"Family" Reunion

"Is that so? Sounds like quite a talented kid. You've loved studying all sorts of tactics since you were little. For him to beat you, that boy must really be gifted."

As Louise listened to Blake talk about everything that had happened recently, she sighed with emotion. Back then, she had also hoped to become a powerful Trainer, but her talent had been limited. Forget Champion level—even Elite Four level had been beyond her reach. Unlike James, whose ambitions had never lain in that direction yet who had still reached Elite Four level, reaching Gym Leader level had been Louise's limit. Hearing about Leon now, she could not help feeling a little envious.

"Mom, I've told you plenty of times. I'm not some genius. At most, I'm just good at summarizing things."

Blake spoke helplessly. His mother had considered him a genius since childhood, but in truth, he had merely stood on the shoulders of countless predecessors. Unfortunately, he had no way to explain that.

"Alright, Sam and the others will be here soon. Get ready to eat. Oh, Blake, take that bottle of liquor from my bag. I got it for Uncle Sam."

James walked over from the window as he spoke. The next moment, the doorbell rang.

"Hahahahaha! James! You still remembered to come back, you bastard!"

Uncle Sam threw his arms around James and excitedly patted him on the back.

"You say that every time I come back. Can't you try something else? Come in. I prepared some good liquor."

After giving Sam's muscular arm two pats, James showed a faint smile. Anyone familiar with him knew that this faint smile was how James truly showed his happiness.

"Sorry to intrude."

Anna greeted them with a smile, carrying several home-style seafood dishes that looked freshly prepared.

"Anna! I missed you so much!"

Louise pounced onto Anna. Anna hurriedly caught her; if Lulina had not reacted quickly enough, the lunch boxes in Anna's hands would likely have spilled all over the floor.

"You're grown adults already. Why are you still acting like children? Settle down."

Anna helplessly held her best friend. Louise had always been like this, from childhood to adulthood. Even with children over ten years old, she still caused trouble like a little kid.

"Oh, come on. My husband and son are both too mature. The house needs a lively atmosphere, doesn't it?"

Louise did not care in the slightest. For someone as socially fearless as her, fooling around was hardly a big deal.

"You really are something. I don't even know what to say to you anymore."

Anna shook her head helplessly. Meanwhile, Lulina carried the lunch boxes into the house and naturally began helping Blake set the table, serve dishes, dish out rice, and pour drinks. Naturally, both sets of parents noticed the scene.

"Lulina is a good girl."

James nodded and smiled.

"Blake's a fine young man too. He even helped settle that matter over by the wrecked ship before."

Sam smiled as well, though his smile was... how should one put it? A little forced. He had long since acknowledged Blake; one could even say he had watched Blake grow up. Aside from blood relation and the family name, Blake was almost no different from his own son. Yet seeing this scene still made a doting father feel rather unhappy, though he could not quite say why.

Compared to the fathers, however, the two mothers were practically ecstatic.

"I told you those two kids had something going on!"

Louise excitedly whispered into Anna's ear.

"Then why don't you, as his mother, stay home and care for them more?"

Anna said.

"What are you talking about? With parents at home, those two wouldn't dare do anything. James and I went out, so didn't that just give them space? Look at them—they've come so far in less than a year!"

Louise continued spouting her crooked logic, but Anna clearly did not agree with it at all. It was bad enough that she did not cook for children that young; she even made them cook themselves. What kind of mother was that? Blake was only fine because he was so obedient and sensible that it made one's heart ache. Any other child would have developed psychological problems long ago.

"Oh, Blake has always acted like a little adult since he was young. He's far too mature. I really want to see him panic for once."

Louise rested her chin on her hand, a playful smile appearing on her face. Anna looked at her irritably. What kind of mother wished to see her own child suffer?

"Dad! Mom! What are you all standing around over there for?"

After setting out the bowls and chopsticks, Lulina looked at the two pairs of parents still standing there and called out in confusion.

"Oh, right, we're coming! We're coming! Let's eat, let's eat! Hahahahaha!"

Sam was the first to speak. His booming voice snapped the other three out of it, and they quickly headed for the dining table.

"Then! To celebrate James and Louise successfully finishing their work! Cheers!"

Sam raised his glass, the clear liquor swirling within. James had brought it back; it was a local specialty from near the excavation site of this ruin.

"Cheers!"

The four adults raised their glasses and clinked them together, while the two minors could only hold their cups and drink juice.

"Oh! Oh! Oh! Blake made these dishes, didn't he? They taste incredible!"

"Hahahahaha! Of course they do! Just look whose son he is!"

Louise laughed loudly.

"I remember you being terrible at cooking. If Blake had really inherited your culinary skills, that would have been a disaster."

Anna glanced at Louise, directly exposing her attempt to take credit for herself.

"He's still my son. No matter what, I deserve some credit as his mother. Hehe."

"Hahahahaha! That really is such a Louise-style answer."

Thanks to Louise's jokes and banter, laughter never stopped around the dining table.

After several rounds of drinks and courses, James brewed a pot of tea and sat on the sofa chatting with Sam. Blake had originally planned to clear the table, but Louise chased him off to keep Lulina company, then began cleaning up with Anna.

"So, you're going to explore a ruin with Uncle and Auntie?"

Lulina sat on James's bed as she spoke.

"Yeah. They're taking me with them this time. I don't know how long we'll be gone."

Blake shrugged and casually tossed a Pokéblock to the Dreepy that had just woken up.

"That's so nice. I want to go too, but Teacher Haisewai definitely won't let me."

Lulina helplessly stroked Chewtle's head, speaking with envy.

"Dad said the place we're going this time is a ruin that's already been developed, so it probably won't take too long. If we get the chance, I'll take you to see one someday."

Blake smiled as he tossed a Pokéblock into Chewtle's mouth as well.

"Then it's a promise. Once I'm not busy over here, take me too."

Lulina immediately held out the little finger of her right hand.

"Alright, alright."

Blake smiled indulgently and held out his own little finger, linking it with Lulina's to seal their promise.