"What a coincidence," Ron said, glancing at the snow on her head. He stepped forward and helped brush it off. "Are you here to see Evelyn?"
Only after Ron's hand left her head did Penny slowly shake it. She found an excuse: "Um— no. I was just about to go pick up my mom from work."
"I see. Let's go together then," Ron said. "It's on my way anyway."
"Okay," Penny replied, walking alongside Ron.
The snow on the ground was already deep. Penny hadn't figured out what to say to Ron yet; she had just happened to see him arrive and, without much thought, walked out of the house.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The only sound was the crunching of their feet on the snow.
She lowered her head, watching her shoes sink into the snow with each step, kicking up a little powder as she went.
"By the way— are you going back to Ginger Island tomorrow?" Penny asked softly.
"Probably," Ron thought for a moment and said. "It depends on whether Willy can make it back in time."
"I see. Farm work must be really tough, right?" Penny said.
Thinking about how Ron could have just taken a good rest this winter if he hadn't lent them the money, Penny felt an inexplicable pang in her heart.
"It's not too bad. Besides, there's nothing else to do," Ron replied. "It's not too tiring when everyone works together."
After all, Ron had just helped move some rocks and wood. The main workers were Geodude and Dugtrio.
Ron had originally planned to be in charge of getting the Golden Walnuts that required a bit of a battle of wits, but Rattata had managed to skip all of them.
Unsure if she was saying this to reassure herself, Penny looked up and carefully sized Ron up.
Just then, the streetlights Ron had set up by the road illuminated his face.
Penny's heart softened along with that gentle light.
They hadn't walked far before reaching the bus station.
Just then, Penny's bus pulled up. Watching the lights in the tunnel, Ron said his goodbyes to Penny.
"Ron—"
Penny called out to Ron, who had already turned to leave.
"What is it?"
"Nothing." Penny shook her head, staring at Ron's face. As if possessed, she said, "You must be happy, you know."
"Hmm?"
"It's nothing. See you tomorrow." Penny said, turning her head away.
Pam got off the bus and saw Penny walking up to meet her. She couldn't help but reach out and brush the snow off Penny's shoulders. "Really, it's not like I can't find my way home— If you were going to come, you should have at least worn a hat or brought an umbrella."
Though her words were a chide, Pam felt a warmth spread through her heart. After putting her own gloves on Penny's hands, she led her home.
Seeing this, Ron also turned and headed back to the farm.
The next day.
At the beach.
Sailor, who had been battling at sea for two days, held his fishing rod and dragged a bucket full of catch. With bloodshot eyes, he followed Willy, whose eyes were equally red, off the boat.
"Next time— we really have to get a bit more rest," Willy said, rubbing his eyes and glancing at the time. "I wonder when Ron will be here..."
If the conditions allowed, Willy felt like he could collapse onto the ground and fall into a deep sleep right then and there.
—
He yawned, glanced at Sailor beside him, and carried the old coffee pot from inside the house. He then found some coffee beans, poured them into the machine, and started grinding.
"I wonder if Pokémon can even drink coffee," he thought to himself as he ground the beans. Once the grounds were ready, he poured them into the pot, lit the portable stove, and placed the coffee pot on top.
"Ratta— ratta." Sailor rubbed his eyes, also letting out a yawn.
The sun had not yet risen. The salty, cold sea breeze blew against Sailor's face, making him shiver. He quickly scurried over to the stove, warming his paws by the small flame.
"When we get to Ginger Island— let's camp on the beach, shall we?" Willy suggested.
"Ratta. Ratta." Sailor nodded repeatedly.
The coffee in the pot started to boil a moment later. Willy then took out two small cups, rinsed them with a bit of fresh water, and poured two cups of coffee.
"Give it a try. It's just right for winter," Willy said, handing one of the cups to Sailor's paws.
"Ratta." Sailor held the cup of coffee, feeling the warmth travel from the cup into his body. He couldn't help but squint his eyes comfortably.
Because it didn't smell too bitter, but rather had a strange, mellow aroma, Sailor made no preparations. With the mindset of drinking a sweet little treat, he took a sip.
"Ratta?!"
Bitterness instantly flooded his mouth. He widened his blood-red eyes in disbelief, then turned to look at Willy, who was savoring his coffee contentedly.
"Ratta, ratta?" he asked.
"Can't handle the taste?" Willy asked with a smile. He took out two sugar cubes and dropped them into Sailor's cup. "Try it now?"
"Ratta." Sailor stared at the sugar cubes dissolving in his cup and cautiously took a lick with his tongue.
While it wasn't as bad as before, it wasn't exactly good either. The sweetness hadn't dispelled the coffee's bitterness; instead, it mixed with it, creating a very strange taste.
If it weren't for the fact that there was nothing else to drink right now, and that Willy was enjoying it so much, Sailor would have already planned to secretly pour the coffee out.
Just then, the sun slowly began to rise.
The orange-yellow sunlight shone on the sea's surface. The sea breeze was still blowing, carrying the white steam rising from the coffee to Sailor's face.
Willy glanced at the rising sun, took a sip of coffee, and let out a long sigh.
"Time really flies."
"Ratta?"
"Nothing, just feeling a bit nostalgic," Willy said. "The first time I drank coffee was just like you— I think it was also a winter. I had come back from sea fishing with my father. It wasn't light out yet, and he started a fire by the harbor and brewed coffee over it."
The bitter taste that he found unpleasant back then was something he had now grown completely accustomed to, and even begun to enjoy.
Time really does fly.
"You really don't have to see me off just for the trip to Ginger Island," Ron's voice came from a distance. "I'll probably be back tomorrow."
"I just wanted to see the sunrise, since we were going the same way," Penny's voice followed. "The winter sunrise is different from the other seasons, you know."
Willy turned his head and saw two figures walking over from not far away.
As if noticing Willy's gaze, Penny over there looked up, glanced over at Willy, and then raised her hand, giving him a wave.
Just as Ron was about to ask what the difference was, he noticed Penny's gesture. He looked up and saw Willy over there, along with Sailor, who was hopping around from the bitterness of the coffee.
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