The person who jumped down from Pidgeot's back looked about Xinhai's age, perhaps a year or two older.
He was not particularly tall—one could even say he was somewhat round. He wore a well-tailored light-colored casual suit made from material that looked quite expensive, paired with a patterned shirt that was... well, distinctively flamboyant. Its collar was open, and a stylish pair of sunglasses hung loosely around his neck.
His round face wore an easy, infectious smile that seemed capable of instantly dispelling the morning chill.
After landing, he first gave Pidgeot's strong neck a hearty pat. Pidgeot affectionately nuzzled his hand and let out a low, contented rumble before being recalled into its Poké Ball in a flash of red light.
"Scott!" Before Xinhai could speak, Flannery had already charged forward in a single stride. With her hands on her hips, even her fiery red short hair seemed to perk up beneath her Presence.
She raised a fist and waved it in front of Scott's face, deliberately putting on a stern expression. "You finally showed up! Making us wait for you—has it been so long since you got a beating that your skin's itching again?"
Scott was clearly no stranger to Flannery's particular way of "greeting" people. He immediately raised both hands high in surrender, his face exaggeratedly full of "terror."
"Whoa there! My Lady Flannery! Have mercy, have mercy! I was only five minutes late. My crime doesn't warrant death, it doesn't warrant death!"
As he begged for mercy, he deftly shuffled half a step toward Xinhai, his gaze drifting his way as though seeking "reinforcements."
Watching the familiar banter between the two, Xinhai could not help but smile. Holding Eevee with Charmander beside him, he watched with amused interest.
Seeing Scott act so cowardly, Flannery could not