Chapter 225:
The first to arrive was Blaziken, holding a steamed bun as it approached.
"Blaziken!" (You evolved!)
"Steenee ..."
Steenee looked a little shy. After all, it had once insisted it didn't want to evolve, so facing its little friend now felt a bit awkward.
Fortunately, Blaziken was as straightforward as ever—it didn't have a clue about that.
Next came Brionne, who trotted over with a bright, congratulatory smile.
"Brionne~"
"Steenee ..." Steenee smiled, feeling genuinely happy—because no one mentioned its past reluctance to evolve.
Watching the scene, Gardevoir's gaze softened.
It had been the one who brought these three little ones here, so it naturally hoped they would live better, happier lives.
"You have evolved?"
Jirachi flew over too, though it looked a little regretful at the Bounsweet plushie it had won earlier.
After evolving, it seemed like it had picked the wrong one...
But seeing Steenee hug the plushie again with that bright smile, Jirachi decided it was fine after all.
After lunch, most of the Pokémon who had gone out with Hayashi Kaede were tired. Blaziken returned to its nest to nap, and Alolan Vulpix led the Eevees back to their room.
Serperior coiled up in the garden, watching over the blooming flowers.
Once Hayashi Kaede finished cleaning up the dishes, his thoughts turned to Mewtwo.
He hadn't seen it since the first day of the tournament.
Had Mewtwo really taken those few Luxury Balls and gone back to its island to develop its own Poké Balls?
He pushed the thought aside.
Right now, what mattered more was Jirachi.
After lunch, Mew had taken Jirachi off to who-knows-where to "go wild." They were nowhere to be seen.
The bond between those two Mythical Pokémon seemed to be growing stronger, which gave Hayashi Kaede some comfort.
If there was anyone most suitable to be Jirachi's friend, it was Mew.
After all, Mew's symbiotic body was the Tree of Life. As long as the Tree of Life remained unharmed, Mew would be safe.
And the Tree of Life... how could anything ever happen to it?
Not only were Mew and the three Titans guarding it, but even Arceus wouldn't allow harm to come to it.
Besides, Mew's playful, childlike nature and Jirachi's youthful innocence—waking only once every thousand years—made them perfect playmates.
However...The problem still needed solving.
While everyone rested, Hayashi Kaede went to the new kitchen.
Gardevoir followed quietly.
Seeing Hayashi Kaede sitting on a chair deep in thought, it tilted its head and asked,
"Gardevoir~?" (What are you thinking about?)
"Hm?"
Hayashi Kaede came back to his senses, glanced at Gardevoir behind him, and smiled.
"I'm thinking about how to solve Jirachi's sleep problem."
"Gardevoir~?"
Gardevoir was briefly taken aback. Wasn't that supposed to be incredibly difficult?
Then it remembered its own past—how it had suffered under that Pokémon's curse for so long—and how he had solved it.
With that thought, it asked again,
"Gardevoir~?" (Any ideas?)
Hayashi Kaede nodded.
"Yeah, a few. There are possible solutions—it's just… they're not easy, and I'm not confident yet."
He paused, then added, "Also, Jirachi has a Pokémon it really wants to see..."
He recalled Jirachi's expression when telling stories about the shiny Rayquaza.
Before, he hadn't understood why.
Now he did.
Everything and everyone from a thousand years ago existed only as memories in Jirachi's mind.
However, there was one being that could cross the river of time spanning a millennium.
For Jirachi, that Pokémon represented a living connection to the past—
the only one still the same after a thousand years.
A shiny Rayquaza.
Just thinking about it gave him a headache.
It lived in the ozone layer—how could he possibly find it?
Though, to be fair, he'd really like to meet a Rayquaza too.
"Gardevoir?" (What Pokémon is it?) Gardevoir asked curiously.
"Rayquaza" Hayashi Kaede explained. "It's called the Sky High Pokémon."
Gardevoir fell silent. It had never heard of such a Pokémon, but anything bearing the title "Sky High" must be unimaginably powerful and rare.
Still, it couldn't help but ask,
"Gardevoir?" (Do you need my help?)
Hayashi Kaede's mind had already drifted to Victini. His reply came out a bit unrelated:
"Hmm... I need to make a special kind of macaron—something like a filled cookie—to attract a certain Pokémon. I'm wondering what flavor it would like."
He paused, then chuckled.
"Actually, it's simple. No need to overthink it. I'll just make a bunch of different flavors."
Who cared what flavor Victini preferred? Making several types should cover it.
"Come help too~"
"Gardevoir..." (Okay.)
Making macarons didn't take long.
In pursuit of unique flavors, Hayashi Kaede experimented again and again.
By afternoon, he even called Blaziken over to help taste-test.
After multiple trials, the one that stood out was a macaron made from a rare ingredient—the [Colorful Giant Pumpkin] brought by Serperior.
This pumpkin's flesh was divided into seven vivid colors, each one shining differently.
It had a curious effect: whoever ate it would have their skin temporarily change to that color.
It was also said to bring a slight boost to luck.
When made into macarons, it became this:
[A-Tier Sweet Macaron (Pink Version) – A macaron made using Sweet Honey and pink flowers, carrying a soft floral aroma. After consumption, it enhances the eater's presence.]
[Culinary Effect 1: Upon first consumption, makes the Pokémon's presence more noticeable. The skin emits a soft pink glow for a set duration.]
[Culinary Effect 2: During the glowing period, slightly increases luck.]
An A-Tier dish.
Though not S-Tier, its effects made Hayashi Kaede's eyes light up.
Forget the glowing part—just that minor boost to luck already made it an S-Tier effect in his book.
After all, no one knew better than him how bad his luck usually was.
"Blaziken?!"
Blaziken, who had just "taste-tested" it, was dumbfounded.
Its normally red body began to glow bright pink. Its once-fierce look now resembled a giant light bulb—and strangely enough... it looked kind of cute.
Hayashi Kaede chuckled like a spectator after the fact.
"Oh, right—I forgot to mention. Whatever color macaron you eat, you'll glow that color~"
"Blaziken?!"