Chapter 17: Feeling Sick

At this moment, Bellsprout moved closer to Barboach and Whiscash.

"Bellsprout Bell~~" See? Wasn't Andrew's cooking incredibly delicious?

Its small, smug expression made it seem like it was the one who cooked.

"So, what do you think? Want to trade your leftover lotus roots for some of my cooking?" Andrew asked.

Barboach and Whiscash exchanged uncertain glances, not sure how to decide.

"Bell~ Bellsprout ~" Go ahead, trade.

Bellsprout encouraged them from the side.

Overwhelmed by their friend's persuasion, Barboach and Whiscash gave in. They couldn't resist the deliciousness before them.

Andrew was thrilled. "It's settled then. I'll come over later to dig up lotus roots at your place. From now on, come to my house for breakfast every morning."

While Andrew and the others enjoyed the lotus root feast lively inside, the Pokémon parents outside were feeling uncomfortable due to the continuous enticing aroma coming from inside.

"Altaria ~ Al~~" Can they really eat such delicious food every day?

Swablu's father asked his wife.

"Alta~~ Alta~ria~~"

Swablu's mother shook her head. It used to be quite fragrant before, but never like this. Today's aroma is incredibly tempting! She swallowed unconsciously.

"Staraptor ~raptor~" This human really knows how to cook. No wonder the kids come here every day.

Fletchling's mother said.

"Talonflame ~~"

Fletchling's father scoffed. What's so impressive? It's just that they're good at cooking. I'm not impressed.

Despite his disdain,Talonflame was overwhelmed by a stronger aroma that nearly made him choke on his own saliva.

Suddenly, Andrew's voice called out, "Hello, parents! Are you hungry? Want some food?"

"Talonflame~ Talon~" Who wants your food?

Talonflame, feeling a bit embarrassed, thought he had been unreasonable earlier.

"Try some, try some, it's free. Why not take it?"

Andrew said, waving towards the house. Diancie and Munchlax came out, each carrying a basin of steamed buns and vegetables. Andrew placed two bowls of food in front of each Pokémon parent and began serving them.

The aroma was so overpowering it went straight into the parents' noses. Some parents were wide-eyed and continually swallowing saliva.

"Alright, eat up."

Worried that the parents might feel uncomfortable, Andrew led Diancie and Munchlax back inside and thoughtfully turned on the light at the door.

By now, the sky had darkened and the night had settled in. The soft light from the door drove away the darkness, making everyone feel secure, and even the Pokémon parents felt a sense of warmth from Andrew's considerate gesture.

Talonflame shook his head vigorously.

Pah pah pah~~ Why am I getting so emotional about this!

"Altaria ~ Altaria~" So, what do you think? Want to eat?

Swablu's father sniffed the bowl intensely, and his mouth immediately began to water uncontrollably.

So fragrant! It's even more fragrant up close!

"Talonflame~~" I won't eat it anyway!

Talonflame said angrily.

"Staraptor ~ Star~" If you won't eat, I will!

Fletchling's mother couldn't resist any longer. After a quick comment, she began to dig into the bowl with her head.

"Staraptor~ Staraptor~" This... this... is incredibly delicious!

Fletchling's mother cried out in delight.

Seeing her reaction, Swablu's father, Victreebel and Weepinbell swallowed their saliva unconsciously.

Just how good is it?

Staraptor didn't care and said to her husband, "Staraptor~ Staraptor~" If you're not eating, then it's all mine!

She used her wings to pull all the bowls in front of the Talonflame to her side.

"Talonflame~ Talonflame~~~"

Fletchling's father was furious at his wife.

How could you be so weak-willed!

Finally, Swablu's father couldn't hold back anymore.

"Altaria ~~ Altaria~~" Never mind, I want to eat too.

He lowered his head and started devouring the bowl.

Mmm~ mmm~ so delicious.

"Altaria~ Altaria~ Altaria~" I think that human really isn't a bad person. How can a bad person make such good food?

