League Calendar Year 200, November 3rd, Winter.
The cold wind blowing down from the top of Glaseado Mountain swept across the whole Paldea Land, with pure white snowflakes fluttering down from the sky.
In the cold weather, wild Pokemon also retreated to their nests, making it hard to spot them.
The farm too was covered in a thick blanket of white snow, the snowflakes dancing in the air like little sprites, lively and floating.
In winter, the farm is not suited for growing crops, and early on when the heavy snow arrived, Naoki gave the Dragonites a holiday, letting them stay cozy at the World Tree for a nice winter.
The farm shop has temporarily ceased operations, and suddenly, the whole farm seemed to have come to a standstill.
Eevee and Ogerpon went off to play at the World Tree again, leaving only a few Pokemon at home.
Slugma nestled in the fireplace in the living room, the heat from its body flowing through the pipes to every corner of the room, even the storage room was warm.
Naoki leaned back in a rocking chair by the fireplace, his mind vacant, while Cyclizar and Koraidon lay lazily on the rug nearby.
Glancing at the two Pokemon beside him, Naoki's thoughts involuntarily drifted back to that summer three months ago.
Back then, amidst fireworks filling the sky, Lono confessed his feelings to him.
Naoki was completely flustered at the time, not knowing how to respond.
Lono appeared a bit disappointed seeing his reaction.
Naoki still remembers what he said to Lono.
He said: This is a bit sudden.
Seeing Lono's disappointed look, Naoki felt a bit sorry.
He admitted that he did have some feelings for her, and truthfully told Lono that he had no experience in relationships and didn't know what liking someone felt like.
Naoki has always taken feelings very seriously, and after coming to this world, he had thought about building a family of his own.
Just like Mayor Thomas and Mrs. Dantes, looking after the Pokemon on the farm with his loved one, living together, sharing life's ups and downs, and growing old together.
Then having a child, taking him/her to meet Pokemon, to the ice plains to see Seals, diving to see Luvdisc, to the desert to see Krookodile, to the Bamboo Forest to see Pancham... living a plain and peaceful life.
Though Lono didn't receive an immediate response, she was very happy knowing that Naoki had feelings for her too.
Then later...
The two met Geeta and Rika on the beach.
Geeta said she was there to inspect Porto Marinada Town, but Naoki couldn't shake the feeling that Geeta's smiling face seemed a bit odd.
After that night, they each returned to their own homes.
Lono would still visit the farm whenever she had time, bringing small gifts and homemade treats for Naoki and the Pokemon.
With Lono's arrival, the farm always seemed particularly lively, just like her, even Naoki felt more energetic.
Recalling these things, a smile couldn't help but appear on Naoki's face.
Today is Sunday, and the Levincia Gym should be closed, based on past experience, Lono should already be on her way to the farm.
Naoki glanced at the time on his Rotom Phone and realized it was almost noon.
Realizing what he was doing, Naoki suddenly noticed that he started looking forward to Lono's weekly visits.
His Indeedee sister had been secretly observing Naoki's expressions all along.
After a while, she couldn't help but ask, "Indeedee?"(Is Naoki waiting for Lono to come over?)
Naoki, a bit embarrassed, replied earnestly, "No, I'm checking tomorrow's weather."
However, his emotions were keenly captured by his Indeedee sister, who seemed very pleased:
"Indeedee!"(In that case, we'll soon welcome a little master!)
In her view, as long as two people like each other, they can soon have an egg.
Their Pokemon were like this, humans must be the same!
Naoki: "..."
"Ahem." Realizing the misunderstanding his Indeedee sister had, Naoki cleared his throat and couldn't help but correct her, "No, it's not like that!"
His Indeedee sister turned her head in confusion, "Indeedee?"
Naoki: "With matters like this, there's a significant difference between humans and Pokemon. For Pokemon, as long as they like each other, and stay together every day, they can soon have an egg."
"But for humans, it's not the same. Liking each other is important, but the prerequisite is to see if two people are suitable to live together. After mutual understanding and adaptation, then they can hold a wedding, and live together."
