Galar Region, Wyndon.
The early morning sun breaks through the mist and shines on this city famous for industry and sports.
There are already pedestrians on the street, and smoke is rising from the chimney of the breakfast shop.
Leon stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window of the apartment, holding a cup of iced coffee in his hand, looking out at the familiar street scene.
It had been a long time since he had seen the scenery so quietly.
In the past, the first thing he did when he woke up every morning was check his schedule.
At what time do we have training, at what time do we have interviews, at what time do we have meetings, and at what time do we have entertainment.
His life is fully arranged, and every minute is planned precisely.
But now, the schedule is fragmented.
Masters Eight After the finals, his workload suddenly decreased.
Pokémon League no longer arranged so many activities for him, and the sponsors wisely reduced the invitations.
After all, a champion who loses the most important game will naturally lose popularity.
At first, Leon was a little uncomfortable.
He even took the initiative to call Pokémon League and asked if there were any events that he needed to attend.
The assistant who answered the phone was silent for three seconds, and then said in a cautious tone:
"Mr. Leon, the chairman said... let you have a good rest for a while."
Have a good rest.
These four words, Leon, have not been heard for a long time.
He smiled bitterly, put down his phone, and found that he suddenly had nothing to do.
"Leon! Are you okay?"
The voice of Sonia came from downstairs, with a hint of impatience.
Leon came to his senses, drank the remaining coffee in the cup, then picked up his coat and walked downstairs.
"Coming, coming."
Today is the date he agreed with Sonia.
We call it a date, but actually we just go out for a walk, eat something, and look at the scenery.
But for Leon, this is already a very luxurious thing.
In the past, how could he have time to date?
Sonia was standing downstairs, wearing a simple white shirt with light blue jeans, a pair of white sneakers, and his long hair casually tied into a high ponytail. He looked fresh and capable.
She saw Leon coming out, looked him up and down, and then curled her lips.
"Is this what you're wearing?"
Leon looked down at his outfit.
An ordinary black T-shirt, a pair of gray casual pants, and a dark blue jacket.
He scratched his head and asked with some confusion:
"What's wrong? Doesn't it look good?"
Sonia walked forward and stretched out his hand to straighten his collar. "It's okay, but you are dressed like this, are you sure you won't be recognized?"
Leon was stunned for a moment, then smiled:
"Just recognize him if you recognize him. It's nothing shameful."
"Whatever, I'm not the champion anyway."
Sonia rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth:
"Let's go, it's still early and there are few people."
The two walked out of the apartment side by side and walked along the street toward the city center.
Wyndon's morning has a completely different look from the night.
Without the flashing neon lights and the hustle and bustle of crowds, the streets seemed particularly peaceful.
In a breakfast shop on the roadside, a few old people were sitting by the window, drinking black tea and chatting about homely matters.
A Yamper was lying in front of the store, lazily basking in the sun.
"What do you want to eat?"
Sonia asked, scanning the shops on both sides of the street.
"Whatever, you just decide." Leon said.
"It's always casual. Can you be a little assertive?"
Sonia snorted dissatisfied.
"Then what do you want to eat?"
"Well... that croissant restaurant in front is pretty good. I've eaten there before with Dawn and the others."
"Then this is it."
"What..."
Sonia rolled his eyes at him, but still took his arm and walked towards the store.
This is a small store with a simple facade, but the inside is clean and tidy, and the air is filled with the sweet aroma of bread and the milky aroma of butter.
There is a small blackboard hanging on the wall, with today's recommendations written in chalk on it.
Behind the counter, a lady who looked to be in her thirties was arranging baking sheets. She saw a customer coming in and greeted her warmly.
"Welcome! What would you two like to eat?"
"Two signature croissants, one black coffee and one milk tea."
Sonia takes orders skillfully, obviously this is not the first time.
"Okay, wait a moment!"
The two found a seat by the window and sat down.
Leon leaned back on the chair and looked at the slowly flowing street scene outside the window, suddenly feeling particularly calm.
"What are you thinking about?"
Sonia held his chin and looked at him and asked.
