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By his own calendar, it had been an entire year since Graham Laventon had found a child who fell from the sky, face-planted right there on Prelude Beach, entirely unconscious. Or, more so, it had been an entire planetary rotation since he ran off after his three escaped darling Pokémon and met his dear girl, Akari.
It was marvelous how a chance meeting like that (or perhaps one of destiny, considering the nature of gods and whatnot) could alter the course of his life so thoroughly. If you had told Graham that the child that he would share a dream with would save the entire region from figures of pure Legend why, he would have declared the idea as being pure poppycock!
But ever since had arrived in Hisui by boat, sent by his university at the behest of Survey Corps Captain Cyllene of the Galaxy Expedition Team, Laventon had experienced a great many things in an incredibly short amount of time. Not that even his voyage was all that long ago either. Why, it still felt like just yesterday that Graham was getting his portrait taken so that he could mail it ahead to her.
And what was supposed to have been a simple scientific endeavor transformed into something so much more. He was positive that no other Regional Pokédex that his contemporaries were working on held even a candle to his own; the Pokédex of Hisui was full to the brim of Mythicals and Legendaries alike, ancient history made current!
Akari was to thank for that. Her and her strange clothes, her peculiar technology, and her future-curated philosophies about those mystifying creatures called Pokémon that allowed her to bond with them so extraordinarily.
A year ago, Graham hadn't the faintest clue that he would think so fondly of her (almost as though she were his own... well, he mustn't get ahead of himself).
Considering that she was an absolute pleasure to have in his life, Laventon concluded that the occasion was deserving of something special. Almost as though they were celebrating her birth! Unfortunately, that was one of the few pieces of information about herself that Akari still could not remember.
Thus, this would have to serve as a substitute! After all, the sentiment was nearly the same. 'Welcome to the day you arrived in this world!' and all that.
There were many ideas percolating in Graham's mind on how to celebrate such a momentous day. Giving Akari a gift would work, but what did you give to a girl with so much agency? After all, if there was a garment she was eyeing at Anthe's, Akari could just buy it herself with her allowance from filling out the Pokédex. And the girl was too old for a Pokéshi Doll or other such childish toys that were popular amongst the younger crowds of Jubilife.
Throwing her a party would be a grand gesture, for sure. Many in Jubilife and the clans would come certainly if Laventon sent out word about such a gathering. Akari had many friends after all, such as Warden Lian and Irida. Plus with Warden Ingo conducting battles at the Training Grounds so often Graham wouldn't have to travel far to summon him.
But... perhaps it was a tad selfish, but he was running a little low on his own social battery. There had just been quite a fair number of celebrations lately, the Harmony Festival setting off a string of festivities. It would be a shame to throw a party for Akari and not be able to attend. Graham hoped that the girl was feeling similarly and nixed the idea.
What he eventually settled on, was going through his study to find his personal journal kept nice and orderly in the storage of his desk. Tucked safely between the tea-stained pages was a recipe that his nan had entrusted him with for her sponge cake.
It wasn't a family recipe, or even an old one, no. Although the Laventon family had plenty of those to go around! This was just something that his nan had learned how to make and started to bring over during his university days. It was an excuse for her to check up on him, and make sure that he was taking a break while he worked on his doctorate. Simply, the act of her making him such a delight moved Laventon's heart and it became a very dear treat to him.
Thusly, it seemed only right that he attempt to make one for Akari, so that they may share it over tea and jam. After all, he could find the necessary ingredients easily here in Hisui, just needing the whites of Starly eggs, flour, and sugar to make it! His nan tended to use butter as well after getting her hands on baking powder back in Galar, but Graham would make do without it as there was no livestock in Hisui capable of dairy at the moment.
There was just one small issue.
Graham could not bake or cook for the life of him. Frankly, his approaching a kitchen tended to set everything ablaze- he was truly that awful at it.
Luckily, he knew someone in Jubilife who he could approach on all food-related matters.
"And that is why I should like your assistance Beni, old chum," Laventon finished with a toothy grin, explaining his intentions.
Beni did not respond right away, and the longer that they stood not uttering a sound the more nervous he grew. Graham was well aware that Beni wasn't... the biggest fan of Akari (the girl had relayed to him that, frankly, terrifying encounter she had with him going to the summit) but surely that wouldn't prevent the cook from helping out?
Fussing with his beard, Beni spoke, "The idea isn't without merit, but I don't think a cake will do at all."
