Daniel thought that respect and trust were earned rather than given. His previous experiences with those who pined for his Pokémon’s abilities and natures led him to think that others weren’t worthy of his respect and trust, let alone his mercy, even more so when it came to consulting with daycare-related contracts. Daniel cared for those who worked alongside him at his daycare with his father at Alola and the new daycare at Kanto, for he thought they helped him keep him sane. It was difficult to trust others who hid their true motives or had no motives at all, for they were wild cards. Wild cards were a dangerous breed, and he wasn’t going to let his guard down just because someone was all smiles and sweet nothings.

His level of tolerance was high, for Daniel was able to hold a conversation with someone he didn’t care for without appearing annoyed. Few things caused him to turn into a ticking bomb that was ready to obliterate those nearby. Training his mind and emotions allowed Daniel to shrug off a rude comment or a suspicious look, but he didn’t forget the gestures directed toward him. Whenever his tolerance was exhausted, Daniel secluded herself from socializing and ignored those who wanted his attention. On rare occasions, he barked back and left without a second thought.

Emotions were something Daniel had yet to grasp in its entirety. He was often perplexed and frustrated when it came to feelings that he wasn’t used to, especially that of love. Daniel knew how to play the part, but it was nothing more than an act. As he tried to wrap his mind around unfamiliar feelings, he exhausted himself mentally and physically. There was no point to make sense of his emotions nor to validate them. This left Daniel to feel uncomfortable whenever new emotions sprouted, and he had yet to create a proper coping mechanism or tactic when faced with the inevitable.

Daniel kept a façade when he was at the daycare; he was kind, peppy, excitable, and almost comical. Where he got this energy to keep this mask up was unknown, but nobody questioned nor doubted him. When in the proximity of his home, Daniel’s true nature was revealed. Serious, eerie, fast-footed, and observant, Daniel was a different person from the persona he created.

Bodily needs weren’t necessary according to him. All the hours he spent at the daycares at his homeland and at Kanto caused him to think that getting sleep and eating food were weaknesses. Seeing as the daycares were available at all hours, Daniel had to stay on high alert for those who wanted to spark a conversation with him about Pokémon. Because he kept an eye on his daycares, Daniel didn’t have time to grab a snack or take a quick Skitty nap. Sometimes his co-workers noticed that he wasn’t eating much, leading them to make box lunches for him. Daniel didn’t decline the offer, yet he shared half of the food with the stray Pokémon who could eat human food.

Daniel was the type to mind his own business. He had never been the gossiping breed, and he often shut down rumors that fluttered around his daycares. Seeing as his circle of friends was nonexistent, he had tunnel vision that focused on himself. Daniel used selective hearing to block others out when gossiping arose. Customers at the daycares were full of silver tongues that leaked with unsupported declarations. All Daniel did was smile and nod, and that was enough to keep others from tugging him along in the string of lies.

With the success of his parents, Daniel pushed himself to his limits and beyond. With his father being a renowned daycare owner and manager at Alola and his mother being a former Champion at Kanto, Daniel was put up on the pedestal by strangers and co-workers alike. While he put up a mask to promote self-confidence, he didn’t think highly of himself when it came to his endeavors. This caused him to overwork himself in whatever he did, striving for success and admiration.

Due to his lack of energy and nutrients from food, his physical ability was subpar. When running or exercising, Daniel got exhausted easily. When tending to aggressive Pokémon, Daniel received a myriad of bruises and injuries, to which he would conceal with skin-tone bandages and makeup. Not one to show off his “battle scars,” Daniel bought an array of makeup products to ensure that nothing seemed out of the norm. He treated himself with major wounds, refusing to visit Nurse Joy’s office due to him thinking it would be an inconvenience. To make up for his lack of endurance, he relied on meticulous dodging.