Swablu's father mumbled with his mouth full.

Bang!!!

Altaria smacked her husband on the head with her wing, "Altaria~ Alta~" Is that all it takes to win you over!

"Altaria~"

Swablu's father, looking aggrieved, covered his head, "Altaria~~ taria~~" I was just sharing my opinion, why are you so mad?

Victreebel and Weepinbell glanced at each other, ignoring the squabble between the couples. They quietly extended their vines to lift the bowls and devoured the food inside.

Mmm~ mmm~

The couple chewed slowly, finally understanding why their child stayed out every day. This food is incredibly good!

"Talonflame ~ Talon~~~" You too...

Seeing that Victreebel and Weepinbell had also given in, Fletchling's father was nearly fuming.

Victreebel and Weepinbell continued to savor the food in silence.

Inside the house, Andrew watched the happiness points on the system interface rise steadily. He smiled broadly.

+200

+200

+200

+200

A good sign! The parents' attitudes are starting to soften.

The lotus root feast continued until around eight or nine in the evening. After eating, the Pokémon stayed to help Andrew clean up.

They didn't just clean up after the feast but the entire building.

With so many helping hands, cleaning didn't take long. Once finished, Andrew felt the house was instantly brighter and spotless, even the ceiling was sparkling clean.

This was the Pokémon's small gesture of gratitude for the meal Andrew provided.

After sending the Pokémon off one by one, Andrew rubbed his back. "That was exhausting!" I definitely won't do this again. I'll stick to just making breakfast from now on! Enduring hardship isn't my style.

He opened the system interface and glanced at the happiness points balance, which was at 20,906.

With 32 Pokémon and their parents coming for dinner, a total of 6,400 happiness points were contributed.

(Note: In this book's setting, the currency is Alliance Coins, equivalent to RMB. The original game's currency system is related to Japanese yen, but since the author isn't sensitive to numbers and conversion might be prone to errors, we'll keep it simple. Happiness points in the system store have the same purchasing power as Alliance Coins.)

Hugging Komala, Andrew said to Diancie and Munchlax, "Let's go inside."

"Hmm."

"Crunch~~"

Afterwards, Andrew went to the culinary training room with Munchlax for their usual one-hour session, then he washed up and went to bed.

During the night, Andrew felt very uncomfortable and had a severe headache. He groggily woke up to find Diancie sitting at his bedside.

"What… happened to me?" he croaked, his voice hoarse. "Cough cough cough~~"

Diancie quickly felt his forehead. "You still have a high fever. You're burning up." It helped him sit up.

When Andrew was unwell in the past, his immune system was weak, and he was often sick, with colds and fevers being a regular occurrence. Diancie, even when it was a small Carbink, had taken care of him the same way.

Diancie poured a glass of water and handed him a fever-reducing tablet, bustling about and chattering, "You must have caught a chill from being in the water too long. You're an adult now; why are you still so careless? Even if you're harvesting lotus roots, you don't have to do it yourself…"

Watching Diancie work, Andrew felt as though he was transported back 500 years.

After Andrew took the medicine, Diancie helped him lie back down and adjusted his blanket. "Rest well. Call me if you need anything."

Andrew, feeling helpless, said, "Alright, you should go to sleep too. It's very late." He glanced at the clock on the wall; it was 2 a.m.

Diancie nodded and left the room but soon returned.

"What's the matter…" Andrew wondered, seeing Munchlax following Diancie.

"Munchlax~~"

Munchlax, wearing a pointed sleep hat and holding its pillow, yawned continuously as Diancie led it to Andrew's bedside.

Diancie tucked Munchlax into Andrew's bed and said, "Let Munchlax keep you company tonight. You'll sweat it out and hopefully feel better by morning."

It then instructed Munchlax, "Munchlax, take good care of your master."

"Munchlax~~~"

Munchlax, still half-asleep, mumbled and then rolled over to hug Andrew, its warm, plump, and soft body pressing close to him.

