Pokemon: I'll Exchange Everything

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The rising sun cast its warm rays over the dunes, where a Sandshrew lay basking comfortably, letting out contented hums. Suddenly, a shadow blocked the sunlight, and the Sandshrew frowned slightly, opening its eyes.

'What?! It's that weakling I defeated earlier in one blow? Who gave you the courage to stand before me again? To block my sunlight! Have you prepared to be beaten up again? There's no need for words—let my sharp claws declare my victory once more! Take this, foolish human!' 

Fury Swipes!

The Sandshrew leapt into the air, its short foreclaws glowing faintly white as it prepared to strike again.

Just as the Sandshrew pounced, Liam smirked and casually extended a hand, catching the airborne Pokémon mid-attack. Held in the air, the Sandshrew flailed its stubby claws in vain, unable to land a single hit. 

Liam then brought out a brush in his other hand and rubbed it across the Sandshrew's face.

'What?! This insignificant human dares to retaliate! And attack my handsome face? How despicable, using a weapon! This... This... This feels so good…'

As Liam scrubbed firmly with the brush, the Sandshrew gradually relaxed, its entire body softening. Its scales opened up, and its sharp face wore an expression of utter bliss.

"Shrew~ Shrew~ (Yes, right there, a bit harder.)"

The Sandshrew's delighted sounds filled the air, and Liam grew more enthusiastic, putting all his energy into the task. 

Other Pokémon in the dunes turned to look, curious about what was causing the peculiar, enticing sounds.

A few minutes later, Liam stood up, wiping the sweat off his face as he smiled in satisfaction.

The Sandshrew lay limp in the sand, its expression indescribable, as though it had no regrets left in its life.

"One down! Now, who's next?" With the rhythm in his hands, Liam decided to keep the momentum going. No sooner had he spoken than he found himself surrounded by a group of Pokémon, their eager eyes shining with anticipation.

Liam chuckled. "One at a time! Everyone gets a turn. Line up, no need to rush—I'll make sure no one is left out."

At his words, the Pokémon quickly formed a queue. At the front, a Sandslash stepped forward shyly, lying down in the sand. Without hesitation, Liam picked up the brush and got to work.

The cleaning spree proceeded smoothly. Now familiar with the techniques, Liam quickly brushed every Pokémon in the dunes. 

The sturdy shells of the Pokémon were perfectly suited for the hard bristles of the brush.

Next came the Flying-type Pokémon in the nearby woods. Liam used two types of soft brushes and a bucket of sand, giving them a joyous sand bath.

Even Water-type Pokémon weren't left out. With the help of a hose, Liam provided them with a refreshing artificial rain shower. 

Poliwag, Psyduck, Krabby, Kingler, and even several aquatic Pokémon frolicked happily, showing their delight. Among them was a Nidorino, who had previously knocked over Professor Oak but now joined the fun, clearly enjoying the water.

At this stage, the Nidorino had only a Poison typing. If it evolved into a Nidoking, gaining the Ground typing, it might lose its love for water—or perhaps not, considering Nidoking could learn Surf.

Just then, the mechanical voice of the system chimed in:

[Ding!]

[Mission: Pokémon Cleaning Operation Completed!]

[Rewards: Increased Pokémon affinity at the lab, 100 exchange points, and Pokémon viewing feature unlocked.]

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Although Liam heard the system notification, he paid it Loland. Having fun was more important right now.

By noon, Liam had finished cleaning every Pokémon in the backyard. Each one was now spotless and cheerful. Recognizing Liam as a friend, they invited him to play, treating him as if he had been with them for years. 

Professor Oak, arriving at the scene, couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy.

"Liam, it's already noon. Take a break. I'll make you some instant noodles. Don't underestimate my cooking—my instant noodles are the best!" Oak had come to call Liam for lunch.

Liam responded with a grin, emerging from the pile of Pokémon to join Prof. Oak.

Seeing Liam's cheerful demeanor, Oak laughed. "It seems you've bonded well with these Pokémon. In just half a day, you've become fast friends. I knew I wasn't wrong about you."

Scratching his head bashfully, Liam replied, "They're just so adorable. I feel so happy here—it's like paradise."

"Ha ha! No matter how much fun you're having, you still need to eat. Let's go, I'll show you my cooking skills."

Liam nodded, picking up the Pokémon egg he had set aside. After bidding the Pokémon farewell, he followed Oak inside.

In the living room, Oak headed to a simple kitchen, expertly taking out pots and alcohol burners. As he reached for the fridge to grab instant noodles, Liam suddenly remembered the bento Aunt Fumiko had packed in his bag.

Placing the egg on the coffee table, Liam retrieved the bento from his backpack and said, "Professor Oak, Aunt Fumiko told me..."

At the mention of Fumiko, Oak froze, cold sweat forming on his forehead. With a stiff smile, he quickly exclaimed, "I swear, I didn't do anything dangerous! I just wanted to measure how long Ekans is!"

Startled, Liam glanced down to find that the PokéBall containing Ekans was missing from the coffee table. Oak's guilty expression said it all.

Sighing, Liam shook his head. It seemed Oak's reckless curiosity was ingrained in his very being.

Ignoring Oak's antics, Liam opened his bento, continuing where he left off. "Aunt Fumiko said you usually have instant noodles for lunch, so she prepared this for us instead."

Oak fell silent.

"What was I saying just now? I can't seem to remember..." Oak muttered, feigning ignorance.

Prof. Oak internally: "Instant noodles are the best!"