After the initial surprise, Naoki quickly regained his composure.
After all, Geeta had mentioned before that gym leaders who had the time could visit the ranch to challenge trials and hone their combat skills, aiming to improve their strength.
Naoki had initially thought that Larry would be the first to arrive.
Unexpectedly, it was Iono, a gym leader from the Levincia Gym—far across the Paldea region—who made an effort to come first.
He couldn't help but note the sheer determination and enthusiasm this gym leader must have had to travel such a distance. In Naoki's mind, Iono had just earned the label of being an "action taker."
At that moment, Iono finally shifted her focus away from Zapdos and waved enthusiastically.
"Hey there~! Hello, hello~! I'm Iono from the Levincia Gym! The Chairwoman told me about the trials here, so I rushed over to challenge them!" she said, her voice lively and full of energy.
Naoki nodded and replied with a polite smile, "Hello. The Chairwoman did inform me in advance. There are several trials on the ranch, but we're just about to have lunch, and the Pokémon haven't eaten yet, so we'll need to start the trials afterward."
"Ah... I understand!" Iono said, nodding, but the sound of a loud rumble from her stomach betrayed her.
She had flown early that morning from Levincia to Kosaji Town and rushed straight to the ranch upon landing, skipping breakfast and lunch.
Iono's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she awkwardly tried to cover her stomach.
Naoki glanced at her and pieced together the situation.
He had thought gym leaders visiting the ranch would likely treat it like other trainers had—helping Pokémon improve their battle skills while occasionally purchasing local specialties like Gogoat milk.
"It seems you haven't had lunch yet. If you don't mind, feel free to join us for lunch," Naoki offered kindly.
"Really? Is that okay?" Iono's eyes lit up. This way, she wouldn't need to delay her schedule further.
Naoki nodded in confirmation, and Iono immediately bowed gratefully. "Thank you so much!"
Hearing the conversation, several Pokémon gathered around curiously, watching Iono with wide eyes, intrigued by the newcomer.
Naoki turned back to Zapdos, still standing nearby. "Would you like to stay and have lunch with us?" he asked.
"Chewi!"
Zapdos let out a sharp cry, shaking its head proudly. It had to return quickly, as Teddiursa and Mew were waiting for its return.
"Alright, I'll pack something for you to take back," Naoki said, noting the state of the satchel. From his earlier touch, he could tell its supplies were nearly depleted.
Naoki walked back into the house, rummaged through his supplies, and packed food and medicine for Zapdos. By the time he finished, the satchel was full to bursting.
"There we go," Naoki said, gently patting the satchel before reaching up to stroke the soft, fine feathers along Zapdos' neck.
"Say hi to them for me!"
"Chiu!"
Zapdos let out a cry, flapping its powerful wings. With a single leap, it launched into the air and disappeared into the sky.
Naoki stood for a moment, watching the majestic Pokémon vanish into the distance.
Iono approached quietly, her eyes wide with astonishment as she looked around.
"Mr. Naoki… Zapdos is part of your ranch too?" she asked, her voice tinged with awe.
Naoki nodded, slightly surprised by her recognition. "Have you seen any other Zapdos before?"
Iono shook her head, her excitement unmistakable. "No, but that's the legendary Electric-type Pokémon! It's the kind of Pokémon every Electric-type specialist dreams of encountering!"
Naoki: "…"
'I almost forgot that Iono is an Electric-type gym leader.'
"It's nothing special," Naoki replied modestly. After all, this Zapdos wasn't really his—it was simply a friend of Mew and Teddiursa, part of their traveling group.
"As expected of a trainer praised by the Chairwoman!" Iono's admiration was evident.
To her, it was incredible that Naoki had a connection with such a rare Pokémon. Even more impressive was the way Zapdos flew off so casually—it was as if it were just another helper on the ranch.
But Zapdos as a postman? That was next-level extravagance.
"Wow!" Iono exclaimed, her enthusiasm uncontainable.
Naoki smiled politely but said nothing further. He didn't mention the hero exploration team or Zapdos' true role.
At that moment, Sister Indeedee appeared in the doorway. She had already set the table for lunch and was now here to call them inside.
"Ai-Ye" 'Come in! Lunch is ready!' she called.
"Thank you for the invitation, Mr.Naoki!" Iono responded, following Naoki into the house.
When she entered the dining room and saw the lavish spread, her eyes widened. "Wow, this looks amazing!"
"It's a celebration," Naoki explained, placing the Poké Ball and photo that Zapdos had delivered onto a cabinet. "Two new Pokémon joined the ranch today, so we're welcoming them with a feast."
He then picked up a small bowl of berry snacks and walked to the fireplace, placing it gently on the floor. A Slugma slowly crawled out of the hearth, its eyes lighting up at the sight of food. It eagerly began eating, drawing a soft smile from Naoki.