Andrew also embraced Munchlax, and sleepiness soon overcame him as he drifted back to sleep.

Diancie shook its head, murmuring as it walked away, "This place will fall apart without me."

"Fletchling~ Fletchling~~"

In the morning, Andrew woke up to the chirping of Fletchling. He felt very heavy and almost out of breath. Turning his head, he saw Munchlax sprawled over him, one arm and one leg draped across him, sleeping soundly with its mouth wide open.

"Awake?" Diancie's voice asked. "Feeling any better?" It approached Andrew's bedside and touched his forehead with its own. "Hmm, you're not as hot now."

"I still feel weak all over," Andrew said sadly.

"Rest well today and don't worry about the shop. Leave it to Munchlax!" Diancie said.

Andrew looked at Munchlax, who was still sleeping soundly, "Just Munchlax? Can it manage?"

"It has to manage," Diancie said firmly.

Seeing no alternative, Andrew agreed, "Alright, if it doesn't do well, don't scold it too much. Just teach it more. Munchlax is very obedient and capable."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Diancie said with a hint of annoyance, "You're the doting parent, and I'm the evil stepmother. Is that enough?"

Andrew smiled at Diancie, "Who says that? My Diancie is the best in the world!"

Diancie, slightly amused by Andrew's words, couldn't help but smile. Andrew's sudden fever last night had really worried it. It had been a long time since Andrew had been this ill, and it was quite a shock.

"Are you hungry? There's still some lotus root soup left from last night. I'll have Munchlax heat it up for you. After you eat, take your medicine and get some more rest." Diancie's tone softened considerably.

Andrew's refrigerator was equipped with advanced technology that kept food perfectly preserved.

Feeling a bit vulnerable due to his illness, Andrew appreciated Diancie's care and nodded, "Mm, understood."

Diancie got up and dragged Munchlax out of bed.

"Crunch~ crunch~" I want to sleep more!

Munchlax, still with closed eyes, mumbled as it was dragged away.

"Sleep more? Is this how you're going to take care of Andrew? Sleeping more than him!" Diancie scolded, giving Munchlax a gentle tap on the head as it walked away.

"Crunch~~"

Munchlax looked quite pitiful with its head cradled in its arms.

Watching them leave, Andrew shook his head and snuggled back into his blankets, falling asleep once more.

After some time, Diancie woke him again, "Drink this." It helped Andrew sit up and served him the lotus root soup, preparing the medicine and water.

Once Andrew finished the medicine, Diancie took out a Munchlax plushie from somewhere and quickly placed it in his bed. "Hug this and rest a little longer."

The Munchlax plushie snuggled into Andrew's arms, softly snoring. Andrew gently petted its back and looked at Diancie, asking, "How's the shop? Did Munchlax manage okay on its own?"

"It's all good. Everyone finished breakfast and left. Didn't you say Munchlax is very capable? Why worry now?" Diancie said while tidying up.

"That's good." Andrew sighed in relief, "Munchlax is indeed capable."

After Diancie left, Andrew sat up with the Munchlax plushie at the head of the bed. Having slept too long, he couldn't fall asleep again; he didn't have Komala's perfect sleep abilities.

Looking through the balcony, the weather outside seemed nice—clear blue sky, white clouds.

Suddenly, Andrew noticed three small figures approaching. Fletchling, Spritzee, and Swablu landed neatly on the balcony railing.

Fletchling, with its keen eyes, spotted Andrew at the bed's edge. It perked up and chirped excitedly, flying into the room, followed closely by Spritzee and Swablu.

The three Pokémon landed gently on the edge of Andrew's bed and presented their gifts.

" placed a fresh flower.

~"

Fletchling placed a fresh flower.

"Spritzee~"

Spritzee placed a medicinal herb.

"Swablu~"

Swablu placed a berry.

They came to visit Andrew, bringing flowers to lift his spirits, herbs to help with his illness (even if not necessarily effective for a fever), and berries to restore his strength.

(The End of this Chapter)