Hayashi squatted on a small stool, munching on sunflower seeds as he leaned toward Erina's ear and whispered, "Do you think Hisako can handle this?"
Erina glanced in Hisako's direction. Though clearly worried, she stubbornly replied, "Hisako is my trusted aide—of course she can handle it!"
If she can handle it, then stop pinching me—
Hayashi winced at his arm, recalling the trial of arm-pinching he endured when they encountered Gengar.
"Eevee! Eevee!"
Sylveon looked at Hayashi's arm with concern. Since she didn't have any healing moves, she could only nuzzle his chin, comforting him with her presence.
"Ugh, Sylveon is just too sweet—" Hayashi sniffled, stroking Sylveon's fur before burying his face into her back and taking a deep breath.
Healed.
...
...
"Please, give me a chance!"
Hisako stared resolutely at the Indeedee couple before her.
"Yessa—"
The male Indeedee crossed his arms, shaking his head impatiently as if trying to shoo her away.
"Yessa, yessa—"
But the female Indeedee stopped him, whispering something to her husband.
"Yessa?" The male hesitated for a few seconds, eyeing Hisako suspiciously before turning back to his wife. "Yessa! Yessa yessa—"
Hearing his words, the female Indeedee fell silent for a moment before replying, "Yessa!"
...
...
Erina couldn't help but ask Hayashi, "W-what are they saying?"
She couldn't understand a thing—what was going on?
"The male Indeedee said his child doesn't need a human trainer."
"The female Indeedee replied, 'Do you want our child to stay in the wild forever like us?'"
"The male Indeedee then asked, 'Even so, is she really qualified to take care of them?'"
"The female Indeedee said, 'Let her try.'"
After Hayashi's translation, Erina seemed to relax slightly. She murmured, "So... Hisako has gotten a chance to prove herself!"
The worst thing in the world isn't failure—it's not even getting the chance to try.
Hayashi nodded. "She can do it."
Go for it, Hisako!
...
...
Under Hisako's hopeful gaze, the Indeedee couple returned, bringing two smaller Indeedee with them.
"Yessa—"
The husband crossed his arms, his expression displeased as he jerked his chin toward Hisako Arato's direction, then said to his offspring: "Yesa, yesa yesa!"
This is the one! Whether she's worthy of your approval is for you to decide!
"Yesa—"
The Indeedee mother took her husband's hand and gently addressed their children: "Yesa, yesa—"
Don't worry about our feelings. Whoever you approve of is the best choice.
"Yesa—"
The two little Indeedee exchanged glances, then nodded in unison as they walked up to Hisako.
"Yesa—" The elder Indeedee brother looked at Hisako's face and asked softly: Do you like battles?
It was strange!
Though Hisako couldn't understand Pokémon speech, she somehow instinctively grasped the Indeedee's meaning.
She shook her head lightly and replied, "I don't particularly enjoy battles, but that doesn't mean I'll refuse to fight."
Her role was as Erina and Hayashi's secretary, their attendant, their servant! Combat wasn't her duty, but that didn't mean she wouldn't step forward to protect Erina in times of crisis—if Erina needed her protection.
"Yesa?"
Then what do you like?
"The things I like..." Hisako seemed momentarily lost in thought before answering after a few seconds: "Probably cooking, and... everything related to Erina?"
...
...
When exactly had that sun first appeared in her field of vision?
Perhaps it was from the very first moment she laid eyes on her.
Beautiful, silky golden hair, an arrogant expression, and those clear, unrestrained violet eyes—she was "love at first sight" right then and there.
After that, she came to understand her own role: she was the "attendant" of that young lady, responsible for handling all matters by her side.
She never once felt humiliated or inferior. On the contrary, she felt a secret delight and pride.
Only she was qualified to stand by her side. Only she was qualified to manage her affairs. Only her.
For her, the greatest happiness was walking behind Erina, hearing her call out "Hisako," and responding with an enthusiastic voice, "Yes, my lady, I'm here!"
Erina was the best. Erina was the brightest. Erina was her sun.
And then, that man appeared.
He was completely different from Erina and the noble young men she knew—he treated everyone with genuine equality. He would call the "God of Cooking" "Old Man Nakiri," and he would warmly greet the cleaning lady of the Nakiri Family with a "Good morning, ma'am."
