Clutching the Snow Yam, Jessie took a deep breath and walked with her head down toward Leah's cottage.
With a light knock, the door was quickly opened.
Leah poked her head out: "You're here—"
Seeing that it was Jessie, Leah blanked for a second before realizing who it was: "Oh, it's you—what are you here for?"
Although she guessed this might have something to do with her birthday, it wasn't easy to ask directly. If it wasn't, she would look like she was trying to cadge a birthday gift out of Jessie.
So, she looked at Jessie and waited for her answer.
"Happy birthday—" Jessie took out the Snow Yam from her arms. Her face was frozen red, and her fingers were a bit swollen from digging up the yam in the snow, but she still gave Leah a nonchalant smile.
"Thank you!" Leah, looking moved, welcomed Jessie inside.
"By the way, if you weren't waiting for me, then who were you waiting for?" Jessie asked as she walked through the door.
"—No one." Leah awkwardly looked away.
Having just arrived in Pelican Town, Jessie didn't really understand the interpersonal dynamics here yet. Her mind churned, and she asked casually, "You aren't waiting for Ron, are you?"
"—" Leah gave a stiff, constrained smile.
It was just a casual question, but seeing Leah's reaction, Jessie couldn't help but freeze in place.
"You—you're really waiting for him?" Jessie asked.
"A little..." Leah found a towel and wiped the snow off Jessie's head while pushing her toward the fireplace. "I'm not very familiar with everyone in town. Only Ron comes to visit me from time to time, and sometimes we make things together."
Jessie remained silent.
She completely understood how Leah felt right now.
Once, a long time ago, she had a similar experience. Because she was treated so gently by a certain doctor, she unexpectedly considered staying there. She had almost quit Team Rocket because of it, only to discover that he had feelings for someone else.
Hearing this, Jessie couldn't help but reach out and hug Leah.
"Mm—" Leah was stunned by Jessie's sudden embrace.
"—Actually, if you like someone..." Jessie thought of Penny, and then of that girl who had traveled with Ron and eventually won the Grand Festival—after a long pause, she swallowed her words of encouragement and said instead, "It'd be better to like someone else."
She wasn't completely familiar with all the girls in town.
But—even just from what she knew, there were already two.
Leah didn't know whether to laugh or cry at Jessie's words.
Then, she started to grasp the deeper meaning behind them and couldn't help but ask, "Does he already have someone he likes?"
"I don't know," Jessie recalled seriously for a moment, then shook her head. "I just feel like he seems to be nice to everyone."
In fact, she really hadn't bumped into Ron going on a date with any girl; he always maintained a certain subtle distance.
"I see." Leah sat by the fireplace, leaning against Jessie. "Then it seems I've fallen for someone who is just naturally a good person."
"—At least you're happy when you like him, right?" Jessie looked down at Leah.
"Yeah—it's happy when you like someone," Leah said.
And so, the two of them sat around the fire, roasting the Snow Yam that Jessie had dug up.
Leah had imagined her birthday in countless ways, but she never expected to spend it like this.
However, because she wasn't alone, no bitter feelings arose this time.
After saying goodbye to Leah, Jessie slowly walked in the direction of the farm.
Having drunk some of the fruit wine Leah brewed, she was feeling a little tipsy right now.
As she was slowly making her way toward the farm, she vaguely noticed someone running toward her.
The next second, the person brushed right past her.
Jessie turned back in shock, looking at that retreating figure.
"In this regard, he's completely different from me," Jessie murmured.
"Wobuffet~"
"You don't need to chime in at a time like this!"
On the other side, Leah had just been watching the fluttering snow for a moment and was about to close the door when a hand suddenly blocked it.
"Hmm?"
Leah looked up and saw Ron, who was panting heavily.
"S-sorry," Ron said. "I'm late. Happy birthday."
Saying this, he shoved a small bag into Leah's hands.
"What is this?" Leah took the heavy little bag.
Because he had given Jessie and James the day off, and Meowth had gone to research robots with Maru, Ron had pulled a rare extra shift at the barn.
It wasn't until he finished everything that Indeedee reminded him, making him realize today was Leah's birthday.
Fortunately, Indeedee had prepared everything for this. Ron grabbed the bag Indeedee handed him and ran all the way to Leah's house.
The things inside the bag were heavy.
Leah only felt incredibly warm inside right now. She took a deep breath and looked at Ron: "Thank you—this is the best birthday I've ever had."
Saying this, Leah reached out and gave Ron a hug.
However, because of what Jessie had said, she deliberately kept a little distance, ensuring this hug remained strictly in the realm of friendship.
As for Ron's true feelings—she wanted to wait and see on the day of the Flower Dance.
If Ron really had someone he liked, then just staying as his neighbor and friend would be enough.
As long as she could quietly watch over him, as long as he was happy—
"Hurry back, the snow is so heavy," Leah said. "Get a good rest, don't catch a cold."
Saying this, Leah let go of Ron. She waved at him and closed the door without saying anything else.
Actually, she had wanted to walk him back, and to spend a little more time with him.
But let happiness just stay in this moment—
Thinking this, she slowly hugged the Deerling lying at her feet.
Ron returned to the farm. Indeedee stood in front of him with its paws behind its back, looking like a hero who had accomplished a great deed.
"Indeedee? Indee?"
Indeedee tilted its head up, looking at Ron.
"Thanks," Ron patted Indeedee's head.
"Indeedee?"
Indeedee looked up at him in confusion.
"How come you came back so early? That's what it's saying, meow," Meowth translated.
"What else?" Ron asked.
"Indeedee, Indeed, Indeedee—" Indeedee started gesturing wildly.
Ron's eyebrow twitched. He took a few steps forward and stuffed whatever was on the table into Meowth's mouth.
"You don't need to translate that."
"But—" Meowth chewed rapidly, and just as he finally cleared his mouth, Ron raised his hand and stuffed a Poffin in.
The sweet, rich taste instantly made Meowth lose the desire to translate. He focused entirely on eating vigorously.
"But—delicious, delicious—Meowth thinks playing deaf isn't a good choice." Meowth swallowed, then asked, "By the way, Maru told me there will be a Flower Dance next spring, meow."
"So?"
"So they're taking bets on who you're going to dance with, meow."
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