"Dear guest!"
Hearing the chime, Mallow ran out from the kitchen to greet the new arrival, a bit confused why someone would turn to leave so quickly—was her service too slow?
Mallow worried—maybe she'd been distracted by Lucas's suggestion about Gracidea flowers, and missed the bell. Was that why the guest was upset and leaving?
Either her worried expression or Larry's own hesitation made him pause. Looking casual, he told Mallow, "Table for one, please."
"Ah, right this way!"
Mallow quickly led Larry to a vacant seat at a diagonal from Lucas.
While Mallow fetched water, Lucas scooted over with a look of amusement, acting as if he hadn't noticed Larry nearly leaving.
"Didn't expect Geeta to actually let you go! How many days in Alola so far?"
Realizing his earlier behavior had been a bit out of line, Larry massaged his brow and answered, "Three days so far."
The first two days had been spent on those famous beaches—relaxing at last.
Today's main plan was to enjoy Alola's local cuisine, which was why, even bumping into Lucas, he hadn't truly left—he wanted to eat.
The driver suggested Aina's Kitchen. Where else would he get such a chance? For the sake of good food—even if it meant running into Lucas—he'd persevere.
A food lover's spirit!
Tasting the head chef's new creations at the Pokémon Diner was Larry's only real hobby.
"Third day already, huh?"
Lucas looked Larry over with growing shock.
Previously, Larry always looked like a panda-eyed workaholic, the kind of exhausted salaryman who seemed liable to drop dead at any moment.
Now, though, he looked like a holiday uncle: sleep plentiful, soul restored by Alola's beauty, a decade younger!
Knowing how much Larry liked food, Lucas lowered his voice and whispered:
"I was planning to visit a famous ice cream farm this afternoon—special local product of Akala Island. Interested?"
"Oh?" Larry admitted, he was tempted.
Trying new foods was his greatest pleasure—even ice cream he normally wouldn't crave became tempting in the Alola heat!
Larry glanced toward the kitchen where Mallow emerged with more signature dishes.
After a moment, he nodded. "Let's eat first, then talk."
"Great."
Lucas returned to his seat. The unfamiliar Eevee sisters jumped onto Lucas's lap, pawing curiously at his shirt, until Luxray explained away their curiosity.
"Your dishes are all ready—enjoy!" Mallow called as she returned to the kitchen.
The spread was impressive. Even just by looks and aroma, Lucas was convinced there'd be no disappointed taste.
He'd come a bit too early, though—Mallow's brother hadn't yet passed on the recipe for the "Legendary Alola Cream Stew," or Lucas could have sampled that rare, shining dish.
What he ordered was just a regular cream stew—a far cry from the legendary version.
The "Legendary Alola Cream Stew" had a unique zing or "electric tingle." Most ingredients—carrots, potatoes, broccoli—were very normal for festival or ceremony stews.
The only real difference was the in-season Yellow Honey—rare to the extreme, located only with the intuitive help of Oricorio Pokémon, making it almost impossible to find.
Mallow even tried making a batch using Pikachu's "Thunderbolt" as a secret spice, literally mixing electricity into the stew. The result? A tingly, mind-numbing sensation—if you weren't careful, the jolt might fry your brain.
Tasting the delicious cream stew, Lucas thought: If only he could bring some Yellow Honey back to Paldea, or at least gather some flower seeds.
With his own Falinks and Audino helping out on the farm, maybe they could recreate something similar.
Lucas ate with gusto; the Eevee sisters and Luxray picked up the pace, too.
Larry, watching from his empty table, swallowed in envy—he'd only ordered two specialty dishes, thinking regular cream stew was too common elsewhere. Now, it looked mighty tasty.
He nearly wanted to beg Lucas for a small bowl!
But as a grizzled office warrior, he shook his head—no, that'd be shameless!
Wait, maybe if he offered to buy a bowl...
Inside his mind, Larry struggled—the overworked, black-hearted version argued with the vacationing, white-hearted one.
Maybe Lucas sensed the invisible weight of Larry's gaze, for he glanced over and caught Larry eyeing his food.
Ah, so that's what you want, huh?
Lucas pondered, then quietly let Big Sis Eevee—whose balance was best—deliver a bowl of cream stew to Larry's table.
"What's this...?" Larry blinked as the sweet Eevee chirped and hurried away.
