The back mountain in autumn looked quite different from its spring and summer form.
The leaves on the trees had started to turn yellow, no longer the vibrant green they had once been.
When the autumn breeze blew, the dense bushes overhead would rustle, and yellow leaves would swirl in the wind before gently falling to the ground.
A few wild Spinarak were hanging upside down from the treetops, spinning their silk threads. When Naoki passed beneath them, the startled Pokémon quickly retreated into the bushes, cautiously watching their surroundings.
Naoki wasn't too concerned.
He hopped off his trusty Gogoat and walked over to a large, old tree, where he carefully picked a few mushrooms growing from the dead branches and leaves.
That's the beauty of autumn, Naoki thought.
During this harvest season, various types of wild mushrooms sprouted in the back mountain.
Whether stored as dried mushrooms or used to make a savory soup, they were always a delightful ingredient to have.
In just an hour, Naoki had gathered half a basket of wild mushrooms.
There were some he recognized, like porcini, chanterelles, Clavariaceae mushrooms, morels, Boletus auripes, and green mushrooms.
Of course, there were some mushrooms he didn't recognize.
But thanks to his ability he was able to identify the names and properties of the fungi.
Some of them were highly toxic.
Initially, Naoki considered tossing away the poisonous mushrooms to avoid any potential danger.
But after reading the information provided by his cheat he changed his mind.
[Red Mushroom: Special ingredient. Highly toxic mushroom. Pokémon will become poisoned if they eat it. May produce unexpected effects when used in cooking.]
"Huh?" Naoki was surprised. "Special ingredient? Does that mean a... poisonous ingredient?"
This was the first time he'd encountered such an unusual ingredient.
The mention of "unexpected effects" piqued his curiosity.
What if, I brought it back and experimented with it?
Even if it's poisonous, the Pokémon just won't eat it, right?
Based on his previous experiences in cooking, Naoki suspected that these poisonous mushrooms might be useful in making dishes that enhance poison-type Pokémon.
"Alright, let's give it a try!"
He carefully separated the poisonous mushrooms from the others, packed them safely, and put them away.
After that, Naoki rode Gogoat around the back mountain for a while longer, finally finding the ginger he had been looking for near a damp riverbank.
The ginger had a very sharp, spicy scent. Except for a few specific Pokémon, most wouldn't have much interest in it.
As a result, the ginger patch was still almost untouched.
Naoki dug out the ginger roots, placed them in the basket on Gogoat's back, and then set off back to the ranch.
For now, he set the wild mushrooms and other gathered items aside. The most important thing was preparing the ginger for tea.
Naoki opened the kitchen cupboard and checked. There was still some sugar left—perfect for making tea. It was a leftover from when he and Alcremie had made desserts together.
It was just enough, which meant he wouldn't need to go into town to buy more.
As the autumn wind howled gently outside, Naoki and his Pokémon gathered inside their cozy home, preparing to make warm, comforting brown sugar ginger tea.
While Naoki prepared the ingredients, a group of Pokémon played happily in the living room.
Naoki could see the Pokémon playing as soon as he glanced up.
The sounds of the TV, along with the joyful cries of the Pokémon, filled the house, making it feel alive and bustling.
From time to time, a few Pokémon raised their heads to look over at Naoki, curious about what he was doing.
Naoki smiled gently at them, then returned to his cooking.
Making brown sugar ginger tea wasn't complicated.
First, he peeled and sliced the ginger. He then poured water into a pot and brought it to a boil over high heat. After that, he added brown sugar and two red dates, lowered the heat, and let it simmer for twenty minutes. Finally, he added the chopped ginger and let it cook for another five minutes.
The result was a beautifully golden tea. The sweet and spicy aroma filled the air, rising from the pot in warm clouds of steam.
Naoki took a sip to taste it, and the moment he swallowed, he felt a pleasant warmth spreading through his body from the inside out.
"Magic," he murmured.
He glanced down, and information about the tea appeared before him:
[Brown Sugar Ginger Tea (A): This drink, made with brown sugar and ginger, incorporates the creator's emotions, significantly enhancing its effects.
Cooking effect: Warmth level 3. When Pokémon drink it, the cold within their bodies is driven away, leaving them physically and emotionally comforted. For a period of time, the efficiency of practicing moves will be improved. Duration: 12 hours.
Evaluation: A great way to keep warm—an excellent choice for cold winter days!]
'Huh?'
Naoki was pleasantly surprised. This was the second dish he had made that incorporated his emotions.
He reflected on how he felt while making the tea—the tranquility, the peacefulness of the moment, and the warmth from being surrounded by his Pokémon. It had made him feel relaxed and cozy.
Smiling knowingly, Naoki remembered the time he had created a "lucky pudding" for Teddiursa, a dish that had been imbued with everlasting luck. Since then, he had tried to infuse his emotions into his cooking deliberately, but none of those attempts had succeeded.
That experience taught him that this kind of moment couldn't be forced. If it happened, it was a lovely surprise; if not, there was no reason to be discouraged.
"It's ready! Come on over!"
Shaking off his musings, Naoki poured the freshly brewed tea into bowls and lined them up on the stove. He called out to the Pokémon in the living room.
Immediately, the Pokémon lined up to get their tea.
In their minds, anything Naoki made was always delicious.
Before he could even give instructions, some of the Pokémon eagerly picked up their bowls and drank.
However, the next moment, the room echoed with a chorus of coughing as one Pokémon after another reacted to the ginger in the tea!
Obviously, they were all caught off guard by the spicy taste of the ginger.
Naoki, looking a bit exasperated, said, "You have to drink it slowly!"
Pawmot's cheeks flushed as it coughed, tears welling up in its eyes.
"Pawmot." it whimpered softly.
The two Indeedee siblings had similar reactions, their faces scrunching up in discomfort. Brother Indeedee, in particular, frowned deeply, clearly not a fan of the strong flavor.
Brother Indeedee was about to complain when suddenly, he noticed a warmth spreading through his body from the inside. His frown faded into surprise. "Ai eh?"
The other Pokémon felt it too. The spicy sensation began to subside, replaced by a comforting warmth that made them forget about the initial shock.
Seeing their reactions, Naoki smiled. "Feeling warmer now?"
Cyclizar nodded eagerly, a goofy grin spreading across its face as the warmth took over.
Under the curious stares of the Pokémon, Naoki explained, "This is brown sugar ginger tea. It helps drive the cold out of your body, keeps you from getting sick, and helps you grow up strong and healthy."
Sister Indeedee suddenly remembered seeing Naoki riding off to the back mountain earlier. She quickly asked, "Ai ei?"
Naoki chuckled, understanding her question. "Yes, that's right. I went up to the back mountain with Gogoat to find wild ginger just for this tea."
Upon hearing this, all the Pokémon looked deeply moved.
The tea, infused with Naoki's emotions, carried more than just warmth—it carried care and affection. The Pokémon could feel the meaning behind it as they drank.
Koraidon, in particular, suddenly felt a lump in its throat. It was overwhelmed with emotion.
Years later, even after much time had passed, Koraidon would vividly remember this moment—the day it caught a cold, and Naoki went into the mountains, all to find ginger to help it feel better.