It was raining.
The first rain since Hayato arrived at the ranch.
A steady drizzle fell without pause. Raindrops tapped against the roof, flowing down the slope and gathering into streams that dripped steadily from the eaves.
"Looks like we'll have to stay indoors today."
Feeling the damp air drifting in through the window, Hayato picked up Cinccino and held it up so the little Pokémon could take a look outside.
"Cinccino…"
Cinccino let out a disappointed chirp and snuggled deeper into Hayato 's arms.
Its plan to pick flowers and make a bouquet for Hayato had to be postponed.
On the windowsill, the flowers in the vase were already wilting. Their petals drooped, and their fragrance had faded.
After gently comforting Cinccino, Hayato handed it over to Kangaskhan to watch.
He put on his clothes and headed to the kitchen first.
On a rainy day, nothing beat a bowl of hot soup and rice to warm the body.
He took out the pork ribs he had bought during his last trip to Shalour City and chopped them into small pieces.
He filled a pot with water and added the ribs, along with cooking wine and ginger to remove the gamy smell.
After asking Kangaskhan to keep an eye on the pot, Hayato put on a raincoat.
Outside, under the eaves, he found Chatot and brought it back inside.
A spring rain had fallen, and the temperature had dropped sharply.
Even Pokémon could catch a cold in this weather.
"Caw! Caw!"
"Hold still. Let me dry you off first."
Wrapping Chatot in a dry towel, Hayato rubbed it vigorously.
The colorful feathers that had once been neatly arranged were now completely ruffled.
After sending Chatot into the room, Hayato poked his head outside to check the weather.
The sky was gray and overcast.
The rain wasn't going to stop anytime soon.
Pulling his raincoat tighter, Hayato rushed through the rain toward the Mudbray stable.
Pushing open the door, he saw the three Mudbray huddled together.
The moment they saw Hayato , they ran over and surrounded him, using their warm bodies to chase away the chill clinging to him.
"Still a little cold, huh?"
Hayato gently patted each of them.
"Come inside and warm up. The others are already there."
"mud~"
The Mudbray shook their heads.
With Hayato here, they weren't cold.
Hayato grabbed some dry hay and draped it over their backs before leading them through the rain back to the ranch cabin.
When the door opened, the fireplace inside burned with bright orange flames, instantly driving away the cold.
After drying the rainwater from the Mudbray , Hayato let them lie down near the fireplace with Chatot to warm themselves.
Then he hurried back to the kitchen.
The water had already come to a boil, and the ribs had finished blanching.
He rinsed them with cool water and placed them into another pot, bringing it to a boil over high heat.
Of course, essential ingredients couldn't be forgotten.
Corn and carrots were perfect companions for braised ribs.
Once the soup began boiling, he lowered the heat and let it simmer slowly.
Hayato sat beside the fireplace.
Cinccino obediently jumped onto him, using its warm body to help keep him warm.
The other Pokémon gathered around as well, forming a cozy circle around Hayato .
"This is what life should be like," Hayato couldn't help sighing.
A group of Pokémon surrounding you.
Liking you.
Treating you as the center of their world.
Leaning against Kangaskhan , Hayato picked up a book titled "Complete Guide to Crop Cultivation."
The Pokémon played quietly among themselves, getting along harmoniously.
The book recorded spring crops, summer crops, and autumn crops.
Winter, on the other hand, was the rare season when ranch owners could relax.
Each crop had detailed planting methods and solutions to common problems.
One particular summer crop caught Hayato 's interest.
Hops.
A crop used for brewing beer.
The only trouble was that brewing required a cellar.
Hayato opened the Ranch Cabin System Panel.
[
Ranch Cabin LV1 → Ranch Cabin LV2
Cost: 100,000 Poké Dollars
Materials:
Wood ×1000
Stone ×500
Description: Expand your ranch cabin further. Unlock more rooms and facilities, and after construction you may choose one special bonus effect.
Current Effect: Stamina Recovery Lv.1
]
One hundred thousand Poké Dollars.
One thousand wood.
Five hundred stone.
Those were the materials required to upgrade.
According to the description, the expanded facilities included the option for a basement.
If he wanted to brew beer, the ranch would have to be upgraded first.
Then that would become his new goal.
He would save 100,000 Poké Dollars before summer arrived.
A faint fragrance drifted from the kitchen.
All the Pokémon lifted their heads at once.
For a big eater like Kangaskhan , its stomach betrayed it with a loud growl.
The others weren't much better.
"It should be ready. I'll check."
Hayato stood up and quickly walked into the kitchen.
When he lifted the lid—
A burst of steam carrying the rich aroma of meat and a gentle sweetness rushed toward him.
That sweetness came from the tender corn after being fully cooked.
The ribs had become soft and tender.
The corn and carrots had absorbed the broth, turning a light amber color.
[Rib and Corn Soup (B)]
The ribs are tender and flavorful, the corn sweet and delicious, and the broth rich and aromatic. A classic dish that warms the stomach.
Because the chef infused the dish with emotion during cooking, it has undergone a wonderful transformation.
Cooking Effect:Warm Breeze Blowing.
[Warm Breeze Blowing]
After eating, Pokémon can feel the emotions of the cook and will no longer fear the cold.
A great dish.
Perfect for what Hayato needed right now.
"Everyone gets one bowl first. Warm yourselves up. There's more in the pot if it's not enough."
In front of the fireplace, the Pokémon sat neatly in a row.
Bowls filled with meat and corn were placed before them.
Kangaskhan naturally got more meat.
Mudbray and Cinccino only received one or two pieces of rib, with more corn and carrots instead.
Hayato picked up his own bowl and gestured toward the Pokémon.
"Let's eat!"
Kangaskhan immediately grabbed a rib, crunching through meat and bone with loud crack crack sounds.
A warm sensation spread from its stomach through its entire body, driving away the cold.
Kangaskhan expression:
(≧▽≦) Delicious!
Mudbray , Chatot, and Cinccino reacted differently.
Their eyes lit up instantly.
Then they began eating enthusiastically.
Hayato had only finished a piece of corn and taken a sip of soup when he looked up—
Six empty bowls stared back at him.
"…That good?"
The Pokémon all nodded in unison.
Fortunately, Hayato had made plenty.
Refilling everyone's bowls was no problem.
Seeing how much they enjoyed his cooking made Hayato happy as well.
As a trainer, having his efforts recognized filled him with motivation.
One hundred thousand Poké Dollars?
No problem.
After a bowl of rib soup, the chill of the rainy day vanished completely.
Cinccino voluntarily took on the cleaning duties.
Hayato leaned against Kangaskhan while flipping through his book.
The Mudbray lay comfortably on the floor, yawning lazily.
Chatot gazed through the window at the endless curtain of rain outside.
For a while, the only sounds in the cabin were the soft rustling of turning pages and the quiet snores of the Mudbray .
Being stuck indoors all day made the time pass surprisingly quickly.
Before he knew it, the sky had grown dark.
Leaning against Kangaskhan , Hayato slowly drifted off to sleep.
At some point, Cinccino had curled up in his arms, its fluffy tail swaying unconsciously.
Hayato entered a deep, peaceful sleep.
Outside the window, the rain continued to fall softly—
for an entire day and night.
It neither grew heavier nor lighter.
Only when the sun rose the next morning did the rain finally stop.
The first to react was Chatot.
It let out an energetic and excited cry.
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