The snowball fight lasted until the afternoon. Defeated, Mingyou had no choice but to flee back to his room, change his clothes, and start making lunch.
A little later, the Pokémon finished their snowball fight and filed into the house with empty stomachs.
The Teddiursa carried Latias inside. Aside from Mingyou, she had taken the worst beating, along with Zorua...
Akari held the little fox, who still had not woken up, and discussed the New Year celebrations the day after tomorrow with Carmine.
"You make dumplings for New Year? What are those? Is that a Paldean tradition? Ms. Briar is from Paldea too, but I've never heard her mention it."
Carmine was curious when she heard about it. In truth, Akari did not know what they were either. Mingyou had simply said they would make them together tomorrow, once the ingredients he had ordered arrived.
"Then can we come over tomorrow?"
"Of course. Mingyou likes having people around, too. But have you finished everything at home?"
"We got it all done ages ago. Shopping, the big cleanup... but I keep feeling like..."
Carmine covered her mouth and snickered. "Haha, you're acting more and more like the lady of the house... Are you and Mingyou really just friends? Any stranger looking at you two would think there's something more going on. Don't you think so, Kieran?"
"Uh-huh."
Kieran nodded hastily. Then he noticed Mingyou and Ogerpon bringing out the dishes and went over to help.
Akari's face flushed bright red at those words, a flash of panic crossing her expression. Just as she was about to protest, Carmine immediately scampered off to eat, leaving her looking utterly helpless, like a deflated balloon.
Looking down at the still-unconscious Zorua in her arms, she grumbled inwardly, *Why does everyone say that... Are we