"Please follow me!" Naoki said as he began strolling around the ranch with Mr. Sato and the two Indeedees.
Mr. Sato, in his fifties, took a quick look at the ranch. He saw neatly laid fields, blooming flowers, and well-trimmed lawns.
Next to the field, several Pokémon were helping out: a Gogoat tending to the crops with its Grass-type abilities, a Dragonite cheering from the edge of the field, and a Psyduck wearing a straw hat, daydreaming on the grass.
Suddenly, dark clouds gathered overhead, and a light drizzle began to fall, moistening the farmland below. When the rain stopped, a beautiful rainbow appeared over the fields, thanks to Dragonite's weather powers.
Looking at this scene, Mr. Sato nodded approvingly.
Naoki smiled, watching the peaceful scene. He then turned to Mr. Sato and said, "I moved to this ranch in the spring. Before that, it had been abandoned for some time."
"Only since spring?" Mr. Sato asked, surprised.
Naoki nodded. "Yes, my parents and I moved to the Hoenn region over a decade ago, and my grandfather used to manage this ranch. After he passed away, the ranch fell into disuse. I decided to come back to my hometown for a visit, and before I knew it, I had taken it upon myself to restore the place."
Mr. Sato showed admiration. "It's impressive that you've managed this all by yourself."
Naoki smiled warmly, looking at the Pokémon playing in the pasture. "It hasn't just been me. The Pokémon have helped a lot. Together, we've put in a lot of hard work to make the ranch what it is today."
Naoki fondly remembered how challenging the beginning was. It had been an exhausting process, filled with trial and error until Skiddo and the Nacli joined, which made life much easier.
Mr. Sato's gaze shifted to the nearby field. There, an Alcremie was riding atop a Naclstack, followed by a group of Naclstack spinning in playful circles. Nearby, a Gogoat was basking in the sun, while a Glaceon sniffed at a small yellow flower, sneezing adorably after inhaling some pollen.
The sight of these well-cared-for Pokémon spoke volumes about the ranch's quality.
"The Pokémon here are in excellent hands," Mr. Sato remarked, further impressed by the young man.
Naoki nodded humbly. "Let's head over there and take a closer look," he said, guiding them along the winding path he had created through the fields.
As they walked, Naoki pointed out various areas of the ranch. "This is the flower garden I set up. I plant seasonal flowers here, and Butterfree and the Combee visit regularly to collect nectar. The Combee then turns it into sweet honey for the Pokémon to enjoy."
Mr. Sato smiled as he watched the three Combee and a Butterfree buzzing happily around the flowers. "They seem to love it here."
Naoki beamed, nothing made him happier than seeing Pokémon enjoy the things he created. "Yeah! They really do."
He continued, pointing to a few more areas. "Over there is the Pokemon house where Miltank lives, and next to it is the coop for the Chickens. There's also a small shelter for Naclstack. It might look small on the outside, but there's a passage that leads to an underground cave where Naclstack prefers to stay."
....
"Milk, eggs, and rock salt are the main sources of income for the ranch, and they're also the daily food for the Pokémon living here," Naoki explained.
He continued, "We make things like milkshakes, and egg sandwiches, and even use the milk and eggs in baking bread and desserts."
"It's exactly as I imagined—full of a charming pastoral atmosphere!" Old man Sato laughed heartily. He glanced towards the garden behind the buildings and asked, "If I'm not mistaken, those are all fruit trees, right?"
"That's right," Naoki nodded. Over the past few months, the fruit tree saplings had grown into lush, vibrant trees. "In about a month, they'll be ready to bear fruit."
Naoki didn't plan to sell the berries since they didn't fetch a high price. Instead, he intended to use them to make wine or as snacks for the Pokémon.
Thinking about it, Naoki felt proud. His ranch was becoming more and more prosperous, and he even began imagining that he could raise another hundred Pokémon. However, he quickly realized the reality—taking care of so many Pokémon would require more energy than he could manage alone.
After touring the ranch, Mr. Sato felt very satisfied. This young man wasn't just hardworking, but he also had a natural ability to care for Pokémon. From the way the Pokémon interacted with him, it was clear they liked him a lot.
Old man Sato nodded approvingly in his heart, though he kept a calm expression on his face. He turned to the two Indeedees, who had been following quietly.
The sister, Indeedee, had sparkling eyes, clearly excited about the ranch's lively atmosphere. She hadn't even officially joined yet, but she already felt at home and eager to be part of it.
Meanwhile, her elder brother, Indeedee, was more focused on the Pokémon around them. While they were walking, he noticed that the Pokémon were quietly observing them too. He picked up on their emotions—curiosity, surprise, happiness, and a hint of caution.
At that moment, the brother saw the eager expression on his sister's face. He pursed his lips, making his already serious expression look even more discontented.
Naoki watched this scene with curiosity. What was going through this little "adult" Indeedee's mind? Did he dislike the ranch?
The elder Indeedee sighed, "Ai eh." (Sister.)
The younger Indeedee blinked, seemingly guessing what her brother was about to say. "Ai eh! Ai eh?" (Brother, I like it here! Don't you like it?)
The elder brother replied, his tone serious, "Ai eh." (I like it too.)
Naoki: "..."
Why does he look so unhappy if he likes it? Naoki thought to himself.
He quickly realized it wasn't the elder Indeedee's fault—his naturally drooping mouth made him look perpetually unhappy, even when he wasn't.
Old man Sato, seeing the two Pokémon had finished their conversation, smiled and asked, "So, what do you think? Do you want to stay here and live with Naoki?"
Hearing this, the two Indeedees raised their heads and looked at Naoki in front of them.
Naoki smiled warmly and greeted them, "It's been a long time since we last met, Indeedees. Let me formally introduce myself to you! I'm Naoki, the owner of this ranch. If you're willing, I'd be happy to welcome you."
The sister, Indeedee, beamed with joy: "Ai ah~" (I'm happy!)
The elder brother, Indeedee, gently used his horns to release a bit of psychic energy to read Naoki's emotions.
There was no malice, no ill intent—only pure warmth and joy in Naoki's heart.
Naoki noticed the older brother's cautious behavior and turned to meet his gaze.
The eyes of Naoki and the elder brother Indeedee locked for a brief moment.
After a pause, the elder brother Indeedee nodded slightly, his expression softening as he said calmly, "Ai Yi." (I agree.)