A chance encounter

As time passed, the distance between Bai Shi and Twinleaf Town steadily shrank.

Rather than feeling nervous about returning home, Bai Shi quickened his pace.

He hoped to return to Twinleaf Town as soon as possible.

Instead, he unexpectedly ran into an old acquaintance along the way.

At the time, Bai Shi was making lunch at a temporary campsite.

Suddenly, a plump, oversized rat darted out of the grass.

Drool hung from its mouth as it stared fixedly at his iron pot, which was giving off a delicious aroma.

"I really do have a knack for running into Raticate!"

The sight of this uninvited guest instantly brought a flood of memories to Bai Shi's mind.

He had encountered a Raticate shortly after first setting out on his journey.

What was more, that encounter had taken place very close to his current location.

Could this Raticate be the same one from back then?

"Let me show you how much I've grown since then!"

"Electrike, use..."

Bai Shi shook off his memories and was about to drive the Raticate away as he had before.

"Raticate, there you are!"

To his surprise, a person emerged from the grass as well.

From the look of things, he seemed to be this Raticate's Pokémon Trainer.

"Oh, so it isn't a wild Raticate."

Upon learning that Raticate had an owner, Bai Shi lost interest and abandoned his plan to have Electrike chase it away.

"Huh? Aren't you Bai Shi?"

The Trainer spoke in delighted surprise when he saw Bai Shi.

"You're... Oniki?"

Bai Shi studied him carefully before realizing that he looked familiar.

It was actually Oniki, who had come from the same Orphanage as him.

His very first Pokémon battle had been against Oniki's Rattata.

It had given him a tough fight when he was