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Thinking that he also had gifts for Robin and the others, Ron agreed and stood at the door waiting for Maru.
Harvey, on the other hand, couldn't wait to put the coffee beans Ron brought into the coffee maker. Maru glanced at Harvey, smiled, changed out of her nurse's uniform, and then walked over to Ron's side.
"Which way are you heading?" Maru asked.
"To the back mountain." Ron pointed to the road over there and said, "You'll have to wait for me a bit at the Community Center later. I also brought a gift for Joy."
"Sure." Maru walked beside Ron, stretched, and then asked, "How's Kalos?"
"In what aspect?"
"Hmm..." Maru thought for a while but couldn't figure out how to explain, so she just said, "Every aspect? I used to think I'd never want to leave Pelican Town my whole life, but lately, I've started getting a little curious about the outside world."
"If you want to go on an adventure, it's pretty good over there."
"An adventure, huh." Maru looked up at the sky upon hearing this. "Adventures aren't really for me... but if I get the chance, I really would like to visit Kalos."
Of course, purely for sightseeing, not like Abigail and Haley, who spent almost a whole year in Kalos, and didn't even plan on coming back afterwards.
"By the way, my robot has made some new progress. Do you want to take a look later?" Maru continued. "Though it's a little different from what I expected... I can't quite put my finger on it, but as the biggest supporter of this research, I'd like you to see it."
"I'd be honored." Ron said, arriving at the Community Center entrance, and jogged inside.
Maru didn't follow him in. She stood outside, her eyes fixed on Ron, who was saying something to Joy at the counter.
A moment later, she saw Ron pull something out of his pocket and hand it to Joy.
Joy looked at Ron with pleasant surprise, and then carefully unwrapped the item.
Maru pushed up her glasses, shifting her gaze from Ron to the electronic components in her own hands.
After a while, the corners of her mouth curled up.
"Alright, let's go." Ron said, walking up to Maru. Seeing no response from her, he called out her name.
"Ah, oh, let's walk." Before Ron could ask, Maru explained on her own: "I was just thinking, the feeling of going far away and bringing things back for everyone is actually pretty nice."
It was somewhat different from just giving gifts.
Even though receiving gifts is always nice, things brought back from a long trip give people a sense of being cared for and remembered. It lets people know that it's not just the ones left behind who miss the traveler; the traveler thousands of miles away feels the same way.
"Yeah." Ron nodded.
There was no exchange of interests, nor any thought of getting something in return for giving these gifts. It was purely Ron standing there, feeling that the folks back in Pelican Town would like these things.
"It really is nice." Ron continued.
Maru laughed along.
The two made their way to the Carpenter's Shop. Robin was yawning at the front counter. Seeing Maru push the door open and walk in, she couldn't help but say, "You're back, dear. Don't go into the kitchen; your brother and dad are busy tinkering with something in there right now."
She didn't specify what, but since Demetrius's culinary skills were top-notch in this household, there was no need to worry about the two of them blowing up the kitchen.
As for Sebastian, perhaps it was because his room had been expanded, coupled with the fact that his relationship with Demetrius had gradually softened, but Sebastian was slowly starting to act more like an older brother.
"I see." Maru stood on her tiptoes to take a peek, then made room for Ron.
"Oh, Ron, you're here too?" Robin looked at Ron in surprise. "Hmm, are you done with your business in Kalos?"
"All done. Won't be going back until autumn."
"I see."
Ron then took out the gifts for Robin and the others, placing them on the table. "Brought these for you, some things from Kalos."
"Ah—" Robin picked them up in surprise and delight. "Thank you!!! Are there some for Demetrius and Sebastian too? Gosh, you're so thoughtful. Do you want to stay for dinner tonight? We can celebrate Maru's birthday while we're at it."
"No thanks, I have other things to do at the farm."
Maru, however, said indignantly, "Why am I an afterthought?"
"Then should we throw a party specifically for Maru's birthday?" Robin said, then laughed, turning to Ron. "Just kidding. If you're busy with the farm, go ahead. Come find me if you ever need help with anything."
Maru snorted and pulled Ron toward her room.
"Have you ever been to my basement?" Maru asked as she led him inside. After thinking for a moment and realizing he hadn't, she couldn't help but say, "Then it's perfect that you're taking a look today!"
Saying this, she lifted the trapdoor nearby.
Going down the stairs into the basement, Maru pulled off the dust cover, then picked up a Poké Ball sitting to the side.
"A few days ago, I had Sebastian help me write a program. My original program was apparently too complex, which prevented Rotom from directly inserting itself into it..." Maru introduced as she sent out Rotom and placed it into the special Rotom drive device. "Hmm, but there seems to be a slight problem, look."
As she spoke, she flicked the switch, and the robot, which had been in sleep mode, slowly opened its eyes.
"Rotom Robot, activating—Rotom!"
The robot called out like this first, but then a bizarre electrical noise came from its body. Immediately after, the robot's demeanor changed quite a bit.
Before the robot could even start speaking, Maru hurriedly cut the power and opened the drive device.
The next second, Rotom was forcibly ejected.
"Come over here for now." Maru said, turning on a computer that also had a Rotom drive device installed, and Rotom instantly darted inside.
"That thing wouldn't let me inside, Rotom!" Rotom said. "There's something inside that robot... it has its own consciousness, Rotom."
Rotom had seen robots with their own consciousness before, like that Clembot.
But this was the first time it had encountered one that could prevent a Rotom from taking over.
"See, that's how it is." Maru sighed. "It's really strange."
Ron fell silent for a moment, remembering the matter with Clemont, and couldn't help but say, "Then you should probably get in touch with Clemont..."
"You mean, he has a solution?"
Ron shook his head and said, "No, I just feel like maybe he needs this program to help upgrade his Clembot."
At least this way, when Rotom is returned in the future, Clembot wouldn't have to cover its butt and run away whenever it sees Rotom.
"Uh... if it can actually help." Maru didn't quite understand, but hearing that her failed invention could be of use somewhere else still made her pretty happy.
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