"I've already relied on you a lot in the Normal World Line. Don't overthink it. Let's leave it at that for now."
"Hey!"
The call ended. Shen Qi vaguely felt that things weren't so simple. Something in Zinnia's words had hinted that she might not return.
But if the chances of failing to resolve this crisis were extremely high, her personality would never allow her to stubbornly go it alone, taking on the challenge by herself in some self-indulgent act of sacrifice.
What exactly was the problem here...
Zinnia had hung up. Calling her back certainly wouldn't get Shen Qi anywhere.
The hands on the wall clock moved toward midnight. This was only his fourth day since crossing over. Were things already this complicated?
"Yaaawn..."
Early the next morning, Shen Qi headed downstairs with a long yawn.
Following the Fighting Dojo's training schedule meant getting up around six to prepare.
Hmm?
The Shiny Machamp setting food on the table noticed that something was off with Shen Qi and reached over with a broad palm to feel his head.
No translation was needed to know that he was concerned about Shen Qi.
Training hard without enough sleep would only harm his health.
Wude came downstairs in his training clothes. Seeing Machamp's interaction with Shen Qi, then hearing what had happened from the Pokémon, he understood.
"Don't let the past hold you back. Even I've made peace with it. What have you got to dwell on?"
"Mm..."
To anyone else, Shen Qi must have been brooding over Wude's past and aspirations, leaving him unable to sleep last night.
In reality, Shen Qi was worried about Zinnia.
She wouldn't joke about a world-threatening crisis, but the end of yesterday's call had given him the sense that she intended to give her life to