"Ash?"
Cynthia used a skewer to pop a piece of Berry into her mouth and shook her head.
"But that name sounds so familiar."
Cynthia swallowed the Berry and began to think back.
"Oh, I know!"
Cynthia clapped her hands. "During the last exhibition tournament, Steven mentioned meeting a trainer with a lot of potential. I think his name was Ash."
So he hadn't reached the Sinnoh Region yet? Fang Yan was already looking forward to meeting him, if he got the chance.
"What is it? Do you know him?"
Hearing Cynthia's question, Fang Yan hesitated before answering, "I... suppose you could say that?"
"He'll probably be traveling through the Sinnoh Region soon, too."
Cynthia nodded. Since both Steven and Fang Yan knew him, that meant he should be a pretty good trainer.
It looked like she would have to keep an eye out for him.
Fang Yan had no idea that Cynthia already put him on the same level as Steven.
After all, Cynthia had already thoroughly acknowledged Fang Yan's skill as a breeder. The way he cared for Pokémon, the strength of the Pokémon he raised, and the high-quality Pokéblocks he made for them all showed that Fang Yan was already a highly capable breeder.
Of all the breeders Cynthia had met so far, only a handful, including Wallace, had struck her as being a cut above Fang Yan.
But she believed Fang Yan would take that step sooner or later.
Cynthia thought this to herself.
Then she looked toward the counter and discovered that Fang Yan had already lowered his head to carve the wood in his hands.
The corners of her mouth lifted, and she turned back. Eating the Berry platter Fang Yan had brought her, drinking the sparkling water he had brought her, and keeping Shauna company as they watched his television, she couldn't help feeling rather at ease.
"Phew..."
Fang Yan blew the wood shavings off the last wooden tag in his hands, then carved the names onto the tags and threaded red cords through them one by one.
[Fang Yan's special wooden tags: handicrafts made according to Great-Aunt's item list.] [Giving them to Pokémon seems to slightly increase friendship.] [Every little bit adds up: these wooden tags were lovingly crafted by a trainer for his Pokémon, symbolizing their place in the Pokémon Day Care family. Though they only slightly increase friendship, water flows east and love lives on. With the passage of time, the love they hold will surely only grow.] [This is my wooden tag: after wearing one, a Pokémon will never forget the home it belongs to. No matter how far away it is, it can find its way home.] [Grow up healthy, all of you: Fang Yan has imbued these with his wishes for the Pokémon. Pokémon wearing them will have a greatly reduced chance of illness.] [Great-Aunt: lovely craftsmanship!] [Great-Aunt: Pokémon are very simple creatures. They will never let down the love their trainers give them.]
Looking at the messages popping up one after another, Fang Yan couldn't help smiling. Then he raised his hand and shook it.
The wooden tags in his hand clinked crisply together, instantly drawing everyone and every Pokémon over.
They looked curiously at the wooden tags in Fang Yan's hand.
Fang Yan walked over, then put the wooden tags on Shauna, Gengar, and the others, one by one.
"Once you wear these, you won't forget our home."
Fang Yan put Gengar's wooden tag around his neck. That counted as a neck, right?
Gengar's crimson eyes stared intently at Fang Yan.
"It looks like a good fit. Do you like it, Gengar?"
Gengar lowered his head and cupped the tag in his hands. His name was written on it, along with a chibi Gengar.
Fang Yan's love reached his hands through the wooden tag.
"Gengar! (*꒦ິ⌓꒦ີ)"
For the first time, Gengar cried in front of Fang Yan.
"What's wrong? Don't you like it? Then let's take it off. Don't cry, don't cry."
Startled, Fang Yan thought Gengar didn't like it and hurriedly reached out to remove the tag.
Gengar wiped away his tears, then dodged Fang Yan's reaching hand. The next second, he licked him.
The wandering child finally wandered no more.
Fang Yan let him lick away. Only after he stopped did Fang Yan reach out to wipe the tears from the corners of his eyes.
"Really, you're all grown up, and you're still crying. Aren't you afraid Shauna and Cynthia will laugh at you?"
"Gengar-o(´^｀)o"
Gengar pulled a face, then floated over beside Cynthia, holding the wooden tag in his hands the whole time, grinning nonstop and constantly licking the tag.
Fang Yan rolled his eyes, wiped Gengar's saliva off his face, then put the little wooden tags on Shauna and Chingling.
"Do you like them, Shauna, Chingling?"
"Ching, ching~"
"Thank you, Uncle!"
Shauna happily cupped her wooden tag in her hands. There was a chibi Shauna on the front, too.
