owth ran out of the port with a terrified expression, gasping for breath and constantly looking back as if worried sothing from that boat would chase after it.
Then it turned its head and saw the group gathered around the table.
"That boat has—it has—" owth pointed at the boat nearby. "People with tails, ow! They really have tails—is soone having a birthday, ow?"
Looking at the cake held up before Ron, owth was about to speak when Jessie picked it up with an apologetic expression.
"Sorry, sorry, owth got scared. You continue, happy birthday Ron." As she spoke, Jessie muttered while carrying owth toward the port. "They didn't even do anything to you, why such a fuss? Speaking of which, I saw a submarine over here just now, let's go ride it later—"
Ron silently blew out the candles. Everyone was stunned for a mont, then gradually began laughing.
"Really—by the way, this is your birthday gift." Leah spoke up first. "Happy birthday Ron, this is your first birthday since coming to Pelican Town."
"Happy birthday."
With Leah leading, gifts were handed to Ron one after another. Even Nurse Joy had prepared a present for him.
"Happy birthday Ron." Nurse Joy said, handing him the gift wrapped in beautiful paper. "Hope you like it."
Ron didn't open these gifts imdiately. After thanking everyone, he put them away in his backpack one by one.
Pam glanced at Penny, who was clutching her bag with a conflicted expression, hesitating to take it out. She promptly began distributing cake, shifting everyone's attention away from Ron.
The cake was made by Jodi and Marnie together. Both were quite skilled at making this type of cake, even more so than Gus.
Gus held the piece of cake given to him, tasted it, and began guessing the recipe.
"This is my secret recipe." Jodi smiled and patted Gus.
Ever since the Community Center shop opened, Jodi's burdens had lightened considerably. Along with that, her previously worried deanor had disappeared, and she had beco much more cheerful.
Even after Sam's salary at the library increased, she would occasionally bring the two of them to the Saloon to eat out and improve their als.
Therefore, she was sincerely grateful for this farm's existence and grateful for everything Ron had done, so she no longer had to worry about tomorrow's als during every quiet night.
Gus smiled and took another bite.
A cold wind blew in from the sea at this mont. Gus turned to look at the port hung with colorful lights, his gaze stopping on Ron's face. He was about to step forward and say sothing to Ron when he noticed Penny hesitating nearby. He imdiately understood, smiled knowingly, and naturally averted his gaze.
"Ron—" Penny called out softly.
Ron was holding a slice of cake and eating.
Although he didn't particularly like this overly sweet stuff, eating it occasionally was surprisingly not bad.
Hearing her, Ron turned to look at Penny.
"This is your birthday gift." Penny looked at Ron and took out the bag in her hand.
Ron paused, wondering whether to put down the cake first or finish it quickly. Before he could decide, Penny took out the item from the bag.
It was a scarf.
"I really didn't know what to give you." Penny lowered her head, her voice very soft. "Although I spent quite a bit of effort making it—it doesn't look very nice."
With that, she still raised her head and glanced at Ron. Then she stood on her tiptoes and placed the scarf around Ron's neck.
"Hope you don't mind."
She then smiled, as if wanting to rember this mont, looking at Ron several tis before hurriedly lowering her head again.
The movent was small, and almost no one noticed this small interlude.
Only Leah noticed when she turned her head—a dark brown scarf had sohow appeared around Ron's neck.
She then saw Penny with her head lowered nearby, and Ron holding cake saying sothing.
A cold wind was still blowing from the sea at this mont. Leah inexplicably shivered, uncomfortably tucked her neck in, and accepted the hot soup Gus handed over.
"Thank you."
"Don't ntion it. Cold, right?" Gus continued. "Drink so soup and you'll warm up. We can still go see the rmaid show over there later."
As he spoke, he seed to rember sothing and turned to Nurse Joy. "Kalos doesn't have rmaids?"
Nurse Joy was silent for a mont, then asked in an incredulous tone. "Pelican Town has rmaids?"
Gus laughed upon hearing this. Robin beside him put her arm around Nurse Joy's shoulder. "Then I'll treat you to the rmaid show later!"
"They really exist?! No wonder that owth reacted so strongly." Nurse Joy said, following Robin's pointing finger to look at the small boat with the sign.
Because of the night market nearby, the celebration didn't last long. Once the food on the table was finished, everyone dispersed.
Penny hesitated for a mont. Before she could speak, she received an invitation from Ron to browse the night market together. She was stunned at first, then looked at Ron with pleasant surprise. "Okay! Let's go together!"
With that, she followed behind Ron, hopping onto the wooden plank bridge at the port.
The plank imdiately creaked.
Actually, there wasn't anything particularly novel being sold. But so vendors were selling special winter decorations, such as oversized candy canes and such. So people would buy these to decorate their courtyards and add so Starlight Festival atmosphere to their hos.
Of course, so bought things to eat—such as the row of Rattatas in front of them currently trying to group purchase.
Penny breathed on her hands.
Ron turned to look at Penny's fingers, red from the cold. After a mont, he extended his hand toward her.
"Huh?"
Penny stared blankly at the hand extended before her. After hesitating for a while, she tentatively reached out and took it.
Probably because he often did farm work, Ron's hand was sowhat rough. But it was very warm, and soon her palm ward up as well.
Penny quietly curled her fingers, then stepped forward to walk beside Ron.
Everything was still the sa night market, the sa port. Yet sohow, there seed to be sothing a little different.
"Is there anything you want to buy?" Ron asked while looking around.
Penny shook her head, carefully stealing glances at Ron's profile.
For so reason, she faintly slled sothing very sweet—like the scent of autumn Fairy Roses, mixed with the sea breeze, appearing and disappearing.
It was the scent of a racing heart.
Penny thought this to herself.
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