"Everyone, let me introduce you this is Jirachi!"
The announcement echoed through the garden just as Lin Feng set down the last of the dinner dishes. The Pokémon who had gone out with him earlier hadn't eaten yet, so he'd returned to the kitchen to prepare another meal.
And now, with everything ready, his first priority was to introduce the newest member of the group.
The moment Jirachi's name left his lips, the atmosphere shifted. Every Pokémon who didn't already know the mythical being turned at once, eyes widening in surprise and awe.
Jirachi?
The wish-granting Pokémon he told us about?
"Ji…rachi?"
The little star Pokémon fidgeted nervously. Surrounded by so many curious gazes, it wasn't sure where to look or what to do.
The evening feast didn't make things easier Lin Feng had gone all out. There were berry salads, steamed bass caught from the garden's water channels, small frosted cakes, fruit juice, and honey milk. He had even prepared special dishes for the Pokémon staying in the nursery.
There was honey-sweet juice for Serperior, glimmering fruit wine for Gardevoir, and fried eggs brushed with honey for Blaziken.
To Jirachi, the entire scene felt dazzling so many delicious-looking foods, most of which it had never seen before. Its eyes darted from dish to dish, but under everyone's gaze, it didn't dare move. Instead, it offered a small, shy smile.
"Ji…rachi?" (You all know who I am?)
"Milcery~" (Of course! Lin Feng told us about you!)
One Milcery floated up, circling Jirachi with bright, curious eyes. After studying it for a bit, she nodded earnestly.
"Milcery!" (You really do look like a star!)
Indeed, her comment wasn't wrong both Jirachi and a star shared that same five-pointed shape.
Another Milcery floated over, holding up a tiny cupcake topped with whipped cream. "Milcery!" (This is a cupcake made with our cream! Eat it, and you'll smell sweet and yummy too!)
"Ji…rachi?" (Smell sweet?)
Jirachi tilted its head, confused.
The Milcery blinked. Why does it make you smell good? she wondered. She didn't know either.
Lin Feng smiled from the side. "That's the power of good food."
The Milcery nodded immediately, proud. "Milcery!" (Yes! The power of good food!)
Jirachi hesitated for a moment, then took a small bite.
The cupcake was soft and warm, perfectly sweet without being heavy, and the faint scent of berries danced across its tongue. The fluffy texture of the baked dough mixed with the cream it was a flavor it'd never experienced before.
Its eyes sparkled with delight.
"Jirachi!" (So good!)
It chewed happily, cheeks full. The last time it had eaten regularly was over a thousand years ago just simple roasted fruit and meat, barely salted and often dry. The berries back then weren't as juicy or sweet as the ones today, either.
But now, this this "cupcake" was pure joy in edible form.
"Milcery?" (Do you like it?)
The Milcery's eyes curved into happy crescents as she sniffed the sweet scent wafting from Jirachi.
She wanted every Pokémon in the garden to smell that good!
Soon, the others joined in.
A Bounsweet toddled up, holding a tiny cup of juice made from its own fruit. "Boun~" (This is my juice! Drink it it'll make you happy!)
Her expression was full of warmth and kindness, the way one comforts someone who has suffered too much.
"Ji…rachi?" (Feel happy?)
The concept was unfamiliar to Jirachi, but seeing the Bounsweet's smile, it took the cup and drank.
The taste was sweet, tangy, and bright like sunshine caught in liquid. A rush of happiness spread through its chest.
"Jirachi!" (It's so sweet! So tasty!)
After Bounsweet's offering came Alolan Vulpix, pushing forward a little salad dish with its paws. "Vul~" (This is a berry salad. It helps with ice-type moves…)
Then Blaziken came forward. It hesitated, clutching its plate of honey-fried eggs. Finally, it set one down in front of Jirachi.
"Blaziken…" (These are honey eggs. Lin Feng said they raise happiness. If you like them, I can share another one…)
Gardevoir followed, gracefully offering a crystal glass. "Voir." (This is fruit wine. Try a little.)
And finally, Mew floated over, proudly clutching a small pouch. "Mew~" (This is catnip! Want some?)
At first, Lin Feng just stood there, puzzled. Why were all his Pokémon suddenly giving away their favorite foods?
But then he saw their faces each one gentle and sympathetic, their eyes full of compassion. They'd all heard what he told them about Jirachi: the thousand-year slumber, the isolation, the lonely awakening.
They weren't trying to impress Jirachi. They were comforting it.
The first Milcery had started it with her cupcake, and when everyone saw how happy Jirachi looked eating it, they wanted to do the same.
Lin Feng's heart softened. He had worried at first that Jirachi might feel embarrassed or pitied.
But as he watched it juggle a cupcake in one hand and a forkful of salad in the other, eyes gleaming with pure joy, he realized he didn't need to worry at all.
Its happiness level was literally rising before his eyes.
And in Jirachi's heart, there was only warmth.
After a thousand years of sleep, it had finally met people who were kind.
First was Lillian, who had given it sweet Pokéblocks and, with gentle firmness, forbade it from granting her wish because she didn't want it to suffer for her sake.
Then there was Lin Feng who cooked delicious meals, took it to amusement parks, and showed it how the modern world found joy.
And now, even his Pokémon were treating it as family, sharing their food, smiles, and laughter.
For the first time, Jirachi felt like it truly belonged somewhere.
Today was so much fun, it thought, nibbling the last bite of honey egg.
If only time didn't move so fast…
The first day is already over.
It looked up at the starry sky, faint starlight reflected in its big, round eyes.
And quietly, almost to itself, it whispered:
Maybe… this is what happiness feels like.