After leaving the Diamond Domain alone, Silas returned toward the ranch. Cinccino and Popplio stayed behind inside the mine to keep Diancie company.
The three of them still needed more practice.
If things went well, the ranch band might have another opportunity to perform on stage again in the future.
Silas slowly walked back to the ranch house. As soon as he arrived, he saw that the three Noivern had completely occupied the best spot in front of the door, squeezing Arboliva into a corner.
When Silas appeared, Cyclizar and Arboliva both came closer.
"Cyc!"
Cyclizar suddenly shifted into its battle stance, covering its ears with both hands. It let out a hurried cry and immediately ran away.
"That guy…"
Watching Cyclizar run off, Silas could only smile helplessly.
"Arboliva, I'll have to trouble you to watch over those three for a while."
"Arboo~"
Arboliva swayed its body gently and agreed, taking over Cyclizar's duty.
Looking again at the Noivern, they were sleeping incredibly soundly. Their snores rose and fell one after another.
No wonder Cyclizar had run away without even waiting for a reward.
Silas crouched down and lightly knocked on the Noivern that was blocking the doorway.
The Noivern frowned in its sleep, rolled over slightly to make room, and continued sleeping while letting out a muffled sound from its throat.
After two consecutive days without proper sleep, the Noivern were now exhausted beyond words.
Silas carefully stepped around them and entered the house.
Inside the house, Jigglypuff was diligently completing its daily morning practice.
Unlike those three little troublemakers outside, Jigglypuff always insisted on finishing its lessons and never tried to slack off unless forced.
"Jigglypuff, if you're tired from studying you can take a break for a while."
Silas placed a glass of fruit juice in front of Jigglypuff while gently rubbing its round head.
"Jiggly~"
Jigglypuff shook its head, clearly not in a very enthusiastic mood.
Because of its singing voice, it currently was not allowed to sing at all. The only thing it could do to pass time was studying.
"You have something on your mind, little Jigglypuff?"
Silas sat down beside it and picked the adorable Pokémon up into his arms. He gently squeezed its triangular catlike ears.
"Jigglypuff!"
The ticklish sensation made Jigglypuff let out a soft cry. After a moment it grabbed Silas's mischievous hand.
"Jiggly! Jigglypuff!"
Jigglypuff began explaining, and Silas patiently listened.
When it finished speaking, Silas showed a troubled expression.
Jigglypuff's singing voice had become stronger and stronger recently. If it was not careful, everyone around it would immediately fall asleep.
That was the main reason Silas had forbidden Jigglypuff from singing.
However, he had overlooked how Jigglypuff itself felt.
With an apologetic expression, Silas gently squeezed Jigglypuff's cheeks.
"I'm sorry, Jigglypuff."
"Jiggly…" (You don't need to apologize, Silas. It's my problem…)
Jigglypuff quickly shook its head, its voice growing softer and softer.
Finding a solution for Jigglypuff's singing problem had become urgent.
At that moment Silas noticed a stack of shopping flyers he had brought back a few days ago, and suddenly an idea popped into his mind.
"I've got it!"
He leaned down and gave Jigglypuff a loud kiss on its soft little face.
"I have a solution. We can ask Dragonite and Tropius to help distribute recruitment flyers."
The plan was to cast a wide net and search for Pokémon that loved rock music and also had the Insomnia or Vital Spirit ability, or knew the move Electric Terrain.
At the same time, it would also give Jigglypuff something to look forward to.
Jigglypuff suddenly raised its head, its eyes filled with surprise and excitement. Its tiny hands tugged on Silas's clothes.
"Jiggly?" (Really?)
Because it was so excited, the little tuft of hair on top of Jigglypuff's head stood straight up.
Although it had never said it aloud, Jigglypuff had always wanted to form its own rock band just like big sister Cinccino and the others.
Finding companions who loved rock music just like it would make Jigglypuff unbelievably happy.
"Of course."
Silas nodded firmly.
"And you can help me design the recruitment flyers too."
