Professor Kukui understood at once.
"So that's it!"
He had no reason to doubt Baimu. It was perfectly normal for a trainer taking on the Island Challenge to travel between islands.
Baimu played dumb and asked, "What are you doing here? And what's up there?"
"This is the Altar of the Sunne. According to Alolan legend, it's where the Island Guardians and the Legendary Pokémon fought the Ultra Beasts together."
Professor Kukui introduced the place with a smile, even telling him about the Ultra Beasts and Ash.
He probably saw no reason to keep any of it secret.
The two climbed the steps to the altar.
Professor Burnet turned at the sound of their footsteps, surprise crossing her face. "Baimu?"
"Alola, Professor Burnet."
Baimu nodded to her, then quietly explained, "I once took a Pokémon friend to Aether Paradise to look for her child. Professor Burnet was the one who received us."
Professor Kukui laughed. "What a coincidence!"
The two professors were waiting for Ash and the others to return, and they had already collected all the data they needed.
They weren't exactly bored out of their minds.
But they had nothing else to do.
If Baimu hadn't shown up, they could have talked about more private things and grown a little closer. With a third person here, what could they say?
They couldn't just send him away.
And so,
a conversation between two became a conversation between three.
Naturally, the talk centered on Ash and the others, who had gone through the Ultra Wormhole.
From what Professor Kukui said, Baimu could tell he would definitely have gone with them if he hadn't been picking up Professor Burnet and missed his ride on Solgaleo.
The same went for Professor Burnet.
She studied Ultra Wormholes. The chance to go inside one