Chapter 122:
"Finding joy amidst adversity..."
Hayashi Kaede couldn't help but smile wryly at this description, then shook his head, picked the bitter melon, and stored it in his storage ball.
The two mutant harvests lifted his spirits, and he continued his search.
Soon, another small vegetable patch caught his eye—or rather, a specific plant within it immediately drew his attention.
It was a patch of spinach, the last vegetable Hayashi Kaede had planted.
In the middle, two or three of the typically dark green spinach plants were pure white, as if albino.
Hayashi Kaede immediately cast his [Eye of Exploration] on them.
[Dream Spinach—A mutant nurtured by a Grass-type Pokémon's power, it possesses a hypnotic effect. After consumption, one falls asleep without resistance within one minute, experiencing sweet dreams.]
"No dreaming effect?"
Hayashi Kaede was briefly puzzled by the discrepancy between the name and description, but quickly understood.
The spinach was white because it lacked dreams, but if combined with other ingredients, its color might change and it could gain dream-inducing properties.
Could it be paired with the bitter melon, which represented joy found in suffering?
Unfortunately, there were only three plants. After picking those three spinach leaves, Hayashi Kaede looked toward the Serperior gliding through the garden.
"Serperior?"
"Serperior?"
Hayashi Kaede held up the spinach in his hand. "Let me know right away if you find any more special plants like this in the future."
"Serperior..." (Understood.)
Serperior nodded slightly before returning to maintaining the Grassy Terrain for the plants.
It had actually meant to tell its Trainer earlier, but he had been so busy these past few days...
Hayashi Kaede didn't delay, taking the vegetables straight to the kitchen.
Tomorrow was the 15th.
He had to hurry.
In the kitchen, Hayashi Kaede took out the three special vegetables he'd picked, some Berries, and the Sacred Feather of Ho-Oh.
After a moment's thought, he retrieved a small vial from his storage ball. Inside, a shimmering, phosphorescent powder filled it.
This was the Sacred Ash of Ho-Oh.
Honestly, Hayashi Kaede wasn't very confident that the Sacred Feather could be used to create a dish that increased lifespan.
The Sacred Feather's description stated that a Pokémon touched by its pure spirit could significantly increase its strength and potential.
Strength and potential...
were unrelated to lifespan.
Similarly, Hayashi Kaede didn't dare use the Sacred Ash lightly.
The function of Sacred Ash was to revive recently deceased creatures.
This also had nothing to do with lifespan.
At most, it could bring a dead Pokémon back to life. But for a Pokémon like Beedrill, which had reached the end of its natural lifespan, Hayashi Kaede wasn't sure how long it would live after revival.
After all, it lacked vitality itself.
"Let's try these mutated vegetables first."
Bringing the Alcremie from the room, Hayashi Kaede once again began experimenting with making cakes.
...
September 15th.
Afternoon.
Although the Breeding House was completely sold out for the day, Hayashi Kaede didn't close up immediately. Instead, he waited quietly.
A little after five o'clock, a familiar yet somewhat changed figure appeared at the start of the path.
Today, Ryō Fū appeared to have shaved and gotten a haircut. He wore clean, loose-fitting casual trousers and a simple white long-sleeved shirt.
He looked much more refreshed.
This reminded Hayashi Kaede of his debut era, when he was only 23 or 24. Now, a decade later, he was in his thirties—a man's prime.
Moreover, compared to his previous dejected appearance, he now looked noticeably more at ease.
"Hello, Brother Kaede. I specifically chose the afternoon; I hope I'm not disturbing you," Ryō Fū said cautiously.
He had let Beedrill try the Energy Cubes Hayashi Kaede had given him last time.
To his surprise and delight, Beedrill, which had suffered every night before, felt significantly better that night.
Furthermore, over the following days, as it consumed more Energy Cubes, Beedrill's condition continued to improve.
This astonished him, yet also left him feeling somewhat incredulous.
Only he knew how much effort he had poured into Beedrill's care over the years.
Then he thought, *"If only I could have found Brother Kaede sooner."*
But then he laughed at himself.
How old was Brother Kaede this year?
Finding him earlier probably wouldn't have changed much.
Hayashi Kaede shook his head. "Not at all, the shop is just cleared out. Please, come in. The custom cake is ready."
"Okay."
Following Hayashi Kaede inside, Ryō Fū didn't see any cakes on the display counter.
But he didn't ask.
Instead, he followed Hayashi Kaede through the Breeding House, through the Berry Plantation, and into the garden.
The garden was quiet now, save for the buzzing of a few Combee returning to collect nectar.
They arrived at the outdoor seating area, where a table had already been set up. Hayashi Kaede took out his storage ball and said, while beginning to retrieve the cakes:
"I have three cakes here, each with different effects."
"The first one will allow your Beedrill to heal from its injuries very quickly, perfectly recovering from any wound. It also has a slight life-extending effect."
He tapped the storage ball, and a small cake appeared.
It looked like the small cakes sold in the Breeding House on normal days.
"If your Beedrill can recover from its injuries, the depression in its heart should also lift. However... its lifespan has reached its limit. It can only live for three months at most."
"The second kind can also completely cure it, but it tastes very bitter, which might not suit your Beedrill's preference for sweet food. However, this one can allow your Beedrill to fall into a deep sleep and experience the dream it truly desires. It will be a perfect dream."
Another cake was revealed.
This cake was a turquoise color, clearly made by blending cream with some kind of vegetable juice.
But it was noticeably larger.
Hayashi Kaede continued: "As for the third kind, it can also completely cure it, and..."
But before he could finish, Ryō Fū interrupted, "Let's go with the second one. It has never told me what it wants... I also want to know what it truly desires..."
"Hmm?" Hayashi Kaede was slightly surprised. "Don't you want to hear what the third one does?"
"Never mind. Let's just go with the second one,"
Ryō Fū's eyes held a look of anticipation.
From a single Weedle, slowly nurtured into a Beedrill, he had never once heard what this Beedrill truly wanted.
And then there was that...
He knew that creating cakes like these must have cost Hayashi Kaede a significant amount of rare ingredients. Judging by the pattern of each cake being better than the last, the third one was clearly the most valuable.
He interrupted Hayashi Kaede's attempt to retrieve something else from his storage ball, and instead took out Beedrill's Poké Ball himself and tapped it.