Watching from beside them, Cynthia's eyes reddened slightly, and the smile never left her lips.
"Come on, Gengar. Let's put these on our other friends, too. Want to come, Shauna?"
"Gengar-"
Here I come!
"Okay, Uncle."
"What about you, Cynthia?"
"Okay, Uncle."
Seeing Cynthia's teasing expression, he was just about to say something, but when he saw how happy she seemed, he could only sigh helplessly.
Forget it. Let her do what she wants, as long as she's happy.
Passing the counter, he also picked up a large wooden board carved with beautiful patterns and tucked it under his arm.
In the kitchen, he put Mime Jr.'s little wooden tag on him, then let him happily leap onto his head and sit there.
Back in the yard, he glanced at the other Pokémon, then went to find them one by one.
After he put Petilil's tag on, Petilil cried as expected, even louder than when Fang Yan had first met her. But Fang Yan and Cynthia could hear the hope and happiness in her cries.
He lightly flicked Petilil on the forehead. With Mime Jr. up there, his head really felt heavy, so he called Dali and the others over and sat beneath the tree.
Once Dali and the others came over, Fang Yan put their own little wooden tags on them, too.
With tears streaming down their faces, they gave him thumbs-ups.
Cynthia leaned against the tree, watching quietly. Then she glanced at Garchomp beside her and reached out to stroke her lowered head.
She understood why Garchomp, Lucario, and the others liked this place. Even she couldn't resist an environment filled with love.
After comforting them, Fang Yan stood and walked over to Cynthia, extending his clenched fist toward her.
Cynthia looked down in puzzlement. Two red cords dangled from his palm.
His hand opened, revealing two wooden tags lying quietly in his palm.
One read Cynthia, and the other read Fang Yan.
"There's one for me, too?"
Cynthia was rather stunned.
"If you don't mind it."
Fang Yan gave her a radiant smile.
"Thank you. I love it."
Cynthia reached out and took her wooden tag, holding it before her eyes and gently swinging it. Her eyes followed the swaying tag intently before finally settling on the face behind it.
She smiled in understanding, then tied the wooden tag around her fair wrist.
"If Garchomp and the others don't mind, I can make some for them, too. All that's left is carving their names."
At Fang Yan's words, Cynthia turned toward her Pokémon.
Garchomp's crimson eyes had been fixed on Fang Yan all this time. Only after hearing his words did she reluctantly nod, then turn aside.
"Garchomp."
Then I suppose I'll reluctantly accept.
Lucario nodded haughtily.
Spiritomb and the others smiled happily.
Fang Yan nodded at the sight.
Another boost to their affection. What a win!
Then Fang Yan had Gengar fetch the swing ropes from the storeroom, while he carried the wooden board over to the swing beneath the tree.
Watching Fang Yan gesture as he worked something out, Cynthia grew curious.
"What are you doing?"
"It's a secret."
In the end, with Gengar's help, he successfully set up a big swing beside the little one.
He tested it. It was perfectly safe.
Fang Yan got off the swing.
"Now you can each have one."
Fang Yan smiled at Cynthia and Shauna.
"I'm not a little kid."
"Huh? You don't need one?"
"Hmm..."
"That's a shame. I guess only Gengar and I can play on it, then. Right, Gengar?"
"Gengar?! Σ(ﾟ∀ﾟﾉ)ﾉ"
M-me?!
"I didn't say I wouldn't use it."
"But didn't you say you weren't a little kid?"
"None of your business. Get off!"
"No. You said you wouldn't use it."
"No, I didn't. Hurry up and get off."
"I won't!"
"Get off!"
Cynthia forcefully hauled Fang Yan off the swing and sat down herself, having Shauna sit on the little swing beside her as well. One held Chingling, while the other held Petilil and Mime Jr.
Fang Yan shook his head helplessly. He was just about to go behind them to push their swings when he discovered that a certain chubby little fellow with short legs had already floated behind them.
"Gengar-"
I'll push your swing!
"Traitor!"
Fang Yan bared his teeth and cursed, then went behind Shauna.
Gengar stuck his tongue out at him and pulled faces, then began pushing Cynthia's swing, while Fang Yan pushed Shauna's.
A breeze swept past, rustling the leaves overhead. Beneath the tree were two swings, one large and one small, carrying two girls, one older and one younger. Behind the swings stood a human and a Pokémon, gently pushing them.
Many, many Pokémon surrounded them.
Garchomp watched Cynthia, watched as her swing slowly swayed with the wind into her heart.
As though sensing it, Cynthia turned to look at her and gave her a sweet smile, her gaze gentle.
"Garchomp."
He doesn't seem half bad.