Chapter 93:
August 22.
Hayashi Kaede had successfully bought the rice from Takagi-ojii-san
In the kitchen.
The harvested rice had been sun-dried and hulled — it was now clean and pearly-white. In the Pokémon world this was the most common staple: humans ate it, and food made from rice could also supply nutrition to Pokémon (though not as effectively as an Energy Block).
Making rice wine was simple.
Kaede stood in front of a large fermentation crock filled with freshly cooked rice, and Gardevoir floated beside him. He was teaching her how to make rice wine.
He almost didn't want to admit it, but Kaede thought Gardevoir was becoming a little kitchen prodigy: she'd learned how to help make Energy Blocks, how to brew rice wine, and now how to prepare other dishes… she was amazing.
"After steaming, rinse the rice once with warm water — do not use cold water — let it cool slowly to room temperature. When it's at room temperature, add crushed koji and mix it evenly… then cover with plastic wrap and let it ferment naturally." Kaede explained and demonstrated.
"Gardevoir~," she replied, nodding. Compared to Energy Blocks, this rice-wine process was much easier.
"Alright — it'll finish fermenting in a day or two." Kaede put the big crock back under the counter, finished the next day's Energy Block batch with Gardevoir's help, and then went out to the pasture behind the barns.
The flower seeds he'd planted ten days ago had already formed a ring around the pasture behind the barn. Some buds hadn't opened yet, but many small blossoms were already swelling, and against the green grass the colors were bright. The two honey-trees (Sweet-nectar trees) he'd planted had benefitted from top-quality fertilizer; they'd grown two or three meters already and were dotted with small yellow flowers that gave off a sweet scent — perfect for attracting Combee.
"Looks like these will all be useful before the 28th" Kaede said, satisfied. He returned to the Plantation and went to the Petaya Berry tree by the pond.
Bright-red vines bore fruit like blood peaches — smooth, glossy-skinned fruits the size of apples.
[S-rank Petaya Berry — planted in energy-rich soil; when Pokémon eat it, it boosts Special Attack and can help reveal deeper potential in their latent abilities.]
Just looking at the S-rank berry, Kaede already imagined how powerful Energy Blocks made from them would be.
"Gardevoir — help me pick these."
Gardevoir nodded; with telekinesis she floated every Petaya Berry to Kaede's feet. He stored them in a storage sphere. Fifty-two Petaya Berry in total — exactly.
"Servine~?" Servine asked curiously from behind. It remembered Kaede saying those fruits could affect it a lot when they were processed.
"Once the rice-wine is ready, I'll make Energy Blocks from these fruits. Everyone will eat them together." Kaede patted Servine's head reassuringly.
It was a pity Metapod wouldn't get to taste this batch — it had recently evolved and couldn't eat for a while. Still, Metapod had been in its current form for over a week; in another week it would likely be ready to evolve again, and then they could take it to Budō Town.
"Servine," Servine replied and wasn't worried. Lately it'd again felt the stirrings of evolution — whether to evolve or not was on its mind. If it evolved this time, it might reach three to four meters long — maybe longer. And if it evolved, it wouldn't have hands anymore, and wouldn't fit in the Trainer's arms like it used to. That thought made it a little sad.
Servine padded beside Kaede while he fed Milotic. Kaede noticed its mood and crouched so they were eye-to-eye.
"Something on your mind, Servine?" he asked.
"Servine…" (I'm going to evolve…)
"Ah." Kaede brightened. "Evolving is a good thing — your life-stage and control over energy will grow a lot."
Servine looked at its small hands. "Worried about losing your hands?" Kaede teased, taking Servine's little vines in his hands. "You're already great with your vines. If you really miss hands, you can always ask me — my two hands are still here. They'll help you do things."
He smiled. "If you'd rather not evolve, I'll go buy an Everstone in town — but I'll also check on Alolan Vulpix." (Kaede put down Servine's "hands" and walked back toward the breeding house.)
Left alone, Servine studied its small vine-hands. No hands… would many things then depend on the Trainer?
Back inside, Kaede searched the rooms — Alolan Vulpix wasn't in its bed. In the breeding house he found Alolan Vulpix curled on the cake display like a fluffy ball, eyes sparkling at the Swirlix. Since the Swirlix moved in, Alolan Vulpix had come out of its newborn shyness and watched them with eager curiosity — sometimes nudging them with a paw to play. After a while the Alcremie even shared a bit of cream with Alolan Vulpix.
Once, timidly, Vulpix had asked Kaede, "Can I lick them? They smell so nice." Kaede had laughed and firmly said no.
When Kaede entered, Alolan Vulpix jumped from the counter and leapt into his arms, rubbing against him. At that moment Rotom flew in from outside — and a Pidgey came with it.
"Rotom — Ryū-san in the Tachyon district of Budō City ordered one Defense Energy Block and five Stamina Energy Blocks," Rotom reported.
"On it." Takagi Megumi packed the order quickly; the Pidgey took off, wings beating — the twenty Pidgey and Pidgeotto were now officially on the job.
Kaede nodded with satisfaction. The breeding house was getting better and busier. Once the delivery training finished he planned to widen and repair the road at the town exit — a big job that would take time — so he wanted the delivery service running first, so locals could still buy Energy Blocks while the roadwork was scheduled later.
Cradling Alolan Vulpix, Kaede headed toward his room. The road repairs could wait. The next two days were for preparing the promised barbecue for Combusken, and in a few days he'd go to Budō Town — so many things to do, and September would be busy.