SAKAKI: Explain to me why you failed to capture Ookido Hasake's monsters.
MUSASHI: Ookido Hasake wouldn't let us start our motto.
KOJIRO: He started to yell and use naughty words.
NYARTH: Why did you want us to steal his Pocket Monsters anyway?
Sakaki momentarily snapped out of his trance as he recalled his explanation.
SAKAKI: I wanted to call my wife on the phone that was attached to the TV screen. I dialed the number and was shocked when I saw her in bed with Ookido Hasake!
Musashi, Kojiro, and Nyarth gasped.
KOJIRO: No wonder you wanted us to steal the Professor's monsters.
SAKAKI: Don't interrupt. Anyway, she saw me.
SAKAKI'S WIFE: Sakaki!
SAKAKI: What is the meaning of this?
SAKAKI'S WIFE: I remarried when you abandoned your family. I'm Ookido Hasake's wife now.
Ookido Hasake pulled down an eyelid and displayed his tongue.
SAKAKI: How's Satoshi?
OOKIDO HASAKE'S WIFE: He's doing well. He's training the Pikachu you gave to him before you abandoned him. He's going to have a new baby sibling this year.
Sakaki scowled at Ookido Hasake who looked up and juggled Monster Balls. The creatures within exclaimed "Ow! Ow!"
OOKIDO HASAKE: Now I know that privacy doesn't exist.
Sakaki removed his wedding ring in front of his ex-wife and hung up.
MUSASHI: I get it. By holding Ookido Hasake's Monsters captive, you would show him what it's like to be alone.
Her boss nodded. He cuddled Persian which increased Nyarth's jealousy. He stood.
SAKAKI: I'm going to inspect the Gym to make sure that it's perfect for anyone who dares to challenge me.
He walked away.
The present Sakaki made eye contact with his bald pet. He shuddered. He never saw the electric razor Nyarth had hidden behind his back when he left.
The jealous Pocket Monster admired Persian's new look.
NYARTH: Who's the pretty kitty now?
He, Musashi, and Kojiro hid under Sakaki's desk when he returned.
NYARTH: 1...2...
The trio concealed their ears when their Boss screamed bloody murder. He had a mild heart attack.
SAKAKI: My beautiful Persian!
PERSIAN: Meow!
The present Sakaki recalled his tragic past as he muttered again.
SAKAKI: Mommy spent most of her time giving orders within our RG HQ. Daddy was always drunk and never showed me love. My only friend was a small creature. We were supposed to be friends forever...
The four year old boy was supposed to be in bed within the huge mansion. He wasn't tired. He saw his father drinking an alcoholic beverage while sitting in a black chair. The man scowled as usual. His angry eyes scared his son who was in front of him.
FATHER: What are you doing out of bed?
SAKAKI: I'm not tired.
He was frightened when he watched his father crush the wine glass via his hand. He approached him with caution as he hugged the man's legs in order to calm him.
FATHER: Get away from me!
He used the back of his hand to swat his son's face. He watched Sakaki touch the red area on his stung cheek.
FATHER: Annoying brat!
Sakaki was used to his father's insults and abusive behavior. He still loved him though.
FATHER: Return to bed this instant!
He noticed Sakaki's timid eyes. His slap knocked him down. Sakaki struggled to hide his tears. He knew that his father would do more than hit him if he saw a single tear. He decided to do as he was told. He couldn't avoid the angry eyes following his steps. He entered his dark room where he could cry alone without being heard or hit. He got into bed and pulled a heavy blanket over himself. His tears caused the pillow to become moist. All he wanted was his father's love. The adult Sakaki became alert when he heard the door open. He hid the knife behind his back when Musashi, Kojiro, and Nyarth opened his office door.
SAKAKI: Yes?
KOJIRO: Musashi, Nyarth, and I were unable to capture Pikachu...again.
SAKAKI: Yes, and?
KOJIRO: Can we capture something else besides Pikachu?
SAKAKI: If you must.
MUSASHI: Is there anything wrong, sir? You seem a bit...
KOJIRO: Troubled.
His boss sighed.
SAKAKI: Crocki Gator.
TRIO: Crocki Gator?
Sakaki looked up.
SAKAKI: Oh! Uhhhh...never mind!
NYARTH: You can tell us about Crocki Gator. We won't blab.
