Chapter 327:
"Huh? Hey, hey, Serperior?"
Seeing Serperior slithering over and almost pressing down on him, Hayashi Kaede quickly reached out to stop it. But looking at Serperior's flushed face, he soon realized it was probably drunk!
This momentary delay allowed Serperior to reach him. "Serperior~"
A soft, delicate voice came from Serperior. It quickly wrapped its tail around Hayashi Kaede, though not tightly, just encircling him within its coils, its eyes fixed intently on him.
It murmured, "Serperior~" (I want a hug...)
"You don't look like you just want a hug like this?"
Hayashi Kaede stroked Serperior, feeling somewhat helpless.
Then, he took out a Size-Shifting Pecha Cube and held it up. "Here, eat this."
Serperior obediently ate it, its body rapidly shrinking until it was a tiny snake. Only then did Hayashi Kaede extend his hand.
Serperior immediately slithered up his arm, its tail still coiled around it.
*Hehe~*
Hayashi Kaede chuckled inwardly but gently stroked Serperior's body.
Opportunities to openly pet Serperior like this were rare.
"Serperior~" (Feels good...)
Some Pokémon stared blankly at the scene.
Alolan Ninetales, who saw it from across the room, silently lowered its head.
*Sister Serperior is acting like this again...*
*So strange, it could just shrink and curl up in Hayashi Kaede's arms anytime.*
"Alright, you all keep eating. I'm going to check on the plantation."
Hayashi Kaede ignored their gazes and walked towards the plantation with Serperior in his arms.
Actually, he planned to go to the barn to check on Giratina.
But a comment from Alolan Ninetales nearly made him stumble.
(￣┰￣*): "Ninetales..." (Hayashi Kaede is taking Sister Serperior to bed.)
....
The following days became leisurely again.
It's worth mentioning that as the New Year approached, some young couples working away returned home with their children.
There were also Trainers who traveled year-round, slowly making their way back home.
Preparing to welcome the New Year.
Takagi Megumi also returned after finishing the Marine Piplup Cup, bringing Blastoise and Floragato with her.
Interestingly, she had also caught a Noibat.
With the prize money from the Marine Piplup Cup, she had become quite well-off.
She eagerly rushed to the Breeding House with Blastoise, Floragato, and Noibat, ready to splurge on her Pokémon.
But when she arrived at the Breeding House, the girl's eyes widened. "The Breeding House is closed?"
"It's been closed for over twenty days. I announced it on my video channel ages ago. Good grief, you also didn't call once all this time you were away?"
Seeing Takagi Megumi return today, Hayashi Kaede couldn't help but complain.
They were, after all, childhood playmates.
When Hayashi Kaede called to greet her on New Year's Day, he couldn't get through. Later calls were brief and hurried.
Even the often-oblivious Ash Ketchum would call his mom to check in from each new location during his travels!
Takagi Megumi's face reddened slightly, and she immediately started making excuses.
(●ˇ∀ˇ●): "I was just really busy at the time!"
"Sure, being busy is good."
Hayashi Kaede didn't press the issue.
He then looked at the Blastoise standing behind Takagi Megumi, a full 1.8 meters tall.
It stood behind her. The pair of fangs it had as a Wartortle were gone, replaced by a deep-gaping mouth. Its limbs and the shell on its back had become thicker, larger, and sturdier.
There were faint scratches in some places.
Indicating it had been through many battles.
On the upper side of its shell, two cannons protruded slightly, emitting a faint, cold glow from within.
Hayashi Kaede glanced at its stats.
[Pokémon: Blastoise]
[Gender: Female]
[Ability: Torrent]
[Potential: Purple]
[IVs: ...]
[Level: 45 — 47]
[Moves: Tackle, Tail Whip, Water Gun, Withdraw, Hydro Pump, Rapid Spin, Protect, Water Pulse, Rain Dance...]
It had undergone dramatic changes in over a month since he last saw it.
"Blastoise~!"
Blastoise was also excited to see Hayashi Kaede and immediately charged towards him.
"Hey, hey..."
Seeing Blastoise about to rush towards him, Hayashi Kaede paled slightly and quickly held its head to stop the charge.
"Don't just charge at people like that."
Hayashi Kaede patted its shoulder helplessly.
"She likes you!" Takagi Megumi said with a giggle.
Hayashi Kaede rolled his eyes. Blastoise was heavy; this big lump of flesh weighed at least over a hundred kilograms.
Although he could lift it, having such a large mass crash into him wasn't ideal.
Next to Blastoise was Floragato.
It had shed the childishness of its Sprigatito days and now looked calmer, though still a bit curious.
It wasn't like Blastoise, who had grown up with Hayashi Kaede for so long.
Floragato (Megumi) just remembered that this human had many, many Pokémon, made delicious food, and had tasty Moomoo Milk.
Ah, right.
Floragato (Megumi) suddenly remembered.
He also had a Pokémon from the same evolutionary line as her!
That Sprigatito was even younger than her.
But with so many Pokémon, that Sprigatito probably didn't get much attention, right?
It thought to itself.
Unlike her, her Trainer focused almost entirely on her and her teammates.
Thinking this, it felt less envious of its counterpart.
Hayashi Kaede had no idea about the complex mental gymnastics Floragato was going through in their brief meeting!
He also checked Floragato's level: 25-27.
This made Hayashi Kaede click his tongue in surprise.
After all, Megumi's Floragato was born much earlier than his own.
But now, his Floragato was already nearly level 40.
He had originally wondered if his Floragato's leveling speed was a bit slow?
But comparing them now, he realized just how fast his Floragato was leveling.
Speaking of his Floragato,
Hayashi Kaede found it strange
that it hadn't evolved yet.
Its level was already 38-39.
Lately, Floragato had been acting oddly, as if it was suppressing its evolution?
He needed to find time to ask.
"Noibat..."
His thoughts were interrupted by a faint cry.
Blinking, he looked.
On Takagi Megumi's shoulder was a Pokémon with two large ears covered in circular patterns, a small heart-shaped nose, yellow eyes, and tiny wings.
Noibat!
This was a rare Pokémon.
"Is this your newly caught Pokémon?"
Hayashi Kaede reached out to pet Noibat, but Noibat seemed timid and immediately hid behind the girl's hair.
"Yes, Noi— Hey, hey, Noibat, don't pull my hair!" Takagi Megumi's expression shifted from proud to panicked in an instant.
She reached back to grab Noibat, but instead of catching it, she ended up with a strand of her hair in Noibat's grasp as it flew into the air.