The next day.
Heiduo set off on his vacation trip to Laverre City.
Before leaving, he only said goodbye to Mairin. She watched him go with longing eyes as she leaned against the manor's gate, as if he were leaving never to return.
What was with her?
In truth, the girl had thought he would stay at the manor for quite a while. The last time he had come, he had stayed for nearly a week. She had been hoping to grow closer to Heiduo.
Heiduo held a special place in the older girl's heart. Rather than the sort of affection that came from hormones at twelve or thirteen, she saw him more as an older brother—or even a father. In other words, familial affection.
Well, an unconventional case of suddenly becoming a dad.
Of course, that also had something to do with Mairin's bizarre parents.
Heiduo could not imagine what kind of people even Mairin herself could not stand.
In any case, since she could not change his mind, Mairin could only watch Heiduo leave with immense reluctance, feeling deeply dejected. If she had known, she would not have told him so early that nobody wanted to leave with him.
She should have delayed for as long as possible.
The innocent little girl did not know that Heiduo had already been brimming with excitement over traveling again after so long. Why would he want to stay here? Even if he did not get an answer right away, he would slip away first.
He could find out who was willing to come along after he returned.
Now that nobody wanted to go, it fulfilled his wishes in a sense.
It meant he could enjoy the beauty of nature and the charm of wild Pokémon with his own Pokémon, without bringing