"Huh?" his brows knitted together and his lips parted in confusion. Had Beni not been paying attention when he mentioned the significance behind the recipe? Maybe he should repeat himself.
But before he could, Beni said, "That girl is from Hisui, from the future perhaps, but from this region nonetheless. You should make her a treat like some kind of mochi instead. She'd appreciate that far better."
Ah, Graham should have expected that from Beni.
"I see your point, however, I think she's had more than enough mochi in her time here to feed an army!" he laughed. He quickly added, hoping that he hadn't offended the man, "We share it so often after a successful survey expedition after all!"
"Yes, but she hasn't had my kusa mochi yet," he retorted.
"Kusa mochi? I don't think even I've been served that at the Wallflower before. What's in it?" Laventon questioned.
Beni answered, "Nothing special, but the main ingredient and where it gets its purple coloring from is bugwort."
"Bugwort?" Graham's eyes practically bulged out of his head in pure shock. "That's medicinal!"
"Yes?" Beni gave him a curious look. "What of it?"
The cook could not be serious. "You can't give a young girl medicine for a birthday treat."
"Sure you can. Do you see how often that girl gets hurt out in the field? Having it today will do her some good, as offering it to her now might aid in keeping her healthy and extend her longevity," the man argued. "Akari will appreciate the sentiment."
"Not if she likes me less after eating it..." Laventon mumbled. If kusa mochi was anything like the remedies they made for Pokémon then that was a sure gone conclusion. He shook his head, and tried a different angle, "But you also use it for crafting your Stealth Sprays!" Surely it can't be safe for human consumption for that reason alone.
But instead of making the man rethink, that only seemed to further Beni's resolve as he nodded appreciatively, "Precisely why we call it the queen of herbs."
Oh, Graham was never going to change the man's mind. But still, he needed his help so he said, "I just think she might enjoy something a little... different?"
"Nonsense. Mochi is the way to go and that's final."
"Well," Graham steadied his nerves and continued, "I don't want to make her that considering this was my idea in the first place, and that's final."
"Fine." Beni narrowed his eyes. "I'll make it for her then while you make that sponge cake of yours."
"Fine!" Laventon turned his nose up at the man as he held his chin held high. "I will! And you'll find at the end of the day, that Akari will enjoy my cake far more than your mochi."
"We shall see," Beni turned away and started to head into the Wallflower. "Good luck, I'm certain you'll need it."
Under his breath, he muttered, "Go on ahead, it's not as though she could like you any less..."
Beni snapped his head around, "I heard that. I may be old, but my hearing hasn't gone yet."
Startling, and genuinely not thinking that the man had heard him, Laventon rushed back to his quarters without apologizing to prep. In all of the housing that the Galaxy Team provided its members, there was a hearth for cooking. Instead of going to the canteen in the Galaxy Hall, he chose to bake in the comfort (and privacy from the public eye) of his own home.
There had been other matters that Graham technically had to take care of, but he needed as much time as he could to make sure he succeeded where the elderly cook would surely fail so he would deal with those another time.
He had to put his all into his nan's recipe. Baking was just chemistry, and while that wasn't Graham's specific discipline science was science, formed based on indisputable facts and laws of this universe! If he put his mind to it, how hard could it be to follow a recipe and make one simple cake?
Laventon had this in the bag!
-
Laventon burned the first cake to a crisp. And every cake thereafter was a mess one after another.
Perhaps approaching it from a scientific perspective was his downfall. As after he burned the first one, Graham concluded that there must have been an incorrect variable somewhere and started... experimenting. In his testing, he ended up with three collapsing on him entirely, one that somehow switched the sugar for crunchy salt and one that accidentally used the yolk instead of the whites of the Starly eggs.
The final one he made before tossing in the towel ended up with a burnt bottom. That was the best that he could do, but still, it was inadequate.
Graham had plated everything- his special fruit preserves, his porcelain tableware, the blasted cake itself- and settled down at the table in his study before burying his head in his arms, bemoaning his failures.
Knowing the habits of his dear girl, Akari was due in his office any minute (which was why he set a pot of tea off to the side in advance, steam rising from the spout in a slow incorporeal dance). Rei, who knew about his intentions, had promised to watch out for the girl on their survey of the Mirelands today and suggest to her that she go see the professor right after.
