"Kieran, that kid, has great talent," Summer muttered softly after bidding farewell to Kieran. He then turned to the Rillaboom waving goodbye and said, "Rillaboon, let's go. I'll take you on a mountain path we didn't walk during the day."
"Rilla?"
"Sorry, sorry. It's already evening; we should eat first. Let's have some sticky rice cakes on the way," Summer said, handing the rice cakes from his backpack to Rilla.
"Kieran's grandmother gave us plenty; it should last us for a while."
"Rilla." Rilla vaguely understood why Kieran disliked the rice cakes—his grandmother only knew how to make sticky rice cakes.
As night fell, the bright moonlight shone on the ground. Summer and Rilla returned to the center of Kitakami in about half the time it took during the day.
Summer returned to the center of Kitakami for one reason: to find the ogre.
According to the signboard story, the only mask left for the ogre was the green mask, which could revive dead plants. The power contained within it was undoubtedly related to the Grass type. Could the Grass-type Pokémon aura he felt near Oni Mountain be the ogre?
The villagers hated the ogre, but could the ogre also hate the villagers? Therefore, when Summer was with Kieran during the day, the ogre hid. Although Kieran liked the ogre, the ogre didn't know that and treated him like the other villagers.
"Sorry, Kieran. Now, let's try to see the true face of the ogre."
Summer climbed the stone steps leading to the center of Kitakami. By moonlight, he saw a masked child swaying in front of the mask stall.
"A child, at this hour?"
The child, hearing Summer's murmurs, turned around in a panic. Its mask was as green as grass, gleaming brightly in the night.
"A glowing mask, could it be...?"
By moonlight, the child saw Summer's face, realizing he wasn't from Kitakami. Summer radiated a warm, friendly aura, a feeling the child hadn't experienced in a long time.
"Boni~?"
"Sure enough, not a human but a Pokémon," Summer whispered. The Pokémon in front of him was probably the legendary ogre. Scary? No, pitiful. Watching the mask stall alone at night was too sad.
The people of Kitakami feared the ogre, and now it seemed the ogre feared them too. Why else would it come to the festival at this hour?
The Festival of Masks. The ogre wore a mask like a human child. Kitakami villagers feared the ogre, so they wore masks at the festival. It made sense—the ogre could only approach people during this time, using its mask to blend in.
Recalling the ogre's residence, Summer thought about how dark and narrow it was, unworthy of being called a home. Did the ogre spend the rest of the year alone there?
The ogre wasn't indifferent to people's rejection; it was a lonely Pokémon, enjoying brief happiness once a year.
Was the Pokémon companion really as brave as the legend said? Should they believe the Kitakami villagers' tales without knowing the truth?
"Hu." Summer exhaled deeply and then said to his partner, "Rilla, let's play some music to recall beautiful memories."
"Rilla!"
Rilla placed its drum on the ground. It could feel Summer's emotions and decided to play joyful music to forget the troubles.
"Boom~~~"
"Pon?!"
The sudden drum sound startled the ogre, making it jump back. Its small feet slipped, and the mask fell to the ground with a thud.
Rilla continued playing. The lively drumbeats stirred precious memories in the ogre's heart, like a spring gushing forth.
By moonlight, Summer saw the true face behind the ogre's mask. It had an orange face like a tangerine, yellow eyes with star-shaped pupils, and small fangs that added a playful touch.
Scary? No, very cute. It was hard to associate it with the word "ogre."
"Boniboniboni!"
Tears accompanied the memories. The ogre's sobs turned into a wailing cry. Why did that fatherly figure have to go through such things?
A dark and narrow home didn't matter as long as he was there—it was the happiest little home.
Being shunned and feared by people didn't matter as long as they wore the mask, they were no different from others.
Why, why, why did they take away my precious things? Did I do something wrong?
"Rilla." Hearing the ogre's cries, Rilla stopped playing, looking apologetic. Did it play the wrong song?
"It's not your fault, Rilla," Summer reassured, patting its arm. "I trust your skills, so there's only one answer."
"Its happiest memories are also the source of its sorrow. This grief comes from losing a loved one."
Summer slowly approached the ogre, picked up the fallen mask, gently dusted it off, and held it out to the ogre.
"This is something you cherish, right? Take good care of it."
"Bo."
Through tear-filled eyes, the ogre saw the person in front of it. Unlike the people here, he didn't reject or fear it.
The ogre took the mask from Summer and wore it again, then cried out energetically through its sobs.
"Boni!"
"Yes, my name is Summer, and this is my partner, Rilla," Summer said gently, his demeanor as kind as the man's.
"Rilla!"
Rilla greeted the ogre. Its tall stature was as robust as the man's.
"Your name..." Summer didn't want to call the Pokémon "ogre" anymore; it felt like an ignorant insult.
"Boni!"
Hearing Summer's words, the ogre ran to an open space, picked up a small stick, and carefully wrote in the dirt the only word the man taught it—its name.
By moonlight, Summer read the words aloud:
"Ogerpon, huh? Is that your name?" Summer smiled at it.
"Boni!"
"Yes, it seems so. Nice to meet you, Ogerpon."
"Rilla!"
Facing their greetings, Ogerpon thought for a moment, removed its mask, and carefully put it away. There was no need for a mask with Summer and Rilla.
"Boni!" Ogerpon smiled warmly.
Yes, in this world, there are people like you, my father. Under this night sky, are you watching all this from the stars?
(End of Chapter)