The setting sun was gilding Rustboro City's buildings in warm golden-red hues, while a faint purple dusk haze stained the distant horizon.
Special training would begin tomorrow, and he would be training with another Trainer.
He wondered what kind of person that would be.
Leaning against the back of the sofa, he closed his eyes and listened to his partners' steady breathing, along with the white noise of the city outside as it gradually sank into night. His whole body slowly relaxed.
The night passed without incident.
The next morning, by the time sunlight streamed through a gap in the curtains and laid a slender band of gold across the wooden floor, Xinhai was already awake.
He quietly washed up, changed into workout clothes, and completed two sets of morning exercises in the living room—his movements fluid and unhurried, his breathing steady and deep.
Once he was ready, he began preparing breakfast.
The aroma of Pokémon food soon filled the room, mingling with the sweet freshness of Pokéblocks and the savory scent of special sauces. Like an invisible hand, it woke his still-sleeping partners one by one.
Eevee poked her head out of her little bed. Her large brown eyes still held a trace of sleepy haze, but her nose was already twitching involuntarily.
Following the scent, the little one took a few tiny steps toward the kitchen, then stopped and sat on the carpet. She tilted her head toward Xinhai, her tail sweeping back and forth across the floor.
"Eevee..." (Xinhai, hungry...)
Without turning around, Xinhai replied with a smile in his voice, "Almost ready. Just wait two more minutes."
After breakfast, Xinhai checked the Poké Balls at his waist. Once he had confirmed that all his partners were in their proper places, he headed out.
There were