"I don't have a phone yet," Naoki admitted sheepishly.
Dr. Olim was taken aback, then her gaze swept over the ranch's modest surroundings. It was clear that Naoki was just starting out and, judging by his clothes and living conditions, life was a bit of a struggle for him.
Understanding the situation, Dr. Olim didn't press the issue. She simply said she would return in the afternoon and left with Arven.
Naoki watched them go, puzzled. When they were out of sight, he turned to Koraidon, who had been hiding behind the door, peeking out nervously.
Naoki let out a sigh of relief. "They're gone," he said with a smile.
"Kora." Koraidon emerged from its hiding spot and nuzzled against Naoki affectionately, nearly purring with contentment.
Seeing its reaction, Naoki chuckled. "Do you like me that much?" It had only been a few weeks since they met.
Koraidon opened its eyes, beaming with joy, and began licking Naoki's face enthusiastically.
Naoki was no longer afraid of Koraidon's displays of affection. He knew it meant no harm. He wiped the saliva off his face and stood up, gazing at the growing crops in the field. He took a deep breath, feeling a sense of calm and contentment.
Dr. Olim had said she would return in the afternoon, so his planned trip to Casseroya Lake would have to wait.
Cyclizar was chasing butterflies again, and Metapod was still a few days away from evolving into Butterfree. Smoliv was basking in the sun on the windowsill, and Alcremie was resting in its cupboard home.
With some free time on his hands, Naoki decided to check on the mushroom cultivation kits in the cave behind the house, taking Koraidon with him.
As they entered the cave, a wave of cool air washed over them. Rows of mushroom cultivation kits lined the walls, and tiny mushrooms had already begun to sprout.
Naoki moved closer to examine them, using his ability to check their information.
[Tiny Mushroom: A small mushroom that grows wild in mountains and forests. Very rare and can be used in dishes or sold. Quite popular among certain enthusiasts and can fetch a high price.]
"Really?" Naoki was surprised.
If he remembered correctly, these Tiny Mushrooms were valuable items in the game, worth 500 Pokédollars each if sold. They were far more valuable than eggs.
In addition to Tiny Mushrooms, there were also Big Mushrooms and Balm Mushrooms, which could be sold for 5,000 and 15,000 Pokédollars respectively.
Balm Mushrooms were said to be so rare that they made the surrounding area fragrant. They were more often used to make expensive perfumes for wealthy clientele than for cooking.
Unfortunately, there were no signs of them in the mushroom cultivation kit. Apart from two Tiny Mushrooms, only ordinary mushrooms remained.
But Naoki was still pleased. Mushrooms grew quickly, which meant he could sell these Tiny Mushrooms in a few days and add 1,000 Pokédollars to his savings.
After checking on the mushrooms' progress, Naoki, seeing it was still early, decided to explore the back mountains with Koraidon.
Compared to their last visit, the back mountains were largely unchanged. The area was mainly inhabited by small, docile Bug and Grass-type Pokémon, who fled deeper into the forest at the sight of Koraidon.
Naoki didn't pursue them. Instead, he and Koraidon followed the river that flowed through the ranch, hoping to encounter some Water-type Pokémon that could help with irrigation.
Unfortunately, the only Water-type Pokémon they found were Magikarp and Feebas.
"It looks like I'll have to find Water-type Pokémon at Casseroya Lake," Naoki sighed, disappointed.
Before he knew it, it was noon.
Naoki and Koraidon, having found nothing of interest, looked up at the sun and decided to head back to the ranch.
Before leaving, Koraidon leaned down and gave a playful bark, "Kora-hi!"
Naoki, assuming it wanted to carry him, hopped onto its back.
But as he settled in, Koraidon transformed. Its long frill unfurled into wings, and with a powerful thrust from its hind legs, it soared into the air.
"Whoa!" Naoki yelped, clinging tightly to Koraidon's neck as the ground shrank below. "You can fly?!"
Koraidon let out a gleeful cry. "Gaa-hiiss!!"
Naoki realized that this Koraidon hadn't yet experienced the territorial battle from the game, and it hadn't been injured. It could fly all along!
After the initial shock, Naoki marveled at the sensation of flight. Koraidon didn't fly too high, allowing Naoki to take in the breathtaking scenery below: vast forests, green mountains, the ranch, Mesagoza, and the endless Paldean Sea stretching out into the horizon.
The wind whipped through his hair, filling him with exhilaration. This was amazing!
Later that afternoon, Dr. Olimand Arven returned to the ranch.
Dr. Olim directed a man in a blue uniform and work clothes. "Right here," she said.
Naoki looked at them, puzzled. "What's this?"
Dr. Olim chuckled. "This is the latest videophone, installed by the lab. You can use it to contact me anytime. Consider it a thank you for taking care of Koraidon."
Naoki realized Dr. Olim's intention. She wanted to learn more about Koraidon's behavior and habits through him.
He had no objections. In fact, he was happy to help.
The videophone was installed near his bed, right next to the windowsill where the adorable Smoliv basked in the sun.
Once it was set up, Dr. Olim expressed her gratitude. "Thank you so much for assisting us in studying Koraidon's behavior. You must really love Pokémon, don't you?"
Naoki nodded, glancing at Cyclizar and Koraidon. "They're intelligent, well-behaved, and full of innocence. I don't think anyone could dislike them."
Dr. Olim smiled softly but didn't say anything further. She and Arven soon departed, as there were still matters to attend to in Area Zero.
Naoki watched them go, his mind replaying the tragic fate that awaited Dr. Olim in the future. She and her husband, Professor Turo, would one day perish in an explosion caused by an experimental accident.
.....
"I couldn't believe we're close to reaching 500 Powerstones!"💎💎