After spending the night at Professor Juniper's laboratory, Xia You's group and Ash were ready to continue their journeys after breakfast the next morning.
Ash, for his part, could hardly wait.
Seeing him sling a small bag over his back and prepare to leave alone, Dawn couldn't help being curious.
"Ash, will you be all right on your own?"
"I'm not on my own." Ash gave Dawn a toothy grin and pointed at his Pikachu. "I have Pikachu with me!"
"Yes, yes, of course." Helpless, Dawn tried putting it another way. "I mean, without Brock looking after you or me reminding you, traveling all by yourself... traveling with just you and Pikachu, will you really be okay?"
"That won't be a problem." Ash was clearly brimming with confidence. "I traveled by myself before, didn't I? I'll be fine!"
Seeing that Dawn wanted to say more, Xia You shook his head at her.
"Don't worry. Ash is a lucky guy. Have faith in him. Before long, he'll meet a few more like-minded people willing to travel with him, just like you all did before."
Dawn had only asked out of curiosity and concern for a friend. Now that both Xia You and Ash had said so, she nodded and asked no more.
Still, since they were heading out together, Xia You asked once more before they left, "We'll definitely be taking the same route for this next stretch. What do you say? Want to travel together?"
In the past, Ash might have readily agreed, but now he was already three Badges behind. How could he be in the mood to travel at Xia You's leisurely pace?
That made him shake his head like a rattle drum. "I need to hurry! Just you wait. I'll catch up with you before long!"
Watching