Four years later.
“Starly, Starly.”
Sunlight streamed into the room through the window, and the Starly outside chirped, seemingly welcoming the start of a new day.
“Ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling…”
“Bang!”
A hand reached out from under the covers and turned off the Treecko-shaped alarm clock. A Yun pulled back the covers and went to the bathroom to brush his teeth, then looked at the travel outfit Lina had prepared for him on the bedside table and began to change.
“Phew~, not bad, it still has to be me. This charm is almost irresistible even to myself. This must be the small perk of being a transmigator.”
After changing into his new clothes, A Yun narcissistically admired his handsome reflection in the bathroom mirror. (He’s only slightly less handsome than the Yanzus in front of the screen.)
“Are you ready, A Yun~? Come down for breakfast. Aren’t you planning to pick up Xiaoguang later to go to the Yamanashi Research Institute to receive your first Pokemon?”
“I’m ready! Coming down now.”
Hearing the voice, A Yun no longer lingered. He picked up the Ultra Ball on the table and prepared to go downstairs.
“Thump, thump, thump, thump!”
“Mom, where’s Dad?!” A Yun asked Lina in the living room after coming downstairs.
Lina turned around, looking at her son with a hint of daze.
The young man was about 1.75 meters tall, with neat black short hair and beautiful black pupils. A slightly tight black outfit perfectly showcased his physique. He wore white sneakers, and a yellow Poké Ball hung from his belt. His whole demeanor exuded a sunny and handsome aura.
“Oh, your dad went to work. He told me he wouldn’t see you off today. From now on, you’ll have to rely on yourself. He has nothing left to teach you.”
Lina still wore her usual smile. She walked over, straightened A Yun’s collar, and said with a smile.
“Mm… alright.”
A Yun ate his sandwich silently without speaking, finished the milk in his cup, picked up the travel bag Lina had prepared earlier, and walked out of the house.
“A Yun!” Lina said with some reluctance at this moment.
“I’m leaving, Mom. Don’t miss me too much, or I’ll be tempted to stay.”
“Also, tell my dad to prepare to cheer me on as my cheerleading squad at home. I’m definitely going to win the Lily of the Valley Conference Champion. It’ll absolutely shock him.”
So A Yun walked up to Lina and gently hugged her, speaking carelessly as if he didn’t care about parting at all.
“You, you’re still so fond of teasing your dad.”
Lina couldn’t help but laugh as she imagined her husband as a cheerleader, as A Yun described, which significantly lightened the sad atmosphere of parting.
“Alright, I should go too. Xiaoguang is probably waiting anxiously.”
A Yun stopped hugging, put on his travel bag, and walked out of the yard gate.
“A Yun, be careful on your way.” Lina stood at the door, shouting at A Yun’s departing back.
“Got it!!” Without turning around, A Yun waved his hand to Lina with his back to her and then walked in the direction of Xiaoguang’s house.
At Xiaoguang’s house…
“Oh no! I’m doomed, I’m doomed! Mom, why didn’t you wake me up?!”
Xiaoguang, still in her white pajamas, was frantically getting ready in her room.
“I really can’t do anything with you, child. We already agreed on the departure date with A Yun, and you still managed to forget the time!”
“Luckily, you’re traveling with A Yun, otherwise, your unreliable self would really make me worried. Don’t you agree, Glameow?”
“Meow.”
Xiaoguang’s mother, Caizi, stood in the living room, looking helplessly at her daughter fumbling with her belongings, and said to the Glameow lying on the table.
Glameow only let out a soft meow when it heard Caizi’s question, indicating it had heard, but it didn’t answer Caizi’s question.
“Ding-dong!”
“It must be A Yun! I can’t let him see me before I’m ready. Mom, please stall him for me, I’ll be ready in a second.”
Hearing the doorbell, Xiaoguang scurried into her room like a startled rabbit.
“Oh, really, not a hint of a lady. I wonder who she takes after.” Caizi sighed and walked towards the door.
“Creak.”
