulbby can be dangerous.

That person seems to be very cautious. The Pokémon switches one to another. I just stand there, amazed at the new kinds of Pokémon but feeling unsettled at the same time.

There are some Pokémon that look similar to the ones brought by that person a long time ago. Perhaps Pokémon really grow and change over time?

No! This is not the time for wondering!

Even though it moves quickly, some attacks still hit Bulbby. It seems painful for a small, cute thing like Bulbby.

Suddenly, that person does something I never expect.

That person throws a Poké Ball.

Bulbby disappears in a bright flash from the ball.

N-no, not this one.

The ball shines, and Bulbby appears again. It continues to fight, but that person throws another ball. Bulbby disappears in the flash once again.

Please, anything but this one.

The ball shakes, then it stays still.

That person smiles and takes the ball.

Oh, no.

That person walks away.

No, not that one.

It has been living here all this time.

No, please don't...

The door is closed.

***

I can't accept it, even with the excuses that I have tried to make.

That person is a Pokémon trainer. Bulbby will have a better life with that person.

Bulbby will explore the world instead of being stuck here.

That person will love and take care of Bulbby.

Bulbby will be happy.

I still can't.

The room is pitch-black. It wouldn't be this dark if Bulbby is there, in the TV.

Yet, that thing's sudden appearance just makes it worse.

Its glowing red eyes stares right at me. It seems like it feels sorry for me.

How could I accept an empathy from something that killed me?

I wait until it steps aside, then I go downstairs. I stay in the dining room which is somehow crowded by Poppies. My butler stays there too instead of avoiding me.

Still, I don't care.

I can't.

***

After quite a long time, that thing comes to the dining room.

The crowd of Poppies suddenly disperse. My butler seems to be surprised, but he stays with me.

That thing stares at me, but I ignore it.

It slowly comes closer to me. My butler seems unsettled.

I don't care, even if it can kill me again.

It comes to my side and stays there.

Perhaps looking outside can make me feel better. I hope that thing doesn't follow me...

Oh well.

***

(Hmm, my first author's note...)

Dedicated to the person whose work is the first story that I found interesting in Wattpad, the first story to get into my empty library back then, and still my favorite original story until now.

Yes, it has a "little miss," a "thief," and a nice sprinkle of "crow."