"Today is the time for the 'Winter Festival' and 'Winter Celebration' to be held, of course I had to come back."
As he spoke, he showed off the pendant in his hand.
"Did you join too?"
Drado nodded.
He looked up at the not-so-distant "Earth Sword," and murmured as if speaking to himself.
"The 'Earth People' must complete self-redemption; it all starts with the 'Earth Sword' and must end here..."
...
...
"Hey, you guys eat first."
Because the macaron business was very good, Natsuhiko had to first give the two little ones a portion each for them to eat while he waited for the owner to make more.
The two little ones were quite considerate, hugging their bags and sitting in the corner of the stall, munching away with a "munch munch" sound.
"Mimi~~"
Hiding in the shadows, Victini watched as Togekiss and Eevee made enticing sounds with their mouths, and secretly gulped.
"Buyi?"
Eevee seemed to sense something, lifting its head to look at Victini.
"Mimi!"
Victini flinched and instantly disappeared.
"Buyi-buyi~~"
Eevee rubbed its eyes and quickly tugged at Togekiss beside it.
Signaling that there was a Pokémon it had never seen before.
"Chako-ee?"
Togekiss looked around.
Where?
"Buyi!"
Eevee puffed its cheeks.
It really saw it, and it's not the first time.
Soon, its little eyes spun around.
"Buyi~"
"Let me show you."
As it spoke, it grabbed a macaron and tossed it into the air under Togekiss's curious gaze.
The pink macaron traced a beautiful arc in the air.
The two little ones watched the macaron, seeing it about to fall to the ground.
Natsuhiko had mentioned that dropped food shouldn't be eaten, which meant wasting a delicious macaron, right?
However.
Before they could show regret, the macaron suddenly paused in midair.
Crunch-crunch—
The rustling sound accompanied the macaron disappearing bite by bite.
"Chako-ee!"
"It really is!"
Eevee tilted its head, glancing at Togekiss.
Didn't fool you, right?
However, Togekiss's experience was clearly more extensive than Eevee's.
With its two short legs "plup plup" stepping closer, it didn't move further but placed a chocolate-flavored macaron on its wing.
In the next moment.
Togekiss felt a lightness on its wing.
The macaron was taken.
Then, it was nibbled in the air again.
"Chako-ee~~"
Togekiss and Eevee exchanged a glance.
Then.
The two little ones, with great momentum, held their macarons and sat on the ground, occasionally extending a macaron toward the air.
The invisible Victini naturally accepted without hesitation.
Over time, Victini's timid nature gradually became bolder.
Seeing Togekiss and Eevee had no hostility.
Even Togekiss exuded a subtle aura of friendliness and blessing, eventually stopping its invisibility.
Gently floated down from the air to sit with them.
Seeing Victini appear, Togekiss and Eevee exchanged another glance.
A hint of a "triumphant" smile appeared subtly on their faces.
This tactic, Togekiss had already learned most of it from Natsuhiko.
Now.
Togekiss "demonstrated and taught" it to Eevee.
Smart Eevee had witnessed it before, and now naturally learned quickly.
This skill.
Is the starting point of the "Persuasion" technique, known as "Acquainting," also called "Building Rapport."
"Mimi-mimi~~"
Though Victini has lived thousands of years, it rarely interacts with humans, lacking the little thoughts of the two little ones exposed to Natsuhiko frequently.
Just sitting on the ground, eating its favorite macaron, eyes smiling with indescribable joy.
"Mimi-mimi~~"
Even eating happily, its little feet were fidgeting comfortably and joyfully.
Suddenly.
"Chako-ee?" Togekiss spoke, but not to Victini—it was speaking to Eevee.
"The macaron is delicious, but I really want to eat ice cream now~"
Eevee's eyes darted and it nodded quickly.
"Buyi-buyi~~"
"Yes, yes, I kind of want it too~"
"Chako-ee~~"
"Feels like ice cream tastes a bit better still."
"Buyi-buyi~" Eevee shook its head.
"I actually think macaron tastes better."
"No, it's ice cream."
"It's macaron!"
"... "
Eating macaron, Victini listened to their conversation.
Couldn't help but have a thought pop up.
"Mimi?"
"What's ice cream?"
"Buyi~" Eevee promptly explained.
"It's something icy, cool, and sweet."
"Chako-ee!"
Togekiss nodded, adding.
"Also soft, smooth, and sticky—I love vanilla flavor the most."
"Buyi~"
"I like strawberry flavor."
Victini glanced at the macaron in its hand, pursed its lips.
Though it thought macaron surely tasted best.
But hearing them describe it, suddenly it also wanted to try this ice cream too—what now?
"Mimi...Mimi?"
"Is it really...delicious?"
Togekiss and Eevee nodded in unison.
Victini didn't doubt their words.
But merely listening—it couldn't taste it.