10 p.m., the boys' dormitory on the third floor of the Pokémon Center.
Xia You, Ash, Brock, and Max sat on the lower bunks. Even Misty had sneaked in. A pile of snacks lay in front of them as they ate and chatted.
Glancing up at the clock on the wall, Max said worriedly, "It's so late. Why isn't my sister back yet?"
"Should we go look for her?" Ash suggested. From his bright eyes, he was clearly very interested in sneaking out at night.
"I don't think we need to." Xia You glanced at the darkness outside the window and said calmly, "May has a mind of her own, and she should know what she's doing. Once she feels she's ready, she'll definitely come back on her own."
Hearing that, Ash and the others thought he had a point. After traveling together for a while, they had come to understand May somewhat and knew she wasn't someone who would give them cause to worry.
Just then, Ash suddenly remembered something and said to Xia You, "Oh, right, Xia You, what exactly was that Pokémon you said you caught earlier? Stop keeping us in suspense!"
Ash's reminder brought the matter back to Brock as well, and he turned a curious gaze toward Xia You.
Xia You smiled faintly. Rather than keep up the mystery, he simply took out Jigglypuff's Poké Ball.
"I'll let you see for yourselves!"
Under the gazes of Ash, Brock, Max, and Pikachu, Xia You opened the Poké Ball. Once the blue light faded, Jigglypuff's round figure appeared before them.
"J-Jigglypuff?!"
Ash recognized this Jigglypuff at a glance. It was the very one they had encountered so many times before!
He instantly sprang to his feet in fright and backed away several steps, pointing at Jigglypuff and