It seemed it had promised Ron not to do these things anymore.
"Indeed."
But did simply giving Leah a stepping stone count as "those things"?
"Indeed."
Obviously not!
Indeedee thought this as it glanced back at Leah, then trotted to catch up with Ron.
Leah and the Raccoon's voices drifted over on the sea breeze.
"You should do this kind of thing yourself. Doing it yourself is much more fun, isn't it?"
"Squeak..." (No it's not!!!!)
Walking forward, Ron reached the corner. Just as he was thinking about farm matters, he looked up and saw Emily's house.
Remembering the upcoming camping trip, he took a deep breath and, before Indeedee could make a move, recalled it into its Poké Ball.
"Indeedee? Indeedee!" (I haven't even done anything yet! This is prejudice! Prejudice!)
Taking a few steps to Emily's door, Ron reached out and knocked.
"Who is it?" Emily trotted to the door and pulled it open. Seeing it was Ron, she excitedly threw herself at him.
"Ah!!! You're back!! I was just thinking today about whether you'd miss the Luau!!"
"Yeah." Ron nodded.
"Then how about we schedule our camping trip for right after the Luau? I can just get Gus to give me the day off!" Emily said excitedly.
The day after the Luau, people probably wouldn't come to the saloon to eat. On one hand, they'd eat plenty at the festival; on the other hand, they'd play too late that day and would need to rest.
"Alright." Ron agreed.
Emily then let go of Ron.
"By the way, I brought these for you." Ron said, opening his backpack and taking out some small accessories, plus some fabric unique to Kalos. "Some of these Haley asked me to bring you, and some I bought."
If there hadn't been any little interludes, Ron originally wouldn't have had time to go to the shopping mall. But since he had taken Ribbon shopping, he took the opportunity to buy some things unique to Kalos to bring back for everyone.
Including some spices for Gus, books for Penny, and——
Ron paused, remembering he hadn't given Leah her gift yet.
Fortunately, tomorrow was the Luau, so he'd run into her then. Ron didn't make another trip back to the beach.
Coincidentally, Sam came out of the house. His eyes fell on Emily and Ron, and just as he was about to shout with sudden realization, Ron casually handed him a small box.
"What's this?"
"From Kalos... um, it's for listening to music." Ron continued, "I thought you might like it."
"Whoa!!!! Even I get one?" Sam held the box with a look of surprise and delight, then immediately hooked his arm around Ron's shoulder. "No wonder everyone says you're a great guy! I even got a present!"
Even Abigail, his best friend, hadn't brought him a gift when she came back from Kalos! Although he heard her return wasn't exactly voluntary, but...
"If the farm ever needs help, come find me at my house anytime! I'm always free!" Sam patted Ron vigorously, then started examining the novelty gadget Ron had given him.
Even though Sam had one himself. But it seemed Kalos's technology in this area was a bit more advanced; it looked more refined and compact, and had a lot more features.
Ron distributed gifts like Santa Claus all the way, eventually reaching the Clinic.
Maru was looking extremely bored at the files on the counter. She turned her head and yelled into the back room at Harvey: "Today is my birthday, can't I have just one day off?"
"But tomorrow is the Luau," Harvey said. "You can rest tomorrow."
"But I'm supposed to have tomorrow off anyway," Maru snorted. "And I didn't even get a birthday present! This is exploitation!"
"——" Harvey's voice came from inside: "Under the counter, isn't there a remote control?"
"Hmm?" Thinking it was a surprise for her, Maru looked for it. After finding a remote control, she turned her head excitedly and asked, "Is it a remote-controlled robot?"
"——No."
"Then? A Transformer?"
"——No." Harvey spoke up before Maru's guesses could get any more outlandish. "Open the back cover."
"Opened it."
"There are two batteries inside, take them out and keep them."
"?" Maru fell silent for a moment.
"Don't you like batteries?"
"How is that the same? There's still power in these! Good heavens, Harvey, your stinginess is starting to scare me." Maru said, stuffing the two pitiful batteries back into the remote. "Your cheapness is almost catching up to Pierre's. No, Pierre is way more generous now!"
"——After all, I still have to maintain this clinic," Harvey said. "Everything costs money, including the free check-ups, the free medical treatments, and the regular rescue operations."
Up against this reality, Maru had no room to argue. She took a deep breath: "Fine, pretend I never said anything."
Coincidentally, Ron walked in right then. Seeing Ron, Maru couldn't help but ask, "Ah, Ron, you're back?"
"Yeah, just got back."
Because the grocery store had a calendar hanging up, Ron happened to see that today was Maru's birthday. He handed the gift right over to her: "Happy birthday. These are some electronic components brought back from Kalos. I thought you'd probably like them."
Although Ron knew Maru had talent in this area—capable of hand-crafting a sentient robot. He still couldn't figure out how Maru managed to make those high-tech electronic components from scratch.
"Wow, thank you!" Maru held them excitedly.
In contrast to those two shabby batteries, the electronic components seemed to be emitting a blinding aura right now.
Inside, Harvey poked his head out: "Don't do this kind of thing in the clinic next time——"
Even though Harvey didn't really mind, he couldn't help feeling this way right after giving two batteries. Harvey was just about to turn back and continue reading everyone's medical reports when Ron stopped him.
"These are Kalos coffee beans." Ron handed the packaged coffee beans to Harvey. "The farm also planted some recently; when they're ready to harvest, I'll have a Rattata deliver some for you to try."
Harvey pushed up his glasses and immediately apologized to Ron.
"Hmm?"
"Nothing, I was just being too stingy." Harvey said, taking the coffee beans and sniffing them. "These are really nice... You're a good person, thanks."
Maru rested her chin on her hand: "Exactly, way more generous than some people."
Harvey ignored Maru's remark, turned around, and went back inside to continue his work.
"So boring——ah, it's time, I'm off work!" Maru said, winking at Ron. "Are you heading back to the farm? Wait for me?"
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