Time passed to the next day.
This day was the 3rd of Winter, also Linus's birthday.
Linus crawled out of his tent early in the morning and looked at the sky.
As expected, today was also a sunny day.
Birthdays were optional for Linus—as far as he was concerned, as long as he was alive, every day was a unique day.
"Let's go, Trubbish." Braving the cold wind, Linus called out to Trubbish staying outside the tent.
"Trub trub~"
Trubbish came to Linus's side carrying collected trash.
As usual, Linus's plan for today was to look around for winter roots and snow yams buried in the snow, and by the way pick up scattered garbage on the ground—feeding Trubbish while also helping Pelican Town with cleaning.
Thinking this, Linus took Trubbish toward Pelican Town.
Speaking of which, he hadn't rummaged through Pelican Town's trash cans for some time—on one hand, food was easier to find in autumn, and on the other hand, Joy would occasionally bring him some, reportedly vegetables that couldn't be sold and were being discarded.
It was just dawn at this moment. Because of the cold weather, everyone was huddled in their beds, and few would get up early for no reason, so Linus wasn't worried about running into anyone.
He couldn't say whether he could find any treasures in the trash cans today. In any case, if he could find something to bring to the hot springs to eat, that would count as celebrating his birthday.
While thinking, Linus lifted the trash can beside the Saloon.
After some rummaging, Linus threw the trash to Trubbish waiting nearby, then turned his gaze to the trash can at Evelyn's house not far away.
Just as Linus was about to rummage, some movement suddenly came from nearby.
Linus turned back in alarm and saw Sailor, holding a crystal fruit while munching on it, "Rattata rattata"-ing while saying something to Geodude beside him.
Geodude over there kept nodding his head.
Seeing it was a Pokémon, Linus couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. He hesitated for a while, but still reached his hand toward the trash can lid nearby.
At this moment, he noticed Sailor stopping in front of the trash can he had just rummaged through, lifting the lid with his head, then seeming to sniff for a moment with his nose, regretfully retreating, and continuing to walk toward him.
Linus was startled, instantly realizing something.
Sailor only noticed Linus at this moment. Because he had been told not to be seen rummaging through trash cans, Sailor froze in place for a moment. He stared blankly at Linus, looking as if he was quickly thinking of some excuse.
Of course, even if he thought of some excuse, Sailor couldn't say it, and Linus couldn't understand.
So Sailor put on an act, throwing the remaining crystal fruit core into the trash can just now, then walked a few steps toward Linus, taking a crab from Geodude's box beside him and handing it to Linus's hand.
"Rattata rattata."
Sailor exaggeratedly gestured, indicating he was only going to the beach to collect seafood, and conveniently throwing away trash—definitely not meaning to rummage through trash cans!
"The farm—doesn't feed you?" Linus paused, squatting down to ask quietly.
"Rattata?" Sailor shook his head repeatedly upon hearing this.
Linus thought for a moment, "Or do you also feel that the things in here shouldn't be wasted?"
Sailor paused, those eyes staring straight at Linus. After confirming he didn't read any contempt from the other person's eyes, and even faintly detecting a bit of joy, he nodded.
But besides this, he also faintly had a bit of worry. Rummaging through trash cans was a side business he had recently found for himself. Because Ron didn't mind him exchanging the ores and crystals found in trash cans for money, during this time, Sailor was running his own small business among the Rattata group.
Recently, because of having pocket money, some Rattatas were saving money to order food at the saloon, while others wanted to save money to buy special accessories from the hat mouse.
In any case, now he only needed to pay a bit of money to buy back food they had saved from those Rattatas' hands, plus sometimes during work they could help Sailor find things he needed like crocuses.
Before Sailor could finish thinking, Linus nearby had already lifted the trash can lid and pulled out a cookie from inside.
He then broke it in half, giving a piece to Sailor.
"Rattata!" Sailor paused, then stuffed it into his mouth.
"I also think so, this food isn't spoiled, leaving it in the trash can is a waste," Linus said in a lowered voice, afraid of disturbing the townspeople in the nearby houses.
"Rattata?" Sailor paused, realizing Linus had also come for the food in the trash cans. So he immediately breathed a sigh of relief, stood upright, patted his chest, and ran straight toward the nearby trash cans.
So many days of rummaging through trash cans made Sailor very familiar with this work. In no time, he had collected everything from the trash cans. After putting ores into the box, he generously gave all the food he found to Linus.
Linus somewhat received it with overwhelming gratitude.
"Rattata rattata." Sailor then patted Linus's shoulder, turned and took Geodude to the beach.
Linus paused, realizing Sailor had gone to busy himself with his own matters, and didn't chase after him. Instead, he lowered his head to look at the food Sailor gave him.
The trash cans mostly contained Field Snacks, cookies and such—just enough to fill Linus's stomach. So he hugged this pile of things and walked straight toward the Spa in the mountains.
Arriving at the spa, as usual, he left Trubbish at the garbage recycling station not far away to eat trash, then walked in.
Solemnly placing the food to the side, Linus went to the changing room to take a shower, then returned hugging these food items into the Spa.
His originally ice-cold limbs were instantly warmed by the steam. Linus let out a long breath, then fed a cookie into his mouth.
Meanwhile, at the farm.
Glancing at the calendar and realizing today was Linus's birthday, Ron found all the remaining yams from autumn in the refrigerator.
Throwing the yams into the stove to roast, Ron continued searching for other things.
Besides yams, he really couldn't think of anything else Linus liked.
But if he had to say, Ron prepared to give Linus some wool. Whether used to pad his bed or stuffed into his leafy clothes for warmth—as long as it could make him more comfortable this winter, that would be enough.
Thinking this, Ron went straight to the animal barn, greeted Shane who was caring for the animals inside, and took out some wool.
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