Futaba Town, a tranquil town, is known as a place where new leaves sprout.
Futaba Town is located in a remote corner of the southwestern Sinnoh Region.
Due to its unique geographical location, it is regarded by the people of the Sinnoh Region, and even by the authorities, as the starting point for Trainers.
Of course, Futaba Town is considered a starting point also because of its proximity to the Yamanashi Research Institute.
The Yamanashi Research Institute is where official Sinnoh Region Trainers receive their initial Pokémon, and Futaba Town, located even further south than the Yamanashi Research Institute, naturally got its name from this.
Although Futaba Town is called a small town, the area it encompasses is quite extensive.
The houses in the town are mostly detached Western-style villas, making it a very suitable town for a stopover during one's life journey.
Perhaps the only drawback is that the residential area is quite far from Futaba Town's recognized small commercial street, making shopping not particularly convenient?
However, this is a common inconvenience shared by many small towns. Compared to other towns like Suiyi Town, Futaba Town can be considered relatively prosperous.
In a green-tiled, ivory-walled residence in Futaba Town—
The window on the second floor was pushed open by a girl with shoulder-length hair. She leaned against the window, taking a deep breath of the fresh air outside while stretching leisurely.
“I can finally depart tomorrow.”
A sweet smile appeared on the girl's face.
The girl's name is Xiaoguang, a new Trainer who is about to debut this year. To prepare for her upcoming journey, she hasn't had a good night's sleep for days.
Even in her dreams, she thought only of what she might encounter and where she might go during her journey—
Forests, grasslands, snowy mountains, deep valleys, seaside beaches...
These places, which she could only see on TV and in magazines before, she can now personally embark on a journey to witness with her own eyes. There is nothing more exciting than traveling alone!
As soon as she thought of this, Xiaoguang's heart couldn't help but stir with excitement, wondering what the future held for her.
“Hey! Xiaoguang! Come down for a moment!”
“?”
Just as Xiaoguang was still immersed in her fantasies, her mother's voice suddenly drifted up from downstairs.
“Is it time to eat? No... no...”
Although it was almost mealtime, judging by the voice... it seemed like she was being asked to do something.
It was the same gentle voice as usual, but in a child's eyes, an adult's seemingly unchanging voice always contained other meanings.
Just like children at home can clearly distinguish whether the footsteps at the door belong to their parents.
“Sigh, it seems it won't be anything good.”
Xiaoguang thought this, then walked downstairs somewhat dejectedly.
There was nothing she could do. No matter how unwilling, this was her last day before leaving home, so even if she was sent on an errand, she couldn't really complain.
......
Walking downstairs, Xiaoguang saw her mother, Caizi, standing in the kitchen with a troubled expression. Seeing this scene, Xiaoguang knew her hunch was correct again.
“So fast? I thought you were still packing in your room. Not bad, not bad.”
Caizi praised her with a smile, as if she had just grown up.
Although Xiaoguang growing up now was considered praise, in Xiaoguang's eyes, it was not the same thing.
“My bags are already packed! Just waiting to leave tomorrow.”
“That's amazing. I remember when I was about to leave, I only decided what to bring on the morning of my departure. It seems you're much better than me in this regard.”
“Of course!” Xiaoguang puffed out her chest proudly and said, “Knowing what to bring when you go out should be common sense. It's you, Mom, who lacks common sense.”
Perhaps because she was leaving tomorrow, Xiaoguang's tone when speaking to Caizi had become a little airy, completely unafraid of retaliation in the form of dishwashing or floor mopping after dinner.
However, Caizi was clearly in a good mood today and didn't bother arguing with Xiaoguang about it.
“Yes, yes, I lack common sense. So, Miss Xiaoguang, who has so much common sense, could you please go to the nearby commercial street and buy some soy sauce for me? We've run out.”
“Eh—”
“Don't ‘eh’. Since you came down so quickly, doesn't that mean you're ready to help? Although the commercial street is a little far, it shouldn't be a problem for the mature Miss Xiaoguang, right?”
“I know...”
Xiaoguang pouted, replying grudgingly.
If she had known it was an errand, she would have stayed in her room longer before coming down.
It wasn't that running errands was tiring or bad.
It was just that there was no novelty in this town, which she knew so well she could walk to the commercial street with her eyes closed. Moreover, Futaba Town didn't hold any special events, and everyone in the commercial street was an old acquaintance.
If it were a normal day, Xiaoguang wouldn't have been so disappointed.
But comparing today's tasks with tomorrow's, a sense of loss immediately welled up.
“You don't have to make that face, do you? It's just buying something, it should be over in half an hour...”
Caizi looked at Xiaoguang, who had her head down, somewhat speechlessly, then delivered news that immediately brightened Xiaoguang's spirits.
“By the way~ I seem to remember that there was some event being held in the commercial street today~”
Caizi pressed her index finger to her lips, tilting her head with a troubled expression, but under Xiaoguang's curious gaze, Caizi quickly had a realization and clapped her hands, laughing:
“Ah! That's right! I remember now, it seems to be a lottery event.”
“What the heck, I thought it was something else...”
Xiaoguang's interest immediately waned again. Lottery events were the most common events held in the commercial street, but the prizes were usually nothing special.
She remembered that the best prize she had ever won, from then until now, was a three-day, three-night trip to an island.
Although Xiaoguang really wanted that prize back then, even if she won it now, she wouldn't want it.
The most urgent matter was certainly tomorrow's journey, and going to the Yamanashi Research Institute in Sandgem Town to receive her beginner Pokémon.
“Hmm... not interested? But I heard that among this time's prizes, there seems to be a complete set of stickers for the Grand Festival...”
“Let me go! No! Please, you must let me go!”
Xiaoguang immediately changed her mind.
It just goes to show, your mother is still your mother; you can't outplay her in psychological games.
“Have a good trip~”
Caizi leaned against the door, smiling as she watched Xiaoguang ride away on her bicycle.
“But it probably won't work out.”
After Xiaoguang's figure completely disappeared from her sight, Caizi murmured:
“After all, the pokeball stickers are the first prize. Given that child's luck, it'll probably just be a consolation prize of tissues.”
Although Caizi was convinced that Xiaoguang wouldn't win the grand prize, she had no regrets in her heart.
It was just that she was telling the truth. As for whether Xiaoguang could win the prize she wanted, that had nothing to do with Caizi.
Besides, it was just buying soy sauce; Caizi could have gone herself. Asking Xiaoguang to run the errand wasn't because she was lazy; she just hoped Xiaoguang could create more memories of home before embarking on her journey.
She also hoped to create more memories of Xiaoguang.
Time passes quickly, and growing up happens in an instant.
This is especially true for Trainers who travel. How many days a year do they stay at home?
A week or two would be good enough.
Those outside lead fulfilling lives, while those at home eagerly await their return.
So, communicating more with her daughter in this way could be considered a little bit of Caizi's cunning as a mother.
.......