"I'm thinking... it seems like it's been a long time since I sat down and had a quiet breakfast like this."
Leon withdrew his gaze and looked at Sonia, with a hint of emotion in his eyes.
"Before, I either didn't eat it, or I just took a bite on the way to activities."
"Isn't that your choice?"
Sonia shrugged. "Who told you to be an 'invincible myth'? Being a myth is very tiring."
"Not anymore, the myth of invincibility has been broken."
Leon smiled, but there was not much disappointment in his tone.
Sonia was silent for a moment, and then said softly, "You... really don't care?"
"It's a lie to say you don't care,"
Leon said frankly:
"How could I not care if I lost the game? That night I tossed and turned and couldn't sleep. I kept thinking about every detail of that game."
"If I had played differently, if I had not used that move, would the result have been different?"
"So... have you figured out the answer?"
"No."
Leon shook his head. "But I figured it out later."
"What have you figured out?"
"I figured it out. If you lose, you lose. There are not so many ifs."
Leon picked up the coffee cup and took a sip. The bitter liquid spread on the tip of his tongue. "Xiaoyun is better than me. This is a fact. He has proven himself with his strength, and I am convinced. If I don't admit this, then I am not worthy of being a trainer."
Sonia looked at him and said nothing.
At this time, she didn't know what to say, so she could only hold the other person's hand and use actions to show that she was still there.
Leon shook his hand back, with a relieved smile on his lips, "Actually, it's not bad. After losing, I discovered a good thing."
Sonia was a little confused. "What's a good thing?"
Leon smiled gently, "I can finally stop and take a good look at the world around me."
Sonia was stunned for a moment, and then couldn't help laughing, "You guy... when did you become so artistic?"
"I've always been artistic, okay?" Leon said pretending to be dissatisfied, "It's just that you didn't realize it."
"Yes, yes, you are the most meaningful."
Sonia echoed perfunctorily, but the smile in her eyes betrayed her mood.
The croissant was served quickly. The golden crust was drizzled with amber syrup, with a small piece of butter and a few slices of fresh fruit on the side. It looked very tempting.
Leon picked up the knife and fork, cut off a piece of pancake, and put it in his mouth.
The croissant was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the sweetness of syrup and the milky aroma of butter blended perfectly in his mouth, making him sigh involuntarily.
"Is it delicious?" Sonia asked.
"It's delicious," Leon nodded. "It's a hundred times better than the breakfast in the Pokémon League cafeteria."
"Of course, Pokémon League The breakfast in the cafeteria is all mass-produced, how delicious can it be?"
Sonia also cut a piece of croissant and put it in his mouth. "I discovered this shop by chance. The owner is a retired Coordinator. His craftsmanship is very good."
Leon was a little surprised. "Retired Coordinator? Then why did you come to open a store?"
"This sister said that she had competed everywhere before. Although it was fulfilling, she was a little tired."
"Later I felt that instead of chasing in the arena, it would be better to open a small shop and share my favorite food with others."
Sonia said with a hint of admiration in his tone:
"I think she lived a very transparent life."
Leon nodded thoughtfully.
He suddenly thought, if he had not become the champion, what would he be doing now?
Maybe he will become the leader of a certain gym, maybe he will become a staff member of Pokémon League.
Maybe I will open a small shop like this boss and live a plain and fulfilling life.
"Sonia."
"Huh?"
"Thank you."
Sonia raised his head and looked at him inexplicably. "Thank me for what?"
"Thank you for taking me out today."
Leon said seriously:
"If it weren't for you, I might still be sitting at home, staring at the ceiling."
Sonia was stunned for a moment, lowered his head, pretended to focus on the croissant bread in front of him, and muttered softly:
"It's good to know... you should go out more often and don't stay at home all the time."
"Received, Miss Sonia."
Leon smiled and saluted.
"You are such a good middle school student."
Sonia rolled his eyes at him, but couldn't help but smile.
After breakfast, the two continued to stroll along the street.
Wyndon's commercial street has gradually become lively, shops are opening their doors one after another, and the number of pedestrians is gradually increasing.