"There are so many Pokémon here!" Iono marveled, her gaze sweeping the room.
Her eyes darted across the space, taking in the various Pokémon lounging in the living room. There was Cyclizar, Indeedee, an unfamiliar Pokémon (Koraidon), Glaceon, Alcremie, Dragonite, and a lot of Dragonairs.
Then her gaze landed on something truly special—a shiny Dragonair, its pink-and-tender hue standing out among the others.
"Wow! A shiny Dragonair!" Iono's eyes sparkled with delight. "It's so cute!"
At that moment, a cheerful sound came from behind.
"Pamo~"
Pawmot flew into the room, looking equally excited. The sunny weather outside had given it the chance to let the hens out of the chicken coop to bask in the sun, but now the aroma of the feast had drawn it inside.
It hurriedly floated toward the table, eager to join the meal.
Hearing the call, Iono instinctively turned her head toward Pawmot.
But when she saw the Pokémon clearly, her mouth fell open in astonishment.
Could that pink Pokémon with a red cape and a silver hammer in its hand really be...!
"Pawmot?"
Pawmot tilted its head, curious about the unfamiliar presence in the house.
Naoki stepped forward to introduce her. "This is Iono, an Electric-type gym leader. She's here to take part in the trials on the ranch."
Pawmot immediately caught on.
It clutched the small hammer tightly in its paws and stared at Iono with a determined glint in its eyes. "Pawmot!"
Iono felt her heart melt. The Pawmot's cuteness was off the charts! She couldn't resist rushing forward to hug the fluffy Pokémon. "So adorable!"
Startled, Pawmot wriggled free, pushing Iono away gently with its soft paw pads before scurrying to hide behind Naoki.
Iono laughed nervously, scratching the back of her head. "Hehe, sorry about that. I've never seen a shiny Pawmot before! It's unbelievably cute!"
As the words left her mouth, a realization struck Iono.
'Wait a minute—why can a Pawmot float like that?'
Naoki noticed her perplexed expression and explained, "Pawmot is quite unique. It has incredible control over electrical energy and can use electromagnetic levitation to fly."
"That's incredible!" Iono exclaimed in awe. "Even as a gym leader specializing in Electric-types, I've never seen anything like this!"
Naoki smiled. "Actually, one of the trials at the ranch is a Lightning Trial, where you'll battle Pawmot. If you're interested, it could be a good challenge for you."
"That sounds amazing! I'm definitely choosing the Lightning Trial!" Iono said eagerly. Then, with a grin, she added, "It's funny—usually I'm the one being challenged, but now it's my turn to be on the other side. This is so exciting!"
Naoki chuckled, pulling out a chair as a few Pokémon gathered around.
Iono sat across the table, her eyes gleaming at the spread of food. "I'm going to eat!" she declared enthusiastically.
Naoki: "…"
He couldn't help but think, She's so full of energy!
This was the first time he'd encountered someone so eager and expressive about a meal, and he found her enthusiasm oddly refreshing.
Iono's eating style was far from refined—it was lively and spirited.
As she ate, Naoki observed her quietly.
Something about her demeanor seemed a little different from what he'd imagined. He had expected a gym leader to be more formal, but Iono's presence brought a lightheartedness that was infectious.
However, Naoki's attention kept drifting to the two Magnemite perched on her head.
The metallic spheres twitched and moved subtly, catching his eye.
"Huh? Mr. Naoki, are you looking at Magnemite?" Iono asked, noticing his gaze.
Naoki blinked, a little surprised. "Are they real Magnemite?"
"Of course!" Iono grinned. "They've been with me since the beginning of my journey!"
As if to prove her words, the two Magnemite floated slightly above her head, spinning playfully before returning to their spots.
Naoki's eyebrows rose in astonishment.
He had always assumed they were decorative hair accessories. To discover they were real Magnemite left him genuinely surprised.
If he recalled correctly, each Magnemite weighed about 6 kilograms. That meant she had been carrying around 12 kilograms on her head this whole time.
'How strong is her neck?!'
Still, remembering the absurd feats trainers like Ash had pulled off—such as lifting Nebby—Naoki resigned himself to the extraordinary logic of this world.
He shifted his attention back to his meal, silently finishing his food.
Lunch ended with Iono looking extremely content. She leaned back slightly, patting her stomach, and said with a wide grin, "Mr. Naoki, your cooking is amazing!"
Naoki smiled humbly. "It just takes practice."
"Hehe, you're being too modest!" Iono laughed.
As she spoke, she couldn't help but recall what she'd imagined before coming here.
