Steven showed Baimu what Hoenn speed really meant.
A bowl of noodle stew lasted him just fifteen seconds.
One moment his eyes lit up and he said, "Delicious." The next, he was politely wiping his mouth with a napkin and saying, "Thank you for the meal." Everything in between seemed to have been cut out.
By the time Baimu turned back from pouring him a drink, Steven had already risen from the table.
"Steven, you..."
"Your cooking's gotten even better. I bet you'd have customers lining up if you opened a restaurant." Steven praised the food, but his feet were already carrying him toward Wish Star.
If eating while admiring it hadn't been so improper, the Hoenn Champion probably wouldn't have come to the table at all.
"Thanks for the compliment."
Baimu set down the drink helplessly. Seeing Steven like this, he finally understood what kind of passion could make someone give up the Champion's seat.
Even if he brought the drink over, Steven probably wouldn't touch it.
He glanced at Blissey, who had already started clearing the dishes, and suddenly felt as if he had nothing to do.
"Meta?"
A deep voice sounded beside him. Baimu turned to find a rice bowl floating in the air. Not far behind it, Shiny Metagross's eyes glowed blue, a hint of longing in them.
"Meta~"
Could I have another bowl?
Baimu couldn't understand what Shiny Metagross was saying, but its expression was clear enough. "More food?"
"Meta!"
"Sure."
He took the bowl and filled it with Pokémon food, then looked toward Steven, who had picked up Wish Star. "Steven! Aren't your other Pokémon eating?"
"It's fine. I only brought Metagross with me this time."
Steven smiled, produced a monocle from somewhere, and fitted it over his right eye to study the patterns