SAKAKI: It was a stuffed animal I had ever since I was an infant. It was a cross between an alligator and a crocodile, hence the name. I loved it more than anything in the entire world. I would spend every waking moment with it. I would whisper to it before falling asleep every night. I was three years old when my alcoholic father sent it to the dumpster.
He scowled when Musashi, Kojiro, and Nyarth tried not to laugh.
SAKAKI: Why are you preventing laughter from escaping your mouths?
KOJIRO: Crocki Gator is probably sitting all alone in the dumpster and crying.
MUSASHI: The rats have probably had their way with it.
Sakaki growled as he removed three pay checks from his suit along with a lighter. Musashi, Kojiro, and Nyarth were now silent.
SAKAKI: Go find a rare Pocket Monster.
Musashi, Kojiro, and Nyarth nodded. Sakaki watched them leave before admiring the blade. He recalled crying in his room when he was four years old. He managed to fall asleep until he heard a car door slam and became happy. He ran to his window. He saw the black car near the mansion. He smiled as he ran down the stairs. He saw his mother sitting near his father in the living room. To him, she was the most beautiful woman ever. She wore red high heels which matched her dress. Her stockings were black like her long hair. Her eyes were the color of a pure ocean. Young Sakaki ran over to her and hugged her legs. The Rocket Gang leader lifted her son and watched him sit on her lap. She gritted her teeth when he pulled one of her earrings. She slapped him. She set him down. His father noticed him.
FATHER: I thought I told you to return to bed. Get away from your mother.
Sakaki took a few cautious steps back. He couldn't avoid his father's angry eyes. He wanted to weep, but he knew that he would be battered. His face was red from his mother's slap. His male parent proceeded to shake him since his son's disobedience upset him. He didn't. He hit him repeatedly. He sat back down.
FATHER: Don't let me see you for the rest of the night.
His son tried not to cry. He watched him point towards the stairs.
MOTHER: Disobedient child!
Sakaki avoided the wine bottle his father threw at him. He was lucky to escape the air born glass shards. He disliked the loud shatter. He watched the wine stain the wall and carpet. He ran up the stairs. He returned to his bed. His small body trembled. He hid under the heavy blanket. He wanted to see his mother's beautiful face which he barely saw. He defied his father by slowly going down the stairs again. He snuck over to his mother's chair. The woman looked at him when his small hands touched her medium hand. He fell in love with her beauty. She pushed him.
MOTHER: Pervert!
His father smoked a cigarette. He beckoned his son. He held his arm, lifted the sleeve, and burned the skin. He heard him shriek.
FATHER: Now go to bed or else everything you own will end up like Crocki Gator.
His frightened offspring nodded as he returned to his room for a third time. He managed to fall asleep until he opened his eyes when he heard a kitten's cry. He gasped when he saw a white creature hover over his bed. He pulled the blanket over his head. He slowly looked up. He didn't see anything. He heard the noise again after a few hours passed.
NOISE: Miiiiyuuuu! Mew!
He gasped when he saw the same animal which was in front of him this time! Its eyes and head seemed too big for its small body. Its tail was long. Its feet had three toes and were larger than its tiny arms. Its mouth was a little hole.
CREATURE: Mew!
SAKAKI: A Mew! You're supposed to be the rarest Pocket Monster in the world! Why are you here?
Mew giggled.
MEW: Mew!
SAKAKI: Are you here because I'm not loved in my own home? Did you choose me to be your friend forever?
Mew repeated its name over and over as it continued to hover. It shut its eyes and nodded twice. It let Sakaki embrace it.
SAKAKI: At last! My first friend.
He looked up thoughtfully as he remembered Crocki Gator.
SAKAKI: My first friend that won't be sent to the dumpster. You'll be my secret companion.
Mew tilted its head.
SAKAKI: My parents don't show me love so I doubt that they'll hug and kiss you.
He gently grabbed the creature's toes and played with them.
SAKAKI: We'd better sleep now.
He and Mew slept under the blanket together after he rubbed its ears.
The adult Sakaki scowled at the trio who burst into his office. He hid the knife again. He was curious when he heard them laughing and holding paper.
SAKAKI: What or who are you laughing at this time?
His eyes widened when he saw two sheets of paper with drawings on them. Musashi held one drawing and Kojiro held another.
SAKAKI: How do you know what Crocki Gator looks like?
MUSASHI: Just a wild guess.
KOJIRO: Here's a before picture.
