"Veeee!"
(No way! We didn't lose! It was a draw, a draw! And I wasn't even fighting at full strength!)
Alolan Ninetales waved its paws indignantly, staring at Lin Feng with a look that clearly said:
You're slandering me!
It wasn't that they couldn't defeat that giant bear. They simply hadn't been able to use everything they had.
"Alright, alright. My mistake."
Lin Feng chuckled as he patted Alolan Ninetales on the head.
"Let's head home."
(〃＞﹏＜): "Vee..."
(I'll become even stronger... and come back for another battle!)
Alolan Ninetales declared proudly, though it seemed unsure how to prove itself.
It felt like Lin Feng was just humoring them.
Even though they really had returned looking rather battered.
"Then wait until winter."
Lin Feng smiled.
"You can challenge it again then."
He didn't discourage the idea.
After all, this was the same Pokémon that had once confidently proclaimed it would challenge Rayquaza someday.
One by one, he recalled every Pokémon into their Poké Balls before taking to the skies on Dragonite.
Not long after he left...
A massive figure suddenly crashed down into the moonlit forest with a heavy thud.
The enormous Pokémon sniffed the air repeatedly, looking confused.
The scent it had been chasing only moments ago had completely disappeared.
Unable to find its targets, it simply wandered deeper into the forest once again.
Silence briefly returned.
Then two tiny shadows descended into the clearing.
Their cheerful laughter echoed through the trees as they seemed to discuss something.
A moment later, one of the little figures suddenly transformed...
Into the exact appearance of the giant bear that had just left.
...
By the time Lin Feng had gathered all of his Pokémon, it was already 8:30 p.m.
In Alola, most businesses closed early, so only a handful of customers were still coming and going.
When he entered Mallow's family restaurant, she was cleaning up after the final guests.
As soon as she finished washing the last few dishes, she noticed him walking in.
"Mr. Lin Feng, you're back!"
"You close this early?"
Lin Feng asked curiously.
Back in the Donghua Region, nightlife in many major cities would only be getting started around this hour.
Hau'oli City certainly wasn't a small town.
Mallow nodded.
"Normally we'd stay open a little longer."
"But since Mom's still in the hospital, we're closing early today."
"I just need to put these away in the kitchen, then I'll come back."
Although business hours had ended, there was still plenty of cleanup to do.
Fortunately, she returned only a few minutes later.
"Please come in, Mr. Lin Feng."
"Your room is the same one as last time."
She noticed Meowscarada beside him and blinked curiously.
"Is this the Pokémon you went out to catch?"
She had already removed her apron.
Compared to this afternoon, her entire face seemed brighter and more energetic.
Earlier, while helping in the restaurant, she had received an update from the hospital.
After tonight's examination, her mother's condition had improved dramatically compared to yesterday.
If things continued at this pace...
The chances of a successful recovery had increased significantly.
Both she and her father had received the same news.
The two of them had been so overjoyed in the kitchen that they almost forgot customers were still waiting outside until someone called out to them.
Truthfully...
Their minds had already wandered elsewhere.
The moment the last order was finished, her father immediately hailed a taxi and rushed to the hospital.
Since Mallow had already visited earlier that afternoon, she stayed behind to clean the restaurant.
Even so...
Her mood had completely changed.
The hospital had never proactively called them with good news before.
Every previous conversation had only been about treatment plans, medications, and serious discussions.
But today...
Everything was different.
She knew exactly why.
Everything had changed after Lin Feng arrived.
This mysterious Trainer from the Donghua Region...
"Actually..."
Lin Feng shook his head.
"No. Meowscarada has always been with me."
"The Pokémon I went to pick up were different ones."
As he walked toward his room, he explained,
"They rarely get opportunities to explore the outside world."
"I don't travel very often myself, so whenever I do, I like letting them experience nature."
Mallow's eyes lit up with curiosity.
"Oh!"
"So... exactly how many Pokémon do you have?"
"It feels like you own a lot."
The layout of Mallow's home was quite similar to Lin Feng's breeding ranch.
The restaurant occupied the front, while behind it was a small courtyard filled with vegetables grown specifically for the restaurant.
Just then...
Her own Pokémon, Bounsweet, floated out from the garden, spinning its leaves as it gently landed on her shoulder.
Bounsweet knew Mallow had been overwhelmed recently.
With her mother hospitalized and the restaurant busier than ever, it had spent the past several days diligently helping care for the vegetable garden.
But today...
As soon as it came over...
It saw Mallow smiling brightly again.
And standing beside her...
Was the human who had once given it those incredibly delicious Pokéblocks.
Its eyes immediately sparkled with delight.
A joyful smile spread across its tiny face.
Then it suddenly remembered...
Mallow's mother was still in the hospital.
Its smile quickly became more restrained.
Instead, it quietly rested on Mallow's shoulder while shyly peeking at Lin Feng.
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