Chapter 786: It is the Taste of Mr. Sun
On the third day after Kazuya and his party arrived in Sootopolis City.
Everything had returned to its original state.
The vast majority of Sootopolis City's survivors had gone back underground; only a small number of guards remained patrolling the surface.
However, this was for the best.
It allowed Kazuya's companions to play without any constraints.
Lucario and Scizor ran off to the Pokémon Club in Sootopolis City to spar.
Dragonite carried Skitty, wandering through the toy streets and food alleys of the city.
Mewtwo went alone to the Sootopolis City library, seemingly preparing to learn more about this world.
As for Kazuya himself...
He was invited to Chloe's home as a guest.
Knock, knock.
Kazuya knocked on the front door.
Chloe, wearing an apron, opened the door: "Welcome, I'm making afternoon tea. You can take a look around the house first."
At this moment, Chloe had her long red hair tied into a high ponytail. She looked valiant and spirited, carrying a bit of girlish charm—somewhat resembling Lorelei in her youth.
Kazuya nodded and walked inside.
He looked around.
It wasn't much different from the layout in his memories, just with the addition of some photos, trophies, and medals.
In this house, the least valuable things were those trophies and medals.
Not to mention Chloe, a heaven-defying hybrid who held multiple prestigious positions and practically overwhelmed her entire generation. Just her grandfather Wallace alone—the Hoenn Champion and the only Top Coordinator globally at the time—had received so many trophies and medals that his hands would go numb holding them all.
As for Lorelei's awards...
Those were all kept at the house on Four Island.
After all, once she married and moved to Sootopolis City, Lorelei retired from the Indigo League. Since then, she hardly ever participated in any major tournament events.
It could be said that after Lorelei separated from Kazuya, she lost all her youthful ambition and no longer desired any fame or status.
Kazuya had no interest whatsoever in those trophies.
He paced over to the kitchen and stood behind Chloe, watching her fiddle with something.
He poked his head out to take a look.
It was a type of cake called the "Secret Treasure of the Sea," made from raw materials originating from the ocean and the fats of marine Pokémon. Its original shape was supposed to resemble a Clamperl.
However, the Secret Treasure of the Sea that Chloe was making did not have the appearance of a Clamperl, but rather a Shellder.
The difference was quite significant.
After all, a Shellder's appearance was truly not as aesthetically pleasing as a Clamperl's. The pearls produced by the former weren't even worth a tenth of the latter's.
But...
This shape is truly nostalgic.
Kazuya muttered in his heart.
That was about one hundred and seventy years ago. At that time, Kazuya and Lorelei had just finished their first journey. On their way home, they passed by the Orange Islands, letting that girl taste the flavor of the "Secret Treasure of the Sea."
For any Water-type Pokémon Trainer, the taste of the Secret Treasure of the Sea was unforgettable for a lifetime.
But the Orange Islands were truly not close to Four Island, and the Secret Treasure of the Sea had only recently been created back then; it was impossible to buy it anywhere else.
And so, Lorelei-kun would clamor to her mom and dad all day long, demanding to eat the Secret Treasure of the Sea.
Her dad had no choice.
He could only specially detour to the Orange Islands to buy it every day on his way back from the sea.
Her mom saw that this wasn't a sustainable solution, so she learned how to make the Secret Treasure of the Sea herself. The taste was a bit different, which made Lorelei-kun fuss for a few days, but after Kazuya pecked her bottom, she behaved a lot better. From then on, her dad was spared the trouble of having to run off and buy it every day.
Later, when traveling, Lorelei grew up and wouldn't throw tantrums like a child anymore.
But occasionally, while on the road, she would sigh and say she missed the Secret Treasure of the Sea made by her mom.
So, after returning home, Kazuya immediately learned the recipe from her mom, and during their subsequent travels, he would make it for Lorelei himself.
The problem was that, as a "Piplup," his two flippers were flat. He couldn't sculpt such a beautiful Clamperl, so he could only manage to mold it into the shape of a Shellder.
At first, Lorelei laughed uncontrollably when she saw it.
Fortunately, the taste was exactly the same as her mom's, and she also had a Cloyster on her team, so Lorelei liked it very much and ate it happily every time.
"This is the 'Secret Treasure of the Sea,' right? Isn't its original prototype the shape of a Clamperl? Why did you make it look like a Shellder?" Kazuya asked curiously.
Could it be... that after Lorelei married, to satisfy her own cravings, she learned how to make the Secret Treasure of the Sea herself?
"Hm? You actually recognize this? Yes, this is the 'Secret Treasure of the Sea,' a dessert that was once incredibly popular. Our whole family loved eating it, but it went extinct a long time ago. I'm just trying to recreate it based on the taste in my memory, but it always falls short."
Chloe blinked and looked at Kazuya in surprise. After all, the Secret Treasure of the Sea wasn't something particularly well-known anymore. She then added, "I don't know what the prototype of the Secret Treasure of the Sea is. Anyway, in my impression, it was always in the shape of a Shellder from the very beginning."
Chloe looked up at the ceiling, her brow slightly furrowing, seemingly searching for a memory from the distant past.
"Oh? Did someone in your family know how to make this?" Kazuya raised an eyebrow and asked again.
"Yes!" Chloe nodded firmly.
"Your grandmother?"
"Um... no."
"Huh?"
