Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Natsume casually sorted through the remaining packages.

  Aside from the regur gifts he had prepared, most of what was left were little surprises he’d put together.

  For example, the Shiny Stone he bought for Mino.

  If Mino wao evolve, it would need a Shiny Stoherwise, it would remain a Mino forever, regardless of its strength.

  It’s like how WarGreymon needs MetalGarurumon to bee Omnimon. No matter how hard it tries, it would only remain WarGreymon.

  Of course, there’s also the possibility of being Victreymon.

  Apart from Mino, he had also prepared gifts for other Pokémon.

  Some might ask: wouldn’t those Pokémon who didn’t receive special gifts feel unbanced or upset?

  Well, there’s no helping it.

  Natsume could only strive to treat his closest Pokémon fairly.

  Ah two kids or even just o at home could rete to this.

  Even if you aim to treat both children equally, a little favoritism is iable.

  After all, humans aren’t maes; it’s impossible to divide love or care perfectly into equal portions.

  If any of his Pokémon did feel unhappy, Natsume would just have to make it up to them ter.

  As for Pokémon he wasn’t particurly close to, like the Oddish on the farm that he rarely ied with?

  Natsume naturally wouldn’t prepare gifts for them.

  A head rub and a couple of Pokéblocks during a walk would be more than enough.

  He wasn’t some enerous ty handing out evolutionary stones and rare items to every Pokémo.

  Even if he had the money, he wouldn’t spend it like that.

  Or rather, maybe he wasn’t wealthy enough yet—pared to an oil baron, anyway.

  “These wait; no rush to deliver them now,” Natsume said. “First, I o che Ogerpon.”

  After pag up the remaining gifts, he called Persiao watch them, intending to take a few Pokémon to look ferpon.

  He wouldn’t feel fortable leaving the packages with just any Pokémon.

  It wasn’t that he worried they’d steal anything but rather that they might give in to the persistent pleading of other Pokémon and sneak a peek at the gifts.

  Like kids with oys, who often ’t resist opening them before they get home.

  But if Persian was in charge, Natsume had plete peaind.

  Every team needs someoo py the “bad guy”—someone who step in when necessary to refuse unreasonable demands.

  It sounds simple, but not everyone do it.

  If someone you’re close to tugs at your sleeve and begs for a small, seemingly insignifit favor, would you refuse?

  Most people find it difficult.

  But Persian could.

  Not only could it refuse, but if Corviknight came over and started pestering, Persian might even throw in a Pem to teach that fool a lesso experiehe might of the farm’s sed-in-and.

  Hmm…

  Something about that sounded off.

  Let’s go with “vice leader” instead.

  “I’ll leave these here for now,” Natsume said as he shoved the unopened packages into Persian’s us disapproving gaze.

  “You didn’t even ask me!”

  Persian opes mouth as if to meow a pint but ultimately let it go.

  It rarely said no to Natsume anyway.

  And so, with its tail flig in resignation, Persian decided to find another sunny spot to nap in, leaving the pile of gifts behind.

  “ up, let’s find Ogerpon.”

  Scratg his head, Natsume pondered whion t along.

  Acc to Zorua, Ogerpon’s little hideout was quite a distance from the farm.

  There was also a path leading to a water sourearby, where wild Pokémon occasionally passed through—some of them even aggressive.

  So Natsume figured he’d better bring two Pokémon with him, just in case.

  If some battle-hungry wild Pokémon or Trainer challenged him to a fight, he couldly yell, “I choose you, Natsumemon!” and jump in to brawl with them himself.

  That would be a bit muo?

  Although those Trainers who lock eyes and immediately demand a battle arely calm either.

  “Who should I bring?”

  Muttering to himself, Natsume absently toyed with Persian’s tail. Wheurned around, he found a rge bck figure blog the doorway.

  With its back to Natsume, Corviknight had been silently croug there, waiting for him to notice.

  hat a floorboard this floorboard is, thought Corviknight, deeply focused oep below.

  It stared ily, as if studying the patterns on the doorstep. What was so fasating about that step?

  After watg the back of Corviknight’s head for a few seds, Natsume seemed to uand.

  “This time, I’ll need a mature and steady Pokémon,” he said loudly, ensuring Corviknight could hear.

  The bird remained motionless, only shifting its gaze.

  Hmm, what lovely grass this grass is.

  “Preferably ohat’s strong and reliable,” Natsume tinued.

  Corviknight raised its head slightly.

  The wind today is particurly noisy.

  “Better yet, a Flying-type Pokémon.”

  Corviknight’s beak twitched into a barely tained grin, harder to suppress than recoil on an AK.

  “With that in mind, the choice is obvious.”

  As Corviknight prepped its pose, Natsume said, “I’ll bring the shiny Pidgeotto!”

  “CAW?!”

  Corviknight squawked, utterly shattered.

  “CAW! CAW! CAW!!”

  It fpped wildly, rushing over to Natsume like a tantrum-throwing lma, tears and spit flying everywhere.

  If not fardevoir’s timely Psychic barrier, Natsume would’ve been drenched.

  “Calm down!” Natsume barked, smag Corviknight on the head.

  It wasn’t anger; it was just that without the sp, the dizzy bird probably wouldn’t hear him clearly.

  “CAW…”

  Corviknight sat dazed on the ground like a duck, stars spinning around its head. It gazed at Natsume with newfound reverence.

  No wonder he’s the boss—what terrifying strength.

  pared to him, even Persian seemed insignifit now.

  Thinking this, Corviknight felt its odds of taking the “vice leader” position improve signifitly.

  “Alright, get up,” Natsume said, exasperated. “I’ll take you along this time.”

  The bird’s antics made it seem like Natsume was some cruel Trainer who mistreated his Pokémon.

  Gcell