Naoki also noticed Dr. Sada and Arven not far away.

  When he first spotted them, he thought his eyes were pying tricks on him and stood there in a daze for a moment.

  "How e they're here?" he muttered to himself.

  "Dr. Sada?" Naoki asked in surprise, stepping forward.

  Dr. Sada nodded slightly, a fident smile on her face. "Long time no see, Naoki."

  "Why are you visiting so suddenly?" Naoki asked, stopping his work and greeting them properly.

  Hearing this, Dr. Sada g Arven beside her and said thoughtfully, "What you told us st time made me think. So, I decided to take a few days off and spend some time with Arven to rex."

  Naoki nodded, recalling the versation he'd had with Dr. Sada and Professor Turo about Arven's feelings towards Koraidon and Miraidon. Arven had misuood that those Pokémon were responsible for taking away his parents, and as a result, he wasn't too fond of them.

  It seemed like Dr. Sada wao mend things with Arven. But Naoki couldn't help but think, 'If you wao rex, wouldn't an amusement park with a carousel and Ferris wheel make more sense? Why the ranch?'

  Naoki's fusion must've shown on his face because Dr. Sada chuckled and expined, "Experieng the peaceful tryside with Arven and immersing ourselves in farm life is a great way to rex. Plus," she trailed off, her gaze shifting toward Koraidon. "I observe this Koraidon up close."

  After their st versation, Dr. Sada realized the importance of addressing Arven's feelings, but at the same time, she also saportunity to study Koraidon, something she couldn't resist. She had asked Professor Turo to look after the b while she and Arven came to the ranch for a little break and observation.

  Naoki blinked. "Oh..." He now uood her motivation, though he still wasn't sure how to respond.

  He gnced from Dr. Sada to Arven.

  After hearing his mother's pn, Arven, who had been cheerful, suddenly looked less than thrilled.

  Arven had been overjoyed that his mother had finally taken a rare day off to spend with him. He'd imagihey'd be going to a fun pce, maybe having a big family meal and making sting memories together.

  But when he realized the destination was the ranch, and that his mother's attention was already focused on Koraidon, his previously bright expression dulled. His mouth straightened into a thin line, and a shadow of disappoi settled on his face.

  Naoki winced slightly at the se. 'Poor kid,' he thought.

  "So," Dr. Sada tinued, breaking the silence, "could we have a piic here? I'll pay for the spad aal fees."

  Naoki blinked. "Uh..." He g Arven, who was clearly downcast, aated before responding, "Of course, but there aren't enough ingredients on the ranch."

  Dr. Sada nodded. "No problem. I'll go into town to visit the market and pick up some supplies. Arven, would you like to e with me?"

  Arven, still lookied, lowered his head and didn't answer.

  Sensing his reluce, Dr. Sada sighed softly and said, "Alright, then. You stay here and wait for me. I'll bring back your favorite food."

  After saying that, Dr. Sada turned a.

  Naoki stepped away from the farmnd, washed his hands, and grabbed a bottle of chilled drink from the fridge. He walked over to Arven, who was standing there quietly.

  "Your name's Arven, right? I heard it from Dr. Sada," Naoki said, the drink with a smile.

  Arven looked at the man in front of him and shook his head. "I'm not thirsty."

  "Well, take it for when you are," Naoki insisted, holding out the drink.

  "Thanks," Arven replied softly, realizing he couldn't really refuse.

  "Just call me Naoki," Naoki said, grinning. He hadn't expected the tough Senior Arven from the games to have such a shy side.

  Given his age, Arven seemed to be around seven ht years old, not yet the fident teenager Naoki remembered from the future.

  While waiting for Dr. Sada to return, Naoki asked Arven to sit and rex while he finished up the remaining farm chores with the Pokémon. Once all the crops were harvested and piled ly on the wn, Dr. Sada finally returned from town, carrying a rge bag of groceries. She handed Naoki a hefty sum—10,000 Poke Dolrs.

  Naoki blinked in surprise. "Wow, that's, generous."

  He realized with that kind of payment, he o go all out. He meticulously ied the ingredients Dr. Sada had purchased and decided to treat her and Arven to a proper barbecue farm party.

  He set up everything needed—cutting the meat into small pieces, preparing skewers, and even making a few gsses of iced watermelon juice. It was shaping up to be quite the feast.

  "Do you need me to grill the meat?" Naoki asked.

  Dr. Sada shook her head with a smile. "No need, we'll do it ourselves."

  Seeing that, Naoki decided to step aside, figuring he should give them some privacy. But to his surprise, Dr. Sada called out to him.

