The three Pokemon happily ran out immediately.
In the end, Dragonite chose a salted fish plushie, planning to hug it while sleeping later.
Cyclizar looked left and right, and finally picked a box of snack gift sets, filled with lots of tasty treats to share with everyone later!
Cyclizar showed a happy smile.
Flutter Mane followed the aroma down the escalator, stopping at a marketplace selling meat products, gazing intently at the fresh meat steaks and bones.
The butcher was startled by the Pokemon.
Naoki ran over and saw Flutter Mane's state, quickly pushing it back:
"We can buy these things back home too; no need to get them specifically from here!"
"Mane..."
Flutter Mane seemed confused, then turned around and floated back with a specially made large bone for canine Pokemon to gnaw.
Naoki reached out to take it, looked at the description, then at Flutter Mane's two sharp little fangs, and suddenly understood.
It seems Flutter Mane wants to grind its teeth!
Since coming to the ranch, Flutter Mane had been eating only cooked food, almost not having to hunt separately.
This led to it not tearing into prey for a long time, making its teeth itchy from lack of hunting, which made Flutter Mane feel uncomfortable.
This was indeed his oversight, Naoki thought.
"In that case, I'll pack this big bone up!" Naoki said.
Flutter Mane responded lightly and then voluntarily returned to the Poke Ball.
Naoki took out the Poke Balls for Dragonite and Cyclizar, eagerly saying, "We've bought everything, time to go home!"
The two Pokemon naturally had no objections, obediently returning to the Poke Balls.
"What about you? Do you want anything?" Naoki asked Koraidon, who chose nothing, smiling and saying, "Everyone's finished choosing, now you're the only one left."
"Ah gah hiss!" Koraidon happily shook its head; it didn't want anything.
Seeing this, Naoki raised an eyebrow in surprise, "Really nothing?"
Koraidon honestly shook its head, "Ah gah hiss."
Naoki couldn't help but ponder.
Koraidon nudged his back with its head, walking out.
Naoki now understood what Koraidon meant.
It wanted to go home.
"Oh well, I'll study Pokeblocks for you when we get back." Naoki said in a resigned manner, having to settle the bill and forcefully pack everything into his travel backpack until it practically burst.
After all this hustle, it was noon.
Koraidon's stomach rumbled, and Naoki felt hungry as well, deciding to fill his belly here in Levincia City before heading back.
One man and one Pokemon strolled through the streets of Levincia City, with Koraidon drawing many curious glances from passersby.
Having grown accustomed to this, Naoki ignored those looks, intending to find a Chinese restaurant serving Paldean-style hometown dishes.
Yet, as he passed a dessert shop, he suddenly heard a slightly surprised familiar voice from inside.
"Oh? Naoki-san?"
Naoki turned to see Lono with a Magnemite hovering above, standing not far away with a face full of surprise.
"It's really you! I almost thought I'd mistaken you!" Lono's eyes shined brightly, "Naoki-san, how come you're suddenly in Levincia City?"
Naoki: "I just returned from the Unova Region, you know, Levincia City is the only place with direct ferries to the Unova Region."
Lono instantly understood, and seeing Koraidon, she quickly asked, "Have you had lunch yet? If not, let me treat you! As a thank you for your hospitality last time!"
Naoki thought about having many Pokemon with him, which might be inconvenient, so he planned to say he'd eaten.
But before he could speak, he heard Koraidon's stomach rumble beside him.
Naoki: "..."
Lono burst into laughter with sparkling teeth, "Seems like you haven't eaten yet! Perfect, I haven't either; I know a great Chinese restaurant!"
Naoki: "..."
Lono indeed was enthusiastic!
Unable to resist her kindness, he decided to accept and followed Lono to a Chinese restaurant located at the city center.
Lono energetically scribbled on the menu: "Naoki-san, do you eat Mapo Tofu?"
"Sure."
"Green Pepper Beef?"
"Also fine."
"Baked Eggs?"
"...I'm not picky."
Lono: "Haha, that's great, then we'll have these dishes, waiter, also five bowls of rice and snacks for the Pokemon!"
"Got it!" The waiter took the menu, only to see this lady marked every dish on it.
The waiter was shocked, "Miss...isn't this a bit too much? Can the two of you finish it?"
Naoki was puzzled upon hearing this.
The waiter handed the menu to him.
Naoki wasn't surprised until he saw Lono marked everything.
"We won't finish, right?" Naoki said, speechless.
Lono smiled sheepishly, "Because I don't know what you like, so I ordered everything, and it's not just us, but also the Pokemon!"
Naoki thought it over and felt maybe they could finish, as Koraidon and Flutter Mane are big eaters: "All right, let's start with that."
The waiter nervously took the menu and left.
Lono then began chatting about the ranch trials.
She asked expectantly, "By the way, Naoki-san, after I challenged, did any other Gym Leaders visit your ranch?"
"I don't think so? There weren't any before I left the ranch," Naoki shook his head, "But I'm not sure since I haven't been back for a week."
Lono inexplicably felt some regret, "I wanted to see their expressions!"
Naoki was speechless, "It's not that exaggerated, really? Although it sounds intimidating, familiarizing oneself with the trial's contents and utilizing type matchups, it's not impossible."
Just like Leon before, his Gogoat was completely countered by Charizard.
Not surprisingly, Charizard breezed through the Grass Trial.
If Leon's Charizard could do it, Alder's Volcarona surely can too.
After all, the Bug+Fire-type Volcarona equally counters Gogoat decisively.
It's merely that at the time, Alder was still in shock and didn't wish for Volcarona to immediately battle other Pokemon after just recovering.
Lono wore a resigned expression, "But most Gym Leaders specialize in only one Pokemon type! If the Cascarrafa Gym Leader Kofu tackled the Grass Trial, they'd probably be worse off than me."
Surely they can't raise Pokemon of other types solely for the trials, right?
Upon hearing this, Naoki started to ponder, then showed a capitalist's smile:
"On that point, I'll gradually improve the future trials, adding more varied-type trials, allowing challengers to choose trials according to their situation."
Lono: "..."
She switched topics, casting her gaze on Naoki's hairstyle and teasingly asking, "Naoki-san, did you cut your hair? Your beard's gone too."
Hearing this, Naoki perked up, sat up straight, and asked proudly, "Now I don't look that old, do I?"
He's quite sensitive about being called an uncle.
Children a few years younger are excusable, but not a peer like Lono.
After all, he's only four years older than Lono.
Lono gave a thumbs-up, "It's great!"
Koraidon chimed in, "Ah gah hiss!"
"Hmph!" Naoki felt Lono was quite likable and said, "Just call me Naoki from now on, don't use Mr., it sounds weird."
In both his past and current lives, people directly addressed him by name, without prefixes like uncle or brother.
Upon hearing his prideful hmph, Lono suddenly found Naoki's personality rather endearing.
She beamed a joyful smile and enthusiastically said, "Okay, I got it!"