After chatting in the office for a while longer, the three returned to the hall and rejoined the others.
By then, Professor Oak had used technological means to steadily and safely draw the electricity belonging to Zekrom out of Pikachu's body. Pikachu was back to its usual lively self, running and bouncing around Ash.
Leaving him alone, Xia You called Cheryl and Dawn over, then headed to a corner with Makomo and told them what had just happened.
When they learned that Makomo also wanted to travel with them, Cheryl and Dawn naturally welcomed her.
Their thoughts were nowhere near as complicated as Xia You's.
Someone they got along with, who had a good personality, could cook delicious meals, and, most importantly, was a professor was willing to travel with them. That was undoubtedly something to be happy about.
Besides, Dawn and Cheryl were both the sort who enjoyed making friends, so naturally, there was no problem at all.
"You're going to travel with us, Makomo? That's wonderful!" Dawn raised her hands and cheered. "We'll get to keep eating your delicious cooking!"
Cheryl smiled too. "Welcome aboard! Having you travel with us will take quite a load off me, too."
Seeing them agree so readily, Makomo couldn't help feeling warmth in her heart. She also knew she really hadn't misjudged them. They were every bit as friendly as she had thought.
But for Xia You, this wasn't necessarily a good thing.
After all, with another woman joining them when Dawn was already a rather conspicuous third wheel, it would certainly become even less convenient for him and Cheryl to do anything.
But since Cheryl and Dawn had both agreed, he naturally wouldn't say anything more.
Inconvenient it was, then. In any case, they would have to keep certain activities hidden