"Oh man, that actually looks... edible! No, wait, it looks genuinely good. Into the fridge you go! Let it chill for an hour to set, and we'll have a masterpiece. Seriously, Togetic, you crushed it."
The kitchen was currently a haze of flour dust and the sweet, lingering scent of boiled berries. Julian let out a breath he felt like he'd been holding since the first Lum Berry was washed. He leaned against the counter, his legs feeling a bit like jelly.
[Internal Monologue: Honestly, is this what being a Gym Leader feels like? I think I've exerted more mental energy trying to prevent a 'Salt-Pudding Incident' than I did during the entire Eterna Gym battle. Maybe I should just open a bakery if the Sinnoh League doesn't work out. Actually, no, my heart wouldn't survive the stress.]
He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, mopping the beads of sweat from his forehead. Togetic was currently hovering at eye level, her tiny hands clasped together, looking at the refrigerator door as if it were the entrance to a treasure vault.
"Jia-gei? (Is the hard part over? Are we professional chefs now?)"
"We're getting there," Julian laughed, reaching out to give her head a gentle, reassuring stroke. "The pudding is in the hands of the cooling gods now. Give it an hour, and it'll be perfect."
"Togekiss! (Hooray! The Togetic Special 2.0 is a success!)"
She started doing victory laps around the light fixture, her wings flapping in a rhythmic, happy blur.
"Easy there, ace! Come back down to earth," Julian waved her down, trying to keep his voice low so as not to wake the snoozing duo in the next room. "I've spent so much time being your Sous Chef that I've barely touched the main courses. I can't teach you every single step for the rest of the meal or we'll be eating breakfast for dinner. You just watch the masters at work for a bit, okay? I'll call you if I need an extra pair of hands."
"Jia-gei~ (Understood! I will be the most observant apprentice in history!)"
"Good. Now, I need to focus on the cake. This is a time-sensitive operation," Julian said, rolling his sleeves up past his elbows and grabbing a whisk with the intensity of a man going into battle. "Togetic, useful task: go grab that butter and weigh out exactly 400 grams. If it's 401, the texture is ruined. No pressure."
"Jia-gei! (On it!)"
"And snag the Moomoo Milk from the top shelf while you're at it."
The kitchen turned into a blur of synchronized motion. While the cake batter was being whipped into a frothy peak, Julian turned his attention to the centerpiece of the evening: the meat.
"Okay, this is for Growlithe," Julian said, pulling out a massive, bone-in cut of prime beef that he'd been marinating for hours. "He's been the MVP of this snowy trek, so he gets the royal treatment. We've got the roast, the bone, and this specialized spicy glaze. Togetic, remember the sweet fruit jam we just made? This is the savory version. We're using Bitter Cherries and Orange peels to cut through the fat. You think you can handle the glazing process while I prep the mushrooms?"
Togetic puffed out her chest, her confidence at an all-time high. "Togekiss! (I've been training for this moment my whole life, Jing! Leave the sauce to me!)"
"That's the spirit! Just keep an eye on the consistency. Don't let it get too thick," Julian said, handing her the brush. He then turned his focus to the aromatic mushrooms, rubbing them with a blend of herbs that smelled like a forest after a rainstorm.
About twenty minutes into the prep, as Julian was sliding the bone-in roast into the oven, Togetic floated over, holding a small tasting bowl with a look of extreme focus.
"Jia-gei? (Master... would you care to sample the craft?)"
Julian wiped his hands on his apron and leaned over, catching the scent. It was sharp—pungent in that way that makes your nose tingle—but underneath that, there was a rich, fruity depth. He dipped a finger in, took a lick, and let the flavors roll over his tongue.
Togetic looked like she was holding her breath, her little heart practically visible through her chest.
"Whoa..." Julian's eyes widened. "Togetic, that's actually... impressive. It's got a bit more of a 'kick' than the way I usually make it, but honestly? Growlithe is going to go nuts for this. It's got that fire-type intensity. Just toss some toasted sesame seeds on top for the crunch, and we're golden."
"Jia! Togekiss! (Yes! I'm going! Toasted seeds, coming up!)"
She zipped back to her station, nearly dropping the bowl in her excitement.
"Just a sprinkle! Don't turn it into a sesame field!" Julian called out, chuckling. He reached for a carton of milk on the counter, taking a long, cold swig to reset his palate.
[Internal Monologue: It's definitely more bitter than my version—probably used a bit too much of the cherry skin—but for a Fire-type like Growlithe who loves bold flavors? It's perfect. She's actually got an instinct for this.]
"Alright," Julian whispered to himself, feeling a surge of pride. "Last slice of the mushroom barbecue, and we can finally call the 'Grand Feast' complete."
He worked through the final dish with practiced ease, the rhythm of the knife on the cutting board acting as a countdown to the end of a very long, very exhausting day.
Squeak—
The kitchen door swung open, and the atmosphere in the hotel suite shifted instantly. The rich, savory aroma of roasted meat and caramelized fruit hit the air like a physical wave. In the living area, Growlithe's nose twitched once. Then twice. His eyes snapped open, glowing like black opals in the dim light. With a blur of orange and black, he was already at his designated feeding spot, sitting perfectly upright with his tail wagging so hard it was creating a draft.
