Wanderer of the Pokémon World

Chapter 234: A Shared Passion

Rinko's faint smile seemed to warm the humid air of the greenhouse. "It's quite alright," she said, her voice soft but clear. "Welcome to the Murasame Botanical Garden. Please, feel free to look around, though I must reiterate, some specimens require… careful handling."

"It's truly remarkable, Miss Rinko," Xiu replied, his admiration genuine. "To manage such a vast and diverse collection of species… and so many of these plants are clearly not native to Kanto. It's a testament to your skill."

Rinko demurred with a slight shake of her head. "Most of these are actually common forest flora, not particularly rare. The challenge lies in maintaining the precise environmental conditions for each." Her calmness and confidence was striking.

Most people, when praised so directly, would show some reaction – pleasure, perhaps, or feigned modesty. Rinko simply accepted it as a statement of fact. And realizing that any further pleasantries might be redundant, Xiu decided to get to the point.

He retrieved Professor Oak's handwritten list and presented it to her. "These are the materials the Professor requested."

Rinko set down her watering can, took the list, and scanned it briefly. She nodded, recognizing Oak's familiar script. "I see. Please, come with me."

Xiu, eager to learn more and establish some rapport, readily followed her out of the vast greenhouse and towards the nearby three-story villa. She led him into a comfortable, if somewhat old-fashioned, living room. "Please, have a seat," she offered, gesturing towards a plush sofa.

"I'll prepare the Professor's order." She then disappeared into another room.

Alone, Xiu took the opportunity to observe his surroundings. The furniture, the decorations – all possessed an antique quality, perhaps decades old, yet they were still meticulously maintained.

He ran a finger along a crevice in a wooden side table – no dust, no grime. The overall arrangement of the room was orderly, traditional, without any flamboyant or overly modern touches. 

Before he could glean further insights, Rinko returned, carrying two neatly packed cloth bags. "Here are the materials Professor Oak requested," she said, placing them on the coffee table. "I've already processed and packaged them."

Xiu opened one of the bags. Inside, various dried herbs, roots, and powders were neatly sealed in smaller packets, each clearly labeled with its name, weight, collection date, and processing method.

"Excellent," he said. "No problems here." He paused, awkwardness settling in. His primary objective wasn't just to run an errand for Oak; it was to connect with Rinko, to tap into her botanical expertise. But she had been so direct, that he now found himself without a natural opening.

Waiting for her to initiate a conversation isn't my style, Xiu thought. If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door. He decided to be direct. "Professor Oak mentioned," he began, "that you possess an extraordinary knowledge of plant life, Miss Rinko. I confess, I have a few botanical questions of my own I was hoping you might be able to shed some light on."

A genuine smile brightened Rinko's features. "Of course," she replied, her voice warming slightly. "It would be my pleasure to assist if I can." She gracefully sat down in an armchair opposite him.

Xiu, relieved by her receptiveness, didn't hesitate. He started with a few general questions, topics he already had some knowledge of – a common tactic he used to gauge an individual's depth of expertise before revealing his own specific interests.

But after several exchanges, he found himself very impressed, even a little humbled. Rinko's understanding of plant biology, of cultivation techniques, of medicinal applications, was far more profound than he had anticipated. She's not just a caretaker; she's a true scholar.

In his attempts to test her, he had inadvertently revealed the limits of his own, mostly self-taught, knowledge. Well, that was embarrassing...

Still, his primary goal was to learn, so he swallowed his pride and continued, gradually steering the conversation towards specific types of materials, describing their properties without revealing their exact nature or origin.

Rinko listened intently, her expertise shining when discussing plant characteristics, though she seemed less familiar with the complex interactions between different materials. After all, her focus is on pure botany, cultivation, and direct application, not necessarily on complex potion-crafting.

"You have a keen interest in plants as well, then?" Rinko asked, her earlier reserve melting away, replaced by an almost eager enthusiasm as Xiu began to present his samples, asking about their names, characteristics, and potential uses.

"You could say I've done some… preliminary research," Xiu admitted with a slight smile.

He took out the samples one by one – dried leaves, strange seeds, powdered roots, and mineral fragments. Rinko examined each with the focused intensity of a true expert, identifying most of them immediately.

"Ah, this one," she said, picking up a small, hard-shelled gray seed, "is only found in deep swamp environments. Fascinating. Unfortunately, impossible to cultivate here." Her regret was palpable.

Xiu rapidly absorbed the information and mentally cross-referenced it with already established paradigms— while Rinko, caught up in the shared passion for botany, seemed to genuinely enjoy the exchange, relishing the rare opportunity to discuss her field with someone who possessed genuine curiosity.

The first hour passed, then two, then three. They talked animatedly, completely engrossed, forgetting the time, the table between them slowly disappearing under a scattered collection of plant samples, open books, and hastily scribbled notes.

It wasn't until Xiu reached the last page of his notebook that they both seemed to simultaneously realize how much time had elapsed. He glanced at his watch – nearly eleven o'clock in the evening.

"Goodness," Xiu said, slightly chagrined. "Miss Rinko, I apologize. I seem to have completely monopolized your time, and made quite a mess." He began gathering his scattered samples.

"Not at all," Rinko replied, a soft, genuine smile gracing her lips. She shook her head gently. "It's… it's been a very long time since I've had such an engaging conversation." She began to help him tidy up.

As they worked, Xiu felt something unexpected. He looked around the quiet, old-fashioned room, then at Rinko, her movements precise, and her expression serene.

No wonder I felt a little awkward earlier. This place… it lacks warmth. Of human presence. He imagined her here, day after day, tending this vast garden. The thought resonated with his own occasional, deeply buried feelings of isolation. Even with Abra and the others… sometimes, the silence is quite deafening.

"I'll come by again soon, if I may," Xiu found himself saying, the words surprising even himself. "Perhaps we can continue our discussion. I hope you wouldn't find my visits tiresome."

"You would be most welcome, Xiu," Rinko replied, her smile widening slightly. Her attitude towards him had clearly shifted, a warmth replacing her initial reservations.

She let her guard down surprisingly easily, Xiu mused, but even then, a shared passion can be a powerful bond.