The promotional video ended, and the TV screen reverted to normal program previews, but the real-world noise couldn't immediately calm the children's surging emotions.
The children, however, had already erupted into a frenzy; the tranquility of their homes was completely shattered by a chorus of excited shouts, transforming into an ocean of joy.
The ability to restore a pokémon's status sounded very practical, after all, not every player could always keep their pokémon in good condition.
The link cable was even more anticipated.
But what truly made their hearts race was undoubtedly the mysterious "Evolution Stone," especially the "Moon Stone" whose effects they had just witnessed in the anime—it was the medium through which dreams became reality.
On the day the promotional video aired, long queues had already quietly formed outside the authorized stores that proudly displayed the new "Pokémon Center" signs.
Children clutched their parents' hands, their faces etched with eagerness and excitement, the lines winding like a grand festival waiting to begin, rather than just a normal shopping trip.
Inside one of the flagship stores located in a bustling commercial district, it was even more crowded, the atmosphere extraordinarily lively, almost lifting the roof off.
To better promote and showcase these unprecedented new services, a young female store clerk, dressed in the unique pink uniform of a Pokémon Center's Nurse Joy, stood at the focal point of everyone's attention; she was the star of the moment.
With a gentle smile on her face, she took out an electronic pet from her pocket, her composure and confidence infecting everyone present.
On the screen, a round, pink Jigglypuff blinked its large, watery eyes, emitting adorable electronic sounds, instantly capturing everyone's hearts.
"Hello everyone, welcome to the Pokémon Center."
The female clerk's voice, amplified by a small microphone, clearly spread through half the store, sweet yet professional.
"Today, I will demonstrate our newest service—Evolution Stone Evolution."
She smiled as she meticulously explained the usage procedure for the Evolution Stone service to the surrounding children, every step articulated clearly and without any ambiguity.
Then, she carefully placed her Jigglypuff electronic pet onto the evolution platform, gently connecting the data cable, her movements as tender as if handling a treasure.
From beneath the counter, she took out a beautifully packaged "Moon Stone" circuit board card, displaying it before the crowd, which caused a small stir.
The card refracted a faint halo under the light, as if truly containing some mysterious power, attracting all eyes.
She firmly inserted the "Moon Stone" into the dedicated slot next to the Evolution Stone, emitting a soft click.
Everyone's breath seemed to be held at that moment, countless pairs of eyes fixed on the small electronic screen, afraid to miss any detail.
Under the children's gazes, a mix of gasps and anticipation, the female clerk reached out her finger and pressed the start button on the evolution platform, a simple action that tugged at everyone's heartstrings.
The image of Jigglypuff on the electronic pet's screen was instantly enveloped in a dazzling white light, beginning to flash intensely, like the birth of a new star.
An evolution sound effect, remarkably similar to that in the anime yet with a unique electronic quality, emanated from the evolution platform, striking a chord in everyone's heart, both familiar and novel.
The light persisted for a few seconds, then receded like a tide, revealing the eagerly anticipated result.
On the screen, the originally small and cute Jigglypuff had transformed into a completely new pokémon—Wigglytuff—with a noticeably larger body, a more voluminous and prominent tuft of curly hair on its head, and eyes that appeared more lively and spirited! It looked both stronger and cuter.
"Wow—! It evolved! Jigglypuff really evolved into Wigglytuff!"
After a brief silence, the crowd erupted in thunderous cheers and screams, almost tearing the roof off the store, the joyous emotion spreading like a virus.
This living, real-time evolution case, like a giant bomb dropped into a calm lake, stirred up a thousand waves.
All the children who owned Jigglypuff electronic pets had their eyes reddened at that moment, shimmering with incredible light, as if they had witnessed a miracle.
They understood almost immediately what this meant, without any need for further explanation.
The Moon Stone from the anime could, in reality, make their Jigglypuff evolve; dreams and reality perfectly converged at this moment.
An indescribable fervor, like an electric current, rapidly spread among the children, converging into an unstoppable torrent.
This day felt like an early grand celebration, exclusive to those lucky Jigglypuff trainers, their happiness infecting everyone.
Almost simultaneously, from Hokkaido to Okinawa, an astonishing number of children holding Jigglypuff electronic pets and their accompanying parents flocked to "Pokémon Center" authorized stores across the country, forming a unique spectacle.
The queues stretched from inside the store all the way to the street corner, yet it did not diminish their enthusiasm in the slightest; instead, the wait only added to their anticipation.
Their faces were beaming with expectant smiles, tightly clutching the 500-yen coins they had prepared.
All just to witness with their own eyes the glorious moment when their beloved Jigglypuff evolved into that stronger, cuter Wigglytuff—that was their glory.
The store clerks were busy and happy, patiently guiding each little trainer, sharing in their joy.
For a time, the image of Wigglytuff became the hottest topic among children; its various cries and small movements on the screen were imitated with remarkable accuracy.
Children who owned Wigglytuff unconsciously puffed out their small chests under the envious gazes of their companions, their pride overflowing, as if they owned the whole world.
These past few days, for children who owned Jigglypuff, it was like their own mini-holiday, full of joy and sharing, with sweetness permeating the air.
Although Kyosuke did not have a Jigglypuff, his partner was the unique Pikachu, a bond that was irreplaceable.
But he witnessed firsthand, or heard from classmates, the grand spectacle of Jigglypuff's evolution, and his heart was greatly shaken, as if a door to a new world had opened.
So, electronic pets could be played this way, full of infinite possibilities.
He looked at the already full black experience bar below the screen of his Pikachu electronic pet, his heart filled with new questions and expectations; that black line now seemed especially mysterious.
Would his Pikachu also have a chance to evolve in some special way in the future, just like those Jigglypuff?
At Sega's headquarters, in Takuya Nakayama's office, pokémon's first complete marketing campaign had not yet fully unfolded, but the immense profits had already propelled Takuya from the position of Deputy Group Leader of Development Group 3 to Executive Director of Operations, granting him the authority to bypass various levels of meetings and directly submit proposals to the board of directors.
He looked at the "Pokémon Center" first-day operation data and new Pokémon Center application data compiled by the sales department, nodded with satisfaction, and murmured to himself, "How can we only harvest consumers' wallets? We can't let the channel partners escape either."