"Alright, crew! The wait is over! Dinner is served!" Julian announced, emerging from the kitchen like a waiter at a high-end restaurant.
He was carrying two massive platters, while Togetic floated behind him, using her psychic aura to carry the honey cake and the chilled puddings.
"Floette... Floette! (I've been robbed! I was supposed to be first!)"
Floette tumbled off the bed, her eyes bulging when she saw Growlithe already stationed at the table. She zipped over, her tiny face filled with a mix of hunger and mock-outrage.
"Haha! Growlithe's nose is basically a GPS for calories at this point," Julian laughed, setting the plates down. "Here you go, big guy. Bone-in roast with 'Togetic's Special Fire-Glaze.' And Floette, for our resident dessert critic, we have the blackberry-mango pudding and a slice of honey cake."
Floette didn't even wait for a fork. She dove headfirst into the cake, her tiny face disappearing into the white cream. Splat! A glob of frosting flew through the air, landing square on Julian's bicep.
"Hey! Watch the splash zone!" Julian teased, though he didn't wipe it off yet. He turned to the others. "Sylveon, your cranberry multi-layered tart. And Carbink, I made these new 'High-Density Poffins' just for you. They should have a lot more 'crunch' than your standard Pokéblocks. Give 'em a try."
He finished serving the team, placing the final dish—the Liechi fruit pudding—in front of Togetic. "And the Chef's portion for my star pupil."
"Togekiss! (I shall dine like a queen!)"
"Woof-woof! (This... this sauce is incredible! It burns in the best way!)" Growlithe barked between massive, meaty chews.
"Fly-ah~ (Jing, you're officially forgiven for the cold walk. This tart is worth a blizzard.)"
"Mishimishi~ (This texture... it's like eating a very delicious mountain. I approve.)"
The room was filled with the blissful sounds of five Pokémon absolutely demolishing a five-star meal. Julian leaned against the counter, watching them with a weary, happy smile.
"You guys really should thank Togetic," Julian said, crossing his arms. "She did a lot of the heavy lifting today. I might actually be out of a job soon."
"W-woo... wa-woo..."
Not a single head looked up. The "Feast Silence" had taken over. The only response was the sound of chewing and the occasional clink of a plate.
"Right. Message received. Don't talk to the hungry Pokémon," Julian muttered to himself. He cut a small piece of his own roasted meat and took a bite. "Yeah... Growlithe's glaze is definitely too spicy for me. My tongue would be a cinder. Glad I made my own version."
He washed his dinner down with the rest of the milk, enjoying the quiet moment of peace.
By the time the 'battlefield' was cleared, it was late. Julian spent the next hour in a routine of post-meal maintenance. He polished Carbink's rocky exterior until she sparkled like a diamond, gave the 'furs' a warm bath to get the Snowpoint soot out of their coats, and made sure everyone was tucked in.
One by one, the lights went out. The room was silent, save for the hum of the heater and the steady breathing of sleeping Pokémon.
Julian lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The ribbon on his right arm was loose, Sylveon having shifted in her sleep. He waited ten minutes, making sure the 'Four Little Ones' were deep in dreamland. Then, as quietly as a ninja, he sat up.
He reached over to the soft pillow near the foot of the bed, where a certain orange ball of fur was snoring softly. He scooped up the sleeping Growlithe, who was surprisingly heavy and warm, and slid back under the heavy duvet, tucking the dog under his arm like a giant, fuzzy teddy bear.
Deep under the blankets, a muffled conversation began.
"Woof? (Jing? Seriously? It's 1 AM. We have a Gym battle in like... seven hours. Don't you think sleep is a better use of your time than kidnapping me?)"
"Hush, Growlithe," Julian whispered into the dark, his voice muffled by the blanket. "I've had a really stressful day of being a culinary instructor. My mental health requires a high-quality cuddle session. You're the only one warm enough to counter the Snowpoint chill. Just stay still."
"Woof-woof... (You're impossible. You know I'm the one doing the heavy lifting tomorrow, right? I need my rest so I can reach the Elite Class. If I'm tired, it's on you.)"
"You'll be fine. You're a Fire-type. You're fueled by passion and meat. Now, let me use your tail as a face-warmer."
Julian reached out, his hand wrapping around Growlithe's fluffy tail and pulling it over his eyes like a sleep mask. His other hand found the soft, round belly Togetic had helped fill, and his ribbon-wrapped arm rested across the dog's sturdy back.
"Woof... (You're a weirdo, Jing. A total weirdo. Fine... just for tonight. But if you start snoring in my ear, I'm using Flamethrower.)"
"Deal. Goodnight, buddy."
"Woof-woof... (Stupid human... making it impossible to be a serious Elite-class fighter...)"
Growlithe let out a final, resigned huff, but he leaned into the warmth of Julian's chest, his internal heater clicking into a low, comfortable simmer as they both drifted off into a deep, well-earned sleep.