Senbei! Senbei!

Baimu declined Shushu's challenge, saying he had dinner plans at Norman's house that afternoon.

Shushu looked utterly dejected.

"Don't worry about it. Your brother will figure something out." After seeing the kid with a thousand tricks up his sleeve off and picking up Aggron and his other Pokémon, Baimu returned to Petalburg Gym.

He had entered through the front door earlier. This time, he went around back.

Norman was drinking tea. When he saw Baimu, he waved him over. "Perfect timing. An elderly lady just brought me some Lava Cookies. Come try one."

"Lava Cookies!"

Baimu's eyes lit up. He had wanted to try the Lavaridge Town specialty for ages, but hardly anywhere else sold them. The shop in Littleroot Town had a line every day, and he could never get any.

He hadn't expected to find them at Norman's house.

He eagerly picked one up and turned it over in his hands.

The moment he held it, the aroma of toasted rice rose to meet him, mingled with hints of seaweed and soy sauce. He took a bite. It crunched delightfully, and the savory seaweed and sweet-salty soy sauce burst across his tongue.

"Delicious!"

Baimu's eyes shone. He let Mawile and Chansey out to share them. He would have liked to give more of his Pokémon a taste, but he felt too embarrassed.

Crunch, crunch. One cookie, two, three.

Before long, Baimu and his two Pokémon had polished off the entire platter.

Looking at the empty plate, he blushed. "Sorry. Once I started, I couldn't stop."

These things were even more addictive than Want Want Senbei. It was almost frightening.

"Hahaha! It's fine, I understand. We're glad you like them so much!"

Norman laughed without a care and poured him another cup of oolong tea. "I was the same