  "Join us! We bought way too much, and besides, I'd love to hear more about Koraidon," she said, nodding towards the Pokémon.

  Naoki sidered it for a moment, then agreed. He brought his Pokémon over, spread a piiket on the grass nearby, a out sandwiches and snacks for everyone.

  Koraidon, Cyclizar, Dragonite, and G all gathered around, eagerly digging into the food.

  As Dr. Sada watched this se unfold, she couldn't help but be amazed.

  She had assumed Naoki was just an ordinary rancher who happeo be lucky enough to meet Koraido was injured. Perhaps, out of gratitude, Koraidon had stayed on the ranch.

  But now, it was clear that there was much more to Naoki. Raising a rge group of rare Pokémon like Dragonite, Dratini, and Dragonair? That wasn't the work of an ordinary farmer. The Pokémon on his ranch were exceptionally well-cared for, eveo perfe.

  Dr. Sada couldn't help but notice how well-trained ahy the Pokémon looked. The sturdy Gogoat, the shiny fur on Pawmo, the strong and heavy Naclstacks—it was all far from ordinary.

  Dr. Sada observed the Pokémon Naoki had on his ranoting that some seemed retively ordinary pared to the rare and powerful ones. Cyclizar, Butterfree, Miltank, Dolliv, G, and Alcremie stood out as more on species. But given that many of these Pokémon were used for ranch work in the Paldea region, not for battle, it wasn't surprising.

  As Dr. Sada grilled some skewers, she asked, "It must be hard to take care of so many Pokémht?"

  Naoki chuckled and g the Pokémon enjoying sandwiches from the piic basket. "It's not too hard sihey're all pretty well-behaved."

  He paused for a moment, then tinued, sharing the details Dr. Sada robably most curious about. "Especially Koraidon. It's incredibly strong and helps me out a lot. It takes me to town, helps plow the fields, pnts seeds, and even helps train the Dragonite and Cyclizar."

  Naoki smiled warmly. "It's also pretty cute in its own way. Sometimes it gets jealous of the other Pokémon. And sometimes, it fets how big it is and tries to hop on my bed, whids up with the bed crushed. I've had to repce two beds since I've had it."

  As he spoke, Naoki reminisced about all the little moments with Koraidon. Dr. Sada listened ily, and even Arven, who had been quiet and somewhat sullen earlier, seemed drawn in by Naoki's stories.

  The Koraidon Naoki described sounded so different from the one Arven had heard about. It wasn't just a fierce, a Pokémon—it was a panion.

  Dr. Sada nodded in agreement. "That's typical of Pokémon like Koraidon. They have strong personalities and be quite possessive. But ohey form a bond, they bee incredibly loyal."

  Naoki ughed and nodded. "Exactly!"

  Dr. Sada smiled, handing some of the grilled food to Arven, who no longer looked as grumpy as before. He was beginning to enjoy the rare family time with his mother.

  "Seeing you two like this, I 't help but feel a little relieved," Dr. Sada said, watg them both with a soft smile. "It shows that a Pokémon like Koraidon still adapt to this era."

  Naoki paused for a moment. 'Is it just me, or does Dr. Sada still have a bit of a wild side?' he thought, though he didn't say it out loud.

  After some hesitation, Naoki asked curiously, "Dr. Sada, have you and Dr. Turo been w in the Great Crater of Paldea for a long time?"

  Dr. Sada nodded. "Yes, there's so much to study there. The Terastal phenomenon that trainers use in battle? It was something Turo and I discovered deep in the crater."

  "What's it like in there?" Naoki asked, his curiosity piqued.

  Having only seen the crater in the games, Naoki wondered how breathtaking it would be in real life. He imagi must be quite the spectacle.

  Dr. Sada smiled at his curiosity. "The enviro ihe Great Crater is truly uhe terrain is varied—lush green fields, steep cliffs, waterfalls from rivers, kes, deep caves almost any kind of terrain you imagine is ihat crater."

  She paused, letting the wonder of the pce sink in for Naoki. "In short, it's a pce full of mystery and immense beauty."

  Naoki's eyes lit up with excitement. "I'd love to see it for myself one day!"

  Dr. Sada smiled. "Maybe one day you will. But it's not quite the time yet."

  The Paldea Crater is full of mysteries and unknowns. It wasn't until 79 years ago that humaablished an observatory at the Paldea Crater, gradually unveiling some of its enigmas.

  However, the terrain is too plex and dangerous, with many perilous Paradox Pokémon inhabiting the area.

