It Would Be Rude Not to Lose Your Memory Too

After greeting her, Mingyou woke up fully. He cleared his throat and smiled. "If you're buying Fruit, the prices and effects are listed beside them. You can get a refund if they don't work."

"I'll take this one, then."

Akari pointed to the Snorlium Berry and asked curiously, "Is this Fruit or a Berry? I've never seen one shaped like this."

"It's a Snorlium Berry. It's a kind of apple."

"It really does look like a Snorlax. How cute! I had no idea Fruit like this existed. Then... Wait, it's so expensive!"

Only then did Akari notice the price tag. One Snorlium Berry cost 99... She could afford it, but she really wasn't flush with cash.

Then she checked the prices of the other apples. One Sweet Apple cost 1,499. Anyone who didn't know better would think it was made of solid gold!

"Well... I suppose higher prices are normal during Kitakami's tourist season, but they should still be within reason, right?"

Akari spoke softly. She was one step away from accusing him of treating tourists like easy marks, but she gave him some face and left it unsaid.

"Uh..."

Seeing the price had scared her off, Mingyou was momentarily at a loss for words. It was getting late, but he couldn't pack up without selling anything. At the very least, he needed some publicity. In that case...

"Then it's free. You can have it."

"Huh? Are you sure?"

"Of course."

Mingyou handed her the Snorlium Berry. "I don't think I've seen you around town before. Did you arrive today? Just help spread the word to the other tourists."

"Hmm... All right. Thank you."

Akari accepted the Snorlium Berry, then smiled sheepishly. "I feel like I'm taking advantage of you. I'll tell the students about your fruit later, but you really should lower your prices."

"Students?"

"Yeah. I'm helping the Community Center receive the students attending Summer Camp. Carmine and the others have taken care of me, so I want to return the favor."

As she spoke, Akari held the Snorlium Berry to the little fox in her arms. Only then did Mingyou notice the Zorua she was carrying.

Unlike an ordinary Zorua, this fox cub had gray-white fur and pale orange eyes. The fur on its head and neck and its tail were red and white, and the fur in those places gave off a frightening energy of Spite.

Zorua (Hisuian form): The Spiteful Fox Pokémon. Its cute appearance hides an extremely aggressive nature. It holds grudges, but it also grows much fonder of people who help it or its Trainer.

"A Hisuian Zorua. That's rare."

Mingyou was surprised. The Zorua bit into the Snorlium Berry and broke into a deeply satisfied smile. It seemed to love the taste.

Akari gently stroked the Zorua's fur and smiled. "Looks like it's delicious. This little one hardly ever smiles like that."

"If it likes them, come buy more."

"Only if you make them cheaper."

"I have to eat too..."

"Haha."

Akari smiled. Mingyou's helpless expression seemed to amuse her.

Just then, she noticed a Wyrdeer behind him, watching her curiously. She froze.

"What's wrong?"

Mingyou sensed the strange mood. Akari came back to herself and said, "Sorry. I just... didn't expect to see a Wyrdeer."

"You recognized it at a glance? Even Doduo had to think for a moment before remembering."

"These are about the only things I do remember."

A trace of sorrow crossed Akari's face as she said it. Something was clearly troubling her. "This February, I was found lying beside the river in Verdant Town. I don't know how I got there. When I woke up, I'd forgotten a lot."

"You lost your memory?"

"Yeah... I keep feeling like I don't belong here. I only remember my name and what I know about Pokémon and Trainers. Everything else is gone. My memories are a blur."

Akari told him a little about herself. Plenty of people in Verdant Town already knew the story. Kitakami wasn't that big, and news traveled fast, so there was no point hiding it.

Mingyou sympathized with her, but as he listened, something else occurred to him.

Oh no...

Why are there so many people with amnesia around me? Should I pretend I have it too, just to fit in? Everyone else does. At this point, it'd be rude not to lose my memory.

Uh...

Wait... Didn't I lose my memory once too?

"..."

Mingyou fell silent. After a long while, he smiled and encouraged her. "Don't worry. You might remember everything one day. I lost my memory after a little accident myself, but, believe it or not, getting carsick brought it back."

"Huh?"

Akari looked startled by his experience. Was that true? It sounded like a story.

Mingyou smiled. He would have liked to chat longer, but when he checked the time, it was almost six. He had to say goodbye.

"Well, I'd better go home and make dinner. Don't forget to tell people about the Fruit."

With that, he packed up his stall and rode Wyrdeer back toward the Manor. Watching him leave, Akari murmured calmly, "What a strange person... Mingyou, was it? And that Wyrdeer... I can't help feeling..."

"What are you doing over here?"

Carmine, now dressed in casual clothes, came running from the Community Center. She stopped beside Akari, put her hands on her hips, and said, "It's time to eat at my place. My grandma's finished cooking. We're just waiting for you."

"Huh? Wasn't I supposed to cook? We should let her rest."

"She said the same thing about us..."

"Then I'll make some mousse cake for dessert. I still have the ingredients."

"Please don't. Have mercy on me..."

On the way back to the Manor, Mingyou planned out his schedule starting tomorrow. Then he noticed Wyrdeer seemed distracted. In fact, it had been like that ever since they met Akari.

"What's wrong?"

"Wyrdeer..."

"Could Akari be your Trainer?"

"Wyrdeer..."

Wyrdeer shook its head. It wasn't sure. She felt familiar for some reason, but she had lost her memory and hadn't recognized it, so it was hard to tell.

"Hmm..."

Mingyou thought back over what Akari had said. It seemed quite possible, but with everyone losing their memories, it was hard to judge.

After thinking for a while, he came back to himself. "Don't worry. She'll be in Kitakami for a while. We'll have plenty of chances to find out!"

"Wyrdeer!"

"Though I'll have to trouble you to keep running back and forth with me these next few days."

"Wyrdeer~"

When they reached the Manor, Ogerpon was asleep on the steps by the entrance. At the sound of their arrival, it woke at once and raced over to greet them.

"Pon~"

"Sorry for the wait."

"Pon~"

Ogerpon didn't mind. All that mattered was that he was back.

Mingyou patted its head. "Starting tomorrow, I'll be setting up a stall at Kitakami Center every day. Want to come with me?"

"Pon..."

Ogerpon lowered its head, still hesitant. It really wanted to go with Mingyou, but it was afraid the people of Kitakami would see it.

While it wavered, Munchlax ran over and declared that it wanted to go. It still remembered the taste of those rice cakes in Kitakami!

"Munch~"

"But... You've been banned. Won't they throw you out the moment they see you?"

"Munch~"

You think that'll stop me? I've got ways to get in!

Munchlax waved its little paws, telling Mingyou to catch it in a Poké Ball just as he had Ogerpon. Then it could enter openly.

"Of course you'd think of that... Just don't sneak off to eat something and leave me to take the blame."

"Munch~"

"All right, then."

Mingyou didn't refuse. He took out a Poké Ball and caught Munchlax, gaining his second Pokémon in a rather unexpected way.

Given their relationship, all Mingyou would have had to do was ask if he wanted to catch Munchlax. Still, Munchlax had brought it up first.

Ogerpon watched Munchlax get to accompany Mingyou to his stall and felt terribly envious. It took the Ogre Mask out from beneath its cloak and stared at it for a long time. An idea seemed to be taking shape...