"New facilities added to the ranch: fish pond +1!" Naoki thought with a satisfied smile as he watched the Magikarp explore their new home.

  His fishing pns had been derailed by Koraidon's antics, but Naoki, cheg the time, decided to head back to the house and see if the dumplings were ready.

  As he turo leave, bucket of fish in hand, Cyclizar bouowards him, clutg a small yellow wildflower in its cws.

  "For me?" Naoki asked, surprised and touched by the gesture.

  Cyclizar nodded, a wide, i grin on its faaoki accepted the flower, examining the delicate petals. "Perhaps this is why so many people love Pokémon," he mused. "Their simple, pure kindness." Most Pokémon would remain loyal for life if treated well, even proteg their trainers with their own lives.

  With a warm feeling in his chest, Naoki stroked Cyclizar's head and turo call Koraidon back. But the Legendary Pokémon was o be seen.

  Naoki spotted Koraidon darting through a patch of colorful wildflowers, scattering butterflies in its wake. A few mier, it returned, clutg a bouquet of bluebells, tulips, and hyaths.

  Naoki couldn't help but chuckle. It seemed Koraidon had a petitive streak, eve came to gift-giving. Although it was a Legendary Pokémon, its as were more akin to those of an eager child.

  Koraidoed the bouquet to Naoki, "Gaa-ah-ah-ah!" it decred proudly.

  Naoki sighed good-naturedly, accepting the flowers. As he reached for the bucket, Koraidon nuzzled its head against him, seeking affe.

  Naoki couldn't help but ugh, patting Koraidon's head. "You're such a child," he said, shaking his head with amusement.

  Satisfied, Koraidon bounced away, ready to tis exploration.

  "Let's go!" Naoki called, and the three of them headed back to the house.

  He left the bucket in a shady spot to prevent the fish from overheating, pnning to sell them to Zack ter that evening. After firming that the dumplings weren't quite done, he sat at the desk and pulled out the ledger and pen he had purchased from the general store.

  Keepiiculous records of expenses and ine was essential for a successful rancher. It would help him stay anized as the ranch grerevent him from making costly mistakes.

  Naoki began to record the day's transas:

  Spring, Year 198, Day 5

  Ine: Bck Truffle +33,000

  Expenses: Seeds, Fishing Rod, Seasonings, Ingredients -4,190

  Remaining Funds: 28,810

  Spring, Year 198, Day 6

  Ine: Fish +?

  Expenses: 0

  The fish hadn't been sold yet, and Naoki didn't know their value. He left a bnk space, intending to fill it ihat evening after the transa.

  Naoki diligently he estimated costs for expanding the house and repairing the Pokémon and chi houses. This would help him track progress and maintain motivation as he worked towards these goals.

  Satisfied with his bookkeeping, he stood up and checked the steamer. The glutinous rice dumplings were finally ready.

  Enveloped in steam, they looked like plump, white babies. As Naoki peered in, their information materialized in his mind:

  Glutinous Rice Dumplings (B): A springtime delicacy made with glutinous rid red bean paste, quite popur among young people.

  Cooking Effebsp;Limited to Bug-type Pokémon. Level 2 Silk Enha, moderately increases the toughness and strength of silk. Adding ingredients with elemental properties may cause further ges in the Pokémon that e it.

  Evaluation: Soft and chewy, sweet and delicate, with a hint of red bean fvor. A delicious snack.

  "Hmm?"

  Limited to Bug-type Pokémon? Naoki's i iqued.

  The dumplings, though identical in appearance, varied in their level of enha. Some were level 1, others level 2, and the best of the bunch were level 3.

  But what truly intrigued Naoki wasn't the "Bug-type Pokémon Limited" aspect, but the mention of "ingredients with elemental properties."

  He couldn't recall any sugredients in the Pokémon world, but they certaied in the mobile game. Ice-type berries, Electric-type lemons, and so on.

  Could he grow them in this world?

  Naoki's initial skepticism was quickly repced by a memory of a specific dish from the game: "Grass Cake." Feeding it to the pyer's in-game helpers would cause them to care for crops, and these crops would then undergo mutations. Ordinary mushrooms would bee Armor Mushrooms, regur lemons would bee Electric Lemons, and apples would bee Lum Apples.

  If he could replicate the "Grass Cake" and feed it to Pokémon, could they also gain these magical abilities?

  Naoki thought it ossible. However, as a programmer, not a chef, he didn't know the recipe or the ingredients for the Grass Cake.

  How does one make a cake out of grass? It seemed like something only a cartoon character could coct.

  But if successful, he could potentially create dumplings with electric properties by addiric Lemons, allowing a Caterpie to produce electrified silk. The possibilities were endless.

  Naoki's heart raced with excitement. "It seems the step is to try and recreate the Grass Cake recipe."

  But not yet. The ranch was in its infancy, and every penny ted.

  With that in mind, Naoki set the dumplings aside to cool. Cyclizar eyed them curiously, while Koraidon seemed less ied.

  "They're hht now," Naoki warned Cyclizar. "Wait until they cool down to eat them."

  Cyclizar, obedient as ever, waited patiently.

  Naoki set aside the majority of the dumplings for his Pokémon panions. For himself, he chose a single dumpling with level 3 silk enha. He remembered seeing Caterpie in the nearby forest and was eager to test the dumpling's effects on a Bug-type Pokémon and see how much it strengtheheir silk.