In the backyard, the setting sun quickly swept across the grass, the Lake, the grassland, and moved into the distance.
Several people gathered around a round table, beginning to enjoy today's delicacies, while a group of Pokémon around them were also enjoying the energy cubes Lucas had meticulously prepared for them.
After diligently studying the energy cube manual from Grandma's unknown friend, Lucas's energy cube production skills had significantly improved.
A cool breeze, accompanied by the hand-whipped Soda Pop to which Lucas had added sweet honey, washed away all the day's troubles with a single sip.
"Lucas's cooking is truly excellent."
Jenny said, gnawing on the high-quality protein from a pig's trotters whenever her mouth was free.
The others remained silent, merely nodding in agreement.
Seeing everyone eat so happily, Lucas felt immensely gratified.
Nothing is more satisfying for a chef than seeing others enjoy the dishes he has cooked.
Following Shauna's guidance, Lucas picked up a cola chicken wing for her.
Nina swallowed the food in her mouth and raised her cup.
"According to your Kanto tradition, shouldn't we clink glasses and say 'Happy Sukkoth'?"
Joy and Jenny nodded in agreement, raising their cups, and Shauna also raised her small cup.
Seeing this, Lucas smiled knowingly and raised his cup.
"Wishing us a Happy Sukkoth~"
Ping~
"Gengar~"
As always, a small chubby hand had snuck in.
"Gengar, if you steal my pig's trotters again when I'm not looking, do you believe I'll spank your butt?"
Lucas, who was chatting with Nina and the others, looked down at his plate and found that the pig's trotters on his plate had once again disappeared, while a certain chubby little fellow next door was happily gnawing on a pig's trotter in his hand.
"Gengar."
Hmph.
Gengar turned his back to Lucas, looking as if he wouldn't bother with him.
"..."
The others, seeing this, burst into laughter.
Shauna, not understanding why, gnawed on the cola chicken wing in her hand, her small eyes darted around, and she also started to laugh.
During this time, everyone and all the Pokémon also took a group photo.
The meal ended amidst the laughter of everyone and the Pokémon. After tidying up, Lucas packed two boxes of mooncakes for Nina and the others to take home, and also two boxes for Shauna.
After entrusting Shauna to Jenny and the others, asking them to take her home, Lucas stood at the door and stroked her little head.
Shauna enjoyed this gesture; she held a Pokémon Egg in her arms, and whenever Lucas stroked her little head, she would squint her eyes.
Waving goodbye to them, and watching them leave, Lucas closed the door of the Breeding House and returned to the backyard with Gengar.
The table in the backyard had not yet been cleared. Lucas took out the Gengar cake he had made that afternoon from the kitchen.
"Gengar, come blow out the candles!"
Lucas placed the cake on the table, picked up Petilil, and called out to Gengar.
"Gengar—"
I'm coming.
When Gengar and the others arrived by his side, Lucas placed candles on the cake.
"This is the first Sukkoth we've spent together, and I'm honored to be family with all of you."
Lucas had Gengar light the candles, looked at Gengar and the others, and then said sincerely.
Because of you all, this place feels more like a home.
"Gengar."
"Nihaha."
"Lalaji~"
The Pokémon were moved to tears, and Gengar immediately licked Lucas.
"Alright, alright, I get it, no more melodrama, you all hurry and blow out the candles together."
Lucas tried his best to push Gengar away, saying helplessly.
"Gengar—"
Lucas too.
Gengar pulled Lucas's shoulder.
At this moment, the moon above was like a pristine white jade plate, and a Gengar cake was perfectly placed under its moonlight.
He placed Petilil on the table; Petilil, who once feared the night, no longer felt afraid now.
Holding Petilil's and Gengar's hands, Lucas took a deep breath.
"I'll count to three, and we'll blow together. Three."
"Gengar?! Σ(ﾟ∀ﾟﾉ)ﾉ"
Caught off guard by Lucas, Gengar quickly took a deep breath and blew out the candles.
