Chapter 449:
Outside the hospital, a stretched limousine was parked by the roadside. Lillie waved goodbye to the group, got into the small car, and left.
Lana also had to go home to help with chores. After saying goodbye, she disappeared as well.
"Let's go, Big Brother Kaede..."
"Okay, stop right there. Just call me by my name," Kaede felt awkward; it seemed his earlier suggestion was a mistake.
"I think I'll stick with 'Mr. Kaede,'" Mallow said, smiling at his reaction. "Come on, Mr. Kaede. Dragonite must be hungry after such a long flight. Let's head back first."
Kaede: "...Actually, it already ate."
"It's fine. It has a big stomach; a bit more won't hurt."
Looking at the setting sun in the distance, Mallow's mood inexplicably brightened.
Things had turned out quite fortunate so far.
"Alright then..."
Kaede nodded.
---
Meanwhile, back at the Breeding House...
Not long after Kaede flew off on Dragonite's back, two small figures landed in the orchard. It was Mew and Victini, who had been off who-knows-where.
Having failed to trick Kaede every time, Mew had given up on disguising itself as other Pokémon for hide-and-seek this time.
But after looking around for a while, it realized Kaede wasn't home...
Upon asking Gardevoir, it learned that Kaede had gone to a place called Alola to meet a friend.
"Gardevoir..." (But before he left, he asked me to tell you something.)
"Mew?" (What is it?)
Mew spun in a circle, tilting its head curiously.
"Gardevoir..." (He said he wants to take Serperior, Meowscarada, and the others to see the Tree of Beginnings.)
╰(*°▽°*)╯: "Mew~!"
Mew's eyes instantly sparkled.
Visit my home?
That's great!
It had actually wanted to show Kaede some of its collected treasures for a long time. But Kaede always seemed so busy running this big Breeding House, so Mew never asked.
Now, hearing that Kaede had taken the initiative, that was even better.
It even felt a little impatient.
"Mew~" (*I understand~*)
With Victini in tow, it asked Gardevoir for the direction to Alola and flew off towards it...
(●'◡'●): "Mew~"
It didn't get to surprise Kaede here, but he definitely wouldn't expect it in Alola, so it could definitely surprise him there!
---
Alola.
By the time they returned to Mallow's family restaurant, it was the busiest time of day.
A steady stream of customers came and went, waiting inside. Before Mallow arrived, only her father was in the kitchen, with what seemed like a temporary worker serving the food outside.
But even so, it was quite hectic.
A restaurant needs at least two people to function minimally.
After Mallow got home, she simply greeted Kaede briefly before diving into the busywork.
Kaede wasn't surprised by this. He told Mallow he was going out for a walk to pick up his other Pokémon and would be back later, then left the restaurant.
First, he headed to the seaside to meet Milotic and Primarina.
Because Milotic, that kid, didn't feel secure enough.
Sure enough, when he arrived, Milotic and Primarina were already waiting in the shallows. Their forms swaying in the water, bathed in the bright Alolan moonlight, appeared ethereal and mysterious. This had attracted a group of Trainers, most of whom were looking dejectedly at the sea.
Clearly, they had already tried to battle and catch them, but unfortunately, no one's Flying-type or Water-type Pokémon had been able to win.
Someone had even brought out a fishing rod, casting a line, obviously trying to hook Milotic ashore for a battle.
But unfortunately, Milotic just stayed put, not even glancing at the lure.
This situation lasted until Kaede arrived, took out two Poké Balls, and recalled Primarina and Milotic. The onlookers stared at him, stunned.
They'd been waiting for almost an hour, and now you're telling them this Milotic and Primarina already had a Trainer?
"I challenge you to a battle!" A young Trainer, unable to bear the frustration, issued a challenge to Kaede.
Kaede felt a bit helpless. He just wanted his Pokémon to experience nature; he didn't expect this.
But speaking of challenges...
"But... haven't you already tried?"
That one sentence left the challenging Trainer speechless.
Because they had tried, and couldn't even get close to Milotic.
---
Leaving the coast, Kaede headed towards the hills behind the Pokémon School. Holding the Poké Balls containing Milotic and Primarina, he muttered, "Why didn't you two go explore the deep sea?"
"Primarina, Primarina~" (Sister Milotic was worried you wouldn't come back for her, so she didn't go.)
"Milotic..."
Milotic, inside its ball, didn't dare say a word.
"That won't happen, Milotic. Next time, we'll all go for a swim together, okay?" Kaede gently tapped the Poké Ball, amused internally but soothing in his tone.
It was ironic. Primarina had been abandoned as a Popplio, but after evolving, it didn't seem to fear such things. Yet Milotic, who had been with him since it was small, harbored this fear.
Probably because it had never really been out on its own before, Kaede guessed.
Putting the Poké Balls away, he also released Meowscarada to let it see the sights.
Then, he headed towards the Bounsweet habitat.
Just like last time, as Kaede entered their territory, large numbers of Bounsweet emerged under the moonlight. Some, relying on hazy memories, even recognized Kaede as the human who asked questions and gave out treats last time. They began chirping "Bounsweet! Bounsweet!" in welcome.
Meowscarada followed behind Kaede, curiously listening to the welcoming chorus of Bounsweet.
Some Bounsweet even spun their leaves, landing right beside Kaede, on his head, or in his hands, as if asking to be held, acting quite boldly.
Back at the Breeding House, everyone was bigger than it, so Meowscarada hadn't felt this way before. But now, it realized its Trainer seemed more popular than it imagined.
That won't do! The Trainer mustn't catch too many outside Pokémon!
That would make the already limited time spent together even scarcer.
Thinking this, Meowscarada leaped onto Kaede's shoulder.