When there are common topics, time always flies quickly.
Unconsciously, it was already evening.
Orange sunlight slanted in through the window, adding a soft atmosphere to Dawn's home.
Only when the evening sun shone on her face did Erika realize it was already so late.
"Oh dear, I was so engrossed that I didn't realize it's almost dinner time."
"Really."
It's not just that, Erika, but even Dawn only now realized it was late, and so did Ash.
Maybebecause he rarely had the opportunity to talk to others about his past stories, he was enjoying it and didn't notice the passage of time at all.
"pi~"
"oki~~"
Ash got up to look for Pikachu and Aipom, and soon he found the two little ones curled up on the sofa.
Pikachu and Aipom also seemed tired from the journey.
I don't know when it happened, but probably shortly after lunch? They began to drift off to sleep.
Pikachu and Aipom lay together, Pikachu curled up in a ball, and Aipom's tail draped over Pikachu, looking like a blanket.
Soft snores came from their noses and mouths, creating a warm and beautiful scene.
"They're asleep..."
Ash scratched his head and muttered with some difficulty.
He had originally said to quickly prepare for departure, but he didn't expect Pikachu and Aipom to be sleeping so soundly.
Pikachu was alright, since it had slept for a while on the plane, but Aipom hadn't slept much at all to keep up with him.
Being active and curious, it would naturally be too excited to sleep after arriving on a new continent and seeing new things.
Also, the reason they were able to sleep at Dawn's house might be because they both felt a sense of security?
On such an afternoon, the three of them sat at the table, quietly chatting about stories, and Pikachu and Aipom became sleepy as they listened.
"Meow~"
Seeing Erika also come over, Glameow, who had been lying on the back of the sofa, got up, lazily meowing.
Erika smiled and stroked its fur.
Then, as if seeing Ash's thoughts, she suggested, "It's already very late, why don't you stay here overnight? If you don't have anything urgent."
"Hmm... ac
tually, there's nothing urgent.
I mean, it's my first day in the Sinnoh region.
I'll need to slowly challenge the eight Gyms, get the badges, and then participate in the Pokémon League."
"Then it's just like that staying here tonight, right? Consider it a reward for you telling us so many fascinating stories."
After Erika finished speaking, she didn't give Ash a chance to refute and went straight to the second floor to start preparing the guest room for Ash to stay in.
"It feels so familiar.
" Ash said to Dawn, who was still a bit absent-minded, "I feel like Aunt Erika is a bit like my mom.
If you were to go to my house, I feel like my mom would do something similar."
Ash thought that his mother, Delia's, personality had never changed, whether now or in the distant future.
"But I think Mom is really annoying, she always likes to poke at my old sore spots, even though I'm about to start my journey and I've already grown up."
Although an afternoon had already passed, Dawn was still brooding over some of the episodes from the afternoon.
I mean, Ash was here this afternoon.
If Ash hadn't been present, Dawn would have almost become immune to Erika's behavior, and would have at most expressed her dissatisfaction verbally.
"Although, I think just being able to start your journey doesn't really count as growing up."
"Eh——why are even you saying that, Ash!"
Dawn said with her hands on her hind puffed-up cheeks, expressing her dissatisfaction.
Now Dawn really doesn't feel any awkwardness when facing Ash, just like they've been old friends for many years.
"Ah, sorry, sorry~" Knowing that Dawn just wants recognition for growing up, Ash followed her line of thought and said: "But isn't your dream to become a top Coordinator who surpasses your mother? If so, why not start speaking with actions from tomorrow? Standing on the podium of a large stage, asking in front of the television, 'Have I grown up now?' Wouldn't that be more effective?"
"This..."
Dawn frowned slightly, touched her fingertip to the corner of her mouth, and then smiled happily, seeming to think Ash's suggestion was excellent.
"That's right! I must do this when I receive the award! That way she'll have nothing to say! Hmph!"
Dawn raised her chin, her expression completely one of smug satisfaction as if she had already won.
With
such wonderful dreams for the future, she had even forgotten that she was just a newcomer who had just debuted.
How difficult would it be to win the championship in the first year of her debut? Unless she was a rare genius, it would be impossible to reach the peak upon debut.
But...
Runner-up? That's nice...
But Dawn does have the talent for it.
In her first year, she achieved the runner-up position on the stage of a large festival, only one step away from the champion, Zoey.
Unlike Dawn, I really can't be considered a genius.
My debut was just ordinary, a Top 16 that didn't attract much attention.
Later, at the Lily of the Valley Conference, I stopped at the Top 4.
"Of course, I believe you can definitely do it if it's you!"
Maybe, the chance to start over is not only for me, but also for Dawn?
Ash thought to himself.
Night arrived as promised after the sun set.
Twinleaf Town, not yet heavily urbanized, retained most of its natural characteristics.
The cool night breeze blew into Ash's room from outside the window.
He leaned against the wall by the window, looking up at the bright moon.
He could hear the calls of Bug-type Pokémon traveling at night, and...
"pi~pi~~"
"okiii~~~"
The sound of Pikachu and Aipom snoring.
"Seriously, didn't these two sleep all afternoon? Why can they still sleep so soundly at night!"
Ash complained about them, quite strangely, but on the other hand, he was actually indirectly complaining about how he couldn't fall asleep.
He hadn't slept much, and he had walked quite a bit, so why couldn't he sleep, and why didn't he even feel sleepy? He tossed and turned in bed for a long time without any sign of falling asleep.
Maybehe was too excited to be back in the past to sleep.
Ash guessed.
"Oh well, I guess I'll go for a walk."
With that, he simply pushed open the door and walked downstairs, planning to go outside for a breath of evening air.
But as Ash went downstairs, he didn't notice that Dawn's door wasn't completely closed, but slightly ajar.
After hearing Ash leave, Dawn peeked her head out, and after thinking for a moment, she made a decision and also walked out the door.