Seismic Toss is one of the Fighting-type moves.
The user grabs the opponent with overwhelming strength and throws them high into the air.
Its battle effect is somewhat similar to Dragon Tail, Whirlwind, and Roar, as it can force the opponent to switch out of battle.
However, for Kangaskhan , Seismic Toss is not a move it normally learns through leveling.
Instead, it is a heritable move, commonly known as an Egg Move.
There is only one way to obtain it—
a Pokémon must inherit it from its parents at birth.
Usually, a Pokémon inherits one or two such moves.
For example, Kangaskhan had previously inherited the move Slash.
Now Hayato understood something even more clearly.
Food—especially dishes with special effects—was incredibly powerful.
Each one had deep potential worth exploring.
They were far more complex than they appeared on the surface.
The dish Pan-Seared Steak was the perfect example.
This sparked another idea in Hayato 's mind.
If I had a true Fighting-type Pokémon…
And fed it Pan-Seared Steak every day…
Could it eventually master every Fighting-type move?
Definitely worth testing.
"Kaang—Kaang!"
Hayato was deep in thought when he suddenly heard Kangaskhan calling out urgently.
That tone meant something unexpected had happened.
Without hesitation, Hayato quickened his pace.
He drove the axe into a nearby tree stump and followed the line of fallen trees toward Kangaskhan .
From a distance, he could see Kangaskhan lowering her head as if confronting another Pokémon.
"Chi-chi…"
As he got closer, a cautious chirping sound became audible.
Then Hayato finally saw the Pokémon facing Kangaskhan .
It was none other than the Cinccino they had encountered earlier.
Its large ears stood straight up.
Its small body was stiff with fear.
Its round black eyes were filled with terror, with tears faintly forming at the corners.
Its long fluffy tail whipped nervously through the air, the fur puffed up to make itself appear bigger.
It looked like it was trying to tell the giant monster in front of it:
I'm strong too!
Don't mess with me!
Kangaskhan responded by baring a row of cold, gleaming teeth.
She took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling.
Then—
"ROOOAR!"
Kangaskhan released a terrifying roar.
The sound rolled forward like thunder, blasting straight toward Cinccino.
The roar was so powerful that the leaves on nearby branches shook loose and fluttered down like falling snow.
And in front of Kangaskhan —
"Eep!"
Cinccino let out a tiny squeak.
Then its small body stiffened and collapsed straight onto the ground.
Its eyes had turned into spirals.
It had completely fainted from fright, entering a brief state of shock.
"…Ah."
Hayato sighed helplessly.
He walked over and lightly knocked Kangaskhan on the head before picking up the unconscious Cinccino.
His big girl definitely had a temper.
Especially lately.
Kangaskhan was approaching adulthood, and she had already begun treating the ranch as her future territory.
Naturally, she felt hostility toward any Pokémon or human who intruded.
This was a normal instinct for Kangaskhan .
When females approached maturity and prepared to raise offspring, their maternal instincts surged strongly.
And just now, Cinccino had even tried to intimidate her.
So this outcome really wasn't surprising.
"Kaang…"
Kangaskhan let out a small guilty sound.
"I'm not blaming you."
Hayato gently stroked her head to comfort her.
Kangaskhan could be surprisingly sensitive.
"But you should try to control your temper a little."
"The ranch won't always be just the two of us."
"In the future, more companions will join us."
"They'll become part of our family."
Carrying Cinccino back to the campsite, Hayato examined it carefully.
Once he confirmed the little Pokémon had simply fainted from fear, he finally relaxed.
He asked Kangaskhan to watch over it while he continued his work.
Logging didn't just mean cutting trees down.
The branches also needed trimming.
Hayato cut away all side branches until only the main trunk remained, forming neat rounded logs.
The discarded branches weren't wasted either.
They were excellent firewood.
Hayato piled them neatly together—perfect fuel for winter.
If the ranch ever raised a Slugma, winter heating would become incredibly easy.
Just letting a Slugma rest in the fireplace could warm the entire house.
Meanwhile at the Camp
While Hayato worked tirelessly nearby…
An awkward staring contest was happening at the campsite.
When Cinccino slowly regained consciousness, the first thing it saw was the terrifying giant monster sitting in front of it.
It nearly fainted again on the spot.
This is terrifying…
Kangaskhan sat quietly, remembering Hayato 's earlier warning.
But her eyes occasionally glanced toward the little Pokémon.
Small.
Fluffy.
Kind of cute.
It would fit nicely in my pouch.
Thinking this, Kangaskhan simply acted on the idea.
She reached out with a large paw and gently placed the frozen Cinccino into the pouch on her belly.
The empty pouch now contained a living creature.
Kangaskhan's face instantly lit up with a warm motherly smile.
Her entire body seemed to glow with maternal energy.
As for Cinccino—
Its tense body slowly relaxed.
The inside of the pouch was warm and comfortable.
It even let out a soft purring sound of contentment.
When it looked at Kangaskhan again, the fear in its eyes had faded, replaced with curiosity.
So when Hayato returned—
He saw a surprisingly peaceful scene.
Kangaskhan was lying comfortably on the grass.
Cinccino stood on her back, happily brushing her fur with its fluffy tail like a spa treatment.
The atmosphere was incredibly harmonious.
After all, Pokémon relationships were often that pure.
"Kaang~"
Kangaskhan lazily greeted Hayato .
Cinccino shyly wagged its tail.
Seeing this, Hayato smiled.
He removed his straw hat, washed his face, and brushed the dust off his clothes.
Then he picked up a few Berries.
Food was always the best way to build relationships.
Ten minutes later, a Berry Fruit Platter was placed in front of Cinccino.
"Little one, this is an apology."
"Kangaskhan didn't mean to scare you earlier."
Hayato spoke gently.
Cinccino glanced at Kangaskhan , then back at the human.
After a moment, it cautiously grabbed a piece of fruit and placed it in its mouth.
Then—
Its eyes suddenly lit up.
Delicious!!!
Throwing elegance aside, Cinccino began eating enthusiastically with both paws.
Every bite made it kick its tiny feet in excitement.
The sweet berry aroma mixed with honey made the dish irresistible.
It was the best food Cinccino had ever eaten.
At the same time, its impression of Hayato improved greatly.
In its simple logic:
Human = Delicious Food
Delicious Food = Like
Human = Like
When the fruit platter was completely cleaned—licked spotless—Hayato chuckled softly.
He reached out and gently rubbed Cinccino's big ears.
The little Pokémon's face immediately turned red.
So soft.
It would definitely be comfortable to cuddle while sleeping.
With that thought, Hayato 's eyes gleamed mischievously.
He decided to make an offer.
"Cinccino, did you like the fruit platter?"
Cinccino nodded instantly and licked its lips.
It really was the most delicious food it had ever tasted.
"In that case—"
"Would you like to join the ranch?"
"If you do, you can eat fruit platters every day."
"And in the future, you'll get to taste dishes even better than this."
Hayato spoke persuasively.
"Chi?!"
Cinccino's eyes widened.
Its tail shot straight up.
Eat fruit platters every day?
And even better food in the future?
Under the irresistible temptation of delicious meals…
Cinccino made its decision.