The autumn back mountain is quite different from the spring and summer seasons.
The leaves on the trees are no longer lush green, showing a hint of yellow.
When the autumn wind blows, the dense canopy overhead rustles with sound, followed by the gently spiraling descent of the yellowing leaves.
A few wild Tarountula dangle upside down from the treetops with silk threads, scurrying back into the foliage and cautiously observing their surroundings when Naoki walks by below.
Naoki, however, doesn't pay them much mind.
He hops off his Gogoat, approaches a tall old tree, and picks a few mushrooms from among the fallen branches and leaves.
This must be the upside of autumn.
In this season of harvest, a variety of wild mushrooms sprout in the back mountain.
Whether dried and stored or used to brew a delicious broth, they are a very good choice.
In just an hour, Naoki has harvested half a basket of wild mushrooms.
Some he recognizes, like boletes, russula, coral fungi, morels, yellow boletes, and weeping bolete.
Of course, there are some he doesn't recognize among them as well.
But thanks to his Golden Finger ability, Naoki can still learn the names and details of these mushrooms.
Among them are quite a few containing toxic elements.
Naoki originally wanted to throw away these mushrooms to prevent harm from eating them.
However, after looking closer at their information, he gave up on that idea.
[Red Mushroom: A special ingredient, carries toxic properties, causing Pokemon to fall into a Toxic state when consumed. Cooking with it may yield some unexpected effects.]
"Huh?" Naoki is a bit surprised, "A special ingredient? Does it mean ingredients with toxins?"
This is the first time he's seen such an ingredient.
Looking at the description that suggests unexpected effects, curiosity rises inside Naoki.
Why not... take it back and give it a try?
Even if they're toxic, they simply need not eat it.
However, based on previous cooking experiences, Naoki thinks these toxic mushrooms might end up making a dish that boosts Poison Type Pokemon.
"Alright then, let's give it a try!"
Naoki still decides to pack away these toxic mushrooms separately.
Then he rides his Gogoat for a little further exploration, finally finding the ginger he wanted by a moist riverside.
This ginger is very spicy, and aside from certain Pokemon, most aren't interested in it.
Therefore, this cluster of ginger remains almost perfectly intact.
Naoki digs them all up from the ground, then packs them into the basket on his back.
After doing all this, he rides his Gogoat back to the ranch.
The wild mushrooms can wait; right now, the ginger needs handling first.
Naoki opens the cupboard for an inspection and finds there's still some red sugar left, what was left over from an earlier dessert session with Alcremie.
Fortunately, he doesn't need to go to town to buy more.
With the autumn wind howling outside, Naoki huddles in his warm home with a group of Pokemon, brewing red sugar ginger tea for them.
While preparing the ingredients, a bunch of Pokemon are playing in the living room.
All he has to do is look up, and he can see them.
The TV's sound mixed with the growls and howls of the Pokemon make the house lively.
From time to time, a few Pokemon look up in his direction.
Naoki catches their gaze, then smiles softly and continues cooking.
The process of making red sugar ginger tea isn't complicated.
First, peel the ginger and slice it, then pour clean water into a pot, bring it to a boil, add red sugar and two red dates, then simmer for twenty minutes, finally add the sliced ginger and simmer for another five minutes.
The finished red sugar ginger tea has a bright color, and just from the rising steam, you can smell the blend of sweet and spicy scents.
Naoki tries a sip first, and as he swallows, his whole body warms from the inside out.
"Amazing."
He looks down, and the information about the red sugar ginger tea appears simultaneously.
[Red Sugar Ginger Tea (A): A beverage made with red sugar and ginger, infused with the creator's heartfelt emotions which significantly boost its effects.
Cooking Effect: Warmth lv3, after drinking, Pokemon will dispel coldness and feel warmth in body and mind, increasing the efficiency of move practice for 12 hours.
Review: Your best friend for banishing cold and keeping warm, a top choice for chilly winter days!]
Hmm?
Is this... the second emotion-infused dish?
Naoki was a bit surprised, recalling the quiet and serene feeling he had when making the red sugar ginger tea.
A peaceful, soothing atmosphere that made him feel relaxed and warm deep inside.
Thinking about this, Naoki gives a knowing smile.
In the past, after creating a permanently lucky Lucky Pudding for Teddiursa, he tried to cook intentionally tapping into his emotions.
But he failed every time because he was too deliberate.
Then he realized this state comes unexpectedly, best left to chance — encountering it was a pleasant surprise in life, and if not, he wouldn't be disheartened.
"It's ready, everyone come on over!"
Naoki shakes his head, putting his mixed feelings aside, then pours the brewed red sugar ginger tea into bowls, lining them up on the stove in front of him, and calls out towards the living room.
Soon, a group of Pokemon obediently line up to drink tea.
In their minds, every dish Naoki makes is undeniably delicious.
Therefore, without Naoki having to say a word, a few Pokemon pick up their bowls and down them in one go.
The very next second, the living room fills with a series of coughing sounds.
Evidently, the spiciness overwhelmed them.
Naoki looks helpless: "You have to sip this slowly!"
Pawmot's face turns red from choking, tears welling in its eyes: "Pawmo..."
The two Indeedee wear similar expressions.
Especially the brother, who knits his brows tightly, clearly not liking the taste.
The brother Indeedee was about to say something, but in the next moment, it felt warmth spreading from the inside out.
This astonished it: "Indeedee?"
The other Pokemon felt it too, as the spiciness in their mouths faded, their attention shifted entirely to the changes in their bodies.
Watching this scene, Naoki smiled and asked: "Feeling warmer now, right?"
"Gawoo!" Cyclizar nodded dumbly.
Under the curious gazes of all the Pokemon, Naoki began to explain:
"This is red sugar ginger tea. It can drive out the cold within you, making it less likely for you to get sick and helping you grow up strong and healthy."
The sister Indeedee suddenly recalled that Naoki rode Gogoat up the back mountain.
She quickly asked: "Indeedee?"
Naoki understood what she meant, nodding with a chuckle: "Exactly, it's made from the wild ginger growing on the back mountain. Just today, I went with Gogoat into the mountains to find them."
Hearing those words, the Pokemon in front all looked moved.
The red sugar ginger tea carried the maker's emotions.
So, after drinking it, they could also feel the intention contained within.
Koraidon suddenly felt like crying.
Even many years later, when it reminisced about the past, it would clearly remember today — it had caught a cold, and Naoki went up the back mountain with a basket to find ginger for it.