Chapter 197:
The sky, clouds, and mountains blended into a single hue. Though it was noon, the horizon glowed like sunset.
In this atmosphere, a Salance descended majestically, landing on a flat area of Apricot Mountain.
Apricot Mountain was open to the public free of charge now that the fruiting season had passed. Anyone could enter after registering their identity.
Of course, any actions that caused damage to Apricot Mountain were strictly prohibited. Otherwise, the League would legally apprehend the offender.
This season was especially scenic, drawing plenty of visitors. The nearby university ant there were also many couples hiking the mountain together.
Hayashi Kaede had Salance search for a while before finding a secluded spot. Another reason was to have wtwo scan from the air for any unusual signs.
There were none.
Apart from a few Nuzleaf and other Pokémon of the Wilderness Area, nothing was out of the ordinary.
Hayashi Kaede sighed quietly. If Psychic powers couldn’t detect anything, then only Aura remained. But Gardevoir’s Aura was far too weak. Even if it ca to investigate, it likely wouldn’t find anything unusual. He still needed to find a way to obtain Aura abilities himself.
Having no imdiate results didn’t discourage him. After reaching the flat area, he imdiately began setting up the barbecue gear.
These were all familiar tasks, and in no ti both the grill and the griddle for searing at were ready.
Then Hayashi Kaede released all the Pokémon he had brought with him: the Eevees, Blaziken, Goodra, and of course Alolan Vulpix and Salance.
He had originally considered letting Butterfree out for a stroll, but Butterfree seed to think the outside world was inherently dangerous and wasn’t interested. Hayashi Kaede didn’t force it. He just felt the little one might have a bit of a persecution complex. Not surprising—after all, it had lived in the wild since it was a Caterpie, and being shiny had probably made life harder.
Speaking of which, he hadn’t seen w this morning. Where was it...
"w~"
A pink kitten suddenly appeared in front of him, just as he was grilling at.
Hayashi Kaede: "..."
Right on ti for alti. Even outdoors, you’re this punctual, huh?
"w~" (So fragrant~)
w floated around the griddle, nose twitching, smiling happily.
But soon its attention shifted to Jirachi, who was following Takagi gumi. She was busy spreading a tablecloth and setting up a picnic area on the ginkgo leaf-strewn ground with wtwo.
anwhile, Jirachi kept sneaking glances toward Hayashi Kaede.
(╯▽╰)...
So fragrant. Really fragrant...
In all its long life, it had never slled anything this delicious. Compared to the roasted at from over a thousand years ago, this was unimaginably better.
Alolan Vulpix was boasting to the Eevees about its heroic exploits, claiming it had dominated the Junior Cup. None of the other Pokémon there could withstand even a single move.
It declared itself the "Vulpix Hero" and planned to form a hero squad. If they joined, they would be the first mbers, with Vulpix as captain.
It specially appointed little nine as captain of the first squad, with little three and little five as subordinates. In the future, they would dedicate themselves to the peace of the town, rembered by all.
The Eevees listened, dumbfounded.
Nearby, Blaziken, who usually only cared about food, overheard and ca over. "Blaziken!" (, , ! I want to join!)
It still rembered what Hayashi Kaede had once said about Blaziken heroes.
Even Goodra looked over with admiration, clamoring to join the hero squad.
Only Wartortle watched with a hint of envy.
Its Trainer would eventually take it on a journey to challenge competitions, so it wouldn’t have such a peaceful and harmonious environnt.
Then it looked at its Trainer. She was playing with Sprigatito, the little kitten nestled in her arms, nuzzling and occasionally licking her hand.
Ew... how could it lick her hand... Wartortle turned away in distaste.
Hayashi Kaede, however, found the exchange between Alolan Vulpix and Goodra rather amusing.
If Vulpix claid to have dominated the Junior Cup, then if Goodra entered, no Trainer would dare challenge it.
After all, a one-year-old Elite Four–level Pokémon? Who wouldn’t be stunned by that?
The arena might be spacious enough for many low-level battles, but for Elite Four–level fights, the whole place might barely suffice.
Even Salance, usually so stoic, couldn’t help but smile in this lively atmosphere.
Soon, the first batch of grilled at and barbecue was ready.
The Pokémon who had just been talking about maintaining the peace of the town as heroes rushed over with their bowls.
"Co, co, future heroes, fill your bellies first," Hayashi Kaede said cheerfully, handing out the at.
"Vulpix..." (Let’s eat!)
"Delicious, so delicious~ Sob sob, this is the taste, it’s too good..." Takagi gumi exclaid, overjoyed after days of instant food.
"Wartortle!"
Wartortle rembered sneaking through the irrigation channel at alti back in the day. Its mood value skyrocketed. It even rewarded Hayashi Kaede with an A-grade Water Stone.
w and wtwo showed minimal change in emotion, only a slight increase. Hayashi Kaede didn’t mind. After all, w had recently brought him several leaves from the World Tree.
He was already thinking that after the Junior Cup, he would use those leaves to create so novel dishes.
[Congratulations, Host, for increasing Jirachi’s mood value from 60% to 95%. Reward: five bags of top-grade Fertilizer, one top-grade Rare Candy, and a Mystical Wishing Fruit (a fruit that fell from outer space, seemingly with magical effects).]
The sudden notification made Hayashi Kaede glance at the picnic blanket, where Jirachi sat tearfully eating grilled at.
He rarely saw mood values above 90, and 95% was sothing he’d only seen once before—when he was about to catch Feebas.
Now, just one al had raised Jirachi’s mood so high?
Was it crying because the food was that good?
Hayashi Kaede instinctively opened Jirachi’s status panel and saw the mood value, which had just hit 95, plunging rapidly.
Within seconds, it had already fallen into negative territory.
Did it rember sothing sad?
Hayashi Kaede didn’t disturb it. The other Pokémon were too busy eating to notice.
Only w floated over to Jirachi’s side, blinking curiously. "w?" (What’s wrong?)
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