Fluffy!

It was nearly ten o'clock by the time they returned to Windward City.

The distance back to Hau'oli City would not have taken much time, but Xia Chen, following the principle of "since we're already here," decided to stay the night.

He called Koraidon, who was waiting at home, to tell him they would not be back until tomorrow. That fellow started saying things like, "Volcarona will be very sad if she doesn't get to eat your cooking for so long."

Xia Chen could not help laughing.

For Volcarona, skipping dinner for one night was no more than closing and opening her eyes. As for who was really being greedy, he would refrain from commenting.

In any case, Koraidon only hung up with satisfaction after Xia Chen agreed to make a meal the next day in which chili peppers made up at least half the ingredients.

Windward City had a thriving tourism industry, so finding lodging at night was no difficult matter.

Xia Chen did not spend much time choosing. Following Rotom's navigation, he eventually settled into a place styled like an Alola guesthouse.

The owner was a local Alola grandmother who kept a whole group of Oricorio and Bounsweet. She was friendly and fond of telling lukewarm jokes.

Of course, perhaps the reason for her friendliness was that Xia Chen had booked all her remaining rooms in one go without haggling in the slightest.

Xia Chen had originally wanted to ask the grandmother about the Totem Pokémon of Wind-Forest-Fire Mountain, but the elderly woman went to bed early. Before he could steer the conversation there, she started yawning.

Apologetically, she said she would head back to her room to sleep, then had a Litten come over to keep Xia Chen company.

Before leaving, she said, "Don't let the way