You Can't Go Wrong with This Deal

Mingyou stood up, surprised that a customer had arrived so quickly. Apparently, his stall wasn't all that out of the way. At least people could notice it.

Just as he was about to pitch his goods, he got a clear look at his visitor and froze. He instinctively rubbed his eyes and asked, "Are you... Professor Kukui from the Alola Region?"

"Huh? I never thought someone would recognize me this far from the Alola Region. Looks like I'm getting famous now, haha."

Professor Kukui was quite surprised to be recognized. He had only become a researcher in the past two years. Before that, he had traveled around the world as a Trainer, competing in League tournaments.

His travels had ended after he challenged the Indigo League and fell just short of the finish line, defeated by Lance. He had then returned to his hometown to focus on his career as a researcher and gained a little recognition. How could he not be surprised that someone knew him in such a remote place?

Hearing that, Mingyou could only smile and offer an excuse. "I do some research into Pokémon moves myself, and I've read some of your papers on move research online."

He knew Professor Kukui was an expert on Pokémon moves, so there was nothing wrong with saying that.

"I see."

Professor Kukui didn't question it. Instead, he continued studying the contents of the sign and asked, "So, is this true? Your fruit works like a Technical Machine? Could I take a look?"

Although he also thought it was impossible, the young man had just said he researched Pokémon moves and had read his papers. Curious, he wanted to see exactly what kind of fruit this was.

"Of course."

Mingyou promptly took out the Sweet Apple imbued with Energy Ball. Professor Kukui pushed up his glasses and began examining it.

At first glance, it was just an ordinary Sweet Apple. But upon closer inspection... it was still just an ordinary Sweet Apple!

"I don't see anything special about it..."

"Uh..."

Mingyou was momentarily at a loss for words, but he recovered quickly. He couldn't afford to lose such an important customer. "It may look ordinary, but its effects are anything but. Professor, you can bring over a Grass-type Pokémon capable of learning Energy Ball and test it out. If it doesn't learn the move within five minutes, it's free!"

"Oh? Then I'll give it a try!"

Seeing how confident he was, Professor Kukui grew interested. As an expert who studied Pokémon moves, he didn't really believe such a thing was possible.

But if this fruit really worked like a Technical Machine, it would be a revolutionary discovery. Learning a move in five minutes? He wouldn't even dare imagine it.

However, he didn't currently have a Pokémon that could learn Energy Ball with him, so he said, "Wait here a moment. I'll go get my student."

"No problem."

As Mingyou watched Professor Kukui leave for the moment, his confident smile remained, just as it had when Misty bought Tangerines from him that day.

"Finally, my first sale!"

A little while later, Professor Kukui returned with two girls following behind him.

One had a well-developed figure and green hair tied in twin tails, with a flower ornament on her head. The other was petite, with short blue hair, and looked like an elementary school student. The two were chatting.

"That apple shaved ice was really good, and so was the strawberry shaved ice. They were completely different from the ones in Hau'oli City."

"Yeah, but I'd rather go fishing by the river in Verdant Town than eat shaved ice. I just heard you can find white-striped Basculin in Kitakami. You can't find them anywhere else these days."

"We finally get a chance to leave Alola, and all you can think about is fishing? We should explore and take some photos instead. Selene and Lillie went to the shrine. Let's head over there later too."

"Sure."

"We're here."

Professor Kukui stopped, and the two girls behind him ended their conversation to look at Mingyou's stall. The sign caught their attention as well, and both looked surprised.

"Eat fruit... learn moves?"

"This is a scam, isn't it?"

The smaller girl spoke bluntly, frowning slightly as her gaze suddenly sharpened.

"Lana!"

Professor Kukui called out to the smaller girl. They were out in public, after all, and she ought to be a little more polite.

Then he turned to the green-haired girl and said, "Mallow, let your Bounsweet out and have it try that Sweet Apple."

"Huh?"

Mallow paused in surprise. Did the professor really think this apple would work?

"That's... far too expensive!"

She hurriedly waved her hands. This single apple cost enough to buy a plane ticket back to Alola. She couldn't let the professor get scammed.

"It's fine. This young man and I already agreed that if it doesn't work, I don't have to pay."

"Uh... all right, then."

With that settled, Mallow could only nod, and Mingyou handed her the Sweet Apple.

Just then, however, he noticed an odd gaze on him. He instinctively turned his head and saw Lana standing with her arms crossed, staring at him with a very strange look.

Staaare...

"Is something wrong?"

"No. Just know that if you dare rip us off, you're in trouble. I'll flip your stall over!"

"Heh. Then let's wait and see!"

Mingyou chuckled as he watched Mallow hand the apple to a mangosteen standing on her shoulder...

〔Bounsweet: Fruit Pokémon. Not very bright, but friendly. Easily drawn to things that pique its curiosity, and very easy to win over.〕

Bounsweet also liked sweets. When Mallow offered it the Sweet Apple, it immediately smiled, took a bite, and soon finished the apple.

Just as everyone focused on it, waiting to see what would happen, Bounsweet suddenly froze after finishing the apple...

"What's wrong?!"

Mallow immediately grew anxious. Mingyou was about to tell her not to worry when Lana suddenly pulled a fishing rod out of nowhere and whipped it through the air, even producing a sonic boom as she held it right in front of his neck.

"Don't move!"

Mingyou slowly raised both hands and muttered, "Do you all have four-dimensional pockets or something...?"

Professor Kukui made no move, simply continuing to watch Bounsweet.

The very next second, Bounsweet's body suddenly trembled. It opened its little mouth and gathered Grass-type energy, which finally formed into a green ball of light.

Perhaps because it wasn't quite proficient yet, or because the move consumed too much energy, the ball of light shot uncontrollably toward a nearby pagoda tree. It struck the trunk dead-on, and the energy dissipated.

The move was weak, only shaking a few leaves loose, but the sight was enough to stun everyone present. Mallow stared at Bounsweet in disbelief.

"It actually... worked..."

"How on earth did you do that?"

Professor Kukui was completely dumbfounded. Forget five minutes—it hadn't even been one! This utterly outclassed Technical Machines, which still required time to learn the move!

"Told you~"

Mingyou put one hand on his hip and continued with a smile, "You can't go wrong with this deal. No losses, no scams!"

"Indeed... this has been an eye-opener."

Professor Kukui admitted that he had misjudged it. He hadn't expected fruit to really serve as a Technical Machine... no, it was even better!

He willingly paid for the Sweet Apple, then looked curiously at the remaining apples, intending to buy another one to try.

Seeing him pay, Mallow came back to her senses and hurriedly said, "Professor, let me..."

But before she could finish, the sweet aroma coming from Bounsweet grew a little stronger after it released that energy. The sleeping Munchlax sprang up as if suddenly brought back from death's door.

"Munch~"

It snatched Bounsweet up in its hands and was about to take a bite. The sudden turn caught everyone off guard, but Mingyou managed to react.

"Hey! You can't eat that!"