"Happy New Year!"
"Cheers!"
Naoki and the Pokémon raised their Berry Juice for a clink, then tilted their heads back, gulping it down.
Snowflakes started drifting outside again, while inside the fire in the fireplace burned brightly, and the table was laden with steaming hot food.
Pawmot, dressed up by Naoki as Santa Claus, happily hugged a bowl, scooping Berry-mixed rice into its mouth.
Cyclizar, wrapped in a scarf, was delightedly holding a sandwich, opening its mouth wide, and took a big bite.
Having eaten several pieces of Alcremie's Poffins before dinner, it wasn't very hungry now. Alcremie lay lazily on the couch, touching its plump belly with its little hands.
"Vee～"
Glaceon sniffed the creamy ice smoothie filled with the scent of milk in front of it, then happily buried its face into Eevee's bowl, licking the delicious smoothie with its pink tongue.
Dragonite grabbed a string of pan-fried bass with Dragon Claw, ignoring the oil on its claws as it opened its mouth to bite.
The bass, pan-fried, had turned crispy and golden on the outside, but the flesh inside remained tender and juicy, offering a distinct, wonderful texture with each bite.
Feeling the deliciousness burst in its mouth, Dragonite's eyes instantly lit up.
"Roar!" So tasty!
Dolliv quietly sat to the side, seemingly liking the lively atmosphere, with a constant cheerful smile on its little face.
Mew and Teddiursa, two small-sized Pokémon, sat directly on the table.
In front of them was a honey feast that Naoki had specially prepared.
It included honey pudding, honey buns, honey grilled fish, honey milk, honey cookies, honey roasted meat, and Berry mixed with honey.
Surrounded by the honey feast, Teddiursa and Mew thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of being enveloped in happiness.
Compared to the other Pokémon who were eating heartily, the Indeedee sibling pair ate with much more elegance.
Judging from their expressions, the pair also liked this lively atmosphere very much.
In fact, before arriving at the ranch, the Indeedee siblings had worried about their future.
At that time, they didn't know what the family they were heading to would be like or how their new owner would treat them.
With a sense of unease, the siblings kept diligently following their parents in learning various etiquettes and doing chores.
It wasn't until they arrived at the ranch and met Naoki that they settled down.
The two Pokémon were very happy to have met a master like Naoki and were keen to care for everything for him.
What delighted the siblings even more was the atmosphere of the ranch.
Everyone lived together harmoniously, without bullying because of being strong or weak.
Thinking of this, the Indeedee brother couldn't help but gaze at their owner.
Naoki drank a cup of hot juice, feeling warm all over; he was watching the Pokémon's diverse eating styles when he suddenly sensed a gaze directed at him.
Turning his head, he saw the Indeedee brother looking at him.
"What's up?" Naoki asked.
The Indeedee brother quickly lowered his head, calmly replying, "Ee-yip."
The Indeedee sister, seeing this scene, unhesitatingly exposed her brother: "Ee-yip!"
Naoki noticed the Indeedee sister seemed to have something to say to him, so he stuffed a piece of Translation Nuts Cake into his mouth.
Then he heard the Indeedee sister say: "Ee-yip～" (Brother is embarrassed～)
The Indeedee brother urgently interrupted: "Ee-yip!" (Don't say it!)
But it was too late.
The Indeedee sister stepped back several steps, distancing herself from her brother, before saying to Naoki: "Ee-yip!" (Brother actually likes Naoki, he's just too shy to say so!)
"Ee-yip!"
The Indeedee brother hung his head, having given up struggling.
Although he had a vague feeling, hearing it directly from the Indeedee moved Naoki deeply.
"I see!" He looked at the Indeedee brother and said with a smile, "I like you guys too. Here's to the new year! Let's keep up our good work!"
The Indeedee brother paused, looking at Naoki, then nodded firmly in agreement: "Ee-yip!"
"Enjoy the food!" Naoki said.
The Indeedee sister giggled as she returned to her brother's side, and the Indeedee brother glanced at his sister, sighing helplessly like a little adult.
Watching the Indeedee siblings' little actions, Naoki's face showed a smile.
He suddenly noticed Koraidon next to him also zoning out.
Naoki couldn't help but turn to look: "What's up? Not hungry?"
Koraidon's feathers drooped, and light sparkled in its golden eyes, a gentle look that was nothing like the fierce and domineering wing king described in the Book of Scarlet and Violet.
Naoki tilted his head, patiently waiting for its response.
"Awg…" Koraidon said straightforwardly and warmly: "Awg-sys!" (I like Naoki too!)
"I know." Naoki petted its head.
Koraidon thought for a moment, feeling different from the other Pokémon, then added: "Awg-sys!" (I like Naoki the most!)
Upon hearing this, Dragonite stopped eating roasted bass and immediately leaned in to express its affection.
"Roar!" (I'm the Pokémon that likes Naoki the most!)