Daniel Saito was the only child of Justin and Phoebe Saito, a couple of diverse backgrounds and strong morals. The family settled in a floating ship that resembled a Gyarados in Alola’s Seafolk Village. Poni Island was full of wildlife, and Daniel was raised to venture around Poni Wilds with his parents. He remembered riding on Granbull and finding treasures dropped by certain Pokémon.

Not all was carefree and blissful in Daniel’s life. With his father taking care of the newly established daycare in Poni Island, he didn’t get to see much of his father. The distance between father and son grew once Daniel entered the Trainers’ School in Melemele Island’s Hau’oli City. Daniel stayed with Justin’s brother and sister-in-law in Hau’oli City throughout the years of the academy. Up until he graduated from the academy at age 11, the boy was interested in becoming a Pokémon Trainer like his mother.

Returning to his home in Alola, Daniel was homeschooled by his mother. It was a pleasant change to be back home with his parents, and it was a second chance to strengthen the family’s relationship. Phoebe taught Daniel how to catch his first Pokémon, which was a Pichu in Hau’oli City. His mother advocated that Daniel was to become Alola’s next Champion to carry on the legacy of his mother, and he took that challenge with confidence and determination.

For the next three years, Daniel was under the influence and stress of his mother’s constant teaching. He spent hours thinking of strategies to catch and battle Pokémon, using Phoebe’s companions as sparring partners. He was venturing throughout Alola to defeat the Trial Captains and the Island Kahunas, stopping right after defeating Olivia in the Ruins of Life. The entries of his Pokédex were filling up. By the time Daniel reached 14, his dream of becoming the next Champion was getting tiresome.

Daniel told his mother that he didn’t want to become a Champion anymore, which caused an uproar from Phoebe. The two had an argument that involved his mother stating that she wasted time on him and him stating that he couldn’t take the struggles of a Trainer any longer. His relationship with his mother grew bitter, the two distancing themselves from each other while in the same household.

The summer before entering public school was harsh. Daniel wasn’t sure what to do with his life, for he tossed away a dream he spent years on. He avoided being home out of fear and hatred toward his mother. The few months of summer changed him, as he was among the wrong crowd, particularly members of Team Skull. This was around the time he received his tattoos and piercings per his peers’ influence. His nickname among the Skull members was “Sylvester” because Daniel’s Eevee evolved into a Sylveon and he refused to give a nickname to his Fairy-type Pokémon.

When high school approached, Daniel bid Team Skull farewell. Those close to him refused to let him go so easily and went to such lengths to get him back, such as bursting into his class to bring Daniel to Team Skull’s base. Daniel’s return to public school started tough, yet once his message was clear to Team Skull’s members, they ceased their efforts. Despite the mania disappearing in a cloud of dust, his classmates feared him due to his former affiliation with Team Skull.

Over the years, Daniel worked at his father’s daycare. His relationship with his father rekindled and the two were closer than ever. Daniel’s relationship with his mother remained frigid, yet the two acknowledged each other’s actions that led to Daniel opting out of becoming the next Champion. It was a slow start, but things were piecing back together again.

At the age of 18, Daniel’s reputation shifted. No longer dwelling in his mother’s shadow and no longer connected to the rambunctious Team Skull, he became his father’s sidekick and companion. Throughout the years of breeding and taking care of Pokémon, Daniel had a preference for Fairy-type Pokémon and compiled a team of Fairy-type Pokémon, sans for his first Pokémon that evolved into an Alolan Raichu. He gave away his Pokémon from his youth to aspiring Champions.

A month before his 21st birthday, Justin offered a challenge for his son: Go to Kanto and create a new, better daycare. Kanto was the land of his ancestors, the place that revered his mother. Agreeing to his father’s offer, Daniel moved to Kanto and constructed a daycare on Route 14. Combining Kanto’s daycare system of training Pokémon and Alola’s daycare system of breeding Pokémon, Daniel’s fee of returning a Pokémon to its owner is at 100 Poké Dollars and an additional 25 Poké Dollars for each day the Pokémon has been in his care.