Chapter 70
"Marill?"
[What’s wrong?]
Marill’s voice pulled Mike back to reality.
He looked at her standing beside him with her head lowered, gazing at him, and shook his head.
"I was counting the stars. What is it?"
’Counting stars?’
Marill raised her head and looked at the sky filled with stars. Then she sat down and began counting them with Mike.
"Marill," Mike called softly.
Marill turned her round eyes toward him, waiting for him to continue.
"Why haven’t you tried contacting her?"
Marill stared at him for a moment before answering quietly.
"Marill."
[I can’t disturb her.]
"Why not?"
[The last time she called, I overheard her saying she was very busy.]
[I shouldn’t bother her while she’s busy.]
"Even though you miss her?"
Marill nodded.
"Then why don’t you go look for her? You could go to the Paldea region."
"Marill—"
[I can’t. I need to stay here and watch the house and the vegetable garden.]
[There are many vegetables she likes growing there. When she comes home, she’ll be able to eat her favorite vegetables.]
"You won’t—"
Mike stopped himself before finishing.
Marill’s ball-shaped tail gently bounced behind her.
"Marill."
[I know what you want to say. That won’t happen.]
[She promised she would come back. She wouldn’t lie to me.]
[I promised her too. I said I would look after the house and grow the vegetables she likes.]
[She told me to wait for her at home. She said this was my home too, so I have to stay here and wait.]
"Is that so?" Mike said softly.
"I understand."
"Marill."
[I’m sorry.]
"Why are you apologizing?"
[I know the food I make doesn’t taste good. That must be why the Meowth didn’t like me and bullied me.]
[But noodles are the only thing I know how to make.]
[She loved noodles. She could make so many kinds—lots and lots of delicious noodles.]
"No, your noodles were good. Ask Gengar if you don’t believe me."
"Gar—"
[That’s right~]
"Marill—"
[I’m not stupid. You said there wasn’t any salt.]
[But I don’t know what salt is. She taught me how to make noodles, then left the next day.]
[I always thought noodles were supposed to taste like that.]
"It’s okay. How about I teach you how to make noodles tomorrow?"
"Marill?"
"I’m very good at making noodles too. Ask Gengar if you don’t believe me."
"Gar!"
"Marill—"
"What are you thanking me for?"
Mike laughed and lightly flicked her forehead.
"We’re friends, aren’t we? Friends don’t need to say things like that."
Marill happily lay down beside him.
"Marill."
[Friends... I used to have lots of friends too.]
[But maybe my noodles tasted too bad. They got angry, surrounded me, and taught me a lesson.]
[Officer Jenny came and chased them away, but I was still very sad.]
[I always gave them whatever they wanted, but they still bullied me just because my cooking tasted bad.]
[It was never like that when she was here.]
Mike stroked her head and spoke quietly so he wouldn’t wake Glameow sleeping beside him.
"Real friendship should never be one person giving everything."
"Marill?"
"Good friends should both give something to each other."
"Like you and me, or you and Gengar. You cooked for us, and I cooked for you. That’s what friendship should be."
"If they only keep demanding things from you, then they aren’t really your friends. They’re only treating you like a tool they can use to get what they want."
"Marill..."
"Don’t worry. We’re already good friends now, aren’t we?"
"Marill!"
[Yes!]
(.>∀<.)
Glameow moved in Mike’s arms and he gently patted her back.
She opened her eyes for a moment, then closed them again as her spring-shaped tail naturally wrapped around his wrist.
Mike smiled warmly.
"The stars are so bright tonight. I’ll sing you all a song."
He cleared his throat.
"Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are~"
It was a very simple song, and Mike hummed it softly.
Gengar lay beside his good friend Marill with his thin bamboo staff in his arms, already snoring.
Marill soon drifted sweetly to sleep as well.
Gengar’s chubby foot fell heavily across her body, but Marill merely rolled over and naturally hugged it as she continued sleeping.
Beedrill hid among the branches and closed his eyes.
A faint purr sounded beside Mike again, while the tail wrapped around his wrist loosened slightly.
Mike closed his eyes too.
A vine swept through the night and gently pulled a blanket over him.
"Good night, Snivy."
"Sni~"
A soft, sweet response came from the tree.
The corner of Mike’s mouth lifted as he drifted off to sleep.
Snivy leaned against the tree and quietly watched Mike sleeping on the blanket.
After some time, she slowly closed her eyes as well.
...
Harsh sunlight woke Mike from his deep sleep.
He sat up.
Glameow had already left his arms and was now lying beneath the sunlight, lazily basking in the newly risen sun.
The morning light was perfect for her. It had only just risen and wasn’t hot yet, leaving her body comfortably warm.
Gengar and Beedrill were playing catch in the air—or rather, a modified version of it.
Five Gengar surrounded Beedrill, rapidly throwing Shadow Balls at him from every direction.
Beedrill continuously pierced the incoming attacks with his stingers.
One or two occasionally slipped through and exploded against his body, but the speed of his thrusts never slowed.
"I knew it..."
Mike had fully expected this.
Snivy was still sitting in the tree, staring into the distance.
Mike stood from the blanket and stretched.
Sleeping in the yard had been pleasant in every way except for how hard the ground was against his back.
His waist felt as if it were about to break!
"Good morning, everyone."
"Gar—"
[You’re finally awake.]
"Meow~"
"Sni~"
"Marill!"
[You’re awake?]
Marill stood nearby with her slightly bent watering can in her hands and looked at him happily.
Mike nodded.
"Good morning, Marill."
"Marill~"
[Good morning~]
"Finished watering the vegetables?"
Marill shook her head.
"Not yet."
"Have you eaten breakfast?"
Marill shook her head again.
"Then let’s pick some vegetables, and I’ll teach you how to make noodles."
Marill gave him an adorable smile and nodded, happily leading him toward the garden.
After choosing several vegetables, Mike brought Marill back to the kitchen.
"Stop playing and come help me."
Mike walked into the yard and called to Gengar and Beedrill, who were still throwing Shadow Balls around.
"Gar—"
[Coming.]
A faint popping sound rang out as all of Gengar’s Double Team copies vanished.
The real Gengar floated toward Mike.
Beedrill returned to hiding among the branches.
After teaching Marill how to make proper noodles and finishing breakfast, Mike prepared to leave.
"We’ll come visit you again next time."
Mike waved goodbye to Marill at the gate.
Marill nodded.
After watching Mike leave, she closed the iron gate and returned inside the house.
...
Mike didn’t return to the hotel.
Instead, he wandered through the streets with Gengar and the others.
Whenever he came across a hidden alley, he turned inside.
Soon afterward, agonized howls from Meowth would echo from within.
Mike walked back out while dusting off his hands.
"Let’s go eat lunch, then head back to our room for a nap."
"Gar—"
It was said that from that day onward, the stray Pokémon of Jubilife City became considerably better behaved.
One Meowth complained:
’How could we not behave? That human showed up with Gengar and the others, didn’t say a word, and immediately attacked us! Only after beating us up did he ask whether we knew a certain Marill.’
Another Meowth added:
’If we said we knew her, he beat us even harder! If we said we didn’t, he still beat us harder! He even said that since he had already started, he might as well finish, then attacked us all over again!’
Witnesses claimed the stray Pokémon of Jubilife City had recently begun fighting among themselves and seemed to be searching everywhere for someone.
For the residents of Jubilife City, however, this was wonderful news.
They could finally enjoy a few peaceful days!