"It was Grandma's Empoleon!" Chloe's eyes suddenly lit up as she finally located the scene in her memories.
...
No matter what League Calendar Year it was, Four Island was always as serene and comfortable as ever, just like the countryside far away from the noisy city.
That year, Lorelei brought the eight-year-old Chloe-kun back home again, wanting Kazuya and her mother to see her granddaughter.
The moment the front door opened, a moist and sweet aroma wafted over, making even the little Chloe-kun drool with craving.
She subconsciously looked toward the direction the scent was coming from.
She saw a tall Empoleon walk out of the kitchen, holding two plates in his hands, upon which rested the legendary 'Secret Treasure of the Sea.'
"Welcome back, dessert is ready."
"I'm ba—"
"Bobo!"
Chloe-kun excitedly interrupted her grandmother's voice, reaching out her two small hands toward Empoleon.
However, her little eyes remained fixated on the Secret Treasure of the Sea; her intentions were practically written all over her face.
Later, at the dining table, Chloe-kun ate until her face was completely covered in cream.
Lorelei, looking both doting and somewhat helpless, wiped the little girl's face, then asked with a smile: "Is it delicious? What does it taste like?"
"Delicious! Um... is it the taste of the sea?" Chloe-kun tilted her head, her little braids tossing to the side.
"No, it's the taste of Mr. Sun." Lorelei reached out and stroked the braids on her granddaughter's head, almost as if she were stroking a Piplup's tail.
"Why?"
"Um... you'll know when you have your own Piplup later on."
...
"Right! I remember now, it was Grandma's Empoleon. At that time, the 'Secret Treasure of the Sea' had already become a lost delicacy, but Grandma's Empoleon still knew how to make it, and the shape he made was a Shellder!"
Chloe revealed a nostalgic smile on her face.
She was truly happy to be able to retrieve this distant memory.
Even though it wasn't anything particularly important, it was enough to warm her heart.
"..."
Kazuya glanced at Chloe.
He didn't have a very deep impression of this child.
Did he ever make the Secret Treasure of the Sea for Chloe?
But since she said so, he supposed he must have.
"...Let me make it."
Kazuya's heart stirred as he looked at the knowing smile on her face.
When Lorelei was in her thirties, she had probably shown a smile just like this.
He just hadn't been there to see it.
"Eh?"
"The Secret Treasure of the Sea—I know how to make it too, and it's probably quite authentic."
"Eh?! But..."
The Secret Treasure of the Sea I want to eat has a special taste; no one in this world can make it anymore.
Before this sentence could be finished, Chloe was nudged aside.
She was pushed out of the kitchen by Kazuya and then sat down at the dining table to wait quietly.
It wasn't until the sounds coming from the kitchen gradually subsided that Chloe blankly turned her head to look over.
She saw the Darkrai walk out carrying two plates. On the plates sat two exquisite Shellder cakes: "Dessert is ready."
As this voice entered Chloe's ears, the Empoleon from her memories instantly overlapped with the Darkrai standing before her.
"..."
Chloe opened her mouth, looking around in a daze.
She couldn't find her grandmother's figure.
It was an illusion.
She closed her mouth and took a deep breath.
By the time she recovered her senses, the Secret Treasure of the Sea had already been placed in front of her.
This Shellder was exquisite and lifelike, as if the maker had spent years living alongside actual Shellders.
Chloe turned to look at Kazuya.
A small doubt arose in her heart.
"Isn't the authentic Secret Treasure of the Sea... in the shape of a Clamperl?" She remembered this Darkrai having just said exactly that.
"Eat," Kazuya said quietly, looking at the grown woman beside him.
"Mm, thanks for the meal." Chloe smiled faintly and nodded slightly.
She lifted her spoon, slowly scooped off a piece of cake, and brought it to her mouth.
The familiar flavor spread between her teeth and lips.
The sweet aroma struck her taste buds and... her tear ducts.
Ah... right... this is exactly what I wanted to eat.
Chloe lifted her eyelids, her moist pupils focusing on the Darkrai sitting beside her.
The latter was simply enjoying the Secret Treasure of the Sea in front of him, completely oblivious to Chloe's gaze.
In less than two minutes, Kazuya had quickly finished his portion of the food.
He turned his head to look beside him.
Only to see Chloe's eyes welling with tears. She was staring blankly at him, a hint of confusion in the depths of her eyes.
"..."
Kazuya's pupils trembled slightly.
He initially wanted to ignore it.
But when her tears slid down her cheeks and fell onto the dining table, Kazuya sighed helplessly and reached his hand out toward Chloe.
Tears blurred Chloe's vision.
In that hazy world, she caught a glimpse of the past.
...
Thud.
The sound of a little thing falling to the ground echoed.
"Oh dear~ Chloe-kun fell down. Piplup, quickly go pick her up, otherwise she's going to cry." Lorelei's voice immediately followed.
The Empoleon standing right next to them looked utterly exasperated, muttering inwardly: "She's going to cry even if I pick her up."
Despite thinking that, Kazuya still picked up the four-year-old little toddler.
"Waaah————... Bobo..."
Chloe-kun opened her mouth and began to howl, just like Lorelei did when she was chased and spanked by her mother as a child.
A look of helpless amusement flashed through Kazuya's eyes, but he still raised his hand and gently stroked the little girl's head: "Be a good girl, don't cry, don't cry~"
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