Lucas laughed happily, then picked up a knife to cut the cake. While Gengar's attention was drawn to the cake, he swiftly smeared cream on his face with lightning speed.
And also on Petilil, and the others.
This resulted in retaliation from Gengar and the others. The others hugged Lucas tightly, then let Gengar smear cream on his face.
After a playful tussle, everyone's faces were covered in cream.
Lucas tasted a bite of the cake, left the rest for Gengar and the others to handle, and then returned to his room to shower.
After showering, he returned to the backyard, where Gengar and the others had already cleaned everything up.
Stretching, Lucas went to the Lake, found an open patch of grass, and lay down.
The fragrance of grass and the earthy smell of soil filled his nostrils. Lucas quietly gazed at the moon above.
The sky was full of stars, twinkling around the full moon.
He had forgotten how long it had been since he had truly looked at the stars. He vaguely remembered that when he was a child in his previous life, it was also Sukkoth. He and his family would roll up a cool mat, take it to the rooftop, spread it out, and then the family would sit on the mat chatting. He liked to listen to his parents' conversations while counting stars with his sister, pestering her to tell him stories.
But he didn't know when, later on, when he walked at night and looked up, there were only a few scattered stars, never again the sky full of them like in his childhood.
And today, he saw a sky full of stars again, and for a moment, he was lost in thought.
There was movement beside him; Gengar lay beside him, and so did Petilil.
The others sat not far away, holding mooncakes, quietly gazing at the stars and the moon.
In the sky not far away, several Illumise danced in the night, performing geometric patterns.
"Gengar, do you know, today's moon isn't the fullest; tomorrow's moon will be the fullest."
Lucas suddenly spoke, resting his hands behind his head.
"Gengar?"
"The full moon on the sixteenth is rounder than on the fifteenth," Lucas murmured to himself.
Perhaps sensing Lucas's unusual mood, Gengar moved closer to him.
Glancing at Gengar, who was moving closer to him, Lucas couldn't help but laugh.
"Do you know, where I'm from, there's a legend, a legend about a couple... eventually, his wife flew to the moon."
Lucas spoke softly, and Gengar and the others listened quietly.
"But here, they'd probably ride a Rayquaza to fly up there."
Lucas smiled, reached out, and hugged Petilil, rubbing Petilil's little head.
"Lalaji~"
A sweet sound arose, and Petilil squinted her eyes.
"Thank you all."
Lucas said softly, then fell silent, quietly counting the stars.
Gengar secretly glanced at Lucas, felt that his mood had improved, and then looked up at the moon.
"Gengar ٩(º﹃º ٩)"
It looks so delicious... Then he pulled out a rather large mooncake, compared it, and it was also round.
Then he took a bite.
"Gengar—"
Lucas, meanwhile, held Petilil, savoring a tranquility he had never experienced in his previous life. His eyes blinked in sync with the twinkling stars.
Finally, he closed his eyes and fell asleep.
The nights in Sinnoh are quite cold. A gust of wind blew, and Lucas couldn't help but huddle up.
Gengar tossed the mooncake into his mouth and finished it, then floated up, gently lifting Lucas with his psychic power, and slowly floated towards the room.
Finally, he placed him on the bed, covered him with the quilt, then went to replace the soil in the balcony flowerpot with fresh soil, brought it back to the room and placed it on the bedside table, then gently pried open Lucas's arm and placed the sleeping Petilil on the flowerpot.
"Lalaji..."
"Gengar—"
After comforting Petilil, Gengar changed the room light to a warm tone, then returned to the ceiling.
He didn't need to train today, because Ninetales had said the training ended yesterday.
Deep within the forest, a Ninetales also quietly looked up at the moon above.
It wasn't until the moon was obscured by dark clouds that she collected her thoughts, took one last look in the direction of the Breeding House, and then walked away without looking back.
....
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