Under his influence, Erina, who had once been like a proud, bristling hedgehog, began to change. She became gentler, and like him, her interactions with others grew warmer.
...
...
"Yessa—"
After sensing Hisako's emotions through the horns on its head, the Indeedee fell silent for a few seconds.
You really like her?
"Yes! I love her the most!"
Hisako nodded vigorously. She adored and admired her lady more than anything!
"Yessa—"
I see. So your wish is to serve those two over there?
Hisako nodded again, pressing her hands to her chest as she declared, "My life, my everything—I have already devoted it all to my lady and Hayashi-sama! I will stand behind them and take care of everything for them!"
The two Indeedee exchanged glances, their eyes curving slightly before they spoke in unison:
"Yessa—"
Then, let us witness the skills you take the most pride in!
...
...
Erina watched Hisako and the two Indeedee with their serious expressions, then poked Hayashi and whispered, "How's it going? Is it good or bad?"
Hayashi blinked. "Probably good? Hisako's answer seems to have hit Indeedee's sweet spot."
And no wonder—Indeedee disliked conflict. They preferred quietly serving their masters over fierce battles, which was why they were known as "butlers" and "maids."
Sure enough, after Hisako showcased her culinary skills and prepared an exquisite medicinal meal for the two Indeedee, she instantly won over their hearts... or rather, their stomachs.
"Yessa—"
Then, let's get along well from now on!
Hisako wore a stunned expression, because the words hadn't come from either the male Indeedee or the female Indeedee—but from both siblings speaking in unison! This meant...
Two for the price of one!?
A sibling combo!?
Double the wings!?
...
...
While Hisako was overjoyed to the point of being dazed, the father Indeedee on the other side was practically gnawing on a handkerchief in frustration.
"Yessah—"
I'm such a fool, truly. I thought it would be great if either my precious son or darling daughter took a liking to her, but I never imagined they'd both fall for this human! I'm such a fool, truly.
His despondent silhouette looked as pitiful and miserable as a crying widowed wife after losing her husband.
"Yessah—"
The mother Indeedee gently patted her husband's shoulder and said tenderly: It's alright, dear. You still have me, don't you? I'll always be by your side—
"Yessah—"
The father Indeedee clung to his wife like a dejected middle-aged man, moved to the point of choking up.
However...
'Why does something feel off?' Hayashi instinctively rubbed his arms. Whether it was his imagination or not, he couldn't shake the feeling that this mother Indeedee seemed somewhat... somewhat...
Yandere?
Despite her outwardly gentle and nurturing demeanor, Hayashi couldn't help but feel like he was witnessing a master-level yandere!
Not the low-tier "brandishing a knife with a twisted smile while threatening, 'If you don't love me, I'll kill you'" kind, but the high-tier "treating you with tender care, embracing all of you, then quietly pushing away everyone else until you say, 'You're all I have left'" kind.
Hiss, kinda reminds me of Megumi?
Hayashi glanced at the mother Indeedee and nodded to himself—she really did resemble Megumi. Could she actually be a yandere? Worried that her son and daughter might disrupt their alone time, so she...
At this thought, Hayashi suddenly noticed the mother Indeedee glance back at him, offering an ambiguous yet gentle smile.
Hayashi shuddered.
Damn, now he understood why such rare wild Indeedees had appeared at the Lake of Outrage.
...
...
"Clap clap clap—"
Amidst enthusiastic applause, Hayashi raised his glass of juice and declared, "Let's celebrate Hisako gaining two new partners, and welcome the Indeedee siblings to our team!"
"Pika!"
"Eevee!"
"Gengar—"
"Woo—" X2
"Yah—"
"Mm-hmm—"
The Pokémon all cheered in their own ways, their warm welcome bringing smiles to the Indeedee siblings's faces—like Gardevoir, Indeedee could sense emotions, and the friendliness, enthusiasm, and goodwill radiating from Hayashi's team made them feel exceptionally at home.
The siblings exchanged a glance—joining this team was absolutely the right choice!
Especially...
Their eyes locked onto the fragrant feast on the table. Having grown up only eating berries in the countryside, these "country bumpkin" siblings couldn't help but gulp hard.
So... so delicious!
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