"Indeedee..." His Indeedee sister suddenly felt that humans are so troublesome.
It was Pawmot who perked up hearing his Indeedee sister talk about the little master.
It flew over excitedly, "Pawmo Pawmo?" (Will the little master live with us?)
His Indeedee sister answered for Naoki, "Indeedee!" (Of course! At that time, my brother and I will take good care of it!)
Naoki: "..."
Pawmot's eyes twinkled, and who knows what it thought of, and then it asked:
"Pawmo Pawmo?" (So in that case, will Naoki already have a granddaughter? Will Naoki's granddaughter come to the farm to visit and be friends with me and Slugma?)
This question confused the Indeedee Sister.
"Ai-yi?" (Isn't this kind of thing a bit too early?)
Naoki: "..."
He rubbed Pawmo's fur and said to it, "Stop watching The Slugma-Powered Home so much!"
"Paw-mo~"
Pawmo snuggled in Naoki's arms, acting cute.
With Pawmo's antics, Naoki began to imagine scenes of his children's children visiting the ranch in the future.
By that time, he would probably be in his seventies or eighties.
Oh no, he's been led astray by Pawmo!
Naoki quickly shook his head to dismiss the images from his mind.
He took out his phone and sent a message to Lono.
[Wing King: Are you coming over today?]
Lono didn't reply immediately, but after a while, Naoki suddenly heard a knock on the door.
Pawmo, close to the door, immediately ran over to open it.
As the door opened, Naoki turned around and saw Lono standing at the entrance, smiling.
"It's really cold today!" She kept rubbing her hands, frozen.
Actually, Lono was quite afraid of the cold. During past winters, she mostly stayed indoors with the Pokemon.
Naoki stood up with a smile: "Come over here to warm up, after all, it snowed just yesterday. I heard an old saying, 'it's not cold when it snows, but it's cold when the snow melts.'"
"Got it!"
Lono giggled as she walked in and sat by the fireplace, warming herself with the Slugma. The orange glow from it turned the area around the fireplace a warm shade of orange-red.
Naoki went to pour Lono a cup of hot tea to warm up.
Meanwhile, Indeedee and Pawmo curiously gathered around Lono, watching her.
"Hi! Good morning!" Lono greeted the two Pokemon with a smile: "And Little Cyclizar and Koraidon too!"
"Aga-see~"
"Gao-ao!"
At this moment, Naoki walked over with a cup of hot tea. As he handed the cup to Lono, he suddenly noticed something different about her today.
The painted Magnemite on her head was gone!
"Where's Magnemite?" Naoki asked.
Only then did Lono remember, she touched her head, feeling a bit embarrassed:
"I always felt that kind of look is something only kids would like, a bit too childish."
Since that day after parting, Lono felt it was time to make some changes.
She couldn't be as childish as before because she was an adult now and should become more mature and steady like an adult.
Naoki was slightly stunned, wondering if Lono made the change for him.
At that moment, Lono looked over with hope, blushing as she asked, "How about now?"
"What?"
"Do you like me a little more now?"
Naoki froze, feeling a surge of emotion in his heart.
A moment later, he moved his lips, and what he intended to say next felt difficult for the usually reserved Naoki.
But the girl was being so forward, he couldn't keep staying passive, as that wouldn't be manly.
Thinking of this, Naoki took a deep breath. Though still a little embarrassed, he said seriously,
"Although I don't know exactly what liking is, if it's about looking forward to seeing you every day, wanting to talk to you, being together at the ranch, then I guess... I might be liking you too!"
"Aga-see~"
Koraidon looked on happily at this scene.
The Indeedee Sibling was also very pleased, as this meant they wouldn't need to worry about Naoki being alone forever.
Though there were plenty of Pokemon to keep Naoki company, humans are better off living with humans.
Because there are some things Pokemon simply can't replace humans for.
And both Pawmo and Slugma were quite delighted.
This way, Naoki would have a granddaughter!
Then his granddaughter would visit the ranch to see Slugma and become friends with them, just like in The Slugma-Powered Home!