Chapter 127: A Hand-Crafted Poké Ball
"Alright. If you change your mind, you can find any Joy in this world," she said, respecting his decision.
"Thank you for your understanding," Ryu replied. He picked up the sulking Sprigatito and prepared to leave.
"Grovyle," Joy added, "Sprigatito is a very jealous Pokémon. She already sees you as her 'Trainer.'"
"Did you hear that? She's talking about you," he said, poking the little cat in his arms.
"Meow! Hiss!" Sprigatito bared her teeth at Joy. A light pat on the head from Ryu was enough to silence her.
Back at Mabel's house, she had just finished making breakfast. "Oh, Lizard, you're back. Quick, bring the little cat to eat."
"Today, I'm going to Kurt's place to learn how to craft Poké Balls," he told Sprigatito. "You stay here and play with Eevee."
He opened the door to Kurt's workshop and was hit by a rush of hot air.
"You're here early," the craftsman said, feeding his Slowpoke. "Perfect, we're eating. Have some." On the table was a washbasin-sized container filled with colorful, jelly-like chunks. "This is the secret to making Slowpoke sturdier than Eevee. Don't let Mabel find out!"
Ten minutes later, Ryu lay flat on the ground, his belly about to burst. But strangely, he felt his body was warmer, and his physical fitness seemed to have increased slightly.
The days passed quickly. Ryu would learn from Kurt, go to the Pokémon Center for Joy to record data, and help out at the workshop. He had planned to stay for only a day or two, but the technique of hand-crafting Poké Balls was far more difficult than he had imagined.
Five days passed. Sprigatito had already left her juvenile stage, her weight now reaching 4.5 kg, heavier than a typical male.
On the afternoon of the sixth day.
"I want to try crafting a Poké Ball myself today," Ryu announced.
"Hmm? You think you're ready?" Kurt asked, skeptical. "With your current skill, it's still too early. This isn't a simple matter!"
"I want to try."
"Hmph! Overestimating yourself!" Kurt scoffed, but he stepped aside, giving Ryu space at the workbench.
"Use some force! Didn't you eat enough?"
"Is your ruler aligned correctly? Are your eyes crooked?"
"You can't even hold the knife steady!"
Kurt scolded him nonstop, but he never left his side, watching his every move.
Time ticked by, long past midnight.
"Now," Kurt's voice sounded.
Ryu held the two halves of the ball in his hands and joined them together. Ding! The moment the Poké Ball was successfully crafted, a red light appeared and absorbed him into it.
A moment later, another red light shot out, and he reappeared.
"Success!" he cheered, happily bouncing in place.
"Hmph, don't get happy too early," Kurt's voice came from the side. "You'll need to practice for another hundred billion years to become a master!"
"Thank you, Uncle Kurt," Ryu grinned and bowed. He was truly grateful.
"Alright, enough. Hurry up and get out of here with your ball. I'm dying of sleep."
"Uncle Kurt, I'm leaving tomorrow."
"Huh?" the craftsman was stunned. "...Is that so? Then hurry up and get lost. I can finally have some peace." He turned around and waved his hand indifferently.
Ryu smiled, picked up the light green Poké Ball, and walked out. "It has a strange, unique appearance," he thought, looking at the rough, hand-crafted ball under the moonlight. "It's a pity there's only one. I'll have to find a way to get one for Sprigatito in Cherrygrove City."
Back at Mabel's house, Sprigatito was waiting for him. "We're leaving here tomorrow," he told her.
"Meow?"
"Yes. If there's a chance, we'll come back."
"Meow~"
"Goodnight."
[Inorin Note:
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