I'll Call You Ponpon

After dinner, Munchlax fell asleep with a full belly, sprawled in the kitchen corner.

Mingyou tidied up, put the pots and dishes in the sink, and got ready to wash them.

Ogerpon stood nearby, watching. Still thinking about the present, she saw him start washing the dishes and snapped out of it. She lifted her cloak and swayed, wanting to help a little.

She knew she couldn't eat for free and do nothing in return. She wasn't like Munchlax over there, who had gone straight to sleep after eating.

"Wum~"

"Hm? You want to help me wash the dishes?"

Mingyou understood the earnest look in Ogerpon's eyes at once. Smiling, he said, "All right. Just be careful."

He could tell she wanted to help, and refusing her would leave her disappointed. He had studied some psychology at university in his previous life, so he understood how children thought.

With his permission, Ogerpon stretched a vine from beneath her cloak. Copying what Mingyou had done, she picked up a plate and was about to take the next step.

But the dish soap had made the plate too slippery. The moment her vine lifted it, the plate slipped free with a whoosh, flew through the air, then fell. Crash! It shattered across the floor.

It happened so suddenly that Ogerpon froze. After a long moment, she looked down at the pieces, then up at Mingyou. Her eyes instantly filled with tears.

"Wum..."

She hadn't meant to...

"It's okay, it's okay. I'll take it from here."

Mingyou gave a helpless smile. He wasn't going to blame her for something like that. He told Ogerpon not to move, fetched a broom, and swept up every shard.

Looking at her now, though, who would guess she was a Legendary Pokémon—and a very powerful one? She looked like a little girl on the verge of tears.

While Mingyou washed the remaining pots and dishes, Ogerpon stood beside him with her head lowered, like a child who had done something wrong. Only when he had finished did she raise her head slightly, as though waiting to be scolded.

"All done. Don't dwell on it. Let's go to the living room."

Mingyou patted her head and led the puzzled Ogerpon into the living room.

Beside the sofa, he put on a mysterious air. "Okay, close your eyes first."

"Wum?"

Curious, Ogerpon closed her eyes. Mingyou nodded, took out the mask he had prepared, and said with a smile, "Ta-da! You can open them now. This is the present I told you about at dinner."

"Wum?"

Ogerpon slowly opened her eyes. At the sight of the fierce, ogre-like green mask in Mingyou's hands, her eyes widened—not with fear, but with surprise and delight!

"Wum!"

"Haha, do you like it? Masks are popular at festivals here in Kitakami. The old lady selling them recommended masks of the Loyal Three, but I thought they were too ugly, so I bought you this one. The Ogre Mask suits you, and now you won't have to wear a plastic bag every day. It must get in the way."

Mingyou handed Ogerpon the mask. "Go on, try it on."

"Wum~"

Ogerpon clearly loved it. She knew this mask had no special powers and wasn't one of the masks she had lost. But Mingyou had bought it just for her!

She nodded and put on a mask for the first time in ages. It fit perfectly. Frightening as it looked, it suited her surprisingly well. The Mask Pokémon finally had a mask again.

"Wum~"

Ogerpon swayed happily, then ran circles around Mingyou like a child who had finally received a long-awaited birthday present.

Seeing her so lively made Mingyou happy too. He had worried she might not like it, but now he could relax.

"You look adorable. I'm glad you like it."

"Wum~"

Ogerpon took off the mask, her round orange face full of joy and gratitude. She couldn't remember the last time she had been this happy.

Mingyou smiled at her, then suddenly slapped his forehead. He had remembered something important. Crouching down, he asked, "Oh, right. I don't think I've told you my name, have I?"

"Wum?"

Ogerpon paused. She really didn't know his name. They had only met last night, after all... Still, it was a little embarrassing. After everything that had happened, she didn't even know who he was.

"Haha."

Mingyou couldn't help laughing at her expression. He gently stroked her head and introduced himself. "My name's Mingyou. I've inherited this Manor, and my dream right now... is to make it thrive!"

"Wum~"

Ogerpon happily circled him again. So that's his name. Mingyou~ It sounds lovely~

Then she stopped, wanting to tell him her name too. But no matter how she gestured, she couldn't work out how to say it.

After thinking for a long time, she blushed and changed the pitch of her voice to call out her name.

"Wum-wum! (Ogerpon!)"

"Ogerpon, huh..."

Mingyou stood up with a soft laugh. After a moment's thought, he felt that calling her Ogerpon, even now that they had introduced themselves, wasn't quite affectionate enough.

"Then can I call you Ponpon from now on?"

"Wum~"

Ogerpon beamed at the nickname "Ponpon," making it clear she loved it.

Now they finally knew each other's names. But it was late, and Ogerpon had to leave.

She was reluctant to go when she had had such a lovely time, but she still had things to do.

"Leaving already?"

Mingyou understood. If Ogerpon was set on leaving, he couldn't force her to stay. What a Pokémon wanted mattered more.

Pokémon weren't pets. They were companions and friends, and deserved respect and understanding!

He had hoped to talk longer and learn more about Ogerpon, but there was nothing he could do. He walked her to the Villa's front door and waved with a smile. "Come visit often, okay?"

"Wum~"

Ogerpon put on the Ogre Mask, turned, and ran toward the Orchard with a spring in her step.

Only after she disappeared from view did Mingyou look away. Smiling faintly, he went back inside. He was about to clean the kitchen when a crisp chime suddenly sounded in his mind.

He stopped at once and quickly traced it to Ogerpon's card. He took it out to check. Nothing in its details had changed, but its level was now lv4!

"Lv4... Looks like she's grown fond of me. I can't let her down, though. I have to keep this place going!"

With determination in his eyes, Mingyou put the card away. He turned for one last look at the dim Orchard outside, then smiled again. "Starting today, I'm officially living here. I hope we'll all get along."

"Well then... good night~"

After wishing the Pokémon living on the Manor good night, Mingyou slowly shut the door, looking forward to the new day ahead!