Reuniting with Ash in Hoenn

"Is this the venue for the Pokémon Contest? It's pretty nice!"

After arriving at the Rustboro Conference venue, Rosa looked at the site surrounded by forest and could not help but sigh in admiration.

"It is a Pokémon Contest, after all. Making it a bit more glamorous is only natural," Gary said with a shrug in response to Rosa's remark.

"I quite agree with that." Rosa nodded, clearly approving of Gary's words.

Just as Gary and Rosa were chatting animatedly, several familiar figures suddenly appeared on the path ahead of them.

When Gary spotted one of them dressed in blue, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

Rosa, who had been watching Gary all along, naturally noticed his smile. Following his gaze, she soon saw the four figures walking toward them.

So these are the friends Gary mentioned before! Seeing Gary's smile, Rosa was certain that these were the four people Gary had been waiting for in Rustboro City.

I just wonder which one is Ash.

Sure enough, just as Rosa had guessed, the four people who had appeared on the path were Gary's friends Ash, Ash's caretaker Brock, as well as Petalburg Gym's daughter May and son Max.

Gary had mentioned them to her before, and based on the information he had given her, Rosa recognized Ash and his group.

"Are they the friends you were waiting for, Gary?" After figuring out their identities, Rosa walked up beside Gary and asked softly.

"That's right." Gary nodded, then continued, "Let's go over."

After saying that, Gary led Rosa toward Ash and the others.

"What are they doing? Are they training before a competition?"

As Gary and Rosa approached the group of four, Ash looked at the people training around them and asked curiously.

However, just as Max was about to offer his thoughts, Gary decisively cut him off.

"They're making preparations for the upcoming Pokémon Contest."

Ash, who had been waiting for his companion to explain, suddenly heard that familiar voice and immediately turned toward where it had come from.

Especially when he saw Gary walking toward them, the smile and surprise on Ash's face were impossible to hide.

"Gary!" The moment he saw Gary, he cried out in delight.

For anyone, meeting an old friend far from home was a pleasant surprise.

"Long time no see, Ash, Brock!" Gary greeted them with a smile upon seeing the two.

"Long time no see, Gary."

Brock was also quite happy to see the familiar Gary.

"Ash, who is this?" May, meeting Gary for the first time, looked at the unfamiliar boy and asked Ash.

"I know! He's the guy who lost to Ash in the first round of the Silver Conference. I think his name is Gary."

Before Ash could introduce him, Max eagerly stepped forward and blurted out Gary's identity, along with his past "record."

After hearing the kid's words, Gary's smiling face instantly froze, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

Sure enough, Gary still did not like Max, that brat. Brats were equally annoying in any world.

"Max, you really have no manners!"

May had also heard Max's extremely rude words, so she unceremoniously smacked him on the head to teach him a lesson.

Seeing this, Gary immediately felt much better.

"By the way, Gary, let me introduce you. They are—"

Just as Ash was about to introduce May and Max to Gary, Gary directly interrupted him.

"No need. I know them. They're Mr. Norman's children from Petalburg Gym, May and Max."

"Huh? How do you know them, Gary?" Hearing Gary reveal May and Max's identities, Ash's eyes widened in disbelief.

May and Max were equally shocked, though Brock had already formed a guess.

"Mr. Norman told us," Rosa stepped forward beside Gary to explain. "He said that his children, May and Max, were traveling with you, Ash."

"So that's how it is!"

After hearing Rosa's explanation, Ash, May, and Max all wore looks of realization.

"By the way, who is this?" Brock, who had expected something like this, now noticed Rosa beside Gary and asked.

When Ash and the others turned their attention to Rosa, Gary pulled her into his arms and introduced her.

"Let me introduce her. This is my girlfriend, Rosa, from the Unova Region."

"Hello, I'm Rosa. It's nice to meet you all." After Gary finished introducing her, Rosa cheerfully introduced herself as well.

"Hello, Rosa." Ash and the others all greeted Rosa in return.

Brock, however, was deeply moved by this. With tears in his eyes, he said, "I never thought Gary would have a girlfriend. Where is my love?"

Of course, Rosa also noticed Brock's strange behavior, but after Gary explained his personality to her, she did not pay him any further attention.

After chatting briefly, the group grew a little closer.

"By the way, Rosa, you seemed to mention Mr. Norman from Petalburg Gym earlier. What was that about?"

As they chatted, Ash suddenly recalled Rosa mentioning Norman earlier and asked curiously.

"Could it be..." Ash quickly guessed the answer.

"That's right. We met him when we challenged Petalburg Gym." Rosa gave him the answer directly.

"It was then that Mr. Norman mentioned you, Ash, as well as May and the others," Gary added from the side.

"So, Gary, you already have a Gym Badge?" Ash looked at Gary and Rosa as he said this.

"To be precise, two." Gary held up two fingers as he spoke.

"We also cleared Rustboro Gym and won the Stone Badge." Rosa said with a smile.

"Huh?!" Upon hearing this news, Ash's voice immediately rose several pitches, his face filled with shock.

Likewise, besides Ash, the other two also wore expressions of disbelief.