After a classic Eastern-style tug-of-war over a gift, i's compensation was ultimately not accepted.
Accepting compensation for Bounsweet felt uncomfortably similar to selling Pokémon, which wasn’t the image Natsu wanted to convey.
In the future, he might open a Day Care or a ranch, selling eggs and Pokémon to trainers. But that was a distant plan. For now, the idea hadn’t even crossed his mind.
Although the compensation was rejected, i ended up purchasing a large number of Pokéblocks from Natsu instead.
If you won’t take compensation, I’ll at least buy your goods, right?
---
“Bye-bye, Natsu!” i waved enthusiastically at the farm gate.
“I’ll visit again soti!”
At her feet, Bounsweet mimicked i’s energetic farewells, hopping and calling out to its friends.
anwhile, Snivy maintained its aloof deanor, crossing its arms and tilting its head slightly upward. Yet, when it glanced at Natsu, its gaze softened, hinting at a subtle sense of approval.
Snivy, despite its pride, had acknowledged Natsu’s culinary skills, if nothing else.
Earlier, during dinner, it had even reluctantly admitted that Natsu’s cooking surpassed i’s by miles—only to be t with i’s furious retaliation in the form of a relentless head rub.
“Take care on the road!” Natsu called after her.
“Don’t worry!” i flexed her arm confidently.
“I’ve planned my route carefully. Every path is an official, safe trail—nothing dangerous.”
Her confident stance didn’t match her lighthearted tone, making Natsu almost expect her to exclaim, “We’ll win!”
---
After seeing i off, Natsu turned to face the now quieter farm.
“Phew...”
It felt calr now but also a little too quiet. Perhaps he wasn’t used to prolonged interactions anymore.
For soone who hadn’t socialized much, having a visitor as lively as i was a bit nerve-wracking—especially when she was not just any girl but a bright and cheerful one at that.
Still, Natsu figured he hadn’t done too badly. After all, there were plenty of people out there who couldn’t even et a girl’s gaze without freezing up.
“It's so quiet on the farm now,” Natsu mused.
“Caw?”
Corvisquire tilted its head in confusion.
Quiet? Really?
Looking around, it noticed the chaos: Mightyena being wrestled to the ground by its mate, a swarm of Zigzagoon tearing through the farm, and Shiny Furret leading a squad of recruits in training.
Corvisquire wondered if Natsu was deaf, blind, or perhaps both.
“Don’t overthink it. Let’s head back.”
Natsu ruffled Corvisquire’s carefully grood feathers, leaving the bird with a ssy head of plumage.
---
That evening, the farm Pokémon gathered on the rooftop for a barbecue party under the moonlight.
Yes, a full-fledged Pokémon barbecue.
Before anyone panicked, Natsu clarified that while so Pokémon made for excellent ingredients—such as Farfetch’d’s leek or Slowpoke’s regenerative tails—the feast didn’t actually involve cooking Pokémon themselves.
To ensure safety, Mudkip and Slowpoke were on standby to handle potential fire hazards.
In fact, this impromptu barbecue also doubled as a welco party for the newer additions to the farm.
“Lopunny, you’re amazing,” Natsu praised, accepting a skewer from the hardworking rabbit, who wore an apron and manned the grill with finesse.
At first, everyone was supposed to cook their own food. However, after assessing the situation, Lopunny took over entirely, unable to bear the sight of others’ attempts at grilling.
“Thanks, Lopunny. Your cooking is the best!”
Lopunny gave him a playful side-eye. “You’re just being lazy, aren’t you?”
“Well... maybe,” Natsu admitted, avoiding her gaze. “But your cooking really is amazing!”
At his feet, Persian purred contentedly, nuzzling his hand before pulling away when he tried to pet it.
It was typical cat behavior—affectionate one mont, evasive the next.
“ow?”
“Oh, you’re right,” Natsu replied, realizing sothing.
“ow!”
“But I don’t even know where it is...”
“ow...”
“Okay, fine. Tomorrow, we’ll look for it. If we can’t find it, we’ll ask Zorua for help.”
“ow?”
“No big deal—just a mischievous kid,” Natsu replied, brushing it off.
Finishing his skewer, he handed the stick to Lopunny for another. Can’t I just enjoy myself for once?
---
anwhile, in a distant cave, Ogerpon wrestled with its own troubles, unaware of the lively party back at Natsu’s farm.
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