When Xia You and Ash reached the torch relay point, they were surprised to find Misty, May, and the others there too!
This astonished them. After all, when they had contacted the girls just a little while earlier, they had only just finished their ramen. How had they gotten here so quickly?
Seeing their expressions, Misty said smugly, "Hehe, didn't expect that, did you? Hmph, trying to leave us behind and watch the torch relay yourselves? No way! How could we miss something like this?"
After asking for the details, they learned that Misty and the others had happened to meet a torchbearer with a hat-wearing Meowth after reaching the ramen shop. Once they received Xia You's message, they discussed it and decided to follow the torchbearer to watch the relay too. Since they were closer, they had even arrived before Xia You and Ash!
Since they were all here, they watched the torch relay ceremony together.
The relay had already been going on for quite a while, and several torchbearers had taken their turns. Since all the good spots had been taken, they could only watch from a distance along the sides of the road.
Apparently, the flame for this relay had been collected from Moltres. To ordinary people, it was indeed sacred and shrouded in mystery, but to Xia You, What? Moltres? Isn't that a Pokémon I can see every day?
Throughout the ceremony, Misty's face was also wreathed in smiles.
This struck Xia You as rather odd.
After all, over the past few days, he had clearly sensed that something seemed to be on her mind, leaving her constantly downcast. Yet ever since the Grand Festival party ended, the smile had returned to her face.
Although he did not know exactly what had happened, Xia You was