Froakie reluctantly accepted it. It held the cobbler Abigail gave it and sat on Ron's shoulder eating heartily.
At this moment, Serena and Bonnie had finished catching up and walked over.
"Hello, I'm Bonnie." Bonnie introduced herself.
"She'll be traveling with us from now on." Serena paused: "Do you mind?"
Abigail waved her hand.
They were going to travel together from now on, and they were all girls. Before long, the four of them were having fun together, even planning to go to Coumarine City City's Pokémon grooming salon later to get their Pokémon styled for tomorrow's Contest.
Ron was talking to Team Rocket about returning to Pelican Town. After confirming tomorrow's itinerary, Ron also took the time to buy them two sets of winter clothes.
Pelican Town was still covered in heavy snow. If he let the two of them go to Pelican Town like this, Harvey's clinic would have two regular patients tomorrow.
"This is clothes for Meowth, meow." Meowth hugged the hat and scarf, looking at Ron with a moved expression.
"Such a good person, who was planning to steal his breeding secrets, meow."
"So it was Team Rocket, meow."
Jessie reached out and pinched Meowth's mouth: "Alright, alright, you don't need to say it. We are just going to take a look, so we can report back to Boss Giovanni. We'll just say there were no secrets. The important thing is that we went first, so our words will be credible, understand?"
"Really, meow?"
"In your heart, am I that bad, Meowth?"
"If it's Jessie, Meowth thinks it's very possible, meow!" Meowth covered its head and trotted to Ron's side.
"What about you, James?"
"Jessie is absolutely a good person who knows how to repay kindness." James gave a thumbs up.
"That's more like it." Jessie said, also glancing at the shopping bag in her hand.
They were said to be work clothes for working on the farm later, but at the department store, Ron hardly paid attention to the prices at all, completely choosing clothes based on warmth and their preferences.
She stared at the shopping bag for a while, then finally let out a long sigh.
She couldn't remember why she had to be a bad guy in Team Rocket anymore. Maybe because of her mother, maybe because this world hadn't left her with many other options.
James beside her had the smallest reaction.
He was currently staring at Ron's back, watching Ron break a piece of blackberry cobbler in half and give half to Meowth, who was covering its head.
Meowth sniffed the cobbler, about to put it in its mouth, then turned to look at James and Jessie. After saying something to Ron, it brought that half piece over to share with the two of them.
Ron was silent for a moment.
He hadn't experienced such a pitiful scene in a long time.
But unfortunately, that cobbler was just what Abigail had given him, so he only had that one. Although he indicated he could give his half to Meowth, it was refused.
Turning his head, he saw the three of them sharing that half piece of small cobbler together, then showing expressions of bliss.
Really.
These people were so easily satisfied—how bad could they be?
Thinking this, Ron stood up and led the group to a hotel in Coumarine City City.
Meanwhile, in Pelican Town.
Today was Winter 13. Tomorrow was the 14th, when Ron would return.
Winter 15th was Ron's birthday, so Penny was still preparing a birthday gift for that day.
"Are you going to the port to pick up Ron tomorrow?" Pam hung her coat on the rack, glancing at Penny who was knitting yarn, rubbing her hands together as she asked.
"I don't know." Penny lost focus for a moment, causing the yarn in her hands to skip a stitch. She had to unravel the thread and re-knit it: "I'm not sure when he'll be back either."
But if she went to pick him up, he'd probably be very happy.
Just like when she saw him off.
She thought that perhaps Ron was actually a bit lonely too. Although he was usually surrounded by Pokémon, most of the time he was busy with farm work and didn't have much time to play with friends.
So no one would specially see him off or pick him up.
Penny thought this, and her hands moved a bit faster.
She really couldn't think of what to give.
This felt a bit—she couldn't quite say. In any case, Ron knew what she liked, and even knew what everyone in Pelican Town liked.
But thinking carefully, no one knew what he liked.
This made Penny feel a bit indescribably frustrated.
It was as if they kept accepting Ron's kindness without thinking of giving anything back.
"I see." Pam warmed herself by the fire, staring at the flames in the fireplace, and only after a while said. "Then go. Anyway, there's no work tomorrow. If it's cold, stay at Willy's place for a while. I'll tell him."
Willy could be considered Pam's drinking buddy. Even without this relationship, just waiting for someone at Willy's fish shop, she thought Willy wouldn't refuse.
The only problem was that Penny might not be able to stand the smell in the fish shop.
"Perfect timing to bring Willy some Powdermelon." Pam added.
This was the second batch of Powdermelon from the garden.
As a fruit unique to winter, everyone accepted it quite well. It could be considered a must-bring gift when Penny's family visited neighbors during this time.
Everyone liked it very much.
If there was any exception, it was that Vincent and Jas didn't like it. The Powdermelon brought to the library last time was eventually eaten by Penny and Jas together.
The taste was clearly not bad, yet it didn't appeal to children.
"Oh, okay." Penny nodded, finished the sweater in her hands, and then placed the clothes aside.
She took a deep breath, stood up and stretched, then turned to hug Clefable, who was lying on the recliner.
"Clef?" Clefable called out.
"I guess I kind of miss him." Penny glanced at Pam, saw she wasn't there, and then said softly.
She really couldn't say. In any case, she had been feeling a bit awkward lately, and kept unconsciously looking toward the seaside.
Thinking how nice it would be if he suddenly came back to surprise her.
But of course that was impossible.
At most, the two of them were just friends.
Penny thought this, burying her head in Clefable's embrace.
"Clef, Clef."
Clefable called out softly, as usual, continuously patting Penny's back.
"If only I were a bit better."
Penny said.
If she were like Abigail, perhaps she could boldly speak her heart.
Or rather, if she were as beautiful as Haley, then she wouldn't worry about gains and losses.
If only—
If only, he liked her too.
------------------------------------------------------
40+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)