He showed his boss the drawing of a small, stuffed, four legged reptile.
SAKAKI: What a perfect replica.
He scowled when he saw Musashi's art which consisted of rats eating it at a dump.
MUSASHI & KOJIRO: You're not laughing.
SAKAKI: Get out of my sight!
The trio obeyed.
The boy spent most of the morning in his room. He and Mew laughed while playing together and kissing.
MEW: Mew.
Sakaki was curious when he heard his parents talking in their bedroom. He and Mew placed their heads against the wall.
MOTHER: Children always want what they can't have.
FATHER: What do you mean?
MOTHER: Sakaki desires my love, but he isn't getting it since I'm always working.
FATHER: You're right.
MOTHER: I'm always right. The other day, Miyamoto-chan and I talked about our expensive kids.
FATHER: Musashi is Miyamoto's daughter, correct?
MOTHER: That is correct.
FATHER: Is she a brat girl like our brat boy?
MOTHER: According to Miyamoto-chan, she is. Children cost so much money. Sakaki will be the death of us.
Mew sensed Sakaki's depression. It pounced on the boy's shoulders. It wanted to make him happy. It succeeded until he frowned.
SAKAKI: The woman I admire hates me. The father I love yells at and abuses me.
MEW: Miiiiyuuuu. Mew!
It hovered upside down in order to make Sakaki smile which worked. It giggled. Its huge feet moved up and down repeatedly. It created a mental pink ball. It tossed it to Sakaki who caught it and threw the ball back. The energy sphere was too heavy for Mew which was obvious when it used its tiny arms to lift it only to fall to the floor several times.
MEW: Mew! Mew! Mew! Mew!
It became frustrated and bounced the ball until it jumped up and hit it. Mew performed many air somersaults. It shook its head. It put its arms on its hips and waved its tiny arms around out of frustration. It kicked its feet. Sakaki couldn't prevent a smile. The creature stopped its temper tantrum and hovered over to its friend. It looked around to see what was so funny.
MEW: Mew? Mew. Mew. Miiiiyuuuu.
Sakaki became alert when his father opened the door.
FATHER: Your mother and I were talking and...
He gasped. Mew put itself in front of its friend.
FATHER: The rarest Pocket Monster in the world! Why did you keep it a secret from me, Sakaki?
Sakaki refused to answer as he grabbed Mew which thrashed its arms in anger.
SAKAKI: I already lost Crocki Gator. I'm not going to lose another best friend.
FATHER: Stubborn brat! How dare you keep secrets! How dare you talk back!
He walked away momentarily until he returned with a belt. Mew teleported out of the leather strip's way. Sakaki wept as his skin produced various cuts and bruises. The leather and metal ignored his tears. The tough hide made his wounds sting. The buckle caused him to scream. Mew could no longer stand watching its hurt friend from above the ceiling. It put itself in front of Sakaki when his father's heavy hand prepared to complete the pain.
MEW: MEEEEWWWW!
It slowly landed in Sakaki's arms.
SAKAKI: Mew! You sacrificed yourself for me. My friend.
MEW: Miiiiyuuuu.
Its body went limp as its eyes shut for eternity. Sakaki allowed his tears to fall on Mew's dead shell.
SAKAKI: My friend.
He was slapped again. He dropped Mew.
FATHER: Don't touch that filthy thing!
He grabbed it by the scruff and walked away. Sakaki followed him. He gasped when he saw him start a fire where the chimney was.
SAKAKI: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! MEW!
His father manually concealed his ears after using the dead body to fuel the fire. He disliked his son's tears so he shoved him all the way to his room and locked the door.
FATHER: Noisy brat!
He ignored his crying son as he entered his room where he and his wife laughed at their child's expense.
The adult Sakaki trembled as his sobs wracked his body which caused shoulder movement.
SAKAKI: Watching and feeling Mew die in my arms was the straw that broke the Pocket Monster's back. Perhaps if I die, I'll be able to join my only two friends in my life.
He sobbed as he raised the knife high above his chest. He felt the blade in his chest. His hand finally went limp over the arm of his chair. He managed to whisper a few words.
SAKAKI: Crocki Gator. Mew. We'll finally be friends forever.
His head tilted to the side of his chair. He began to have an eternal dream where he was a happy man with the stuffed reptile and adorable Pocket Monster around him for the rest of his afterlife.
