Seeing both agree, Jodi exhaled in relief.
"That's wonderful! I'll go prepare—please come tonight! I'll be waiting!"
She left the Pokémon Center, basket in hand. At the door, she quickly wiped her eyes and hurried off.
"I'll go fishing now. See you tonight," Ron said.
"See you," Joy replied.
After Ron left, Joy smiled and picked up the phone again—this time calling Penny.
---
By 6 PM, Ron returned to the farm with a Largemouth Bass. With dinner time approaching, he cooked a quick meal for his Pokémon, packed some Spring vegetables from the fridge, and headed out with Froakie on his shoulder.
He'd brought extra ingredients—partly because Froakie had clung to him all afternoon (likely missing their usual closeness during watering duties). Ron didn't force it down, just patted its head and grabbed some Berries Jodi might use.
At 1 Willow Lane, he knocked.
A boy swung open the door. "Hi! I'm Vincent. You're the farm guy, right?"
Ron nodded.
Jodi emerged, greeting him warmly. As she took the bass, she watched in awe as Ron pulled items from his backpack like a magician:
"Potatoes, cabbage, lettuce—from the farm." He handed over Gus's recipe notes too. "These Berries can be eaten fresh or used for seasoning."
"Oh my—" Jodi covered her mouth, staring at the mountain of food. Ron had mentioned bringing some veggies—but not this much.
"This is too generous—I can't accept all this!" she stammered.
"The farm has plenty. Don't worry," Ron smiled.
"I don't know how to thank you," Jodi whispered, carrying the fish to the kitchen.
Inside, Joy was already prepping vegetables. She turned, smiling. "Ron's here?"
"He brought so much! And this huge bass!" Jodi marveled, cleaning the fish. "He's incredibly kind. We've barely spoken before today, yet he brings all this…"
Joy passed her chopped veggies. "He is."
Jodi winked. "This is my secret recipe. No one in Pelican Town makes better hotpot—not even Gus! Want to learn?"
As Joy nodded, Jodi demonstrated, her tense shoulders finally relaxing. For the first time in ages, she looked like the carefree girl she once was.
Through the doorway, Sam watched his mother, then sat beside Ron.
"That's Froakie, right?" Sam gently poked its cheek—earning a swat from Froakie's paw.
"Yeah."
"I wish I could catch a Pokémon too," Sam sighed. "But Gunther won't lend me his Natu."
Catching required either battling or earning a Pokémon's trust—like Penny's Clefable. But Sam wasn't the type to wander Cindersap Forest looking for strays. And another mouth to feed? His family couldn't afford it.
He shook off the gloom instantly—ever the optimist. Lifting Vincent from his toys, he said, "But I'll get one someday!"
"Speaking of which… Sebastian's Pokémon is a frog too, right?" Sam mused. "Not identical, but… similar somehow."
"Similar?" Ron blinked.
"In vibe," Sam clarified. "It looks… depressed."
(A/N: Sebastian's face was actually handsome—the best among the town's three young men. With Ron, that made four. Harvey, Sebastian, Elliott, and Clint? Sadly past their youth.)
Ron chuckled, pulled up his Pokédex, and showed Sam a picture. "This one?"
"Yeah! Croagunk!"
[Toxic Toad Pokémon. Cheeks hold poison sacs. Exploits openings to jab foes with toxin-laced fingers.]
"How'd you know? Do you know Sebastian?"
They hung out with Abigail, but Sam had never heard Sebastian mention Ron. Then again, Sebastian's graveyard-shift job meant their paths rarely crossed.
Ron shook his head. "Just a guess. Robin and Maru sometimes talk about him."
"Ah." Sam handed back the Pokédex. "Abigail said you'll take her to Kalos soon?"
When Ron nodded, Sam ruffled Vincent's hair (ignoring his protests) and set him down. "Lucky her."
"You want to go too?"
Sam nodded, then shook his head.
Of course he wanted to—but his family couldn't lose anyone else. Though Jodi never said it, Sam and Vincent were her lifelines. She couldn't bear another disappearance—like their father's.
"If Dad ever comes back…" Sam murmured, "maybe I'll try it someday."
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