I remembered what Nada had said. "People who only want to get things from others will one day find themselves unable to get anything. That's why you don't have to return what you've received. But I'll give back whatever I can," he had told the young Kaim.
In fact, Kaim believed that was true too, and he tried to return as much as he could to those he owed. Not just people, but Pokémon as well.
"You're a sincere young man."
"I'm just being sincere."
"That matters. I've lived for over forty years, and in the end, honest people are the ones you can trust most. The same goes for Pokémon."
"...Thank you."
Praised so directly by Tugen, whom he had practically just met, Kaim didn't know how to react and could only nod vaguely.
Oukan continued speaking to Kaim.
"Have you battled Kota?"
"No. I've been busy mining. Besides, I'm still not used to working as a Gym Leader, so I haven't had much free time."
"Right. Even as a stand-in, with Sumo studying abroad, you have to handle things yourself. I've been a Gym Leader for a long time, so lean on me if you need anything."
Tougan said that and burst into hearty laughter. The way he laughed wasn't much like Kota's, but his smiling face looked very similar. Kaim thanked him, thinking that they really were parent and child after all.
"Thank you for your concern."
"You said earlier that you had a connection to the sea. Where's your hometown?"
"Nan City, in the Hoenn Region."
"Oh? You're from the Hoenn Region? Did you come to Sinnoh to train?"
"Train?"
Tougan probably meant training his battle instincts, but in reality, he had come to train as a scholar and a warrior. Yet Kaim didn't think of