Ninetales slept for a long time.
In its dreams, it cried and laughed, its mood sometimes elated, sometimes sad, as if it had returned to that beautiful, youthful time.
Naoki and a group of Pokemon watched with mixed emotions.
Seeing the beautiful girl in a kimono grow into an old woman with wrinkles, gray hair, and a stooped back, they couldn’t help but feel nostalgic.
...No wonder Ninetales was so sad, crossing mountains and seas just to see that person again.
However, this seemed to fulfill one of Ninetales’ wishes.
When it woke up, its face had returned to a calm and silent expression, but compared to before, there was now a hint of gentleness.
It got up from under the tree, swinging its nine tails that shone brightly under the sunlight, and solemnly expressed its gratitude to Naoki.
"I will remember this day forever," it said.
"It’s actually not a big deal," Naoki quickly shook his head and waved his hands, "I’m just glad to help you."
Then he asked, "Where are you headed next?"
At this, Ninetales looked towards the distance.
It didn’t say explicitly, just responded, "To where I ought to go."
Naoki was slightly surprised, then nodded, "Alright, then we wish you a smooth journey."
The only pity is that the tavern hasn’t been built yet, so as the tavern’s first guest, Ninetales might not be able to see it.
Thinking about this, Naoki couldn’t help but feel a sense of regret.
Ninetales looked at the human in front of it with gratitude and nodded slightly.
Then it raised its head, let out a melodious cry, treaded on flames, and headed towards the horizon, eventually disappearing from everyone’s sight.
Gazing in that direction, Naoki felt sentimental.
But when he turned around, he saw the tearful faces of the Pokemon on the ranch.
Naoki: "..."
The Dratini and Dragonair had never seen a Pokemon like Ninetales, nor met a Trainer of their own, nor felt that kind of deep emotion.
Yet this did not prevent them from being moved.
The three Dratini and two Dragonair had tears glistening in their eyes.
They were both moved and envious, moved by the deep affection between Ninetales and the human, and envious that Ninetales had met such a good human.
Thinking of themselves, these five still-growing Pokemon looked pitifully at Naoki, wanting to know if they would end up like that too.
"Woo?"
Naoki thought for a moment, wanting to say something.
But before he could answer, the Dragonite next to him cracked its knuckles loudly.
Hard, the knuckles were hard.
"Roar!"
With a serious expression, it stepped forward to take away these five obstructive juniors, telling them that Naoki was its Trainer and that they could only be treated well by it alone!
Naoki: "..."
He could only say, "What’s most important in life is to learn to live in the moment, enjoy the now."
The few Pokemon listened with seeming understanding.
Naoki shrugged helplessly: "Don’t you think the future is too distant? If you live every day worrying about the future, wouldn’t all that time be wasted?"
"A day of happiness is a day, a day of unhappiness is also a day, so why not live cheerfully every day?"
"So, don’t worry about the future, I promise you all that each one of you is unique to me," Naoki said sincerely.
For some reason, he suddenly felt his words sounded a bit like a cliché from a flirt.
Because no matter the creature, they all feel jealousy, just like the cats and dogs he had raised in his previous life.
Though Pokemon are smarter, they can’t escape this aspect.
Now, as long as they know each one of them is different to him, it’s enough, since that is Naoki’s genuine thought.
Sure enough, after hearing this, the group of Pokemon all showed moved expressions.
Naoki: "..." No, he needs to work on developing some longevity cuisine!
*
Ninetales departed.
The ranch returned to its usual lively atmosphere, as though it had never appeared.
Because of Ninetales, Naoki missed this year’s fishing competition.
He heard from Allen about the fishing competition aftermath; the Champion title was taken by a dark horse uncle who emerged suddenly.
It’s said that this uncle, wearing a red and white hat, caught twenty-eight Magikarp in just four hours, clinching the Champion title of this year’s fishing competition.
Nicknamed the Magikarp Uncle, after fishing, the Magikarp Uncle gleefully continued his travels.
As for the absence of this fishing king, the townspeople all felt regret.
Naoki: ...Lucky he didn’t go, otherwise it’d be embarrassing.
Early the next morning, Keri continued the construction at the ranch.
While Naoki started a new round of crop planting.
Today, taking advantage of the good weather, he planned to expand the farmland area a bit and then plant more.
So early in the morning, Naoki went to the Diglett Hole and shouted a few times inside.
After a while, a small Diglett popped its head out of the hole, looking at him somewhat puzzled.
"Squeak?"
Naoki smiled, "Today I have something to ask of you."
Upon hearing this, Diglett’s eyes brightened instantly.
Ever since it was hired by Naoki, it has been living in the underground cave with the group of Naclstack, and every day it gets to eat the food made by Naoki.