A Bountiful Harvest of Cards

Mingyou spent some time in the kitchen teaching Ogerpon, step by step, how to make Sugar-Tossed Tomatoes. Nothing felt more satisfying than making something you loved to eat yourself.

Ogerpon had never cooked before, but with Mingyou's guidance, Ogerpon made the first dish of its centuries-long life.

Though Ogerpon had added a little too much sugar...

After tasting it, Mingyou smiled encouragingly. "It's a bit sweet, but you did great!"

"Mm!"

Ogerpon nodded happily, then tried some too. Ogerpon loved sweets, so the extra sugar didn't bother it at all.

So Ogerpon likes sweet things...

Mingyou quietly watched from the side. They couldn't eat Sugar-Tossed Tomatoes every day. He could make other desserts to give Ogerpon some variety.

Poor Ogerpon. Staying in Kitakami all this time, Ogerpon probably hadn't had many good things to eat...

He planned to return to Paldea before summer ended. Once he had sorted everything out at home, he would sell the house his parents had left him and move to Kitakami for good.

If possible, he wanted to take Ogerpon around Levincia and show Ogerpon the world outside.

Of course, the idea had only just come to him. It was still early summer, and Ogerpon might not even agree to leave Kitakami with him...

Before long, lunch was over.

Mingyou took Ogerpon around the Manor, showing Ogerpon the place and introducing the Pokémon who lived there.

There wasn't much to do at the Manor, but Ogerpon still played happily until evening and only left after dinner. As long as Ogerpon could be with Mingyou, that seemed to be enough.

Watching Ogerpon leave, Mingyou stood outside the Villa and sighed. "Poor kid... If only I were strong enough to help you."

He walked over to the Ogerpon Tangerine Tree. Even after using Speed-Gro, its fruit was still more than two weeks from ripening. Another application later on should bring it close to harvest.

"The whole village is counting on you..."

Mingyou badly needed the Ogerpon Citrus to earn him his first real profit. Only then could he set his mind at ease and decide what to do next.

He smiled all day, but that was only because he didn't want to show how much pressure he was under...

After standing before the tree for a while, he turned to go inside and rest.

Just then, a commotion rose behind him. He turned back without thinking and paused. The Bellsprout he had saved that day had come over with Weepinbell.

And they weren't alone. The Applin and Seedot had come too. Seeing everyone gathered together, he asked curiously, "Still up at this hour?"

"Weepi!"

Weepinbell hopped to the front. They had come to thank him for what he had done that day.

Mingyou had saved the Bellsprout and gotten Munchlax to stop Weepinbell from running wild and causing more damage.

He had even planted a tree that could make them stronger... They were grateful for all of it.

Aside from the part about Munchlax, he supposed they were right. He had done those things, even if the trouble had started because he hadn't taken proper precautions...

"If anything, I'm the one who should apologize to you..."

Mingyou spoke apologetically, but they didn't mind. The old man who had once taken them in and cared for them was gone, but someone who shared his ideals had appeared at last!

At that moment, countless blue motes of light drifted from Weepinbell and the others. Like fireflies bright enough to illuminate the night sky, they gathered in midair, making Mingyou feel as though he had stepped into a dream. Then they became more than a dozen slowly turning cards bearing their images.

"This many..."

Mingyou stared at the cards, stunned.

He couldn't have imagined this before. He had been worried he wouldn't get any cards at all, and now he had received so many at once.

After a moment, he reached out and scooped them all into his hand. Filled with anticipation and gratitude, he checked them one by one...

[Bellsprout (Lv. 2): Use on bean sprout seeds to turn them into Trumpet Bean Sprout seeds, with a chance to grant a learnable move (Vine Whip, Ingrain, Worry Seed)]

[Weepinbell (Lv. 2): Use on bean sprout seeds to turn them into Trumpet Bean Sprout seeds, with a chance to grant a learnable move (Vine Whip, Ingrain, Worry Seed, Acid, Gastro Acid, Grassy Glide)]

"Straight to level two? I see..."

Now he understood. A Pokémon's normal evolution probably wouldn't change the type of Mutant Crops it produced, but it would improve the crops' added effects.

He checked the others next...

[Applin (Lv. 1): Use on apple trees to increase the yield of Sweet Apples, Tart Apples, and Syrupy Apples, with a chance to grant a learnable move (Astonish, Withdraw, Energy Ball, Grass Pledge)]

[Seedot (Lv. 1): Use on oak trees for a chance to grow Cunning Acorns, with a chance to grant a learnable move (Leech Seed, Worry Seed, Knock Off)]

Nineteen new cards in all: one Weepinbell, three Bellsprout, five Seedot, and ten Applin.

Mingyou knew exactly what these cards meant. He had won the Pokémon's affection, but more than that, he had earned their trust.

He was deeply moved. There was so much he wanted to say, but in the end, it all came down to one sentence. Smiling, he said, "I'll be counting on all of you from now on."

"Weepi!"

Weepinbell and the others nodded happily.

Munchlax, who had been asleep on the sofa, heard the noise outside. Munchlax rolled over, sprang up, and ran out, apparently convinced they were having a late-night snack without him.

Surrounded by that warmth, Mingyou felt the day's exhaustion melt away. An idea struck him. "Let's have a late-night snack, then. All of us together!"

"Munch!"

There was a snack!

Munchlax led the cheers, and Weepinbell and the others quickly joined in. Someone was making food this late at night—of course they were excited.

As they scampered into the living room, Mingyou stood outside with his hands on his hips and watched them, smiling ruefully. "Ogerpon just left, and now we're having a snack. I feel kind of bad... I'll invite Ogerpon next time. Once the Manor's business gets going, we'll throw a proper feast together!"

With so many Grass-type Pokémon tending it, the Ogerpon Tangerine Tree might not even need two more weeks. Its fruit could ripen by this weekend!

That was what Mingyou looked forward to most. He smiled at everyone making a racket in the living room and murmured, "Thanks, all of you..."

"Munch!"

Hurry up!

"Coming, coming. Don't rush me. I'll use up all the ingredients we have left tonight and buy more tomorrow."

Mingyou walked into the living room with a smile. Then an idea came to him, and he took out his Rotom Phone to photograph everyone there.

How had he forgotten? Memories this wonderful deserved to be saved, ready to look back on someday...