  As a result, the Paldea League established strict rules: only researchers are allowed to ehe Paldea Pit. Traveling trainers and academy students, even during off-campus activities, are strictly forbidden from entering.

  Naoki wasn't surprised by this information.

  Thinking about the events that might unfold iure, he couldn't help but ask ily, "It must be quite dangerous to duct resear that kind of enviro, right?"

  Dr. Sada smiled slightly. "On normal days, the dangerous Pokémon don't e he research facility. There's an observation station along the route, and it's a safe path to the institute. As long as you're cautious, there shouldn't be anything too hazardous."

  Naoki preteo pohis and then said, "But research bs have all kinds of plex maes, right? I've seen in movies where research ters explode because of teical malfuns, causing the researchers io—"

  Dr. Sada cut him off with a ugh. "That's just something from the movies. Real-life research isn't like that."

  Naoki remained silent for a moment, thinking, 'That's exactly how you and Turo will die—an explosion at the observatory, leaving Arven all alone.'

  "It's always better to be cautious," Naoki insisted. "Actually, I have an idea."

  Dr. Sada raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Oh? What's your idea?"

  Naoki spoke seriously, "Each research facility should have a Pokémon with the ability Damp. With them around, perhaps you prevent any catastrophic explosions."

  Sada was momentarily taken aback, but then smiled at Naoki's ear expression. "Damp, huh? That's an iing thought. I'll keep that in mind when I return."

  And with that, Naoki decided to leave the versation at that.

  Seeing that Dr. Sada had taken his suggestion, albeit lightly, Naoki shifted the versation toward Arven, who had been quietly sitting by.

  "Arven should be almost ten years old, right?" Naoki asked, breaking the gentle silence.

  Speaking of her son, Dr. Sada's normally posed face softened with a touch of tenderness. "Yes, he just turned his time year, he'll be ten."

  Watg this, Naoki couldn't help but reflect:

  No matter what the future holds, despite Dr. Sada's dream of uniting a and modern Pokémon, she clearly loves her son deeply right now, doesn't she?

  "Does Arven live with you in the researstitute?" Naoki asked again, curious about their arra.

  Dr. Sada shook her head, a hint of guilt creeping into her voice. "No, I'm tied up with my work at the researstitute most of the time. Arven lives in Mesagoza, a year, wheurns ten, he'll enroll at Naranja Academy."

  Later that afternoon, Dr. Sada took Arven with her as they left the ranch.

  Naoki stood by the gate with Koraidon and Cyclizar, watg them fade into the distance. He found himself staring at young Arven, and for a fleeting moment, it was as if he could see the great gears of fate beginning to turn above the boy's head.

  "It should be possible to ge things, right?" Naoki whispered, half to himself, half to the universe.

  Koraidon tilted its head, its eyes full of quiet curiosity. "Raao?"

  Without the transtion seeds, Naoki couldn't ualy what Koraidon was saying, but he could tell from its tone and expression that it was likely asking, What are you thinking about?

  Naoki smiled, anizing his thoughts before speaking. "I was just w what their future will be like."

  Koraidon g the figures in the distance befiving a soft, almost ptive "Raao..." as if refleg ohought.

  Naoki shook his head, casting off the weight of his ps. "Fet it. No use w about it. Whatever happens, it 't be worse than the events in the game." He chuckled lightly, trying to cheer himself up. Patting Koraidon's head, he added, "Let's get back to work! Zack will be here soon to pick up the goods. Once we make enough money, we talk to Kelly tomorrow and finally build that big house. No more squeezing into this little !"

  Naoki turned his gaze back to the small, weathered led at the edge of the ranch.

  I used to think so small, he realized. If I really want to open that Pokémon tavern, maybe I don't o demolish the after all.

  The idea sparked something new in him. Why tear it down when a few minor renovations could transform it into the cozy Pokémon tavern he had imagined? Clear out the old furniture, install a simple wooden bar, and pce a few tables tailored for Pokémos—just like that, the tavern could open for business.

  But then, the ever-practical part of him raised a question:

  'Will there actually be Pokémon ing to "drink" at this tavern?'

  Even with Mew and Baby Bear spreading the word, the Paldea region was isoted, surrounded by vast seas. Sure, flying Pokémon and water-types could cross the o, but what about the ohat couldn't? What would they do?

  "Guess we'll find out soon enough," Naoki said to himself with a small, hopeful smile.

  After some thought, Naoki made a resolution. If Pokémon visitors arrived at the tavern within the few weeks, he would fully it and officially open for business. But if not, well, he would vert the into a ste barn frain.