Leon and Sonia walked side by side, occasionally stopping to look at the products in the display window, and occasionally discussing which store had better decoration.
This leisurely rhythm makes Leon feel a long-lost relaxation.
In the past, he always walked in a hurry when walking on the street, with a clear destination and a tight schedule.
He had never paid attention to the small shops on the roadside, never noticed the blooming flowers on the street corner, and had never heard the sound of birdsong and wind.
And now, he finally has time to feel this.
"Look, there is a big Snorlax doll in the window of that store!"
Sonia pointed to the window of a toy store in front and said excitedly.
Leon looked in the direction she pointed, and saw a Snorlax plush doll that was as tall as a person in the window. Its chubby body and innocent expression made people want to hug it.
"You like it?" Leon asked.
"Of course I do! How cute!"
Sonia's eyes were bright, like a little girl who saw her favorite toy.
Leon pulled her into the store without saying a word.
Five minutes later, Sonia walked out of the store holding the huge Snorlax doll.
Leon followed behind and said, "Why does it feel bigger? Can it fit on the sofa?"
"You can put it down as much as you want. At worst, you can put it on the bed and I'll sleep with it in my arms."
Sonia said naturally.
"What should I do if I can't sleep?"
"You sleep on the floor."
Leon:"..."
He suddenly felt... actually he didn't need to buy it.
The two continued shopping on the commercial street. When they passed a clothing store, Sonia pulled Leon and walked in.
"Here, try this one."
Sonia took a brown windbreaker off the hanger and made some gestures on Leon.
"I have clothes to wear..." Leon tried to resist.
"The clothes in your wardrobe are either black or gray, they are terribly dull,"
Sonia couldn't help but put the windbreaker into his hand. "Go and try it, believe me."
Leon had no choice but to take the clothes and walk into the fitting room.
After a while, he came out.
Sonia looked up and was stunned.
The brown windbreaker is well-tailored and perfectly outlines the body lines of Leon, making him more mature and steady.
"How is it?"
Leon pulled his collar uncomfortably.
Sonia came to his senses and quickly looked away, pretending to be looking at other clothes:
"It's... not bad, I can barely watch it."
This guy... is kind of handsome.
Sonia thought secretly in his heart.
But she would never say it, lest he get carried away.
Leon didn't notice anything strange about her. He just turned around in front of the mirror and felt that this dress was really good.
"Then let's take this one."
The two of them wandered around the store for a while, picked out a skirt for Sonia, and then left with satisfaction.
When I walked out of the clothing store, it was almost noon.
The sun is getting a little hot, and there are more and more pedestrians on the street.
The two decided to find a place to rest, so they found a bench in a nearby park and sat down.
Several children were chasing and playing on the lawn, and a Herdier was taking a nap in the shade of a tree.
Leon leaned on the back of the chair and looked up at the tree crown above.
The sun shines through the gaps in the leaves, forming mottled light and shadow on his face.
The breeze blows and the leaves rustle, bringing a bit of coolness.
"Sonia."
"Huh?"
"You said... was my previous life too monotonous?"
Sonia turned his head and looked at him:
"Why do you ask so suddenly?"
"I just suddenly felt..."
Leon said slowly:
"My previous life seemed to consist of competitions and participation in activities, and the cycle started over and over again."
Sonia was silent for a moment, and then said softly, "Do you know what your biggest problem is?"
"What is it?"
"You take yourself too seriously."
Leon was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly:
"You're right."
"I'm not criticizing you,"
Sonia shook his head and said softly:
"I just think you put too much pressure on yourself. You always feel like you have to win, you have to remain undefeated, you have to be a role model for everyone."
"But have you ever thought about it, you also have the right to fail, the right to rest, and the right to do what you want to do."
Leon looked at her and said nothing.
"You don't need to be that 'invincible myth' all the time,"
Sonia said seriously, "You can also be an ordinary Leon, who will lose, get tired, want to eat delicious food, and want to buy nice clothes. No one stipulates that you must win all the time."
"It's like...Snorlax, you only eat and sleep every day, don't you live a good life?"
