At noon, Naoki prepared chilled cucumber slices. The effect of this dish was to combat heat, providing a cooling sensation after consumption. Koraidon and Cyclizar, however, still enjoyed their sandwiches.
It wasn't that Naoki didn't want to experiment with new recipes, but the morning's work had left him exhausted. He decided to take a break in the afternoon and try his luck at fishing by the river.
Worried that Cyclizar might get bored while he was fishing, Naoki eyed the glutinous rice flour and red bean paste in the cupboard, a thought forming in his mind. Perhaps he could make a snack to enjoy while fishing?
With the idea firmly planted, Naoki set to work. He mixed the glutinous rice flour with water, kneading it into a dough. He rolled it into long strips, flattened them, and filled them with a mixture of red bean paste and sugar. He then carefully rolled the strips into balls, creating snow-white dumplings.
Cyclizar, intrigued by the unfamiliar creation, approached to observe. "Graaah?" it inquired, tilting its head.
Naoki smiled. "These are called glutinous rice dumplings. I wonder if you've ever tried them?"
Cyclizar shook its head. "Graaah..."
"Well, you can try them this afternoon," Naoki offered. "Though I'm not sure if you'll like the taste."
Cyclizar nodded enthusiastically. "Graaah!"
Naoki chuckled. "You silly thing, you haven't even tasted them yet. Aren't you worried they might taste like instant ramen?"
"Graaah..." Cyclizar touched its head with its claws, embarrassed.
Koraidon, on the other hand, found the exchange utterly baffling. Had it truly been that simple-minded before? Did Koraidon perceive it in the same way now?
Naoki, observing the interaction, turned to Koraidon. "Koraidon," he began, and the Legendary Pokémon immediately trotted over to stand beside him.
"Graaahhhh?" Cyclizar questioned, tilting its head in confusion.
Naoki paused, considering his words, then asked, "Did you come here from the Paldea crater?" He wanted to confirm if this Koraidon shared the same backstory as the one from the games – fleeing Area Zero due to a territorial dispute with another Koraidon.
Koraidon nodded, its eyes filled with a mix of sadness and determination.
Naoki's suspicions were confirmed. "As expected," he thought to himself. He then inquired, "Were you fighting with another Koraidon before arriving here?"
Koraidon looked at him in surprise, "Graaoaoaoshi?" It couldn't believe Naoki knew about the battle.
Naoki smiled inwardly. Of course he knew. But he didn't want to dwell on the painful past, so he asked instead, "What are your plans for the future?"
Koraidon's answer was a determined "Gaww, aww!"
Although Naoki didn't understand the exact words, the meaning was clear. Koraidon wanted to stay here. This was exactly what Naoki had hoped for; Koraidon's strength would be an invaluable asset to the ranch.
Naoki tried to maintain his composure as he replied, "You can stay, but you have to help me manage the ranch."
Before he could finish, Koraidon eagerly nodded in agreement.
At that moment, the last dumpling was wrapped, and Naoki placed them in the steamer to cook. He then grabbed a stool, a fishing rod, and some bait, heading towards the river that bordered the ranch.
Before casting his line, he turned to Koraidon and Cyclizar, "I'm going fishing. You two go have some fun!"
In the springtime, the ranch was dotted with dandelions and small yellow wildflowers. Cyclizar, taking Naoki's advice, wandered off to play. Its attention was caught by a butterfly, and it excitedly chased after it through the tall grass.
After a while, Cyclizar came to a stop in front of a fluffy white dandelion. It lowered its head, curiously examining the delicate seed head. Suddenly, a tickle in its nose caused Cyclizar to sneeze, sending the dandelion seeds scattering into the blue sky.
Cyclizar raised its head, an innocent curiosity in its eyes.
Naoki turned to Koraidon, who was standing beside him, observing the scene with interest. "Aren't you going to play?" Naoki asked.
"Gaa-ah-ah-ah," Koraidon shook its head, its gaze fixed on the flowing river and the shadows of fish darting beneath the surface. It then looked at the fishing rod in Naoki's hand, a mischievous glint in its eyes.
Suddenly, a lightbulb seemed to go off in Koraidon's head. Before Naoki could react, Koraidon's aura surged, and it leaped high into the air, transforming into its Sprinting Build form as it crashed into the river with a mighty splash.
"Splash!"
Water erupted into the air, raining down in a torrential downpour. Naoki stood dumbfounded, staring at the scene in amazement.
Koraidon emerged from the water, a triumphant grin on its face. "Gaaaaaa!" it exclaimed, clearly proud of its accomplishment.
Naoki watched as the churning water settled, revealing several fish floating belly-up, their eyes wide and unblinking. They had been stunned by Koraidon's forceful entry.
Naoki was speechless for a moment. He finally managed to say, "I appreciate your enthusiasm, Koraidon, but there was no need for such a dramatic display."
Koraidon's head drooped, disappointment evident in its eyes. "Gaa..."
Naoki quickly reassured it, "No, no, I'm not blaming you. You did a great job!"
Koraidon's eyes lit up. "Gaogashi~"
Naoki sighed, shaking his head with a smile. He instructed Koraidon to gather the stunned fish and place them in a bucket filled with river water. Koraidon eagerly complied, scooping up the fish with surprising dexterity.
The fish weren't very large, but for Naoki, who was just starting out, this was a good haul. He picked out three Magikarp that had been caught in the chaos.
Koraidon looked at the three red fish, puzzled. "Gaao?"
"They're not for eating," Naoki explained. He had initially intended to release them back into the river, but then he remembered the lake on his ranch.
He could raise Magikarp alongside the Miltank he planned to acquire. It would be a long process to get the ranch up and running, so why not raise some fish in the meantime? Not just Magikarp, but the other river fish as well.
Naoki carried the bucket to the lake and gently released the three Magikarp. He watched them for a few moments, unsure if they were merely stunned or if Koraidon's attack had been fatal.
Fortunately, the Magikarp were unharmed. After a few minutes of floating listlessly, they slowly regained consciousness. They swam off into the depths of the lake, with a dazed look on their face.