Jumping down from Latias's back, Lucas looked at the still-quiet Breeding House and took a deep breath, only for a gust of cold wind to make him shiver.
He had forgotten that the weather in White Poplar Town was different from the weather outside.
Several tails gently patted Lucas, and soon after, he felt himself enveloped by a wave of warm air.
"Ninetales, you're so cute."
Ninetales turned its head. "Shu~"
"Tell me something I don't know."
Lucas walked into the Breeding House, feeling its warmth. He walked over to the lounge area and flopped onto the rocking chair.
Hearing the commotion, Mr. and Mrs. Fujino walked over. They saw Lucas lying on the rocking chair, Gengar holding the remote control and watching cartoons, Ninetales lying at Lucas's feet, Lilligant sitting on the counter, Gothitelle passing by them on her way to the kitchen to prepare refreshments, Dash carrying a box ready for delivery, and Luxray having returned to the backyard. As for Latias, she was floating next to the counter, chatting with Lilligant.
"Lucas, you're back."
Lucas sat up and looked at Mr. and Mrs. Fujino. "Thank you for your hard work these past few days."
Mr. and Mrs. Fujino shook their heads. "The Meowstic siblings helped us a lot."
Lucas's eyes lit up. "Really?"
Mrs. Fujino said with a smile, "They helped a lot with the chores, especially the younger sister. She seems to have a real talent for making desserts and is currently learning how to make them from Alcremie."
"As for the older brother, he's in the kitchen packing the desserts that need to be delivered."
Just as Lucas was about to speak, two figures ran out of the kitchen—it was the Meowstic siblings.
The younger sister jumped straight into Lucas's arms. "Meow."
"Lucas, is everything resolved?"
Lucas rubbed her little head and hummed in acknowledgment. "It's resolved. How about you? Are you adjusting well to the Breeding House?"
The younger sister nodded heavily in Lucas's arms. "Meow."
"The Breeding House is great. My brother and I really like it here. Mime Jr. plays with us every day and makes us delicious food. And Alcremie—the desserts she makes are so tasty! I've been learning how to make desserts from her recently, and she praised me, saying I have a real talent for it. Also, little Shauna, little Tomoyo, and Chimecho often take me to play in the backyard and sometimes bring back fun toys for me. Hehe."
Listening to the Meowstic younger sister talk endlessly about the Breeding House, the smile on Lucas's face never faded.
After the Meowstic younger sister finished, Lucas turned his head to look at the Meowstic older brother. "What about you, brother? How is life at the Breeding House going for you?"
The older brother was much more reserved in comparison. "Meow."
"Mm, I really like the Breeding House. It's filled with an atmosphere of happiness everywhere. I like going to the Cottage to help Sister Roserade take care of the little ones."
"Oh? A little pastry chef and a nanny?"
"That's great. From now on, you can go to the Cottage to help take care of the kids, and the younger sister can stay here to learn how to make desserts from Alcremie. How does that sound?"
The Meowstic siblings nodded happily.
The notification sound for a new order rang out, and the Meowstic siblings hurried into the kitchen.
Mr. Fujino rubbed his lower back, sat down in the lounge area, and said with a smile, "Lucas is back, so I can rest again."
Lucas laughed. "You've really worked hard during this time."
Seeing that the owner of the Breeding House was back, Mrs. Fujino felt much more at ease. The Breeding House ultimately needed its backbone to be present, so after finishing her work, she sat in the lounge area and started knitting.
"Manager."
Mrs. Fujino, while knitting a sweater, called out to Lucas. Lucas turned to look at her. "What is it, ma'am?"
"Since Christmas is almost here, will we have any activities at the Breeding House?"
Hearing Mrs. Fujino's words, Lucas paused for a moment and then looked at the calendar on the wall behind the counter. December 18th.
"Is Christmas only a week away?"
Lucas said. Wasn't it just October when he last checked? How did time pass so quickly?
Lucas sighed with emotion. "Do you and Mr. Fujino have any ideas?"
Lucas asked Mr. and Mrs. Fujino. Mr. Fujino reached out to take the refreshments handed to him by Gothitelle, said thank you, and placed them on the table. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I think a get-together dinner is a good idea."
Mrs. Fujino, who was nearby, agreed. "There will be a celebration in Twinleaf Town that day too. Everyone in Twinleaf Town will gather to eat together and then exchange gifts."
Lucas took the tea that Gothitelle had brewed and handed to him, took a sip, and said, "My original plan was to have a dinner party, to invite some of our old friends to the Breeding House for a meal—call over Cynthia, Lance, and everyone. But if there's an event in Twinleaf Town, that makes things complicated."
Lucas reached out, and Ninetales sat up and rested its head on Lucas's lap. Lucas stroked Ninetales's head slowly and said,
"After all, their identities are quite special. If they were all exposed to the public, it would likely cause chaos."
However, regarding the Twinleaf Town celebration, his Breeding House and Twinleaf Town were friends, and he had many friends and acquaintances in Twinleaf Town. If he didn't attend, it would inevitably be a bit impolite.
Mrs. Fujino spoke up then: "If we go to Twinleaf Town in the morning, deliver the gifts, and then return to the Breeding House after lunch to prepare for the Christmas dinner, we should be able to make it in time."
Lucas was a bit surprised. "Can we leave the Twinleaf Town Christmas celebration early?"
Mrs. Fujino laughed. "Of course. The Christmas celebration is basically just for those of us who have time to exchange gifts in the town square. After lunch, those who want to stay can continue to hang out, but almost everyone eats dinner at home with their own families."
Lucas suddenly realized. "So that's how it is."
"Then let's have a big dinner party! We'll call over all the friends of the Breeding House, and Shauna's friends too. How about we all eat together at the Breeding House?"
"We'll listen to the manager."
Mr. and Mrs. Fujino had no objections.
Lucas nodded with satisfaction and lay back down on the chair. "I'll send them a message to ask in a bit."
Just then, a crisp voice came from outside the Breeding House. "Uncle~"
Shauna, like a cannonball, crashed straight into Lucas's arms.
Lucas couldn't help but cough twice. "You're back?"
Shauna looked up, gazing at Lucas with wide, expectant eyes. Lucas smiled and tapped her nose. "That's right, Uncle finished his work and came back."
"How about Uncle makes you something delicious tonight?"
"Hehe."
Shauna nodded happily.
Watching Shauna leave, Lucas felt a bit puzzled. He poked Gengar, who was engrossed in watching cartoons, and whispered in its ear, "Do you feel like Shauna's cheeks have gotten a bit rounder?"
Gengar looked at Shauna, watched for a moment, and then shook its head. "Gen gengar—"
"Not really. Doesn't she look like me?"
Lucas: ————
Looking at Gengar's big, chubby face. If she looks like you, that just means my judgment was correct.
But in winter, being a bit rounder is good—it keeps you warm.
"Nini~"
Hearing this sound, Lucas hurriedly opened his arms, and Mime Jr. jumped into his embrace. "Nini~"
"You're back."
Lucas pinched its little red nose. "Thank you for your hard work, our Mime Jr."
Mime Jr. shook its head, and after chatting with Lucas for a while, it ran back to the dining hall.
Lucas lay on the rocking chair, listening to the sound of the cartoons and stroking Ninetales's tail, the rocking chair swaying back and forth.
His eyes slowly closed. This is still the familiar life at the Breeding House————
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