"Jigglypuff!" (Let's start right away, Silas!)
Jigglypuff quickly picked up the cup and drank the fruit juice in one gulp before urging Silas to get moving.
Seeing Jigglypuff's energetic enthusiasm, Silas tickled its side playfully, making it squirm and giggle.
"Don't rush. First we need to think carefully about what to write on the flyers. We also have to draw them nicely so they can attract Pokémon who like rock music."
He pulled out blank sheets of paper and colored pens from a drawer and spread them all across the table.
Jigglypuff immediately leaned over the table and thought seriously for a long time.
The first thing it drew was its favorite object.
A microphone.
Seeing this, Silas added more drawings beside it.
He sketched an electric guitar and then a drum set.
"We should draw more rock instruments so everyone knows this is a rock band recruitment."
Jigglypuff nodded seriously. Then it switched to a red colored pen and drew a tiny version of itself in the corner of the page, with a musical note on its head that looked like it was on fire.
Meanwhile Silas wrote down the recruitment requirements.
Recruiting Pokémon who love rock music. Pokémon with the Insomnia or Vital Spirit ability or those who know Electric Terrain will be given priority.
One human and one Pokémon worked together, revising and modifying the design for more than half an hour before finally completing the first draft.
The main reason it took so long was that Jigglypuff wanted everything to be absolutely perfect and kept making adjustments.
"We can't keep revising it anymore. Let's go find Cyclizar."
"Jigglypuff~" (Alright Silas, but I still think that corner could be a little…)
Silas picked Jigglypuff up and placed it on his shoulder. Then he went to the lake where Cyclizar was teasing the two "silly" Psyduck.
After calling Cyclizar over, the human and two Pokémon quickly headed toward the city.
While passing by the farmland, Silas reminded the two girls who were so absorbed in farm work that they had forgotten everything else to go back and rest. He had already prepared snacks for them inside the house.
Including the trip outside the ranch and the waiting time in between, about half an hour passed.
When Silas pushed open the door, bursts of laughter came from the living room.
Korrina, Ann, and Cinccino were sitting together watching television.
It was rare to see them behaving so quietly.
"Jigglypuff!"
Jigglypuff immediately struggled out of Silas's arms and ran over to squeeze into the group to watch together.
Silas casually handed a stack of flyers to elder brother Indeedee.
"Has Dragonite come back yet?"
"Indee~" (Not yet. Dragonite usually comes back around mealtime.)
"He's probably having so much fun over there that he forgot the time."
Silas tied an apron around his waist and prepared to enter the kitchen to cook.
"Put the flyers somewhere high so Cinccino and the others don't find them."
"Cin?"
Cinccino's ears twitched as it heard Silas call its name.
"It's nothing. What do you all want for lunch?"
"Cinc!" (Whatever Silas decides is fine!)
Right now the little Pokémon were completely focused on the television.
Silas did not ask further. He grabbed a Paldea cookbook and went into the kitchen.
The Indeedee siblings helped him with preparation, and with their assistance one dish after another quickly came out fresh and fragrant.
Today Silas also made a large batch of poffins and filled an entire storage box with them.
However, considering the ranch's current rate of consumption, these poffins would probably only last three or four days.
While Silas was cooking, a head suddenly appeared at the kitchen window.
Dragonite had returned.
A moment later Morpeko slid down from above.
"Morpe!"
"You're back. Go wash your hands first. Dinner will be ready soon."
As he spoke, Silas handed Morpeko a berry to quiet the rumbling sound of its hungry stomach.
After everyone finished lunch together, Cinccino and the others eventually discovered the flyers that had been placed high up.
"Don't touch those."
Silas lightly tapped Cinccino on the head and was about to scold them when the communicator on the coffee table suddenly lit up.
Someone was calling.
Diantha? Normally they spoke on the phone every night before going to sleep.
Guessing this, Silas answered the call.
From the other side came a furious voice that sounded like someone grinding their teeth.
"Mr. Silas… you… what exactly have you been teaching Amoonguss?!"
(End of Chapter)