"Alright, alright—no more teasing."
Marzillo chuckled softly as he watched Lopunny's face turn pink all the way to her ears.
"You stay here for a bit. I'll need your help later."
"Eh…?"
The words "help later" echoed in Lopunny's head. Her mind immediately jumped to something very different. Her heart began pounding uncontrollably as her imagination ran wild.
Help him… like that time in the bath?
Her face turned crimson. No, no, no! What am I even thinking?!
But just when her thoughts reached the edge of chaos, Marzillo returned from the room—holding something dark and ordinary-looking. He tossed it lightly toward her.
"Catch. We're going to plant mushrooms."
Lopunny blinked, catching the small black pouch in confusion. Inside were… just some mushroom spores.
"O-oh…"
Seeing her dazed expression, Marzillo couldn't help but laugh. He reached out and playfully rubbed her soft ears.
"Do a good job, and I'll give you a reward later."
"A… a reward?" Her eyes lit up slightly, though her cheeks still glowed pink.
"Yes," Marzillo said with a teasing smile. "You've earned it, haven't you?"
Lopunny hesitated for a moment, then softly nodded. "O-okay, Master…"
The two of them soon made their way down the dirt path to the forest's edge. Tall trees filtered the sunlight into scattered beams, the air damp and filled with the earthy scent of moss.
"Do you think this area will do?" Marzillo asked, scanning the shaded clearing.
"Give me a moment…" Lopunny pressed her hands to the ground, closing her eyes.
Although she wasn't a Grass- or Ground-type, she had learned several techniques related to soil and digging. Concentrating, she felt the pulse of the earth beneath her paws—the moisture, the richness of nutrients.
After a while, she stood and pointed toward a spot under several towering trees. "There. The shade is perfect, and the soil's healthy."
"Good."
Marzillo smiled, gently tapping her cheek in thanks before kneeling down to work. He spread the mushroom spores evenly across the loose earth, then mixed in a bit of cultivation medium he'd prepared earlier. After covering it all with a thin layer of soil, he gathered a handful of fallen leaves to keep the ground moist.
Meanwhile, Lopunny carried over a basin of clear river water and slowly poured it over the newly planted patch. Cool droplets slid through her fingers, soaking the soil until it shimmered softly under the dappled light.
Grow well, she thought silently, watching the water seep into the ground. Mushrooms, grow strong and fast.
"Good work," Marzillo said warmly, patting her head. "We'll need to check on them regularly these next few days."
"Okay!" Lopunny's eyes curved in delight, her earlier shyness replaced by determination.
These mushroom strains required constant moisture and care—especially since Marzillo didn't yet have a Water-type Pokémon to help. Still, both trainer and partner seemed eager.
After tending to the mushrooms, Marzillo summoned the items he'd earned from his earlier task—bundles of Healing Herb and anti-bug herbs appeared in his hands with a faint glow.
"System rewards never disappoint," he murmured, examining the plants.
Healing Herb was small and verdant, preferring cool, shaded places—an essential ingredient for potions and sprays.
anti-bug herbs, by contrast, thrived in sunlight and dry soil; it was often used to craft repellents.
"Wow…" Lopunny's eyes sparkled as she looked at the lively green plants. "They're so pretty."
"Yeah," Marzillo replied. "If we take good care of them, our farm will really start to flourish."
For a moment, both of them stood quietly, gazing at the newly sown field, their minds filled with the same vision—of a prosperous farm brimming with life.
But dreams alone wouldn't fix the broken fences or pay for repairs.
"If we want quicker profit," Marzillo mused aloud, "we'll have to follow Yoshino-san's advice—try fishing."
"Fishing?" Lopunny tilted her head curiously.
"Yeah. We've got that big lake nearby. Should be full of wild Pokémon and regular fish too."
He paused, thinking. "I'll need a good net, though. Either I buy one from town… or make it myself."
That idea quickly took root.
Many Bug-type Pokémon produced silk strong enough to weave into nets. In Paldea, the silk of Tarountula was said to rival metal wire in toughness—it could even repel a Scyther's blades. And in forests across every region, Spinarak were known to spin durable webs that could hold up heavy stones without breaking.
"If I can collect some Spinarak silk," Marzillo said to himself, a plan forming in his head, "I can make a net strong enough to last."
Since his farm was located in the Sinnoh region, the nearby forests would surely have plenty of them.
He smiled, looking toward the distant treeline.
"In the next few days, we'll head out there and gather some silk."
Lopunny nodded eagerly beside him, her long ears bouncing with excitement.
Together, they stood in the shade of the great trees, the quiet rhythm of the farm settling around them—a promise of steady work, simple peace, and perhaps, little by little, something warmer growing between them.
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