The Ideal Relationship

Hold on, Mabosstiff.

Almost ready, and...there!

Here you go! An Arven-original sandwich!

Don't eat it too fast, OK?

(That Pokémon...)

(It seems to trust its Trainer a great deal.)

(And the Trainer clearly loves it in return...)

(They are full of trust and affection for each other.)

Hm?

What're you looking at?

I just want to listen.

I'd like to hear more of your Pokémon's voice!

Huh?

Who are you supposed to be?

My name is N. I'm a Trainer from Unova.

You two have the ideal relationship, I just had to come talk to you!

Uh-huh...

And I'd like to listen to your Pokémon's voice.

You mean his Pokémon cry?

Not quite. I can hear what Pokémon are actually saying.

What they're thinking, how they're feeling...

You're...kind of strange, aren't you?

Huh?

I mean, sure, Trainers can usually tell what their Pokémon is feeling, more or less...

But literally hearing what they're saying is going a bit too far...

... ... ...?

Umm... Oh, that's right!

I, uh...I actually have plans with my friends! Yeah! I'd better hurry! See you later!

Let's go, Mabosstiff!

They left...

(So that Pokémon is called Mabosstiff, huh...)

(Their relationship is exactly the ideal that I've been looking for.)

(I want to learn more about them!)

Wow! What a wild story!

I've only just arrived on Pasio, and I'm already tired...

But if what that guy said was true, wouldn't that be amazing!

If I could hear my Veevees' voices, I'd be so happy I wouldn't know what to do with myself...

But that's totally unscientific, y'know? He could just be saying stuff like that for the attention.

Yeah, that's what I thought.

Hmmm... I don't think we should assume the worst right away.

Maybe he just wanted to be friends with you and Mabosstiff!

Haha! That kind of thinking is why you're the student council president.

Seems like a shame to just turn him away, especially when he went out of his way to talk to you. You could make a new friend...

Sure, he seems a little weird, but you could say that about us, too.

Huh. That's an unusually positive opinion, Penny.

Oi.

But Penny's right!

Why don't you look at it as a part of your independent study and try to expand your social circle? I bet it'll be fun!

I guess...

but when I meet new people, I don't make the best first impression.

I should probably work on that...

Oh, you hungry?

Here! Your favorite sandwich!

Mabosstiff really likes your cooking, Arven!

Well, it doesn't taste half bad.

Hehe! It's nutritious, too!

I use ingredients that'll perk you right up!

Healthy cooking? I see...

So that's the secret behind your friendship with Mabosstiff.

Whoa! Where'd you come from?!

Could you teach me how to make that dish, Arven?

Hold on a second! I never told you my name! How do you know it?!

Your friend said it earlier, no?

Creeeeepy...

Please, Arven. I want to learn about your cooking, and about the two of you as well.

A world full of love between people and Pokémon...

I think you could help me find the key to creating that!

Love?! World?! What're you talking about?!

L-let's go, Mabosstiff!

Wait, Arven!

Ahh! Stop following me!

I think I see what Arven meant now...

That guy's a real character, isn't he?

*pant pant* What's up with that guy?

I just want to talk, Arven.

Wahhh?!

R-run, Mabosstiff!

I see. We're playing a game of tag first.

Th-this oughta be far enough...

Can we talk about your cooking now, Arven?

Mabosstiff!

I-I give up... I'm tired of running...

I agree. We've done enough of this. Mabosstiff seems satisfied as well.

Look...

I can see that you're probably not a bad person.

But first things first, could you explain what you meant by that stuff about a world full of love?

Ah, that. Sorry, I was excited and got ahead of myself.

I want to create a world where we don't need Poké Balls.

Don't need Poké Balls? What does that mean?

If people and Pokémon can truly understand each other...

then we should be able to trust and help each other without Poké Balls binding us together.

That's...quite a big dream you have there.

Your relationship with Mabosstiff is so close to the ideal that I envision. That's why I wanted to learn even more about you two.

I think you two would still be friends, even without using a Poké Ball.

I see. I get what you mean.

OK, sure. I'll tell you a bit about us.

When I was younger, I spent a lot of time at home by myself.

I didn't get much parental attention. Apparently work was more important.

But Mabosstiff has always been by my side.

... ... ...

He's basically family... That's how important he is to me.

Is that the kind of love you're talking about?

Family, huh...

That's why you two are so close.

I grew up with Pokémon from childhood, so...I understand how you feel.

You too...?

Yes.

No way. I didn't know we were so similar.

Guess so.

Oh, you hungry? Well then...

Wait, Arven.

Hm?

He says he wants something sweet this time.

Give him a sandwich that has some sweet ingredients.

Huh?

(How does he know that?)

(Someone who likes Pokémon could tell if one is hungry or something...)

(But that was...)

You've only just met Mabosstiff, so how can you tell so clearly how he's feeling?

I told you.

I can hear the voices of Pokémon.

You were serious...

Hahaha... You're an interesting guy!

Now, let me ask you again... Could I listen to Mabosstiff's voice?

Sure! Listen as much as you like!

Days later...

Today I'm personally gonna teach you how to cook!

Thanks so much!

All right! Let's go!

Yeeeaaarrrghhh! Hiya! Hwatcha! Hyah!

And that's how it goes. Do you think you can do that?

Sure, I'll give it a shot.

Have you ever used a knife before?! What kind of cut is that?!

The heat's too high! Look, it's burning!

It's not easy, is it...

D-don't worry... Everyone starts off like that!

We still have enough ingredients! There's no need to give up, let's try again!

OK!

After a while...

I...I made this dish!

We did it somehow... I'm exhausted...

Your partner's been waiting. Hurry up and give him a taste already!

Oh, right!

Sorry to keep you waiting, Zoroark. Could you try this?

Really? Great!

He looks happy!

It's nice to do your own cooking sometimes, isn't it?

Yeah! It's truly wonderful!

Not just sharing great-tasting food, but the process of making it as well...

I learned that if you're thinking about who you're cooking for while you're cooking, your bond will become even stronger.

O-OK... You're talking really fast...

On top of that, you can select any combination of ingredients, spices, and cooking methods to produce an infinite array of outcomes!

The formula of cooking is very fascinating!

Formula, huh... They do say cooking is a science.

Well, if you decide to keep pursuing cooking, I can teach you whenever you want.

Are you sure?

Of course!

You and I are buds now! No need to hold back!

Buds?

It means "friends"!

Friends...

It's hard to explain, but...I always just took for granted that Mabosstiff liked me...

but you gave me proof that he does, and that made me really happy.

That's why...

if you consider me and Mabosstiff your friends...

then we're already buds!

Thank you, Arven! Mabosstiff!

Don't mention it!

Days later...

What?! You've started cooking, N?!

I'm learning from a sync pair I recently befriended.

That's great! I'd like to try your cooking sometime!

Of course!

Yo, N!

Arven!

Oh, is this your new friend?

Yes, this is...

Well, not exactly...

That's right!

We're "buds," aren't we?!