After reviewing Toxicroak's status panel, Yu Hai closed it in satisfaction. The setting sun cast its last streak of orange-red afterglow across the beach, until twilight completely swallowed the horizon and the waves receded with flecks of spray like shattered gold.
Only then did he return to town along the beach with A Long. A Long was going to find his wife and Old Man, while Yu Hai rode Pelipper back to Cinnabar Gym through the deepening night.
The kitchen lights looked especially warm in the twilight. Blaine and the others had already finished dinner. Yu Hai went into the kitchen, opened the microwave, and reheated the food Ai's Mother had prepared. The aroma immediately filled the room. He hastily wolfed down a few bites before preparing to head to the hot springs for a bath.
He had just entered the changing room and taken off his T-shirt when he heard splashing from the shower stalls. As the sound stopped, Blaine emerged from the steam with a towel wrapped around him, fine droplets clinging to his white hair.
"Brat, you're back." Blaine happened to run into Yu Hai. His tipsy gaze swept over him, and when he saw Yu Hai set down his Poké Ball, his tone carried a trace of understanding.
"Yes, Blaine." Yu Hai's gaze briefly rested on the old man's wrinkled face. To avoid being questioned about the specifics of his Pokémon, he thought it over and decided to come clean. "Xiao Feng already told you, right? One of my Pokémon broke through to Elite Four level. I'm planning to leave in a few days..."
The joy from Toxicroak's breakthrough had already faded. He had no clue where to find non-steel materials with the Steel type, nor could he find an Elite-class Damp Rock. The breakthroughs of