Leon couldn't help but laugh, "Are you comparing me to Snorlax?"
"What's wrong? Snorlax is so wonderful and carefree." Sonia said confidently.
(Snorlax: What happened to Snorlax? Snorlax is eating at your house? Do you think Snorlax can be raised by just one person?)
"Huh~"
Leon was silent for a long time, and then exhaled a long breath.
Strangely enough, after listening to Sonia's words, he felt as if his body suddenly relaxed a lot.
It was as if the heavy burden that had been on my shoulders had been lifted in half.
"You're right..."
He smiled, "I do take myself too seriously."
"It's good to know."
Sonia snorted, "You need to listen to my opinions more in the future, you know?"
"Got it."
The two looked at each other and smiled, and the atmosphere was relaxed and warm.
At this moment, a slightly hesitant voice came from the side:
"P-Excuse me... are you Mr. Leon?"
Leon and Sonia turned their heads at the same time and saw a boy about eleven or twelve years old standing not far away, wearing a blue T-shirt, his face full of excitement and nervousness.
Leon smiled slightly, "It's me."
The young man's eyes lit up instantly, as if he had seen the most incredible thing in the world.
He walked forward quickly, his voice trembling with excitement:
"It's really you! Mr. Leon, I, I am your fan! I have watched every game of yours! I like you and Charizard the most! Your Charizard is so handsome!"
Leon raised his eyebrows in surprise:
"Watch every show, you are amazing~"
"Of course, my future dream is to become a trainer like you! I will also choose a Charizard in the future! Score Masters Eight Tournament! Become the champion!"
The young man puffed up his chest and said proudly.
Leon Looking at the young man with twinkling eyes in front of him, a complex emotion surged in his heart.
Once upon a time, he was also such a young man, with dreams and longing for the future, Covet became the strongest trainer.
"Thank you for your support."
Leon stood up, walked to the young man, and stretched out his hand. "What's your name?"
The young man was stunned for a moment, and then quickly held Leon's hand, his voice trembling with excitement:
"My, my name is Xiaoxiang!"
"Xiaoxiang."
Leon looked at him seriously. "Since you have a dream, you must persevere. The road of a trainer is not easy. There will be many setbacks and difficulties, but as long as you believe in yourself and your Pokémon, you will definitely be able to realize your dream."
Xiaoxiang nodded vigorously:
"I will definitely work hard! I will become the strongest trainer like you in the future!"
Leon smiled and patted his shoulder:
"You don't have to be like me, just be yourself."
Xiaoxiang was stunned for a moment, then nodded in understanding.
"Do you want to take a photo?"
Sonia on the side took out his mobile phone in time and asked with a smile.
"Is that okay?" Xiaoxiang looked at Leon in surprise.
"Of course." Leon agreed readily.
Xiaoxiang quickly stood next to Leon, straightening his back nervously.
Sonia raised the phone, found a good angle, and pressed the shutter.
Click.
The picture is frozen, the boy's bright smile, Leon's gentle smile, and the sunlight falling in the background form a warm picture.
Xiaoxiang bowed to Leon:
"Thank you! I will definitely Last Resort!"
"You're welcome," Leon said with a smile, "Go back quickly, don't let your family worry."
"Yeah!" Xiaoxiang nodded vigorously, then turned and ran away.
After running a few steps, he turned back and shouted loudly, "You will always be the strongest champion in my heart!"
After saying that, he ran away quickly, leaving Leon standing there, stunned for a while.
Then, he couldn't help laughing.
"This kid... is pretty good at talking."
Sonia stood aside, looking at Leon's profile, with a smile unconsciously raised at the corner of his mouth.
She suddenly felt that the man in front of her was more attractive than before.
"What's wrong?" Leon Frisk caught her gaze and turned around. "Is there something on my face?"
"No..."
Sonia shook his head, then walked forward and took his arm naturally:
"Come on, let's go have lunch. I'm hungry."
"What do you want to eat?"
"Whatever."
"It's casual again? Didn't you just say that I..."
"When I say casual, I mean casual. There's so much nonsense!"
"Okay, okay, whatever."