"Pawmi!"
Pawmi was startled by the sudden "Nuzzle" and let out a cry.
"Smells so good!"
Naoki took a big whiff before finally letting go of Pawmi.
It's just too skinny, a bit malnourished. It might feel better once it gains some weight.
Naoki formulated a "nutrition plan" for Pawmi in his mind, then placed it on the ground, saying, "Alright, go play!"
"Pawmi..."
Pawmi, finally coming out of its dazed state, wasn't unfamiliar with Naoki's behavior.
Because Pawmi's often nuzzle and tumble around together on the grass, playing and frolicking.
It's a way to express friendliness and affection.
But having a human do it was a first.
Pawmi was a bit shy, thinking: What a nice human! Not only did they take it in, but they were also so friendly to it.
Coupled with the recent hot bath, Pawmi felt its body had become much cleaner and fresher, and its fur was no longer dirty.
Pawmi really liked this feeling, and it seemed as if little pink hearts were popping above its head—proof of its rising affection.
Realizing it was Pawmi's first official visit to this ranch, Naoki planned to have Koraidon show it around and introduce it to everyone at the ranch.
But recalling how Pawmi seemed scared of Koraidon yesterday, he changed his mind and said to the nearby Cyclizar:
"Cyclizar, take Pawmi to get familiar with the place."
"Grr-aoo!"
Cyclizar agreed cheerfully and got up to lead Pawmi away.
Meanwhile, Naoki started his daily work.
He took out the hay balls for Skiddo from the cabinet and, on his way to the pen, checked in on the three Combee.
Early in the morning, the industrious Combee began transporting nectar. Seeing Naoki, they appeared less unfamiliar than yesterday, even landing gently beside him and making happy noises.
"Bzz bzz~!"
Then, the three Combee led Naoki to the hive, showing him the honey being brewed inside.
They looked so happy, as if to say, "The honey will be ready soon!"
Seeing this, Naoki was somewhat surprised.
He immediately recalled the words of the old man from yesterday.
The Combee on Happy Ranch don't need a Vespiquen. They see the rancher as the "Vespiquen," the leader of the hive.
The Vespiquen plays the role of leader in a Combee hive, raising young and leading the others.
Similarly, the rancher, who cares for them and provides food, is no different from a Vespiquen to the Combee.
So, just like for a Vespiquen, they diligently collect honey for the rancher.
The Combee are also very intelligent, with thoughts and values. Compared to living with a Vespiquen in the wild, this cared-for, well-fed life isn't so bad.
This is a mutually chosen process,
Understanding this, Naoki stopped worrying. He patted one of the Combee on the head and said with a smile, "Thank you for your hard work! Let's do our best together!"
"Bzz bzz~"
The Combee continued gathering nectar, while Naoki went to the sheep pen to pour hay balls into the feeder.
Before he knew it, it was milking day again.
He brought in a milk bucket and skillfully started milking the Skiddo.
The Skiddo enjoyed munching on grass while being milked.
Naoki, feeling the Skiddo's round belly, became suspicious.
"Have you guys been eating too much?" he asked doubtfully.
Skiddo: "Baa~"
Naoki parted its wool and, seeing Skiddo's round body, his eyes widened.
"How did you get this fat in a month!"
Skiddo looked innocent: "Baa~"
Naoki checked the other two Skiddo and found they had also gained quite a bit of weight.
This left him speechless: "Aren't you afraid of the Big Bad Wolf coming to eat you if you become such fat sheep?"
He wasn't really complaining about their weight, just concerned that being too fat could have health repercussions, leading to a range of diseases.
But the Skiddo showed a spirited determination.
"Baa!"
The next moment, a wave of green energy surged from them, instantly enveloping the pen in a Grassy Terrain.
They huddled together, with the Skiddo that had once battled Koraidon at the center, the other two flanking it, and right before Naoki's eyes, they made a dazzling transformation.
Each of them formed peculiar "Leaf Blades" and, placing them in their mouths, assumed battle stances.
Even though they didn't know who the "Big Bad Wolf" Pokemon was, they weren't pushovers!
Naoki: "..."
"Alright, alright, put away your Divine Power now!"
If a wild Trainer saw this scene, they might just drop dead on the spot out of shock.
Naoki waved his hand helplessly, and the three Skiddo obediently returned to their normal selves.
Concerned that obesity might negatively affect them, Naoki pondered whether he should have a Pokemon Doctor come and check the Skiddo's health, while explaining to them:
"It's not that I'm stopping you from eating, I'm just worried that getting too fat might make you sick."
He listed examples to the Skiddo, saying, "For us humans, eating too much can lead to a series of issues, like high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and even heart disease, resulting in death."
The three Skiddo stood in a row, innocently listening to his lecture.
"Baa?"
Previously, while watching anime, Naoki focused mainly on Ash and the Gym challenges, often overlooking Pokemon health issues.
He only knew that Pokemon, like humans, could catch colds, get fevers, and even suffer from anorexia. Even though they are magical creatures capable of breathing fire and spouting water, sometimes they are endangered by minor ailments.
Just like how, in the anime, Ash risked his life to take a feverish wild Pokemon to the Pokemon Center, and Miss Joy said, "It would have been terrible if you brought it any later."
So, what about obesity issues?
Naoki fell into deep thought.
It's best to consult a professional about this sooner rather than later, or it might be too late once they actually fall ill.
The first person Naoki thought of was Miss Joy at the Porto Marinada Town Pokemon Center.
Looking at the three Skiddo in front of him, Naoki turned around, planning to head to town after feeding the chicks and Nacli.
But before that, he first had to water the fields.
Since Dragonite hadn't yet mastered Rain Dance, manual watering was required.
After watering, and letting Koraidon know, Naoki rode Cyclizar towards the town.