After a quick shower, Xia You left the Secret Base and returned to the Pokémon Center, where he found May and Cheryl waiting in the restaurant.
As soon as she saw him, May asked curiously, "Xia You, where have you been all afternoon? Why are you only getting back now?"
She meant nothing else by it; she was simply curious.
But after speaking, she looked him over carefully and asked in puzzlement, "Did you just take a shower? Why do you look so refreshed?"
Of course he felt refreshed.
He had emptied all his ammunition, and now his whole body felt at ease!
Of course, none of that could be shared with the two of them.
"I went to handle some Team Galactic business." Xia You casually found an excuse, then asked, "What about you? What did you do all afternoon?"
"Shopping, of course!" May thought nothing of it. Puffing out her chest, she said with some pride, "We didn't have much time, but Cheryl and I visited all the sights around here and bought a few new outfits. We even had some delicious ice cream! But don't worry. After your Gym battle tomorrow, if you still want to look around, we'll go with you!"
"Sounds good. Let's order, then. I feel hungry enough to eat a whole Tauros!"
"That hungry?" Cheryl was a little surprised. "Did you burn that much energy? You didn't get into a battle with Team Galactic, did you?"
"I certainly did battle." Xia You shook his head ruefully. "But not with them. With someone else..."
Now that he had entered his sage-like state, he did feel a slight twinge of melancholy about his impulsiveness in the Secret Base.
Of course, it certainly wasn't regret.
After all, becoming closer was a good thing in some respects,