Unova Region, Greensward City.
The next day, Mihara Rinxue's long lashes fluttered. Her eyes slowly opened, full of confusion. "Where am I?"
She started to sit up, but Dawn gently pressed her back onto the bed. "No. The doctor said you still need to rest."
Mihara Rinxue nodded blankly. She tried to think back, but her mind was empty. Then it suddenly came to her. "Manaphy! We have to take Manaphy back to the Undersea Temple!"
She frowned and tilted her head. Something seemed to be missing, but the more she thought about it, the more everything seemed to make sense.
In the forest, they had encountered the Pirate King Vanton. In the end, Pokémon Rangers had captured him and his crew, while they would continue escorting Manaphy back to the Undersea Temple.
Rinsetsu glanced around. The white room smelled of disinfectant, and a gauzy white curtain danced in the breeze. Beyond it, she thought she saw...
"Who's there?"
She could have sworn she had seen a figure, but when she looked closer, there was nothing.
The room fell silent until a girl with twin ponytails burst in. Mewa's bright, excited voice rang out at once. "Hey, hey, look! We're in the newspaper!"
"Mewa, no. This is a hospital. Keep your voice down or you'll disturb people."
"Come on, Dawn. There's nobody else here."
"That doesn't matter. It's the rule!"
"You're so uptight. Careful, or no one will marry you."
Watching them bicker, Rinsetsu finally broke into a smile. It was a small, warm smile, like a mountain flower blooming in winter.
On the hillside outside the hospital, Yōno Mihara watched through the curtain. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and at last she turned away.
If Giovanni represented her longing for the extraordinary days behind her, then Rinsetsu represented her