On Saturday morning, rain pattered outside the window, the raindrops hitting the glass with soft ticking sounds, as if nature was playing a lullaby.
Chen Kai and Grovyle were both nestled in their warm blankets, completely enveloped by the soft covers, like well-protected nuts.
Occasionally, large raindrops would heavily strike the window, only causing Grovyle's eyelashes to flutter slightly, without disturbing its sweet dreams.
It remained comfortably immersed in sleep; Grovyle had been a bit tired from the matches a few days prior, and both human and Pokemon enjoyed this rare leisurely time, as if the entire world had nothing to do with them.
“Knock knock knock! Knock knock knock!!!
Kai Ge, are you there?”
A sudden series of noisy knocks on the door, though not loud, were like pebbles dropped into a calm lake, creating ripples in Chen Kai’s dream.
He yawned lazily, rubbed his sleepy eyes, and mumbled, “Who is it? In this heavy rain…”
At this moment, Miraidon, who was playing video games next door, also heard the sound and went to open the door.
Chen Kai also got up and put on his clothes, walked to the living room, and found that it was Yellow Hair.
“Yo! Kai Ge, you’re still not up yet!” Yellow Hair smiled awkwardly, raising his hand to greet Chen Kai.
Larvitar, who was with Yellow Hair, turned its head to look outside, its round, wet big eyes gazing at the continuous rain, its small nose wrinkling slightly, and it made dissatisfied “Lar, Lar” sounds, seemingly complaining about the annoying rain.
Then, Larvitar stretched its short little arms, grabbed the handle of the umbrella with both hands, and swung it vigorously, looking very comical.
After swinging it a few times, it stopped, then carefully looked at the remaining raindrops on the umbrella, feeling it wasn't clean enough, so it gripped the umbrella again and swung it even harder, its small head bobbing up and down with it, its serious yet adorable appearance making one unable to help but feel fondness.
Chen Kai pulled out a stool and invited Yellow Hair to sit. He remembered that Yellow Hair and Zhao Jie had agreed to revive the fossils today, and Su Yuexi still needed Yellow Hair to take her along.
“Aren’t you going to Da City?”
“Hehe, I’ll go in a bit.” Yellow Hair was somewhat uncharacteristically reserved; usually, he was very outgoing.
Chen Kai saw that Yellow Hair seemed to be hesitating and asked directly, “So you came here first, is there something you need?”
Yellow Hair chuckled, “Hehe, Kai Ge, I just wanted to trouble you with something. Could you please help me take care of Larvitar for the next few days? I’ll pick it up when I get things sorted out in Da City.”
Chen Kai yawned, “No problem.”
Seeing Chen Kai agree, Yellow Hair happily shook Chen Kai’s hand, “Okay, okay, thank you, Kai Ge, I will definitely repay you later!”
With that, he ran off without even opening his umbrella.
Only Chen Kai was left in the living room, a bit bewildered.
What’s going on?
Chen Kai didn’t quite understand, scratching his head, and looked at Larvitar, “Have you had breakfast yet?”
Larvitar waved its arms and said, “Lar!”
Chen Kai didn’t quite understand what it said, but Chen Kai could understand what Grovyle said.
After Grovyle translated, Chen Kai finally realized that Larvitar had not eaten breakfast.
Chen Kai briefly warmed a few pieces of bread for his and Grovyle's breakfast.
Chen Kai also shared the bread with Larvitar.
Larvitar was lying on the ground, idly poking a small pebble with its tiny paw.
Hearing Chen Kai’s call, it slowly lifted its head, glanced at the bread with its round little eyes, and its small nose twitched a few times, as if carefully discerning the smell of the bread.
Immediately after, Larvitar’s small head shook like a rattle drum, its two small ears flopping along, and it made “Lar, Lar, Lar” sounds. After Grovyle translated, it seemed to be saying, “What is this? I don’t like it.”
Chen Kai then remembered that Larvitar seemed to eat dirt; to be precise, it absorbed energy-rich minerals from the soil.
Chen Kai recalled something unpleasant.
“Hiss!”
He squatted down and asked,
“What did your mom feed you before?”
Larvitar tilted its head, recalled for a moment, and said,
“Lar!” (They were all very delicious stones!)
Chen Kai pressed on, “What has Yellow Hair been feeding you recently?”
Larvitar said somewhat displeased,
“Lar, Lar…” (It was okay at first, but I’ve been eating less and less these past few days…)
During this time, through Grovyle’s continuous translation, Chen Kai roughly understood that Tyranitar had fed Larvitar relatively good ores and rocks since it was young.
Eating ordinary sand would also work. However, it was like a human eating potato chips; it could fill you up, but you would need to eat a very, very large quantity, and eating sand would take a very long time.
Chen Kai also roughly guessed that Yellow Hair was probably out of money, which was why he temporarily asked Chen Kai to help take care of Larvitar.
“Emm…” Chen Kai rubbed his chin, pondering. He didn't have any ores here. He could only take out a Sitrus Berry and ask,
“Can you eat this?”
Larvitar this time approached with a bit of interest, its small nose twitching a few more times.
“Lar!” (I think this is fine.)
Chen Kai thought so too. Minerals are rich in energy, and berries are also rich in energy, so it’s similar.
He handed the Sitrus Berry to Larvitar and said, “Then you eat this first; there’s more if it’s not enough.”
Larvitar was so excited that its short legs bounced non-stop. It had never eaten a berry before, its two small eyes curved into crescent moons, and drool was almost flowing out.
Larvitar tightly hugged a Sitrus Berry, looking as if it was holding a priceless treasure. Then, it impatiently opened its small mouth and took a big bite of the Sitrus Berry.
The juice instantly burst in its mouth, unlike stones, a fresh, sweet, and completely non-spicy taste spread, and Larvitar’s eyes widened, full of enjoyment.
It chewed with “chomping” sounds, its small head swaying proudly, eating with great relish. In a short while, it finished one Sitrus Berry.
“Lar!” (I want more.)
Chen Kai, who hadn’t even finished a slice of bread, looked at Larvitar with some surprise, but he didn’t say much and gave Larvitar two more berries.
But soon, Larvitar finished these two berries as well. It licked the remaining juice from its mouth, smacking its small lips, as if still savoring the sweet taste of the berries.
Immediately after, Larvitar looked up, gazing at Chen Kai with its big, watery eyes, full of longing, like two sparkling red rubies.
Chen Kai didn’t know what to say for a moment. He knew Larvitar could eat a lot, but he didn’t expect it to eat this much.
He stood up and waved at Larvitar, “Follow me.”
Chen Kai led Larvitar to their home’s storage room.
“Eat whatever you like, but don’t waste it, okay?”
As soon as they arrived at the storage room, Larvitar’s short legs bounced quickly with excitement, its eyes fixed on the various berries inside, and its drool was almost flowing into a small river.
As soon as Chen Kai finished speaking, Larvitar rushed into the storage room like an arrow released from a bow, plunging headfirst into the pile of berries.
It picked up a berry and started gnawing, eating ravenously, its small cheeks puffed up like two small rubber balls.
Chen Kai looked at its appearance and smiled helplessly. It seemed Yellow Hair really hadn’t fed Larvitar enough these past few days, so he turned to eat his own breakfast.
When Chen Kai slowly finished his breakfast, thinking Larvitar should have eaten enough, he went to the storage room again.
But when he opened the door, the sight before him almost made his jaw drop.
The storage room, which had been full of a dozen or so berries, now only had half left. The floor was covered with berry residue and cores, and Larvitar was lying in the pile of berries, its belly round like an inflated balloon, contentedly patting its own belly.