Chapter 94:
August 25th.
The leisurely day passed quickly, and soon evening arrived.
Same place, same barbecue.
Hayashi Kaede had deliberately left an open space in the middle of the pasture—a spot meant for future gatherings and meals with his Pokémon.
This time, however, there was one new addition to the menu: a drink.
[B-Grade Berry Wine – A rice wine brewed from Happy Rice. Low alcohol content, safe even for children to drink.]
Dish Effect 1 – Truth Serum: Those who become tipsy will instinctively speak their true thoughts and act on their genuine feelings.
Dish Effect 2 – Simian Boost: Simian-type Pokémon gain a 50% increase in attack power, and their Fighting-type move damage is enhanced.
Two dish effects.
The second was irrelevant—there were no Simian Pokémon here.
But the first required caution.
Hayashi Kaede poured a cup, took a small sip, confirmed that the alcohol content was below ten percent, and then placed the bottle on the table without worry.
"Combusken!"
Combusken, seeing the table already loaded with grilled meat, couldn't help swallowing drool. It had been looking forward to this barbecue feast the most—after all, it had earned this meal through sheer effort (and running).
"Alright, everyone, let's dig in."
Standing before the grill, watching the strips of pork belly sizzle and glisten with oil, Hayashi Kaede announced cheerfully.
In truth, most of his Pokémon weren't particularly fond of grilled meat. Miltank, for instance, only cared about Wild Grass Dumplings.
Bounsweet and Alcremie were indifferent as well—they preferred Miltank's milk and the Berry salads Hayashi Kaede often made.
Hmm… he still didn't understand why fruit Pokémon liked eating fruit.
Gardevoir wasn't into the meat either—it was far more interested in cold beverages. Having already tried every Berry drink Kaede had ever made, it now liked to sip an iced drink whenever it had free time.
Right now, it was the first to pick up the Berry Wine, floating gently in the air while taking small, elegant sips.
Popplio, Milotic, and Snivy seemed to enjoy it too.
But the ones who loved it most were Pidgeot and Combusken.
"Pidgeot, go call the Pidgey and Pidgeotto over" Hayashi Kaede said when he noticed Pidgeot glancing toward the pine trees where its kin were resting.
At his word, Pidgeot spread its wings and soared upward.
High above, the invisible Mew was pacing anxiously in midair, tempted by the irresistible aroma rising from below.
It had been staying here for days, eating only the Energy Cubes Kaede placed in the breeding house—and sometimes the ones meant for the Pidgey.
Once, it had even stolen Miltank's Wild Grass Dumplings from the barn, and that fragrance had been unforgettable ever since.
Miltank had even "complained" to Kaede afterward, saying that some mysterious Pokémon had been stealing their food recently.
That was the difference between his meals and his Cubes.
When Kaede cooked for his own Pokémon, he poured his heart into every dish.
The daily Energy Cubes stocked in the breeding house, however, were mass-produced by him and Gardevoir together.
Even so, they always sold out quickly.
Still…
So fragrant. So, so fragrant.
The aroma teased Mew's nose until it could hardly stand it anymore. The little pink cat's tail twitched as it considered whether to fly down and sneak a bite.
But then, hearing Kaede tell Pidgeot to invite the Pidgey, Mew's eyes lit up. Its form shimmered, and in a flash, it transformed into a Pidgey, following right behind.
When all the Pidgey and Pidgeotto gathered, Hayashi Kaede took out a fresh batch of Energy Cubes.
After asking Gardevoir to keep an eye on the grill, he placed a Cube before each Pokémon.
[SSS–Grade Ability Development Energy Cubes – Made from premium Galon Berries. Carefully blended with multiple rare Berries to bring out their full effects. Long-term consumption strengthens a Pokémon's innate Ability and enhances Special Attack.]
Dish Effect 1 – After first consumption, the Pokémon's Ability power is boosted by 50%, and it becomes immune to debuffs caused by Abilities for 60 minutes.
Dish Effect 2 – Dragon-type Pokémon gain a significant bonus to stat-boosting moves after first consumption.
Dish Effect 3 – Fire-type Pokémon with the Blaze Ability experience triple the normal Blaze boost when HP is low and fighting spirit peaks.
Dish Effect 4 – Accelerated Healing: Long-term use accelerates recovery from injuries and may repair congenital or long-term damage.
Four powerful effects.
Without a doubt, this was the best Energy Cube Hayashi Kaede could currently produce.
The Galon Berry Cube placed before Popplio was a special version—crafted with Galon berry together with the finest Oran and Sitrus Berries.
Because of that, its dish effects were slightly different.
He had spent the entire morning running trials and adjustments for this one.
But if it could truly heal Popplio's congenital condition, every minute was worth it.
Servine, having just finished a skewer of grilled meat, eyed the Cube curiously, picked one up, and popped it into its mouth.
Instantly, a wave of heat surged through its body, as though something deep inside was awakening.
Instinctively, it grabbed a cup of iced Berry Wine to cool off—
But the moment it drank, the energy inside grew even hotter.
Its head began to feel light and dizzy.
"Servine?"