Chapter 329:
Hayashi Kaede, however, gently shook his head. "That was Jirachi's own wish. From start to finish, it never told us it would fall into a deep sleep. I just happened to know about it."
"Mm..."
Takagi Megumi nodded silently.
During their chat, the Noibat in Hayashi Kaede's hand had finished the Energy Cube and was now resting on his palm, its eyes shifting between the two of them.
Seeming to sense Takagi Megumi's low spirits, it flew behind her and flapped its wings.
Hayashi Kaede also patted her shoulder, comforting her, "It's alright, a year will pass quickly. Maybe by the time you return from your next journey, it will be awake."
"Yeah!"
Takagi Megumi didn't dwell on the matter for long.
She patted her chest, indicating she wasn't that fragile.
She then waved to Hayashi Kaede, "I'll head back now."
"Mm." Hayashi Kaede acknowledged.
Watching Takagi Megumi's figure gradually disappear along the bluestone path, Hayashi Kaede shook his head and prepared to go home.
.....
The next day, January 8th.
As usual, Hayashi Kaede got up early and took Floragato and Pidgeot out for training.
The morning wind was bitingly cold, but Floragato, following beside Hayashi Kaede, tightened its fur and showed a content expression.
"Here, have a candy~"
Doing the math, it had been six days since Floragato last had a Rare Candy.
Logically, it should be able to have another one by now.
And Floragato's level had already reached 38-39!
If nothing was wrong, after eating this Rare Candy, it should be almost ready to evolve.
"Floragato..."
But Floragato, who had always eagerly taken the candy before, showed resistance again this time.
This was already the second time it refused the Rare Candy.
Floragato subconsciously took a step back.
Hayashi Kaede crouched down, looking at Floragato, which had retreated slightly.
It seemed there was something difficult to express on its face.
"Don't want to eat it?" Hayashi Kaede asked gently.
Floragato nodded silently.
Hayashi Kaede continued, "Is it because you want to evolve through your own efforts, or is there another reason?"
Although he could easily understand Floragato's thoughts using his Veridian Power, he felt that if things could be spoken aloud, that was naturally best.
After all, Pokémon had high intelligence, and randomly probing their inner worlds wasn't very good.
Floragato looked at Hayashi Kaede, its eyes flickering with conflict, its body becoming fidgety, its words unclear. "Floragato.."
It didn't know how to bring it up.
It wanted to ask if, after it evolved, Hayashi Kaede would stop training with it?
If, after evolving, it still wanted Hayashi Kaede to train by its side, wouldn't that be too greedy?
He had been by its side every day these past days.
Floragato couldn't ask, and it couldn't voice the request for Hayashi Kaede to always stay by its side during training.
"Hmm..."
Hayashi Kaede was also a bit puzzled now.
But he wasn't the Trainer who used to struggle to understand even Serperior's emotions anymore.
Since Floragato couldn't say it, he could guide it.
Of course, that required some deduction.
Initially, Floragato didn't like its current form after evolving and wanted to evolve quickly.
To that end, it diligently cooperated with his training and took the Rare Candies when it was time.
But in the last few days of training, it had clearly been somewhat lax and distracted, as if it didn't want to train anymore.
Moreover, Hayashi Kaede could feel that Floragato was almost ready to evolve just by channeling a bit of energy. But since it hadn't evolved yet, it could only mean it didn't really want to evolve right now?
This change had started in the last few days.
Hayashi Kaede began recalling what had happened recently, but after thinking it over, he couldn't pinpoint what had caused the change.
So, he could only ask, "Floragato, do you not want to evolve for now?"
"Floragato...."
Floragato looked at Hayashi Kaede cautiously and finally nodded.
Hayashi Kaede offered a suggestion, "It's okay if you don't want to evolve for now. You can wear an Everstone and stop training; that way, you won't evolve..."
But before he could finish the suggestion, Floragato started shaking its head in panic, going "Floragato, Floragato."
That wasn't what it meant at all.
"You want to train? But you don't want to evolve?"
Hayashi Kaede was confused.
Training stimulates energy activity and speeds up a Pokémon's growth.
Generally, wearing an Everstone suppresses a Pokémon's genes and also its energy.
The effects of training wouldn't be as significant then.
So why would Floragato...
Hayashi Kaede was baffled and instinctively looked into Floragato's eyes.
The dependency mixed with conflict in its pink pupils made Hayashi Kaede pause, and then he seemed to realize something, a look of understanding dawning on his face.
"Floragato, you do want to evolve, right?"
"Floragato? Floragato...."
Floragato was startled.
"You want to evolve, but..." Hayashi Kaede stopped mid-sentence, a flicker of insight in his eyes, but he cut his words short.
He understood Floragato's thoughts now.
Without a doubt, Floragato, who cared about its appearance, definitely wanted to evolve.
But it was worried that after evolving, would Hayashi Kaede still train with it?
Hayashi Kaede remembered Sprigatito when it was first born.
Back then, it only did three things a day.
Sleep, drink milk, and cry and fuss looking for him.
Sister Indeedee had even mentioned it to him back then.
Later, when Sprigatito grew a bit older, it became much more sensible. It wouldn't look for him every day, but when he came over, it would lift its head, and only after he left would it lie down again.
He hadn't paid much attention to it before.
But now, recalling it, scene after scene filled his mind.
Come to think of it, when Alolan Vulpix was born, he used to carry it in his arms every day.
"Floragato?"
"Floragato?"
Floragato didn't understand why Hayashi Kaede had stopped talking.
"How should I put it?" Hayashi Kaede carefully considered his words. "The purpose of training isn't just to become better-looking; it can also be to become stronger."
"Floragato?"
Floragato looked at Hayashi Kaede, puzzled.
"So, it's a continuous process. It's not like you can stop training just because you've evolved. After evolving, if you still want to get stronger, training can continue."
Hayashi Kaede placed his hand on its head and stroked it gently.
Floragato's eyes lit up. "Floragato?"