"Would you like to try the al I made, Ponpon?"
As evening gradually fell, Sora Kenji seized the mont to extend an invitation, hoping Ogerpon would stay.
"Ponéun."
Ogerpon didn't refuse.
After finally eting a human willing to spend ti with her, Ponpon wished she could stay with Sora Kenji forever.
So Sora Kenji began taking various tools out of his backpack.
He asked Lilligant to tidy up the cave, while he himself set up the camping tent and arranged the cooking equipnt.
Victini used her psychic powers to wash the ingredients, then helped with lighting the fire and controlling the temperature.
Back in Eindoak, Sora Kenji had often gone camping with Victini, so she was already very familiar with the routine.
Watching this dazzling sequence of coordinated actions, Ogerpon found herself at a loss.
She wanted to help—
but hesitated.
It feels like there's no place for to step in…
Seeing her growing anxious, Sora Kenji smiled and waved her over.
"Co here, give a hand. I'll teach you how to set up a tent."
"Poné!"
As if she had suddenly found direction, Ogerpon happily ran to his side.
Set up a tent?
She had no idea what that was.
But listening to Sora Kenji's instructions and gradually raising the tent fra under his guidance gave her a long-forgotten sense of reassurance.
Especially after the tent was finished—
lying inside together with Sora Kenji filled her with warmth and satisfaction, making her reluctant to let the mont end.
"Alright, let's start dinner."
Sora Kenji stood up.
Holding Ogerpon's hand, he joined Lilligant and Victini to prepare the al.
During this ti, he introduced Lilligant to Ogerpon.
Both were Grass-type Pokémon.
Lilligant was gentle and composed, like a caring older sister, while Ogerpon remained shy and timid—so much so that Lilligant couldn't help but feel protective toward her.
"Lilligant~~"
"Poné!"
"Lilligant, lilligant."
"Poné, poné!"
Sora Kenji couldn't understand what they were saying, but seeing Ogerpon bouncing happily made him smile.
Judging from the situation, the chances of inviting Ogerpon to join his team were already very high.
She was naturally afraid of loneliness.
There was an old saying:
One can endure darkness—until they have seen the light.
Perhaps it was a little calculating, almost as if Sora Kenji were manipulating Ogerpon.
But so what?
Like a well-intentioned lie, he simply wanted to give her a ho.
What was wrong with that?
Sora Kenji didn't know whether taking Ogerpon away was the right decision.
But he was certain of one thing—
he couldn't allow her to remain in Kitakami any longer.
Dinner was quite plentiful.
Besides the food Sora Kenji prepared, there were berries and energy cubes for the Pokémon.
The energy cubes, however, were limited in quantity—more of a side dish than the main course.
After leaving Kitakami, I'll need to find a way to earn more money.
Thinking this, Sora Kenji looked at Ponpon, who was eating enthusiastically, and gently wiped berry juice from the corner of her mouth.
"V, co here."
He didn't forget Victini either, wiping her face as well.
The little one squird and giggled in embarrassnt.
anwhile, Lilligant remained as reliable as ever, helping tidy up supplies and wash the cooking utensils.
"Ponpon."
"Poné?"
After dinner, the four of them squeezed together inside the tent.
Sora Kenji looked at Ogerpon and asked,
"Can I take a look at your mask?"
"Poné."
Ogerpon startled slightly.
Her first instinct was to shake her head.
But that thought barely ford before she forcibly suppressed it.
The Teal Mask was her last connection to the man she had loved like family.
Whenever soone ntioned the mask, she rembered the three hateful Pokémon who had stolen the others.
But this was Sora Kenji.
Kind.
Gentle.
The person who gave Ponpon delicious food.
The idea that he might covet her mask—or that everything he had done so far was a lie—
she refused to believe such a thing.
No.
Sora Kenji was a good person.
Ponpon trusted him.
"Poné!"
With a solemn nod, the simple-hearted Pokémon reached into her sleeve and pulled out the Teal Mask, offering it to Sora Kenji.
How does sothing that big even fit inside her sleeve?
Sora Kenji couldn't quite figure it out.
In the end, he chalked it up to Pokémon magic.
Maybe there was a miniature pocket dinsion hidden beneath her cloak.
"So this is the Teal Mask."
He took the mask and examined it carefully.
Of course, he had no intention of taking it away.
Asking to see it was simply another step in earning Ogerpon's trust.
"The mask is damaged."
"Poné?"
Ogerpon froze, then her expression turned sorrowful.
She already knew.
The mask had lost its forr power.
It could no longer shine with the brilliance it once had.
"I can help you fix it."
"Poné!"
She looked shocked.
She never expected to hear those words from Sora Kenji.
This… can be repaired?
"It can."
Sora Kenji smiled and gently patted her head.
"Of course, that depends on whether you're willing to trust ."
"I know soone who understands how to repair this mask. But it will take ti."
"So, Ponpon."
He t her eyes.
"Are you willing to trust ?"
…
Handing over the mask so he could find soone to repair it—
and trusting that he would return it afterward.
Ogerpon didn't hesitate for long.
"Poné!"
She chose to trust him.
Even though they had only t once—
even though they had spent only a few hours together—
Ponpon chose to believe in her friend.
Despite being bullied countless tis…
Despite being rejected for hundreds of years…
When the light of trust appeared again, she reached out without hesitation, desperate to hold onto it.
If Sora Kenji truly walked away and never returned,
the one left behind would simply be Ogerpon—
waiting foolishly, still believing he would co back.
If that happened, this child would be unbearably pitiful.
Fortunately, the one standing here was Sora Kenji.
He genuinely intended to take her out of her suffering.
"V, I'll leave the task of collecting Tera Shards to you."
"Bini!"
Victini was powerful and capable of invisibility.
Flying straight to the peak of Kitakami and retrieving the shards would take very little ti.
As for the Milotic that appeared in the ga—
gas were gas.
Reality was reality.
The Crystal Pool was a tourist site in Kitakami.
If dangerous wild Pokémon truly occupied the area, neither visitors nor locals would have built facilities there.
The Milotic encounter in the ga was an extrely rare incident.
And events unfolded exactly as Sora Kenji expected.
Not long afterward, Victini successfully returned from the Crystal Pool.
User Comments
0 comments from readers