Naoki looked speechless, the education he received since childhood made him subconsciously think that these things should be done by him, especially since he was four years older than Lono.
Having a young girl pay for the bill felt strange in a way that's hard to describe.
Lono turned her head to see his expression and said with a smile: "It's okay! We agreed that this time it would be my treat!"
"If you feel embarrassed, Naoki, you can repay me next time during your vacation when you come to the ranch for the trial!"
Naoki looked at Lono and after a while nodded helplessly: "Alright, then I will definitely treat you well at that time."
"Hehe, it's settled then!"
After lunch, Naoki said goodbye to Lono and rode Koraidon out of Levincia City.
At three in the afternoon, Koraidon flew over Porto Marinada Town and landed in the ranch.
Butterfree was the first to notice him, and soon a large group of Pokemon surrounded him.
A smile appeared on Naoki's face as he petted this one and that one.
With Pokémon like Alcremie and Glaceon, little lively darlings, absent, the atmosphere at the ranch was quite listless and many Pokemon appeared to lack energy.
Seeing this, Naoki quickly released all the Pokemon from their Poke Balls, then said to Alcremie and Pawmot:
"Go play with everyone! Since you're not here, no one has been playing with Garganacl and the others."
Upon hearing this, Alcremie turned its head to look at the five large Pokemon standing in line before it.
They who used to be towering figures now appeared all pitifully meek, like bullied little ones.
Alcremie couldn't stand this sight, felt a pang of sympathy, and immediately jumped onto Garganacl to go and play with them.
"Alright, you go play too!" Naoki turned and patted Cyclizar's head, then placed the backpack filled with gifts in the living room.
After greeting Calyrex who was watching TV, brother Indeedee came to report on the ranch's situation over the past few days.
Naoki ate a piece of Translation Nuts Cake and heard brother Indeedee say:
"Indee Indeede." (Nothing happened at the ranch that couldn't be handled, just a few fences on the other side of the river accidently damaged by some wild Pokemon.)
"Indee." (Also, a girl named Grusha came to the ranch the day before yesterday, but upon hearing that you were out, left.)
"Grusha? Girl?" Hearing this, Naoki was slightly stunned.
Brother Indeedee was somewhat puzzled.
Naoki instantly understood, and laughed: "So you differentiate gender through human hairstyles and looks!"
Brother Indeedee looked bewildered: "Indee?" (Did I get it wrong?)
Naoki nodded: "Grusha isn't a girl, he's the Gym Leader of Glaseado Gym, a genuine man, just like me."
Brother Indeedee: "..."
Naoki couldn't help but laugh, he didn't mind this matter at all, knowing Grusha would definitely visit again.
He opened the travel backpack and took out the gifts prepared for the Pokemon, selecting glasses and scarves for the brother and sister pair.
"Here's your gift, see if you like them."
The siblings took them with extended hands, smiles blossoming on their faces.
Seeing this, Naoki knew he had chosen the right gifts.
He then handed over the gift prepared for Calyrex, and said to him:
"Everything is arranged! The information for the phones has been sent out, it won't be long before we can use phones!"
Calyrex's eyes sparkled with anticipation: "I await that day's arrival!"
"Mm-hmm!" Back at the ranch, Naoki felt excited and couldn't sit still: "You keep watching TV! I'll go check the fence!"
With that, Naoki walked out the door, crossed the small river, and headed to the opposite bank to inspect the nearby wooden fences around the ranch.
Sure enough, he found several places damaged.
Since the ranch is in the wild, events of wild Pokemon damaging farmland fences occur frequently.
Naoki wasn't surprised; he returned to the storeroom to fetch tools and some planks to repair the damaged spots.
After everything was taken care of, it was already five in the evening.
Zack arrived at the ranch to collect the goods on time, and when he saw Naoki, he was slightly surprised and then delighted: "You're back?"
"Yeah!" Naoki nodded.
Zack loaded today's milk and vegetables onto the truck, praised: "Your Pokemon are impressive! Those two Indeedee keep everything here well-organized! Truly enviable, if they ever lay eggs, remember to let me take care of one! I'd love an Indeedee housekeeper as well."
Naoki's face darkened: "They are siblings!"
"Nani?! I thought they were a couple…" Zack was shocked, then awkwardly scratched his head: "Sorry, it's my mistake!"
Naoki glanced back at sister Indeedee watering flowers, relieved they hadn't heard the conversation.
Zack didn't stay long; after loading the goods onto the truck, he bid Naoki farewell and drove away from the ranch with a rumble.
But sometimes, what you say just happens.
Naoki was about to start cooking when he saw two working Dragonites preparing to leave for Dragonite Island suddenly burst forth with a brilliant light.