A few weeks earlier, the regional leader of the Paldea area had approached her and several other gym leaders, assigning them a peculiar task: to train at Naoki Ranch in Kosaji Town.
The announcement had sparked a flurry of curiosity among the gym leaders.
None of them had heard much about the ranch, and the leader provided little explanation beyond the importance of the task.
Before arriving, Iono had imagined the ranch owner to be an elderly farmer—perhaps someone with a long white beard, dressed in overalls, and carrying the aura of wisdom gained from years of ranch work.
But the moment she arrived, reality shattered her assumptions.
Standing before her was a tall, broad-shouldered man with a rugged appearance. His chin was dusted with dark stubble, and his presence exuded confidence rather than age.
'Wait a minute,' Iono thought, recognition dawning. 'Isn't this the guy from the show "Men and Dragons"?'
She vividly remembered watching the show, where Dragonites worked as delivery Pokémon. The scenes were so memorable they left a deep impression on her.
Seeing him now in person felt surreal.
Naoki wasn't wearing a farmer's hat, nor did he have the stereotypical look she had expected. He was intimidating yet approachable.
Iono found Naoki surprisingly approachable after spending some time with him. He was polite, skilled in cooking, and clearly loved Pokémon—a combination that made him unexpectedly easy to get along with.
"Uncle Naoki!" Iono exclaimed enthusiastically, ready for action. "I'm ready! Let's start the trial!"
Naoki, who had only just returned from a long journey and hadn't had time to clean up, nearly choked. His eyes widened in disbelief. "What did you just call me?"
Realizing her blunder, Iono quickly corrected herself with a sheepish grin. "I mean—Mr. Naoki."
Naoki: "…"
With a sigh, he handed Iono some Pokémon food and motioned toward her team. "Feed your Pokémon first."
During lunch, there hadn't been enough room at the table for all the Pokémon, so Iono hadn't released hers. Naoki had noticed.
"Thank you so much, Mr. Naoki!" Iono said gratefully.
Naoki nodded and headed inside to freshen up. Entering the bathroom, he caught his reflection in the mirror and immediately understood why people like Iono and Carmine had taken to calling him "Uncle."
His tan from working under the summer sun, unkempt hair, and rugged stubble gave him a much older appearance. Combined with the demanding agricultural exchange trip in Kitakami Township, he hadn't thought much about grooming.
On top of that, the hearty ranch diet—rich in goat milk, fresh produce, and meat—had built his physique into something more akin to a seasoned outdoorsman. He looked like he could be the cousin of Bruno, the Elite Four member from the Kanto region.
Naoki sighed as he picked up a razor and began tidying up. After shaving and brushing his hair, his face looked considerably younger and more refreshed.
When he returned outside, Iono was kneeling on the grass, feeding her Pokémon. Naoki took a quick glance and mentally identified her team: wattrel, Bellibolt, Luxio, Electrode, and Mismagius. Along with the two Magnemite perched on her head, there were seven Pokémon in total.
Hearing the sound of Naoki's footsteps, Iono turned and froze, her eyes wide with surprise. "Mr. Naoki?"
Naoki gave a modest nod. "Yes?"
"Wow!" Iono exclaimed, her amazement apparent. "May I ask—how old are you?"
"Twenty-one," Naoki replied.
Iono gasped. "You're only three years older than me!"
Naoki chuckled lightly. "If young city folks worked on a farm for a few years, I'm sure they'd look like this too."
Iono nodded in understanding, impressed by the transformation that hard work on the ranch could bring.
Naoki didn't dwell on the conversation for long and transitioned to the main topic. "Are you ready to start the trial? Are you sure you want to take on the Lightning Trial?"
Iono turned to her team, her voice full of energy. "Everyone, are you ready?"
"Gummo!"
"Watt!"
"Magius!"
Each of her Pokémon responded enthusiastically.
"Hehe, looks like everyone's ready!" Iono turned back toward Naoki, her excitement bubbling over. "Then—let's begin the trial!"
Naoki: "…Pfft!"
Iono paused, realizing her mistake. "Oops! I got it wrong again. I'm used to welcoming challengers at the gym. I'll get the hang of it!"
Naoki chuckled and reassured her before leading Pawmot, who wore its signature red cape, to the other side of the battlefield.
The other Pokémon—Cyclizar, Flutter Mane, Dragonite, Arboliva, and Glaceon—gathered near the sidelines to watch the match unfold. Even the normally reserved Naclstack Pokémon clustered around, intrigued by the upcoming battle.
Sister Indeedee walked to the center of the battlefield, a whistle in hand. She raised it to her lips and blew, signaling the start of the trial.
Iono pointed dramatically toward the field, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. "Electrode, you're up first! Let's pass this trial like a Magnemite jumping over a magnetic gate!"