Just then, Xiaoyun suddenly walked over. He had originally come to comfort Dawn, but when he spotted Johanna on the screen, he stepped forward to say hello, and then...
"Auntie Johanna, long time no see!"
"Oh, Xiaoyun! Thanks for looking after Dawn all this way. Why do you look thinner lately?"
The moment Johanna saw Xiaoyun, she forgot what she had been about to say to Dawn and started fussing over him instead.
"No, no, maybe the flesh on my face just firmed up a little."
"That's good. Boys shouldn't be too thin, or they won't be strong and sturdy enough."
"Really? Oh, Auntie, let me tell you about Dawn on the road..."
"Hahaha, you..."
"Uh... which of us is actually your child?!"
The two happily chatted back and forth, completely forgetting that anyone else was there.
Standing beside them, Dawn felt as though she had become an outsider.
Watching this harmonious scene, she felt a little superfluous. How did Xiaoyun seem more like her mother's child than she did? She must have been picked up somewhere. Give back that touching moment she had just had!! ☄(◣д◢)☄ฺ
The two finally remembered Dawn was beside them, and Johanna told her, "Well, that's that. Mom won't say any more. Remember to ask Xiaoyun if anything comes up. See you next time."
With that, she hung up, ignoring Dawn, who was just about to speak. Dawn stamped her feet in frustration, lightly squeezing Xiaoyun's neck as she said, "You jerk! What does she mean, she won't say any more? I only got two sentences in! Two!"
"D-Dawn, I-I'll pass on what your mom meant. L-let go first." Xiaoyun didn't resist. He would just let the girl vent after losing the contest.
"D-Dawn..." Teruhiko spoke up a little fearfully from beside them.
"Ah!" Dawn's pretty face flushed. She had forgotten there was a little kid right beside them. This was rather embarrassing.
"Teruhiko, this is where we say goodbye. Hopefully we'll get to see you again!"
A little while later, after composing themselves, the two saw Teruhiko to the entrance and spoke to him.
"Goodbye! I'll miss you both!" Holding Shinx in his arms, Teruhiko kept turning back and waving at them as he walked away.
"Dawn, there you are! I came to say goodbye. I'm getting ready to head off to the next contest."
Zoey came out through the entrance and happily walked over when she saw Dawn and Xiaoyun. There was none of the rivalry they had shown onstage. After chatting for a while, she began saying goodbye to Dawn.
"You're leaving now? Isn't that a little rushed? Why not spend another day resting at the Pokémon Center?"
Dawn felt a little disappointed. It wasn't often she met a girl she got along with so well, and they were both Coordinators, too. She had wanted to have a good chat with Zoey.
"Ah... I can't help it. I nearly lost to you this time. I'll train hard from here on out. I hope we can compete again. Bye, you two!"
Zoey gave an easy smile. This contest had shown her quite a few formidable Trainers, especially Dawn. This girl, who looked delicate but was strong inside, had left a deep impression on her. She could no longer wait to travel and improve herself. Waving to the two of them, she headed off into the distance.
"Come on, I'm the one who lost. Why does she make it sound like I won?" Dawn couldn't help saying as she watched Zoey's retreating figure gradually disappear into the sunset.
"Because this was only your first appearance. Zoey's already feeling the pressure. If she doesn't work harder, what'll she do if you surpass her next time?"
Standing in front of Dawn, Xiaoyun offered her encouragement. Dawn's performance in this contest must have put considerable pressure on the short-haired girl, which was probably why she had been so eager to leave.
"I'm not nearly as amazing as you make me sound."
Dawn's pretty face reddened slightly. His praise had embarrassed her. She shyly hugged Xiaoyun's arm, her slightly developed chest resting against it.
"Actually, there is a little bit~"
Feeling the softness against his arm, Xiaoyun couldn't help speaking.
"Huh?" Dawn looked at him in confusion.
"N-nothing. Look, isn't that Ash and Brock?" Xiaoyun inwardly cursed himself for saying his thoughts aloud and immediately changed the subject.
"Xiaoyun, Dawn, there you are!"
Ash and Brock had also come out of the venue and walked over when they spotted Xiaoyun.
"Hey, Ash and Brock. By the way, Brock, how come I didn't see you today? Anyway, are you two here to say goodbye to us, too?"
Xiaoyun smiled and waved when he saw Ash approach. Seeing the narrow-eyed Brock following behind him, he couldn't help asking. He had been wondering where Brock had gone today. Weren't these two always inseparable?
"Uh... did it occur to you that I was in the stands the whole time, and even waved hello to you at one point...?"
Brock's face darkened at those words. Hmm... not that anyone could tell, since it was already dark. He spoke to Xiaoyun with a touch of resentment.
He had noticed Xiaoyun right from the start. With the way Xiaoyun had been making a spectacle of himself, it would have been hard not to. Unfortunately, Xiaoyun had been so focused on Dawn that he had completely ignored him.
Well, this was awkward. The pressure was suddenly on Xiaoyun. Someone had greeted him?
Thinking back carefully, someone really had waved at him. ( ｰ̀εｰ́ ) Xiaoyun had thought someone had seen his overflowing aura of dominance and wanted a friendly exchange. So it had been Teacher Brock~
"Oh~, I know, I know. What I actually meant was, why did you only come out now?"
The quick-witted Xiaoyun immediately changed the subject. He certainly wasn't going to admit he hadn't recognized him.
"Uh..."
You clearly didn't know, did you? You're just changing the subject, aren't you...? Teacher Brock thought.
"By the way, Xiaoyun, what was that about saying goodbye? Aren't you going to Oreburgh City?"
Ash sounded a little puzzled. He had thought Xiaoyun had something to do and would be staying in Jubilife City for a few more days.
"Oh, right, I forgot. Oreburgh City's only a day's journey from here. In that case, if you don't mind, how about we travel together tomorrow?"
Xiaoyun had also forgotten that he needed to challenge the Gym. Since Oreburgh City wasn't far away anyway, he might as well head out with these two.
"Sure! If it's you, Xiaoyun, of course you can."
Naturally, Ash didn't mind. He quite liked traveling together, especially with Xiaoyun, his childhood friend.
"Why does that sound kind of strange...?"
Xiaoyun kept feeling that something was off, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
So he stopped thinking about it and invited everyone back to the Pokémon Center to rest.
"Let's head back to the Pokémon Center together. Everyone's tired after today, right?"
"Okay." ×3
"Pika!"
(Dear readers, could all you esteemed big shots please leave a positive review? This humble author is asking for help.)