Chapter 178:
"Planting trees..."
Speaking of planting Berry trees, Hayashi Kaede began sorting through the Berry tree seeds the system had rewarded him with over time.
As time passed, the special rewards from the system had recently become fewer.
Hayashi Kaede understood this clearly because the Trainers and Pokémon who regularly bought from his Breeding House in Aogiri City had already tried the Energy Cubes he produced.
No matter how delicious something is, if you eat it for a long time, it won't be as good in making pokemon feel happy as the first time.
But after such a long period of accumulation, the quantity of various Berries in his system space was still maintained within a growing range.
He even had seeds for various Berry trees,
Though the numbers were scarce.
Only a few types.
After organizing them, roughly:
Two Petaya Berry tree seeds
Five Salac Berry tree seeds
Three Ganlon Berry tree seeds
Three Liechi Berry Berry tree seeds, etc...
These were all special Berries.
There was also a type of Berry tree seed called a Micle Berry.
This was a Berry that, after eating, could help Pokémon focus more during battle.
Essentially, it increased accuracy in battle.
But Hayashi Kaede felt the effect shouldn't just be increasing accuracy.
After all, focusing should, in theory, also improve a Pokémon's evasion during battle.
To be honest, it was quite suitable for the Sky Challenge.
Because the Sky Challenge was about increasing accuracy and evasion.
If a Trainer challenged many times without success, this could be given as a consolation prize.
Alternatively, it could be used as a challenge-exclusive Energy Cube—he believed many people would like that.
It's like buying potions and buff supply before challenging a boss.
What's wrong with purchasing targeted Energy Cubes for specific training?
Moreover, compared to the single Berry rewarded each time when other Pokémon are feeling happy, these Berry tree seeds, once grown, would clearly provide a more stable quantity of Berries.
It's just that from now on, the tasks for Serperior and Milotic would be heavier.
Milotic was fine; it had Popplio to help. If necessary, Goodra could also use Rain Dance in the future.
"Serperior."
After clearing the weeds, Serperior returned to Hayashi Kaede's side.
"Thanks for your hard work~" Hayashi Kaede offered an appropriate greeting.
"Serperior..."
Serperior didn't say much, just glanced around. Seeing no one else, it lowered itself slightly until its head was level with Hayashi Kaede's.
"Serperior~"
Serperior called out to him.
"What's up?" Hayashi Kaede asked curiously.
Serperior's tone was flat: "Serperior?" (Do you really like that Pokémon from earlier?)
"You mean Sprigatito? It's alright," Hayashi Kaede breathed a sigh of relief, thinking it was going to ask something else. "Seeing something you want means you like it, so I guess you could say I quite like it?"
"Serperior...." (Is it because it's small and can be held in your arms?)
Serperior moved a little closer.
"Huh?" Hearing this question, Hayashi Kaede grew curious again. "Holding it in my arms? No, liking is the prerequisite. You have to like something to be willing to hold it. If you don't like it, you wouldn't want to hold it.
It's like Salamence now—would it be willing to give me a hug?"
"It's not about being able to hold it that makes me like it."
Hayashi Kaede used Salamence as an example.
And besides...
If it weren't for Mewtwo, wouldn't the old Salamence prefer to "give" him a Hyper Beam?
"Serperior?" (So, were you willing to hold me when I was small because you liked the smaller me more?) Serperior sounded puzzled, though its tone remained even.
"Huh?" Hayashi Kaede raised an eyebrow, surprised. "How could that be? I like you both as you were then and as you are now. It's just... how do I put it?"
Looking at Serperior's confused expression, Hayashi Kaede paused, then simply hugged it directly, to its astonishment.
Of course, it was just a light hug, and he let go immediately.
"Liking to hold you when you were small was only because you were tiny and just the right size to hold. But that doesn't mean I stopped liking you after you grew up.
It's because you grew up, and I can't lift you easily anymore...."
"Serperior...."
Hayashi Kaede laughed.
"Besides, even if I could lift you, you wouldn't want me to hold you in front of everyone, right?"
"Serperior!?"
Serperior was stunned at first, then pictured the scene in its mind. Suddenly seeming to understand something, its face turned cold and stern.
But the next second, Hayashi Kaede's following words broke through its icy expression.
Hayashi Kaede raised his hand, placed it on Serperior's head, and gently stroked it. "Good girl, don't worry. I still like you the most~"
"Serperior?"
Serperior immediately became embarrassed, looking around furtively. After confirming no one was there, its eyes met Hayashi Kaede's, filled with a mix of shyness and indignation.
It seemed to say, "Why are you saying all this?"
But deep down, it couldn't help feeling elated.
However, at that moment a faint, light laugh came through the air.
"Mew~"
As if space itself had become unstable, ripples appeared before Hayashi Kaede's eyes.
Then, Mew, which he rarely saw more than a few times a day, appeared before him.
Covering its small mouth, giggling, it flew to Serperior's side, then giggled and flew to Hayashi Kaede's side.
Hayashi Kaede didn't think much of it.
But the moment Serperior saw Mew, its heart leapt into its throat.
Had this little cat been here the whole time?
"Mew?" (Like~? Hayashi Kaede likes Serperior.)
Mew's eyes narrowed into slits, smiling mischievously.
"...So what? I do like it." Hayashi Kaede wanted to grab this little cat and give it a good pet, wondering if he could get it to transform into a Sprigatito to satisfy the "longing" he felt after seeing one earlier.
But Mew turned and landed on Hayashi Kaede's shoulder, looking at him curiously.
"Mew...." (Then does Hayashi Kaede like me?)
Hayashi Kaede said somewhat helplessly, "Yes, yes, of course I like you."
A kitty that occasionally brought him special rewards—Who wouldn't like it?
It was just a bit too playful.
"Mew~" (Okay then~ Mew also likes the delicious food Hayashi Kaede makes~)
Hearing this, Mew, still smiling, flew to Hayashi Kaede's other shoulder and took out a pitch-black stone, placing it in Hayashi Kaede's hand.
Kaede felt a bit disappointed upon hearing the reply.
Why did it have to be about his food?
Couldn't it be about his charismatic personality?
However, when Hayashi Kaede lowered his head to look at the stone in his hand, he froze, then his eyes widened suddenly.