But considering that the Wallflower was just across and to the side of the stairs to the municipal building, Beni would reach her first. And Laventon was certain that she would enter to rave about how good the kusa mochi was and then be downcast to see his pitiful sponge cake. Akari would eat a mouthful, and to not hurt his feelings, say that it was good when he was sure that it wasn't.
Hearing the doors open, he sat up and pat down his Dubwool cap, making sure that it was affixed to his head properly.
"Professorrr!" There was Akari's voice, but instead of an enthralled tone, she was distressed.
Immediately, Graham rose from his seat and met her at the entryway to his study, "Akari, what's wrong?!"
Was it as Beni had pointed out and she had gotten hurt yet again on a survey? The girl was clumsy at times, but those charms she had bought from Lucille kept her out of true danger. But what if this was one of the times when they failed? Was it too late to shove kusa mochi down her throat?
Akari barreled into his stomach, making him expel all of the air in his lungs as he grunted and tried to steady them both. The poor girl was slightly green in the face and she gagged a little bit before speaking.
"Beni tried to poison me!" she cried.
Well, that was not what he was expecting. Pulling her back, he placed his hands on her shoulders, "Whatever are you talking about?"
"Rei and me were just walking through the gates when he appeared and offered me a plate of purple mochi," she explain, hiccupping slightly as she nursed her stomach. "He said it was a gift to honor my arrival in Hisui and I tried one, you know because usually his mochi is good. But this was so bitter and disgusting it must have been another assassination attempt."
"Oh, oh no my poor girl," he switched so that he could rub her back and gently guided her into his office. "I'm afraid he was being genuine with the sentiment, it was just a poor choice in dessert."
"Somehow that makes me feel worse," she whined. "It tasted exactly like medicine. Just like a remedy."
"How would you know what a remedy tastes like?"
Despite her tummy ache, Akari still dawned a faux look of innocence, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Graham chuckled, "Of course, you don't."
They arrived at his table, and he slowly let her down onto the floor. Once she was seated, he went about pouring her a cup of tea, "Here, this will help your stomach settle some."
Akari took the cup gratefully and began to sip at the brew. While she did, Laventon began to pour himself his own cuppa.
How awful that what the elderly cook thought was a genuine treat reacted poorly to her stomach's delicate constitution. (Mentally, he was pumping his fists in the air and striking a victory pose. Take that, you old geezer)!
"Professor?" his girl speaking up brought him out of his thoughts. Looking at her, it was clear that she had noticed his set-up, eyeing the cake eagerly past her upset, "Were you expecting someone?"
"Well, yes, I was," he admitted.
Akari's eyes lit up. "Was it a date? A lady-friend? Or... a lord-friend?"
"No, no, nothing like that," he corrected her, waving his free hand slightly. "I was actually waiting for you."
"Me?" she questioned.
"Yes. You see, the truth is that Beni got the idea from me about celebrating your arrival here in Hisui, as I came to him for assistance with making you a cake. We had a... tiff about it, as I insisted on making sponge cake and he kusa mochi. The recipe was given to me by my beloved nan, but I have zero experience in the kitchen," he explained. "I had hoped to surprise you with this but he seemed to have beat me to it."
"So that's what it was, it's not my favorite for obvious reasons, although my mom likes it sometimes." Akari leaned to the side, before adjusting with a grimace. "I think I would have rather gotten your surprise first than the murder ninjas."
"I'm not too sure about that, my dear," as much as he would have liked to boast, his own treat was likely to worsen her condition. "You see, the bottom of the cake is a bit... burnt."
"That's ok," she told him. "It's not so much about the cake... ok it is a bit about the cake because that looks so yummy and those jams too- but what I mean is," Akari gave Laventon a small smile. "It was you who found me that day on the beach and you've always had my back, this entire time. So, if given the choice, I'd choose to celebrate with you over Beni any day of the week."
"That," oh, don't cry Graham, do not cry. Don't look weak in front of your dearest girl. "Means the world to me, Akari."
"Once my stomach feels better, we're going to enjoy that cake," she lurched slightly, straining to keep her face composed. "Um, probably not any time soon though."
"How about this," he told her, noting that it was lucky that Pesselle was just two offices down from his study. "When you're feeling better, we can make the cake together, ok?"
Akari stared at Laventon, eyes widening at the realization that he was going to share a recipe from his nan with her. He hoped that she was of the same mind as he, in that he was creating a tradition of passing down the recipe to a Laventon's dearest child, as that was certainly his intention.
With a small sniffle, she said, "I'd like that, I really would."