Akari's Rice Cakes-Come Have a Taste

Ralts played with intense concentration, though at first, it had no idea how the controls worked.

But it had watched from the sidelines for so long that it soon figured things out. Besides, Pokémon games weren't that hard to pick up.

For a Pokémon, catching other Pokémon in a game and battling as a Trainer felt surprisingly novel.

Before it knew it, Ralts had lost track of time and forgotten where it was. It didn't even notice Teddiursa watching curiously beside it.

Then a Voltorb appeared on the screen, unlike any Ralts had seen before: a sparkling blue-and-white one. Ralts lit up.

It immediately threw a Quick Ball and watched tensely as it rocked. At the last second, the ball burst open with a pop. Then words Ralts couldn't read appeared on the screen: Voltorb used Self-Destruct...

"Ralts!"

That's so unfair! How could it blow itself up?

The Shiny Voltorb had knocked itself out and sent Ralts straight back to the Pokémon Center. Devastated, Ralts trembled and slapped the controller onto the sofa, completely unaware that someone behind it was watching with a smile...

Mingyou had been wondering who was playing. He hadn't expected the little one to be awake. Its angry reaction was rather amusing, but he spoke gently. "All right, pause the game for now. Come eat."

"Ralts!?"

The voice behind it made Ralts jump. It felt as though the sound had struck its very soul.

Only then did it remember it was in someone else's home, sitting on someone else's sofa, playing someone else's game... What now? I'm going to get caught! Teleport? Oh no, I've suddenly forgotten how. Am I supposed to blow myself up like Voltorb?

"Don't be nervous. No one here will hurt you. You can play more later. It's still snowing outside, and