After returning to the farm with his Pokémon panions, Natsume quickly gathered everyoo annouhe addition of Ogerpon to the farm.

  Hmm, the phrasi oddly remi of clickbait headlines like “XXX joins Ptform Y!” that frequently trend ohose are usually a dead giveaway that some ptform spent a hefty sum to invite a celebrity or influeno one has really heard of.

  Much like those ents reading “xx, xxxxxxxx,” which always mean aop-ne pyer has lost their cherished at.

  The arrival of Ogerpon was warmly weled by the farm's residents. After all, they were already quite familiar with one another.

  Shiny Furret and Togepi, in particur, had built a good rapport with Ogerpon. Well, at least Togepi thought they had.

  The mischievous little Pokémon often tried t Ogerpon into its pranks. But despite Togepi's enthusiasm, Ogerpon wasn’t particurly fond of mischief—it simply didn’t know how to say no, so it kept getting dragged along.

  Oher hand, Shiny Furret genuinely shared a great bond with Ogerpon.

  Though calling them “two little ones” felt misleading—Shiny Furret was now taller than Natsume when standing upright, starting to resemble a certain blue weasel from door.

  "Brother, you smell amazing."

  “Meow~”

  As the farm’s sed-in-and, Persian was the first to wele Ogerpon.

  Being sed only to Natsume, Persian was undoubtedly the leader among the Pokémon on the farm.

  Partly due to its special p Natsume's heart, but also because of its strength.

  Previously, Persian was uionably the stro on the farm. It could easily handle any challenger lining up for a fight with a single swipe.

  However, Ogerpon's arrival had altered that dynamic.

  Though they hadn’t battled, Ogerpon, being a mythical Grass-type Pokémon, clearly outcssed ordinary Pokémon in stats and raw physical prowess.

  Even pseudo-legendary Pokémon would seem frail pared to Ogerpon.

  Yet Persian didn’t appear to mind at all.

  With Persiaing the tohe other Pokémon naturally had no objes.

  “Emolga.”

  Just then, Emolga returned from an outing, clutg several berries in its paws.

  These berries were gifts from its admirers on the farm.

  Though there had been many more, Emolga had carefully picked out only a few that suited its taste. Of course, it told its suitors, "These are enough for me. You keep the rest; o go out of your way."

  The poor Pokémon were so moved they nearly handed over their eockpile, including their st reserves.

  To wele the new addition, Emolga chose its favorite berry and offered it to Ogerpon, signaling for it to have a taste.

  Ogerpon accepted the berry and took a tentative bite.

  The sweet fvor exploded on its tongue.

  Delicious.

  Its eyes squinted in delight.

  Seeing Ogerpon’s rea, Emolga leased as well, and the two quickly became good friends.

  Watg the two chat happily on the couatsume turned and began rummaging through the gifts he had tucked away in Persian’s den, preparing to hand them out.

  “Mino!”

  Holding a smaller gift box, Natsume called out toward the attic.

  At this time of day, Mino robably upstairs ing.

  Natsume had even heard the distinct tap-tap-tap of its footsteps earlier.

  By now, Natsume could proudly say he could reize his Pokémon by their footsteps.

  Before Lopunny evolved, he could easily distinguish between Mino and Buneary’s footsteps simply from the subtle differences. It wasn’t a talent—just something he picked up from listening to them so often.

  Thud.

  Tap-tap-tap…

  “Mi?”

  After a heavy object hit the floor with a thud, there was a series of light, rapid steps.

  Mino’s little gray head peeked out from the attitrance.

  “This is a little gift for you,” Natsume said, holding up the gift box and being Mino over.

  “Mi-mi?”

  Anift? Didn’t you already give me one?

  Mino tilted its head in fusion.

  Not that it was pining—it loved the previous gift.

  Was this ara one?

  How generous!

  “This is a special surprise gift for you,” Natsume expined.

  “e check it out.”

  Hearing this, Mino’s eyes lit up instantly.

  It bounded dowairs, skipping steps as it went.

  “Mi!”

  As usual, it nuzzled against Natsume’s wrist before eagerly accepting the gift box and tearing it open.

  Inside, uhe ing, was a transparent case holding a shimmering “gem.”

  “This is a Shiny Stone,” Natsume expined. “It will allow you to evolve into o.

  “If you want to evolve, just touch it.”

  He hesitated for a moment before adding, “But…”

  Natsume inally wao remind Mino to think carefully before deg to evolve.

  After all, evolution was irreversible.

  Many Pokémon chose not to evolve, and while Natsume had subtly firmed that Mino wasn’t against evolving, it was still better to double-check.

  Before he could finish his sentence, however, Mino had already ripped open the case and spped its paw on the Shiny Stohout a moment’s hesitation.

  The sed, a radiant white light enveloped its small frame.

  The Shiny Stone gradually shrank, dissolving into energy that fueled Mino’s evolution.

  When the light faded, a new Pokémon stood before him.

  “So you’ve been waiting to evolve for a while, huh, o?”

  Natsume chuckled as he observed the newly-evolved o examining its body with curiosity.

  It looked like a taller, more elegant version of Mino, with longer, more luxurious fur. Its long tail was covered in fine, silky hair, and two tufts of fur draped over its head like a scarf.

  It resembled an aristocratic dy, brimming with elegand charm.

  The i had always said o’s fur felt exceptionally smooth to the touch.

  Natsume could now firm that this was absolutely true.

  “o.”

  Feeling its newly-evolved form, o was clearly delighted.

  This newfound power!

  It’s intoxig!

  How could a adjust to their evolved form?

  Right, Corviknight?

  After cuddling with Natsume for a while, o darted off to share the joy of its evolution with its friends.

  Moments like these deserved to be shared immediately!

  Once o left, Natsume dug out another box.

  This one tained a gift for Slowpoke.

  “All right, time to find Slowpoke,” he said.

  Gcell