A bright white light shone from the flashlight, illuminating a string of plum-blossom-shaped footprints on the ground.
Natsuki stood up and patted the alert Kangaskhan beside him.
"No need to be nervous. It's just a clean-loving little cutie."
Minccino.
It was a Pokémon that loved cleanliness and used its tail as a broom to sweep dirty places spotless.
In other words, every Minccino had a mild case of OCD.
"Long~"
Hearing this, Kangaskhan lowered her fierce aura, leaned down to nuzzle Natsuki's palm, and let out a contented purr.
"Alright." Natsuki gently stroked Kangaskhan and switched off the flashlight. "We've been running all day. Let's get some sleep. There's work waiting for us tomorrow."
"Long-aow!"
Natsuki bundled himself into his sleeping bag while Kangaskhan lay obediently beside him.
Sleeping in the wild amidst the chirps of insects and the cries of Pokémon was an essential skill for any trainer, and Natsuki had long since mastered it.
Before long, he fell into a deep sleep.
In a hollow tree in the woods near the ranch, a white chinchilla curled up, heart pounding with fear.
'That roar earlier nearly scared the fur off me! I'm never going back... but that grilled fish was so good.'
Minccino fell into a dilemma and eventually drifted into dreamland.
"Boss, don't be in such a hurry!"
Flipping a tenderloin in the frying pan with one hand, Natsuki used the other to helplessly push Kangaskhan away.
Do you know what it feels like to have a 300-pound girl acting spoiled toward you?
Tenderloin is one of the best cuts of meat. Kangaskhan stared at the steak without blinking, terrified it might be stolen the next second.
Under the continuous high-heat searing, the fat beneath the crispy crust bubbled, taking on an enticing, honey-like hue.
Seeing this, Natsuki turned the heat to low to finish the roast while sprinkling layers of seasoning.
Gradually, the rich aroma of meat mixed with the spicy kick of black pepper and the sweet scent of caramelization wafted up.
During the process, Natsuki looked back. Kangaskhan had crawled closer at some point, crouching on all fours like a greedy big dog, drool dripping from her mouth.
Natsuki chuckled.
Estimating the time was right, he plated the two steaks on clean ceramic dishes. Simultaneously, the information for the dish appeared.
[Pan-Seared Steak (B): Choice tender meat cooked to perfection with just the right heat and simple seasonings. Every bite is a joy, capable of injecting a continuous flow of energy into a Pokémon.]
[Cooking Effect: Stamina Recovery (Large), Energy Boost (Large), Pokémon gains Fighting-type Insight for 60 minutes.]
"Eh! Is this an added special effect?" Natsuki was surprised.
"Fighting-type Insight" likely meant the Pokémon would find it easier to learn Fighting-type moves during training.
It was a perfect dish for Kangaskhan.
If there was a downside, it was that the duration was too short. He'd have to find a way to make these buffs permanent later.
But for now? Better start eating, Kangaskhan was drooling a river.
The moment Natsuki placed the steak in front of her, she let out an excited howl and began devouring it.
Mmm! One bite, and it was so delicious she could cry.
Kangaskhan wolfed it down, even licking the plate clean of every drop of fat.
"It does taste good, just a bit too greasy," Natsuki commented after a bite.
He then looked up only to lock eyes with Kangaskhan's longing gaze— she was eyeing the steak on his plate.
A smooth, giant tongue suddenly licked across him, leaving him sticky and covered in drool.
Pushing her away with mock disgust, Natsuki tapped her head. "Fine, fine, it's yours."
"Long~"
Kangaskhan suddenly scooped Natsuki up in a hug and nuzzled him affectionately before starting on the other half of the steak.
The steak was quite large, half was enough for Natsuki, so he didn't mind sharing.
It was just the greasy feeling in his mouth that bothered him.
Thinking for a moment, he grabbed a few Berries he had picked on the road yesterday.
(Kangaskhan had held a "friendly negotiation" with the Pinsir guarding the tree).
He washed the Berries with clean water, sliced them, and plated them.
He then drizzled them with honey and sweet-and-sour jam.
Ta-da! A simple yet delicious fruit platter was ready.
[Fruit Platter (C): Fresh Berries sliced and served with syrup and jam. It's said that adding Moomoo Milk creates a unique flavor and effect.]
[Cooking Effect: Increases a Pokémon's sense of joy and slightly boosts Friendship.]
"Add Moomoo Milk? I'll have to try that once things settle down," Natsuki thought curiously, popping a honey-coated fruit slice into his mouth.
At this stage, his priority was still repairing the ranch. Once everything was stable, he could pursue other things.
Furthermore, based on his research these past few days, he was certain that food made by his hands would undergo some level of mutation, producing distinct effects.
This filled him with a desire for exploration.
However, the focus had to remain on the ranch. After all, his Golden Finger was Pokémon Ranch Story, not Gourmet Story.
Once Kangaskhan finished eating, Natsuki packed and cleaned the utensils, placing them in a dry spot.
He then changed into work clothes, put on a straw hat, and picked up his axe.
Calling upon his Kangaskhan, Natsuki and the Pokémon headed to the forest near the lake, not far from the ranch house.
This entire patch of trees was to be cleared and used for repairing the ranch house. If possible, even the roots had to be dug out.
Not only would they make excellent firewood, but it would also clear space for planting Berries, essentially killing three birds with one stone.
Natsuki and Kangaskhan worked with seamless coordination, their logging progress moving swiftly.
First, Natsuki would use his axe to cut a notch into the trunk.
Then, Kangaskhan would channel her strength into her palm, turning it into a blade-like strike that slammed into the notch.
Under Kangaskhan's immense power, a "crack" would ring out, and a tree as thick as a man's embrace would collapse.
Thanks to the guiding notch, the trees always fell outward, avoiding damage to other timber and making Natsuki's subsequent cleanup much easier.
However, after felling a few trees, something unexpected happened.
Kangaskhan let out a long howl, turned toward a large tree, and wrapped her arms around the trunk.
At that moment, Fighting-type energy surged and erupted from within her body.
With a sudden burst of power, the tree was ripped out by its roots and hurled high into the air, landing with a heavy, muffled "thud."
Kangaskhan didn't stop there. She began tossing the trees into the sky one after another, her movements becoming increasingly proficient.
Standing some distance away, Natsuki watched her actions in stunned silence.
"The Fighting-type move: Circle Throw!"