After listening to Xinhai's words, Dad nodded, put a chopstick into his mouth and chewed slowly, also thinking about his son's current general strength.
Mother Nami looked at Xinhai, then at Dad, and said softly, "The child has just come back, so don't ask these questions. Let him have a good meal first."
"Ask what's wrong, you're not an outsider." Dad waved his hand, his eyes fell on Xinhai's face again, with a smile on his lips.
"If you're not sure, you're not sure. What's there to hide? Being able to see your position clearly is much better than those who say 'I'll win the championship' only to be eliminated in the first round."
He picked up the cup and took another sip, and continued slowly, "However, if you are not sure, you are not sure. You still have to fight if you have to. Isn't that the reason for your trip?"
"Yeah." Xinhai nodded and smiled, "Do your best. Whatever step you can take is considered a step. It must at least be worthy of the efforts of our partners over the past year."
"That's right." Dad put down the cup and picked up the chopsticks again, "When we eat, the dishes are almost cold."
Mother Nami also laughed beside her, and put a piece of braised pork into Xinhai's bowl. "Eat more, you will definitely not eat well outside."
"Mom, I can just pick it up myself." Xinhai responded with a smile and lowered his head to eat.
Eevee finished the food in his bowl beside him. He put his little paws on the edge of the table and looked longingly at the braised pork in Xinhai's bowl.
Xinhai looked at it and smiled, tore off a small half and handed it over. Eevee opened his mouth to catch it, chewing it until his cheeks bulged, and his tail swept back and forth on the chair.
The atmosphere at the dinner table was relaxed and warm. The sky outside the window had completely darkened. The old trees in the yard were gently swaying in the evening breeze, and the leaves made a fine rustling sound.
After dinner, Xinhai helped her mother clear away the dishes, and then sat with Dad in the living room for a while, chatting about trivial matters in the town and Ever Grande Conference's arrangements.
"I discussed it with your mother during the days of the conference, and planned to go and have a look." Dad leaned on the sofa, holding a cup of tea in his hand, "Your mother said that she hasn't traveled far for a long time, so she just took this opportunity to go out and have a look."
"You guys are coming?" Xinhai was stunned for a moment, then laughed, "That's a good feeling."
"Don't be too happy too early," Dad raised his chin and deliberately kept a straight face, "If you are eliminated in the first round by then, it will be embarrassing for us to come all the way here."
"Dad, you--"Xinhai couldn't laugh or cry.
"Just kidding." Dad couldn't help but laugh and waved his hand, "You still have to go. Whether you win or lose, you just have to do your best."
Mom Nami poked her head out from the kitchen. "Xinhai, I tidied up the room for you yesterday. The bedding is all freshly dried. Have a good sleep at night."
"I got it, Mom."
Xinhai stood up, said good night to his parents, and took Eevee and several other friends upstairs.
When he opened the door to his room, everything was still the same as when he left.
On the bookshelf are the Pokédex cards he collected when he was a child, and there are a few stacks of notebooks stacked neatly on the desk. The cactus on the windowsill is still alive, and even has a small bud sprouting out than before.
Eevee jumped off his shoulder, walked around the room, then jumped onto the bed in a familiar manner, found a position next to the pillow and curled up, looking at Xinhai with his big brown eyes, as if to say: Go to sleep quickly.
Xinhai smiled, washed briefly, changed clothes, lay down, and moved Eevee to the pillow.
The little guy snorted, rubbed it into his hand, and soon fell asleep.
Outside the window, it was a quiet night in Green Town. Occasionally, one or two insects chirped from the grass outside the courtyard wall, and the lights of the town in the distance were faintly visible among the shadows of the trees.
Xinhai Close your eyes and your breathing gradually calms down.
After being away from home for more than two months, I finally came back to this house after traveling around a lot.
Starting tomorrow, I will rest at home for two days, and then I will make the final sprint preparations for Ever Grande Conference.
I spent two days with my parents at home, which also allowed Xinhai and my friends to have some rest.
In these two days, Xinhai did not arrange any training, and even did only a few basic sets of morning exercises.
I spent most of my time drinking tea and chatting with my parents under the old tree in the yard. Occasionally, I went to town to walk around, buy some things, and say hello to acquaintances I met.
Eevee follows her mother Nami in and out every day, eating and drinking in the kitchen. After two days, her belly is full.
On the morning of the third day, Xinhai and his parents simply packed their luggage and went out together.
Dad was carrying the Spatial Backpack he used before, his mother Nami was carrying a handbag, Xinhai was also carrying a Spatial Backpack, and Eevee was squatting on his shoulder.
A family of three walked along the road outside the town to the Verdanturf Town station and got on the long-distance bus bound for Slateport City.
The bus drove on the road south of Hoenn Region for most of the day. The scenery outside the window gradually transitioned from the hills and fields around Verdanturf Town to more open plains and low bushes.
The afternoon sun shone in through the car window, and it was warm. Eevee curled up in a ball on Xinhai's lap and took a nap.
At around three o'clock in the afternoon, the bus entered the area of Slateport City.
The scenery outside the car window suddenly changed. Rows of palm trees and low white buildings appeared on both sides of the road. The air was filled with the unique salty and humid smell of the sea breeze.
The bus stopped at Slateport City Central Station, and Xinhai and his parents got off the bus.
"This place is much more lively than our town." Mom Nami looked around, lifted her handbag onto her shoulder, and commented.
"Ever Grande City should be similar over there, they are all coastal cities." Dad added next to him, his eyes scanning the shop signs at the station entrance, as if he was planning to buy something to take back.
"Eat first, then get on the boat after dinner!"
Xinhai took his parents to have a simple lunch at a restaurant near the station, and then walked with them towards the port.
The port area of Slateport City is very large, with kilometers of piers and piers spread out along the coastline, with ships of all sizes moored, ranging from luxury cruise ships to ordinary fishing boats.
"Dad, Mom, your ship is over there." Xinhai pointed to the area on the north side of the port dedicated to docking passenger ships. There is a row of white waiting rooms and ticket gates over there.
"Are you sure you don't want to come with us?" Mom Nami stood in front of the ticket gate, looking back at Xinhai with a bit of worry in her tone, "You are training here alone, eating and so on -"
"Mom, how old am I?" Xinhai interrupted her with a smile, "I'm very familiar with Slateport City. I've been here several times before. And the conditions here Pokémon Center are very good, don't worry."
"Okay, okay, the child knows what he is doing." Dad patted his mother Nami on the shoulder, then looked at Xinhai, "Then let's go first. Ever Grande Conference go ahead and fight hard, don't embarrass your father."
"I know, Dad." Xinhai responded.
"We will arrive Ever Grande City early during the competition days. Remember to contact us when you come." Mom Nami warned a few more words before following Dad into the ticket gate.
Xinhai stood by the guardrail in the port area, watching his parents get on the white and blue passenger ship.