Meanwhile, at the Saloon.
Thinking that he would be delivering food to Emily soon, Gus placed the pot on the stove and began busying himself with the Saloon's cleaning.
These past two days without Emily, Gus had been running off his feet. When it came to running the Saloon, although he didn't want to admit it, things really didn't work without Emily.
Thinking this, Gus let out a long sigh, keeping an eye on the heat in the pot while putting the dishes that hadn't been cleaned yet into the sink.
Fortunately, it was still winter, so the Saloon's business wasn't too good. If Emily had gotten sick at any other time, Gus might not have been able to manage.
"Snor—"
While Gus was distracted, the Snorlax beside him used two fingers to pinch a bit of vegetable and held it out to Gus.
Gus was stunned and glanced at Snorlax.
"Snorlax—" Snorlax gestured toward Emily's house outside the window.
"You want to give this to Emily?" Gus asked hesitantly.
This was a first for Snorlax. Although it basically wouldn't be protective of its food once full, it wouldn't voluntarily offer food unless someone asked for it.
Moreover, because Snorlax wasn't picky about food and had a large appetite, besides Gus giving it some food as snacks in the morning and evening, its formal meal time was when Gus began preparing ingredients for the afternoon business.
"Snor!" Snorlax nodded, its beady eyes staring at Gus. After a brief staring contest, Gus saw Snorlax painfully take out another small piece of vegetable with a pained expression.
"Snor—"
Can't give any more, really can't bear to part with more.
Snorlax turned its head, placed what was on its finger before Gus, then thump-thump-thump ran to the corner and curled up.
"I see—if she knew this was from you, she would definitely be very happy." Gus said, taking the food Snorlax offered, thinking, and added another dish for Emily.
"Snorlax—"
Snorlax muttered, rolled over again in the corner, and covered its nose and mouth with its paws.
When the Saloon's cleaning was almost done and the food in the pot was ready, Gus specially found a clay pot to serve the dishes in, then greeted Snorlax in the corner and turned to go out the door.
In winter, besides buying groceries, Gus mostly stayed cooped up in the Saloon and didn't go anywhere.
He hugged the clay pot wrapped in cloth against his chest and braved the cold wind toward Emily's house.
Arriving at the door, he knocked twice.
"Who is it?" Sandy asked while opening the door: "Ah, Gus. Oh right, Emily mentioned you would bring her lunch. She's still resting."
Busy making breakfast earlier, Sandy had forgotten about this. She should have gone to tell Gus.
After all, Emily already had her to take care of her now. Having Gus specially deliver food would be too much trouble for him.
"I see." Gus smiled and handed the clay pot in his hands to Sandy: "I'm relieved to have you taking care of her. I was a bit worried about coming here. I specially cooked a bit extra, so you and Emily can eat together."
"Thank you." Sandy expressed her thanks.
Gus didn't mind this at all. On the contrary, having someone to take care of the frail Emily now put him at ease.
After all, Gus himself wasn't the type who was good at taking care of people. He only had a bit of talent in cooking. Besides making some food for Emily, he really couldn't think of what else he could help Emily with.
"Then eat while it's hot. I need to get back to the Saloon."
Besides preparing ingredients, he also had to feed Snorlax. Gus didn't dare to think what would happen if he returned late—whether Snorlax might eat his Saloon out of hunger.
"Go ahead." Sandy smiled, then remembered to say to Gus: "If Emily is feeling better this afternoon, I'll come to the Saloon to help you out for a while?"
"If Emily is feeling better." Gus paused and added. "If she's still not feeling well, put her first in everything."
Sandy nodded.
After Gus walked away, she opened the cloth bundle in her arms.
A steaming aroma wafted out from the clay pot.
"Emily, wake up. Time for lunch. After eating, take your medicine and then rest."
Saying this, just as Sandy was about to close the door, she noticed a Rattata squeezing in from the corner.
"Ah—the Sailor, it's you." Sandy then remembered. She apologized to the Sailor.
"Emily is sick, so I can't go pick Crocus with you today. How about tomorrow or the day after? When Emily is feeling a bit better."
"Ratta?"
Sailor's attention instantly shifted from the clay pot to Emily, who was leaning weakly against the doorframe.
"Ratta?" Sailor trotted over to Emily, wrinkled its nose and sniffed, indeed smelling a bitter medicinal scent from Emily. It looked up at Emily for a while, then called out again with some concern.
"Thanks for your concern. I'm fine." Emily reached out to pet the Sailor's head, looking at the clay pot on the table, and said softly: "Want to have lunch together?"
"Rattata." Sailor hesitantly shook its head.
"Being polite at a time like this, when your eyes were glued to the clay pot just now." Sandy couldn't help but laugh. She then picked up the Sailor and placed it by the table: "There's still plenty in the pot. Let's eat together."
"Ratta." Sailor looked at Emily, then at Sandy, before finally lowering its head to take a bite of the food on the plate.
"Ron hasn't been here these past two days. You all must miss him too." Emily was helped into her chair by Sandy, then holding the bowl Sandy handed her, took a sip of soup and asked softly.
"Rattata." Sailor nodded.
But it didn't particularly miss him, after all, Ron would return sooner or later.
No one had told them this, but everyone knew he would return eventually. So even if there was a little bit of missing, because they knew they would reunite, they didn't worry too much about it.
"I miss Haley too." Emily smiled: "But if she can be happy in Kalos, that's not bad either."
Sailor ate the food on its plate, listening to Emily and Sandy chatting idly. After a while, it suddenly darted out of the house.
"Where did it go?" Emily looked at the Sailor's back in confusion.
"Not sure." Sandy shook her head, glancing at the Sailor's empty plate: "Oh, it finished eating. Maybe there's work at the farm, so it rushed back?"
She said uncertainly, so Emily didn't think much of it. After eating, she leaned back in her chair, watching Sandy's busy figure.
"I really used to think about what it would be like if I lived with you in the future."
"What would it be like?"
"Probably like with Haley."
"Stop it, look clearly at who's taking care of who now."
The two couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Did someone knock?" Sandy laughed enough, got up and opened the door, and saw the Sailor at the door holding Crocus flowers in its mouth and hugging an Amethyst.
"Rattata—" the Sailor called out indistinctly.
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