Pokémon: Dreams Come True Starting in Sinnoh

Chapter 216 Haruka's 'Growth', Musashi's Plan

"These are gifts for you, but I bought them on the cruise ship, so this is all I have."

After exchanging pleasantries with Ash and Brock, and then greeting Dawn, May gave them several gifts she had bought on the cruise ship.

Ash and Brock received wooden carvings of several Pokémon, while Dawn received a Piplup pendant.

"Th-thank you... I'm sorry, I have one too."

After receiving Xiaoyao's gift, Xiaoguang realized that his previous nervousness was just his imagination, and thanked Xiaoyao in this way.

As for Xiaoyao, she simply smiled slightly, shook her head, and said:

"It's alright. After all, it's our first meeting, and I'm the one who called and asked you to come, so a gift is only right."

......

"Why do I always feel like..."

"Xiaoyao's temperament has also grown a lot."

Seeing May's composed and generous demeanor, Ash and Brock exchanged glances, both reading admiration for May in each other's eyes.

So it seems that it wasn't just Ash who grew during this time apart.

Xiao Gang thought to himself.

Seeing that May and Dawn had finished their conversation, Ash finally made this suggestion:

"It's almost noon, let's have lunch nearby first and then go register."

"Agreed!"

Upon hearing the word "lunch," Xiaoyao was the first to raise her hand in agreement.

Seeing that the two were still as excited about the food as before, Xiao Gang nodded with satisfaction and just opened his mouth to say:

"In that case, then we shall..."

"and many more!"

However, Xiao Gang's suggestion was interrupted by Xiao Yao before he could even speak.

"I know a good restaurant, let's go there to eat!"

"You've already done the research? That's impressive..."

Xiao Gang thought that Xiao Yao had done research on various restaurants before coming here, which was why she was in such a hurry to take on this job.

Thinking about this, Xiao Gang unconsciously uttered these words of praise.

"Hehe~ Of course, but the restaurant we're going to is a bit special. There will be a little surprise before we start ordering, but it will be over quickly, don't worry."

"Small..."

"surprise?"

Xiao Gang and Xiao Guang muttered to themselves one after another, their words filled with doubt.

However, Xiaoyao offered no explanation to the two's questions, only smiling smugly before eagerly beckoning them to walk in one direction.

.......

After everyone left, the sky above where they had been standing...

On a hot air balloon shaped like a meow, Team Rocket, who had been observing Ash and his friends through a telescope for a long time, couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

"I never expected that little girl from the Hoenn region would come too. It's been so long."

Watching Haruka and the others walk away, Kojiro couldn't help but sigh.

"Coming at this time, the purpose is quite obvious, meow..."

Unlike Kojiro's reflections, Meow Meow was reflecting on something else entirely.

Listening to the conversation between the two people beside him, Musashi's hands, which were holding the binoculars, began to tremble slightly.

Musashi put down his binoculars and said through gritted teeth:

"I can't believe another enemy has appeared! Damn it! Things were already this difficult, why does this annoying guy have to show up now?!"

It's no wonder Musashi was so angry.

Having only recently parted ways with her beloved companion, Poison Butterfly, Musashi had originally planned to have Poison Butterfly compete in the Mikuri Cup. However, she changed her mind midway to support Poison Butterfly's romance, causing her to leave her. This resulted in Musashi having very little time to prepare for the Mikuri Cup, making her situation very tight.

Against this backdrop, Haruka arrived here again, seemingly intending to participate in the Mikkuri Cup, which was something Musashi could never accept.

"What should we do now? That little girl has already arrived. Should we stop her from registering?"

Kojiro waved his hand, clearly indicating that he had no way to resolve the current situation.

Upon hearing this, Musashi pondered for a moment, then steeled himself, clapped his hands forcefully, and said:

"Never mind! Since that's the case, let's disrupt their mood! Let's prevent them from properly preparing for the next match!"

"Eh--"

Kojiro and Meowth made clear sounds of displeasure.

Kojiro offered this advice:

"This isn't a good idea... Musashi, you weren't prepared yourself either. Wasting their time and their peace of mind will only waste yours too..."

"That's exactly right! This is a Pyrrhic victory! We couldn't even beat the combination of the little devil and the little girl, and now there's an even stronger little girl. We clearly have no chance of winning!"

"And if you factor in the time it took for us to manufacture the machines again after we were hit and had to run back, our losses are definitely more than a thousand!"

Kojiro cleverly did some calculations, hoping to dissuade Musashi from making this dangerous decision.

But Musashi seemed to have anticipated their words. She smiled slyly, patted Kojiro on the shoulder, and said in a cheerful voice:

"So who told you I was going too?"

"Who said...it wasn't you...?!"

As he answered somewhat bewilderedly, Kojiro suddenly seemed to realize something, and his eyes began to dart away deliberately. However, when faced with Musashi's smiling gaze, he still managed to force a smile onto his face.

Although he had a general idea, he still tried to grasp at that sliver of possibility existing on the other side of the vast universe and asked:

"Musashi, you don't mean... that you want me and Meow Meow to go alone, do you?"

"Hmm." (Smiling)

"What do you say?"

Kojiro: "..."

Kojiro's face turned deathly pale. If everyone were to be blasted away together, it wouldn't be a big deal, but if he and Meowth were to go alone... wouldn't that be...?

"Meow, don't even think about running away."

Musashi smiled, turned around, grabbed the back of the neck of the cat, lifted it up, and said this.

"I...I understand, meow..."

Meow Meow drooped its four paws and sighed, clearly having accepted its fate.

As the hot air balloon slowly descended, Kojiro and Meowth felt increasingly desolate.

.......

P.S.: Daily request for a gift~ QAQ!

(Electric Frog won't work, Silly Hippo is the answer! Damn Seven Star Crystal Pit)