“Ohayo (Good morning), Auntie Caizi, I’m here to pick up Xiaoguang for our journey.”
Caizi opened the door and looked at the young man. His attire today refreshed her. Just looking at him made her feel very reliable.
“It’s A Yun. Come in and sit down first. Xiaoguang will be ready upstairs soon.”
“Alright, then I’ll trouble you, Auntie Caizi.” A Yun replied with a smile.
“You child, you’re still so polite with your aunt. Your aunt watched you grow up, you know.”
Caizi playfully glared at A Yun and said with a smile.
“Come, have some water first. Did Lina prepare breakfast for you? Do you want some breakfast?”
“I’ve eaten, Auntie. I’ll just sit here for a bit.” A Yun didn’t stand on ceremony, taking the water Caizi offered and drinking it.
“Time really flies. You were just a little kid who came here every day, and in the blink of an eye, you and Xiaoguang are about to embark on your journey.” Caizi looked at the sunny and handsome young man in front of her and couldn’t help but sigh at the fleeting time.
“Not at all, Auntie. You still look very young to me. Auntie, you are a top Coordinator, after all.”
“I believe Xiaoguang will inherit your talent and become a top Coordinator.” A Yun looked at the still beautiful woman in front of him, whose unique charm made her seem both approachable and dignified.
“Hahaha, A Yun, you always say the right things. Not like Xiaoguang, whose constantly forgetful personality makes me get a headache just thinking about it.”
Caizi covered her mouth and laughed happily at what the young man said.
“Mom, you’re talking bad about me again. I’m not like that at all.”
Xiaoguang had finished getting ready by then, wearing her familiar white round hat, a V-neck black camisole, a pink skirt, and pink long boots.
She stood with her hands on her hips, puffing out her cheeks, and looked at her mother with some displeasure as she spoke.
“You clearly are! If A Yun weren’t going with you, I wouldn’t feel at ease letting you go out alone.”
“Auntie, Auntie, let Xiaoguang eat first. It’s getting late, and we don’t have much time left until our appointment with Professor Yamanashi.”
A Yun temporarily interrupted the mother-daughter squabble, thinking that if he didn’t interrupt, they wouldn’t even leave Twinleaf Town by night, and all the Pokemon would be chosen, especially since Professor Yamanashi didn’t have any…
“Alright… finish your breakfast first,” Caizi said to Xiaoguang.
“…”
A Yun quietly watched Xiaoguang finish her breakfast, then planned to take her on their journey.
But when they reached the door, A Yun looked at the spotless Xiaoguang and asked, “Xiaoguang, where’s your travel bag?”
“It’s right here!”
Thud!
Then the girl pulled out a super-sized yellow suitcase from a nearby cabinet, indicating that she had no problem at all and was fully prepared.
Uh…
A Yun broke into a sweat. This was indeed “fully prepared,” but wasn’t this item a bit *too* much?
If they really took this thing out, who knew when they would reach Sandgem Town?!
“What did you prepare? Clothes? Clothes? Still clothes! Do you think you’re going on vacation, child?”
Auntie Caizi opened Xiaoguang’s suitcase, her face full of black lines as she looked at her daughter.
“But these clothes are all for me to participate in the Contests…”
Before Xiaoguang could finish her sentence, Auntie Caizi handed her a small yellow bag.
“Here~, this is all you need. Your mom only took these things back in the day.”
After saying that, Caizi still looked a bit worried and said to A Yun, who was standing nearby, “A Yun, I’ll have to trouble you to take good care of her on this journey. You know Xiaoguang always says ‘no problem, no problem,’ but in reality, it’s all problems. So, it’ll be tough for you on this journey, A Yun.”
“Don’t worry, Auntie, I’ll definitely lead Xiaoguang to successfully complete this journey.” Although he knew what Auntie said was true, A Yun still responded with a smile.
“Mom, we’re leaving! Goodbye!”
A Yun and Xiaoguang waved goodbye to Caizi at the door before officially embarking on their journey.
“Have a safe trip.”
Caizi softly said as she watched the two walk away.