He looked at Lucas, who gestured with his hands—a sign that sparked a long-buried memory in Larry's mind.
About a year and a half ago, during another late night after work in Medali Town, Larry had come across Lucas, freshly returned from the wilderness—out of supplies, unable to sell what he'd gathered, and found himself penniless on the street.
Pokémon Center was full. At the time, Lucas was huddled with a Dratini, considering scavenging for berries or sleeping wild.
Perhaps it was an elder's sympathy—a grizzled veteran for a rookie.
Larry hesitated but finally took Lucas to his favorite noodle shop, spent what little money he had to buy noodles for both Lucas and Dratini, and let them stay overnight.
Grateful, Lucas insisted on repaying the kindness, so Larry jokingly suggested he pay it back by fixing an electrical leak—he had Electric Pokémon, after all.
Lucas solved it easily with his Luxray, absorbing the leaking power and fixing the problem perfectly.
Larry was so impressed he even considered recruiting Lucas as a subordinate.
Then, the next day, he got a league notice—his next challenger in a gym battle would be the same guy, who promptly overwhelmed his team with a fully charged Luxray!
From then on, much of Larry's overtime could be traced back to this "jinx." No wonder seeing Lucas reminded him of disaster!
Only recently had hard work earned him a formal reward: an all-expenses-paid, seven-day vacation in Alola or Hoenn.
But now, vacation joy suddenly ran into Lucas again—no wonder his first instinct was to run!
Just now, Lucas made that same hand signal—Larry grinned. Maybe these few days in Alola had healed some of his office-worn heart; he didn't mind trading a bowl of stew for a little favor.
He nodded at Lucas to agree.
After happily finishing his food, Lucas paid, then asked Mallow about her regular suppliers at the market before heading out with loads of food.
Larry was waiting outside, having finished quickly, since Lucas ordered much more (and more take-away).
With a lollipop in his mouth, Larry pulled another out of his pocket and handed it to Lucas.
"Want one?"
"Sure!"
Lucas grinned, added the lollipop, and, hugging his takeaways, signaled, "Let's eat and walk."
He motioned for Larry to follow as he and the Pokémon headed back to the villa. First, he had to deliver lunch, then he could discuss what he wanted Larry's help with.
Soon, the beachfront villa came into view.
Seeing the grand villa, Larry's mouth twisted.
The woes of the rich!
Having trained hard all morning, Gladion had been eagerly awaiting Lucas's return—he dashed over, grabbed part of the food, and finally took a proper look at Larry.
"Who's this uncle?" he asked Lucas.
"An old friend," Lucas replied, chewing the candy stick from his broken lollipop so he could answer clearly.
Gladion, thinking, led the Pokémon inside for lunch.
Once the Eevee sisters left to find Ogerpon and friends, Lucas turned to Larry:
"By the way, did you bring Oricorio on this vacation?"
Exactly—Oricorio.
During the Paldea Great Crater incident—when things nearly went bad for Sada and Professor Turo—Lucas remembered Larry (as Flying-type Elite) had an Oricorio.
Which meant: with Oricorio, he could find blooming flower fields and gather Yellow Honey!
That bowl of cream stew hadn't come without purpose.
"Of course, it's loving the environment here," Larry replied, releasing his long-unseen Oricorio from its Poké Ball.
This time, though, Oricorio wasn't in its Pom-Pom (Electric) form but in Baile (Fire) style.
Its feathers were mostly red, with black accents on wings and tail; its beak and feet pink, and a tuft of curly white head feathers giving it a fancy "hairstyle."
The type had shifted from Electric/Flying to Fire/Flying, and its personality seemed altered.
"You fed it Red Nectar?" Lucas asked in surprise.
Larry nodded. "Yeah, while touring Ula'ula, it flew off to a flower field and transformed after drinking the nectar."
Oricorio is remarkable—its form and even type change based on nectar consumed: Pom-Pom (Electric), Baile (Fire), Pa'u (Psychic), and Sensu (Ghost). Each with its corresponding nectar.
Lucas wanted the Yellow Nectar.
Paldea had both Oricorio and the appropriate flowers, but given regional differences, taste and variety always vary. For the real culinary experience, Lucas felt it best to collect nectar right here in Alola.
He told Larry his plan, and to his surprise, Larry agreed almost instantly.
Deal finished, he was eager to get back to vacation mode!